Author Appleton

Writing. Fantasy. Sci-fi. Mystery

productivity

How to publish 4 books + 1 audiobook in one year

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For years now, I have batted around the challenging prospect of upping my writing productivity. What would happen if I could publish two or more books every year? It’s a huge challenge, mostly due to the other commitments that I have in my life that are not writing-related! But, since September of 2021, I have published four books. This is a milestone, and the challenge for me is how to make that consistent.

Like most writers, I hold a day job that supports my family. I have a wife and five children, and our life is a constant shuffle of priorities. The number one priority for me is legacy, and my family is a big part of that. I want to raise children whom I enjoy, and who love God unabashedly. My writing needs to come second to them, because if it doesn’t then the creative well that I rely on will be spiritually dead. And of what good is a dry well of creativity to thirsty readers who don’t want stories that bore them until they snap the book shut?

I was inspired to push myself in publishing more titles by listening to writers such as Kevin J. Anderson and Steven Higgs. They, among others, focus on telling the stories they love. They are experts at ignoring their inner critic, and at not worrying about how their stories will be received. They simply enjoy the process, and I desire to have that same attitude.

My first step to releasing four books in a year was publishing the long-awaited fantasy epic and fifth book in The Sword of the Dragon series. This was accomplished in September 2021, and the readers’ reception has been stellar! I am truly humbled by how well that series resonates with the fans.

But the next steps were the most challenging, because I wanted to release my first non-fiction book and also another epic fantasy novel.

Using a combination of dictation through Word 365 on my iPhone (I know, it’s a bit weird, but it was effective) and typing up other content on my Freewrite Traveler, and the Macbook Air, I was able to finish and release The Soul of Story in January of this year. It was the first book that reached profitability in its first week after release!

I hired David Moody to redesign/update my website, and a big part of that was to have a New “reader magnet” that subscribers would receive when they signed onto my email list. This was a huge challenge at first, because I had started writing my next fantasy epic and didn’t want to distract too much time from working on it. So again I turned to dictation, and remarkably was able to write and edit an original novelette 10,000-words long, then published that as the reader magnet. I am thrilled with the result, the book The Swordmaster’s Glory.

For the last project in this year’s bonanza, I wanted to start the prequel series to The Sword of the Dragon series. I thought the end product would run a modest 80,000-words. Instead, Shards in Belial (The Sword of the Dragon Origins book 1) clocked in at 110,000-words. I used a combination of dictation and typing to achieve this rapid release. And, again, I’m thrilled with the result.

During this time I also recorded and published The Soul of Story in audiobook format. Granted, it was a shorter audiobook, but this is the second title to get the audio treatment.

I’m no expert at dictation. Not at this point in time. But I am learning it’s faster than typing, and I intend to get a lot more efficient at it. Right now, I run into the problem of external noises interrupting my dictation sessions. I cannot simply step outside on my lunch break at my day job and dictate into my Airpods, because external interference confuses the dictation software and makes the editing a nightmare afterwards. After some research, I found the answer to my dictation challenge is a piece of hardware. A particular microphone that will only pick up my voice and eliminates everything else: the SpeechWare FlexyMike and USB adapter… But it’s not cheap, so it goes on the top of my next hardware to-purchase list. A couple years ago I invested in the Freewrite Traveler, and that has paid off by tripling my word-counts.

Four books represents a lot of writing in one year… a lot of work… but progress is addicting. My final goal is to publish my juvenile illustrated chapter book Father Mouse before September this year. If that is accomplished, it’s a fifth notch in titles published in a single year!

Somehow, I doubt I’ll be able to match this next year… but maybe God has greater plans.

Q: What have you challenged yourself to accomplish this year?

The “boring” verbs?

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I am writing this article from my iPhone. Isn’t technology amazing? Only a decade ago I never would’ve dreamed of using one of these devices to accomplish my writing needs. You might think that I am off topic, if I am talking about verbs, but give me a second and I will get back around to the point.

One of my favorite Star Wars novels is titled Traitor and it was written by Mathew Stover. It was a fantastic read and I remember going back to it again and again to study the writing technique. Both the story and the dialogue felt exceedingly natural. Smooth as butter to read. Something that every writer strives to achieve, but does not always succeed in doing, when creating a novel.

I have seen interviews with some authors who no longer type out their stories, rather they will take a walk or a hike and dictate their books. Personally I find this fascinating. We can talk so much faster than we can type, but my fear is that going back and editing all of those pages of dictation will require too much work. But sitting here now, dictating to my iPhone for this article I am honestly astounded at where technology has come.

There is a learning curve to everything and I wonder where the next phase of writing will take us.

Most recently I have been finishing the rework of my first novel. It is turning out so well, and it is very satisfying to feel this way about it. But an odd thing has happened in the editing process. Odd to me anyway!

Over a decade ago when I first entered the book publishing world, I was instructed by several editors and a couple of respected writers to eliminate a lot of simple verbs in my stories. Verbs such as was, were, did, had, etc. The result was that I chose many substitutes for the simple verbs, opting for active verbs instead. Looking back now I am not so sure that was the right choice.

In the past few months I have read novels like Ender’s Game by Orson Scott card, and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Their use of verbs is far more similar to my first instincts on writing. I find this fascinating! And so in the reworking of Swords of the Six I have rewritten large portions, bringing it back to the more literary style that I have enjoyed in books I’ve read.

The truest form of storytelling is verbal narrative, And I feel that the best written stories read as if someone is telling you the story. Perhaps we have reached a point where the rules of writing are destroying the art of writing. And perhaps the technology that we now possess is capable of liberating us from the tyranny of what is acceptable to the gatekeepers. In part, at least, this is true.

 

An ultra portable writing device

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Having the right tools makes any job a lot easier and more enjoyable. I was reminded of this over the past couple of weeks because I got a new writing machine. It is the ultraportable Microsoft Surface Go and it goes (pun intended) everywhere with me.

Up until now I have lugged my gaming laptop, a Toshiba Qosmio, whenever I want to write away from home. Although it is a fantastic machine, being so heavy and large I cannot easily pull it out and put it away again for short writing sessions. It has suffered more than a few drops as a result of getting left on my bed or being carted around.

Two years’ worth of researching various devices narrowed my choices to the iPad with keyboard, a cheap 11-inch laptop, or the Surface Go with typepad. I settled on the Surface Go because of its premium build and full Windows capability. Full Windows capability is essential because I already own MS Word and I don’t want to pay subscription for Office 365. Also, I prefer working offline.

I’m a bit of a minimalist. I don’t like a complicated setup for writing. The fewer distractions on the device the better.

The impact on my writing of having this portability has been greater than I’d anticipated. In every spare moment that inspiration strikes I am able to set the device up and type immediately. It adjusts easily on my lap, a table, or even in bed. Fantastic! Also, the battery is sufficiently efficient allowing a full day’s use (for my limited purposes) without worrying about looking for a power outlet.

I have been stuck in my writing for a couple of years. Time, I thought, was my great enemy. Truth is, distractions were my greatest obstacle. Legitimate and good distractions. I have never mastered maximizing small bits of time to accomplish large projects, but with this device I have.

Swords of the Six is taking new shape, expanding and becoming a much better novel than I first wrote a decade ago. We learn a lot when we study our craft for years, and I am loving the process of improving the original.

If you are stuck in your creative process, consider what tools you need. I wish I had acquired a Surface Go a couple of years ago.

The Importance of Professional Fiction Editing

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You know how they say “Good things come to he who waits”? This is true of so many, many things. And it is a guide to trust when embarking on your writing journey.

Whether you are just starting out, or you already have published writing under your belt, here is something to always remember. Learning is a never-ending process, no less with writing than with other things in life.

I have heard so many stories, and seen so many examples, of new writers who are so eager to get their first book published that they release it to the market before it is ready. There is a reason that professional vetting works.

When I submitted my first manuscript to a professional editor she tore it up! Not literally of course, but in the digital sense, yes. Nearly every paragraph had two paragraph’s worth of editorial suggestions and corrections. She pointed out so many weaknesses in my syntax that I felt like giving up. The age-old self-pity. “I’m not good enough. I’ll never be good enough. What does she mean by this and that?” When I finished licking my wounds and studied the points that she had made, I tried applying the changes she had suggested and using it as a formula to improve my entire manuscript. The difference was astounding. Suddenly I understood that some of my writing studies had meant things differently than I had interpreted them.

Suddenly I knew that with patience, humility, and sweat the story could come out better than I had realized it could be.

There are no shortcuts in publishing success. Take the long road if you wish to succeed. Your first work is your first impression on readers.

With thousands of books to choose from, readers will feel no qualms if they ignore your next books in favor of books that impressed their imagination.

In fantasy writing it is essential to Show more and Tell less. Be concise where possible. Choose pointed descriptions. And bring your characters to life through engaging Scenes. My first book went through four editors. Yep, painful! Yes, oh so beneficial.

I have recommended this book before but I am going to do so again. If you want to strengthen your manuscript read Self-editing for Fiction Writers and then hire a professional to give you an editorial review, or a full line-edit. Taking the time to do the right things before publishing your book feels painful, but in the long run you will be grateful you did. If you are interested then check out Path to Publication. I’ve had the honor of helping several now-established authors take their manuscripts to the next level.

Q: Have you considered the benefits of a professional critique, review, or full edit to your manuscript?

How to Avoid Publishing Scams

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If you have a personal cell phone, you have probably dealt with your share of telemarketers and or scammers. But as a writer engaging on the web you become potential prey to a unique predator: the publishing services scam artist.

I don’t know where these people (or companies) obtain our private cell phone numbers, yet somehow they do. Over the past month I have fielded half-a-dozen calls from a number in California. A lot of them will not leave a message, but the more clever ones leave a friendly and enticing invitation.

The last one that I received started off something like this, “Hi my name is Farqua from Readers Magnet, I am calling in reference to your book The Phantom’s Blade. Our review department has highlighted your book for its imaginative and fascinating story and I’d very much like to discuss it with you. Please call me back at (xxx)xxx-xxxx I’m available Monday through Friday 8 to 5pm. I am very much looking forward to speaking with you.”

For many years now I have watched aspiring writers get their hopes and dreams dashed because they succumb to the “shortcut” instead of following the path of sweat. In the book publishing industry we call such services vanity presses.  They promise, that in exchange for a certain sum of money, they will put your book on Amazon, publish it on Kindle, and market it to hundreds of thousands of readers around the world .

The problem? They don’t have your best interest at heart and they certainly don’t care about the book that you wrote. They are out to make a quick buck at your expense. They utilize already free services to scam you out of your hard-earned money.

Book publishing can be an expensive proposition for the publisher. So any legitimate publisher looks at a writer’s work as a financial investment that could potentially lose them money.  And profitability is key! For that reason they are very selective in which books they publish. The process to get them to place their investment in you can last for a couple of years or more. Then, when they have finally published your book they have to help you sell it, otherwise their money goes out the window.

Publishing service companies don’t care about that risk for the simple fact that they are making their money off of you, the author. They are not taking any risk!

Imagine for a moment that you own a publishing service company. If you charge $500 to 100 writers to publish their books on Amazon, formatting them with freeware progrms, you’ve met your legal obligations to them and made $50,000 for your time.

At this point it doesn’t matter to you if those authors’ books sell or bomb. Your venture was a success.

It sounds crazy, but it happens every day.

When I called back Readers Magnet it quickly became apparent they had not researched my content. He made assumptions that The Phantom’s Blade was my first published novel, then corrected himself as he looked at Amazon’s website. (Yes, he was actually live-time figuring out my content using the website!)

“Sir, oh yes, ” for he was most polite to not scare me off. “Oh yes, I do see that this is your third book.” Well, actually, no he had made another mistake as I have seven books, but I moved past that…

“Are you guys a marketing company, a publishing services company, or a magazine?” I asked him.

He mumbled something about my sales rank for a title, then tried to divert me with, “Yes, yes I see that this book is not yet in Kindle. That is something we can do for you.”

I laughed lightly at that offer. After all, publishing to the Kindle store is free. Then I reintroduced the question and he finally admitted that they were a publishing services company.

Not long afterward he became flustered when he found out that my first titles were traditionally published. He was reaching a dead end and he could sense it.

“Sir, I see that The Phantom’s Blade is not available on Kindle .”

“All of my books are available on Kindle,” I replied.

“Sir, I’m on amazon.com and it is only showing paperback.”

At this point I couldn’t help myself. “Are you arguing with me that my book isn’t on Kindle? I am also looking at Amazon and it shows paperback, kindle unlimited and kindle–”

“Okay, Sir, have a good day.”

And that ended his sales pitch.

My point in sharing this is to point you away from the vanity press and other scams. They are more clever than other scams out there. Instead, put in the blood, sweat, and tears… and hundreds of pages of edits to your manuscript. This is your baby. Don’t give it away.

You remember in Ephesians we are instructed to put on the whole armor of God. Think the same of your writing and publishing journey. Arm yourself with knowledge, humility, and perseverance, and protect yourself with patience. If you do these things, the mistakes you make will not break your career.

Q: Which publishing scams have you come across?

No note too small!

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During a recent conversation  with another fantasy enthusiast and writer I was reminded of the importance of note-taking. Even if you have a partial idea for a story or a character, or even a scene, or sometimes a setting… Jot it down immediately.

A pile of sketches and notepads filled with incomplete but promising story ideas are the  foundational materials for The Sword of the Dragon series. I believe that with every writer that pile continues to grow at a rate faster than it is creatively possible to keep up with. In other words, you will always have more story ideas then you have the time to write them.  And this is as it should be.

The creative process, at its core,  requires the mind to be free to explore all story possibilities. Without this freedom the writer becomes trapped in the expectations  they perceive from either their editor, their publisher, or even their reading public.

Keep it fun! Don’t forget that you are a writer because it’s in your blood and you love it.

Very few people want to read material from a gloomy person.  And writing should be a gateway to leading people on fantastical journeys that inspire them to be better individuals than they are.

What some people refer to as writer’s block can often be overcome by referencing your old notes and sketches. These bring the stories you are trying to create to life in your own mind, reigniting your creativity.

Q: How do you use notes and sketches in your creative process?

 

Why not buying a new iPad set me up for a better 2017

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It was one of those moments. A struggle. For a few months I’ve debated whether or not to upgrade my iPad 2 (which I’ve had for over five years) to the new and impressive iPad Pro. A little more than a week before Christmas a retailer offered a great price on exactly the iPad I want. I thought it over hard and caved, running into the store after work to make my purchase… The very next day I returned it and my reasons for doing so will help you understand my vision for 2017.

Returning the iPad Pro was hard. I really was excited about my purchase. It is an excellent machine and I’d really like to get handy at creating original digital artwork with the Apple Pencil. But it all came down to one thing for me: Priorities!

While it is true that my iPad 2 runs slow and can’t effectively update anymore, it is still serving the limited purposes to which I use it. Checking email, researching on the web, streaming videos, and keeping tabs on my book sales. I have found it to be a lot easier to use my iPad for many applications that I used to use my laptop for. It is my intention to get an iPad Pro at some point in the near future with the intention of using it to replace both my old iPad and my laptop computer. My current devices are fully capable of taking care of the work I now do with my writing, publishing, and other creative endeavors.

In 2016 I accomplished a few of my goals but not as many as I wanted to. So for 2017 I have come up with a resolution statement that I hope will help you, as well, to keep proper focus as you set your goals.

I have all of the resources that I need in order to achieve the quality of life that I desire for myself and my family. This year will be a focus on creative endeavors and appreciating life without the need for new “things.” Things cannot bring happiness or success and coveting only leads to discontent and a non-productive life.

Why are we always looking for the next best thing? All that we need is right here at our fingertips. God, family, ambition to succeed. The greatest visionaries do not consider the limits of their assets, but they rather grow despite those limitations.

A child who is given everything will grow up with an appreciation for nothing. In the same way a man who has everything will have appreciation for nothing.

If we can approach this new year with contentment and a strong work ethic, imagine how our souls will feel renewed!

Q: Do you recognize the correlation in developing good character in one’s self through adversity?

Wildfires and Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season for me. A reminder of closeness in dependable friends and dear family. This year the wildfires raging in the mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina have given my family new perspective on gratitude as the clean air we take for granted filled with smoke.

Is it not incredible how delicate the balance of God’s creation is? After a severe drought the land combusted like a match, while the coast was hit with some of the worst flooding in decades. Two extremes. One point to make:

We humans are not as powerful or in-control as we believe ourselves to be.

A structure that took a lifetime to build will collapse in a moment when its foundation suffers from an earthquake. A people can be at the peak of power but a famine will put them at the mercy of their enemies. And anyone who has suffered through a home fire can attest to nature’s humbling might.

During times of prosperity we forget to thank God that we are not suffering. In times of blessing it is easy to rise in pride, forgetting Who brings the rain.

This holiday season is a time of reset. Thanksgiving reminds us of God’s physical provision for us. Christmas remembers the love of the Father. And when the New Year comes I remember God’s hope for my future.

Too many times I have been dragged out of spiritual focus by the world around me. But God reaches out with continual grace, forgiving and drawing me to Himself. Each new year the commitment to be more faithful must be renewed, for it is only in walking humbly in light of our flesh’s weaknesses that we gain victory.

Wildfires. They rage without and within.

Eyes to the future, the new year. What do we want our lives to look like in a year? I hope we can say that we lived out of humility and gratitude. My own sins and shortcomings are the Devil’s sharpest darts.  This year has seen its share. Fortunately God is faithful even when we are not.

What have you placed confidence in for the New Year?