Writers and Readers discussion

Please welcome author Michael Shean to our group Q and A discussions. Michael was born amongst the sleepy hills and coal mines of southern West Virginia in 1978. Taught to read by his parents at a very early age, he has had a great love of the written word since the very beginning of his life. Growing up, he was often plagued with feelings of isolation and loneliness; he began writing off and on to help deflect this, though these themes are often explored in his work as a consequence. At the age of 16, Michael began to experience a chain of vivid nightmares that has continued to this day; it is from these aberrant dreams that he draws inspiration.

In 2001 his grandfather, whom he idolized in many ways, died. The event moved him to leave West Virginia to pursue a career in the tech industry, and he settled in the Washington, DC area as a web designer and graphic artist. As a result his writing was put aside and not revisited until five years later. In 2006 he met his current fiancee, who urged him to pick up his writing once more. Though the process was very frustrating at first, in time the process of polishing and experimentation yielded the core of what would become his first novel, Shadow of a Dead Star. In 2009 the first draft of book was finished, though it would be 2011 until he would be satisfied enough with the book to release it.

His work is extensively character-driven, but also focuses on building engaging worlds in which those characters interact. On the subject of writing, Michael says this: "I have gut myself if I want to write. You have to bleed out on the page, I think. That's what writing is to me, committing seppuku only to come back and do it all over again. I don't think you can really be believable any other way."

His Goodreads Profile: Michael Shean

Just a note: Michael is working today, so he most likely won't be here to answer your questions until later on this afternoon. But please feel free to post, as he'll join us as soon as possible.

Michael, I'll ask you one of my favorite questions I ask of authors because for the life of me I'm torn with my own work.

Traditional publishing vs. self publishing?
How long before one gives up the traditional route and tries self? Does one give up traditional, not self publish and try the next novel as traditional since many agents look down upon a self published first?

I have a LONG list of books to be read, I hope to get to your books in the coming year and look forward to doing so.

hey michael
welcome
i checked out your book on amazon
amazing prose style
how do you get your arms around those images?
how many rewrites on the first 10 pages?
where do your ideas come from?
rj ray

Hi Michael,
I assume from the resume that you use your nightmares in your writing. Is that what you mean by bleeding? If so does that calm that perticular nightmare from your system. How many books have you written, and are all published?

Ali wrote: "Michael, I'll ask you one of my favorite questions I ask of authors because for the life of me I'm torn with my own work.

Traditional publishing vs. self publishing?
How long before one gives up ..."

Hi, good morning! Turns out I have a little time before ridiculous daytime meetings, so I want to try and get to everyone who's posted so far.

Ali, I originally self-published Shadow of a Dead Star after a year of struggling with agents, only to have a small publisher pick it up along with all its sequels. I have to say that both self-publishing and traditional publishing have their advantages, though I don't think you should ever 'give up' on traditional publishing. I feel that there's plenty of room for flexibility in the modern publishing climate; if you're set on getting published traditionally in the long run, a series of popular self-published books has already proven in many cases to be a gateway to agents and larger publishers as you've proven yourself to be both prolific and popular. Traditional publishing allows a vital kind of exposure to and 'street cred' with readers who haven't already drank the ebook Kool-Aid (a staggering number, I've found!) and provides you with a a larger sphere of marketing opportunities. They also provide vital art and editing services which you'd usually have to pay a good penny for. There's also the question of money straight off, though that's gotten increasingly unlikely for new writers.

On the other hand, self-publishing allows an enormous amount of flexibility that traditional publishing just doesn't allow. You won't have to wait for a year or more once the book's completed to see it published for one. You also have complete control, which is something that's also very important. Self-published authors also get the lion's share of sales revenue, which is also very nice. On the other hand, you must do everything - or contract everything - yourself. All expenses are your own. All marketing is your own. That's scary as hell, especially if you don't have a lot of money floating around. It's a big stumbling block for many, but f you can get over that hump I think it's a very rewarding experience.

As for me, I think I'd like to go with a hybrid approach - self-publishing some books while using a publisher for others. After all, I have plenty of ideas which people may not think marketable and won't want to go with that I can release on my own! But if you go that route, please also keep in mind that this approach too can affect your 'traditional' interest; if you go too far off the proverbial reservation with your self-pubbed books it can always hurt your more traditional identity. I hope this answers your question!

robert wrote: "hey michael
welcome
i checked out your book on amazon
amazing prose style
how do you get your arms around those images?
how many rewrites on the first 10 pages?
where do your ideas come from?
rj ray"

Hi, RJ! Thanks very much for the kind words - which book did you pick up?

As far as imagery goes, I have a very vivid sort of imagination. The trick isn't seeing the images for me - they're all very vivid in my mind - but trying to get it all down faithful to what I experience. Now this is problematic in many genres, because my prose can be considered a little 'purple'...but the noir element allows it without a real conflict of style. I do find myself having to tone it down, though!

Rewrites are pretty common for me. Most of the time I know what's going to happen, but as I said before it's often hard to pin down the imagery until it's 'just right'. I rewrote the opening chapters of Shadow of a Dead Star something like three times, but I didn't have the luxury of doing that with Bone Wires as it was originally a serial on my publisher's website.

As for my ideas...well, a lot of them just come to me, but a lot of them appear in nightmares, of which I have a lot. I generally have at least one bad dream a night, which are as vivid as living them - you'd think that I'd had gone crazy a long time ago, but channeling them into my stories pretty much takes care of that. Lots of images, if dark ones, and plenty of fodder for writing!

L. A. wrote: "Hi Michael,
I assume from the resume that you use your nightmares in your writing. Is that what you mean by bleeding? If so does that calm that perticular nightmare from your system. How many books..."

Right, L. A., I definitely turn my nightmares into fuel for my writing. I have them very nearly every night, so there's a lot of images crowding my brain - it really helps to get them down on paper. As for my books, I've written and published two so far, Shadow of a Dead Star and Bone Wires. I've just finished the sequel to Shadow this week, a book which is called Redeye, which should be published next year. But I have something like twelve projects roughly outlined and ready to write, so I won't be running out of material any time soon!

"Shadow of a Deadstar" looks fascinating. I've added it to my "to read list."

On the subject of writing from dreams: I envy you that ability as my own nightmares tend to be pretty cliché ridden. Do you use the psychology trick of trying to "control" your dreams by forcing yourself to confront whatever is stalking your nightmares? Do just use the more interesting moments and fill in the rest with your imagination to create fiction or have you been doing it so long that the process is automatic? (Some people I know dream in complete, 90 minute movies. They've been toiling the screenplay fields for so many years that the techniques of film making seem to have been absorbed into their subconscious.)

Chuck wrote: ""Shadow of a Deadstar" looks fascinating. I've added it to my "to read list."

On the subject of writing from dreams: I envy you that ability as my own nightmares tend to be pretty cliché ridden. ..."

You know, I've always been the sort who dreams complete stories or scenes, but a lot if it gets fogged out on waking; I'm often left with impressions of scenes but with clear images - sort of like when you're a kid and you see a movie, but you only remember certain scenes in clear detail and nothing else? It's something like that. You can't control them, though. If I try, I remember nothing. They always surprise me though...

I tend to use the fragments I remember as anchor points to base the narrative upon.

I understand you use your nightmares and dreams to fuel your writing, but what about events in your environment such as accidents, suicides, murders, etc...Do they have some kind of influence ?

Jacques wrote: "I understand you use your nightmares and dreams to fuel your writing, but what about events in your environment such as accidents, suicides, murders, etc...Do they have some kind of influence ?"

I live in the Washington, DC area, and there's always something bizarre going on. That can definitely plug into my work. I think any author draws on the general experiences of life to make stories, and this is no exception. I'll also draw from particular bits of news I hear from abroad or in the history of crime, or violent experiences of my own. For example, my short story 'Razor Child' (available for free on Wattpad or my website) was based on a very bad experience I had with a guy blasted on PCP at a party.

Michael wrote: "Chuck wrote: ""Shadow of a Deadstar" looks fascinating. I've added it to my "to read list."

On the subject of writing from dreams: I envy you that ability as my own nightmares tend to be pretty cl..."

Thanks for the response. Enlightening.

Say, I just got back from your website where I checked out "Razor Child." I thought it was brilliant - and oh, so dark. The other freebies look good too! Heartily recommended to all!

Well thank you very much, Chuck! I appreciate your having a look at it. You can expect that to be a regular example of what I tend to write. Though I might stray out of genre not TOO far in the future...

Hi Michael,

What was it about the small publisher that lured you from indie publishing? One of the common complaints about traditional publishing currently is that the publishers are trying to hold onto too many rights for too long. I don't know the details of your contract (nor should I), but did similar concerns impact your hunt for a publisher?

Kevin wrote: "Hi Michael,

What was it about the small publisher that lured you from indie publishing? One of the common complaints about traditional publishing currently is that the publishers are trying to h..."


Kevin,

Honestly, I didn't 'hunt' for them; by the time they came to me about the books of the Wonderland Cycle, I had already decided to be self-published. However, I have a very vigorous day-job that eats up a lot of time, and I just didn't have the ability to market my work like you really have to as a self-published author (or, as it's turned out, even a more traditionally-published author). This remains a problem for me, but having a larger partner on my side has helped a good bit. The subject of publication rights was certainly a concern for me when I first signed on with my publisher - however, I was able to secure a very fair situation with them. I would urge any author to really consider that when working with a publisher; a few years is more than fair, to me. I hear talk of contracts where rights are secured for 10+ years...I just don't know about that. I don't know that I could go with those kinds of terms.

Hi Michael,
I understand the challenges of trying to write, publish and market while holding down a day job. I'm wondering about your process. Do you write daily? Before or after work? Do you work with any kind of writing partners?
Arleen

Hi Michael,

My question is one of ethics. Is it wrong to ask another author to read and review each others books? The review must be honest and not simply a "I'll give you a good review if you give me one too."

Thank you,
Rebecca

Arleen wrote: "Hi Michael,
I understand the challenges of trying to write, publish and market while holding down a day job. I'm wondering about your process. Do you write daily? Before or after work? Do you work ..."

Hi, Arleen! I really try and write every day, at least 500 words. I don't use writing partners at the moment; I just plough through on my own. Currently I'm enforcing a two week recharge period after just finishing my third novel. The 500 word per day model is what really works; that's basically a short scene or a conversation. It all adds up, you know?

The Next Big Thing blog chain has peaked my interest. I have a WIP of short stories set in the south.Count me in. Nancy Hartney

Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,

My question is one of ethics. Is it wrong to ask another author to read and review each others books? The review must be honest and not simply a "I'll give you a good review if you ..."

Rebecca, this is an excellent question. I don't think it is bad, per se, but I do think it becomes an issue if a bunch of authors in the same publishing circle review each other constantly. I have author friends who have become fans, an I of them, but we know that we will call each other out if we don't care for each others' work. That's vital for the credibility of all involved.

Nancy wrote: "The Next Big Thing blog chain has peaked my interest. I have a WIP of short stories set in the south.Count me in. Nancy Hartney"

Nancy, the The Next Big Thing blog chain was meant to be separate from the reminder for the Q and A. If you are interested please message me (just reply to the group email I sent).

Hi Michael,

From everything I've read, it seems that a lot of the work falls to the author regardless of publishing method. How much time do you spend marketing your book? Do you have any marketing tips for us?

Kevin wrote: "Hi Michael,

From everything I've read, it seems that a lot of the work falls to the author regardless of publishing method. How much time do you spend marketing your book? Do you have any marke..."

Sorry I was a little delayed in answering this, running errands all afternoon! The truth is that marketing is kind of a mystery to me still, but if I've learned anything it's that you have to put yourself out there all the time - blog tours, guest posts, and events like this one as well. There's a lot about the secrets of Amazon tuning as well, since Amazon is such a massive outlet for the indie fiction market, but thats something I'm really only starting to learn about. Maybe I'll have a little workshop once I've gotten some things pinned down.

That being said, I'd check out the website of Michael R. Hicks as an example of someone who's managed to use marketing as a major boon for his work - Mike quit his job and started writing full-time just last year, after his marketing efforts starting maturing into really big sales figures. His tutorials and advice just might help!

By "care for each other's work" do you mean like the work (as in good review when you don't like it) or are respectful of it or both?

Michael wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,

My question is one of ethics. Is it wrong to ask another author to read and review each others books? The review must be honest and not simply a "I'll give you a goo..."

Rebecca wrote: "By "care for each other's work" do you mean like the work (as in good review when you don't like it) or are respectful of it or both?

Michael wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,

My question is o..."

I'm referring to 'care for it' as in 'like it'. As in if you didn't like it, you're going to be respectful but honest about that in your review. What I don't want from others are disingenuously good reviews when the author (friend or not) actually didn't like it. It's okay to get criticism, after all - it's how you improve. Your peers are just as valid as the readers, and may get more to read it just by virtue of what they say. Any losses in the short term are offset by future growth, and as I say, everyone involved retains their integrity. Otherwise you're just going down a slippery slope to destruction of your own character and who wants that?

Thank you very much :) It was great talking with you.

Michael wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "By "care for each other's work" do you mean like the work (as in good review when you don't like it) or are respectful of it or both?

Michael wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,

..."

Michael wrote: "Well thank you very much, Chuck! I appreciate your having a look at it. You can expect that to be a regular example of what I tend to write. Though I might stray out of genre not TOO far in the ..."
What I really loved about that story, though, was that it was character driven. It could have been a horror story, a noir detective story, a western or ANYTHING and it would have worked. (But of course, you got those speculative fiction licks down cold!)

Hi, everyone! Just butting in on the topic of reviews.

In some environments, like Amazon, a bad review can kill a book. (Obviously, writers should strive to get feedback BEFORE publishing on Amazon - but the situation can sure mess up your perceptions of right and wrong.) The end result: I tend to be honest on Goodreads and limit myself to four or five star reviews on Amazon. Less than that, I don't publish the review -- or I'll weasle some misgivings into the text of the review if my back is REALLY against the wall. I've tried contacting writers back with a bad review I didn't publish - just in case they were interested in what I had to say. Man they can "unfriend" your sorry butt on Facebook but fast!

Anyway, glad you encourage honest feedback.

Rebecca wrote: "Thank you very much :) It was great talking with you.


Hey, I'm still around all day tomorrow. ;) Feel free to shoot me more questions! I'm here for you guys.

Man, thanks very much, Chuck! My work so far has been very character-driven, that's true. It's the same in the other free shorts available, and my work in general. I dunno man, I just think that if you can't plug into the characters, what's the point of the story?

Chuck wrote: "Hi, everyone! Just butting in on the topic of reviews.

In some environments, like Amazon, a bad review can kill a book. (Obviously, writers should strive to get feedback BEFORE publishing on Amaz..."

See, I don't understand that. I've reached out to people who made critical reviews and THANKED them for speaking up, as long as they weren't outright trollish. If you look at the Amazon and Goodreads entries for Shadow of a Dead Star, there are several bad reviews and plenty of 'okay' ones. I'm totally fine with that, and I wouldn't unfriend someone for making them unless, as I said before, they weren't just being dicks about it. In the long term, this is what I want to do for a living, and I can't get better at what I do in a soft, comfortable bubble. I'm happy to get my bad reviews, and I feel others should too.

Also, Chuck, consider - sure, bad or middling reviews can tear your book down a little in the standings, but they ALSO give it some credibility. A book that's five stars and nothing but gushing reviews seems just a little too good to be true. Bad press can even make people want to read it just to see how bad it actually IS. So keep that in mind.

Michael wrote: "Man, thanks very much, Chuck! My work so far has been very character-driven, that's true. It's the same in the other free shorts available, and my work in general. I dunno man, I just think that..."

Right on.

Hi Michael,
First of all, thank you for being here for our questions. I have always wanted to write but never pursued it after college. Looking back, I think it was fear. Now I have been forced into an early retirement, I felt the time was right so I am starting on my debut novel. It is going to be a historical mystery/ghost story. I realize with anything historical, there is a lot of research to do. I have been doing a lot of research, but my question is: When do you stop making notes and actually begin to write? I feel like I should be writing, yet I don't have all the characters fleshed out yet..Another question: Do you think an outline is necessary or advisable? Thanks again!

Michael wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Hi, everyone! Just butting in on the topic of reviews.

In some environments, like Amazon, a bad review can kill a book. (Obviously, writers should strive to get feedback BEFORE publ..."

Heh heh. One author unfriended me without even reading the review - just the email asking if he was interested in reading it.

Well, when it comes to my own feeble, beginner's efforts, we're talking short stories. I go out BEGGING for honest feedback because I am in total agreement with you. As nice as compliments are, we grow from getting HONEST feedback.

Amazon is weird, though, and I confess I don't have a firm enough grasp of the marketing ins and outs to explain it - my knowledge is second hand from various marketing blogs - but it's all about getting a certain number of four or five star reviews before being picked up by things like Ereader News for their giveaways -- which helps increase the author's visibility. (And maybe that's not such a good thing if the book, is in fact, do do.) With Amazon it's all about the numbers.

"Bad press can....." Oh absolutely! Where would Harlan Ellison be without controversy? (Not to talk down the quality of the actual writing, mind you.)

But yes, absolutely, too many gushing reviews make me suspect.

Hi Michael,

I know what it feels like to work full-time and then find time to write.

What would you tell a writer on how to improve their story telling technique...

Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,
First of all, thank you for being here for our questions. I have always wanted to write but never pursued it after college. Looking back, I think it was fear. Now I have been forced int..."

It really is my pleasure - I'm sorry I didn't get to this sooner today, but I didn't get an email alert saying people had added more questions!

I'm very happy to answer questions,and I want to urge all of you to please feel free to drop messages on my Goodreads page or email me/message me with questions after this Q&A closes today. I never really got any help from people when I was thinking about writing, and now that I'm starting to get things going I'm always happy to relate my experiences.

Fear is the number one cause of keeping anyone from doing anything, really - and for things like writing, or music, or acting it's doubly so. This is a field that can be very disheartening in terms of the rejection we can feel, often very personally, in the beginning. I'm glad that you're taking a step forward and trying to beat that fear and make your stories happen.

Now to actually answer your question, Rebecca, I think that if you feel you're doing a little too much research and not enough writing, why not try and work out some initial scenes? They don't have to have anything to do with the book, per se - they can be 'sketches', writing exercises that utilize your research. Like if you're researching Victorian England, you can do some vignettes that explore interaction using the research you've used, then go back and see if it reads properly and fits what you've read. Also, you can use fiction of the time (novels have been written since the 1100's, so I can't imagine you can't find something to fit your period) which, if written in the same period as it often is, utilizes the culture and technology that you'd be researching in a realistic way.

I think the big thing you need to remember is that you're not writing a research paper, and that sometimes you just need to know 'enough' to sell the story. You don't need to be an authority on a particular time period to write enjoyable stories set there, and if you don't work up some sketches along the way you can't ever be comfortable writing in that period at all. :D So give it a shot! Jump in and play; it doesn't matter if people see these sketches or not. You might just come up with new and exciting ideas for your main project!

Chuck wrote: "Michael wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Hi, everyone! Just butting in on the topic of reviews.

In some environments, like Amazon, a bad review can kill a book. (Obviously, writers should strive to get feed..."

Good points all around, Chuck. As for marketing, I'll tell you what - I'l make sure to post an entry on my blog detailing some of the finer points of what I learn once I get some of these marketing classes under my belt soon. Should help along with what the previous folks I've mentioned have to say! Everyone's welcome to add me as a friend so they can follow my updates.

Debra wrote: "Hi Michael,

I know what it feels like to work full-time and then find time to write.

What would you tell a writer on how to improve their story telling technique..."

Well, Debra, there's really two answers for that. The short version is, 'write more'. People like to use that, partially because it IS the real all-encapsulating answer, but also because it's easy to say and sound wise while not having to do much of the heavy lifting.

On the other hand, here's the long version. It's very true that writing is a skill, something which grows with practice. It's a developmental process that has to grow and polish with practice. That's really the elemental method by which you develop your writing process - writing, peer review, lather, rise, repeat. Peer review's the big thing here; you can't always be trusted to review your own work properly, as writers tend to be their worst critics by far, but you also need friends who'll tell you that something is crap and you won't hate them for it. Hard truths are important! It's this process which allows you to identify flaws in your writing and will let you sort them out.

The other big piece of advice I'd give you here is that you have no fear of writing things that may or may not work out. I'm not talking formal works for submission elsewhere, but little bits like scene constructions or short stories. These are your practice sessions. These are your little kernels of writing that you can hand to your friends and say 'can you look at this?' without them having to spend a week going through only to tell you 'man, I just don't think this works'. Sure, your friends and colleagues might get tired of reading tons of little things, but in the long run this helps you out immeasurably.

So that's my answer, as best as I can give it anyway. I hope it helps!

Michael wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,
First of all, thank you for being here for our questions. I have always wanted to write but never pursued it after college. Looking back, I think it was fear. Now I have..."

Thank you for that answer, it actually is a wonderful idea, and a simple one! Isn't it amazing that some of our most basic questions are right there all along without our realizing it? :) That makes so much sense I am actually embarrassed that I didn't think of it! I am still curious about the outline though..do you use an outline or do you not consider it necessary? Thanks again~

I've been so busy this weekend, I almost missed getting a question posted. Having read one of your books and have another on my to read list, I'm curious as to what types of science fiction you read?

Rebecca wrote: "Michael wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hi Michael,
First of all, thank you for being here for our questions. I have always wanted to write but never pursued it after college. Looking back, I think it was ..."

Hey, sorry about that! I knew I forgot to address something. I absolutely DO NOT use outlines. I was always terrible at it when I was writing papers in school, and man, I just can't pull it off. I'm VERY comfortable running around by the seat of my pants. Sorry I didn't say this before!

A.F. wrote: "I've been so busy this weekend, I almost missed getting a question posted. Having read one of your books and have another on my to read list, I'm curious as to what types of science fiction you read?"

Hey, no trouble. :D Hope you enjoy Bone Wires! I actually read all kinds of science fiction - recently I've been reading far lighter stuff than I used to. I'd been reading lots of Harry Harrison lately, though before that it was George Alec Effinger and Iain Banks. I really need to take the break I've been having to read something...new. I'm taking suggestions, eh?

All right, well, it's getting close to closing. I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who popped up to say hello and ask your questions - I'm glad to have spoken with you! I hope to hear from you again, in one form or another, and wish you all well on your endeavors. Cheers!

Thanks for dropping by and chatting with us! I for one will definitely be following your career, fiction and future, marketing comments.

Chuck wrote: "Thanks for dropping by and chatting with us! I for one will definitely be following your career, fiction and future, marketing comments."

It's always a pleasure. Thanks very much!

Thanks Michael. I came late to your chat but loved the questions and answers. Much food for thought in your comments on reviews since I do a lot of reviewing. Nice "meeting" you.

Sheila,

It was my pleasure! And obviously I'm still monitoring this, so the forum's still open for questions and comments if you're interested - unless, of course, A.F. comes after me with a hatchet. ;)

Michael wrote: "Sheila,

It was my pleasure! And obviously I'm still monitoring this, so the forum's still open for questions and comments if you're interested - unless, of course, A.F. comes after me with a hatc..."

No hatchets will be involved for straggler comments or replies.