Ask the Author: Russell Wilks
Answered Questions (7)
Russell Wilks
Beauty (and the Beast).
Russell Wilks
The idea for my 1st novel came about when I asked by someone in a nightclub if I would murder somebody.
They later went ahead with it and were caught by plain dumb luck.
That was the basis of the novel. I since developed way beyond that basic premise. But essentially it's a 'what happens if??' scenario about a single mother living in the south Wales Valleys who's got a few skeletons in her closet and who finds herself obligated and embroiled to commit murder.
They later went ahead with it and were caught by plain dumb luck.
That was the basis of the novel. I since developed way beyond that basic premise. But essentially it's a 'what happens if??' scenario about a single mother living in the south Wales Valleys who's got a few skeletons in her closet and who finds herself obligated and embroiled to commit murder.
Russell Wilks
I'm lucky enough that I don't need inspiration to write on a daily basis. It seems to be my natural state.
I will say though, that in fiction terms I get 'inspired' by stories that tend to fall through the mainstream cracks, microhistory and the like. I like to explore the emotions of the characters as much as the story itself. What do they feel and why?
With my output of factual books, newsletters, emailers and info products I'm basically documenting my ongoing formulation of ideas as to how blue collar/ working class folks, like me, can overcome their limitations and achieve true wealth through a change of behaviours, attitudes, actions and ideas.
I will say though, that in fiction terms I get 'inspired' by stories that tend to fall through the mainstream cracks, microhistory and the like. I like to explore the emotions of the characters as much as the story itself. What do they feel and why?
With my output of factual books, newsletters, emailers and info products I'm basically documenting my ongoing formulation of ideas as to how blue collar/ working class folks, like me, can overcome their limitations and achieve true wealth through a change of behaviours, attitudes, actions and ideas.
Russell Wilks
Okay first factual books, info products etc. I'm currently working on a new 'wealthmaking' book, similar to 'Maximum Money in Minimum Time' >
http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Money-M...
I'm now editing, updating and tweaking said wealthmaking title. And I'll release it as a kindle and maybe in print in summer 2015.
I've recorded about 1000 hours of audio over the last couple of years. These are either wealthmaking product sets or as 'how to info products' audio sets. These'll be coming out in mid 2015 onwards.
Fiction wise - I'm releasing a compilation of my short stories as a kindle and pod (print) in mid 2015 - I'd already written 15 feature film scripts (been paid to write 4) before I started writing my first novel - I'm now on the second full draft rewrite of novel - An emotive neo noir crime story set in the (south) Wales Valleys - That'll be released as a kindle and print-on-demand.
I have a list of 10 novels I'm planning on writing. Mostly neo-noir crime stories (albeit my skewed take on that genre), as well as my epic zombie script set in the midwest of the States - which I'm going to adapt into a novel. And a couple of titles set in the second world war.
I decided to concentrate on writing novels as my fiction output because I enjoyed writing my first novel so much. I feel novel writing is adding immeasurably to my grip on character and is making me a better storyteller.
I continue to develop feature film projects also.
Book Projects on the go>
Factual: 'Wealthmaking' book, larger-scale info products (audios)
Fiction: Compilation of Short Stories (smut and violence), 1st Novel, Other Novels etc.
My aim is to release another 4 to 6 books this year. More specifics as and when I release them.
http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Money-M...
I'm now editing, updating and tweaking said wealthmaking title. And I'll release it as a kindle and maybe in print in summer 2015.
I've recorded about 1000 hours of audio over the last couple of years. These are either wealthmaking product sets or as 'how to info products' audio sets. These'll be coming out in mid 2015 onwards.
Fiction wise - I'm releasing a compilation of my short stories as a kindle and pod (print) in mid 2015 - I'd already written 15 feature film scripts (been paid to write 4) before I started writing my first novel - I'm now on the second full draft rewrite of novel - An emotive neo noir crime story set in the (south) Wales Valleys - That'll be released as a kindle and print-on-demand.
I have a list of 10 novels I'm planning on writing. Mostly neo-noir crime stories (albeit my skewed take on that genre), as well as my epic zombie script set in the midwest of the States - which I'm going to adapt into a novel. And a couple of titles set in the second world war.
I decided to concentrate on writing novels as my fiction output because I enjoyed writing my first novel so much. I feel novel writing is adding immeasurably to my grip on character and is making me a better storyteller.
I continue to develop feature film projects also.
Book Projects on the go>
Factual: 'Wealthmaking' book, larger-scale info products (audios)
Fiction: Compilation of Short Stories (smut and violence), 1st Novel, Other Novels etc.
My aim is to release another 4 to 6 books this year. More specifics as and when I release them.
Russell Wilks
Live well within your means and continuously expand your means. Put away as much cash into savings and investments as early as you possibly can. Run sideline businesses and things that produces extra streams of income and ribbons of revenue.
For years I was a starving artist-writer. It wasn't pretty. It was grim. Then I started to really think about how I could support my hideous junkie writing habit and still live some kind of semblance of a relatively normal life. Including occasionally enjoying a good meal with fine friends etc.
If you're stubborn like me then you'll feel like throwing yourself against the wall of refusal again and again. Stop. Think. Ask yourself how you can afford to be a writer?
Some solutions are the previously mentioned invested wealth. Other jobs that earn decent money per hour - So you can at least spend a goodly amount of your week writing. And learning to get paid for your writing through copywriting (marketing comms etc).
Most writers spend along time developing their skills and their voice. Very rarely do they pop out of their mams fully formed. So bear in mind that writing is a long-term, ongoing practice. So prepare for the long-haul before you go to far down the rabbithole.
Oh, and always read your work out loud to suss out its rhythm and feel. This makes editing much easier!
For years I was a starving artist-writer. It wasn't pretty. It was grim. Then I started to really think about how I could support my hideous junkie writing habit and still live some kind of semblance of a relatively normal life. Including occasionally enjoying a good meal with fine friends etc.
If you're stubborn like me then you'll feel like throwing yourself against the wall of refusal again and again. Stop. Think. Ask yourself how you can afford to be a writer?
Some solutions are the previously mentioned invested wealth. Other jobs that earn decent money per hour - So you can at least spend a goodly amount of your week writing. And learning to get paid for your writing through copywriting (marketing comms etc).
Most writers spend along time developing their skills and their voice. Very rarely do they pop out of their mams fully formed. So bear in mind that writing is a long-term, ongoing practice. So prepare for the long-haul before you go to far down the rabbithole.
Oh, and always read your work out loud to suss out its rhythm and feel. This makes editing much easier!
Russell Wilks
You make your own life as a writer. It can be a hard slog. And it's not the most practical thing in the world from a money-making point of view. BUT! If you're compelled to do it...Against all commonsense and calls for you to be a plumber or a bricklayer...Then do it you must!
What has always floated my boat is that I can create worlds, explore characters lives and ideas that are not necessarily my own.
I create fiction and factual books, info products etc. I also create movie scripts, monologues, audio files and speak at seminars. Overall the same impulse to communicate ideas and emotions powers me on.
What has always floated my boat is that I can create worlds, explore characters lives and ideas that are not necessarily my own.
I create fiction and factual books, info products etc. I also create movie scripts, monologues, audio files and speak at seminars. Overall the same impulse to communicate ideas and emotions powers me on.
Russell Wilks
Writer's Block is basically 'Page Fright' - You see what you want to create and you get scared that your results won't match your intention. You also see a huge 'thing' as opposed to a series of 'things'. And this, to an extent, 'does your head in'.
The cure is pretty simple:
1) Always remember Action is the Key
It is vitally important that you start as soon as you can. Preparation is important to an extent, but so many writers put off writing because they claim to be doing their prep - This is often an excuse for inaction.
Even if what you start writing is rubbish, stop worrying about it. At least you are now started
2) How'd You Eat an Elephant?
Bit by bit. Piece by piece. A book, script, screenplay, info product etc is just a series of bits strung together to make a whole. With an organising principle behind it all.
3) With fiction start with the end in mind. This can change as you go along. BUT! It'll give you something to aim for when you begin
With 'faction' titles, knowing your subject well helps. But still if you break it down into sections this'll make it a lot easier to create
So remember writer's block can be a real thing for a lot of people. The cure, as with most things is action. When it comes to writing, the action you must take on a daily basis to move the title along is to write. Writing takes precedence over everything else.
Good Luck and Get Started Now
Russell Wilks
The cure is pretty simple:
1) Always remember Action is the Key
It is vitally important that you start as soon as you can. Preparation is important to an extent, but so many writers put off writing because they claim to be doing their prep - This is often an excuse for inaction.
Even if what you start writing is rubbish, stop worrying about it. At least you are now started
2) How'd You Eat an Elephant?
Bit by bit. Piece by piece. A book, script, screenplay, info product etc is just a series of bits strung together to make a whole. With an organising principle behind it all.
3) With fiction start with the end in mind. This can change as you go along. BUT! It'll give you something to aim for when you begin
With 'faction' titles, knowing your subject well helps. But still if you break it down into sections this'll make it a lot easier to create
So remember writer's block can be a real thing for a lot of people. The cure, as with most things is action. When it comes to writing, the action you must take on a daily basis to move the title along is to write. Writing takes precedence over everything else.
Good Luck and Get Started Now
Russell Wilks
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