It has been yet another busy, stressful, eventful month. All the same, where are we up to on our writing?

With Christmas growing ever closer, I’ve been reuniting with loads of family and old friends, all of whom ask some variation of the question, “How are things going?” I usually answer, “Yeah… good… very busy!” Lots of time and energy have been invested between my day job and my creative written projects. Making plenty of progress on all fronts, I might add. But I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to a nice break over the Christmas period!

You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic

First bit of news… I am so very near the end of this draft! I wish I could say ONE CHAPTER LEFT, but it’s more like one and a half. Still, the plan is to knuckle down and work solidly on it over the next couple of weeks (around festive socials) and get it done before Christmas. Again, with a mind to enjoy the aforesaid break.

These final few chapters have taken unforeseen directions. Simply because I thought the planned version was either not believable, too pedestrian or not exciting enough, or a combination thereof. I won’t go into specifics in case I either spoil something or the chapters in question don’t make it into the final book. But I felt that to follow the plan in this instance would’ve been a wasted opportunity to create some potential suspense and/or thrill for the reader. However, as I may have mentioned in an earlier progress report, there’s a chance I could change the ending of this book altogether!

It would be a shame not to follow this course, because I’ve just introduced the final supporting character into the story. I only really ever had her appearance in my mind, but never her personality. I never planned to turn her into an impatient, no-nonsense landlady. And so far, she’s been fun to write. I’m going to enjoy seeing how she develops in this last chapter. I’ve also taken the chance to throw in an in-joke for some friends with whom I went to Berlin a few years ago. It’d be a shame to cut all this out.

The Dale Hurst Writing Show

Another season is almost over. Based on the listening figures over the last few months, I wasn’t sure it was worth returning the podcast for a Season 4. However, I evidently saved the best episodes for last. Episodes 8 and 9 of this series, featuring screenwriter Ryan Avery and composer Jordan Pace, have eclipsed the others by quite some distance. What that tells me about my format and my choice of guests, I’m yet to analyse. But it has rekindled my belief that the podcast is worth doing. I’ve been chatting with former guests lately while producing a Christmas special. All of them have said, “Look forward to coming on again”. So the demand is evidently there.

The future of this podcast has kept me busy these last few weeks. Not to go into too much detail yet, but there’s a potential festival collaboration in the works. And otherwise, where else can it go? Other than a fourth season? A little tour of some sort? Something to think about I guess!

Like last year, The Dale Hurst Writing Show‘s season finale will feature the return of previous guests. This year, the line-up consists of novelist Alex Colvin, screenwriter Daniel Riccio, videographer Jamie Webb, and actor-playwright Conor Ó’Cuinn and director Tazy Harrison-Moore.

Plans for next project

When I finish the first draft of You Can Hear Chopin, I obviously plan to work through the story; editing, cutting, recreating, etc. And while that’s going to take up a good portion of my time, I’m still weighing up what my next major project will be. I plan to go through my first novel, The Berylford Scandals: Lust & Liberty, editing the layout and format to make it more financially sound as a paperback book (off the back of Amazon’s printing price increases earlier in the year).

But what follows after that? I still haven’t decided. If anything the list keeps growing! I recently had verbal endorsement for restarting work on a sitcom set in a retirement home. Or it could be a short film of as-yet-undecided plot and content. And then again, I could flesh out an idea for a hardboiled crime or noir thriller I’ve toyed with for quite a while. Once You Can Hear Chopin is in a bit better shape, maybe I could put that up for a vote on my social channels…

What would you like me to work on next? Let me know in the comments or on my socials. Like my Facebook page and Follow me on Instagram and get in touch.

Our latest post (and video) is more of an advice-based thing for anyone who may be getting their first professional author headshots done. Whether that’s for their new website, for a social media or digital marketing campaign, or whatever. Anyone who may have no idea where to start… I urge you to read on…

This year, I branched out from my usual photographer, Patrick Čermák. Instead collaborating with new friend Jamie Webb of JKW Media on my latest author headshots, which were taken outdoors.

First bit of advice, before the Top 5 list – get yourself a photographer that you get along with. Meet them for a coffee or something first. I was fortunate to know and have worked with Patrick for many years before he started photographing me. Meanwhile, I had actually interviewed Jamie for a couple of features on HQB News earlier in the year.

Both photographers come highly recommended and you’ll find links and so forth at the end of this article. But before you do any of that, I recommend you consider the following points.

1. MAKE SURE IT’S ON-BRAND

I brand myself as someone quite smart, professional, elegant some have said… usually in shirts and trousers, often with the waistcoat, pocketwatch, etc.

Photo by Patrick Čermák

It wouldn’t really do for me to have promo shots in T-shirts, hoodies… informal stuff, in other words. Unless your campaign is deliberately saying something about challenging your brand or doing something different, then obviously do what you like. But otherwise, consistency is the key in this business. Right down to how you look.

2. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BACKDROP

If you’re indoors, try to get your writing space into the photos (or maybe even the places around the house where you don’t work). Or parts of the house that suit what’s on show. These photos of the books were on an elegant, arguably period-looking dressing table, for example.

Photo by Patrick Čermák

Outdoor shoots open up so many other avenues. I come from Bournemouth, which has a number of remarkable sights of which to make use, plus a rich literary heritage. Try to draw on similar things if you’re having your promo photos done outside.

Photo by Jamie Webb

3. MAKE SURE YOU’RE COMFORTABLE

I tried an outdoor shoot last year and, ultimately, I could only really use four or five of the end results. The reason? I was not remotely comfortable being photographed in public, and it showed in the photos. To put it bluntly, I looked like I had sat on something very sharp the whole time.

Photo by Patrick Čermák

If you’re having your author headshots done in a public place, I’d recommend finding a photographer who uses discreet equipment. An LED light stick, for example, as opposed to a full-blown light box. Draws far less attention from the general public.

I know it may seem obvious to say, “Well if you don’t like being photographed outdoors, just stick to indoor shoots”, and there’d be nothing wrong with that. But it can run the risk of your content going a bit stale after a while. Having a mix of indoor and outdoor photos adds to the variety.

4. HAVE SHOTS OR CAPTIONS IN MIND

As many of you may know I’m a planner with a vengeance. But on this last shoot I did, I was asked to let the photographer know if I had any ideas shots-wise, and apart from knowing I wanted half with me and the Bournemouth backdrop, and half with me and the books, I had nothing. More ideas came to me as we were doing the shoot, and then I could imagine what captions were going to go with which photo and so forth.

Of course, it also depends on what you want to use the photos for. My experience aside, it definitely helps both you and the photographer to go in with some concrete ideas in mind. You’re more likely to get the most out of your shoot, which are not always the cheapest things.

5. DON’T REPEAT YOURSELF

In the interest of keeping your content fresh, try not to go for the same poses, expressions, backdrops, outfits, hairstyles, etc. That may seem like an obvious point, but I know I am guilty of making more-or-less the same face in some of my photos, for example.

With this point in mind, I say it helps to work with only one or maybe two photographers for your author headshots. As opposed to getting different ones every time. The more you build your relationship with these people, they’ll become more familiar with your brand and, most importantly, what’s been done before. Not only by you, but by other people in the same or similar field.

Useful Links

Jamie Webb has an extensive photography and videography portfolio and range of experience. You can find the pages for his company, JKW Media, on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, plus its website. In addition, if you’re interested, find out more about Jamie, his work and his views in these HQB News articles:

• Jamie Webb, Videographer & Photographer (Q&A article)
• JKW Media: New Documentary Aims to “Help Students Realise They Don’t Have to Drink to Fit In…” (News Article)
• How to Become an Influencer in 2021 (Feature with opinions and advice from various Bournemouth-based influencers)

Patrick Čermák is an experienced event, fashion and portrait photographer originally from the Czech Republic. Visit his website for more information.

Want to know more? Why not let me know in the comments? For more author news and views, my Facebook and Instagram pages are here.