Chris Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "defender"
DEFENDER TRIBUTE VIDEO GOES VIRAL
On the eve of the new website launch, checking out all our social media channels, dotting i's and crossing t's, we head over to IntrepidAllen's channel on YouTube.
A surprise awaited.
The Defender tribute video, made by Alex Hermes from the rockin' band Bullethead, has had in excess of 40,000 pairs of eyes on it. And growing!
They released this extended version of their popular song 'Promise Made' in 2011 as a tribute to the novel, which refers to the Intrepid team as 'Defenders of the faith', complete with video film clip that interpreted some of the book's meatier scenes!
40,000 views... now that's a little bit viral!
Watch the video clip at www.youtube.com/intrepidallen.
Massive thanks to Alex Hermes from Bullethead | Ocean Commando for his efforts ... a true Defender... Rock out!
A surprise awaited.
The Defender tribute video, made by Alex Hermes from the rockin' band Bullethead, has had in excess of 40,000 pairs of eyes on it. And growing!
They released this extended version of their popular song 'Promise Made' in 2011 as a tribute to the novel, which refers to the Intrepid team as 'Defenders of the faith', complete with video film clip that interpreted some of the book's meatier scenes!
40,000 views... now that's a little bit viral!
Watch the video clip at www.youtube.com/intrepidallen.
Massive thanks to Alex Hermes from Bullethead | Ocean Commando for his efforts ... a true Defender... Rock out!
A NEW YEAR FOR THOSE WHO SERVE
This post first appeared on C Mash Loves to Read.
The Christmas and New Year period is a very trying time for military families, especially those with young children. The absence of a loved one who is necessarily in harm’s way only serves to intensify the impact of protracted separation upon the family unit. So, it becomes incredibly important for the families at home to have strong support both from their own immediate networks and the community, just as much as the deployed servicemen and servicewomen require the best possible support along with our thoughts and most sincere best wishes for a safe return home.
I’m a first generation Australian, with a strong British lineage on both my Dad’s and my Mum’s side of the family, specifically England and Wales. I grew up on the stories my father told of my grandfather and my uncles during both world wars and as a young lad, those things really resonated. I felt a strong pull towards military service very early on and, as I got older, I became serious about it. That childhood interest grew into a real sense of duty. It was almost inevitable that I would choose a military career.
We have an eclectic mix of military service throughout the family, soldiers, sailors and airmen, but I feel the strongest link to my father’s eldest brother, Stanley, who served with the British Parachute Regiment during the Second World War. Sadly, I never met Uncle Stan but you can imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment I felt when, many years later as a young Captain, I was chosen for a highly coveted attachment to British Airborne Forces. In terms of my family history, I really felt as though I had come full circle at that point.
A couple of years later, when injuries I’d sustained in service caught up with me, I was medically retired having reached the rank of Major. Then, following a sojourn into the world of humanitarian aid during the emergency in East Timor in 1999, my post-military career has predominantly been in law enforcement and government security roles.
I’ve often been asked if there are any moments from my military career that have found their way into my novels. There are hundreds of experiences I draw on and many of them appear in my Alex Morgan adventures. However, one in particular came to mind when I was writing my first novel that was so perfect for the story, that I decided to include it almost verbatim – from real life onto the page.
I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading DEFENDER, but this incident involved a number of parachute jumps we were doing while I was attached to 3PARA in the UK. The Regiment was required to trial the new low-level parachute being considered for introduction into British Airborne Forces. These particular ‘chutes are designed to deploy, as the name implies, at very low levels. We’d jumped a few times on this day at a much lower altitude than we usually would have – so the margin for error was significantly reduced. That is, jumping out of the aircraft at low altitude means less air time and much less time to rectify a problem in an emergency. In essence, you jump with a large parachute on your back (the Main) and a much smaller parachute on your chest (the Reserve) – although despite the fact that we were still jumping with Reserve parachutes, at such low altitude they were more or less along for the ride rather than being of any actual use.
On this one jump, when I exited the aircraft into the full blast of the aircraft’s slipstream and carried out all of the drills familiar to every paratrooper, my Main parachute wasn’t in the mood to comply. In fact, it was belligerently refusing to participate in the activity at all. I thought at the time that it must have had something against Australians! Realizing that the ground was rapidly on its way up to meet me and my Reserve parachute was nothing more than a passenger, my only option was to somehow convince the Main parachute to do what it was supposed – fly!
After a few thought provoking seconds where I engaged in a macabre parody of riding an invisible bicycle while trying to pull apart the support chains of a children’s playground swing, I managed to get some air into the canopy and the recalcitrant parachute deployed. I emerged from a rough landing unharmed, albeit a little shaken and stirred.
Episodes like these are written these stories for lovers of the action thriller genre who enjoy gritty realism served with a healthy dose of escapism; a perfect excuse to escape over the Christmas & New Year holidays without ever having to leave your chair.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to spend Christmas at home with my family and friends. Many others are not so fortunate. Many of the characters I have written about in these books are exactly the types of men and women who will be away from their loved ones over the holidays, most probably in harm’s way. Therefore, while we celebrate the season in safety and contentment, enjoying the dangerous adventures of our fictional heroes – whoever they may be – on a movie screen or from the pages of a book, it’s very timely to spare a thought for those brave individuals all over the world who protect others as their day job. Spare a thought too for their loved ones who know only too well what the sacrifice of service really means.
Happy New Year.
The Christmas and New Year period is a very trying time for military families, especially those with young children. The absence of a loved one who is necessarily in harm’s way only serves to intensify the impact of protracted separation upon the family unit. So, it becomes incredibly important for the families at home to have strong support both from their own immediate networks and the community, just as much as the deployed servicemen and servicewomen require the best possible support along with our thoughts and most sincere best wishes for a safe return home.
I’m a first generation Australian, with a strong British lineage on both my Dad’s and my Mum’s side of the family, specifically England and Wales. I grew up on the stories my father told of my grandfather and my uncles during both world wars and as a young lad, those things really resonated. I felt a strong pull towards military service very early on and, as I got older, I became serious about it. That childhood interest grew into a real sense of duty. It was almost inevitable that I would choose a military career.
We have an eclectic mix of military service throughout the family, soldiers, sailors and airmen, but I feel the strongest link to my father’s eldest brother, Stanley, who served with the British Parachute Regiment during the Second World War. Sadly, I never met Uncle Stan but you can imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment I felt when, many years later as a young Captain, I was chosen for a highly coveted attachment to British Airborne Forces. In terms of my family history, I really felt as though I had come full circle at that point.
A couple of years later, when injuries I’d sustained in service caught up with me, I was medically retired having reached the rank of Major. Then, following a sojourn into the world of humanitarian aid during the emergency in East Timor in 1999, my post-military career has predominantly been in law enforcement and government security roles.
I’ve often been asked if there are any moments from my military career that have found their way into my novels. There are hundreds of experiences I draw on and many of them appear in my Alex Morgan adventures. However, one in particular came to mind when I was writing my first novel that was so perfect for the story, that I decided to include it almost verbatim – from real life onto the page.
I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading DEFENDER, but this incident involved a number of parachute jumps we were doing while I was attached to 3PARA in the UK. The Regiment was required to trial the new low-level parachute being considered for introduction into British Airborne Forces. These particular ‘chutes are designed to deploy, as the name implies, at very low levels. We’d jumped a few times on this day at a much lower altitude than we usually would have – so the margin for error was significantly reduced. That is, jumping out of the aircraft at low altitude means less air time and much less time to rectify a problem in an emergency. In essence, you jump with a large parachute on your back (the Main) and a much smaller parachute on your chest (the Reserve) – although despite the fact that we were still jumping with Reserve parachutes, at such low altitude they were more or less along for the ride rather than being of any actual use.
On this one jump, when I exited the aircraft into the full blast of the aircraft’s slipstream and carried out all of the drills familiar to every paratrooper, my Main parachute wasn’t in the mood to comply. In fact, it was belligerently refusing to participate in the activity at all. I thought at the time that it must have had something against Australians! Realizing that the ground was rapidly on its way up to meet me and my Reserve parachute was nothing more than a passenger, my only option was to somehow convince the Main parachute to do what it was supposed – fly!
After a few thought provoking seconds where I engaged in a macabre parody of riding an invisible bicycle while trying to pull apart the support chains of a children’s playground swing, I managed to get some air into the canopy and the recalcitrant parachute deployed. I emerged from a rough landing unharmed, albeit a little shaken and stirred.
Episodes like these are written these stories for lovers of the action thriller genre who enjoy gritty realism served with a healthy dose of escapism; a perfect excuse to escape over the Christmas & New Year holidays without ever having to leave your chair.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to spend Christmas at home with my family and friends. Many others are not so fortunate. Many of the characters I have written about in these books are exactly the types of men and women who will be away from their loved ones over the holidays, most probably in harm’s way. Therefore, while we celebrate the season in safety and contentment, enjoying the dangerous adventures of our fictional heroes – whoever they may be – on a movie screen or from the pages of a book, it’s very timely to spare a thought for those brave individuals all over the world who protect others as their day job. Spare a thought too for their loved ones who know only too well what the sacrifice of service really means.
Happy New Year.
6 WAYS TO THRILL YOUR VALENTINE
Valentine's Day. Two words that leave people in a hot flush, or a cold sweat. The pressure of finding the perfect gift, arranging the perfect dinner or just getting the card right for the person you fancy can be, well, challenging (unbearable).
Usually I'm rushing around at the last minute, eventually picking up a favourite bottle of bubbles for my Sar before we settle into a romantic picnic together somewhere. Of course, this year, we'll be joined by our boys, Captain Morgan and Baby Rhett, and the trampoline in the backyard will most likely be the 'romantic' spot.
So, if, like me, you don't succumb to the commercialisation of February 14 but still want to acknowledge it with a stylish but not excessive hat-tip to Saint Valentine, here's what you do this year: promise that special someone - him or her - some real action!
Of course, I'm referring to action of the armchair variety. Because, clearly, after wining and dining your muse, you'll be looking forward to a rip-roaring action thriller... right?
Here's how you get that special someone's pulse racing:
1. PLATE IT UP
Set the scene: table, candles, music, rose in vase, etc. Then, just as you're pouring the bubbly, gently place Defender: Intrepid 1 on your muse's place-mat and announce that tonight, they get Alex Morgan / Arena Halls / Victor Lundt on a plate (depending on their preferences, of course).
2. IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON
Create a playlist for the evening - kicking things off with Dance Me To The End Of Love by Madeline Peyroux (Arena Halls would be proud of you) and then suggest that you each do an interpretive dance to the song that best suits your mood at the time :) I recommend against Til The End by The Living End, even though Alex Morgan would be happy, not such a good pick for Feb 14... unless you want to end up with whiplash! (Just incidentally, both these songs appear in Defender: Intrepid 1 ).
3. BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS
Nothing says romance like heart shaped foods, I've always thought, and turns out everyone on Pinterest agrees! I particularly like this tasty morsel - such a sophisticated take on bacon and eggs - and it would go down a treat with the Mr or Mrs at dinner. Perhaps more so with the Mr than the Mrs. Anyway, simple is best and you can spend the all time you saved washing pots and pans doing something a little more intimate... like reading Hunter: Intrepid 2 aloud to each other.
4. BUBBLE BUBBLE
Now, it just wouldn't be very Intrepid-esque to leave your options at just dinner and dancing. Why not draw a decadent bubble bath for your muse. Don't leave anything to chance: candles, flowers, music - perhaps something classical that would appeal to Charlotte-Rose Fleming, you get the idea. You're all set so, when your loved one desires, guide them into the water, close the door, then pad back down the hallway, pour yourself a healthy Shiraz and sneak in a few more chapters of Alex Morgan's latest, allowing your muse a few precious moments to soak.
5. BLUE MOON
Perhaps you're more of an outdoorsy type. No problem. Everyone loves the moon, especially when it's full. So, why not serve a nice dessert wine and cheese platter outside? Then, to maximise your time, pre-arrange for head-mounted flash lights so that you don't miss out on a good reading session once the sun does go down and the cheese platter is all gone. I mean, seriously, what else would you do?
6. SHOW US YOUR THRILLER
Finally, for those with an exhibitionist streak, there's always the chance to Show Us Your Thriller. Why not choose just the right moment during the course of your romantic evening together and pose with your copy of Defender or Hunter - or both - maybe even acting out one of the scenes described above. Post it onto my Facebook page - then, after a popular vote, one lucky person will be immortalised with a character in my next adventure story: AVENGER: Intrepid 3!
Now that you and your muse are guaranteed a thrilling time on February 14, here's how to make it a sure thing. Of course, I'm talking about an inscribed, signed, bookmarked and beautifully wrapped copy of Defender and Hunter for $40 plus $12 postage Australia-wide. Or you can get Hunter for $25, Defender for $20 plus the same postage cost.
If you prefer, you can give the gift of an eBook to your loved one and it's dead easy to do on Amazon if your girl or guy has a Kindle. Just go to the page for Defender on Amazon or Hunter on Amazon and select the 'give as gift' option. Our good mates at Momentum Books have also written this blow-by-blow account on how to gift eBooks to other people with all types of eReaders, helpfully titled The Lazy Person's Guide to Gift Giving (http://momentumbooks.com.au/blog/the-...). If that doesn't make you feel good about yourself, I don't know what does.
There you have it, folks. Oh, I forgot to mention - signed copies are best for Australia-wide only, otherwise the postage gets ridiculous; email gday@intrepidallen.com to order; and last drinks (orders) are due by this Sunday evening 10 February so we can get them delivered by Thursday.
Let's make your next Valentine's Day the most thrilling yet: full steam ahead.
Chris
ps. Still not sure if this is the kind of action they want? Check out the latest reviews about the action thriller stories at http://www.intrepidallen.com/reviews
Usually I'm rushing around at the last minute, eventually picking up a favourite bottle of bubbles for my Sar before we settle into a romantic picnic together somewhere. Of course, this year, we'll be joined by our boys, Captain Morgan and Baby Rhett, and the trampoline in the backyard will most likely be the 'romantic' spot.
So, if, like me, you don't succumb to the commercialisation of February 14 but still want to acknowledge it with a stylish but not excessive hat-tip to Saint Valentine, here's what you do this year: promise that special someone - him or her - some real action!
Of course, I'm referring to action of the armchair variety. Because, clearly, after wining and dining your muse, you'll be looking forward to a rip-roaring action thriller... right?
Here's how you get that special someone's pulse racing:
1. PLATE IT UP
Set the scene: table, candles, music, rose in vase, etc. Then, just as you're pouring the bubbly, gently place Defender: Intrepid 1 on your muse's place-mat and announce that tonight, they get Alex Morgan / Arena Halls / Victor Lundt on a plate (depending on their preferences, of course).
2. IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON
Create a playlist for the evening - kicking things off with Dance Me To The End Of Love by Madeline Peyroux (Arena Halls would be proud of you) and then suggest that you each do an interpretive dance to the song that best suits your mood at the time :) I recommend against Til The End by The Living End, even though Alex Morgan would be happy, not such a good pick for Feb 14... unless you want to end up with whiplash! (Just incidentally, both these songs appear in Defender: Intrepid 1 ).
3. BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS
Nothing says romance like heart shaped foods, I've always thought, and turns out everyone on Pinterest agrees! I particularly like this tasty morsel - such a sophisticated take on bacon and eggs - and it would go down a treat with the Mr or Mrs at dinner. Perhaps more so with the Mr than the Mrs. Anyway, simple is best and you can spend the all time you saved washing pots and pans doing something a little more intimate... like reading Hunter: Intrepid 2 aloud to each other.
4. BUBBLE BUBBLE
Now, it just wouldn't be very Intrepid-esque to leave your options at just dinner and dancing. Why not draw a decadent bubble bath for your muse. Don't leave anything to chance: candles, flowers, music - perhaps something classical that would appeal to Charlotte-Rose Fleming, you get the idea. You're all set so, when your loved one desires, guide them into the water, close the door, then pad back down the hallway, pour yourself a healthy Shiraz and sneak in a few more chapters of Alex Morgan's latest, allowing your muse a few precious moments to soak.
5. BLUE MOON
Perhaps you're more of an outdoorsy type. No problem. Everyone loves the moon, especially when it's full. So, why not serve a nice dessert wine and cheese platter outside? Then, to maximise your time, pre-arrange for head-mounted flash lights so that you don't miss out on a good reading session once the sun does go down and the cheese platter is all gone. I mean, seriously, what else would you do?
6. SHOW US YOUR THRILLER
Finally, for those with an exhibitionist streak, there's always the chance to Show Us Your Thriller. Why not choose just the right moment during the course of your romantic evening together and pose with your copy of Defender or Hunter - or both - maybe even acting out one of the scenes described above. Post it onto my Facebook page - then, after a popular vote, one lucky person will be immortalised with a character in my next adventure story: AVENGER: Intrepid 3!
Now that you and your muse are guaranteed a thrilling time on February 14, here's how to make it a sure thing. Of course, I'm talking about an inscribed, signed, bookmarked and beautifully wrapped copy of Defender and Hunter for $40 plus $12 postage Australia-wide. Or you can get Hunter for $25, Defender for $20 plus the same postage cost.
If you prefer, you can give the gift of an eBook to your loved one and it's dead easy to do on Amazon if your girl or guy has a Kindle. Just go to the page for Defender on Amazon or Hunter on Amazon and select the 'give as gift' option. Our good mates at Momentum Books have also written this blow-by-blow account on how to gift eBooks to other people with all types of eReaders, helpfully titled The Lazy Person's Guide to Gift Giving (http://momentumbooks.com.au/blog/the-...). If that doesn't make you feel good about yourself, I don't know what does.
There you have it, folks. Oh, I forgot to mention - signed copies are best for Australia-wide only, otherwise the postage gets ridiculous; email gday@intrepidallen.com to order; and last drinks (orders) are due by this Sunday evening 10 February so we can get them delivered by Thursday.
Let's make your next Valentine's Day the most thrilling yet: full steam ahead.
Chris
ps. Still not sure if this is the kind of action they want? Check out the latest reviews about the action thriller stories at http://www.intrepidallen.com/reviews
WRITING FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE
OR: HOW TO START PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK
Recently, following a writers' talk at the Lake Macquarie Fellowship of Australian Writers, I received an email from one of the attendees asking me how long I should expect a book will take to write and publish.
My first thought is "how long is a piece of string?" It's a valid question though and one I'd like to address right here, on this blog, to spark thought and discourse with any other aspiring or practicing writers.
If you ultimately seek a successful writing career (and there's nothing wrong with that!) then you may need to do what I did after completing my first book, and drastically alter your writing approach - especially if you ever wish to enjoy the fruits of your labours. The idea? To embrace a shorter but more productive writing timeframe; learn the ropes of the digital revolution in full swing; and take control of your publishing destiny.
The following advice has been prepared on the basis of my personal experience and should be taken as my own journey and therefore may or may not be of assistance to you. The Boss - aka my Sar - suggested I add that particular disclaimer, as there is already a plethora of authors out there providing marketing and publishing advice, and while we all have learnings to impart, no one person is the holy grail. That said, Sarah has done a great course recently - led by one particularly cool fellow - that is worth checking as his advice was incredible and, importantly, based on success that was hard won.
Now, back to the basics.
PREPARING YOUR BOOK
There are a couple of approaches to consider.
Firstly, you may wish to self publish it as I did initially and, thereby, 'test the waters'. If you do, you can: (1) engage some of your writing colleagues and ask for their genuine feedback - this will help you get a sense of what's working or not, then either (2) find and pay for an editor who is experienced in your genre and will work with you to make the manuscript 'publishing ready' - many available online if you look hard enough, or (3) pay for a complete publishing/editorial package which will essentially give you a one-stop-shop to keep the process simple and, relatively, expedient. In this regard, I would recommend researching the Amazon publishing arm CreateSpace - the people I used when I self-published Defender of the Faith.
If you don't want to self-publish then you'll be on the look out for a publisher who specialises in your genre. That could be a mainstream publisher who is looking for writers producing work in that area, or it could be a genre-specific publisher. This will take research and I wouldn't limit your research just to Australia. Spend some time hunting across the internet and look for writing groups, bloggers, reviewers who are focused on that genre - listen for the buzz on whose work they are reviewing, what they are saying about the biggest writers in your space, and use your sleuthing skills to discover who publishes their work, who agents for them, and so on.
KEEP WRITING
Now, all of the above is something you should be doing while concurrently getting started on the next book!
Publishing is a business. Publishers are looking for writers/books that they feel will sell and that they can market and turnaround reasonably rapidly. Your work is a 'product for sale' in the big bad world. So, you need to be prepared to change your writing approach if you wish to be picked up by a publisher and see your books on shelves in stores or online.
These days, with the explosion of eReaders and eBooks and reading a plethora of stories on all manner of technological devices and (gasp) books, you've gotta keep writing to up your chances of success as an dollar-earning author. A publisher could be looking for a six month turnaround from you if they are looking to publish one of your books per year. That gives them time to undertake the full editing process - structural/copy/final etc, followed by the actual production process and then, obviously, marketing ahead of the release date.
THINK SERIES-LY
My experience has been in writing a series, so I'm going to stick to that. Map out your entire series so that you have the full adventure planned and organised into the various volumes i.e. Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 etc. Once you've done that, then get started on book two. That means planning your personal writing process around a certain word-count per day or week (up to you). To me, it's all about word count. Books in my genre of action / thriller / espionage normally average around 100,000 words. It would be wise to find an average word count for books in your genre so that you have an idea of what to aim for. Then, it's simply: creativity + maths = book delivered on time.
No one can tell you exactly how to execute this, especially the creativity part. However, I would advise against paragraph-by-paragraph perfection and stay focused on the entire story. Remember, the book will go through a very detailed (sometimes excruciating) editorial process once you have it finished. Honestly, just get the story down. It's your story and your characters that will win over an audience. They won't be too concerned with every single word and paragraph.
I'll leave it there for now. Do you have a view? Leave a comment below.
Best,
Chris
Recently, following a writers' talk at the Lake Macquarie Fellowship of Australian Writers, I received an email from one of the attendees asking me how long I should expect a book will take to write and publish.
My first thought is "how long is a piece of string?" It's a valid question though and one I'd like to address right here, on this blog, to spark thought and discourse with any other aspiring or practicing writers.
If you ultimately seek a successful writing career (and there's nothing wrong with that!) then you may need to do what I did after completing my first book, and drastically alter your writing approach - especially if you ever wish to enjoy the fruits of your labours. The idea? To embrace a shorter but more productive writing timeframe; learn the ropes of the digital revolution in full swing; and take control of your publishing destiny.
The following advice has been prepared on the basis of my personal experience and should be taken as my own journey and therefore may or may not be of assistance to you. The Boss - aka my Sar - suggested I add that particular disclaimer, as there is already a plethora of authors out there providing marketing and publishing advice, and while we all have learnings to impart, no one person is the holy grail. That said, Sarah has done a great course recently - led by one particularly cool fellow - that is worth checking as his advice was incredible and, importantly, based on success that was hard won.
Now, back to the basics.
PREPARING YOUR BOOK
There are a couple of approaches to consider.
Firstly, you may wish to self publish it as I did initially and, thereby, 'test the waters'. If you do, you can: (1) engage some of your writing colleagues and ask for their genuine feedback - this will help you get a sense of what's working or not, then either (2) find and pay for an editor who is experienced in your genre and will work with you to make the manuscript 'publishing ready' - many available online if you look hard enough, or (3) pay for a complete publishing/editorial package which will essentially give you a one-stop-shop to keep the process simple and, relatively, expedient. In this regard, I would recommend researching the Amazon publishing arm CreateSpace - the people I used when I self-published Defender of the Faith.
If you don't want to self-publish then you'll be on the look out for a publisher who specialises in your genre. That could be a mainstream publisher who is looking for writers producing work in that area, or it could be a genre-specific publisher. This will take research and I wouldn't limit your research just to Australia. Spend some time hunting across the internet and look for writing groups, bloggers, reviewers who are focused on that genre - listen for the buzz on whose work they are reviewing, what they are saying about the biggest writers in your space, and use your sleuthing skills to discover who publishes their work, who agents for them, and so on.
KEEP WRITING
Now, all of the above is something you should be doing while concurrently getting started on the next book!
Publishing is a business. Publishers are looking for writers/books that they feel will sell and that they can market and turnaround reasonably rapidly. Your work is a 'product for sale' in the big bad world. So, you need to be prepared to change your writing approach if you wish to be picked up by a publisher and see your books on shelves in stores or online.
These days, with the explosion of eReaders and eBooks and reading a plethora of stories on all manner of technological devices and (gasp) books, you've gotta keep writing to up your chances of success as an dollar-earning author. A publisher could be looking for a six month turnaround from you if they are looking to publish one of your books per year. That gives them time to undertake the full editing process - structural/copy/final etc, followed by the actual production process and then, obviously, marketing ahead of the release date.
THINK SERIES-LY
My experience has been in writing a series, so I'm going to stick to that. Map out your entire series so that you have the full adventure planned and organised into the various volumes i.e. Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 etc. Once you've done that, then get started on book two. That means planning your personal writing process around a certain word-count per day or week (up to you). To me, it's all about word count. Books in my genre of action / thriller / espionage normally average around 100,000 words. It would be wise to find an average word count for books in your genre so that you have an idea of what to aim for. Then, it's simply: creativity + maths = book delivered on time.
No one can tell you exactly how to execute this, especially the creativity part. However, I would advise against paragraph-by-paragraph perfection and stay focused on the entire story. Remember, the book will go through a very detailed (sometimes excruciating) editorial process once you have it finished. Honestly, just get the story down. It's your story and your characters that will win over an audience. They won't be too concerned with every single word and paragraph.
I'll leave it there for now. Do you have a view? Leave a comment below.
Best,
Chris
TEN ELEMENTS OF A CRACKING THRILLER
I’ve got to tell you how particularly chuffed I am that it’s Intrepid Month right now at That Book You Like (http://thatbookyoulike.wordpress.com/).
The act of writing stories can be less than glamorous – it’s more endless cups of tea and crumbs piling up on the keyboard in a darkened room (aka my writing mancave) than back-to-back launches and book signings with pen poised and a glass of red by my side. So, an entire month that celebrates the fruits of my humble artistic toils through a group Book Club read and Facebook chat is very welcome indeed!
Those days when I am holed up in the mancave, churning out chapters of the latest Alex Morgan espionage adventure as fast as my clumsy two-finger typing skills can manage, I’m not consciously thinking about what makes a cracking thriller. It’s creating my own mix of preferred reading and viewing tastes, past experiences, a reasonable dash of instinct, and an intense need to extract the story from my head and get it onto the page. Then, of course everything is honed during the editing process with my publisher.
Once the books are put out into the world, there does seem – on reflection – to be some shared elements I recognise between my work and those of the other thriller writers I have grown up enjoying.
So, here’s ten elements of a cracking thriller that are important to me when crafting or getting into a new action & adventure yarn. I wonder if you enjoy these or different tactics when you’re getting into a story?
1. A plot that keeps you guessing
The plot has to keep you going at a micro and macro level. I like to write and read stories that keep the narrative moving ahead quickly. Before you know it, you’re well and truly committed to the story because the author has you hooked from the outset.
2. Action that compels you to keep reading
You’ve got to need to keep the pages turning. When I hear that someone has missed their train stop or their bus because too busy reading what Alex Morgan is up to, then my job is done. I love to read books that can achieve that for me, too! The idea is to keep the forward movement of the action as relentless as possible. The reader should be almost out of breath at the end of a major action sequence.
3. Characters that you care about
This is something that I am exploring as I immerse myself into the Alex Morgan series. I’d like to let my readers know more about Morgan and other principle characters. There are many writers who are great at this in the action/adventure arena – including my favourites – Fleming, Conan Doyle, Maclean, Higgins, Cussler. Of course, including a little beguiling love interest in each story doesn’t harm the reading experience either.
4. Enough realism to make you wonder, enough escapism to help you forget
I like stories that make you think, ‘maybe this has really happened’. For instance, when I created the fictional agency Intrepid, I wanted to give it a sense of real world gravitas but setting it within Interpol, while adding the connection to other major international agencies such as the UN Security Council. In truth the two are not connected but it’s not a stretch to believe that they are, and it also adds a sense of scale to the grand narrative I’m constructing across the series.
5. Enjoyable the second time around
The proof is in the pudding when it comes to great books. You know, the ones that are your favourites because you keep going back to re-read them time and again? I have my favourite stories that I return to and in years to come, I hope to provide that experience for my own readers. Ideally, the aim is to have people enjoy it enough to put a copy on their bookshelf – which is an achievement in an age of eReaders.
6. Classic but contemporary
In my view, the more that an action writer can make something that’s been made a thousand times over seem new and fresh, then the closer you are to achieving that balance between classic and contemporary. Provide the reader with a familiar setting but give them completely new characters and stories to enjoy.
7. Not so much about mass carnage
One thing I’m learning – and it’s a significant lesson – is that readers need more from their characters than their plots. Movies can easily deal with carnage and death on a mass scale, but finding innovative ways for both protagonist and antagonist to outwit each other on the page – in the classic good vs evil struggle – is a complex process. Readers need to be stimulated to be engaged, otherwise they’ll just skipping over the pages until they find a bit that draws them back in. And, if that takes too long, you’ll lose them.
8. An ass-kicking pace
You’ve probably guessed by now, I love action stories. I grew up on them, I’ve read hundreds of them and now I write them. To me, the ultimate adventure is fast paced and furious from beginning to end, but that doesn’t have to just be about the action. The narrative overall must be the literary equivalent pushing a large boulder over the crest of a steep hill. Nothing is going to stop it as it gathers speed and momentum every inch of the way until it comes crashing to a stop at the base of the hill, leaving nothing but anticipation of more to come.
9. The power to take you places
As a boy my favourite writers transported me from Rossmoyne, our sleepy little corner of Perth, and with the flick of a page landed me on foreign shores in the midst of incredible adventures. I’ve always loved that about books because our imagination drives our experience of the story. It’s up to the author to provide you with the prompts and triggers to enhance that experience.
10. Flawed characters
We can’t all be perfect, and especially not our heroes. There needs to be some level of mystery and uncertainty about our protagonist. We expect the villains to be flawed but writers can focus too much on the baddies while keeping the hero on a pedestal. I’ve become conscious of this as a writer. Heroes must be at their core, human beings and their lives, attitudes and actions need depth and context. If I can be as objective as possible, sometimes Alex Morgan is so firmly established in my mind’s eye, I have a tendency to allow the baddies live more on the page. That’s all about to change in Avenger…
What are your thoughts? What’s important when you’re reading a story? I’ll be taking your questions in a live Facebook Chat on Monday 24 June from 7.30pm AEST so would love to get your feedback then (Join up at https://www.facebook.com/events/33521...). Or leave a comment below and we might reference and discuss it on the night!
Interested to get reading? Here’s how you can also get involved in the Book Club read, Defender & Hunter, for Intrepid month: http://www.thatbookyoulike.com.au/ind...
***
Read the guest-post at That Book You Like: http://thatbookyoulike.wordpress.com/...
The act of writing stories can be less than glamorous – it’s more endless cups of tea and crumbs piling up on the keyboard in a darkened room (aka my writing mancave) than back-to-back launches and book signings with pen poised and a glass of red by my side. So, an entire month that celebrates the fruits of my humble artistic toils through a group Book Club read and Facebook chat is very welcome indeed!
Those days when I am holed up in the mancave, churning out chapters of the latest Alex Morgan espionage adventure as fast as my clumsy two-finger typing skills can manage, I’m not consciously thinking about what makes a cracking thriller. It’s creating my own mix of preferred reading and viewing tastes, past experiences, a reasonable dash of instinct, and an intense need to extract the story from my head and get it onto the page. Then, of course everything is honed during the editing process with my publisher.
Once the books are put out into the world, there does seem – on reflection – to be some shared elements I recognise between my work and those of the other thriller writers I have grown up enjoying.
So, here’s ten elements of a cracking thriller that are important to me when crafting or getting into a new action & adventure yarn. I wonder if you enjoy these or different tactics when you’re getting into a story?
1. A plot that keeps you guessing
The plot has to keep you going at a micro and macro level. I like to write and read stories that keep the narrative moving ahead quickly. Before you know it, you’re well and truly committed to the story because the author has you hooked from the outset.
2. Action that compels you to keep reading
You’ve got to need to keep the pages turning. When I hear that someone has missed their train stop or their bus because too busy reading what Alex Morgan is up to, then my job is done. I love to read books that can achieve that for me, too! The idea is to keep the forward movement of the action as relentless as possible. The reader should be almost out of breath at the end of a major action sequence.
3. Characters that you care about
This is something that I am exploring as I immerse myself into the Alex Morgan series. I’d like to let my readers know more about Morgan and other principle characters. There are many writers who are great at this in the action/adventure arena – including my favourites – Fleming, Conan Doyle, Maclean, Higgins, Cussler. Of course, including a little beguiling love interest in each story doesn’t harm the reading experience either.
4. Enough realism to make you wonder, enough escapism to help you forget
I like stories that make you think, ‘maybe this has really happened’. For instance, when I created the fictional agency Intrepid, I wanted to give it a sense of real world gravitas but setting it within Interpol, while adding the connection to other major international agencies such as the UN Security Council. In truth the two are not connected but it’s not a stretch to believe that they are, and it also adds a sense of scale to the grand narrative I’m constructing across the series.
5. Enjoyable the second time around
The proof is in the pudding when it comes to great books. You know, the ones that are your favourites because you keep going back to re-read them time and again? I have my favourite stories that I return to and in years to come, I hope to provide that experience for my own readers. Ideally, the aim is to have people enjoy it enough to put a copy on their bookshelf – which is an achievement in an age of eReaders.
6. Classic but contemporary
In my view, the more that an action writer can make something that’s been made a thousand times over seem new and fresh, then the closer you are to achieving that balance between classic and contemporary. Provide the reader with a familiar setting but give them completely new characters and stories to enjoy.
7. Not so much about mass carnage
One thing I’m learning – and it’s a significant lesson – is that readers need more from their characters than their plots. Movies can easily deal with carnage and death on a mass scale, but finding innovative ways for both protagonist and antagonist to outwit each other on the page – in the classic good vs evil struggle – is a complex process. Readers need to be stimulated to be engaged, otherwise they’ll just skipping over the pages until they find a bit that draws them back in. And, if that takes too long, you’ll lose them.
8. An ass-kicking pace
You’ve probably guessed by now, I love action stories. I grew up on them, I’ve read hundreds of them and now I write them. To me, the ultimate adventure is fast paced and furious from beginning to end, but that doesn’t have to just be about the action. The narrative overall must be the literary equivalent pushing a large boulder over the crest of a steep hill. Nothing is going to stop it as it gathers speed and momentum every inch of the way until it comes crashing to a stop at the base of the hill, leaving nothing but anticipation of more to come.
9. The power to take you places
As a boy my favourite writers transported me from Rossmoyne, our sleepy little corner of Perth, and with the flick of a page landed me on foreign shores in the midst of incredible adventures. I’ve always loved that about books because our imagination drives our experience of the story. It’s up to the author to provide you with the prompts and triggers to enhance that experience.
10. Flawed characters
We can’t all be perfect, and especially not our heroes. There needs to be some level of mystery and uncertainty about our protagonist. We expect the villains to be flawed but writers can focus too much on the baddies while keeping the hero on a pedestal. I’ve become conscious of this as a writer. Heroes must be at their core, human beings and their lives, attitudes and actions need depth and context. If I can be as objective as possible, sometimes Alex Morgan is so firmly established in my mind’s eye, I have a tendency to allow the baddies live more on the page. That’s all about to change in Avenger…
What are your thoughts? What’s important when you’re reading a story? I’ll be taking your questions in a live Facebook Chat on Monday 24 June from 7.30pm AEST so would love to get your feedback then (Join up at https://www.facebook.com/events/33521...). Or leave a comment below and we might reference and discuss it on the night!
Interested to get reading? Here’s how you can also get involved in the Book Club read, Defender & Hunter, for Intrepid month: http://www.thatbookyoulike.com.au/ind...
***
Read the guest-post at That Book You Like: http://thatbookyoulike.wordpress.com/...
