Ask the Author: Allan Walsh
Answered Questions (7)
Allan Walsh
I jolted awake from my nightmare. The blood on my hands was real.
Allan Walsh
Hi Doris, I'm a little confused by your question. When you ask if my "people" talk to me and try to tell me what to do I say, are you referring to a publisher or agent? I'm not sure, but if this is the case then I can answer by saying as an independent author I do not have a publisher or an agent.
Allan Walsh
Being in the southern hemisphere, we are just moving into winter now. It's a beautiful time of year as the temperature is usually around 18 - 22 degrees during the day. Lovely weather for reading! So, what's on my list? Well, there are just so many books to choose from, but I am trying to read a greater variety of authors in order to get a broader view of the different styles out there and maybe find another author to love. I'm just finishing up Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve, then I'm looking at reading the second book in the Mistborn series, The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson. I want to get a look at something by Steven Erickson too, then I'll see what takes me from there. I really want to get through a few more volumes of Bleach too :)
Allan Walsh
My favourite fictional couple would have to be Logen Ninefingers and Ferro Maljinn. Why? I just love the way they interact, the bickering, the dislike, the respect, the unwanted feelings. There is so much to like about this mismatched, yet superbly suitable couple.
Allan Walsh
Hi Ashleigh, yes, I am a self published author. I chose to self publish because it cuts through the red tape and cuts out the middle man. I know so many authors that have queried publishing houses, been asked to send a manuscript and have waited 6 - 18 months for an answer. I don't want to wait around for someone else to decide if my work is good enough for them. I also want to choose my own covers and write stories my way. So, I guess it is about having the freedom to do it how I want.
As far as tips for aspiring authors go, I would say back yourself, but do it right. Make sure you are giving a quality product, that goes for the cover, the editing, the formatting and of course the story. Don't believe everything you read on blogs, etc... research, read differing opinions and you will work out what is good advice and what isn't. Getting noticed takes time and I am still working on that, but I do have a plan. I've yet to test it, so I don't know if it will work, but I still have one. I have developed it from reading what worked for others. I'd say have a plan. If it doesn't work, tweak it or change it. That's what I will do :)
As far as tips for aspiring authors go, I would say back yourself, but do it right. Make sure you are giving a quality product, that goes for the cover, the editing, the formatting and of course the story. Don't believe everything you read on blogs, etc... research, read differing opinions and you will work out what is good advice and what isn't. Getting noticed takes time and I am still working on that, but I do have a plan. I've yet to test it, so I don't know if it will work, but I still have one. I have developed it from reading what worked for others. I'd say have a plan. If it doesn't work, tweak it or change it. That's what I will do :)
Allan Walsh
I would say don't give up, the more you try, the better you get. Things that will help boost your experience are reading more books; books on writing and novels in your genre. I would also strongly recommend joining a critique group.
Allan Walsh
I'm not really a believer in writer's block. I think there are times when I don't want to write a particular story. This usually happens when I haven't really worked out where I want the story to go. When it happens I take a break and let the story stew for a while until I can work it out. I will often work on a different project while this is happening, this can also generate new ideas that can I can take back to the other story.
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