Guest post: ‘Writers Are the Market for the Publish on Demand Industry’ by John J Hohn

Tonight’s guest blog post, on the topic of self-publishing is brought to you by multi-genre author, guest blogger (twice), interviewee and poet John J Hohn.

Writers Are the Market for the Publish on Demand Industry

163, 036 self-published titles were launched onto the market in the United States in 2010, an increase of almost 260% from 2006, according to Browker who track trends in publishing. Nearly the same number was published in Great Britain. Amazon lists 3,000,000 plus titles available for sale. 288,355 new titles and editions were published in the United States in 2009.

Self-publishing makes it possible for anyone to break into print. Agents and editors at one time controlled who was admitted into the ranks of the published and only writers who brought either great talent or great ideas (if not both) were considered. Once a writer’s work was accepted, rounds of rewrites followed before the final draft was approved. Agents and editors are still their desks, but writers by the thousands stride right past them into an arena where they are fair game for printers, publishers, publicists, reviewers, web site designers, seminar moderators, consultants, how-to gurus software merchants, graphic artists, layout specialists and who knows what else. Writers, not the reading public, have become the market for the publish-on-demand industry. There is blood in the water and the sharks are circling.

The first thing the unpublished writer must do is back out of the word-processing program and slow down. Finishing a book is exciting but the eagerness fanned into impatience is dangerous. The minute writers finish a manuscript, like it or not, they become business owners. They need to get quickly up to speed on running a small business. Bad decisions waste precious time and capital, and can be a drag on the creative spirit.

Bringing a product to market involves several critical steps, not the least of which is quality control. Publishers who print on demand do not proof read manuscripts. They don’t even read them. Any errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage will pass directly into the finished product only be cited by reviewers to the author’s embarrassment. Catching copy edit errors is the job of a good proofreader, a professional, and yes, they charge for their services, sometimes as much as $.02 a word or more. A 90,000-word novel can cost $1,800—more than the cost to print the book.

There is little point in subjecting a manuscript to a proofreader if a story editor has not read the manuscript. Story editing is a specialty. A good editor will look for the chronology of events in a story, the credibility behind what occurs, the thoroughness of character development, and may extend a critique to include writing style, dialogue, and descriptions. Story editors are expensive. Good editors charge more and have plenty of work on their desks to complete.

Publishers may provide both proofreading and story editing service for an additional charge. The fees, however, may not be the most competitive. It pays to shop around. Publishers also often offer layout and cover design services. Again, it may pay to shop to at least substantiate that a competitive price is being offered.

Once a book is produced, the hard work of promoting it begins. Many publishers, often for an additional fee, will send copies out to reviewers with established internet sites—like Norm Golden’s BookPleasurese. Reviews do not necessarily sell books, but it is far better to have them published, especially on Amazon, than not. Some reviewers, including venerable Kirkus, now charge for reviews. Writers need to decide whether the expense is worth it.

As for distributors, John Kremer writes, “Most distributors… aren’t likely to take on distribution of a single POD (printed-on-demand) book. POD does not lend itself to distribution via distributors, except in the case of backlist books that are being kept in print only via POD.”  POD publishers may list several well-known names in the distribution field such as Ingram and Baker and Taylor, but it is window dressing. Distributors of good standing offer larger retailers the privilege of returning volumes that do not sell. POD books are not returnable under most of the programs of this type. One publisher, Outskirts Press, charges writers $499 per year so that retailers can return books. The writer who pays the fee can kiss the money good-bye because retailers will not carry POD books as a matter of policy. Placing a call to a retailer in search of a POD book meets with the reply that it is not in stock but can be ordered. The records that the retailer has available on computer designate the book as POD which automatically means that no return privilege is extended—even though the author has paid the publisher a fee to make it available.

It is the author’s job to get books on bookstore shelves, either on consignment or the rare storeowner will buy volumes at a wholesale price. Consignment agreements, the most popular format, usually split sale proceeds on 60/40—60% to the author and 40% to the storeowner. Most bookstores are eager to help a local author on consignment. They typically will have a consignment agreement under the counter ready for signature and willing take on four to six volumes, often with the suggestion that the author schedule book-signing in the store.

The economics of self-publishing are daunting. In shopping for a publisher, authors need to keep any eye out for profitability. Several cost factors need to be considered. The most critical is the price the publisher charges the author, especially if the author wants to sell most of the books online. The second important consideration is the price at which the book will be offered to the buying public. Writers should work with a worst-case scenario. Only a handful of POD books each year will sell more than a few hundred copies. The majority will sell less than 200, which means that most writers will fall far short of recovering expenses. However tempting it may be, it is a mistake to think in the thousands because it will lead to overspending on expenses.

Writers may choose to sell books personally to family and friends because the margin is higher when they do. Other costs are involved, however. The author pays to have books shipped from the publisher, perhaps as much as $.90 per volume. If the author is mailing books out to buyers, those shipping costs also become part of the overhead.  In the United States, the lowest rate for media mail at the time of this writing was $2.78 and the cost of a padded shipping envelope somewhere in the neighborhood of $.70. If a writer is traveling to place books on consignment with dealers or appear at signings, the going rate is $.40 per mile according to the IRS. In short, unless a writer hits the jackpot, he or she is working for less than minimum wage.

This posting, because of space considerations, touches lightly on the issues for the writer in self-publishing. More information is available online and writers, especially those who are just entering into the field, are urged to research the topics introduced here more thoroughly on line. LinkedIn is home to several groups for writers that routinely address issues for the beginner. John Kremer has a free web site that is a wonderful forum for writers to share experiences. Prededitors is a web site that provides background on publishers and editors. It is a critical site to visit before hiring anyone for any task in the publishing process. There are no easy paths. Shortcuts lead to disappointment and heartache. Good luck.

Thank you again, John, this is brilliant! I’d always welcome a part two (and three… and four… )

A Midwesterner by birth, John J. Hohn claims Yankton, South Dakota as his hometown. He graduated from high school there in 1957. After four years earning degree in English at St. John’s University (MN), he became a teacher. His first wife, Elaine Finfrock, also of Yankton, and he had five children; four sons and a daughter. They divorced in 1977.

In 1964, John joined The Travelers in Minneapolis, MN and began what a 40-year career in the financial services industry. During that time, in addition to The Travelers, he held positions with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Minnesota, Wilson Learning Corporation, and Wachovia Bank and Trust. Hohn retired at the end of 2007 after 17 years as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch in Winston-Salem, NC.

In 1986, he married Melinda Folger McLeod and gained a stepson. Currently, the couple divides their time each year between a cabin near West Jefferson, NC and a cottage in Southport, NC. In addition to writing, Hohn enjoys golf, music, and reading history. He has already begun work on his second novel, a sequel to Deadly Portfolio: A Killing Hedge Funds. As yet no title has been announced for the new book.

You can also read John’s guest blog 1, guest blog 2, interview and poem.

If you would like to write a writing-related guest post for my blog then feel free to email me with an outline of what you would like to write about. If it’s writing-related then it’s highly likely I’d email back and say “yes please”.

The blog interviews return as normal tomorrow morning with prolific thriller (and vampire!) novelist Stephen Leather – the two hundred and fiftieth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, bloggers, autobiographers and more. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further. And I enjoy hearing from readers of my blog; do either leave a comment on the relevant interview (the interviewees love to hear from you too!) and / or email me. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords.

 

Bailey’s Writing Tips podcast ‘short stories’ episode no.5

Bailey’s Writing Tips podcast ‘short stories’ episode number five was released today, Sunday 15th January. Part of a fortnightly series tucked in between monthly hints & tips and red pen critique sessions, I’ve been starting off the first few weeks with the flash fiction that have appeared on this blog as ‘Flash Fiction Fridays’, reading out three per fortnight. Eventually I’ll run out so should you like to submit your own feel free to email me (morgen@morgenbailey.com).

This episode’s stories were ‘The Grey Stones and Leaden Cross‘ (520 words) by Issy Flamel (who also brought us ‘The Ruby Stradivarius‘ back in episode 002),  ‘Loss‘ (314 words) by yours truly, Morgen Bailey :) and a 548-worder entitled ‘That old feeling‘ from regular contributor JD Mader who offered his story ‘Green‘ for the first red pen critique session (I’m looking for more of those by the way).

I wasn’t critiquing the stories in this episode but just simply reading them out and I hope you enjoy this format.

The podcast is available via iTunes, Google’s Feedburner, Podbean (when it catches up), Podcasters (which takes even longer) or Podcast Alley (which doesn’t list the episodes but will let you subscribe). Total running time this week was 12 minutes and 30 seconds.

This episode’s contributors were:

When not writing, and being mentioned on The Society of Authors website, Issy Flamel can be found hanging out on Twitter and in the depths of Radio Litopia and WriterLot where you can read equally atmospheric and haunting pieces from the minute-long ‘Cherry Blossom’ to a make-yourself-comfortable 12-minute ‘Gloriana’.

Morgen Bailey, me, is (am) a podcaster, blogger and writer of fiction and articles about writing (a new one’s coming out on Fiona Veitch Smith’s website in the next day or two). My blog is, here, http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com and my eBooks are available on Smashwords.

J D Mader is a teacher and writer / musician based in San Francisco.  He has been fortunate enough to encounter many giving and inspiring people in his life.  He hopes to repay the debt.  And to make enough money with his writing to buy a house. You can help him buy a brick (although I think the eBook is actually cheaper!) by checking out his debut novel ‘Joe Café’ and there will be more soon. He’s done a lot for my blog so probably the easiest way is to read them all is via the ‘Contributors‘ page… just scroll down to the Js (although not too quickly in case there are some other authors you like the sound of ).

Thank you for downloading and / or listening to this short story episode. I hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to bringing you another a fortnight. In the meantime, next Monday’s episode will likely be a hints and tips episode as I’ve run out of stories or novel extracts to red pen! So if you’d like to submit yours for consideration (or stories for these episodes) you can email me at morgen@morgenbailey.com. All the links mentioned in these shows are listed on the podcast page of this blog.

 

Blog interview no.249 with writer Jane Wenham-Jones

Welcome to the two hundred and forty-ninth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with novelist, humorist, short story author, columnist and writing guru Jane Wenham-Jones. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello Jane. Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer.

Jane: It started when I was at home with a small baby, my brain slowly atrophying. A writing aunt sent me an entry form for a short story competition. With some effort I finished an entire story and sent it off. It didn’t win.

Morgen: But that didn’t put you off (thankfully). I find with everything that doesn’t get anywhere (she says, as if I submit loads!) that I still then have the story (usually written especially) to send somewhere else so a lose / win. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Jane: I am generally described as writing “romantic comedy” although I like to think it has its dark corners. One day, I tell myself, I will write a “grown-up” book. If I ever do grow up…

Morgen: Please don’t, although do if it gets you writing more. You’ve had four novels published – can you please tell us what they are?

In order of publication date they are Raising the Roof, Perfect Alibis, One Glass is Never Enough and my latest – just out – please buy it – is Prime Time.

Morgen: Yes folks, please do – I have ‘Perfect Alibi’ and to give you a feel for Jane’s writing, here’s the beginning of the Prologue…

‘How to feel happy, strong, uplifted, tingly, light, free and altogether bloody fantastic: Drink champagne, Eat chocolate, And have three orgasms in the afternoon…”

and thereby sets the tone. Jane, can you remember where you saw your first book on the shelves?

Jane: I guess it must have been here in Broadstairs where I live – my local independent bookshop (sadly closed since) made a lovely window display. I also remember the publishers taking me on a stock-signing day in central London just after ‘Raising the Roof’ was published and it was so thrilling seeing the book on shelves there. (I didn’t fully appreciate at the time how lucky I was and that actually being stocked by all the top bookstores is not a given!!!)

Morgen: You’ve provided a recipe for the Official ‘Help for Heroes’ Cookbook does this mean that you’re a good cook and is this any coincidence to your ‘Bugger the diet’ project?

Jane: I’m sure I used to cook… These days, I have to say I don’t do it much but I enjoy the odd encounter with the kitchen I do have. My recipe in this book is for an egg sandwich!

Morgen: A couple of years ago, for my birthday, I was bought a metal plaque saying “I only have a kitchen because it came with the house” – clearly a friend who knows me well – it takes pride of place on the kitchen door.

Jane: I still intend writing the full version of ‘Bugger the Diet’ one day. Pages completed to date can be seen here http://www.janewenham-jones.com/buggerdiet.htm. If you want to read the rest, please lobby your MP

Morgen: My MP (well, next town but one) is Louise Mensch (neé novelist Louise Bagshawe) so I’m sure she’d say “yes”. You’ve written two successful ‘how to’ books: ‘Wannabe a Writer?’ and ‘Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of?’ – were these projects that you created (perhaps because of your novels?) or were you approached to create them?

Jane: It was my own idea – coming off the back of my agony aunt column for Writing Magazine. Journalism started from writing novels – I got into it first to publicise the books – so yes I guess everything has sprung from there.

Morgen: You’ve also had over 100 short stories published in magazines and anthologies (including the ‘Shorts for…’ series, some of which I have). So many magazines have dropped them even since I’ve started writing (Woman, Woman’s Own, Bella, Best, Chat etc). Why do you think that short stories get such a hard time? (boo! – they’re my favourite format)

Jane: I think they’re enjoying a bit of a resurgence actually. I write a regular column – Just Jane – for Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special and they’ve just gone to 12 issues a year.

Morgen: Ah, yes. I did notice that, and People’s Friend went from fortnightly to weekly a while back so that’s a good sign. Also I think eBooks are making fiction shorter. You have regular columns in Writing Magazine and Woman’s Weekly, as you just mentioned – how did that come about?

Jane: I asked the editors!

Morgen: Good plan. What do you think the biggest mistake that aspiring writers are prone to make, perhaps subconsciously?

Jane: Writing for themselves instead of remembering they are there to entertain their readers.

Morgen: (ideally both?) Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Jane: Yes and Yes, they certainly help. I didn’t have an agent for my first two books but I am extremely glad I have one now.

Morgen: It is getting more difficult to secure one. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Jane: A lot of it. You can’t just sit back and rely on the publishers to do it for you. They often simply don’t have enough time.

Morgen: They don’t. Things have changed in the past few months (years?) and (from memory) I’ve only had one interviewee say they have the luxury of letting the publisher promote while they get to do the actual writing (if only). Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions and do you think they help with a writer’s success?

Jane: I picked up a few prizes for short stories long ago. Not won the Booker yet!

Morgen: Yet. I met you last July at the Winchester Writers Conference (my first time – and I loved it), where you were the after dinner speaker. You seem a very outgoing person, do you ever get nervous public speaking? What advice would you give someone who has to give a speech / talk about their writing?

Jane: Reinvent yourself! And it gets easier the more you do it. Do read that section in ‘Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of?’ Not just because I wrote it (!) but because it contains lots of tips from other writers about the whole publicity thing – as well as from me.

Morgen: I have it (and ‘Wannabe a Writer’, both from Winchester which you kindly signed, with a huge smiley face )… going there now…

…

ah yes, Public Speaking p157…

…

<laughs> I love the bit about the Young Wives. I touched on eBooks briefly, are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process? And do you read eBooks?

Jane: My books are all available as eBooks now. Transworld recently re-released my first novel ‘Raising the Roof’ on Kindle and my fourth novel, Prime Time is only on Kindle so far. The print version won’t be out till next year.  And yes I’ve just been given a Kindle and bought my first two e books for it yesterday! (Tho I did have the free Kindle app on my laptop already and had downloaded a couple of friends’ books on that to support them)

Morgen: I have a generic but do like the look of the new dinky Kindle. What was your first acceptance and is being accepted still a thrill?

Jane: My first ever was a short story for My Weekly – I was beside myself with excitement. Yes it is still a thrill – always.

Morgen: (Mine was Woman’s Weekly ). Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Jane: Of course I have. Depending how serious they are I cry, stamp, throw things, drink too much, eat chocolate, feel very sorry for myself…. But I always, always, then get a grip and send whatever it is, out again…..

Morgen: I’d love to be a fly on your wall. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Jane:  Trying to catch up on my emails….

Morgen: Never-ending circle, I bet… if yours are anything like mine, which is lovely in a way but sometimes the pauses between ‘pings’ are bliss. Do you manage to write every day? What’s the most you’ve written in a day?

Jane: I do something work-related every day, even if it’s not contributing to an actual manuscript or column. My record was 9,000 words in 24 hours when I was racing the clock to finish Wannabe a Writer?

Morgen: Wow. I’ve done that a couple of times for NaNoWriMo (not helped by leaving the last 48,000 words to the last eight days!) so I know how tiring that would have been (especially during a 21-hour day). What is your opinion of writer’s block?

Jane: My friend Cari called it Writer’s Can’t be Arsed. We all get that – you just have to write through it.

Morgen: Similar to crime novelist Mark Billingham’s reply when I interviewed him back in November. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Jane: A bit of both.

Morgen: Snap. Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Jane: I don’t have a method as such but I see them and hear them.

Morgen: Me too. My favourite aspect of writing is now knowing what’s going to come out and I love ‘meeting’ new people, especially weird and wonderful ones. Who is your first reader – who do you first show your work to?

Jane: My agent.

Morgen: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Jane: It depends. Particularly with columns or articles – sometimes I write and rewrite and tweak and fiddle endlessly – other times they pretty much come out whole and I just have to de-glitch them and send off.

Morgen: What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

Jane: I make a cup of green tea with lemon.

Morgen: I’m a Tetley One Cup. Do you write on paper or do you prefer a computer?

Jane: Computer always.

Morgen: If you’re anything like me, you’re much quicker than paper / pen. What sort of music do you listen to when you write?

Jane: Radio Four – unless it’s a play that’s getting tedious or a “comedy” I don’t find funny. Then I switch over to Radio Two.

Morgen: I’m a Radio Two fan (or Classic FM when I’m writing). Although I love Radio Four, I’m rubbish at remembering when things are on. What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?

Jane: Have written two novels in first, and two in third. Depends what the plot calls for really. Have never really understood what second person is!

Morgen: I love second person (Wikipedia has a great explanation), my favourite point of view actually, certainly to write. It’s rarely used (and probably even rarer bought by editors) but I spotted a second person competition runner up recently; in Writer’s Forum Mag – judged by interviewee no.53 and writing friend Sue Moorcroft (who I’m seeing on Wednesday night (18th Jan) for the H. E. Bates competition prize giving, because (a) she was last year’s judge and (b) she’s bringing this years, Katie Fforde – it’s free entry and open to anyone who can get to Northampton’s Moulton Theatre that night – details on http://www.hebatescompetition.org.uk.) Sorry, back to why we’re here, do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

Jane: Not many – the odd rubbish short story.

Morgen: Oh, I have loads of those. What’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life?

Jane: Favourite: Typing “The End”, seeing myself in print, looking at my little row of books on the shelf.

Least favourite: not having made a million…

Morgen: If anything, what has been your biggest surprise about writing?

Jane: What hard work it is

Morgen: What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Jane: Marry someone rich

Morgen: <laughs> I’m working on that one… although I’d really love to end up with a writer (am I mad?) so he’d have to be a successful one. What do you like to read? Any authors you could recommend?

Jane: All sorts. Joanna Trollope right now…

Morgen: What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies or party tricks?

Jane: Playing the spoons? I like walking, reading, drinking nice wine, seeing my friends, doing the Times Two crossword, talking too much, having my feet rubbed

Morgen: Are there any writing-related websites and/or books that you find useful and would recommend?

Jane: www.wannabeawriter.co.uk – naturally – and I admired both Anne Lamont’s Bird by Bird and Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’.

Morgen: If I had a tenner for every time someone recommended ‘On Writing’ I wouldn’t need to marry a wealth author. You’re based in the UK, do you find this a help or hindrance with letting people know about your work?

Jane: Gosh I don’t know – never really thought about it. Wish I had an American publisher too tho – just so I could fly to New York to meet with them…

Morgen: Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Jane: I do the usual twitter etc. And we have regular live chats on www.wannabeawriter.co.uk Sunday mornings from 10.30 a.m. ish if anyone wants to join in…

Morgen: Ooh… I do…

…I’ve just joined and looks like I’m no.500 (or 499).

…I like the S/Cally ideas generator (I guessed Cally would be Cally Taylor) and the S is Sally Quilford (interviewee no.144 :)). Sorry, keep getting distracted (slap wrist!). Where can we find out about you and your work?

Jane: www.janewenham-jones.com

Morgen: What do you think the future holds for a writer?

Jane: exhaustion, poverty and despair – but when you do get that deal or that acceptance it is beyond wonderful

Morgen: What would be your ultimate writing ambition?

To hit the Sunday Times best-seller lists and/or get an agony aunt column on a daily newspaper (radical advice offered/not for the faint-hearted)

Morgen: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Jane: Could you all download Prime Time please? Always get so anxious when a new book comes out in case nobody buys it? You can write and tell me if you hate it – I like it when people are brutally honest jane@janewenham-jones.com. Oh and isn’t getting older a faff? Takes so long on the anti-wrinkle front. And if anyone would like to offer me a free facelift I promise to write about it far and wide…

Morgen: To get your own back, is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Jane: How do you manage to be so wonderfully organised about this blog?

Morgen: <laughs> It’s all a ruse. No, it’s thanks to Bill Gates (although I shouldn’t say that, being a Mac user – which is why I love this picture! Thank you so much for sending it over. ). I have a very nerdy Word table which lists when someone contacted me, their name, when I sent the info. pack to them, when I got the relevant bits back, when it’s going live, where they found out about me / the blog (usually Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn) and which country they’re from (so I know that if they’re in the US, for example, I can have a lie in before I have to email with the links – almost everything’s scheduled in advance (usually the night before!) so I don’t bust a gut). The spotlights are in green rows, the guest posts in blue, poetry in yellow, flash fiction in grey, podcast in purple (my favourite colour) and interviews in white… other than the Sunday interviews which are pink so I can see a week at a time easily… so you’re pink. As I said, very (extremely) nerdy.

Thank you so much, Jane, taking part in this blog interview. I’m so grateful for your time. You can go back to your emails now.

Jane: I am very grateful to YOU – thank you xxxx

Morgen: As Jane mentioned earlier, her websites are www.wannabeawriter.co.uk and www.janewenham-jones.com. She also runs (with her able Developer Kevin) http://wannabeawriter.darkskipper.com/wp/events/2011/09/writing-for-pleasure-and-profit which details a writing workshop she is running next weekend (22nd January, with the offer of a get-together the night before!). Sadly I can’t make it (although I’ll not be all that far away) but this is part 2 of 4 so I hope to make parts 3 and / or 4 (dates to be advised).

Jane is the author of four novels and two non-fiction books including the best-selling Wannabe a Writer? featuring contributions from a wide array of big name authors and journalists from Jilly Cooper to Frederick Forsyth to Michael Buerk.

As a freelance journalist she has written for The Guardian, The Daily Express, The Sunday Express, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and numerous women’s magazines. Regular spots include a humorous weekly column for her local paper, a monthly column for Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special and a regular advice piece for Writing Magazine where she is the “agony aunt.”

A lively and energetic speaker, she gives humorous talks and lectures on her life as a writer, her experiences of the buy-to-let market – which her first novel was based on, the art of self-publicity and achieving personal goals either as simple entertainment or for inspirational / motivational purposes.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know. Tomorrow’s interview is with thriller novelist, screenwriter and short story author Stephen Leather.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays.