"Hey guys look, I have this story, this is what I've wanted to do my entire life and now here it is." That's what I'm aiming for now Chris. I've grown up daydreaming about writing, and this year, I finally realized, If I want to be a writer... I have to write. So I started my first manuscript and am 40k words in. At an absolute bare minimum, I just want to get it in a paper back so that I can show the world I made something, but who knows, illusions of possible grandeur are certainly kicking around my head, maybe I can go full time? If I ever do become a published or successful author I owe a lot. Your videos and transparency in writing and marketing processes is so valuable. I feel like I've learned more in the last month than my entire collegiate career. Sorry for the long windedness. but THANK YOU
Thanks, Downtown. Part of what prompted me to create this channel and share everything I have is that I don't feel like traditional education exists to help people become authors. I'm glad to hear you're finding this stuff useful, and have no doubt you'll be holding that paperback sooner than you think =)
i guess im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a method to get back into an instagram account? I somehow forgot the account password. I love any tricks you can offer me
I am where you were with your first book. I finished my first novella in November. I have no list, no connections but a whole lot of determination to see this work. Thanks for this video.
The moral of this story is "People judge books by their covers". Granted, they continue to judge by the inside content, but they won't if they don't like the cover, or don't have a lot of people who have already told them to read it.
It's possible for a book with a bad cover to take off, but out of the thousands of books I've seen published in the last three years those with a great cover had a much, much higher chance of success.
100% agree. If the cover looks good your going to feel more invested in the authors other content too. That's partly why i took a chance on Bentley Little, a chance that payed off. Merry Xmas
Man, I am where you were when you released There's No Such Things as Werewolves, so I guess year one on the Chris Fox timeline. Your continued success along with the appearance of happiness and sanity in your videos are what keeps me going.
Have you ever heard of Star Wars? o_O Or Marvel? These things are not only old, they are INSANELY popular right now in main stream media. Please google "Science Fantasy" this genre is as old as Sci-Fi....
Throttle Kitty I'm guessing you're someone who found this video on RU-vid, and not a long time follower. When Dean says 'creating that genre' he means specifically the content available on Amazon. We're looking at this from the view of indie authors, not all media. Quite a few space fantasy series cropped in the wake of mine, and nearly all of them are using dragons in space. Almost all have mage in the name, as my first book in the series was called Tech Mage. A lot of them are pretty good, too.
Well, I didn't mean it to be disrespectful, I suppose their wording just threw me off. Your videos have helped me, but I've been a huge fan of the "Science Fantasy" genre, have written within it, and I've been immersed in it since I was a child! It's a really important, unappreciated genre, I suppose I jump to defend it. While I have you, I'd like to say thank you for your videos! They have given me a better idea than anything what to expect. I am writing a series of novellas that tie into an indie video game I am also developing (I know shoot me) I am lucky to have a wonderful artist on board with the game that can make me a lovely, lovely cover, so this video kinda made me smile! When it's to the point it's show-able I'd be interested to know what you think of my series. It's pretty far removed from your own, but is very Space Fantasy. You could call it Dark Fantasy meets Hard Sci-Fi, but still under that umbrella! I've mostly been looking at your videos for the more technically side of writing. It involves no space travel or dragons though, sorry to disappoint, haha! And I do support getting more people into the genre as well! So thanks for that too. :3
I really enjoyed the Deathless series. I remember seeing a video where you said that no one reads the Deathless series…if they really don’t, they’re crazy. It was a really fun read. 😁👍🏽 Thank you so much for always putting out such great content!
Hi Chris! I'm pretty aware of my skill and it's limitations within my language. My problem is more what you describe as mental fortitude. I had three years of suicidal depression and started recovering a year ago. I still have huge problems getting stuff done and am already working with my therapist towards that. Though I would like to get a more personal story from you, since you mentioned your own problems with depression in a previous video. That gave me a lot of hope. I honestly thought I couldn't pursue a career without external time management. I can't thank you enough for rekindling my will to work through this. I'd love it, if you could elaborate on this topic since it is close to my situation.
I have a video called 'Stuff They Don't Tell You About Being An Author' that deals with depression. I've suffered chronic depression my entire life. I think most creatives suffer from some form of it, and man can it make it tough to get things done.
Reverse Harem and LitRPG seem to be doing pretty good right now. I used to write flash fiction for MMO's and their weekly events xD. I remember back in 2008 when I was looking for ways to publish. Basically, you printed the book and maybe got a pdf version and offered it on your homepage/blog. I wanted to start with ebooks in 2013 but held off because people told me to concentrate on a real job.
I'm trying my hand at writing after finding your videos. It's tough for me because I've always been very critical of my own writing, probably because I used to write tons of research papers, and current event scraps. But I'm trying!
Chris, how about finishing your Hero Born Trilogy with a book that launches a new and better Series? I don't know, all I'm saying is that you left me hanging with that series. I need closure please, haha.
I do have a plan for the Project Solaris and Deathless books. I think they can still succeed with the right relaunch. For Hero Born I'll be swapping the cover, changing the blurb to make it more super hero and less X-Files, and then releasing the first two books. I'll be adding a third book at the same time. My hope is to get to that this summer. Fingers crossed!
They told me I was very creative. I agreed but I didn't believe I could make any money being creative. I took my love of animals and science and got an applied science degree. I've worked as a veterinary technician for years while writing crappy novels. I now have a better book that has been edited professionally. Its urban fantasy about a decade late but us due hard UF readers still love reading this stuff. I'm excited and anxious about it but I am determined to make money as a writer even if I only earn enough for a family vacation every year.
If you put in the work, the money is definitely there =). Urban fantasy is hotter than ever, and I know several authors who've broken $50,000 in a single month. Especially if you have a female protagonist!
I'm 3 chapters into this fanfic I'm writing. So far I think its coming along decently but I'm not really sure since no one has actually critiqued it out of the 300~ people that have seen it.
Yeah XD. So far its just been "I see some potential in this" or "Is this going to end up being edgy?" and I have to try a tip toe around how to answer that second one lol.
Very seldom do you get workable critique from fanfic reviews. I reached out to another author who was better than me and asked them if they would critiw6a short piece and they did. But usually reviews are "omg write moar". Which is awesome but not the most helpful
I mean, so far the 2 reviews I got havent even said if they like or dislike anything I've written. The closest I've got is "This has potential". edit: Wait nvm the first one actually said that it was a good start. Not much to go by but at least its a bit helpful. I just wish that a few of the 300+ that have read my fic would speak up a bit more.
autisonm yup it's a rare thing to get reviews. I'd usually ask at the end in author's notes, sometimes specific questions or simple obvious ones and a few people would respond. And with fanfic, you can respond to reviews and I would sometimes and start a dialogue
I've published two fiction books, but they were novellas and I'd like to know how you wrote novels right off the bat. I've tried and I always end up with too few words and too few pages to make novel status. Help me to know what I should do to make my books the novels I want them to be
Exalted is a bunch of fun. I wrote a story for that for Nanowrimo a few years back. Did you wind up posting your Exalted novel anywhere it can be read?
Thanks, Mick. I'll take a peek on the plane ride home. The official Exalted novels were underwhelming, which was a shame because there was so much potential.
I’ve only just found your channel, but I had a quick question. Since I first conceived my series the titles have all been “The X”, 1st being “The Druid” but it seems everywhere I look there are books with Druid in the title, often urban fantasy books. Is that enough reason to change the name?
Here is my current work in progress. working title: The Vargen Incursion (book 1 of Trisgon series). Blurb: Young apprentice blacksmith, Arlin, has his life turned upside down when he is discovered to be able to wield the true power and is drafted into the Arcane Dominion's (placeholder) army. The Arcane Dominion's power has been waning and is still plagued by the sin's of the alchemists' abominations like the Vargen. These half-men half-wolf beasts threaten to take what little they have now. Arlin with the help of his friends will have to deal with this old threat and strengthen the country to a new golden age. The cover will have a man holding a glowing sword facing a Varg blocking the doorway. The overall series to will converge to a Science Vs. Alchemy Vs. Magic battle for the world only to release a greater evil they must defeat. What do you think?
Step 1- Know your audience. Random authors are not your audience, and I'd take care in listening to what they have to say. In your case I'd start joining fantasy and YA fantasy groups, and looking for authors who clearly read in your genre. They'll help tweak the blurb. As a fantasy reader, I can say that I think you're on the right track. Have you read the Wheel of Time by the way? The One Power figures pretty heavily in it, and you are likely to take some hits for using the same term.
WOT is exactly where I am taking hints from. I say true power instead of the one power because there is also science and alchemy in the world. Kind of a hint that they think magic is superior.
Not necessarily. That path worked for me, but the message here is to keep plugging away on whatever path you'd like. Some people dream of getting an agent and a book deal with a big-5 publisher. If that's you, great.
HI! I honestly didn't expect you to see my post, it was meant as a joke! When I think of the Pulp Science Fiction age I think of all the striking, over dramatic covers, it was ALL ABOUT THEM! We are basically in the second pulp age. And, most of the greatest Science Fiction authors got started in Pulp, no shame!
I'm about to change my cover to a professional one and reworking my blurb after lots of thought, and start to use ads and services like bookbubm Curious to see whether or not it makes a difference!
