Ask the Author: Andrew J. Chamberlain
Answered Questions (10)
Andrew J. Chamberlain
Hi Andrea, I apologise for not getting to this sooner, I am an infrequent visitor to Goodreads. I have used two sources for music for my podcasts, one is one of the websites that provide libraries of music that can be purchased legally with royalties properly distributed to the composer and producers. The other was a commission from a friend who is a jazz musician and composer.
I notice you ask how you could connect with podcasters looking for original film, did you mean music? I am not sure podcasters need film. I think most podcasters want to start on a very tight budget, they might spend some money on artwork for a square image, and they might spend some money on a decent microphone. I think you could try targeting new podcasts that seem to have a mediocre intro, or are using inappropriate music for their subject matter and offer them a package which could include for example a 15, 30, and 60 second clip of original composition, with the rights to use this work for their podcast and marketing, and maybe if you feel you can do it, also offer to integrate some voice recording from them to create proper intros and outros for their podcast. To make more of an offer, if you have the tech ability you could offer to create reels and social media material for them to promote their podcast. This might be a departure from what you intended to offer, but if a prospective podcaster was thinking of using some original composition, to have an offer of assets that can be used for promotion and marketing would sweeten the deal. Good luck! Andy
I notice you ask how you could connect with podcasters looking for original film, did you mean music? I am not sure podcasters need film. I think most podcasters want to start on a very tight budget, they might spend some money on artwork for a square image, and they might spend some money on a decent microphone. I think you could try targeting new podcasts that seem to have a mediocre intro, or are using inappropriate music for their subject matter and offer them a package which could include for example a 15, 30, and 60 second clip of original composition, with the rights to use this work for their podcast and marketing, and maybe if you feel you can do it, also offer to integrate some voice recording from them to create proper intros and outros for their podcast. To make more of an offer, if you have the tech ability you could offer to create reels and social media material for them to promote their podcast. This might be a departure from what you intended to offer, but if a prospective podcaster was thinking of using some original composition, to have an offer of assets that can be used for promotion and marketing would sweeten the deal. Good luck! Andy
Andrew J. Chamberlain
Hi Olusunmade, thanks for asking about this, and I hope the podcast is helpful to you. I'm always happy to help listeners to my podcast, the offer you are talking about is open to any listener. I am happy to review up to about 3,000 words of material from any listener, submitted as a word doc. In all cases it's helpful if whoever submits their material also provides:
A few details about themselves and their writing aspirations (this can be via a website).
A synopsis of the work (if available)
The genre of the work, and what their hopes are for it. So, for example, you might tell me that your work is a YA dystopian romance, and you hope to publish traditionally and approach an agent in the next 6-12 months.
If you go to my website: andrewjchamberlain.com and use the contact option there, you can send me something and I'll be happy to review it for you.
Regards
Andy
A few details about themselves and their writing aspirations (this can be via a website).
A synopsis of the work (if available)
The genre of the work, and what their hopes are for it. So, for example, you might tell me that your work is a YA dystopian romance, and you hope to publish traditionally and approach an agent in the next 6-12 months.
If you go to my website: andrewjchamberlain.com and use the contact option there, you can send me something and I'll be happy to review it for you.
Regards
Andy
Andrew J. Chamberlain
This is quite a tough question to answer, first because it's reasonably personal (although I don't mind answering it) but also because there aren't that many mysteries in my life, and the one I do pick has to be mysterious and intriguing enough to warrant a story.
I'll go with this one:
My mother tells me that when I was a baby she got me a big old pram to push me around in. This thing was a solid, old-school pram and it was heavy, very heavy. Apparently, one day she was at a road crossing and the pram slipped her grip and slid into the road, into the passage of oncoming traffic, and there was a car coming and it would have hit the pram, but she grabbed the pram handle, and lifted it, as if it were as light as a feather, and put it down on the pavement. She has not been able to explain how she had the strength to do this.
As far as I can see there are two possible explanations, one is that in this emergency she just found the strength to lift the pram and move it, the other is that there was some supernatural explanation - or explanations. The story could revolve around the tension between these two explanations.
I'll go with this one:
My mother tells me that when I was a baby she got me a big old pram to push me around in. This thing was a solid, old-school pram and it was heavy, very heavy. Apparently, one day she was at a road crossing and the pram slipped her grip and slid into the road, into the passage of oncoming traffic, and there was a car coming and it would have hit the pram, but she grabbed the pram handle, and lifted it, as if it were as light as a feather, and put it down on the pavement. She has not been able to explain how she had the strength to do this.
As far as I can see there are two possible explanations, one is that in this emergency she just found the strength to lift the pram and move it, the other is that there was some supernatural explanation - or explanations. The story could revolve around the tension between these two explanations.
Andrew J. Chamberlain
That's my real name, although because I am writing in the SciFi genre I've adopted the slightly old school approach of using my name with a middle initial.
I don't have strong views on pen names, I think they might have a use with certain genres. I suspect some men, writing in the romance genre, use a female nom de plume or pseudonym. I guess if I had a name that I thought was excessively weird I'd use another one, but generally I think the best thing to do is for a author to use their own name and just adapt it to suit their work.
I don't have strong views on pen names, I think they might have a use with certain genres. I suspect some men, writing in the romance genre, use a female nom de plume or pseudonym. I guess if I had a name that I thought was excessively weird I'd use another one, but generally I think the best thing to do is for a author to use their own name and just adapt it to suit their work.
Andrew J. Chamberlain
This answer contains spoilers…
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Andrew J. Chamberlain
Like a lot of writers I get ideas, and they sink into my subconscious where they fade or, perhaps, resurface at a later date as a story. Also, I simply look up at the astonishing potential of the heavens above us, and that can be an inspiration.
Andrew J. Chamberlain
I'm always working on myCreative Writer's Toolbelt podcasts but apart from that I've just published a Space Opera short story, Traveller's Blues which I am going to use as a source of examples for the podcast.
Later this year (2015) I am going to go back to a novel I am working on, inspired by the explosion in exoplanet research that's going on at the moment, I think this is probably the most exciting thing happening in astonomy and astrophysics right now.
Later this year (2015) I am going to go back to a novel I am working on, inspired by the explosion in exoplanet research that's going on at the moment, I think this is probably the most exciting thing happening in astonomy and astrophysics right now.
Andrew J. Chamberlain
In one of my Creative Writer's Toolbelt podcasts - episode 12I think, I talked about a good writer needing 3 qualities, perseverance, humility and imagination. Cultivate these qualities, especially perseverance.
Also, keep writing, and as you write be conscious of devleoping your voice. You'll be influenced by other writers but you need to find your own voice as well - it might take a million words(!) but so be it.
Also, keep writing, and as you write be conscious of devleoping your voice. You'll be influenced by other writers but you need to find your own voice as well - it might take a million words(!) but so be it.
Andrew J. Chamberlain
Writers are craftspeople, artisans; if you work hard as a writer and create something you can be proud of then that is a great thing. True writers can't help writing, we have to do it. But the real hard work is in taking all those words and poishing them and refinig them so that they form something compelling and wonderful.
Andrew J. Chamberlain
I think that depends on whether I am working on the project or seeking inspiration for a new one. If I am working on a project then I try to step back and think about the real story, think about the characters in the story and try to undestand what their true motivations are. Then I usually find something to latch on to, to get me started again.
I think it's more difficult with a new project, I think a writer has to be captured by an idea, taken with a concept and that concept can then rattle around for a while so that the story associated with it takes shape. So if i was really stuck I might try to go back to the ideas that have intrigued me in the past
I think it's more difficult with a new project, I think a writer has to be captured by an idea, taken with a concept and that concept can then rattle around for a while so that the story associated with it takes shape. So if i was really stuck I might try to go back to the ideas that have intrigued me in the past
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