Author Archives: Mark Hayes

About Mark Hayes

Writer A messy, complicated sort of entity. Quantum Pagan. Occasional weregoth Knows where his spoon is, do you? #author #steampunk http://linktr.ee/mark_hayes

The devil made me do it…

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Some would have you believe that audio books are the future… and to an extent they are right, at least for some people. Indeed one of the most common questions I get asked by a certain section of friends and … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, blogging, fiction, goodreads, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, reads, self-publishing, writes, writing | Tagged audiobooks, indie, indie publishing, IndieApril, indiebooks, indienovels, indiewriter, stories, utube, videos, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | 1 Comment

Writing around COVID

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Mark Hayes

The escapism of fiction is essential in our world right now, but for many authors COVID-19 has caused something of a headache. I’m not talking about the closure of bookshops and the postponement of events where we were intending to … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, fiction, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, novels, opinion, reads, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged harveyduckman, humanity, indie, indie publishing, IndieApril, indiebooks, indienovels, indiewriter, opinion, politics, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | 2 Comments

POV matters… it does

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Mark Hayes

One of the writing issues we encounter most in the manuscripts we receive here at Sixth Element is POV (point of view). Whether from new writers or some of the most experienced published authors, it doesn’t matter… POV is still … Continue reading →

Posted in amediting, amreading, amwriting, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, publication, reads, sci-fi, self-publishing, writes, writing | Tagged indie, indie publishing, IndieApril, indiebooks, indienovels, indiewriter, self-publishing, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | 1 Comment

Strange connections

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Mark Hayes

No Science Fiction writer ever changed the world… Or… perhaps they did, as a wonder through some strange connections on the internet will tell you… Star Trek: Voyager was not the best Star Trek franchise show ever, and was struggling … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, blogging, humour, IndieApril, opinion, politics, reads, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged #scifi, amreadingscifi, amwritingscifi, humour, politics, reads, sciencefiction, scifiscarbrough, strange connections, writer, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtips | 1 Comment

WELCOME TO SINNEPORT

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Mark Hayes

WELCOME TO SINNEPORT Indie April gust post By Nils Nisse Visser, and with a little help from his friends Not long ago I had a rather wordy guest blog on The Passing Place called ‘Creative Osmosis’. I listed a number of … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Canadian steampunk, fantasy, fiction, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, novels, pointless things of wonderfulness, publication, reads, steampunk, supernatural, writes, writing | Tagged books, indie, IndieApril, indiebooks, indiewriter, reads, smugglepunk, steampunk, steampunk fantasy, stories, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

Indie April#6: Boston Metaphysics

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Originally posted on The Passing Place:
It’s Indie April, a celebration of all things Indie, be it novels, movies, music or art. The idea being to encourage interaction between indie creatives, and that most elusive of beasties the wider audience,…

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Hipster Crisis

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Mark Hayes

As I sit here watching the cursor blink at me relentlessly, I find myself struck once again by the possibility that my own personal hell will be an empty word document and an incessantly blinking cursor, forever blinking…*blink*…*blink*…*BLINK*. Is there … Continue reading →

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Podcasts, self-awareness and publishing

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Mark Hayes

Recently i was asked by an old friend Mark Adams to appear on his daily pod cast. I was of course both delighted to do so and utterly horrified by the idea. For an opinionated author seldom shy at expressing … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, publication, self-publishing, Uncategorized, writes, writing | Tagged indie publishing, IndieApril, indiebooks, indienovels, indiewriter, interviews, writer, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip | 1 Comment

Why Your Day Job could be Good for Your Creativity

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Mark Hayes

We’re all familiar with the dilemma. “I’ve just had this great idea and I want to write it down immediately, but I’m stuck at work right now.” If you’re anything like me, when you think about your day job in … Continue reading →

Posted in amediting, amreading, amwriting, fantasy, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, opinion, reads, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged #amwriting, amreading, amwritingscifi, authors, indie publishing, IndieApril, indiewriter, nanowrimo, opinion, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtip, writingtips | 2 Comments

Speculating on Emi…

Posted on April 12, 2020 by Mark Hayes

There is nothing wrong with reading something that is predictable, trite, the average fare, boy meets girl, boy hates girl, girl hates boy, boy argues with girl over a foolish misunderstanding, boy goes and does something foolish, girl realises she … Continue reading →