Bonus Episode with Bruce Buchanan

Hey friends! Welcome to another Indie Author Spotlight Bonus Episode! Hopefully you read the feature on Bruce over on The Writer's Workout website, where I'm a volunteer. If not, well, you're the one who's missing out. Because Bruce is the kinda author you should get to know more about. He's one of my all time favorite people in the #writingcommunity and everyone should want him in their circle.

Indie Author Bruce Buchanan

What does your writing ritual look like?

Like most authors, writing fiction is something I have to balance with a full-time career plus family. I’m a big fan of writing sprints—20 or 30 minutes of focused, head-down writing, with no distractions. I write for longer stretches when I have time, but even on my busiest days, I can find time for a writing sprint. 

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received as an Indie Author?

The notion of “Writing for the market” seems Quixotic to me. By the time you’ve figured out what the market wants and have a finished manuscript, the market will have moved on to something new. My philosophy is, “I write stories that I would want to read.” Hopefully, other people will, too! 

Also, don’t let anyone discourage you. Query that agent or publisher. Submit to that lit mag. Reach out to that editor. Bet on yourself and put your work out there. Just remember—one acceptance erases every rejection!

Unsplash Erik Mclean

What’s your go to book, movie or musical artist when you need some inspiration (or just a break from the keyboard)? Why?

I’m a lifelong Marvel comics fan. That’s where I fell in love with heroic fiction, and reading a classic superhero comic can help recharge my creative battery. I read plenty of actual novels, too, but I usually read a comic right before going to bed. It’s part of my daily routine.

Also, I usually listen to music while writing. It’s funny—I’ll get distracted if the TV is on, or if I have a podcast playing. But music helps me focus. I’m a big fan of 1980s/90s alternative music—the same bands I listened to as a teenager. But I also enjoy classic rock. Music is a big part of my writing process.

If you could snap your fingers and be “known” for one piece of your writing, what would it be? Is it something already published? Or is it something in your heart you’ve not yet written?

My upcoming novel The Goth Girl Who Saved the World is the piece I’m most proud of. The Blacksmith’s Boy will always be my first novel, so it has a special place in my heart. But Goth Girl is my strongest work to date, in my opinion, and the protagonist, Charlotte Sumner, is the one that’s most like me. Or at least the most like me in high school.

I want to give credit to Demi Michelle Schwartz of Amethyst Ink, who edited this book. Demi is a great editor (she also edited The Return of the Cerulean Blur) and I can’t say enough about the value of getting your work professionally edited. I know it may not be financially feasible for some indie authors, but if you can afford it, do it! 

Any other tidbits you wanna share?

Just to be kind to other writers and yourself. Writing can be a stressful, emotionally grueling activity. A nice word to a fellow writer can go a long way. Similarly, don’t beat yourself up when things don’t go your way. It’s an easy trap to fall into (I know I have), but if you stay at it, good things will happen. 

Do you have a newsletter you want people to sign-up for? Link it here:

Not yet. But I do have a blog on my website, and I keep it updated.See what I’ve got going on at https://brucebuchananauthor.com/news-and-reviews/ 

I’m also all over social media, so hit me up there, too!