Samuel Fleming's Blog, page 5

Where Does this Blog go from here?

Change is the one constant thing in this world. No matter what trend pops up, or what publishing platforms come and go, what genre is popular, you can bet your ass that eventually it will change. There is an ebb and flow to all things in life, and I’m realizing there might be with this blog as well. 

All authors (creatives, in general) should have a website. Having a Facebook page is not enough. Hell, even Facebook seems like it’s on the way out now. It’s also recommended for authors to have ...

It’s Okay to Suck

The internet is many things. Today I want to look at it through the lens of a creative artist. I am a writer, but this blog post could easily apply to any artist, craftsman, musician, or performer. The internet has given us access to so much information on how to improve our crafts. It opens up our world so that we can see other creatives from across the globe—

Therein lies the rub: For all the good the internet has done, it’s also allowed one hell of a shadow to fall over each and every one ...

We live in a Universe

Fictional universes are all the rage these days. Marvel, DC, Harry Potter, the Cosmere, and those are just some of the biggest. 

It’s easy to see why from a writing standpoint: Flow and Marketing.

What do I mean by Flow? For a writer, it’s hard to start from scratch. It’s infinitely easier to write something familiar. Hence why fanfiction is so huge. Some authors thrive on new worlds and new characters, but I would wager that most don’t. Most would rather continue to follow proven char...

Ya Boy is now on Tiktok

I took the leap. I made a Tiktok account. Apparently it’s what all the hip authors are doing these days. 

It’s going to be a mix of author/writing posts, fantasy and scifi humor, and whatever else pops up. You can find it here: www.tiktok.com/@samuelflemingbooks I might even throw in some dad jokes or something. Apparently, my kids think I can be pretty cringe.

It was either try out Tiktok or pour more money into ads. Here’s hoping there’s still organic discovery available. I’m betting th...

Monthly Obscure Trope Double Feature — Genre Blind & Genre Savvy

This month’s tropes are brought to you by that guy in the horror movies. You know, the one who goes into the creepy basement to investigate the horrible noise. Bonus points if the power is out. 

Or, how about a zombie movie where the protagonists in the movie have never seen a zombie movie? Things like don’t get bit, or shoot for the head seem like common knowledge to us, but the poor fools in these stories are Genre Blind. 

One of my personal favorites comes from the movie Galaxy Quest. T...

Monthly Obscure Posts Double Feature — Genre Blind & Genre Savvy

This month’s tropes are brought to you by that guy in the horror movies. You know, the one who goes into the creepy basement to investigate the horrible noise. Bonus points if the power is out. 

Or, how about a zombie movie where the protagonists in the movie have never seen a zombie movie? Things like don’t get bit, or shoot for the head seem like common knowledge to us, but the poor fools in these stories are Genre Blind. 

One of my personal favorites comes from the movie Galaxy Quest. T...

Going Back to Kindle Unlimited / The Wide Experiment

TLDR: My Ebooks will be Amazon exclusive for the foreseeable future. My print books will still be available via multiple retailers.  All my books should be available in KU by the end of March 2022.

If you’re a reader, and want to know more, read on from here. If you’re a fellow author, read on a bit further.

If it were up to me, I would spend (almost) all day writing. Making up worlds and stories is like oxygen. Unfortunately, that’s not the only thing to consider. Self-publishing isn’t ...

Writing is Hard, Lonely Work

I’ve spent the better part of the decade reading all the craft books I can. I don’t know everything there is to know about writing, I don’t think anyone really does. Writing (and art, in general) is too personal for that, too dependent on the individual. 

But I’ve gotten to a point where most “writing advice” is starting to feel redundant. I’ve read or watched most of it before, and now maybe one part out of ten is something new. 

Recently, I’ve more enjoyed autobiographies about writers. ...

So You Want to Write a Story (Appendix C) — Gliding over the Details

There’s a flow to writing.

For most of us, it takes a few minutes to truly get into our writing state. A few minutes before the words come easily. With enough practice it gets a little quicker to achieve this flow, but for most of us mortals, it takes a few minutes to get the wheels turning.

And, unfortunately, it’s easy as hell to get pulled out of that flow state.

Sometimes all it takes is a phone call or an Email notification. Maybe the kids drew all over the walls or all over the...

The Evolution of an Idea — A Battleaxe and a Metal Arm

I rewrote the description for A Battleaxe and a Metal Arm. 

Why? 

Well, the idea evolved. 

The original kernel for the serial was little more than a sorceress and a barbarian trapped in an ever-changing dungeon. Sure, I had the big ideas figured out—namely the ending and the big reveals about the dungeon and the characters… 

But the rest of it came through writing. Through following Helesys and Taunauk (and Shawn) through the various realms. 

The tagline used to be “Wake up. Kill ...