Ask the Author: Christopher L. Hedges
Answered Questions (7)
Christopher L. Hedges
When I think of mysteries I think of fiction. I'm not sure I would ever venture into writing fiction so I probably have no mysteries I would write about. However, a friend has introduced me to an interesting story that centers around currencies.
It is a wild concept that, if true, challenges just about everything I have ever learned about history from the last 300 years. Once I started digging into the subject matter he presented me with its scope was so broad it defied imagination. I think this currency fairytale would make for great historical fiction that would rival the stories that led to the present day expeditions in search of the treasure of Oak Island, the lost gold of the Incas, and the Hunter for Hitler in South America.
As you read about this over-the-top story of currency speculation, as it is written about in chat rooms, forums and blog posts across the internet, you begin to wonder: what is reality, what is fiction and where do the two overlap? You start to incorporate world events that seem to fit nicely into the narrative that you have read about. You begin to look at wars and consider ulterior motives for why they may have taken place. You begin to doubt the narrative that is pushed by the mainstream media, and ask who is forcing their agenda on you with their institution of propaganda that is veiled by its presentation as news and entertainment.
While it may not be my mystery, that is a story that I might be so inclined to include in something I write about at some point in the future.
It is a wild concept that, if true, challenges just about everything I have ever learned about history from the last 300 years. Once I started digging into the subject matter he presented me with its scope was so broad it defied imagination. I think this currency fairytale would make for great historical fiction that would rival the stories that led to the present day expeditions in search of the treasure of Oak Island, the lost gold of the Incas, and the Hunter for Hitler in South America.
As you read about this over-the-top story of currency speculation, as it is written about in chat rooms, forums and blog posts across the internet, you begin to wonder: what is reality, what is fiction and where do the two overlap? You start to incorporate world events that seem to fit nicely into the narrative that you have read about. You begin to look at wars and consider ulterior motives for why they may have taken place. You begin to doubt the narrative that is pushed by the mainstream media, and ask who is forcing their agenda on you with their institution of propaganda that is veiled by its presentation as news and entertainment.
While it may not be my mystery, that is a story that I might be so inclined to include in something I write about at some point in the future.
Christopher L. Hedges
Be very clear on what it is you want before you get started. When you know what you want set your goals significantly higher than what you think they should be. I found it was easier to set challenging stretch goals from the start instead of setting easier goals and having to come up with new ones on the fly.
Goal: New York Times #1 Bestseller vs Goal: Write a book, New Goal: Get published, New Goal: Get on TV for book promotion, New Goal: Major national TV talk show,...
All of those other things are steps I'm taking on the path to my goal of New York Times #1 Bestseller. They are all steps to a much larger goal so I'm working on them all simultaneously instead of meeting a goal and resetting to meet another goal. In my opinion it is more efficient and you will be more productive following my way of thinking, but it's only my opinion.
Goal: New York Times #1 Bestseller vs Goal: Write a book, New Goal: Get published, New Goal: Get on TV for book promotion, New Goal: Major national TV talk show,...
All of those other things are steps I'm taking on the path to my goal of New York Times #1 Bestseller. They are all steps to a much larger goal so I'm working on them all simultaneously instead of meeting a goal and resetting to meet another goal. In my opinion it is more efficient and you will be more productive following my way of thinking, but it's only my opinion.
Christopher L. Hedges
Living off of book sales leads to a great diet, no sales...no eating.
Seriously though if you are going to be a successful writer you are going to experience a great deal of growth. You are going to have to learn how to do interviews on TV and radio, internet marketing, networking, promotions, sales...You basically become a solopreneur because you can't afford to pay anyone to perform non writing tasks for you, or at least I couldn't.
In my experience there are very few jobs you can apply for that give you the ability to be creative, and develop a wide range of skills like writing does.
Seriously though if you are going to be a successful writer you are going to experience a great deal of growth. You are going to have to learn how to do interviews on TV and radio, internet marketing, networking, promotions, sales...You basically become a solopreneur because you can't afford to pay anyone to perform non writing tasks for you, or at least I couldn't.
In my experience there are very few jobs you can apply for that give you the ability to be creative, and develop a wide range of skills like writing does.
Christopher L. Hedges
I wrote the book that I hadn't seen on the bookstore shelves, and wanted to read. I had to find my own little niche before I started writing Average Joe's Story. However, I think this becomes a much more interesting question for fiction than it is for non fiction.
Christopher L. Hedges
I have yet to experience it, but my career has just begun. When I go through it for the first time I'll let you know. Until then I'm unqualified to give you any advice in this department.
Christopher L. Hedges
Currently I'm focused on my upcoming book tour for Average Joe's Story Quest for Confidence. I have infinitely more to learn and do in the promotion of the book than I ever had in the writing of the book. There isn't enough time in the day to get everything done, and I don't have a budget for staff. So presently there are a lot of long stressful days.
Christopher L. Hedges
I wasn't inspired to write. I started writing because I had too much time on my hands. After a while writing became a catharsis exercise for me. After I had several thousand words on paper I let another published author look at it, and he encouraged me to turn it into a manuscript.
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