My mood is strongly affected by the environment, and this will naturally influence my writing.
Although it is obviously not necessary to recreate exactly the conditions of the story I might be writing, it certainly helps if the mood of where I am matches that of the environment I am writing about.
During the years I lived in a desert environment, for example, I never once wrote a story about whaling in Antarctic waters.
Today is grey, cold, basically miserable. To sit and work on my India novel is, quite frankly, impossible. Instead I have been re-working some of ‘The Assassin’s Garden‘
‘The Assassin’s Garden‘ is the working title of the novel I have been writing for almost 5 years, now, and which got overtaken when I had the inspiration for ‘Making Friends with the Crocodile‘, and couldn’t be much more different. It is a complex tale, with a timeline that begins in Medieval Persia, passing through Mogul India to Victorian England, back to Victorian India, and then England again. It is (obviously!) a historical story, which also has strong elements of detective story and Gothic horror/fantasy.
I don’t really know which genre it truly fits into. Perhaps it needs a new one.
Proto-historic-goth-punk, perhaps.
As it stands, it is well over 100,000 words long, and may well end up being split into two or even three separate books.
Perhaps it is time that I finally completed it.
In other news (switch to picture of newsreader staring earnestly into camera, serious look on face, effect ruined only by line of kittens dancing a can-can in the background), I’m finding it quite difficult to sort out my Print On Demand edition of ‘Making Friends with the Crocodile’, and have now decided to switch printing companies (oh what fun).
I know I’m not the only writer who just enjoys writing the stories, but hates all of the publishing and publicity sides of the business – I am just not a businessman in any sense of the word; I dislike doing it and find it difficult. It also goes completely against my nature to go around saying ‘My book is fantastic, you must buy it now!’
Unfortunately, if there is a button I can press on the computer after I have finished writing the book, labelled ‘format, publish, promote and sell’ I’ve not noticed it yet.
I do understand you when you say that your environment affects how and what you write – I feel that, too. I must say that the Assassin’s Garden sounds pretty bloody marvellous, I’m really looking forward to seeing that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m hoping it won’t take another 5 years to finish, but I think I really must knuckle down and get on with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mick,
Is there any way your readers and followers can do the bit about how marvelous your book is and how people should buy it after all it is marvelous and people should buy and read it then they’ll have a first edition when you’re a really famous author.
I really like the sound of The Assassin’s Garden so I sincerely hope it doesn’t take another five years. does it look as though it will lend itself to becoming a set of books. I almost want you to do a Charles Dickens and sell it off sheets at a time so we can get it quickly though I think you might want to up the price a bit from his time. All the best with it and remember these grey and miserable winter days might have the bonus to writing in that it’s weather you go out in for exercise and because fresh air is good for for and not because ‘ why would I want to be sitting here writing on a beautiful day like this’.
Regards Brenda
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Brenda. The best thing any reader can do is leave a review – on Amazon, on Goodreads, on any portal, really. Reviews do sell books, and I think that once a book gets a certain number on Amazon, they begin to include it in their newsletters – i.e. promote it a little. Naturally, word of mouth recommendations are good, and if in doubt force all your friends to buy it under the threat of violence. Well, okay, not the last one, perhaps.
I don’t think The Assassin’s Garden will take that long; once I’ve teased out a couple of plot threads, I hope to really get stuck into it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The title of your novel is very gripping n the pic you have posted looks mysterious n related…writiing novels for 5 yrs is not an easy task..all the best
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. The picture might well be related…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Assassins garden sounds interesting! I used to read lots of books many years ago. Over the last few years, I find that I just can’t concentrate on reading books & novels except for may be 4-5 pages in magazines. I don’t know if this is because of digital distractions or what…. I guess we all go through some cycles!
I do think you should finish this older “fling”…unfinished business! And yes, printing i still easy but selling is a different ball game altogether!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Arv. I will try to finish it now. It’s been hanging around for just too long and I feel that until I do, I can’t throw myself properly into anything else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good assessment. we need to be free from one thing to be get on to next one! All the best Mick!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Arv. All the best to you, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Good luck with Assassin’s Garden. I like the name and the movement through time and space sounds interesting. Yeah, the marketing part of being an author is a pain for all of us, Mick. I’m looking for the magic button to click, too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Diana. If I do happen to find it, I’ll let you know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only there were such a button, Mick!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, indeed, Donna. How much time and angry grumbling would it save?
LikeLike
Oh so true about the button! I am in the same boat. The book sounds intriguing and I like the new genre you’ve come up with!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wonder if someone else will get there first, though?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know… that’s a pretty specific description. Better grab it while you can!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Finishing a book produces a special high, doesn’t it? or sometimes just relief. As you say, if only that was the end of the story. You have plenty of fans, though.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Rachel. No, the end of the story isn’t the end of the story! It will certainly be a relief when I finish The Assassin’s Garden, though.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I too look forward to read Assassin’s Garden 🙂 I enjoy reading your blog posts, I suppose your novel will be equally fantastic 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It has quite a way to go yet, but it’s in fairly good shape. It will certainly be different to the last novel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think creating something is wonderful, but trying to market that creation is sort of like Hell. It’s almost counter-intuitive, since creating is so personal and marketing isn’t. If you ever do find that “format, publish and sell” button on your computer, please share it’s location with the rest of us! Meanwhile best of luck changing your publisher.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ann. It’s not really a change, since I never got as far as pressing ‘publish’ on the website – just went through all the usual hassle up to that point, and then never got a reply to my queries. So instead I have finally sorted the POD through another Indian publisher, of which more very soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck, Mick. I find it helps to focus on the feeling of relief and pleasure you’ll have once you put a period to your very last sentence. And we’ll all be here to say BRAVO! Of course, these words of “wisdom” come from one of the worst procrastinators on WordPress …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Thanks, Monica. That happened with the last book, of course, and here we are with the next one, doing it all over again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The Assassin’s Garden” sounds an interesting read, Mick. The second part of the post was more difficult to follow because those dancing kittens kept putting me off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s okay, if you go back and try again it should be easier. I’ve tied all their legs together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mick. That’s much less distracting. If there’s one thing I can’t abide, it’s cruelty of animals to humans.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, nailed it…not literally, you understand…that would be wrong…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best of luck to you, Mick.
You did it once, you can do it again.
I’ve done it 7 times now!! And I help others do it all the time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Christine, and thanks for the follow. I’ll get there, it just takes me a little longer than some.
LikeLike
I hope you finish it soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Working on it!
LikeLike
I am very much looking forward to reading this (new) book especially if it is any where as good as your Crocodile one, which I thoroughly enjoyed and found it ended far too soon. I wont mention the chant for ” more, more. where’s the sequel,” any more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m working on it now. Don’t know how long it will take, partly because I’m wondering at the moment whether it will be one (long) book, or two or three.
And, who knows? One day there might be a suitable story looking for a set of characters such as those in making friends with the Crocodile, and then it could happen! But, before you say anything, there isn’t at the moment!
LikeLike
I wont say another word then….
LikeLiked by 1 person