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3. The hardest part about writing is.....
The hardest part of writing is the demands of editing. I write rapidly in the first instance, which means the work is creative – that’s code for poorly written, grammatically! So I probably spend more time editing and reviewing than most. In a previous career, I learnt firsthand about the many demands of publishing business books, particularly the endless editing required to polish the final product. That helped me prepare for the rigours that face all new and emerging fiction writers. I had a lot to learn, to make that transition attending many classes in college and writers organisations, allowing me to enter my new career with my eyes firmly open to the hardships, but also fixed on what I needed to do to succeed as a writer.
The editing side of writing is a painstaking process. Where writing the first draft takes me around 2 to 3 months, editing can be 3 to 4 times longer. I self-edit as many times as I can tolerate, before I hand it to my mentor. My fabulous mentor, Sam is a hard task master and I do dread the ‘sea of red ink’ she masterly layers over my manuscripts. But she provides me the fresh eyes and the tough love that I need to polish my draft to ever higher levels.
Another hard part of writing is the dreaded writer’s block. This comes and goes during your writing journey. I’ve learnt to accept that it is a natural part of the writing process. But there are so many facets of a novelist’s routine that must be addressed, from writing and editing to marketing. When I tire of one, I turn to another. If it is a particularly severe dose of writer’s block, I turn to my other great passion – travel – particularly to France!
The hardest part of writing is the demands of editing. I write rapidly in the first instance, which means the work is creative – that’s code for poorly written, grammatically! So I probably spend more time editing and reviewing than most. In a previous career, I learnt firsthand about the many demands of publishing business books, particularly the endless editing required to polish the final product. That helped me prepare for the rigours that face all new and emerging fiction writers. I had a lot to learn, to make that transition attending many classes in college and writers organisations, allowing me to enter my new career with my eyes firmly open to the hardships, but also fixed on what I needed to do to succeed as a writer.
The editing side of writing is a painstaking process. Where writing the first draft takes me around 2 to 3 months, editing can be 3 to 4 times longer. I self-edit as many times as I can tolerate, before I hand it to my mentor. My fabulous mentor, Sam is a hard task master and I do dread the ‘sea of red ink’ she masterly layers over my manuscripts. But she provides me the fresh eyes and the tough love that I need to polish my draft to ever higher levels.
Another hard part of writing is the dreaded writer’s block. This comes and goes during your writing journey. I’ve learnt to accept that it is a natural part of the writing process. But there are so many facets of a novelist’s routine that must be addressed, from writing and editing to marketing. When I tire of one, I turn to another. If it is a particularly severe dose of writer’s block, I turn to my other great passion – travel – particularly to France!
GENRE: Sci-fi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
A naturally gifted ex-national champion and a savant with a computer-like mind compete against the world's best in the 22nd century's most popular sport - CUBEBALL - the chess-like, technology-enhanced, snooker of the future where the world stage is dominated by gambling, drugs and massive audiences.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt Three:
At that moment Mickey knew he had to play his way and make a shot that would not be forgotten. He called “power-play.”
He imagined the perfect shot in his mind’s eye as he circled the table twice, deliberating his fateful shot. The balls loomed large, but strangely different. The table appeared more circular than a cube as he lowered his chin to his carbon steel cue. The whole shot played in his mind as he drew back the cue to strike the cue-ball with a force that engulfed the whole stadium.
The crack of the cue-ball as it struck its target echoed sharply its warning of an imminent tidal wave of spin and curve that would capture the imagination of every fan in the stadium, or at home in front of their cubebit. In one game changing savage strike, the red ball fell into the pocket as the cue-ball savagely spun into the red triangle, spreading the reds in all directions from the centrifugal force of the cue-ball. Mickey slotted twelve red and black combinations in four minutes, gaining an unassailable lead. He followed that with a perfect defensive stroke, leaving the cue-ball safely jammed behind yellow. Flaveau conceded the game and the match, shell-shocked by the unique high-spin attack Mickey had unleashed. The break was soon nicknamed ‘the pulsar’ and it had secured Mickey the first semi-final win and a shot at the world title.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
A naturally gifted ex-national champion and a savant with a computer-like mind compete against the world's best in the 22nd century's most popular sport - CUBEBALL - the chess-like, technology-enhanced, snooker of the future where the world stage is dominated by gambling, drugs and massive audiences.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt Three:
At that moment Mickey knew he had to play his way and make a shot that would not be forgotten. He called “power-play.”
He imagined the perfect shot in his mind’s eye as he circled the table twice, deliberating his fateful shot. The balls loomed large, but strangely different. The table appeared more circular than a cube as he lowered his chin to his carbon steel cue. The whole shot played in his mind as he drew back the cue to strike the cue-ball with a force that engulfed the whole stadium.
The crack of the cue-ball as it struck its target echoed sharply its warning of an imminent tidal wave of spin and curve that would capture the imagination of every fan in the stadium, or at home in front of their cubebit. In one game changing savage strike, the red ball fell into the pocket as the cue-ball savagely spun into the red triangle, spreading the reds in all directions from the centrifugal force of the cue-ball. Mickey slotted twelve red and black combinations in four minutes, gaining an unassailable lead. He followed that with a perfect defensive stroke, leaving the cue-ball safely jammed behind yellow. Flaveau conceded the game and the match, shell-shocked by the unique high-spin attack Mickey had unleashed. The break was soon nicknamed ‘the pulsar’ and it had secured Mickey the first semi-final win and a shot at the world title.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I worked with national and international organisations as a business analyst in Australia and overseas. I authored many business books analysing the foodservice and food retail industry in Australia, Europe and Asia, as well as agribusiness global trends. I also ran a consultancy business that assisted Australian enterprises to develop new markets in Australia and overseas.
I commenced writing science fiction novels full time in 2009. It was a life-long interest of mine. I have written five novels - all exploring contemporary social issues in future speculative worlds. They are: Shadow Dance; Extinction; Cubeball; Titan Sages and Alive. My novels blend speculative science, new age and poetry. Readers of novels such as Carl Sagan’s Contact would enjoy my novels.
Links:
Blog: http://odyssey2k1.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5369984.Michael_Leon
Website: http://www.michaelleon.com.au/
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cubeball/id1050883428?mt=11
Buy link:
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Cubeball-Michael-Leon-ebook/dp/B016VTRID0
BookPOD: http://www.bookstore.bookpod.com.au/p/9074542/cubeball.html
I worked with national and international organisations as a business analyst in Australia and overseas. I authored many business books analysing the foodservice and food retail industry in Australia, Europe and Asia, as well as agribusiness global trends. I also ran a consultancy business that assisted Australian enterprises to develop new markets in Australia and overseas.
I commenced writing science fiction novels full time in 2009. It was a life-long interest of mine. I have written five novels - all exploring contemporary social issues in future speculative worlds. They are: Shadow Dance; Extinction; Cubeball; Titan Sages and Alive. My novels blend speculative science, new age and poetry. Readers of novels such as Carl Sagan’s Contact would enjoy my novels.
Links:
Blog: http://odyssey2k1.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5369984.Michael_Leon
Website: http://www.michaelleon.com.au/
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cubeball/id1050883428?mt=11
Buy link:
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Cubeball-Michael-Leon-ebook/dp/B016VTRID0
BookPOD: http://www.bookstore.bookpod.com.au/p/9074542/cubeball.html
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