This week I have been following with interest the rise and rise of indie-publishing phenomenon Amanda Hocking. In case you missed it, Hocking has over the last year or so been building considerable sales of her self-published paranormal romance novels through the Kindle store. Estimates of her sales run at on average 100,000 a month.Continue reading “Why do you write?”
Author Archives: Damien Walter
Literary SF
A friend on Facebook has asked to make a few suggestions of Speculative Fiction that straddles both mass market and literary audiences. I thought the answer might be of more general interest, so here we go… It’s a good question. As I suggested last week over on The Guardian, while SF is generally perceived asContinue reading “Literary SF”
All Hail the Worrad
Just about three years ago I was wondering what the Clarion writers workshop had in store for me. Well now my good friend and fellow Speculator, Jim Worrad is going through the same thing, for he has joined the tiny number of English men to stride across the Atlantic ocean and meet the American’s onContinue reading “All Hail the Worrad”
Can fantasy tell the truth?
There is nothing wrong with escaping reality now and again. Like a well brewed ale, or a good malt whisky, a finely crafted escapist fantasy can be a thing of joy and beauty. But while the occasional tipple can be a good thing, most of us recognise that a bottle of Jameson’s a night isContinue reading “Can fantasy tell the truth?”
Your chance to argue with Damo
So. This coming Saturday I will be talking about Speculative Fiction, and why it deserves the broadest possible respect and recognition, as part of the States of Independence publishers fair at De Montfort University in Leicester. I’ve been shooting my mouth off about this subject for some time, and now I’m going to do thatContinue reading “Your chance to argue with Damo”
Has social media changed how we write?
Writing is such an old and fundamental human activity that it is easy to forget how much it has changed over time. Only a few thousand years ago the written word had to be carved on to stone tablets, and could only be read by an elite priesthood. Just a few centuries ago the printingContinue reading “Has social media changed how we write?”
Wisdom 2.0 and the growth of mindfulness
What would Christianity be like today if someone had videoed the Sermon on the Mount and put it on YouTube? Would Jesus get more views than Justin Bieber? Unlikely. But I believe that if such a video appeared today, our understanding of Christianity would be profoundly transformed. We don’t have the Sermon on the Mount.Continue reading “Wisdom 2.0 and the growth of mindfulness”
Memory of Uncle Peter
I have received three truly memorable Chistmas presents in my life. One was a watch. One was an Optimus Prime transformer toy (memorable because I snaped the heroic Autobot leaders arm off three miniutes after unwrapping him and spent the rest of the day in tears). And one was a lump of plasticine. My UncleContinue reading “Memory of Uncle Peter”
REPOST: The new world of New Weird
I have decided to repost my Guardian articles on this blog, simply because I want to keep a record of the full texts as published. I know it’s unlikely that the Grauniad will disappear any time soon, but stranger things happen… Three years on from the original publication of this piece, and more than aContinue reading “REPOST: The new world of New Weird”
Wordcount – an overrated measure of progress?
As writers it is natural that we look for some measure of our progress, day to day, when it comes to the work of writing. And make no mistake, writing is work. Yes, it’s inspiration also. But in truth, most things worth doing require some element of inspiration. And they also all require work, theContinue reading “Wordcount – an overrated measure of progress?”
Great art is connected with courage and truthfulness
A quote from Iris Murdoch, interviewed in the Paris Review, that I want to remember – To write a good book you have to have certain qualities. Great art is connected with courage and truthfulness. There is a conception of truth, a lack of illusion, an ability to overcome selfish obsessions, which goes with goodContinue reading “Great art is connected with courage and truthfulness”
Places I will be
Looking at my diary yesterday I realised that I’m doing a number of talks and public events over the next few weeks. This is exciting and , of course, a little nerve wracking. Most of us are drawn to writing as a way to spend large amounts of time alone, in our own imaginations, drinkingContinue reading “Places I will be”
Damien Walter 