Beyond the Bundle: Author Q&A

David H. Burton

David H. Burton is the author of The Second Coming, the first book of a post-apocalyptic fantasy series in which ancient prophecies and old gods are resurrected. He sits down with fellow StoryBundler Geoff Morrison to discuss writing and self-editing.

How did you approach your first book? Is that different from how you approached the next?

No, I would say the approach has always been the same – I have an overall plot arc and then I fly by the seat of my pants. :)

So I take it you don’t plan too much in advance?

I try not to plan out too much – I like learning the story as I go. When I write, even though I have a rough plotline of where I want to take things, I get surprised along the way and I love it.

What did you learn writing your first novel? Your most recent?

Patience, in the case of both. I write when I have the mindset for it. I don’t force myself to write. I want it to be enjoyable, not work, so sometimes my books take longer to come out, but I’ve learned it’s what works for me, so I go with it.

What’s your biggest hindrance to finishing a book?

Time. There’s never enough of it, but I’ve learned to accept that, too.

How do you approach writing characters?

Sometimes I draw from people I know or interactions around me, but I try not to let that influence me too much.

How do you give individual characters their own “voice?”

I try to get into the character’s head, and see the world through their eyes. In TSC, I have multiple viewpoints in the novel, written from the perspective of each of the characters, and each “voice” is unique. It was a lot of fun getting into each of their heads to write from their perspectives.

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How do you decide on pacing?

It depends on the novel. My work varies: from dark fantasy to paranormal romance and children’s novels, so the pacing is dependent on the type of book I’m writing.

How do you decide what to reveal to the audience, and when?

I drop hints here and there, but I tend to be the kind of author that reveals all at the end. It’s hard when to decide what to reveal because you don’t want to give too much away too quickly.

When it comes to description, do you think there’s such a thing as too much? Too little? How do you decide what’s your “right” amount?

I hate too much. I skip pages when I read too much detail, but that’s just me. Some people love it. I try to keep it concise and choose my words carefully to illustrate the scene without getting into verbal diarrhea.

Do you listen to music as you write?

Oh yes!! I always write with music. I have various playlists for different books I’m writing – each with a particular mood that helps set the tone for the book.

Do you have a specific place to write?

I have three kids and a full-time job. My place to write is anywhere I can get some time to myself for a couple of hours – I’m not picky. :)

Do you finish, then edit, or do you edit as you go?

I sometimes edit as I go, but I try not to do that. I prefer to just get it all out and then go back. Quite frankly, I love the editing process, so I’m happy to go back after and do it.

How many people get to read your unfinished, or recently finished, work?

Very few. I have a select group of beta readers that I ask to read my work when I feel it’s ready – their feedback is invaluable!

What do you feel are your strengths as a writer? What advice would you give for someone who wants to improve that aspect of their writing?

Editing. I’ve learned a lot from other writers, but the best book I ever picked up was Browne and King’s Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

What would you like to improve with your writing, and how would you go about doing it?

I wish that what I write came out looking as good as when it’s all edited, but I suppose with more time and experience, what I write as an initial draft will continue to improve.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out, trying to finish (or start!) their first novel?

Take your time, go check out some writing forums, join a critique group, and don’t take any of it personally. This is a subjective business – what I like, you won’t, and that’s okay.

Who are your favorite authors?

George R.R. Martin, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, Robert Jordan, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien

If you could ask one of them one question, what would it be? What would you like to learn from them?

To Margaret and Tracy, how do they collaborate and what is their process. The books they’ve written jointly are absolutely brilliant and I would love to learn how they managed to not only come up with the storylines, but how they managed to both write the novels.

What’s your favorite book of all time?

Lord of the Rings, hands down. I’ve read it something like twelve times.

Have you read any useful books that helped you with story, characters, writing in general?

The Self-Editing book I mentioned earlier from Browne and King – brilliant book. A must for every writer!

Do you sell across all eBook platforms?

I sell across lots of them and so far Kobo has been the best by a long shot.

How did you approach your cover artist, and what was that experience like?

Since I designed the cover myself, I guess it was a pretty good experience. LOL! I tend to do all my covers. I have a background in web design so I felt pretty comfortable taking it on, but I’m starting to look at cover artists more these days since it saves me the time.

Are there any websites you found helpful in regards to eBook formatting?

Guido Henkel’s Take Pride in Your eBook Formatting” series is the best thing ever.

Do you sell print versions of your books?

I sell using Createspace – love it. I sell very few print books, but I like that I can offer them so easily and quickly with Createspace.

How do you feel about KDP Select (i.e. Kindle Owners' Lending Library)?

If you can sell in it, great. I tried it recently – it wasn’t such a great experience for me, but I’ve heard from others who’ve done very well with it.

Do you do any marketing?

First, when it comes to marketing, I don’t do the hard sell – no one likes to be sold to. I have bought ads or sponsorships, though, and the ones with eReader News Today have been the best so far. Ads with Facebook and Google – waste of time and money.

Did you enjoy being a part of your StoryBundle? Have you seen an increase in sales separate from the Bundle?

I loved the StoryBundle experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat!! I haven’t seen an increase in sales elsewhere as a result, but that may change when I get the second book out since this book was the first in a series.

David H. Burton was born in Windsor, Ontario to parents that instilled in him the love of the written word at a very young age. Throughout his childhood, David read relentlessly, often into the wee hours of the morning. David graduated from the University of Toronto with a major in Biology and a minor in Classical Civilization. He also dabbled in Computer Science, to which he owes his current occupation in the Telecommunications world at one of the large banks in Canada. When David isn’t writing he enjoys spending time with his partner and three boys: hiking, swimming, kayaking, biking, and reading.

Geoffrey Morrison is a freelance writer and editor. His first novel, Undersea, was featured in the first StoryBundle. You can follow him on Twitter @TechWriterGeoff.