Ask the Author: Doug Solter
Answered Questions (7)
Doug Solter
Hello, Ibrar!
Thank you for the question. My tips would be, write every day. Even if it's a half hour, be consistent. Outline your book as much as possible before you write it. If you self-pub, spend money on a professional book cover. One that looks as good as a traditionally published non-fiction book. Try to pick top selling ones for examples. On the same note, have a professional freelance editor proofread and/or copy editor go over it before you publish. Also having a few beta readers go through your book to tell you what's clear and what's not working so you can fix it before giving it to your editor. Your book is an interesting subject for Formula One fans. You might have already read it for your research, but Steve Matchett's Life In The Fast Lane covers this exact time period and it's an enjoyable book on its own. I hope some of my information is useful to you. Good luck on your project and I look forward to reading it.
Thank you for the question. My tips would be, write every day. Even if it's a half hour, be consistent. Outline your book as much as possible before you write it. If you self-pub, spend money on a professional book cover. One that looks as good as a traditionally published non-fiction book. Try to pick top selling ones for examples. On the same note, have a professional freelance editor proofread and/or copy editor go over it before you publish. Also having a few beta readers go through your book to tell you what's clear and what's not working so you can fix it before giving it to your editor. Your book is an interesting subject for Formula One fans. You might have already read it for your research, but Steve Matchett's Life In The Fast Lane covers this exact time period and it's an enjoyable book on its own. I hope some of my information is useful to you. Good luck on your project and I look forward to reading it.
Doug Solter
If you never wrote a novel before, try writing a lot of short stories or novellas. That way you learn the 3 act structure, character development, and begin to work on your author style and voice. Keep writing these and don't publish them. These stories are only for you to get much needed experience. Then when you're ready...then take on a novel and see how it goes.
Doug Solter
Hi, Peter! Apologies on getting back to you so late. I just noticed your question. For me, novel writing as an indie is the best way to go in terms of earning some income to live on. Once I have that established, I'd love to write and submit more screenplays because I still love film. But I don't have years to wait for the screenwriting lottery to pick me. I would rather come into the business with a author brand in place. (through YA books) Thanks for coming by and good luck with your own career!
Doug Solter
Hi, Peter!
I do remember you from Nichollscribes back in the day. Congrats on the 2014 SF! That's awesome. Let's see, I'll give you the "short" version. Basically when the economy tanked in 2008 and the spec script market went dry, I decided to switch gears and try writing books. At first it was a different approach to getting my film projects made and I thought it would be good for me as a writer to expand my skills. My best received screenplays (Nicholl SF '01 and QF '09) have had teen protagonists so after analyzing the YA genre, I concluded that it fit my writing niche. After I completed several drafts of my novel SKID, I shipped it around to over 60 NYC lit agents for publication. Received a lot of good feedback with a few submission requests but no deals. Then the Amazon Kindle eBook revolution took over in 2011-12 and I decided to go the indie-pub route. For the first time since 1999, my writing is actually earning money. So I released more novels and decided to make this a business. Do I still love film and screenwriting? Yes. I desperately want to find time to write more screenplays. But right now it's difficult with a full time job so I'm forced to pick between fiction and screenplays. I know I can sell the books for money. The spec screenplays are still the big what-if. However, I'm hoping I can somehow carve out the time for one more submission to the Nicholl. Good luck with your writing! Anytime you want to ask me anything else, let me know.
I do remember you from Nichollscribes back in the day. Congrats on the 2014 SF! That's awesome. Let's see, I'll give you the "short" version. Basically when the economy tanked in 2008 and the spec script market went dry, I decided to switch gears and try writing books. At first it was a different approach to getting my film projects made and I thought it would be good for me as a writer to expand my skills. My best received screenplays (Nicholl SF '01 and QF '09) have had teen protagonists so after analyzing the YA genre, I concluded that it fit my writing niche. After I completed several drafts of my novel SKID, I shipped it around to over 60 NYC lit agents for publication. Received a lot of good feedback with a few submission requests but no deals. Then the Amazon Kindle eBook revolution took over in 2011-12 and I decided to go the indie-pub route. For the first time since 1999, my writing is actually earning money. So I released more novels and decided to make this a business. Do I still love film and screenwriting? Yes. I desperately want to find time to write more screenplays. But right now it's difficult with a full time job so I'm forced to pick between fiction and screenplays. I know I can sell the books for money. The spec screenplays are still the big what-if. However, I'm hoping I can somehow carve out the time for one more submission to the Nicholl. Good luck with your writing! Anytime you want to ask me anything else, let me know.
Doug Solter
If I waited until I got inspired to write, I would write nothing. You treat writing like a job that you show up everyday for. But it's a job you should love or you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.
Doug Solter
I'm working on the third book in the SKID young adult series to finish the story arc started on book 2 RIVALS.
Doug Solter
I don't believe in writer's block. There are times when creativity is higher or lower on any given day. However, you still must force it out. To me, writer's block is only resistance to something. You must drop all resistance and go where ever the muse is telling you to go. Evaluate and judge it later. When you're writing, all that matters is writing something down. Period.
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