Ask the Author: Stuart Aken
Answered Questions (17)
Stuart Aken
Hi Frank, I see you have set up an Author Page. At present, this list 15 books, but I note the header states only '5 distinct works'. If you go to the foot of the first set of titles on your page (ten are listed there), you'll find a link that says 'more books by Frank Shapiro' click on this and it will take you to the second page, which show five more titles. At the foot of that series is another link 'Add more books'. Click on that and it will take you to a page where you can, if you wish, add more titles. But for your issue go to the foot of the form and you'll see at the bottom, on the right, a small link to the 'Author's Guide'. The answer to your question may well be in there. If not, Right down at the bottom of the page is a short series of connection links. Under 'Company' is a 'Help' button, and under 'Work with Us' is an 'Authors' button. You should find help there. Any reference to 'Librarians' will also take you to a place where you can ask more detailed questions of those who administer the site. I can't answer you actual question as it's not been an issue for me. Good luck with your search.
Stuart Aken
I understand the move toward free books at the start of a launch, as a way to obtain reviews beforehand. Otherwise, it's possible that books that are free permanently may have a devaluing effect on the book market. I have one free 'book', but it is only a seasonal short story, provided as a gift for my loyal readers. Otherwise, I tend to avoid the giveaway due to its devaluing of books as a whole.
Stuart Aken
I suspect all of us who put pen to paper draw from personal experience. Certainly, my characters exhibit traits I possess, or traits I have encountered in others. And incidents of personal life can be modified to make a story, or an episode in a book, and I frequently do that. In fact, I often warn people that, if they're not careful, they might end up as a villain in one of my books!
Stuart Aken
Getting your work noticed; that's half the battle. There's a website that displays the depressing statistics, live, showing how many new titles have been published so far this year: https://www.worldometers.info/books/ the current count is 2,034,975 as I write this. No wonder we struggle to find readers, when there is so much 'choice'.
Feedback, reviews in particular, make a huge difference to reader numbers, but there's a statistic that suggests only 1 in a 1000 readers ever bothers to write a review.
In the end, we have to keep writing, and hope for the best, I suppose.
Feedback, reviews in particular, make a huge difference to reader numbers, but there's a statistic that suggests only 1 in a 1000 readers ever bothers to write a review.
In the end, we have to keep writing, and hope for the best, I suppose.
Stuart Aken
Sorry for the delay in response. I had a hard drive die on the PC and a break already booked following its repair. Only now am I getting things back to normal!
I agree about that ability to sit and get on with it. It's become more physically difficult now I have ostioarthritis in my back that demands I move more frequently. Still, I set the timer and travel up and down the stairs twice, stare out of the back window into the distance to rest these aged eyes, and then sit down and continue. But there are also times I'm more distracted and allow the current rotten political situation to get the better of me.
But, yesterday, I edited a couple of short stories, and actually sent one off to a mag! Progress, of sorts.
I agree about that ability to sit and get on with it. It's become more physically difficult now I have ostioarthritis in my back that demands I move more frequently. Still, I set the timer and travel up and down the stairs twice, stare out of the back window into the distance to rest these aged eyes, and then sit down and continue. But there are also times I'm more distracted and allow the current rotten political situation to get the better of me.
But, yesterday, I edited a couple of short stories, and actually sent one off to a mag! Progress, of sorts.
Stuart Aken
A very difficult question, and one I was tempted to skip. As a writer of science fiction and fantasy, I've invented my own worlds. As a reader, most of the created worlds have either fallen into the dystopian category or have held some form of threat, so are uninviting as places to visit!
So, as self-serving as it will undoubtedly seem to many, my only answer would have to be the island of Muhnilahm at the conclusion of my fantasy trilogy, A Seared Sky.
There, I'd enjoy the tranquility that has descended after the trials and battles, living in one of the coastal villages and meeting up with Aklon, Tumalind, Shoarhn, and Okkyntalah to relive their fantastic adventures with them. I'd also take a trip across the Shylna Sea to the wondrous city of Litkala, where I'd especially love to meet the mysterious and gifted Ivdulon.
In creating the story, I 'lived' with these characters for so long that I feel for them as friends. Whilst we come from vastly differing societies and times, I feel I understand their world very well; certainly well enough to enjoy living there.
I've visited many other worlds on my trips through the millions of pages I've read and it would be unrepresentative of the pleasure, entertainment, fascination, and joy these many lands have gifted me, so I'll resist selecting just one.
So, as self-serving as it will undoubtedly seem to many, my only answer would have to be the island of Muhnilahm at the conclusion of my fantasy trilogy, A Seared Sky.
There, I'd enjoy the tranquility that has descended after the trials and battles, living in one of the coastal villages and meeting up with Aklon, Tumalind, Shoarhn, and Okkyntalah to relive their fantastic adventures with them. I'd also take a trip across the Shylna Sea to the wondrous city of Litkala, where I'd especially love to meet the mysterious and gifted Ivdulon.
In creating the story, I 'lived' with these characters for so long that I feel for them as friends. Whilst we come from vastly differing societies and times, I feel I understand their world very well; certainly well enough to enjoy living there.
I've visited many other worlds on my trips through the millions of pages I've read and it would be unrepresentative of the pleasure, entertainment, fascination, and joy these many lands have gifted me, so I'll resist selecting just one.
Stuart Aken
I tend not to have lists. My TBR currently holds 170 titles. Some of these are books I've been asked to review, some are books I've wanted to read for a while, some are books I've bought and never found time to read.
As a writer, I read as much as I can, though that's never enough.
But, sitting on the study shelf behind me as I write, are the following 5 books. When I'll read them, I can't tell. Nor in what order I'll do it. But the list might give you an idea of how diverse are my reading tastes.
1788 by David Hill, Utopia For Realists by Rutger Bregman, The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton, Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith, and The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano.
But, before I read any of those, I'm reading 11,984 by Scott Talbot Evans, and then April Taylor's, Laid in Earth.
Enjoy your summer reading!
As a writer, I read as much as I can, though that's never enough.
But, sitting on the study shelf behind me as I write, are the following 5 books. When I'll read them, I can't tell. Nor in what order I'll do it. But the list might give you an idea of how diverse are my reading tastes.
1788 by David Hill, Utopia For Realists by Rutger Bregman, The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton, Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith, and The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano.
But, before I read any of those, I'm reading 11,984 by Scott Talbot Evans, and then April Taylor's, Laid in Earth.
Enjoy your summer reading!
Stuart Aken
Simple question: complex answer.
I've used a few events from my life in the plots of various novels. These are incidents that are more properly anecdotes I've altered to fit in with the lives of the characters portraying them so that there's a story element useful to the book.
Also, I wrote a short story (published in a now defunct small literary magazine years ago) centering on an incident around my birth. This coincided with the death of my father only three weeks prior. As a result, my mother was evicted from the house she occupied with my late father and my slightly older sister. I embroidered this incident to emphasise the hardship faced by homeless families. The incident itself was partially true to actual events, but I'm a writer of fiction, so I added imagined scenes and an outcome to turn the story into something with meaning.
As for a plot in a book, I'm not sure my life, varied and full of incident as it's been, is a basis for a whole novel. But we're notoriously bad at judging the interest there may be in our own lives. We've lived through the events, so what may seem normal to us can appear extraordinary to others. In fact, I've often been told that I should write my autobiography. Maybe, one day. When I've lived a full life. At sixty-nine in a couple of weeks, I feel there's much more to come yet. Perhaps when I'm in my eighties or nineties I might be interested!
I've used a few events from my life in the plots of various novels. These are incidents that are more properly anecdotes I've altered to fit in with the lives of the characters portraying them so that there's a story element useful to the book.
Also, I wrote a short story (published in a now defunct small literary magazine years ago) centering on an incident around my birth. This coincided with the death of my father only three weeks prior. As a result, my mother was evicted from the house she occupied with my late father and my slightly older sister. I embroidered this incident to emphasise the hardship faced by homeless families. The incident itself was partially true to actual events, but I'm a writer of fiction, so I added imagined scenes and an outcome to turn the story into something with meaning.
As for a plot in a book, I'm not sure my life, varied and full of incident as it's been, is a basis for a whole novel. But we're notoriously bad at judging the interest there may be in our own lives. We've lived through the events, so what may seem normal to us can appear extraordinary to others. In fact, I've often been told that I should write my autobiography. Maybe, one day. When I've lived a full life. At sixty-nine in a couple of weeks, I feel there's much more to come yet. Perhaps when I'm in my eighties or nineties I might be interested!
Stuart Aken
Hi Scott, I already have a copy, thanks. It's on my list to read shortly. I'll let you know when I've read/reviewed your book.
Cheers,
Stuart.
Cheers,
Stuart.
Stuart Aken
First of all, Yeva, my apologies for the late response. I've been catching up on things after a fortnight offline.
Difficult to write an excellent book? I think all creative work that tends to the excellent is hard. If it were easy, we'd all be doing it.
Of course, excellence is a subjective judgment and what is brilliant to one reader may be just ordinary to another. As a writer, the best that can be done is to set out with the intention of making the work as good as it can be, as excellent as the author is capable of making it.
If a writer refuses to settle for 'average' and never says, 'That'll do', there's a strong chance that the resultant work will at least be good. But whether it ever reaches the heights of excellence must be for readers to decide, I think.
To produce a work that is at least good requires dedication, a proper grasp of the language used, well-formed characters, good writing and, perhaps most importantly, a proper story. Passion, care and imagination all make their own contributions to the work. And a sensible author will always ensure that the editing of the piece that's exposed to readers ensures the work is as well edited as possible.
I hope that answers your question.
Difficult to write an excellent book? I think all creative work that tends to the excellent is hard. If it were easy, we'd all be doing it.
Of course, excellence is a subjective judgment and what is brilliant to one reader may be just ordinary to another. As a writer, the best that can be done is to set out with the intention of making the work as good as it can be, as excellent as the author is capable of making it.
If a writer refuses to settle for 'average' and never says, 'That'll do', there's a strong chance that the resultant work will at least be good. But whether it ever reaches the heights of excellence must be for readers to decide, I think.
To produce a work that is at least good requires dedication, a proper grasp of the language used, well-formed characters, good writing and, perhaps most importantly, a proper story. Passion, care and imagination all make their own contributions to the work. And a sensible author will always ensure that the editing of the piece that's exposed to readers ensures the work is as well edited as possible.
I hope that answers your question.
Stuart Aken
It's a movable feast, Emeline. You self-edit before sending work off to the publisher, reaching a stage where continuing to tweak no longer seems to enhance the story. The editor at the publisher's makes some other adjustments, almost always improving the piece. The book's published and you write something else, something different. But, later you revisit the original piece, the published work, and you see places where it could be improved.
This happens with all created work because the creator, the artist if you like, learns the trade, the craft over a lifetime. Most writers are their own most severe critics (beware any artist who claims to have produced something perfect!) so we will always find ways to improve our work as we mature and gain in experience.
There is, as you will now realise, no particular time when a piece of writing has reached the 'finished' stage. All we can do is recognise that, for the time being, the story is as good as we can make it, in the full knowledge that we will look back in a few years and identify faults and inadequacies. Such, I'm afraid, is the lot of the creative artist.
I hope that helps, though I suspect not. For your own work, the best I can advise is that you read it aloud as a final exercise, preferably from a printer script, not on screen. This 'final' check will reveal things you missed on screen and when reading silently. After these mistakes or failures of expression have been dealt with, send it off. As Wellington said, of a somewhat different issue, 'Publish and be damned!'
Good luck with your writing.
This happens with all created work because the creator, the artist if you like, learns the trade, the craft over a lifetime. Most writers are their own most severe critics (beware any artist who claims to have produced something perfect!) so we will always find ways to improve our work as we mature and gain in experience.
There is, as you will now realise, no particular time when a piece of writing has reached the 'finished' stage. All we can do is recognise that, for the time being, the story is as good as we can make it, in the full knowledge that we will look back in a few years and identify faults and inadequacies. Such, I'm afraid, is the lot of the creative artist.
I hope that helps, though I suspect not. For your own work, the best I can advise is that you read it aloud as a final exercise, preferably from a printer script, not on screen. This 'final' check will reveal things you missed on screen and when reading silently. After these mistakes or failures of expression have been dealt with, send it off. As Wellington said, of a somewhat different issue, 'Publish and be damned!'
Good luck with your writing.
Stuart Aken
I initially answered this question thus: 'I can't answer this question, as I've never experienced this problem. If I have difficulty beginning a piece, I simply write out random words until something begins to coalesce in my unconscious and the words then start to flow into a story.'
However, I'm in the throes of moving house, an awkward, trying and unsettling transaction that seems to have rendered me incapable of producing new work for the moment.
Here's to hoping this will be transitory and things will return to normal when I'm settled again.
However, I'm in the throes of moving house, an awkward, trying and unsettling transaction that seems to have rendered me incapable of producing new work for the moment.
Here's to hoping this will be transitory and things will return to normal when I'm settled again.
Stuart Aken
Living vicariously through invented characters. As a writer, I can go anywhere, in any time, as any person (including animals or even non-sentient objects). I can experience, in imagination and via empathy, every known emotion. I can commit any crime you can name, and I can perform every good deed, every form of excitement, every wonder known, and all from the safety of my seat at the desk. Of course, this form of vicarious experience is demanding and sometimes exhausting, but it is limited only by my own imagination.
Stuart Aken
I can't recall how many times I must have passed this advice on: BEFORE you start to write, read Dorothea Brande's excellent work, 'Becoming a Writer'. And then, ensure you have a good working knowledge of language, grammar and syntax. No sensible person would employ an electrician who had no real knowledge of his craft; why should readers be subject to poor writing from those who can't be bothered to acquire the tools of their trade?
Stuart Aken
I started work on a scifi story recently, though it has been interrupted by various events such as preparing my home for sale on the market and attending a scifi/fantasy convention to sell and sign copies of Joinings. Still, I expect to get back to the story tomorrow. As yet, I don't know whether it will turn out to be a novelette or a novel. I write as a pantster, so I allow the story to select its natural length.
Stuart Aken
Inspiration isn't an issue. I'm a compulsive writer: in fact, if I'm not creating something using words, I feel physically poorer. I rarely have to seek out ideas and have a very large file of so-far unexplored ideas awaiting development. So, inspiration is no problem, but application and the time to address it often are!
Stuart Aken
My most recent release (not yet shown on Goodreads) is Partings, which is the 2nd book in the epic fantasy trilogy "A Seared Sky', Joinings, being book 1. So, the idea for the series came to me many years ago, when I felt the need to express my concern for the hypocrisy that is inherent in most religion. That may make it sound as though the book is some sort of diatribe, but it is, in fact, an adventure story following the trials of many characters as they navigate through strange lands and disparate relationships in their various quests to find happiness.
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