About Steven Neil Moore:
Steven Neil Moore is an Amazon Best-selling author of The Joshua Chronicles; an epic series about an age old conflict and a young man caught in the middle. This series is just the beginning. There are many more ideas, books in development, audio books, etc. that he is very much looking forward to sharing with the world. Steven’s hopes are to give his readers the ride of their lives each time they pick up one of his books.
What inspires you to write?
The thrill of telling a compelling story. There are so many components that make up a good story. From suspense and intrigue of rich character development, to the ability to weave a tale that makes the reader either fall in love or hate the character, or experience the raw emotions that the character feels such as happiness or sadness, total immersion for the reader is the objective. That, coupled with twists and turns leading from one chapter in section to the next, provide a roller coaster of emotions. That is what makes a good story.
Tell us about your writing process.
Having a background in professional consulting helps. I storyboard everything. I develop the story concept (the main theme) of what I want to write about, and build it out from there. From the main theme, I actually create index cards of certain elements of the story that I want to touch upon. From that, I begin to outline each of the sections that make up that element. Eventually, I turn 15 or so key components of the story into multiple index cards ranging anywhere from 120 up to 150. As soon as I know how I want to begin the story, I arrange those index cards as the story flows to connect the ideas. It is always a fun challenge to figure out a way to bridge those elements into a compelling, intriguing story. So far, I have been rewarded with getting it right, according to my readers. Another key component of my writing is my iPad. I develop all of my storyboard ideas and do all of my writing directly from that. You never know when the inspiration will strike and I can’t be tied down with a laptop. Have iPad, will travel.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Sometimes, yes I do. All of my writing is in the third person narrative so I don’t directly speak as the character when I write. However, when there is not any dialogue and it is narrative only, the thoughts around those narratives come from the characters themselves. In order to make the emotion of the moment, I have to think like the character. I believe that makes for better emotional continuity.
What advice would you give other writers?
Reviews are good, but don’t let them rule your career. I’m not saying they are not important, but they should not define you. There are so many different definitions around what a review means, but the most important to a writer, at least to me, should be those where your stories touch your readers. The number of reviews (obviously important for marketing) and the quality of the reviews are just as important. But as a writer, you must define what those reviews mean to you. Don’t let a bad review discourage you. Don’t let it keep you from writing.
Your readers opinions are very important, but not to the point of where it destroys your dream. Keep charging, keep plugging away, invest the time to tell YOUR story. If you give the readers what they want or a new way of telling a story, they will keep coming back. Trust me.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I started out with my first book with self-publishing. It did moderately okay, but I was dissatisfied with not being able to reach the target audience. For me, marketing was very difficult and out of my wheelhouse. I’m now working with a publisher who has done an amazing job helping to build my brand and help find a target niche for my books. Working with my publisher frees me up to just write. I like that aspect.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I believe the traditional “brick-and-mortar” is beginning to fade a bit like the 8 track tape. It seems that the evolution of the electronic format with the ability to reach readers instantly, is the wave of the future. Being a traditionalist though, holding a book in my hand and flipping through the pages is still very much appealing. The newer generation is drifting away from that, and to that effect, authors will have to embrace this future. What will never change though is the ability to get original stories out there. It doesn’t matter what the format is, as long as the vehicle still enables that.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Science fiction, Christian fiction, romance, action adventure thrillers
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Steven Neil Moore Home Page Link
Link To Steven Neil Moore Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Creativia
