Ask the Author: Terry R. Hill
Answered Questions (8)
Terry R. Hill
Wow! This is a tough question to answer as most stories do not have a couple as the central characters in equal portion, casting one somewhat in the shadow. Or the couple in question are immersed in some kind of emotional, relationship turmoil which I find more stressful than entertaining and thus I tend to avoid such stories.
So I would venture to say that my favorite fictional couple would have to be Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. In their own way they are developed in equal portion. And while they have a relationship of sorts, it works for them, and together they are stronger than they are apart.
So I would venture to say that my favorite fictional couple would have to be Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. In their own way they are developed in equal portion. And while they have a relationship of sorts, it works for them, and together they are stronger than they are apart.
Terry R. Hill
Good question David. The short answer is that I decided, almost from the very beginning, to go the self-publishing route.
And as the late Paul Harvey always said, “… and now, for the rest of the story.”
I don’t know how “typical” I am in my approach to writing, and subsequently publishing, but I’ll walk you through my decisions. The decision to start writing in a concerted way – I dare not say “seriously” so as not to imply writing in any form might not be serious – was a deeply personal one for me. I won’t go into the gory details, but I needed some litmus test of my writing abilities within a relatively short period of time, to see if I could produce stories that would be enjoyed by many.
The publishing landscape had changed – for both the benefit and detriment of writers – but now there was an affordable entry point for those wanting to self-publish. But for me to justify spending the required effort and time away from my family to produce a novel(s), I needed fairly quick feedback upon completing my first novel. It was no secret that a new writer like myself would have some challenges attracting the attention of an agent and much more difficulty attracting the attention of a publishing house in these days and times where they are not wanting to risk the time and money on an unproven author who isn’t writing what is extremely popular at the moment.
Even under good conditions, it could take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to secure an agent with the experience and connections to the larger publishing houses and then a year plus afterwards to start getting bites from the publishers. Or if one chose to submit one’s work straight to the publishing houses it could take as much as 18 months just to get a rejection letter. And given that the microscopic signing fees and that many publishers still require you to do a lot of your own marketing, I decided that I would forge out into the river on my own. I needed a quicker read of my abilities. I couldn’t ask my wife to give me a year to write the book and then two or more years to sell the book to then wait to see if anyone would by it. At which point I, and to some extent the family, would have invested three to four years to get any indication as to if I might have a long-term future in writing.
So self-publishing I went. Straight into the deep end, but with the guidance of some close friends who watched out for me and pointed me in the right direction. I did receive the feedback that I needed to know that writing would have a future in my life. I grew as a writer and in under a year I was able to recoup the costs of the professional editing and cover art services used for the first novel, “In the Days of Humans: Third Exodus”.
It has been a learning experience and I continue to grow as a writer each and every day. Plus the numbers of very successful Indy writers is growing as well. This is not a sprint for me. This is a long-term career. And in the mean time, I will enjoy writing more stories and interacting with the readers who I am able to touch.
And as the late Paul Harvey always said, “… and now, for the rest of the story.”
I don’t know how “typical” I am in my approach to writing, and subsequently publishing, but I’ll walk you through my decisions. The decision to start writing in a concerted way – I dare not say “seriously” so as not to imply writing in any form might not be serious – was a deeply personal one for me. I won’t go into the gory details, but I needed some litmus test of my writing abilities within a relatively short period of time, to see if I could produce stories that would be enjoyed by many.
The publishing landscape had changed – for both the benefit and detriment of writers – but now there was an affordable entry point for those wanting to self-publish. But for me to justify spending the required effort and time away from my family to produce a novel(s), I needed fairly quick feedback upon completing my first novel. It was no secret that a new writer like myself would have some challenges attracting the attention of an agent and much more difficulty attracting the attention of a publishing house in these days and times where they are not wanting to risk the time and money on an unproven author who isn’t writing what is extremely popular at the moment.
Even under good conditions, it could take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to secure an agent with the experience and connections to the larger publishing houses and then a year plus afterwards to start getting bites from the publishers. Or if one chose to submit one’s work straight to the publishing houses it could take as much as 18 months just to get a rejection letter. And given that the microscopic signing fees and that many publishers still require you to do a lot of your own marketing, I decided that I would forge out into the river on my own. I needed a quicker read of my abilities. I couldn’t ask my wife to give me a year to write the book and then two or more years to sell the book to then wait to see if anyone would by it. At which point I, and to some extent the family, would have invested three to four years to get any indication as to if I might have a long-term future in writing.
So self-publishing I went. Straight into the deep end, but with the guidance of some close friends who watched out for me and pointed me in the right direction. I did receive the feedback that I needed to know that writing would have a future in my life. I grew as a writer and in under a year I was able to recoup the costs of the professional editing and cover art services used for the first novel, “In the Days of Humans: Third Exodus”.
It has been a learning experience and I continue to grow as a writer each and every day. Plus the numbers of very successful Indy writers is growing as well. This is not a sprint for me. This is a long-term career. And in the mean time, I will enjoy writing more stories and interacting with the readers who I am able to touch.
Terry R. Hill
Currently I’m finishing up the manuscript to the second book of the science fiction series “In the Days of Humans” and I’m placing the finishing touches on the detailed outline (~10k words) for the third book in the series. This book will continue a little over a year after the conclusion of the first book, Third Exodus. The following is the current Book Two (title not finalized) back-copy text:
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“The darkness within patiently waits for our moment of weakness to return; sometimes unnoticed, sometimes with the force that swallows stars. Unknown to Col. Adamini the sins of his decisions when leaving Earth to save humanity will come back to collect their dues and very well may lead to the end of all.
With the colony on Mars stable and growing by the birth of his children, the first humans born on their new home, Col Adamini sets the course of humanity to secure the resources left on Earth and the knowledge left by the ancient Nandu to deliver on his promise of a better world for his people. At least that was the plan.
The team Adamini sends back to Earth is lead by his long-standing first officer Captain Tau Themba, still in search of his own destiny. Their mission: to finish building the ship that is destined his to captain. However, they are welcomed by the cold misfortune of a failed civilization lying in wait.
Adamini's mission to claim the knowledge of the ancients, is shaded not by the sins of his past, but from the darkness that lives within us all, prone for the opportunity to walk again. Faced with the risk of spreading the madness which lurks in the shadows of the Yamakarā and has already destroyed at least one world, to protect these that he loves most in the universe, Adamini must once again decide who lives and who must die.
If Adamini and Themba are unsuccessful in their seemingly unrelated missions, humankind may never venture into the stars again and will slowly wither away in the dry winds of Mars. Only through sacrificing themselves by unleashing their inner demons will any hope for a future survive.”
---
Book Two was shaped around some philosophical plot arcs that began in Third Exodus and were matured in Book Two. A few of these arcs will continue on and finalize in Book Three, but in total will call into question what we as a species think we know and believe – spanning history, science and theology. Sorry, no spoilers here today!
Another shaping element that defines Book Two is the style in which it was written. As part of my development as a writer I wanted to challenge myself to write a novel that had a significant dark element and blurred the lines between reality and psychosis; having parts of both slip through your fingers. It sounds almost flippant in reference to a pseudo, post-apocalyptic, science fiction novel to make such a comment.
I wanted to play with the concept of our individual realities and how they change once fundamental parts of our conscious sphere are altered. To simplify it a bit, once your on the field and no longer an arm-chair quarterback, the decisions your make in the heat of the moment change significantly. In our daily lives we are all very confident in how we might behave while judging the actions of others and their poor decisions, some of which fall within irrational. Book Two is a testament to the fact that one’s reality is singularly their perception of reality.
---
“The darkness within patiently waits for our moment of weakness to return; sometimes unnoticed, sometimes with the force that swallows stars. Unknown to Col. Adamini the sins of his decisions when leaving Earth to save humanity will come back to collect their dues and very well may lead to the end of all.
With the colony on Mars stable and growing by the birth of his children, the first humans born on their new home, Col Adamini sets the course of humanity to secure the resources left on Earth and the knowledge left by the ancient Nandu to deliver on his promise of a better world for his people. At least that was the plan.
The team Adamini sends back to Earth is lead by his long-standing first officer Captain Tau Themba, still in search of his own destiny. Their mission: to finish building the ship that is destined his to captain. However, they are welcomed by the cold misfortune of a failed civilization lying in wait.
Adamini's mission to claim the knowledge of the ancients, is shaded not by the sins of his past, but from the darkness that lives within us all, prone for the opportunity to walk again. Faced with the risk of spreading the madness which lurks in the shadows of the Yamakarā and has already destroyed at least one world, to protect these that he loves most in the universe, Adamini must once again decide who lives and who must die.
If Adamini and Themba are unsuccessful in their seemingly unrelated missions, humankind may never venture into the stars again and will slowly wither away in the dry winds of Mars. Only through sacrificing themselves by unleashing their inner demons will any hope for a future survive.”
---
Book Two was shaped around some philosophical plot arcs that began in Third Exodus and were matured in Book Two. A few of these arcs will continue on and finalize in Book Three, but in total will call into question what we as a species think we know and believe – spanning history, science and theology. Sorry, no spoilers here today!
Another shaping element that defines Book Two is the style in which it was written. As part of my development as a writer I wanted to challenge myself to write a novel that had a significant dark element and blurred the lines between reality and psychosis; having parts of both slip through your fingers. It sounds almost flippant in reference to a pseudo, post-apocalyptic, science fiction novel to make such a comment.
I wanted to play with the concept of our individual realities and how they change once fundamental parts of our conscious sphere are altered. To simplify it a bit, once your on the field and no longer an arm-chair quarterback, the decisions your make in the heat of the moment change significantly. In our daily lives we are all very confident in how we might behave while judging the actions of others and their poor decisions, some of which fall within irrational. Book Two is a testament to the fact that one’s reality is singularly their perception of reality.
Terry R. Hill
I think inspiration comes in different flavors. Inspiration to me can come in the form of a great idea for a new book, of which case there are not enough years remaining in my life to address each and every one and do them justice.
Inspiration can also some in the form of sitting down and actually doing the writing. In my life with a very busy work and family schedule, inspiration to sit down and write is rarely, let me emphasize rarely, a problem unless the particular scene(s) that I’m writing are a difficult topic or one of which I have little frame of reference. In such cases I draw upon some of the methods I mentioned in a different question to help clear the writer’s block.
With any of the cases above, to do any quality writing I have to place myself in the moment of the story and become emotionally connected to the scene and characters involved. By clearing the mind of the daily clutter and stimulating the creative centers with the use of scene-appropriate music, I can compose on the most difficult of days.
Writing for me is a privilege and a luxury that I have been allowed to do; no inspiration or motivation required.
Inspiration can also some in the form of sitting down and actually doing the writing. In my life with a very busy work and family schedule, inspiration to sit down and write is rarely, let me emphasize rarely, a problem unless the particular scene(s) that I’m writing are a difficult topic or one of which I have little frame of reference. In such cases I draw upon some of the methods I mentioned in a different question to help clear the writer’s block.
With any of the cases above, to do any quality writing I have to place myself in the moment of the story and become emotionally connected to the scene and characters involved. By clearing the mind of the daily clutter and stimulating the creative centers with the use of scene-appropriate music, I can compose on the most difficult of days.
Writing for me is a privilege and a luxury that I have been allowed to do; no inspiration or motivation required.
Terry R. Hill
Writer’s block, oh writer’s block … what can I say? Well, there is actually quite a lot to say on the topic as it turns out.
I wrote a piece once titled “Amadeus, Brains, Butterflies, and Spaceships ...” that talks to the psychological and anatomical connections between the mind, brain and the effects of music on the human system. Research has shown that music stimulates the very oldest part of the brain (from and evolutionary perspective), the part of the brain that operates in abstraction and generally at the subconscious level. Therefore, when we relax and let our mind wander (sometimes when listening to music), it is no accident that some of the most creative ideas bubble up to the surface.
So how do I deal with writer’s block? Well, I relax and listen to some music. Or take a drive. Or sometimes both! Some of the most creative time I have each day is during my daily commute to and from work. Who would have imagined that driving in traffic would be a relaxing experience?! But it is, and has been quite a useful tool for me over the years.
That’s more of the touchy-feely side of writer’s block and the creative process. Being a writer – one that actually produces work on a regular basis – you can’t wait to be inspired, or sit around for hours burning gas in traffic wearing out your CDs. Sometimes you have to plow new ground one painstaking inch at a time. That is when I rely on the outlining process.
By breaking down the story into large chunks and then gradually adding details, breaking it into smaller pieces, it can help you methodically think through where you want the story to go and how you want to get there. I generally find that once you break it down to the scene level, that your creative processes reengage and you can get back to writing. And of course, doing it while listening to music is advised, whereas while driving is not.
I wrote a piece once titled “Amadeus, Brains, Butterflies, and Spaceships ...” that talks to the psychological and anatomical connections between the mind, brain and the effects of music on the human system. Research has shown that music stimulates the very oldest part of the brain (from and evolutionary perspective), the part of the brain that operates in abstraction and generally at the subconscious level. Therefore, when we relax and let our mind wander (sometimes when listening to music), it is no accident that some of the most creative ideas bubble up to the surface.
So how do I deal with writer’s block? Well, I relax and listen to some music. Or take a drive. Or sometimes both! Some of the most creative time I have each day is during my daily commute to and from work. Who would have imagined that driving in traffic would be a relaxing experience?! But it is, and has been quite a useful tool for me over the years.
That’s more of the touchy-feely side of writer’s block and the creative process. Being a writer – one that actually produces work on a regular basis – you can’t wait to be inspired, or sit around for hours burning gas in traffic wearing out your CDs. Sometimes you have to plow new ground one painstaking inch at a time. That is when I rely on the outlining process.
By breaking down the story into large chunks and then gradually adding details, breaking it into smaller pieces, it can help you methodically think through where you want the story to go and how you want to get there. I generally find that once you break it down to the scene level, that your creative processes reengage and you can get back to writing. And of course, doing it while listening to music is advised, whereas while driving is not.
Terry R. Hill
This is a difficult question to answer; there are many facets to it, and I won’t be able to cover them all here. Being a writer allows me to focus the creative energies that have historically not always been applicable to my work, and home life. Now that my young family demands more of a flexible schedule, it also allows me to do very interesting things that work well with the time that can be eked out around my rather dynamic family. So I guess you would say that it’s a vehicle that allows a constructive use of my creative energies, and much to the relief of my wife, it has reduced the number of “creative” home improvement projects I’ve undertaken.
But I think that the best thing for me about being a writer is the ability to tell a story, to create a new world – or even a new universe – that is an enjoyable experience for the reader and touches them on a personal level. And if I’m lucky, my stories might even help change the way the reader thinks about their life and their future as well. To be able to create by your own hands something that powerful is a real thrill.
I must say that the occasional moments when you talk to a reader and they say, “You know, the part in where you wrote ___ made me pause, as I’ve never really thought about it in that way.” Or, “That scene in where (such and such) happened, man that gave me goose bumps and bothered me for the rest of the night!” Or, “Terry, you’re killing me with the cliff hangers! I can’t wait to read what happens next.” These are the moments that really mean a lot to me as a writer. However, I never receive higher compliments than when people tell me they want to buy several copies to give to their friends as gifts! Still puts as smile on my face thinking about it. :-)
But I think that the best thing for me about being a writer is the ability to tell a story, to create a new world – or even a new universe – that is an enjoyable experience for the reader and touches them on a personal level. And if I’m lucky, my stories might even help change the way the reader thinks about their life and their future as well. To be able to create by your own hands something that powerful is a real thrill.
I must say that the occasional moments when you talk to a reader and they say, “You know, the part in where you wrote ___ made me pause, as I’ve never really thought about it in that way.” Or, “That scene in where (such and such) happened, man that gave me goose bumps and bothered me for the rest of the night!” Or, “Terry, you’re killing me with the cliff hangers! I can’t wait to read what happens next.” These are the moments that really mean a lot to me as a writer. However, I never receive higher compliments than when people tell me they want to buy several copies to give to their friends as gifts! Still puts as smile on my face thinking about it. :-)
Terry R. Hill
A large part of being a writer is what you make of it, and in turn you will get out of it what you put into it. As with all things worthwhile in life, it will be hard work and take a while. Continue to refine your skills and learn from others.
You are now your own sales team – no matter if you’re traditionally published or self-published; it’s not just about just writing any more. Learn how and when to market yourself. Quickly figure out what gets you the greatest return on your investment of time and money and don’t keep throwing away good money after bad just because it is the general perception of the right thing to do within the Indy writing community.
A large part of it is luck, but it also helps tremendously if you have talent to back it up, to help open doors and attract the readers. Depending on how you define "success", a successful career in writing is more of a marathon than a sprint. If you’re lucky enough to make it big with your first novel, I would suggest that you also play the lottery, as the chances of making it big on the first try are about the same with both.
A significant part of it is what is selling at the time, vs what you’re writing.
If this is your only income, get used to eating Ramen noodles for a while.
Research different writing techniques, in particular the Deep Point of View. Also find someone who is “successful” in the business and learn from their experiences. I would highly recommend reading Dean Wesley Smith’s Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing.
Use 5+ beta readers who range from general knowledge of your desired genre, to people who have read hundreds of books in said genre. Make sure they will give you detailed and honest feedback and suggestions on how to make it better without compromising the story you want to tell. Of course you also need to hear what you did well so that you can make sure you do more of that too!
Don’t rush to publish. Trust me! See previous comment about this being a marathon.
Put your money in two places: Hiring a good cover artist, and hiring a good editor. While there are always exceptions, you are not as talented in these areas as you might think. Additionally, if you’re related to them or sleep with them, they are NOT allowed to do either for you!
Basically, if your cover assaults the eye, no one will pick it up to even read the blurb or back cover. If your book is full of grammar, punctuation errors or typos, then the reader may not finish your book or worse yet, leave a nasty review that is not representative of the great story you have to tell.
Lastly, do it because you enjoy it! Life's too short to do otherwise.
You are now your own sales team – no matter if you’re traditionally published or self-published; it’s not just about just writing any more. Learn how and when to market yourself. Quickly figure out what gets you the greatest return on your investment of time and money and don’t keep throwing away good money after bad just because it is the general perception of the right thing to do within the Indy writing community.
A large part of it is luck, but it also helps tremendously if you have talent to back it up, to help open doors and attract the readers. Depending on how you define "success", a successful career in writing is more of a marathon than a sprint. If you’re lucky enough to make it big with your first novel, I would suggest that you also play the lottery, as the chances of making it big on the first try are about the same with both.
A significant part of it is what is selling at the time, vs what you’re writing.
If this is your only income, get used to eating Ramen noodles for a while.
Research different writing techniques, in particular the Deep Point of View. Also find someone who is “successful” in the business and learn from their experiences. I would highly recommend reading Dean Wesley Smith’s Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing.
Use 5+ beta readers who range from general knowledge of your desired genre, to people who have read hundreds of books in said genre. Make sure they will give you detailed and honest feedback and suggestions on how to make it better without compromising the story you want to tell. Of course you also need to hear what you did well so that you can make sure you do more of that too!
Don’t rush to publish. Trust me! See previous comment about this being a marathon.
Put your money in two places: Hiring a good cover artist, and hiring a good editor. While there are always exceptions, you are not as talented in these areas as you might think. Additionally, if you’re related to them or sleep with them, they are NOT allowed to do either for you!
Basically, if your cover assaults the eye, no one will pick it up to even read the blurb or back cover. If your book is full of grammar, punctuation errors or typos, then the reader may not finish your book or worse yet, leave a nasty review that is not representative of the great story you have to tell.
Lastly, do it because you enjoy it! Life's too short to do otherwise.
Terry R. Hill
The idea for "In the Days of Humans: Third Exodus" is a bit of an example of making lemonade when life serves up lemons. The general plot idea came to me on the drive home after a particularly bad day when I was frustrated with work (I work at NASA) and I was just pondering “What if everything that NASA is doing is for naught. What if we never achieve the goal of figuring out how to live permanently in space or on another planet? What if it ends up being some group or country that we never expect?”
Just the simple process of throwing away a few “givens” in my life and career was enough of a catalyst to get my imagination working. After mulling it over in my mind for a few days and deciding that my take on this alternate future was unique – and to the best of my knowledge not been done before – and was something I could work with, it's where I ultimately got the idea for the book. After that, the specific plot lines and arcs started falling into place quickly and as they say, the rest is history. The series was born.
What started out as a very bad day, has resulted in one of the most enjoyable endeavors of my life.
Just the simple process of throwing away a few “givens” in my life and career was enough of a catalyst to get my imagination working. After mulling it over in my mind for a few days and deciding that my take on this alternate future was unique – and to the best of my knowledge not been done before – and was something I could work with, it's where I ultimately got the idea for the book. After that, the specific plot lines and arcs started falling into place quickly and as they say, the rest is history. The series was born.
What started out as a very bad day, has resulted in one of the most enjoyable endeavors of my life.
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