It feels like it's been a while since I gave people an update on my writing life. So, unless you're new here or not paying attention (which is fine, there's more to life than my books), I've released both book one and two of my dystopian fantasy series again (if you know, you know). But, whoop, whoop!
I'm now working on book three (announcements about that coming soon), but the editing is done, the book cover is under way and I've commissioned my lovely sister-in-law for some new maps!! However, there are probably a few assumptions or questions you might have about my writing life and so I thought I'd offer you some confessions as a dystopian author:
I don't have a system for or inspiring story behind character names - I was asked this on a podcast recently and I realised, other than making them appropriate for the dystopian world, I don't have a clue where the names come from.
I don't have a set place where I write - I have a kind of office at home, I use a church office sometimes and I like to use coffee shops - because they're nice but it gets horrifically expensive
I often think about certain aspects of society and how incredibly horrific it would be if they were exaggerated - like if train prices never ever came down and soon became as expensive as a mortgage (imagine the even greater congestion on the roads, then the roads wouldn't be well-enough maintained, they would collapse, be dangerous and then people would be isolated in communities)
I don't drink as much coffee as my highlight reels might suggest, it's strictly one caffeinated drink a day (I get headaches)
I don't know if I want writing to be my full-time job (it's quite a lonely place at times)
My passion for writing dystopian came from an idea, not an original love for the genre
I had to google 'main dystopian tropes' after I wrote the first draft of my first dystopian novel. Thankfully, I had them in there - phew!
I often have wild imaginings, a lot of the time in the shower, of being interviewed on Good Morning America
I haven't actually read the entire Divergent series - I've only read the first (I'm working on it)
I didn't read The Hunger Games until my late-teens (perhaps even the early twenties)
My biggest confession as a dystopian author
I think my biggest confession and I don't know if this shows, but I don't really know what I'm doing.
Every writer has the dream that the words they write will matter to someone one day. That the books they create immerse more readers than only their parents, their best friend and don't only become a nice seat for their cat. Every writer has that dream but there's no guarantee it will happen. With the publishing industry the way it is, it's incredibly difficult to break through the noise and make a significant impact. You've probably heard the stat like 1% of books sell more than 5,000 copies and so despite a career in marketing, a love for reading and an affinity to connect with readers, I don't know if my current direction is the right one.
So many times I've wondered about stopping because the way forward just feels too hard. There's been disappointments along the way and recently, I've become a bit exhausted with trying to look like I know exactly what I'm doing, because the reality is, I don't.
I don't think anyone ever does.
Don't get me wrong, I have crafted my writing skills, I know I'm a confident speaker, and I do have a gift in communications and marketing. But do I know exactly what will make my books sell? No. I'm learning and I might get a better idea and I can do my best to influence in a way that suits my values, but on the whole, many outcomes in life are out of our control. As a person of faith, I've began to recognise that sometimes, not knowing what you're doing is a comforting place to be. It's not about doing nothing, but recognising that you can take a moment to be still and pray for a direction. Pray for a new opportunity. Pray for a new burst of energy. Pray for confirmation that it's time to put something down, pray for comfort if that's painful, and pray for perseverance in the face of inevitable struggle.
As I'm starting to let things go, and pray more, my writing and my books are becoming even more exciting to me. Because while the numbers are important, they're not everything.
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