ABOUT

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my website!

My name is Steven Carr and I'm a part-time writer, full-time husband and father. They say every author has his or her own story to tell - this is mine.

To date I have written one novel and a few short stories. Hardly Man Booker winning material, but I don't write to win prizes.

Working 8-5 most days leaves me with precious little time for writing. Diagnosed with Autism, I prefer to immerse myself in a good book and escape from the world. Were it not for my love of literature and fiction I would have probably stopped writing long ago.

Assault on Chimera (or AoC) is my first self-published novel, and a real labour of love. I've attempted to write novels before but let doubts and frustration get the better of me, resulting in a hard drive clogged with barely-started novels and short stories. My message to aspiring authors would be to persist - it often takes several abortive attempts before you have an idea worth exploring. When you do, everything will click and come together as I found it did with AoC. Just keep going and don't give up.

Every author has a preferred way of writing. We're all different and don't follow set paths in life, so why should we when it comes to novels? Listen to advice, but don't let anyone tell you how you should be writing your own story! Just let the words flow. Use the first draft to get all of your ideas down onto paper (or MS Word), then refine it later. Take your time and don't rush. If you're not happy with something, change it. If you want to remove a chapter, remove it!

There are a myriad of individuals and companies out there who are ready and willing to help new authors. If you've written your novel, find an editor or proof-reader who can provide you with constructive criticism. Show it to your friends and family, but don't rely on them to be as brutally honest as an editor would. Whether you self-publish or take the conventional route of submitting your manuscript to publishing houses, the choice is yours, but look at the pros and cons of both first.

If I can do it, so can you. Don't dream you're going to be the next Stephen King or worry you're not going to be as good as J.K. Rowling - be yourself. Be different. Write for your love of writing and the fact you have a story to tell. Whether your book sells a million copies or none at all, it shouldn't really matter. It's something you've done, from the heart, and can be proud of. No-one can take that away from you.

So, what are you waiting for? Stop reading this and get writing! If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me.

FAQs

How long did Assault on Chimera take you to write?
Roughly four years from start to finish!

How many drafts did you have to do?
Four. The first draft took me a month (where I just wrote all my ideas down), and the second was by far the most time-consuming. I recommend using the second draft to refine and edit your novel, then seek feedback from editors and publishers. Act on it in your third draft, then make any final corrections in the fourth.

Would you have finished it sooner if you didn't work full-time?
Absolutely. Quitting your job to pursue a dream might sound brave, but consider the risks before you do. This is why I'm still in full-time employment and financially secure. If the novel becomes a best-seller (highly unlikely, but you never know), then I can re-think my plans as and when.

How did you keep yourself motivated to write for so long?
The story. I found myself coming back to it even when I had promised myself little breaks. We all work at different speeds, but when I was completing the second draft I wrote as little as 100 words a day! Every time I reached a landmark (a third, half-way), I would reward myself by going out for a meal with my wife or having some friends round. Pace yourself.

How are you going to get the book 'out there'?

Myself. Self-published authors have to do a lot of legwork. Although self-publishing is cheaper, don't expect a publisher to market your book for free. The onus is on you. Try handing out free copies when you can, contacting libraries and bookstores, or just leaving a copy in a public place. It will get read, and maybe the person who reads it will like it so much they might just purchase it later, or spread the word! If you don't try, you won't get anywhere.