About Math Bird:
Math Bird’s stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Radio Wales, Radio 4 Extra. His work has appeared in number of magazines and anthologies. Recent stories can be found in:
Plan B Mystery Anthology V
Shotgun Honey
Pulp Modern Issue 9
All Due Respect Magazine Issue 7 (coming soon
What inspires you to write?
As cliche as it may sound, I always feel the need to write. This has grown stronger over the years, as I’ve taken my writing more seriously and tried to improve. I’m also inspired by other writers. Reading is a must, but one sentence or an image can trigger a completely different story.
Tell us about your writing process.
I pretty much get an idea and then develop that in my head for a while, let it take root so to speak. As it grows, I let the plot develop. I’ve a good idea of the themes, characters and where the story is going before I start writing, I’ve also envisaged an outline of the ending.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes, but for me it’s more of a subconscious process. They don’t scream out as such, but as they take shape actions or dialogue may change under their subliminal influence.
What advice would you give other writers?
The best advice (and nothing new here) is to read. But for a writer, it’s important to read as a writer as well. Find the writers you like and admire and see how they develop a scene, structure sentences (grammar, rhythm etc.) How they structure paragraphs and move the story forward. How the use dialogue, voice etc. I continually do this, and find what works and doesn’t work for me and use that in my writing.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’ve been published through both publisher and self published. There’s room for both. I love the whole process of self publishing, once the story’s written – there’s the added bonus of further creative pursuits such as formatting, cover design, promotion etc. I would advise to start small and see how it goes. I’m no expert, but there are plenty of people who are and there seems to be so much good advice out there.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think there’s room for both electronic and traditional books. They tend to different needs. But I imagine each will evolve slightly differently. I think fiction, shorts, flash, singles, novels etc are especially suited to our various devices, phones, readers etc., whereas print books will become more specialized perhaps, bounded and elaborate, and provide a very different experience. We’ve already seen it with music – digital downloads and vinyl coexist and provide two very different experiences.
What genres do you write?: Crime, Noir, Hard-boiled, Literary and Pulp
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Link To Math Bird Page On Amazon
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
