Ask the Author: Graeme Shimmin
Answered Questions (7)
Graeme Shimmin
My family and I have a running joke that we want to live in the Federation.
In my case at least, it's not a joke – I would much prefer to live in the world of Star Trek than in our current dystopia. There's not a single species of bobble-headed, telepathic alien in our current nightmare world, for just one example.
I'd want to skip past the Eugenics Wars and the Third World War though and go straight to the utopian, post-scarcity society of the 23rd century, where I'm sure the, by then, retro charm of my novels would finally be appreciated.
In my case at least, it's not a joke – I would much prefer to live in the world of Star Trek than in our current dystopia. There's not a single species of bobble-headed, telepathic alien in our current nightmare world, for just one example.
I'd want to skip past the Eugenics Wars and the Third World War though and go straight to the utopian, post-scarcity society of the 23rd century, where I'm sure the, by then, retro charm of my novels would finally be appreciated.
Graeme Shimmin
Shimmin isn't a Jewish name. My family is from the Isle of Man and Shimmin is a common name there (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimmin).
Graeme Shimmin
Talking to people who have read my books and enjoyed them.
Graeme Shimmin
If I feel like I’ve got nothing to write, what helps me to get over the barrier is research. I read non-fiction or look at the Internet about related topics for inspiration. Research sparks an idea and I can get on with it again.
Graeme Shimmin
I'm editing a novel called Angel in Amber at the moment and hoping to bring that out next year. Angel in Amber is a thriller set in the near future, with Britain trapped between a feuding USA and Europe. It's written in the same all-action style as A Kill in the Morning.
After that, there will be sequels to A Kill in the Morning. I've worked out how the series will continue and I've already written the first chapter of the next book.
After that, there will be sequels to A Kill in the Morning. I've worked out how the series will continue and I've already written the first chapter of the next book.
Graeme Shimmin
First and most important: don’t give up the day job! It took me ten years to get published, and that’s not unusual. Even most commercially published writers have to teach writing to make ends meet.
Second, you have to realise the first draft isn’t the end. You need to write at least three drafts before you even attempt to find an agent or publisher. There will be at least three more drafts if they buy your book. Related to that: learn the rules of editing - you’re wasting every one’s time, including your own, if you send out work that has basic errors in it.
Third, keep learning and improving. Read all the classic examples of the kind of novel you want to write, buy books about writing techniques, do creative writing courses, join critique groups, online and in real life, and really listen to your feedback. Learning is the key difference between eventual success and ongoing failure in my opinion. Everyone always says not to give up, and it’s true that you shouldn’t, but you have to get better too.
Fourth, Network. Commercial publishing is a relationship business. You either have to know people or be extremely lucky if you want to get commercially published. How do you network though? Start with other authors. Support each other. Help each other. They move in the circles you need to get into.
Finally don’t give up. If you keep writing, keep learning and improving and keep networking, you’ll get published eventually.
Second, you have to realise the first draft isn’t the end. You need to write at least three drafts before you even attempt to find an agent or publisher. There will be at least three more drafts if they buy your book. Related to that: learn the rules of editing - you’re wasting every one’s time, including your own, if you send out work that has basic errors in it.
Third, keep learning and improving. Read all the classic examples of the kind of novel you want to write, buy books about writing techniques, do creative writing courses, join critique groups, online and in real life, and really listen to your feedback. Learning is the key difference between eventual success and ongoing failure in my opinion. Everyone always says not to give up, and it’s true that you shouldn’t, but you have to get better too.
Fourth, Network. Commercial publishing is a relationship business. You either have to know people or be extremely lucky if you want to get commercially published. How do you network though? Start with other authors. Support each other. Help each other. They move in the circles you need to get into.
Finally don’t give up. If you keep writing, keep learning and improving and keep networking, you’ll get published eventually.
Graeme Shimmin
I’d had an image in my head for years of hanger doors grinding open to reveal an amazing superweapon that I could never quite see. I also had inspiration from all the classic spy novels I'd read. When I started writing, all those ideas just seemed to flood out.
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