Author interview: Nicholas Ambrose
How did you become interested in short stories?
Much as I love writing novels, short stories are always great because it gives a chance to write something smaller in scale. It's so easy to get involved in the idea of writing full-length novels, when short stories are a great art of their own, with their own styles and disciplines. If anything, they're more of a challenge than a novel, because they need to be so much more focussed and snappier - and that's a fantastic challenge to undertake.
As an author, do you think writing short stories is worthwhile? Why?
Of course I do! It all depends on the story. Some of them need to be long, and take several hundred pages to tell. But what about the shorter ones? What's the point in massively fleshing out and padding something that works perfectly well as it is, without being really long? If a story wants to be a short story, then that's what it should be.
What types of short story promotion have worked for you?
I'm just getting into the publishing game, so I'm still new to all this. I'm currently publicising my blog, writing guest posts and interviews for others and also doing a bunch of social networking via Twitter! It's definitely got the ball rolling, and it can only pick up from here.
What types of short story promotion have not worked for you?
It's too early to say right now - I'll have to get back to you!
Do you consider 99 cents to be a fair price for a standalone short story? Why or why not?
It's perfectly fair. 99 cents is a great price because it's an impulse buy. It also serves as an entry point to newer readers, who might want to read something shorter than a full book by an author they've heard about, and don't want to pay quite as much for the privilege of the trial. It's a fantastic way to let people try out a smaller piece of your work before dipping their toe into your larger works.
Check out Nick's stories on Amazon US
Or on Amazon UK
Much as I love writing novels, short stories are always great because it gives a chance to write something smaller in scale. It's so easy to get involved in the idea of writing full-length novels, when short stories are a great art of their own, with their own styles and disciplines. If anything, they're more of a challenge than a novel, because they need to be so much more focussed and snappier - and that's a fantastic challenge to undertake.
As an author, do you think writing short stories is worthwhile? Why?
Of course I do! It all depends on the story. Some of them need to be long, and take several hundred pages to tell. But what about the shorter ones? What's the point in massively fleshing out and padding something that works perfectly well as it is, without being really long? If a story wants to be a short story, then that's what it should be.
What types of short story promotion have worked for you?
I'm just getting into the publishing game, so I'm still new to all this. I'm currently publicising my blog, writing guest posts and interviews for others and also doing a bunch of social networking via Twitter! It's definitely got the ball rolling, and it can only pick up from here.
What types of short story promotion have not worked for you?
It's too early to say right now - I'll have to get back to you!
Do you consider 99 cents to be a fair price for a standalone short story? Why or why not?
It's perfectly fair. 99 cents is a great price because it's an impulse buy. It also serves as an entry point to newer readers, who might want to read something shorter than a full book by an author they've heard about, and don't want to pay quite as much for the privilege of the trial. It's a fantastic way to let people try out a smaller piece of your work before dipping their toe into your larger works.
Check out Nick's stories on Amazon US
Or on Amazon UK
Thanks for this, Nicholas!
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about a $.99 short story being a good entry point for a reader. That makes a lot of sense.
If I'd never heard of Stephen King would I want to pay $10 or $12 for 1000+ pages of It or The Stand? Doubt it. That's quite a commitment of time and money.
But I'd sure as hell one-click for a $.99 short by an unknown if the blurb was enticing.
Shana Hammaker
METAMORPHOSIS, Twelve Terrifying Tales for 2011