Writers Who Write

Anyone seen Californication?

Great series starring David 'Will-anyone-ever-see-me-as-anyone-other-than-Mulder Duchovny.

(EDIT - David is SO much more Hank than Mulder in real life!)

David plays Hank Moody, a writer who wrote one book, then, hmmmm, doesn't seem to write ever. Like ever.

Except occasionally.

(Sounds a lot like me).

It's a funny series, highly sexual, a kind of bloke's version of 'Sex And The City,' except every time I watch it, despite his amusing adventures, all I think is :

'Okay, he's shagging another stunning broad, good for him, but shouldn't he be writing?'

So shouldn't I BE WRITING?

I can be very lazy.

Fact.

Current update!

I have THREE ongoing projects for my first full length novel, and I do look at them from time to time, but I have to admit, since my publisher dissolved the company, I've lost my motivation.

Not my inspiration. My motivation.

Big difference, people. (Non literary people (or non English speaking people), go get a dictionary)

Ideas are never the problem. I have ideas coming outta my........ahem, X Box. I get story ideas arguing with my beautiful wife. I get ideas watching my mates do 'things-they-shouldnt-do' (I'm no rat!)

Ideas aren't the problem. It's nailing them to the page that proves difficult.

I can't remember who said it, but a famous person once said :

'Ideas are perfect. They're pure, unfettered, uncomplicated. As you start to write, you should start to question how badly you can fuck up that great idea.'

Nowadays, I'd be happy just to be bothered to fuck up a great idea.

But it's not all doom and gloom.

I've decided to get an agent.

Yep. I am selling my screenplays. Scripts. Movies.

I'll always be a story teller, a novel writer, but why not sell something to Hollywood in the meantime, eh?

If I can be bothered to go to a meeting with Spielberg.

(I sleep late on Saturdays, just so you know, Mr Spielberg).

Iceberg! Right ahead!

So I'm changing publishers.

And it sucks.

It's taken me a little while to think of how to put this into my blog; but I've decided to forego all the gory details (the other Vamplit writers know what happened) and just state the facts.

I'm changing publishers.

End of.

So, yes, the paperback edition of Swan Song has been cancelled.

It fucking sucks, but what can you do, eh?

Anyhoo, I'm shopping my four screenplays around Hollywood now. Yep. I'm getting myself an agent!

Established, best selling author, Colin Bateman, actually advised me to get a literary agent too. So who am I to argue with such advice?

So it's still full steam ahead on my second novel while I find a new home for my first.

In addition, I am currently writing a VERY black comedy about a break up (non vampire related) and toying with numerous ideas for additional short stories.

You gotta roll with the punches, man.

A special thank you to Facebook for allowing me to reach out and talk to some of my biggest creative influences, I never thought I'd have a chance to tell Clive Barker personally how much his work means to me.

Keep on writing, guys.

'Cause what else is there?

Full steam ahead.....

It's been ages since I updated this blog but that's okay.

You know why?

My second book is kicking off! Finally, I've hit my stride!

Populated with colourful, unpredicatable characters, this second book is practically writing itself! Careful not to let the narrative get ahead of itself, I'm having so much fun, letting ideas flow and seeing where they lead, creating dramas and allowing them to resolve themselves (or thread their subplotted way through the main story).

At last, my second book has a distinctive voice, and a distinctive title.

Yep, I have named my second baby already, and here, for the first time, I shall announce it's title.....

Hotel Nomad

It's confirmed!

For the story I am weaving, it's a succinct, self-explanatory, non-pretentious moniker.

Well, that and I don't think the book needs a title that gives you anything other than a sense of 'locale.' It's perfect for the world I'm creating.

There!

That's my excuse for not blogging for so long.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go write a vampire poker card game where if an immortal player loses, he has to slash his owned mortal's throat and let the other players feed, like an ill-gained bounty......

Oooops, damn spoilers!

The 'Lad Factor'

Okay

I am three complete chapters into my new book and something has hit me.

(I'm not sure it's actually a problem per se, but it's definitely caused me to pause and consider a few things).

Swan Song had a likeable immortal femme fatale and a very unlikable very human male (upon which the story rested). It was an intimate character study into two characters and their relationship. It existed between them and for them, so whatever they got up to, hey, it's how they get their yucks, right? No matter how doomed or damaged, essentially it was a love story.

Well, sort of.

The new book has been designed to have multiple characters, multiple scenarios and be everything Swan Song wasn't. Dialogue heavy, humourous, quick paced, more complicated, more epic, etc...

Basically, everything Twilight was, Swan Song was designed NOT to be.

Basically, everything Swan Song was, this new book is designed NOT to be.

(Get to the point, Jev!)

Okay, so now I'm free to run wild, right?

After all, this is unforgiving, British vampires at their most unremorseful we're talking about. Red blooded males with ferocious tempers and more ferocious sex drives.....

Well, I may have gone too far, as early as in the second chapter.

I may have fallen foul of the 'Lad Factor.'

Essentially, without giving anything away, the second chapter is a boy's wet dream, a boy vampire's wet dream.

It's playful and not at all smutty but loose, slutty and surprising, too early in the book. I know men will love it but what about my female readers?

(At this point, I think it's safe to say more women have read Swan Song than men!)

The only reason I bring this up is because recently I attempted reading Flirt by Laurell K Hamilton and couldn't get past the first twelve pages.

It was the work of an author who WISHED she was her main character, who had two vampires and one lycanthrope as her lovers/slaves and, naturally, they were GORGEOUS! By Chapter Three, all four of them were snuggling publicly in a restaurant and discussing which of the males would be lucky enough to take her home.

It was pure tripe. Wanton fantasy along the lines of the worst Myer condition and I couldn't get any further.

It is now I look at my second book with subjective eyes.

What if my beloved female audience (whom I worked hard to attract with Swan Song) get two chapters into my new book and hit such a laddish scene that they can't continue?

Don't get me wrong! I want to distinguish my London vampires from the immortal pussies out there, but I don't want to alienate my female readers doing so.

I am currently rolling on, full steam ahead, and leaving the chapter intact, for the moment, but the thought keeps coming back....

Do girl readers REALLY want to see boy vamps acting out?

And mortal girls paying the heavy, sexual, fatal price?

As of writing, I am undecided.......

A Much Needed Update

Whoa!

Has it been that long since I updated this thing?

I think I'm going to have to be a little tougher on myself in regards to keeping this blog updated.

I have a good reason for not blogging though, I've been hard at work on my second book.

As previous posts have shown, I've agonised over this book far more than Swan Song which, if I'm honest, kind of wrote itself. The story was so self contained, driven and simple that writing it was a breeze.

This book, however, will require all of my skills.

It's fun but much harder than I expected. What's that saying? 'Nothing that comes easy is worth anything.'

Or something like that.....

Anyhoo, been a good start to the new year for me. Pretty damn happy about a lot of things.

I'm writing more notes on character, plot, structure and theme than ever before, which really helps me in the long run.

As it currently stands, a FREE ebook of six brand new short stories by yours truly should be online very soon.

Following quickly on it's heels should be the much heralded Swan Song Exclusive Paperback, which will include the aforementioned six stories PLUS a further six stories that you won't be able to find online.

All pretty exciting stuff!

Farewell 2011! It's been fun!

And it has been!

I am one of those people who, when the New Year turns, does tend to get a little melancholy about the previous year passing, even if I have had a great year! Sue me, but 2011 has been a great year for me for many reasons. I won't list them but ultimately, when I look back, I have nothing but fond memories.

So what does 2012 hold?

I have to get more serious about my writing. That much is clear. I plan to finish two novels this coming year. (I actually have five ideas vying to be my second published title with Vamplit Publishing).

I recently sent my Final Edit (why do I have to put that in capital letters every time?!) of the Swan Song Paperback 12 Story Collection to my publisher so, at this juncture in the year and my life, it really feels like a chapter closed. I need to explore more epic storytelling. More characters, more scope, more emotion.

More than ever, I feel I will gain my much needed sustenance from the written word than cinema. Hollywood has become so fucking lazy recently I can hardly believe it! Everything is a remake, a prequel, a 're-imagining,' a 'whatever-you-want-to-call-it.' Like music, I now live in the past when it comes to films. Modern movies just dissapoint me. So much so, it actually hurts.

So in 2012, I need to delve deep and pull out the kind of material that would turn me on as a reader.

Of course, if David Fincher is reading this and wants to commission Swan Song, I'm all ears!

Roll on 2012!

To all my blog followers, to my readers, to my family of Vamplit fellow authors, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'And on it goes.....'

'.....like a gent, 'cause all we need is candlelight!'

Ahem, sorry, been listening to Eagle Eye Cherry!

And on it goes!

Final proofreading is underway for the Swan Song Paperback with twelve exclusive brand new short stories! Yay!

And work is fully underway on the second book! I promise!

No, really!

So as I argued with a friend the other day about a band's difficult second album, my thoughts naturally turned to my writing.

Should your second book, if it's not a sequel, be all that different from your debut?

I'm talking in terms of tone.

I've had to make some tough decisions as I pen my second.

As you know, loyal followers of my blog, I don't do sequels. My second book is NOT a sequel to Swan Song. However, I have found myself re-reading Swan Song in order to regain my voice, per se, so the second does still feel like a continuation of my career (I use the word loosely).

I penned an original first paragraph that was so heavy, I drowned in its metaphors before I reached the break.

So I edited.

I tried a light, comedic approach that became bitter and twisted, then felt readers may not appreciate being toyed with so early.

So I edited.

Then, finally, I threw out all the bullshit, realised where the REAL starting point of the story should occur and wrote, and was TRUE to the spirit and intention of said story. I've finished the opening, done and dusted, and, well, I think it may surprise a few people. Most importantly, I'm happy. Already. Yep. I'm easily pleased!

The longest journey starts with a single step. I've been dancing on the start line now for two fucking years. So this BETTER be good!

It retains Swan Song's flowing prose (naturally, I'm still trying to emulate Clive Barker's writing style) and serious tone but I think it's more true to itself. Less concerned with impressing and more about telling a story. It feels already like a natural successor to my debut. Bigger in scope and drama, richer in character and depth.

So I throw this out. How concerned SHOULD you be that your voice MAY change from book to book?

See? I'm a deep thinker!

(Why the hell has that girl outside only got one shoe on? What the hell happened to the other one?!)