Andy Lucas's Blog: My thoughts
March 16, 2013
Not enough time!
There is never enough time to be a writer....I have known this for a long time. Unless fortunate enough to be able to write for a living (as we all hope to do i.e. one day being discovered), the reality of having to work and live tends to leave little 'spare' time for writing. Add in a busy family and my writing time dwindles to barely a couple of hours a week.
I am sure every writer wrestles with the same issue and I have long dreamed of taking some time out from work to just WRITE! My first completed novel took 10 years to write...in dribs, drabs, fits and starts...which was hugely frustrating. My second novel is 25% written and I have decided that it is time to take a gamble. So I have finally given myself a 6 month sabbatical from work, and am going to throw myself into my writing like a man possessed.
Will I be able to get 'noticed' if I finish the novel in this time? Maybe, maybe not - it doesn't matter. It isn't the reason I'm doing it - I just want to be able to write from beginning to end, in a short time frame, and create the very best work I can!
Time flies past so fast it is frightening...and it seems to be getting faster the older I get. I need to have this period where I focus on writing but it has taken the best part of 25 years to get myself into a position where I can take 6 months off work.
Let's see what happens!
I am sure every writer wrestles with the same issue and I have long dreamed of taking some time out from work to just WRITE! My first completed novel took 10 years to write...in dribs, drabs, fits and starts...which was hugely frustrating. My second novel is 25% written and I have decided that it is time to take a gamble. So I have finally given myself a 6 month sabbatical from work, and am going to throw myself into my writing like a man possessed.
Will I be able to get 'noticed' if I finish the novel in this time? Maybe, maybe not - it doesn't matter. It isn't the reason I'm doing it - I just want to be able to write from beginning to end, in a short time frame, and create the very best work I can!
Time flies past so fast it is frightening...and it seems to be getting faster the older I get. I need to have this period where I focus on writing but it has taken the best part of 25 years to get myself into a position where I can take 6 months off work.
Let's see what happens!
January 21, 2013
Grrrrr!
I just wrote an extensive blog about why I am focusing more on writing my next book than promoting the existing one...then Goodreads told me it was over-capacity and the whole thing was swallowed up in the ether! Blast!
Anyway, my whole thrust was that I have been spending far too much of my very limited spare time in promoting my current novel and this has left very little for new work. I have two new books on the go; one a sci-fi rewrite and the other a thriller sequel.
Bottom line...I love the writing process and want the many stories whizzing around inside my head to be put down on paper (or e-book). I know I need to promote my work, and support other indie writers (usually on Twitter) BUT the books won't write themselves.
None of this will be earth-shattering to anyone, I'm sure, but I just wanted to share! Cheers.
Andy
Anyway, my whole thrust was that I have been spending far too much of my very limited spare time in promoting my current novel and this has left very little for new work. I have two new books on the go; one a sci-fi rewrite and the other a thriller sequel.
Bottom line...I love the writing process and want the many stories whizzing around inside my head to be put down on paper (or e-book). I know I need to promote my work, and support other indie writers (usually on Twitter) BUT the books won't write themselves.
None of this will be earth-shattering to anyone, I'm sure, but I just wanted to share! Cheers.
Andy
June 8, 2012
WattPad
I just posted a couple of initial chapters of RACE AMAZON on WattPad. Only heard of it today (sorry if that makes me a really uncool dinosaur!) Incase you haven't heard either, you can offer your writing free across mobile phones and pads. I liked what I saw and will see how it goes with these first few chapters. You can add/publish your work, chapter by chapter, like in the good old days!
If anyone knows of any other great platforms for sharing my books and poetry, please let me know! Thanks.
Andy
If anyone knows of any other great platforms for sharing my books and poetry, please let me know! Thanks.
Andy
ebook - try again later!
Still no joy with being able to open/access the ebook uploads after a few hours so I have deleted them and will try again another time!
If you want to read free samples of Race Amazon or Baker's Dozen...the first batch, you can find them on my website, www.andylucasbooks.com or on amazon, where both have the 'look inside' option of reading about 10% free!
When I get my head around ebook uploads on Goodreads, I will put them on in a way that allows potential readers to actually READ them! Cheers!
Andy
If you want to read free samples of Race Amazon or Baker's Dozen...the first batch, you can find them on my website, www.andylucasbooks.com or on amazon, where both have the 'look inside' option of reading about 10% free!
When I get my head around ebook uploads on Goodreads, I will put them on in a way that allows potential readers to actually READ them! Cheers!
Andy
e-book downloads
Just converted my 2 offerings onto epub format so I can upload them here - the uploads said 1-2 hours and that I'd get to preview them first? They went on after a few minutes but can't be opened? No preview option yet?
Now this may be me jumping the gun and all will resolve itself in a couple of hours...or I may just be rubbish at uploading ebooks to Goodreads!
If you try to look at the ebook versions and get nowhere, accept my apologies until I know for sure what I have, or haven't, done wrong!
Until then, both books are on Kindle at amazon, with the 'look inside' option so you can still read some of the content free if you wish!
Thanks!
Now this may be me jumping the gun and all will resolve itself in a couple of hours...or I may just be rubbish at uploading ebooks to Goodreads!
If you try to look at the ebook versions and get nowhere, accept my apologies until I know for sure what I have, or haven't, done wrong!
Until then, both books are on Kindle at amazon, with the 'look inside' option so you can still read some of the content free if you wish!
Thanks!
May 16, 2012
First Time!
My first blog on this site and I am wondering if the free option for e-book pricing via KDP Select has taught readers that if they wait long enough, any book they like the look of will be available to download free of charge? If so, where does this leave the new indie writers trying to build their own readership, mainly using social media?
This means that the high download numbers when your book is offered free won't actually do anything to create an income for a new author...so does this mean that agents and big publishers are still needed by writers after all?
I think the advent of Amazon and Kindle is doing great things for writers, and readers, including their foray into offering avenues for new screenplays to be considered. Exciting times, for writers!
One other thing....if social media like Twitter attracts people with similar tastes and likes to you, then new writers will invariably attract other new writers - which can be a great networking experience but will it do anything for sales if everyone you are tweeting is actually also trying to sell their own book.
I am really looking forward to spending time on Goodreads and linking with more readers and reviewers. Their opinions and feedback can only make me a better writer.
This means that the high download numbers when your book is offered free won't actually do anything to create an income for a new author...so does this mean that agents and big publishers are still needed by writers after all?
I think the advent of Amazon and Kindle is doing great things for writers, and readers, including their foray into offering avenues for new screenplays to be considered. Exciting times, for writers!
One other thing....if social media like Twitter attracts people with similar tastes and likes to you, then new writers will invariably attract other new writers - which can be a great networking experience but will it do anything for sales if everyone you are tweeting is actually also trying to sell their own book.
I am really looking forward to spending time on Goodreads and linking with more readers and reviewers. Their opinions and feedback can only make me a better writer.
