Inside the Mind - S C Hamill

I started writing to learn how to use a computer because when I went to school there were no computers, or at least they were in the dawn of creation.

My latest book, Pip and the World Beneath Our Feet, is a story that looks at the hidden world just beneath us, and the tiny creatures that help keep our planet alive. It follows Pip, a curious little ant who starts to wonder what difference one small ant can really make. As he explores the world under the forest floor, he begins to discover something amazing: ants aren’t just small insects going about their business, they’re actually essential to the way forests grow and survive. They help spread seeds, enrich the soil, and keep nature in balance. Along the way, Pip meets new friends and learns a lot about teamwork and curiosity, and he begins to understand that even the smallest actions can have a much bigger impact than we think. In the story, The Eco Band also hear about what ants are doing for the planet and set off on a forest adventure to meet Pip and thank him and all ants everywhere. It all leads to a joyful celebration and even a special song about these tiny creatures that quietly help run the Earth. What I really wanted to do with this book is help children see that nature is full of hidden heroes. It’s educational, but also fun and adventurous, and it gently shows how important teamwork, curiosity, and caring for the environment really are.

I usually don’t create characters from scratch in a completely deliberate way — they tend to grow out of real life in quite an organic way. A lot of my characters are built from little quirks and traits I’ve picked up from people I’ve met over the years. It might be a mannerism, a way someone speaks, or just a personality trait that sticks with me. I sort of collect these details without even realising it, and over time they find their way into different characters. Sometimes it’s even just a name that lodges itself in my mind. For example, I came across the name Arlington many years ago, and it just stayed there, almost waiting for the right moment. I didn’t force it into anything, but when I was working on Saving Eden, which is an eco romance. I suddenly knew I needed a specific kind of middle name for a character. I went to sleep thinking about it, and the next morning, Arlington was just there in my head, fully formed and ready to be used. With my children’s books, it can be a bit more playful and instinctive. The themes are usually about nature, animals, and the environment, so characters often come from that world. For instance, I had a friend whose dog was called Pip, and that name just felt perfect for a curious little character, so it naturally became part of Pip and the World Beneath Our Feet. Living in Scotland also influences things, names like Hamish feel familiar, grounded, and full of personality, so they often find their way into my stories too. In the end, it happens in lots of different ways. Sometimes it’s observation, sometimes memory, sometimes just a name or idea that sticks around for years until the right story comes along.

My writing day is rarely a traditional or structured one. It really depends on my other responsibilities and when inspiration shows up. I also work full time as a home carer, supporting elderly people who are living with infirmity, mobility issues, and various health conditions. That job is very hands-on and can be physically and emotionally demanding, and because of that, my writing has to fit around it rather than the other way round. There isn’t a set “9 to 5” writing routine for me. Instead, I tend to write in the gaps. Early mornings, late evenings, or whenever I find a quiet moment during the day. A lot of it also happens mentally first. I’ll often be thinking through ideas while I’m working, travelling, or doing everyday tasks, and then I’ll sit down and try to capture them when I can physically find the time. I also write music and songs, so creativity comes in different forms for me. Sometimes an idea starts as a lyric or a melody, and other times it begins as a story idea or a character moment. I don’t really separate them too rigidly. It’s all part of the same creative flow. Because of that, I don’t force a strict routine. I write when I can, and when ideas arrive. Some days that might be just a few notes on my phone, and other days it might be a longer stretch where I can really get into a story. It’s very much about making the most of whatever time I’m given.

The most rewarding part of being an indie author for me is really the sense of creativity and connection that comes with it. I like the feeling of having taken an idea or something that might have started as a small thought, a character, or a moment of inspiration, and turning it into a complete story that someone else can actually enjoy. There’s something very special about knowing that what I’ve created can be picked up by a reader and bring them a bit of joy, imagination, or curiosity. On a more personal level, it means a lot to think about my grandchildren reading my books. That’s a huge part of it for me. The idea that these stories are something I can leave behind for them, something they can enjoy and maybe even remember me through. That gives the work a deeper meaning beyond just writing. And then there’s the physical side of it as well. Actually holding one of my own books in my hands for the first time. That feeling of accomplishment is hard to describe. After all the time spent writing, revising, and putting everything together, seeing it as a real book you can turn the pages of is incredibly satisfying. It makes all the effort feel very real and worthwhile. Overall, it’s that combination of creativity, legacy, and achievement that makes being an indie author so rewarding for me.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my writing journey has definitely been all the technical and practical side of self-publishing, rather than the actual storytelling itself. Grammar and pulling everything together into a polished final draft was a real learning curve at the beginning. It’s one thing to have ideas and write a story, but it’s another thing entirely to make sure it reads smoothly, is consistent, and is properly structured from start to finish. That part took time and patience to develop. Formatting was another challenge. Learning how to prepare a manuscript so it actually works as a book, whether in print or digital form. There’s a lot more to it than people might realise, and it can be quite fiddly getting everything to look right on the page. I also had to learn how to create my own book covers, which was completely new to me at the start. Trying to design something that captures the feel of the story while also looking professional enough to stand out is not easy, especially when you’re doing everything yourself. And then there’s promotion, which is probably one of the hardest ongoing challenges as a self-published author. Writing the book is one thing, but getting it seen and finding your audience is a whole other job in itself. It takes a lot of time, consistency, and persistence. So while the creative side of writing is what I enjoy most, the technical and promotional side has definitely been the steepest learning curve.

I wouldn’t say I rely on any particular specialist writing tools or apps, not really. Over time I’ve tried quite a few different things to see if they would make the process easier or more efficient, but I always seem to come back to something very simple. In the end, I mainly just use a standard word processor and the built-in spell checker. That tends to be enough for me to get the ideas down and keep things moving without overcomplicating it. A big part of my process is really about the writing itself rather than the tools. I do like playing around with language, though. Finding more interesting or varied ways to say things so the writing doesn’t feel repetitive. For example, I try not to rely too heavily on phrases like “he said” or “she said” in dialogue. Instead, I’ll look for natural alternatives or ways to show tone and emotion through the action around the speech. For me, it’s less about having fancy software and more about keeping the focus on clarity, rhythm, and making the story feel engaging on the page.

My main advice to new or aspiring indie authors would be to keep things simple and focus on actually finishing your work. It’s easy to get caught up in all the extras. Formatting tools, marketing strategies, cover design, and so on. But the most important thing is getting the story written and completed first. You can always improve and refine things later, but you need something finished to work with before anything else matters. I’d also say don’t be too hard on yourself in the early stages. Writing is a learning process, especially when you’re self-publishing and doing everything yourself. Things like grammar, structure, and formatting all improve with time and experience. Every book you write teaches you something new. Another important thing is to find your own voice and trust it. It’s easy to compare yourself to other writers, but every author has their own style and way of telling stories. Leaning into that makes your work more authentic. And finally, persistence really matters. Being an indie author means wearing a lot of hats, and there will be challenges along the way. Especially with promotion and getting your work seen. But if you keep going, keep writing, and keep putting your work out there, you build momentum over time. At the heart of it, though, I’d say enjoy the process. If you’re writing stories you care about, that passion will come through in the work.

Book promotion as an indie author is probably one of the hardest parts of the whole process, and I don’t think people realise just how much time and money it can take. I personally find it very challenging. If you try to do everything yourself, it quickly becomes overwhelming and you end up spending so much time on marketing, posting, contacting people, and trying to get visibility that it can feel like there’s hardly any time left to actually write. And for me, writing is the part I enjoy most, so that balance is difficult. The financial side is also a big factor. Promotion can get expensive very quickly if you’re paying for ads, services, or tools without a clear return. As an indie author, you’re often working on a budget, so it’s important to be careful about where that money goes. Because of that, I think one of the most practical approaches is to try and find someone reliable who understands book promotion and can help manage it for you within a reasonable budget. Even a small, trusted promo person who knows what they’re doing can take a lot of pressure off, allowing you to focus more on the writing side while still getting your work out there. At the end of the day, it’s about finding a balance. You can’t do everything at once, so it becomes about choosing where your time and energy are best spent, and for me, that’s always going to be the writing first.

What’s next for me has actually been quite a busy mix of projects, all happening at once. Over the past three months I’ve been balancing my full-time work as a home carer, caring for my mother, and finishing off the Bobbi and the Beachcombers two-book series. That project was quite involved because it wasn’t just the writing. I also wrote and recorded five songs for each book, along with videos to go with them. It’s been a very creative but very full-on period. Out of that process, I created The Eco Band, which started as part of those books but has now become something I’m continuing to build into other projects as well. I’ve actually managed to integrate them into more books, where the storytelling and music come together. One of the new books I’m particularly excited about is Hamish the Clumsy Hedgehog and the Hedgehog Highway: Adventures Along the River Clyde, which also features The Eco Band. It continues that idea of combining nature-based stories with music and adventure, which is something I really enjoy developing. Alongside the books, I’ve also written four new songs under my music name, Hallgreenboy, and I’m currently in the process of releasing them on streaming platforms and uploading the accompanying videos to YouTube. So at the moment, everything is a bit of a creative overlap. Writing, music, and video all feeding into each other, and I’m just continuing to develop and release work as ideas come.