Alex Morritt's Blog
December 3, 2021
'A Scape' selected as a finalist
'A Scape', one of the poems featured in Alex's recently published collection - Poetry in a time of Pestilence: Perspectives on a Pandemic - has been selected as a finalist in the 2021 annual writing contest organised by the San Francisco Writers Conference and published in their inaugural anthology - San Francisco Writers Conference 2021 Writing Contest Anthology
May 25, 2021
Live Poetry Recital - Open Mic Marathon
Alex Morritt recites "Drowning on Dry Land” and "A Scape” - two poems featured in his recently published poetry collection
during an Open Mic Poetry Marathon generously hosted by the San Francisco Writers' Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHaKH...
during an Open Mic Poetry Marathon generously hosted by the San Francisco Writers' Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHaKH...
October 13, 2020
New Publication Release
My new book Poetry in a time of Pestilence: Perspectives on a Pandemic is now available as a Kindle Edition from Amazon sites worldwide.
March 20, 2015
WHY I LIKE TO WRITE SHORT FICTION
A guest post published by the Short Story & Flash Fiction Society: http://www.shortstoryflashfictionsoci...
February 20, 2015
ARE WRITING CONFERENCES WORTH THE INVESTMENT ?
I have heard many writers and would-be authors question whether the sizeable investment required in travelling to and attending a writing conference is really worth it.
Of course, the answer in part depends on the conference itself; the organisers; the location; the line-up of presenters and speakers invited to the event.
Having never attended such an event before, I recently took the decision - despite the considerable outlay in air fares, hotel accommodation, conference fees, and sundry expenses - to attend the 2015 San Francisco Writers' Conference - an event held annually in mid February. http://sfwriters.org/
Although the true value of attending this event may not necessarily reveal itself immediately, I can safely say that the calibre and breadth of guest speakers, presenters, professional advisers present in all fields relating to literary representation, editing, publishing, craft skill coaching, and social media support for authors, was very high indeed.
What astounded me even more was how many of the 300 + author delegates that were present this year had attended the same event, often on more than one occasion in past years; considering it a fundamental reunion of kindred spirits as much as a place to learn new skills for an ever-changing marketplace.
Writing may be a solitary occupation, but you are not alone. Collaboration and cooperation as exemplified at this event are clearly the hallmarks of most successful authors whether traditionally or self-published.
So in summary, whilst recognising that every writer and would-be author has his/her specific annual budget in which to operate; judging how to spend that budget in terms of getting as much bang for one's buck as possible is not immediately clear.
What is clear is that a sizeable investment as in attending a writing conference should not necessarily be discounted out of hand, just because the rewards may take a little longer to come to fruition.
Of course, the answer in part depends on the conference itself; the organisers; the location; the line-up of presenters and speakers invited to the event.
Having never attended such an event before, I recently took the decision - despite the considerable outlay in air fares, hotel accommodation, conference fees, and sundry expenses - to attend the 2015 San Francisco Writers' Conference - an event held annually in mid February. http://sfwriters.org/
Although the true value of attending this event may not necessarily reveal itself immediately, I can safely say that the calibre and breadth of guest speakers, presenters, professional advisers present in all fields relating to literary representation, editing, publishing, craft skill coaching, and social media support for authors, was very high indeed.
What astounded me even more was how many of the 300 + author delegates that were present this year had attended the same event, often on more than one occasion in past years; considering it a fundamental reunion of kindred spirits as much as a place to learn new skills for an ever-changing marketplace.
Writing may be a solitary occupation, but you are not alone. Collaboration and cooperation as exemplified at this event are clearly the hallmarks of most successful authors whether traditionally or self-published.
So in summary, whilst recognising that every writer and would-be author has his/her specific annual budget in which to operate; judging how to spend that budget in terms of getting as much bang for one's buck as possible is not immediately clear.
What is clear is that a sizeable investment as in attending a writing conference should not necessarily be discounted out of hand, just because the rewards may take a little longer to come to fruition.
January 8, 2015
ARE YOU CONFUSED BY THE NEW EU VAT RULING ON EBOOKS ?
One thing that you should be aware of is that from 1/1/2015, the VAT ruling in the EU on e-books was changed.
Prior to this date, Amazon added 3% sales tax to your book's net price. Since that date, the ebook buyer's country, not the ebook seller's country imposes their particular VAT % rate.
This anomaly means that unless you manually change your book price on Amazon, you will see different Euro prices for your book in France, Holland, Germany, Italy & Spain. Ironically the VAT in France is only 5% whereas in the other four countries, it is somewhere between 19-22%.
The simplest thing to do is to have a universal Euro price across all European markets even if that means that you make a slightly bigger margin in some markets and a slightly smaller one in others.
For example with my recently published short story collection Impromptu Scribe which was released just before the new EU directive came in (Nov.2014) I have subsequently, since the new ruling, set a universal Euro price of 2.49.
If for no other reason, at least a universal Euro price is unlikely to confuse those European consumers who might choose to shop between different national Amazon stores e.g. Swiss buyers looking at Amazon.de, Amazon.fr and Amazon.it or Belgian buyers looking at Amazon.fr and Amazon.nl
I hope this is helpful in clearing the fog and eliminating the confusion brought about by overzealous European treasuries wanting a larger slice of Amazon's pie :-)
Prior to this date, Amazon added 3% sales tax to your book's net price. Since that date, the ebook buyer's country, not the ebook seller's country imposes their particular VAT % rate.
This anomaly means that unless you manually change your book price on Amazon, you will see different Euro prices for your book in France, Holland, Germany, Italy & Spain. Ironically the VAT in France is only 5% whereas in the other four countries, it is somewhere between 19-22%.
The simplest thing to do is to have a universal Euro price across all European markets even if that means that you make a slightly bigger margin in some markets and a slightly smaller one in others.
For example with my recently published short story collection Impromptu Scribe which was released just before the new EU directive came in (Nov.2014) I have subsequently, since the new ruling, set a universal Euro price of 2.49.
If for no other reason, at least a universal Euro price is unlikely to confuse those European consumers who might choose to shop between different national Amazon stores e.g. Swiss buyers looking at Amazon.de, Amazon.fr and Amazon.it or Belgian buyers looking at Amazon.fr and Amazon.nl
I hope this is helpful in clearing the fog and eliminating the confusion brought about by overzealous European treasuries wanting a larger slice of Amazon's pie :-)
December 15, 2014
SHORT ON XMAS GIFT IDEAS ? STUCK FOR VACATION READS ?
Short on gift ideas for Xmas ? Stuck on what vacation reads to choose ? Why not try Impromptu Scribe ? A fictional short story collection that fits the bill on both counts, priced at just US$0.99 (Thursday 18th-Sunday 21st December only) available here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJRFYHE and from Amazon sites worldwide.
December 14, 2014
SHORT ON XMAS GIFT IDEAS ?
Short on Xmas gift ideas ? Impromptu Scribe for just US$0.99 only from Thursday 18th - Sunday 21st December. Get it here or from other Amazon sites worldwide: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJRFYHE
November 3, 2014
'Words in the Wind' - excerpt on Goodreads
A short story - 'Words in the Wind' - from the Impromptu Scribe collection was recently published in the November issue of 'Revue' magazine and is now available to view on Goodreads. Just click on the 'read excerpt' link below the book's thumbnail image.
October 16, 2014
'Impromptu Scribe' now available for 'Pre-Order'
My new fictional short story collection 'Impromptu Scribe' is now available to pre-order as a Kindle edition from all of Amazon's worldwide sites, and will be available for delivery on November 1st. 2014. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJRFYHE
