Simon P. Clark's Blog, page 5

April 6, 2014

Putting Flesh on the Bones - The Writing Process Blog Tour

How do writers actually write? It's the classic question - the question - that authors and thinkers and everything in between has tried to answer since the first 'once upon a time...'

Everyone has their own habits and systems, and we're probably a product of the books we read just as much as the books we want to write. Hearing how other people write - how they get the damn letters to behave themselves, and the words to stop being so silly - can tell you a lot about that person.



It's probab...
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Published on April 06, 2014 22:51

April 3, 2014

On Being Busy and Creating

While I like to think of myself as a generally creative guy (my GCSE in Pottery is probably one of my proudest and, looking back, most baffling achievements) the last few weeks have been  some of the most busiest creative weeks of my life. Timelines and deadlines have congregated, as only timelines and deadlines can, so that I suddenly have a lot of Things To Do. This isn't a complaint, mind - these are things I've chosen to do, because I want to, and I hope they'll make me (and the...
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Published on April 03, 2014 10:06

March 27, 2014

Review: The Dyerville Tales by M. P. Kozlowsky

It's been a while since I've reviewed a book here, and even then it was mostly older, established stories as part of my Wednesday's Inspiring Books series. But when something deserves to be shared, it deserves to be shared, and I've just finished a book that definitely warrants some praise.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of M. P. Kozlowsky's THE DYERVILLE TALES a couple of weeks ago. It sounded like an intriguing book and, what with its publication coming up (April 22, to be exact)...
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Published on March 27, 2014 12:30

March 11, 2014

Three Years Later (And All That Jazz) - Why Writers Should Dare To Dream

Life's funny, sometimes. Time, doubly so. Three years seems like such a long time, but then you think back to where you were and you can't believe it seems so fresh and new. Then you think about all that's happened in those years and your brain starts to make small popping noises because those two things don't seem like they can both be true.

Three years ago today (March 11) was the Tohoku earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and sub-subsequent (if that's how it works) Fukushima nuclear meltdo...
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Published on March 11, 2014 06:33

February 28, 2014

WeAreOneFour Covers Galore

Happy Friday, one and all.

As you may know, I'm one part of a special group, We Are One Four, that's all about 2014 debut authors. The group's had a whole bunch of fun things happening recently, not least of which is that covers seem to be popping up all over the place. There's got to be something incredibly special about the cover of your first ever book (I assume. I mean, mine's coming soon, but it's not here yet. I know, I know - it's sad) - so, I'm bringing them all together for a glorious...
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Published on February 28, 2014 12:04

February 19, 2014

Booky Milestones: First Proofs

I've used this blog to track all the big steps in the life of my debut novel, Eren. There was the day I got an agent, the day I got a book deal, and the day I saw the first teaser art. It's wonderful to share these things, in part to demystify the publishing process, and in part just to shout out about something I love.

File:Whisky cropped II.jpg Well, today's another Big Moment. Earlier this morning I saw Eren's first proofs (and let me tell you, they are beautiful.) It was a strange moment for me - part relief, part n...
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Published on February 19, 2014 11:43

February 13, 2014

A Personal Post - My Gran

A lot has happened recently, both good and bad. On Saturday I heard that my gran has died, aged 92, in England. We were close, and it's sad - and, because I'm sad, I'm doing what all writers do when they feel things; I'm turning to words.

The death of a family member's never going to be fun, but it doesn't have to be tragic. Gran was old, even by today's increasingly impressive standards. She had physical difficulties at the end, but we were saved the extra pain of seeing her mind go. She was...
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Published on February 13, 2014 12:00

January 28, 2014

Brief Update - Posts A Go Go

It's been a busy few writing days.

Writers & Artists have published a piece I wrote called 'Should You Really be a Writer?' It's a collection of my thoughts on the differences between writing out of passion and writing out of a desire to be famous / rich / just like your favourite author. It's something I care about and something I feel can trap people if they're not careful. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

I also have a guest post up on Kat Ellis' blog that you can...
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Published on January 28, 2014 07:26

January 26, 2014

The Path to Publication - Guest Post by Kat Ellis

Happy Monday, all. Today's post is not by me - it is, instead, by author Kat Ellis, who wrote a great piece back in February about New Adult literature. Since then her book, Blackfin Sky, has sold in the UK and the U.S., and will be coming out in May and September, respectively. Congrats, Kat! And now, over to you.
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Thanks, Simon, for inviting me back to your blog – I promise not to leave coffee stains on your carpets.

Simon and I are both members of We Are One Four, which is a group of aut...
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Published on January 26, 2014 16:06

January 14, 2014

Artwork! Illustrator! Eren!

Taking some time out from writing to share something pretty special (at least, to me) - the first artwork from Eren.
When Eren is published there's going to be an introduction (which I wrote) to the whole book. My publisher felt it would be a good way of explaining what the book meant to me and how I'd come to write it in the first place. There are also going to be several illustrations, drawn - I can now share - by the amazing Ellie Denwood. I am Very Excited by this.
Anyway, in place of the b...
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Published on January 14, 2014 11:13