There are many different literary genres, but one that I love, and the one I practice, is horror; and the title may have given away who one of my personal favorites is: namely, Edgar Allan Poe.
His stories are dark and grotesque, something that may have resulted from how his life was, and the losses he experienced. I have in no way faced the same challenges and difficulties as him, and yet, I have found myself writing in similar style.
Maybe I do so because I've read, from my early childhood, horror novels and stories, or maybe because by writing I express the dark side of me. No matter the reason however I often find myself thinking of macabre situations that could occur during my everyday life; like when riding the bus, or when I'm out with my friends.
Just the other day three friends and I were driving through a mountain near Athens, and got lost. While the others were trying to find the way back home, I was thinking of all the crazy things that could have happened; but they never let me tell them my ideas, for they knew beforehand the dark way I think when it comes to stories and were already a little frightened.
Horror is definitely a hard genre to sell, which means that, as a horror writer, I'll face more difficulties to find success and sell my stories, than, say, a science-fiction writer of equal talent. And I know just as well, that if I began writing stories in genres that are proven to be good sells, I'd find success much easier.
But personally I don't think I can decide what to write, nor can I really decide how a story will unfold, no matter how strange it may sound. Often a story will transpire in my mind just as I write it, and I rarely know the end of a story I write, up until I've written it down.
On other occasions however I sit down and write knowing exactly how the story will unfold; only to find out afterwards that I wrote it vastly different than I imagined it. However, details on how exactly I write, as well as more on the difficulties, if they can be called so, found in writing horror will have to wait the next entry.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
About writing in a foreign language
For about a couple of years ago I've started writing in English, in an effort to have my work reach a much larger audience than it ever would in my native language, Greek. However this had several unforeseen difficulties.
Why am I writing this? Well, I guess because a blog is a place to write one's thoughts, and maybe my text will be useful to other writers who face the same dilemma: should I continue writing in my native language and hope for a translation opportunity, or should I start writing in English and reach a wider audience easier?
One of the first things you notice is the fact that writing in a language that isn't your native is extremely difficult, and makes the "easier" part of the above sentence seem laughable. Writing a few sentences, or perhaps a small text, correctly, isn't so hard, although a couple of mistakes can always slip in. On the other hand, writing a literary work is much harder. We're "forced" to think in our native language, but different languages don't have the same structure and rules. Personally I've often found myself realizing that I'm writing in Greek and simply using English words; something I took notice when I re-read my first attempt of translating my book in English at the age of 19; I still have this first attempt, just in case I one day become a best-selling author and want to publish a few copies, just because I love a good joke!
However the errors in the texts per se aren't the main problem; they're but the cause of it. What I at least faced was doubting my talent. It took me quite some time to realize that the few rejections from agents and publishers were due to the fact that my novel needed extreme editing, which is why I've for the time being stopped querying about it. But up until I finally realized what the problem really was, (where I went through translating the novel all over again and I'm now working with a professional editor to finally make it read like an actual English-written novel) I often caught myself thinking whether I should give up writing altogether.
Of course I never did, because I don't think I'm capable of stop writing, however I did have a year-long writer's block (what a lovely fella this bastard is!). Fortunately I got over it, and actually wrote a novel based upon it.
I guess it's about time to put an end to this long text, and maybe I should do so with a moral, no matter how cliche it may be: Never stop doing what you really love, for there's nothing better than finding success in what you love to do.
Why am I writing this? Well, I guess because a blog is a place to write one's thoughts, and maybe my text will be useful to other writers who face the same dilemma: should I continue writing in my native language and hope for a translation opportunity, or should I start writing in English and reach a wider audience easier?
One of the first things you notice is the fact that writing in a language that isn't your native is extremely difficult, and makes the "easier" part of the above sentence seem laughable. Writing a few sentences, or perhaps a small text, correctly, isn't so hard, although a couple of mistakes can always slip in. On the other hand, writing a literary work is much harder. We're "forced" to think in our native language, but different languages don't have the same structure and rules. Personally I've often found myself realizing that I'm writing in Greek and simply using English words; something I took notice when I re-read my first attempt of translating my book in English at the age of 19; I still have this first attempt, just in case I one day become a best-selling author and want to publish a few copies, just because I love a good joke!
However the errors in the texts per se aren't the main problem; they're but the cause of it. What I at least faced was doubting my talent. It took me quite some time to realize that the few rejections from agents and publishers were due to the fact that my novel needed extreme editing, which is why I've for the time being stopped querying about it. But up until I finally realized what the problem really was, (where I went through translating the novel all over again and I'm now working with a professional editor to finally make it read like an actual English-written novel) I often caught myself thinking whether I should give up writing altogether.
Of course I never did, because I don't think I'm capable of stop writing, however I did have a year-long writer's block (what a lovely fella this bastard is!). Fortunately I got over it, and actually wrote a novel based upon it.
I guess it's about time to put an end to this long text, and maybe I should do so with a moral, no matter how cliche it may be: Never stop doing what you really love, for there's nothing better than finding success in what you love to do.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
About my published novel, "The elixir of youth"
"The elixir of youth" is a science-fiction/horror novel with fast-paced action; it's about tough decisions, the balance between morality and will, as well as the handling of losses and responding to situations beyond someone's expectations.
The story revolves around a professor, Harold, who discovers, through strange-natured dreams, that his family is connected with some creatures from another world. These creatures are living in isolation, hidden in a cave somewhere deep in the Andes, and have a single human-being to help them with various tasks; and Harold is the next in line to become their associate.
However the bonds between him and the creatures are numerous, both good and bad, which brings Harold into a dilemma of how to proceed; thus, alongside his best friend, the archaeologist Frederick, and a young, ambitious student, Dimitra, sets off on a dangerous trip to Andes; a trip where Harold meets dangerous situations, new revelations about his relationship with the creatures and and is confronted his biggest enemy, his own self.
The link provided is, unfortunately for some, in Greek, since, so far, the novel has only been published in Greece:
http://www.protoporia.gr/to-elixirio-tis-niotis-p-338664.html?osCsid=661n7gtrks0lnrlta20tb9t9l4
The story revolves around a professor, Harold, who discovers, through strange-natured dreams, that his family is connected with some creatures from another world. These creatures are living in isolation, hidden in a cave somewhere deep in the Andes, and have a single human-being to help them with various tasks; and Harold is the next in line to become their associate.
However the bonds between him and the creatures are numerous, both good and bad, which brings Harold into a dilemma of how to proceed; thus, alongside his best friend, the archaeologist Frederick, and a young, ambitious student, Dimitra, sets off on a dangerous trip to Andes; a trip where Harold meets dangerous situations, new revelations about his relationship with the creatures and and is confronted his biggest enemy, his own self.
The link provided is, unfortunately for some, in Greek, since, so far, the novel has only been published in Greece:
http://www.protoporia.gr/to-elixirio-tis-niotis-p-338664.html?osCsid=661n7gtrks0lnrlta20tb9t9l4
Just an introduction
"The day I started believing" is the title of my first story published in English, yet it indicates to the day where I started writing my first novel, at the age of 13, where I realized that writing is what I want to do for the rest of my life; in an essence it could be said that it is what I was born to do, if I were to believe in destiny.
The main point of this blog is for me to have a place where I can put out some ideas of mine, both literary and irrelevant with the art of writing, as well as communicating with you, people who are interested in my work as an author, and who may even want to give some comment, advice, criticism, or even praise, for it.
Since this is an introduction, I may as well begin by saying a few words about me. As already mentioned I've began writing my first novel at the age of 13, and finished it when I was about 14, going 15. I grew up in Greece, which also explains why it was first published in Greece, in 2010, by Lefki Selida. However recently I've began writing in English, both novels and short stories; one of these short stories being "The day I started believing", which was published in July.
The main point of this blog is for me to have a place where I can put out some ideas of mine, both literary and irrelevant with the art of writing, as well as communicating with you, people who are interested in my work as an author, and who may even want to give some comment, advice, criticism, or even praise, for it.
Since this is an introduction, I may as well begin by saying a few words about me. As already mentioned I've began writing my first novel at the age of 13, and finished it when I was about 14, going 15. I grew up in Greece, which also explains why it was first published in Greece, in 2010, by Lefki Selida. However recently I've began writing in English, both novels and short stories; one of these short stories being "The day I started believing", which was published in July.
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