Simon P. Clark's Blog, page 10

How Much Should You Pay a Literary Agent?

I'm writing this on a Monday evening, the first day after starting a new job. I've also just received and replied to the edits of OCTOPUS RULES. Much writing, and much thinking about a life spent trying to make a decent wage from writing.

If the series of posts I did for Writers' & Artists' taught me anything, it's that I have forgotten what it's like to be truly starting out for the first time - to not know about agents and publishers and to not be worrying at all about the finer poi...

FIND the time to write

I should start this piece by saying that, yes, everyone is different, and I realise that some people's lives are a lot, lot harder than other's.

OK.

For the next three days I'm in an unusual position. I'm finished my current job, and I start a new job on Monday - giving me three days of ... well, nothing. A three day hiatus from normal life. It's not often adults get those. I plan to write a lot - a few more short stories, and work on some books that need a bit of help. I've also just has my pi...

Forget Starting Edits. How The Hell Do You STOP?

Morning /afternoon all.

My series for Writers & Artists is at an end, save the last Q&A post that's being put together behind the scenes. It's been brilliant, to be honest - especially the comments and conversation with other readers and writers. The post on editing got a lot of attention, predictably (I think it's an area people are wary of without even starting out first) - but it also raised a question I hadn't addressed.

When do you stop editing?

A first draft is rough...

In which Hemingway and Heroes and Thoughts

I watched The Words last week. It's a decent film, and it all gets a bit meta. Story of a story of a story (of a story) kind of thing, but it had, at its heart a writer trying to be someone else. He was a struggling writer, I suppose, and he was slowly trying to become un-struggling, but what struck me - more than the pretty good representation of how publishing works, or the twists, or the layers of the film - was how much the writer had chosen to define his career through other writers.

A lo...

Wednesday's Inspiring Book - Artemis Fowl

Morning, crew.

Again, it's been a while since I did one of these, but there's no time like the present. On occasional Wednesdays, I've been going through and singing the praises of not just good books, but books that were instrumental (and inspirational) in making me want to be a writer. It's fun to look back and remember just what it was about certain books that made me think, or taught me something, or stayed with me and helped push and nudge me along the path to where I am now - my own book...

What Are My Dreams, And What Will They Be?

People have dreams. Some are loud and in-your-face about it. Some are quiet and secretive. Both of these are fine - but all people have dreams. Whether they believe in them, shun them, chase them, or deny them is a different matter - and an individual person's life is made up of a web of webs, an eternal circle of interconnecting people, places, events, and thoughts that make them unique and their situation special.

That's why you can't judge someone else's dreams or what they're doing about t...

AW April Blog Chain - April Fools

A meaningful milestone for me, this post - April 2012 was the first chain story I took part in. A year's gone by, and stories have happened - like Dead Bunnies, Daniel, The End of the World, or The Storyteller's Jig, soon to be out there for all to see. Lots of other things have - some bad, most good. What more can you want, in reality?

The prompt for April 2013 is April Fools. Check out the other guys' stories below, and be sure to comment and appreciate them all.

[Edited: I made this post in...

Ten Ways Travelling Makes You a Better Writer

'Travel broadens the mind', they say. Like most truisms it's a nice sentiment, albeit rather wide ranging. Still, there's something to be said for this one. New people, new sights, new experiences and new words can help you to become aware of, if not break free from, the assumptions, norms and standards of your home life. In all areas of life - spiritual, artistic, emotional, political, cultural, culinary, etc., - having your expectations challenged is a strength if something constructive can...

Writers and Money - Sometimes It's a Two Way Street

Artists and writers can be excitable and trigger happy when it comes to exposure and opportunities to get work out into the world and make a little money. In general, creative types don't command high salaries and every little help. So, competitions to win paid publication, or just to win a place in an anthology, are a tempting sight. Having someone accept your work makes you somehow Officially a Writer - and if there's a prize, or a direct payment for pub., then hey, you've realise...

Blogs, Stories, Happiness

Good morning, all.

Firstly, for those not keeping up, the third of my W&A posts about writing and finishing you book is now up. It's on getting plugged in to writing community and you can find the links to my other posts up there as well. It's been fun so far, and the comments and replies seem to be positive, so I'm thankful to the guys at the Yearbook for letting me take over their page for a time!

Also up now is, less excitingly, my author page on The Bent Agency site -