Scott Moon's Definition of a Successful Writing Career @ScottMoonWriter #SciFi #AmReading

What motivates you to write?

Reading, listening to, or watching a great story. I’m also inspired by artists, athletes, and professional people who have taken their vocation to a high level. I first noticed this while watching American Idol with my family. I sat on the couch thinking how talented the performers were, and wished I could do something that fantastic—like write the Great American Novel. 

What writing are you most proud of?

I really like my novel Enemy of Man, though there are several sections in Dragon Badge that have serious legs. This is a hard question to answer, because I always want to make the writing better. As an Indie author, I can polish a book after publication. Dangerous, but a nice option to have.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

My kids. They’re amazing, and they think their dad’s pretty cool.

How did you develop your writing?

I started writing as a panster, and still prefer to explore characters with writing instead of character sheets. However, the more books I read, and the more reviews my published books receive, the more I study plot and structure. From the beginning, I’ve sought to improve grammar. I read, write, and study a lot.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Books, movies, music, dreams, and the blank page.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

Landing a traditional publishing deal seems almost impossible. I tried that for years, but spent too much time writing and not enough time submitting. As an aspiring author reading the Writer’s Market, I took the ‘no simultaneous submissions’ seriously, which meant I’d wait two years for a reply. In one case, I waited seven years for the final rejection. The initial response to the manuscript that eventually became Dragon Badge was very positive, but after seven years I was finally advised it didn’t meet the publisher’s current needs. Disappointed, but encouraged, I re-wrote the story and pursued self-publishing. Writing is the most fun, so I’d say it is the easiest part of the success triangle. Marketing isn’t rocket science, but it’s a lot of work and no matter what anyone says, is easier with a fat budget.

What marketing works for you?

I’ve used the KDP free day technique with decent success, though the industry has changed a bit since then. Currently, paid promotion sites like Orangeberry Book Tours, Bargain Booksy, and Ereader News Today do well. I also recommend World Literary Café tweet teams, though I haven’t tried the paid promotions there yet.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? 

When I can justify writing four or five hours a day, I’ll have made it. I often write the much now, but it makes me look crazy. The competition is fierce. Last I heard, there were about 1,500 new books published each day. Making a full time career is almost more than I can hope for. It would be nice, but it’s not a requirement for me. I must write. In a perfect world, I would write four hours a day, workout two hours a day, attend Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class every day, watch three or four movies a week, read constantly, and still have time for my family. That makes it sound like I want to be a full time writer able to make my own schedule. Guilty as charged.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?

Finding your niche is the key to success. How easy would it be to sell your book if you knew exactly who is looking for it? There are a lot of marketing books on newsletters and mailing lists, claiming this is the key to world class success. I can’t argue with that, but it is a process I have not mastered. My first novel, Dragon Badge, best fits in the urban / contemporary fantasy genre, but not perfectly, and is hard to market as a result. But I love it and a lot of readers do as well. It has fifty-two reviews and a 4.1 star average. Enemy of Man fits well in the science fiction genre and outperforms my other books, though sales ratios change month to month.

The basic marketing formula is to be friendly and helpful with social media, pay for advertising that works, avoid paying for what doesn’t, and make every book you write the best it can be. I rarely do free days, though I often price my books at $0.99 to gain exposure. In the beginning, I tried starting several blogs. Now I recommend focusing all of your blogging effort in one place, and possibly have a separate static web page that is product oriented and informational. Ask me again next year, and I’ll have a different answer.

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

I am working on the second Chronicles of Kin Roland book, Son of Orlan. I wanted to get deeper into the characters and take the plot to the next logical, but hopefully surprising, level. In the first novel, Enemy of Man, the protagonist is established as someone who refuses to commit war crimes. Son of Orlan puts Kin the position to reconsider his choices, but also focuses on a villain from EOM and his son. The son, of course, holds the secrets of the universe. The villain is a surprisingly dedicated father, if a bit violent and rash.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?

My mother’s father Jack, my father’s mother Ruth and my aunt Debbie, and my wife’s grandfather Joseph. I wish I had a chance to know them better. As for famous people, I’d have Stephen King, Michael Connelly, J. K. Rowling, and George R. R. Martin over for dinner as long as they promised to tell me I’m a great writer. 

Lost Hero

Changed by captivity and torture, hunted by the Reapers of Hellsbreach and wanted by Earth Fleet, Kin Roland hides on a lost planet near an unstable wormhole.

When a distant space battle propels a ravaged Earth Fleet Armada through the same wormhole, a Reaper follows, hunting for the man who burned his home world. Kin fights to save a mysterious native of Crashdown from the Reaper and learns there are worse things in the galaxy than the nightmare hunting him. The end is coming and he is about to pay for a sin that will change the galaxy forever. 

Books

Enemy of Man: Book One in the Chronicles of Kin Roland was written for fans of military science fiction and science fiction adventure. Readers who enjoyed Starship Troopers or Space Marines will appreciate this genre variation. Powered armor only gets a soldier so far. Battlefield experience, guts, and loyal friends make Armageddon fun. 

Movies

If you love movies like Aliens, Predator, The Chronicles of Riddick, or Serenity, then you might find the heroes and creatures in Enemy of Man dangerous, determined, and ready to risk it all. It’s all about action and suspense, with a dash of romance—or perhaps flash romance. 

From the Author

Thanks for your interest in my novel, Enemy of Man. I hope you chose to read the book and enjoy every page. 

If you have already read Enemy of Man, how was it? Reviews are appreciated! 

Have a great day and be safe.

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Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – R

More details about the author

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