Ask the Author: James Hockley
Answered Questions (7)
James Hockley
Hi Taja,
The act of self-publishing has been made remarkably easy with the advent of Amazon (and others). Getting a book uploaded and sold online is not much harder than ordering your next book off the internet. Even on demand print publishing is quite easy (as I understand it).
But that is really the smallest part of the process. What is really hard is a) having a book to publish in the first place (it took me 15 years before I had something I was happy to throw out into the public); and b) market the damn thing. This is the bit I'm struggling with at the moment, and it is very hard - the internet is a very big place, and I am a very small writer!
But don't let me put you off - the sense of self-satisfaction is unparalleled, regardless how successful, and it's a noble goal to pursue.
The act of self-publishing has been made remarkably easy with the advent of Amazon (and others). Getting a book uploaded and sold online is not much harder than ordering your next book off the internet. Even on demand print publishing is quite easy (as I understand it).
But that is really the smallest part of the process. What is really hard is a) having a book to publish in the first place (it took me 15 years before I had something I was happy to throw out into the public); and b) market the damn thing. This is the bit I'm struggling with at the moment, and it is very hard - the internet is a very big place, and I am a very small writer!
But don't let me put you off - the sense of self-satisfaction is unparalleled, regardless how successful, and it's a noble goal to pursue.
James Hockley
Originally, inspiration for Fear's Union was from a potent mix of Tolkien and the Chemical Brothers. Check this out:
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy/...
Since then there have been various other influencers, but I like to think that most of the ideas occur to me while I daydream (and listen to the Chemical Brothers).
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy/...
Since then there have been various other influencers, but I like to think that most of the ideas occur to me while I daydream (and listen to the Chemical Brothers).
James Hockley
Mainly it comes from my imagination and listening to music. My walk to work (with my headphones in) is a really productive time for me.
And other people's work - reading great fiction just makes you want to add your contribution. So I do plenty of reading, certainly.
And other people's work - reading great fiction just makes you want to add your contribution. So I do plenty of reading, certainly.
James Hockley
A novella, called Mandestroy, which is a prequel to Fear's Union. It focuses on one of the 'bad guys' in Fear's Union, and focuses on their life, and has been really fun to write.
I intend for this to be freely available on all major platforms a bit later this year. But I've also been tracking my writing progress live on my website, including uploading regular drafts - offering an insight to the writing process. This can be found here:
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy-...
And it's also available on inkitt and wattpad.
I intend for this to be freely available on all major platforms a bit later this year. But I've also been tracking my writing progress live on my website, including uploading regular drafts - offering an insight to the writing process. This can be found here:
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy-...
And it's also available on inkitt and wattpad.
James Hockley
Just start writing - and keep at it. A lot of it will be crap, but that's just the nature of writing; it takes time and re-engineering to hone in on (ahem) perfection. So just get going, and keep working at the quality of your writing. After all, that is the most important thing at the end of the day.
If you don't believe me, check out my live updates as I write my next novella, including published editions of each draft:
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy-...
If you don't believe me, check out my live updates as I write my next novella, including published editions of each draft:
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy-...
James Hockley
A sense of self-satisfaction and real achievement - "I did that!"
And this is taken to the next level when someone else validates your opinion. The positive feedback from my few readers so far has been amazing, and I hope that many others can find pleasure in my stories.
And this is taken to the next level when someone else validates your opinion. The positive feedback from my few readers so far has been amazing, and I hope that many others can find pleasure in my stories.
James Hockley
I must admit that I haven't been plagued with writer's block too much (at least, not so far at least!) Because writing still constitutes a smaller part of my life than my day job, I only tend to write when I am buzzing - so the block is slow to come.
However - if I were to encounter this author's plague, I'm pretty certain that I would remedy it by putting my headphones in, and going for a walk. That is when all my best thinking is achieved!
However - if I were to encounter this author's plague, I'm pretty certain that I would remedy it by putting my headphones in, and going for a walk. That is when all my best thinking is achieved!
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