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Clayton Bye – Interview With The Author
“After adding my name to the cache, I walked to the northern edge of the mountain, leaned into the wind, and stared out over the partially frozen Arctic Ocean. To the east, the mountains of Greenland rose upward out of the sea. Inland and to the west, the sun glinted off Ellesmere’s peaks. Some twenty years later, I still consider it one of the perfect moments of my life.” – The Contrary Canadian
When did you first become interested in writing?
I’ve been interested in writing since I first learned to read. I was so thrilled by the adventures I found within the covers of the books I devoured (sometimes 3 or 4 per weekend) that I thought nothing in the world could be better than writing such stories. However, I found out, much to my surprise, that I didn’t have anything worthwhile to say until I was in my 30’s.
What style of writing do you use most?
I write conversationally. Pick up any book I’ve written and read it out loud; you’ll understand what I mean.
Has your style changed from when you first began as an author?
My style hasn’t changed but my skills have.
In what way do you usually put down your ideas first?
I write almost exclusively on a computer. I have notebooks for the rare times when a computer isn’t available. My ideas usually come out in fully formed sentences (I’ve learned to type as I think). Obviously, for the most part, I write about things only after they’ve spent some time percolating in my brain.
“How many times has that tiny, seventy-something lady walked past your doorstep in frigid weather, bags full of groceries scraping the ground, without someone coming to her aid? What about the foul-mouthed teenagers at the mall? Why is their behaviour tolerated? Closer to home, who monitors your own decision making? What checks and balances do you have in place for those times when your behavioural choices are less than perfect?” – The Contrary Canadian
What made you choose that medium?
I use computers because I can type faster than I can write, the end result is legible, and it’s incredibly easy to edit your work when you’re using a program like Wordperfect or Microsoft Word.
Do your ideas come from life or imagination?
My ideas come from both life and imagination, the best of these being a combination of both that results in the creation of something recognizable but which is also new and refreshing.
How do you choose your characters and how do you choose the subject?
Fictional characters are most often determined by the subject. For example, in my fantasy novel, The Sorcerer’s Key, my protagonist had a powerful talisman in his possession. In order for him to be placed in some kind of terrible trouble, my character, Jack, would have to run into some equally powerful and truly nasty characters who wanted the talisman: suddenly I had half a dozen new people to write about.
Subject matter is easy. I learned from Toastmasters and a number of years as a professional speaker that one can pick up any random item–as a prop–and build a story around it. The subject of a story is unimportant: it’s what you have to say about that subject or in relation to that subject or against that subject… and so on.
Non-fiction is just the opposite. In my opinion, if you don’t have an interesting person tell a story about, then the subject quickly becomes boring. All writing, of any kind, is about (or should be about) people.
Who is your favourite author?
I hate this question. There are so many authors I love and who have influenced me. Yet, if I take shear volume of work and factor in emotional impact, Stephen King usually comes out on top.
What is your favourite piece of work by yourself?
My favourite piece is actually a toss-up between a short story called the speed of dark and a poem called Mind Fuck. My favourite book-length piece is The Sorcerer’s Key (published by Chase Enterprises: )
“Cookie came in and surprised me with one of my favourite drinks—good Canadian rye, a small amount of ginger ale and lots of ice. In fact, the tumbler was filled with so much chipped ice that rivulets of condensation had begun to run down its sides. The odd little fellow chuckled, winked at me and said, “There’s something about million-year-old ice that just makes a drink taste better.” He was right.” – The Contrary Canadian
How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?
A book averages about a year: 3 months to write and 9 months to polish. Poems usually come out of my head complete, in a matter of minutes. Short stories can hang around for years before I find the right feel for the piece.
How well do you take criticism?
Like most people, I don’t like criticism. However, outside observation and input is necessary if one is to grow. I read every review or comment I get about my work, good or bad. If the criticism is given in the spirit of helpfulness, I listen carefully–even if it hurts.
What do you do to overcome a ‘block’?
I don’t get writer’s block. Should I run out of steam or inspiration on one project, I go onto another. Sooner or later, the abandoned piece will call my name. I write every day: about something.
How do you know something is ‘finished’? Is it easy to walk away?
A piece is finished when I’ve done everything I can to make it as good as it can be. This doesn’t mean the piece is good, or that there are no errors; it simply means I haven’t anything more I can think of to add from my current set of skills and knowledge. And, yes, it is easy to walk away. By the time I reach the end of a project, I’m tired and, quite frankly, anxious to set it free.
Have you been published?
Here is a list of my publishing credits (Chase Enterprises is my own imprint):
How To Get What You Want From Life (Chase Enterprises, 1994, Private Limited Edition, Trade Paperback)
How To Get What You Want From Life (Chase Enterprises, 1994, Trade Paperback)
The It Can’t Be Done, No Way, You’ve Got To Be Kidding, Crazy Or Unbelievably Stupid To Try It, Handbook For Success (Chase Enterprises, 1995, Periodical)
The Hundred (Xlibris, 2003, American Editions, Hardcover & Trade Paperback)
The Hundred (Chase Enterprises, 2004, Canadian Edition, Trade Paperback)
The It Can’t Be Done, No Way, You’ve Got To Be Kidding, Crazy Or Unbelievably Stupid To Try It, Handbook For Success (Chase Enterprises, 2004, Private Limited Edition, Spiral Bound)
The Sorcerer’s Key (Chase Enterprises, 2005, Mass Market Paperback, Ebook)
Getting Clear (Chase Enterprises, 2005, Mass Market Paperback, Ebook)
How To Get What You Want From Life (Chase Enterprises, 2005, Revised Edition, Mass Market Paperback, Ebook)
The It Can’t Be Done, No Way, You’ve Got To Be Kidding, Crazy Or Unbelievably Stupid To Try It, Handbook For Success (Chase Enterprises, 2005, Mass Market Paperback, Ebook)
The Contrary Canadian (Chase Enterprises, 2006, Electronic Column)
How To Become An Accomplished Public Speaker (Chase Enterprises, 2006, Internet Article)
Weekly Book Reviews (gottawritenetwork.com, Fall 2006)
The Speed of Dark (Chase Enterprises, 2007, Short Story, Internet)
Bare Knuckle MBA (Chase Enterprises, 2008, Hardcover, Ebook)
The Contrary Canadian (Chase Enterprises, 2008, Mass Market Paperback, ebook)
Grace (Chase Enterprises, 2008, Poem, Internet)
Headpins (Chase Enterprises, 2008, Poem, Internet)
Once in a Lifetime (Chase Enterprises, 2008, Short Story, Internet)
A Hole In The Clouds (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Poem, Internet)
Monthly Book Reviews (Alternative-Read.com, 2009)
Viewpoint of an Independent Author-Publisher (shared-self-publishing.com, 2009, Article)
Horror Reviews and Editorials (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009)
The Speed of Dark (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009, Short Story)
Fiction Novel Reviews (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009)
Loss (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Poem, Internet)
Remembrance (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Poem, Internet)
Grace (Publishing Renaissance, 2009, Poem)
Headpins (Publishing Renaissance, 2009, Poem)
Resurrection (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009, Short Story)
Deus Ex Machina (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009, Short Story)
The Town of Me (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Poem, Internet)
Dialogue With The Devil (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009, Short Story)
Extended version of The Speed of Dark (The Write Room, 2009, Short Story)
A Traveling Man (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Non-fiction Short Story, Internet)
Memories (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Non-fiction Short Story, Internet)
Mind Fuck (The Deepening World of Fiction, 2009, Poem)
TechnoMage (Chase Enterprises, 2009, Pending, Mass Market Paperback, ebook)
Have you any publications planned for the future?
As noted above, I have a Fantasy Novel called TechnoMage due out by the end of the year. It is a sequel to The Sorcerer’s Key and is part of a series entitled From Earth To Eden. I’m also about halfway through a book of poetry. I have no name or scheduled publishing date for the poetry project.
“Unusual choices interest me. They suggest that the person behind them is thinking about life and may even be trying to consciously expand his or her experience. These actions deserve to be recognized. They also serve to highlight the importance of finding ways to occasionally step outside the constraints of our lives, to look in from the outside, to shake things up, to shift our perspective.” – The Contrary Canadian
What are your plans for the future?
I intend to keep working as a book reviewer and editor for The Deepening World of Fiction, a reviewer for Alternative-Read.com and as a freelancer. With this said, I have many projects in mind, fiction and non-fiction, and some business consulting work I’d like to do.
What advice would you give new authors?
Write every day. Send out submissions every day. Read every day. And have fun!
Have you done any courses to help you?
I suppose they all help in their own way, but the most useful tools I have are the numerous book on writing (by authors I admire) I own.
What do you do to market your work?
Everything I can think of. Right now I’m attempting the seemingly impossible: I’m trying to market my work on the internet, as a relative unknown. It has been an eye-opening experience.
“When I was young, my grandparents demonstrated that the best gift is usually something you craft yourself. They gave away paintings, pottery, hand-carved spoons and bowls, exquisite wooden canes, cedar chests and stories. Their hospitality was legendary. People came to their out-of-the-way farm from all over the country in a seemingly endless stream. And there was always food to eat, or tea and whisky to drink. My point? You can choose how you’ll respond to the world. You can make a difference. All that’s required is the will to do so.” – The Contrary Canadian
Do you use social networking in your day to day life?
I network everyday. Here are just a few of te sites I frequent:
Are you interested in collaborating with artists?
I have one pending project which would require an artist. It’s a children’s book.
Have you got hobbies?
I used to. I’ve recently become disabled (Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bipolar Disorder), so all that is changing. My major pastimes at the moment would be reading and networking.
Where are you based?
I live and work in Kenora, Ontario, Canada.
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Great interview! It looks like you have had a very prolific and successful career – kudos to you! I really admire the fact that you’ve been tenacious and haven’t let anything stop you. Thank you for your honesty and sharing your story with all of us-