There is some mystery to creative inspiration. Why do some feel the urge to put pen to paper and others not? While it may be down to a conjunction of youthful experiences and unique neural pathways, it is one of those mysteries where an answer is unnecessary. Needless to say, ideas bounce around the brain and sometimes they contain so much energy they want out. There is something very satisfying in shaping words, in taking them to a place never visited before. An idea becomes a wider concept, a characters are conceived to carry it, an adventure carved to present it: finally you have a novel to frame it. My journey began about thirty years ago when I started putting those ideas on paper. It took me about twenty-five years to understand how to take them forward but it was worth the wait.
They have undoubtedly revolutionised books but it is a double-edged sword. Digitalisation of books means there is a cheap and easy way to publish, allowing dreams to be achieved for many writers. It does, however, mean a flooded market and a range of quality. Readers have far wider choice, both in terms of what they read and how they read it. They also have an abundance of cheap and free books to consume. As a writer without marketing support this present challenges and it is hard to make a profit, but like any market, it is about learning what the consumer wants and how to reach them.
It lies with balance. All elements need to be of a high standard and they need to complement each other. Good characters can be undermined by poor prose, while suspense or drama can be deflated by poor timing or format. All rely on each other and if you get the balance right, you generally have a good read. You may not care who did the lighting or sound on a film, but if they aren't up to their job, the film will suffer. It's the same with writing: the reader may buy a book for the action but it won't work for them if the unsexy elements are done poorly.
