Category Archives: Writing & Publishing

Keep them doggies rollin’

I’ve developed a taste for finishing things. Finishing things has long been my problem. Of Heinlein’s Rules, number 2 is the one I break time and again. There are reasons. I’ve been learning to write, many of my unfinished stories will stay that way because I’ve learned what I needed to learn from them. AndContinue reading “Keep them doggies rollin’”

Clocks, bookshops, gothic fairies and Wolfes

I finished a new short story this evening. Its one of those stories that isn’t so much written as grown. Its been sitting on my desktop for a year. Every so often I add anything from a few lines to an entire paragraph. I think of this as writing by accrual. The story builds upContinue reading “Clocks, bookshops, gothic fairies and Wolfes”

Ask not what your ‘zine can do for you

I spent most of this Sunday evening planning out a talk I’m giving tomorrow on the subject of The Entrepreneurial Writer. Part of this talk could be called ‘How to get ahead in the cut throat egotistical world game of being a writer’, but mostly I am talking about how writers are important to communities,Continue reading “Ask not what your ‘zine can do for you”

Leicester vs. Nottingham

It’s just over mid way through NaNoWriMo and my home city of Leicester are down 1,101,763 words to 1,471,111 against nearby Nottingham. Come on Leicester…just write fish over and over again! I made the sane choice of not doing NaNoWriMo this year, I have another writing target that takes precedent which I will reveal atContinue reading “Leicester vs. Nottingham”

Writing by Hand

I’ve been typing up from the first draft of my ninja story this evening. Moving from first o second draft is my favourite part of the writing process. First draft is exciting, so hence also scary. Its like a new relationship. You have all these great expectations and lots of passion, and sometimes things turnContinue reading “Writing by Hand”

Bookshops are not Churches. But.

Earlier this week the Guardian book website unleashed a tumult of anger and frustration against the UK’s largest bookseller, Waterstones. The thrust of Stuart Jeffries article was that with its increasing commercialisation (3-4-2 sales, celebrity biogs etc etc) Waterstones had gone from saviour to destroyer of bookselling in just over a decade.

Franchise Heaven

Over at Ecstatic Days, Mark Charan Newton talks to Black Library superstar Dan Abnet about the strengths of fiction franchises, a conversation which should be had more. Franchise novels are a much derided form of fiction. In some cases, the derision is spot on. Many franchise novels are poorly written, utterly generic and bottom lineContinue reading “Franchise Heaven”

SOZD Progress Report

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in Support Our ‘Zines Day! I’ve been wonderfuly surprised by how many people have taken the time to get involved. Here are a selection of just a few of the good people who have shown their support: M-Brane SF say 10/1 is SOZD Electric Velocipede remind usContinue reading “SOZD Progress Report”

Have a Joyous SOZD

After much excitement 1st October has arrived and the first annual Support Our ‘Zines Day is underway! You can get more information on Support Our ‘Zines Day here: https://damiengwalter.wordpress.com/sozd/ So, what can you do to help support our ‘zines? Here are three simple suggestions for ways to support the ‘zines you love to read: ListContinue reading “Have a Joyous SOZD”

Birthday, Story Sales, Stiff Back

My 32nd birthday arrived today, along with my first incidence of backpain! Old age seems to be coming sooner than expected. I’m sitting up very straight whilst typing, perhaps this will help. I arrived at my birthday pre-cheered by two recent story sales: John Klima at the Hugo award winning Electric Velocipede has bought MyContinue reading “Birthday, Story Sales, Stiff Back”

StarShipSofa Stories vol.1

Ever since the early days of radio, science fiction has found a natural expression via audio broadcasting. The speculative themes of the finest SF seem ideally suited to be shared by the dramatic presentation of the spoken word. Over the decades, SF has left a lasting mark on audiences who have heard it through theContinue reading “StarShipSofa Stories vol.1”