Ask the Author: Alex Storer
Answered Questions (4)
Alex Storer
As a book cover designer, I work with a lot of writers, so turning to writing myself has been an interesting challenge.
But no matter what you're creating – writing, art, music etc – my advice is to do it, try it, and believe in your work. If you're fired up about what you're working on, it will interest other people.
In terms of writing, the importance of having somebody else proofread and edit your work is invaluable. They'll spot things you missed and have suggestions for improvement you didn't think of. It's very easy to become possessive of a writing project and want control of everything, but there comes a point when it has to be put in the hands of a potential reader, and those people will really help refine your work.
Professional cover art is the other critically important thing you should invest in. While the likes of Amazon have allowed anybody to self-publish their work, it needs to stand out among a heavily saturated market. You could have written the best book in the world, but a cheap stock cover or amateur artwork will let you down.
Your book's cover is the first thing anybody will see of your work - it's got to make you want to pick it up or click on it to find out more.
But no matter what you're creating – writing, art, music etc – my advice is to do it, try it, and believe in your work. If you're fired up about what you're working on, it will interest other people.
In terms of writing, the importance of having somebody else proofread and edit your work is invaluable. They'll spot things you missed and have suggestions for improvement you didn't think of. It's very easy to become possessive of a writing project and want control of everything, but there comes a point when it has to be put in the hands of a potential reader, and those people will really help refine your work.
Professional cover art is the other critically important thing you should invest in. While the likes of Amazon have allowed anybody to self-publish their work, it needs to stand out among a heavily saturated market. You could have written the best book in the world, but a cheap stock cover or amateur artwork will let you down.
Your book's cover is the first thing anybody will see of your work - it's got to make you want to pick it up or click on it to find out more.
Alex Storer
I'm currently working on a space travel concept album, so not a writing project!
However, since publishing Sound, Vision, Inspiration, I have started to think about what similar or related projects I could produce.
However, since publishing Sound, Vision, Inspiration, I have started to think about what similar or related projects I could produce.
Alex Storer
I'm primarily an artist, designer and musician, but writing goes hand-in-hand with creativity, especially in my graphic design work. For me writing is just another creative outlet, but one that so far, I have only explored for either blogs or personal projects.
This is the first time I have self-published any writing. What started out as a private/personal project evolved into something I felt I could share with other fans and likeminded readers, hence my first venture into publishing an ebook via Amazon.
This is the first time I have self-published any writing. What started out as a private/personal project evolved into something I felt I could share with other fans and likeminded readers, hence my first venture into publishing an ebook via Amazon.
Alex Storer
Sound, Vision, Inspiration: How the music of David Bowie became a soundtrack to life was inspired by being a lifelong fan of Bowie and the project was my way of processing his untimely death earlier this year.
Many of us took Bowie's music to that deeper, more personal level, so we really feel that loss, even though his music will live on. Over the course of the following months, I found myself re-evaluating his back catalogue and also thinking about where and when I bought each of his albums and what it meant to me at that point in life.
Before I knew it a memoir type essay was taking shape and I started to realise just how David's music has been an important soundtrack to many aspects of life.
Many of us took Bowie's music to that deeper, more personal level, so we really feel that loss, even though his music will live on. Over the course of the following months, I found myself re-evaluating his back catalogue and also thinking about where and when I bought each of his albums and what it meant to me at that point in life.
Before I knew it a memoir type essay was taking shape and I started to realise just how David's music has been an important soundtrack to many aspects of life.
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