Author Interview: S.C. Vincent, Science Fiction/ Fantasy/ Horror

Posted On May 22, 2024

From Planning to Published

When did you start writing and why?

Author:      I’ve been creatively writing ever since I was a child. I wanted to be a lot of things, a singer, a comic book artist. But I also knew I needed words to sing and stories to draw. When I got older, I realized that the root of my creativity was in storytelling and so I dedicated my time to writing novels.

How long did it take you to finish your first book?

Author:      My first book was called The Arcadia Destiny, and it took me maybe four years from conception to publication. For my current writing process that’s a very long time because now I know how to write a book correctlyand in an efficient way. With that book I was making every mistake and constantly revising draft after draft. But mistakes are how you learn.

If you’ve published, how long did your first book take?

Author:      I mostly self-publish and that took me a while to where I was comfortable with the quality of my book before I did so. If you’re talking about with a publisher, I had a short horror story called A Girl of Peculiar Taste published in 2023. This story was picked up in a rather traditional way.Most of the wait was actually waiting on them to release the book because publishers have their own reasons and schedules. It was almost a year after they accepted the story that it was on shelves.

(If applicable) Has your publishing timeframe improved at all since your first publication?

Author:      Like I’ve mentioned previously, once you learn from your mistakes and find out how you write and what your process really is, you tend to cut out things that are getting in your way. I can write a book now in 4-5 months. It took me 4 years at first.

Are you indie, traditional, hybrid, or vanity, and why?

Author:      I’m both indie and traditionally published. I’ve seen the good and the bad of both. For example, one of my stories was first with a publisher they were going to completely rewrite it. It was horrible to have my work butchered and have them still stick my name on it. Luckily, I got the work back and was able to pitch it elsewhere. That publisher was the complete opposite. They had reasonable suggestions for alterations that made the story better.

In terms of self-publishing, or what some can call ‘indie’, a lot of that publishing burden is on you. You have to learn how to write and make a book. It’s a lot harder than it sounds.

How did you determine your target audience?

Author:      With The Sakura Element I decided to challenge myself as a writer and write about subjects that were new to me. Naturally that means the books content would appeal towards a different audience considering I’ve mostly been publishing fantasy for men. The good thing is that The Sakura Element is about people overcoming prejudice and trying to find a solution to problems by meeting in the middle or at least being open to consideration. Whether or not the characterssucceed in that is something you find out when you read the book.

What is your publishing process?

Author:      My process varies depending on the work. Usually, I’m at my desktop, maybe with music playing or a scented candle. But the story I’m writing now I’m quite literally writing with pen and paper due to circumstance. It’s quite different. 

What platforms do you use to publish your works?

Author:      Mostly Amazon – it’s the easiest way to do it and most readers use the site.

How do you get critiques, betas, feedback, and edits?

Author:      Simply ask people that are interested in books. I’ve joined Facebook groups of critique partners for one example.

Marketing

Do you have a platform? What does it consist of?

Author:      My platform is a mixture of social media to connect with my readers and to get them interested in my books.

What is your launch plan for your works?

Author:      I try to give out advanced reader copies, do ads, promotions. Basic stuff.

How do you get reviews for your books?

Author:      The most ethical way is to give to someone for free in exchange for an honest review.

How do you promote your content?

Author:      Ads, blogging, recently I’ve been doing some youtube and Twitter streaming.

What do you think is the most critical marketing component or tactic for becoming successful?

Author:      To be a successful author now you really need to have a built-in audience. Something like a youtube channel would be helpful to someone selling a book.

How do you define success as an author?

Author:      Someone reading my book and liking it. I guess That’s my personal definition.

About Your Work

What type of content do you write and why? Fiction Novels? Poems? Songs? Screenplays? Short Stories? Epic?

Author:      I mostly write novels, novellas, novelettes, and short stories.

What genres and subgenres do you write in?

Author:      I guess fantasy is my home genre, but I also dabble in sci-fi and horror. I have a lot of ideas, so I try not to corner myself to one genre or audience. That might be a bad idea but oh well.

What is your author brand (genre, mood, image, theme, message, etc)? How did you decide on it?

Author:      Hope. I think if you read all my works you can find this positive messaging in all of them at some point. Whether it’s something the characters have, or something they lose. It’s an unintentional tendency of mine to write about hope.

How many works have you published?

Author:      Four so far. I have about three more written in various stages of completion.

(If applicable) Can you tell us a bit about your most recent publication?

Author:      I would love to. The Sakura Element is a young adult sci-fi novel aboutOka Latellay, a genetically modified human. She starts her first day at Alia Academia where he finds herself at odds with Allen Debois, the son of the school’s proprietor who holds mods in condemnation. With an oppressive society bearing down on them, only love can set them free.

Name some common elements in your writing: villains, magic, red-herring twists, the unfortunate ensign, mysterious phenomena, asyndeton, sentence fragments etc.

Author:      For a bit I was writing a lot about evil sisters.

What was your first goal when you started your journey to becoming an author? Has that changed?

Author:      My goal at first was just to create and create a cohesive decent story. At first that was such an impossible goal for me. Now my goal as an Author is to gain an audience for my work.

Do you have other supporting services like a podcast, blog, webinars, courses, video channel?

Author:      No yet. Maybe one day I’ll do youtube. At most I do irregular Twitter streams.

What do you want your readers to get out of your works?

Author:      I want my works to emotionally resonate with my readers. To connect with them.

What part of the author process are you working on or studying most now?

Author:      I’m having to adapt my drafting process to my new work schedule. During covid I had the luxury of being home and writing at my leisure. Now I’m having to write around my employer.

What has been your favorite part of the writing and querying or publishing process?

Author:      My favorite part of the process is writing the first draft. That’s when I’m the most creative and happy.

Do you recommend any programs, courses, or websites?

Author:      Go on youtube and watch everything about the writing and publishing process. Read everything you can as well. Don’t be unwilling to have people read your book and be open to criticism.

Which authors write similar books to yours? How did you find them?

Author:      Although The Sakura Element is very different, it was largely inspired by Pride and Prejudice.

Have you always read in the genre you wanted to write in? Do you think that’s made it easier or harder to create new stories?

Author:      Yes, to the first question. To the latter, I would say it has made it harder. When I first started I ‘wrote what I knew’, which was fantasy. But I wasn’t challenging myself by going outside of my comfort zone to engage in new ideas or new ways to write. I think it’s important to read all kinds of genres because what you take from them may help you create something unique.

What is your writing process, from idea to polished work? Pantster? Plotter? How long does that typically take you?

Author:      I’m a plotser or plantser – I’m both. I have a really rough outline which has all the necessary story beats, but I leave enough for me to discover as I write. This makes the writing process still fun for me while also keeping a coherent plot. 

Where do you network most with other writers, authors, and creative types? LinkedIn? Wattpad? Twitter? Facebook? Somewhere else?

Author:      Twitter is where I’m most active and I think it has a pretty healthy writing community. It’s fragmented and changed over the years but that’s where I’ve come across a lot of indie authors.

Do you sprint-write like a starving cheetah, or are you a totally chill turtle writer? Somewhere in between?

Author:      I’ll stare at my ceiling for twenty minutes and out of nowhere bust out a couple thousand words. Then I go back to thinking. I guess I’m a cheetah.

Struggles

What has been the hardest thing to overcome on your journey to authorship?

Author:      Connecting with an audience. Like all artists that share their work, we want our pieces to be viewed. The market is flooded and it’s hard to stand out. Some people are good at marketing. I am not.

How has the writing and querying or publishing process affected you emotionally? Do you have any tips for budding writers?

Author:      For me querying has only been detrimental to my career. I’ve held off on publishing so many books waiting for agents or publishers to reply with a simple “no thank you.” It has also been emotionally draining. I wouldn’t recommend the traditional route in this era of self-publishing to a new writer. The key to being successful as an indie is to first learn how to write and create a book. Have an audience before you publish the book (youtube, twitter, Instagram, etc.). During this process learn all you can about marketing with ads other forms, such as learning to write good ad copy. Finally, create a book series and release books often. I didn’t do this at all and had to learn the hard way.

Do you have any tips or recommendations for those who want to go the final step and become authors?

Author:      I think I just did but I’ll also say this: don’t get into it for the money. Very few people get to write full time and even less make a living off it. I would suggest writing for the love of writing. You’ll be a lot happier.

If you could do it all over again, what would you change?

Author:      See above. I’m making those changes now.

Are you a driven & self-advocating author, a gun-shy promoter, or a total marketing procrastinator?

Author:      I’m pretty shy which is totally befitting an author. But I’m shy about everything.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

Author:      Writing for the love of writing. Creating.

How do you combat writer’s block?

Author:      This is something I’ve been struggling with for about a year. I haven’t written anything new in a long time because I’ve felt so defeated with health issues and my work schedule. I’m getting better. Things are happening. I’m writing about an evil satanic cult and a necrophiliac, so naturally I’m working through some things.

What literary/writer-based term did you not know when you started that has become important and relevant to you?

Author:      Honestly, it’s creating the book that sticks with me the most. Checking margins, gutters, widows, and orphans. Trim sizes. Making sure my books look professional. Creating a book is a beast and very technical. I’m very literate and observant to that. I think when readers look at The Sakura Element it looks like a top five publishing house book. Inside and out.

How did your family and friends react to your writing? Was it what you expected from them?

Author:      They’ve always been supportive, especially my mother who I thank in everyone of my books. She’s my greatest champion and sometimes my harshest critic. I had to rewrite the first paragraph of The Sakura Element because of her!

What assumptions about writers and authors do you think are myths?

Author:     That we’re wealthy or that it’s impossible for many people to do. I’ve come acrossboth stereotypes in my daily life. These beliefs may have been the case twenty-five years ago but with the invention of the internet and self-publishing, anyone can write a book at a relatively low cost.

Fun Stuff

What do you listen to while you write?

Author:      It depends on the book. I’m writing a crazy sci-fi anime inspired series on and off. I listen to Japanese city-pop when I write that.

Is there a fun word or group of terms you like to put into your writing?

Author:      I love alliteration. 

Where do you write your stories? A tiny office? A loft? The kitchen table? In the bushes while you secretly people-watch like a total creeper? Or a warm café with mocha in hand and feet up on an ottoman?

Author:      Right now, I write outside of an office building during lunch while I bake in the sun.

What book are you reading at the moment?

Author:      I’ve been sitting on The Elfin Ship by James Blaylock for a long time.

What is your favorite literary trope?

Author:      The good guys win.

How do you try to “break the mold” and be unique?

Author:      Nowadays the good guys don’t win so I’m bringing that back.

What have you learned about yourself from the writing and/or authorship process?

Author:      I’ve learned perseverance. I’ve self-taught myself an entire industry with more to learn.

What is your favorite writing snack and drink?

Author:      Water and coffee. I learned a long time ago that adding food to the mix to an already sedentary hobby is a bad life choice.

Do you have a writing companion?

Author:      Silence.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Author:    “You’re too detailed in your writing” and show don’t tell.