Roz Morris's Blog, page 12

‘Let the narrative bend where it wants to’ – memoirist Joseph Lezza @lezzdoothis

Joseph Lezza’s first published book is a grief memoir, surrounding the death of his father from pancreatic cancer and the years that followed. It began as an MFA assignment to write a lyric essay, and once he’d finished he found he needed to write another and another, until he had a whole book, full of […]

When machines write books: will AI writing threaten authors’ livelihoods?

Chez Morris, we’re divided about AI tools. I’m mildly interested, while Husband Dave enjoys experimenting, just from curiosity. While warming up for a day’s writing, he asked GPT-3 for a description of a character walking along a harbour and posted the result on Facebook. I started to read, but lost heart after two sentences. Why? […]

How do you market literary fiction, especially as an indie author? Guest spot at @IndieAuthorALLI

I’m surprised to find myself contributing to a marketing guide. Most strategies that work for other authors do zilch for my novels. That’s because I write literary fiction. It’s hard to promote with keywords and genre groups. It’s also slow to write, so creating newsletters is more difficult than if you’re steadily releasing new titles. […]

Making a song and dance

Making a song and dance; do I dare use this as the cover? Audiobook of Ever Rest - progress report. Peculiar author tasks. A little horse. All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/faca2753baa5/makin...

‘The sound of a typewriter brings me happiness’ – historical fiction and non-fiction author Cordelia Biddle @AuthorBiddle

When Cordelia Biddle was nine years old, a schoolteacher told her she could never become an author. Cordelia has proved that teacher everlastingly wrong with two works of non-fiction, five Victorian mystery novels and two standalones. Also, 12 murder mysteries written with her author husband. Her latest release is They Believed They Were Safe, set […]

Let nothing stop you finishing your book – interview with Joanna Penn @thecreativepenn

A lot of people start writing books. Right now, ’tis the season for starting all sorts of great things. It’s also the season to vow to finish the book you lost touch with. How can you turn your good intentions into a finished work? We have the knowhow! My friend Joanna Penn has invited me […]

Easy reading is hard writing – why hard writing is worth it and how to do it

I have a friend on Facebook who posts thoughtful quotes about writing. This, from literary agent Jonny Geller, struck a chord. ‘One thing you learn working with good writers: the easier it was for you to read their story, the harder it was for them to write it.’ My last novel took 23 drafts, and […]

Where one sea ends and another begins

Where one sea ends and another begins, the weirdness of standing next to something huge, peculiar author tasks, books to help you write your books, books of wonder on everything, a little horse... all in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/0b7566cceced/where...?

Time and magic

Time and magic, the luckiest boy in the world, Ever Rest audiobook progress (accents and character voices), more novels available again in audiobook, a little horse https://mailchi.mp/8199e34aa4bc/time-...

Audiobook lovers, lend me your ears

Very quickly… the audiobooks of my first two novels are now available again – My Memories of a Future Life and Lifeform Three. The links above will take you to a range of audio stores and subscription services. If they’re not yet at your usual store, they’re going through the back channels and should be […]