Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 58

Dribs, Drabs, and Newslings

Phew! Coming off a very intense “get thine house in order” weekend. My plants are complaining a bit. My dryer busted, too. Feh. It’s too hot and my greenery, save the jalapeno plant, is not liking the humidity. See also: I think my carrots are ready to be pulled up, but I have NO idea if that’s true or not. My endive is looking fairly pathetic, like a scribbly-scrawny green mutation. I’m thrilled my mini rose bush is doing well, but then again… Not sure what to do *next* with it. Will it survive through the fall? I do not know, though I would like to get some purple flowers to off-set the yellow and orange I have — because pink is too girly. [Insert nerdy rant about how pink used to be a boy's color and it changed for marketing-related purposes.] Where’s Captain Planet when you need him?

Anywho, it’s been wands a-flying there this morning. I’ve added some panels for my Geek*Kon schedule and am starting to prepare for my GenCon events, including a reading, panels at the GenCon Writer’s Symposium, and signings at the Margaret Weis Productions booth. I’m really excited about the release of the Exclusive and am happy to see a lot of speculation about it. We posted a sneak peek last week and that’s gotten some interesting commentary. After that, it’s wrangling all the details for my trip to WorldCon in October.

We’re experiencing an unnatural (as in: hot enough to fry eggs on a sidewalk) heatwave, which means I’ll continue to hide in my house. I wither and shrivel up like the Wicked Witch of the West when it’s too hot. Cold’s more my thing. Well, the Fall — provided we get a “true” sweatshirt-and-shorts season. With hiding, comes the inevitable movie catch-up. I saw Anna Karenina which was a stunning, underrated film. This was spectacular.

And then I saw Upside Down. It was awful. Just… It wasn’t just the non-existent science bits, the romance wasn’t believable, because the starring pair were never not in love. They were separated by memory loss and obstacles, but there was nothing internal that they each had to overcome. Love at first sight made this movie impossible to pull off, because when two characters are already at that starting point and are then separated (but don’t necessarily feel the pain of that) when they get back together, there’s nothing gluing them to the viewer. There’s no tension, no conflict. It’s just: “Meh.” And don’t get me started on the gravity of the… Um… smexx0rs.

In other drabbles, there are many fine games which were nominated for a 2013 ENnie Award. Those announcements went live today and Rimward, which is a game I contributed to, was one of them. Congrats to all!

I’ve also had an update on my first comic. (Yep, that’s not going to get old… Is it?) Last Man Zombie Standing will debut as a stand-alone release from Red Stylo Media. I’ll get the specifics on the date soon. But… Yeah, no pressure. NO PRESSURE. GAH!

That’s all from me today. I’ve got to get back to the dread. office. cleaning. [Insert Booooooooos here.] I need a clutter-free space because a waterfall of words is coming on. When I get like this, you can set me up with a caffeine IV and forgive me for muttering around the house to myself. It’s time to kick all my creative projects into overdrive. Boo-yah.

Mood: Gorramn it. I hate being trapped inside my house because it’s TOO hot.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Not enough. (Rectifying quickly.)

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Select, Start

In My Ears: I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Changing the channel in 3… 2… 1…

Game Last Played: *coughs* Candy Crush. Otherwise known as the time-sucker.

Book Last Read: Shadow something or other. It’s a re-read. Studying, yo.

Movie Last Viewed: The Arrival. Yep, it’s Charlie Sheen on normal.

Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures…

Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology and for gaming, a fun Scion: Extras (Supplemental Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasion Scions)

Because Calisthenics Are Gentler

I’ve been on the hunt for period books from the nineteenth century, and I came across this little gem. The Girl’s Own Book was written by Mrs. L. Maria Child and was first published in 1834. Applewood Books has a ton of period historical tomes ranging from cookbooks to this one, which is essential a book of manners with a lot of social commentary attached. I’ve got a copy of the The Boy’s Own Book ordered and on the way.

There is a ton of information in this like poetry, basket-weaving techniques, gardening, games, and exercises. There’s also a lot of illustrations that serve the “how to” aspects of the guide. Here’s an example:

“CALISTHENICS. This hard name is given to a gentler sort of gymnastics, suited to girls. The exercises have been very generally introduced into the schools in England, and are getting into favour in this country. Many people think them dangerous, because they confound them with the ruder and more daring gymnastics of boys; but such exercises are selected as are free from danger; and it is believed that they tend to produce vigorous muscles, graceful motion, and symmetry of form.” — SOURCE: The Girl’s Own Book

For context, the first YMCA was a volunteer-run organization that started in London. In the U.S., according to the YMCA website, centers didn’t open until the 1850s. And, even more remarkably, a freed slave by the name of Anthony Bowen opened up a YMCA in 1853, which predates the Civil War by eight years or so.

So why are these things important? By piecing together different facts, I am building a sociological narrative that I can tweak and apply to my fiction. Or, in other words… I don’t want to bend my rules of worldbuilding without knowing where I can break them.

P.S. Geeking out about a book for cartoonists from the 1920s. This was a reference for Walt Disney. Hee.

Mood: Procrastination station. Really don’t want to clean the house, but…

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Eh. Not sure if I want to go there.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Up, down. Up, down. Up, down.

In My Ears: One cat. Snoring.

Game Last Played: Candy Crush

Book Last Read: Encyclopedia of Superstitions

Movie Last Viewed: A re-watch of Tai Chi Zero

Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures…

Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology and for gaming, a fun Scion: Extras (Supplemental Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasion Scions)

Glorious Nachos. A Buffalicious Recipe.

Been a ton of serious-minded posts lately, and I’d like to make up for that by admitting something shameful.

I have a love affair with nachos. GOOD nachos. And, I have found the perfect summer recipe. Cheese in a can is an abomination, a thing to be feared. Powder? UNNATURAL. You truly need to have the right cheese, REAL cheese, and fresh vegetables in order to get your nacho on. Chips must not be soggy or over-salted, either.

(You can see I’ve put a lot of thought into this. Hee.)

With that, comes a summer recipe I’ve created, a concoction of flavors so ridiculously mouth-watering that I could have this for dinner several days straight. I give you…

BUFFALICIOUS NACHOS

White or Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

1 pound chicken breasts

Romaine lettuce (strips)

1/4 c. Buffalo Sauce

Blue Cheese

Carrots (Shavings)

Celery Pieces (small)

Blue Cheese Dressing

Cut chicken up into small pieces and grill. Add buffalo sauce and, while that’s heating up, continue separating the chicken into smaller pieces. You want enough buffalo sauce to coat the chicken, but not so much it’s drowning in it.

On a plate add nachos, then your lettuce. Then drizzle blue cheese dressing across the entire plate. After that, then add the chicken. Sprinkle with your carrot shavings, celery pieces, and blue cheese crumbles. Enjoy!

Mood: *sniffle* It’s allergy time!

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Okay, but not great.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Getting back in the groove today.

In My Ears: My fans

Game Last Played: Final Fantasy XIII

Book Last Read: A book on tarot for research

Movie Last Viewed: A re-watch of Tai Chi Zero

Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures…

Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology and for gaming, a fun Scion: Extras (Supplemental Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasion Scions)

Progress Report #3

I haven’t posted one of these since the end of March, and for that… I apologize. If you’re just following up on these now, the progress reports are to check in and show you what’s up in Monica-land. I’m happy to report that all plates are spinning and balanced appropriately. I may even have a bit of a tan. SHOCKING, I KNOW!

I’m back from CONvergence which is, in my opinion, the best-run convention in the country. There is always something to do whether you’re by yourself or not and folks are very, very friendly. I stayed across the way and that turned out to be the best, possible decision. No standing in long lines for the elevators; very easy to go back and chill if I need to.

The panels went great and I’m very grateful for the fine conversation and company of so many wonderful people. This was a fantastic convention and sorely needed. I’d been averaging somewhere in the neighborhood of four-to-five thousand words per day for almost two months straight, and the break totally recharged my batteries. Thanks, all!

I am still recovering post-con, so e-mail communication is a little sparser than normal as I slog through and get projects done.

Since a lot has happened since the end March, I’m going to give a bullet point recap of what I’ve done. Note to self: provide these updates monthly… Second note to self: no wonder my office is a disaster area.

Games

Scion: Extras – The annual White Wolf April Fool’s joke was an absolute blast to write. I had a ton of fun with this one. After the fact, we provided a Scion style Irusan write-up.
Gaming in the ‘Verse: GenCon 2013 Exclusive – What’s 268 pages and full of Firefly? This limited edition game book is a preview of both the Firefly RPG corebook and Echoes of War, our line of digital adventures that will launch soon. The official release date will be the first day of GenCon. You can order a copy through www.margaretweis.com — you don’t have to go GenCon to get a copy.

I have a number of games and supplements that are in development. The ones listed here are either on my immediate “you must do this now” horizon or the first draft has been handed in.

Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn RPG – Thanks to the fine folks at Crafty Games, I’m able to announce that I worked on the Skaa supplement and handed in my first draft.
Echoes of War: Old Friends In Low Places – I am writing an adventure for the Firefly RPG that takes place on Hera. My first draft is due shortly.
Firefly RPG – Working on the revisions to the outline now and then assignments will be handed out. The writing continues! This will be released in stores February 2014.
Vampire the Masquerade: Red List – I’m partnering with Matt M McElroy and diving into this with bloody abandon. Bloody.

Fiction

I cut back on my short story work in order to focus on long form, which has mightily decreased the size of my list here. Next month, I’ll put little word count bars in so you can see what progress I’ve made.

The Women Who Called Down The Train – This is a Lovecraftian Orient Express story that’ll appear in an anthology. I read the editor’s draft for the first time at CONvergence and the story went over really well. I also received some feedback for the historical and pacing elements of this terrifying tale.
My Compliments To The Tailor – I promised to donate this story to charity, but I’m not quite happy with it yet. I’d prefer to expand it some and I’ve gotten some historical fact-checking back on the Victorian-era voice. It’s just not long enough in my book, and I’d rather provide some value even if it is free.
The Red Door – The novella is 40% done and I hate every damn word of it. I went back and storyboarded it last night. Due to the nature of this story, I have some word lists to build ahead of time.
Traitor’s Masque – Alternately titled “Argentum.” I’m also going back into this and storyboarding certain sections, because I want to make the story tighter and more exciting. Pacing is crucial for this one.

Comics

Last Man Zombie Standing – This stand-alone comic will be available in an anthology called Unfashioned Creatures, A Frankenstein Anthology late this Summer. Want to see a preview? Check out the inks for Page 5.
The Adventures of Lord Lardbottom and Captain Whinypants – I have a few options available to me for comics, and I’m exploring those. My current plan is to get a year’s worth of scripts done for this satirical comic before moving further or finding artists.

Consulting

ROFL! – John Kovalic’s new party game debuts from Cryptozoic Entertainment later this month. I had both hands in this project and it was fun to see it through to completion. Watch for it at a games store nearest you!
Exalted Third Edition Kickstarter – I worked behind-the-scenes as the invisible ninja for this Kickstarter. We ended up just shy of $700,000, which set the current record for the most-funded RPG.

On Words and Role Models

My post-CONvergence update will be a little late, as I have been distracted by allergy medicines and a fog of con crud. Strangely, the two brain cells I have left, are rubbing together on another topic: how writers are role models.

Writers can be cave trolls and never interact with other human beings, but there’s a lot of pressure to blog, be at conventions, go to workshops, etc. What do we blog about? Sometimes our work or lives, which includes commentary on social ills that we encounter. Now, the question is: when a topic, like gender equality, comes to the fore — does that have an effect on fandom?

Yes. Yes, it does. As one example, I overheard several fan conversations at CONvergence while I was lurking in the background. Fans trying to educate a friend who didn’t understand why stereotypes were bad. How sexual harassment can be a problem for guys, too. That they never realized how awful it was for women in different situations. Etc. Etc. Etc. We may be behind-the-scenes, but conversations on heady topics will make fans (and those surrounding us) think. Discuss. Learn. Is it “dangerous”? No, it just means that the writer provides the spark of inspiration and fans will be inspired to think. This, in my opinion, is a good thing, but the depth of conversation depends upon how that topic is presented as well.

From something as simple as “love” to a hateful word like the “n-word,” words are containers that carry weight. It is not censorship to suggest to someone they should think twice about what words they’re using. Why? Because the expression of words is a gift. You are giving words to someone who will receive them, interpret their meaning, and assess their value.

As an example, you can’t walk up to [Insert Very. Famous. Author. Here.] and say: “Dude, your book sucked. Can’t see why anybody would waste money on it.” and not expect a reaction.[1] What would you expect the V.F.A. to do? Shoot back with something witty? Or tell you to write a book of your own? You were being rude and that comment has a consequence.

I know we’d like to think that writers are wordbots who sit at our computers all day, then don skin suits to be out in public, but we’re not. We’re very human and when fame hits us, in any context, we deal with it in different ways — in part because we’re not trained to be celebrities. Being a celebrity isn’t just as simple as having fame, it’s also a job. Suddenly, there’s that feeling of having less freedom. We don’t get to “be a asshole” or “act like a bitch” because we have an audience that’s relying on the gift of our words. The greater connection to our audience (e.g. the internet), the less “free” public figures are.

When a V.F.A. says something like “striped socks are evil” and it’s taken in a negative context, it’s because the audience isn’t receptive to that statement. The V.F.A. should expect consequences. Those words are a point-of-connection from reader to writer and it doesn’t matter if that author wrote a great book or not. Some people will care what was said; others won’t. But, the fact of the matter is, it’s the human-to-human connection that’s influencing decisions here — not just the human-to-inanimate object (e.g. book).

And that, dear reader, is what I feel freedom of expression means. It’s not just about what you say, it’s also about how the listener incorporates the meaning of your words (both semantic and litera) and responds with words of their own. Or, in other words, say whatever it is you want — but be prepared to deal with the consequences both positive and negative.

[1] I wouldn’t try that on any author. I employed the power of the V.F.A. to support my later point.

Mood: Dude, where’s my wordcount?

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I SHALL NOT REVEAL MY STATE OF CAFFEINATION FOR FEAR OF IMPRISONMENT.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I think my eyelids fluttered once or twice.

In My Ears: Touch by Daft Punk

Game Last Played: Final Fantasy XIII

Book Last Read: Can’t remember the title. I blame con crud.

Movie Last Viewed: Some Disney crap with singing in it. (I fell asleep.)

Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures…

Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology and for gaming, a fun Scion: Extras (Supplemental Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasion Scions)

Business 101: On Screwing Up

And here you probably thought I was going to tell you about places to find work, eh? Where you look for jobs depends upon what you want to write and how. So, for me to cover that in a single post, well… It’s very possible I’d give you incorrect or not-as-useful advice.

So why am I talking about mistakes? Because this is very rarely addressed, but it happens often. You WILL screw up. You WILL piss somebody off, miss a deadline, bail on an anthology, go off the rails at a fan, sign a bad deal, work for less than you’re worth, and talk shit or complain to the wrong person. It’s just going to happen. Why? Because you’re a human being, not a pre-programmed cyber-author who does what you’re supposed to at all times. The only way you’ll learn what works for you, where the boundaries of what you will and won’t do, can and can’t do — is to do it. Not read about it. Not buy a book. But to actually do it.

Have I screwed up? Oh, hell yes! These moments stand out to me (like they would to you). But, they’re not a reflection of all the things I did right.

Now, your flavor of self-worth is going to vary based on your experiences and your personality. I will tell you, that I advise against dumping every, single part of you into your career as a writer with the expectation that you will “make it” some day. As I stated before: that success is not a guarantee. I would strongly encourage you to have a support network who’s not connected to the industry and engage in hobbies that are off the computer. I understand that conventions are part and parcel to being a professional writer, but throwing every aspect of your life into this will backfire on you and skew your perspective, much like being on the internet all day does as well.

Is it difficult to address grievances? Yes. They often don’t get resolved overnight and your issue may never get sorted with certain people. I’ve worked with a lot of people from all corners of multiple industries and there are folks who remember slights from twenty years ago. Twenty.

I don’t want to be that writer. It’s exhausting and I’m more interested in finding readers, doing the work involved, and building a support network than dealing with negativity. There are people I find it difficult to work with because I don’t believe in the pecking order and I have zero tolerance for plagiarism. (The perceived pecking order can cause people to do and say really stupid shit.) I have learned through trial-and-error to ask questions up front before deciding whether or not to have a vested interest in a potential partnership or engagement. And, it’s worked. For the most part, it has worked and I’m very glad the issues I had were early on in my career.

The thing is, the more problems you encounter, the more time it takes away from your core competency, and the more money you lose. Knowing you’ve screwed up and addressing those issues quickly are crucial to moving on quickly to something else. That’s the secret, folks. I’ve found that if you address what pops up in a timely manner, your workflow will remain healthy.

That’s all the time I have for this week. I’m off to a convention and my attention is being pulled away toward other things. If you have questions about anything I said, post ‘em below!

Business 101: Deciding What “X” Is

Over the past few days, I’ve been talking about core concepts to help you figure out how you want to develop your business. Yesterday, I talked about your core competency.

Today, I want to talk about why you want to be a writer, but not from an emotional, super floofy perspective. Why? To be validated? Recognized by your peers? Or do you want something else, to be like a particular writer, to live life on your own terms, get an award, etc.

It doesn’t matter to me what it is you want, but I will reiterate something before we get into talking about goals, and that is: the so-called pecking order is based on social interactions, perceptions, and personalities — but not on the reality of how well folks do (or don’t) in their career. That success, and how to achieve it, is subjective. As long as YOU are happy with what YOU’RE doing, that’s the only person that really matters here. Then, you don’t have to worry about what anybody else thinks and you can decide what works for YOU.

Or, as someone else put it yesterday, have your own agency. It will be 10,000 times harder for you to figure out whatever it is you want to do, though, if you don’t have a clear goal in mind. Those goals can evolve, but you won’t be able to achieve milestones or create a plan without them.

Here is a list of sample goals for you to consider:

Prestigious Awards
Industry Membership
Increasing your per word rate
Getting on the NYT best-seller’s list
Signing with an agent
Getting a book deal
Offering to be published by “x”
Making a certain percentage of your annual income off your work
Increasing your daily word count
Switching genres
Writing every day
Learning a new form of writing
Getting optioned
Writing a book series (instead of a single novel)

Now, the thing is, a number of these goals are outside of your control. But, knowing what you want means that you will set smaller goals to work towards that, or you will unconsciously research what needs to happen in order to put yourself in a position where those goals are likely to happen.

That’s the thing about publishing. There is no guarantee, but you can help yourself by knowing what you want and working toward that possibility. Luck favors the prepared — and to be truly prepared it really is a three-part forum of knowing what you want, working toward that end, and then placing yourself in positions where that opportunity is most likely to either happen or be presented to you to take advantage of that.

The “guarantee” part is why there’s so much angst, drama, and negativity. It’s really not due to how awful people are. There are MANY great people in the creative industries on ALL levels. When bad shit happens or crap is being flung or writer punch down or sacrifice others, it’s because the security of being a full-time writer is always in question.

That’s enough to drive anybody mad, mad, mad. And this is why I’m saying: know this up front, and find a way to work around it.

Business 101: Building Core Competency

Today, cats and kittens… I am going to talk about your core competency. No, this is not about your platform persay. This is about what service you are going to perform, what Art you will create, that people will spend money on.

Take a deep breath. Okay? Seriously. Here are some things to consider when you’re figuring out whatever it is you want to do underneath the umbrella of “writer.”

No amount of internet popularity will do you a damn bit of good unless you have something to back it up. Oh my stars, can we stop with the plugging the same book over and over and over again? Really, folks. If you’re reading this post, then you’re probably concerned about building a business. You absolutely cannot write the one book, throw it up on Amazon.com, and call it a day if you expect to pay your bills off of—

—what, exactly? Now, I know that some of you are very concerned about Facebook likes, Twitter followers, etc. Ten years, ten years of ecommerce and online marketing later, and I can tell you this is a trap. “Celebrity,” in terms of writers, means different things to different people — but it’s not a guarantee that you’ll find/get work or have people buy your books because people perceive you are popular. For your career, consider that popularity is determined by book sales, not necessarily by online chatter or awards. What I’m suggesting, is that you take a peek at your business from the foundation, not from the top floor which is marketing and publicity and the tactics you can take to boost your own signal.

This is where I see most new writers go wrong, because you fall into the trap of believing everything you read, because you don’t see the marketing that writer/person is doing to you. Then what happens, is you think that in order to sell books and get work, you have to start marketing right out of the gate. If you do not have a core competency, this removes time away from learning and can work against you when you have to deliver. Writing advice? Most times, this is marketing — especially if that person has novels or other works to sell. Yes, I’m a consultant as one aspect of my business, but I’m also not out there pounding the pavement for that every day. That is not what I want to be when I grow up but rather something to fall back on.

What is it that you do exactly? Short stories? Press releases? Novels? And what is it that people are buying or hiring you for? Ah, grasshopper. Here’s the conundrum, right? Because new writers don’t “get” to write a novel and make enough to earn a living right out of the gate. This can happen, it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen to you. Even then, writing novels as a core competency requires a different set of skills than short stories or press releases.

Say you want to build a career off of short stories. Okay, let’s say it takes you one week to write, revise, and polish a 3,000 word story. You still have to sell that, and that doesn’t happen overnight. Now, if you get the minimum rate, which is five cents a word, you’ll earn $150 before taxes. Let’s assume there’s a two week turnaround for rejection and you sell 40% of the stories you submit. So of those 52 stories you write in a year, you sell twenty of them. Math-wise, this now equates to a whopping $3,000 before taxes.

Of course there are variables and levers to push and pull, but the reason why I talked about the example above is because I’m trying to show you that building your core competency may not be enough to earn a living. (This is why I opt to have diverse income streams and work on multiple projects. Other writers feel pressured to write more and publish frequently for precisely this reason, to make more money.) Even if you become known as a short story writer, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be rolling in the dough. Over time, you can resell your stories depending upon what rights you own or you can open up a small press — but self-publishing isn’t a guarantee either. You need to sell a LOT of copies to even earn out that first $150, and believe me, the average self-publisher is not making that much on their short stories, not even their novels.

I recommend that your core competency should be built around skills like:

Productivity – How many words can you write? Of those words, which are publishable on average? What’s your writing speed? Revisions speed?
Discipline – You must write because you have to, not because you want to, and not when a magical spirit muse shows up.
Quality Control – Revisions, research, drafts, etc. You know your own process best. Even if you self-publish, you are doing yourself a HUGE disservice if you don’t proofread and spellcheck your work.
Flexibility – Your book gets canceled, the editor’s role changes, your payment is delayed. When plans go awry, can you maneuver and adjust?
Resource Management – This is about survival. Can you make those hard decisions to do what needs to be done? Do you have resources available to you that you can rely on when the worst thing happens?

I feel that competency should then be developed around what you want to be when you grow up. Assign percentages to what you can do to earn money as a writer ranked according to what you like doing, what you don’t, and what jobs you can get. If you want to write novels, then build your core and long-term goals around writing novels.

The thing is, though, is that you have to figure out how in the heck you are going to be able to earn money while developing that core competency. I cannot tell you how many working writers I know who don’t write novels full-time (myself included at the moment) because it either doesn’t pay enough, or writing the damn thing takes time out of creating something else that’s earning you more money.

Obviously, earning out on a novel (or several of them) and building a career doesn’t happen overnight. Bills come every month. Healthcare is NOT cheap. Kids? Families? Friends? It all adds up and it’s not as simple as “make the time.” Sure, that’s true, but if you have a healthy business going, then anything new that comes in should be weighed against your long-term and short-term goals.

By having a clear picture of “this is what I do,” then your goals are measurable, quantifiable, attainable. Without that core concept, though, it’s very hard to determine what “x” is.

Tomorrow, I’ll talk about sample goals for short-and-long term career paths.

Business 101: Day Two a Chat about Appearances and Fandom

Okay, so yesterday’s post about Smashing Assumptions was published early due to a WordPress snafu. Apologies for that! So now I am ahead of schedule.

Today, I’m going to talk to you about appearances and how they impact your business. I’m going to start with an anecdote. Oh, shit. (Deep breath.) Here goes:

It’s GenCon in Indianapolis. The year is around 2004 or so. I attend the GenCon Writer’s Symposium. Never freelanced before, but I have demoed games. On Saturday, I am dressed in a full on goth outfit: shock red hair, shiny latex pants, tight T-shirt, high-heeled combat boots. (Epic, I know.) I am walking down the halls of GenCon to avoid traffic with my new boyfriend, Matt. There is a mechanical spider in the hallway. Meaning… No, really. Somebody created a mechanical spider. From scratch. I squee. MASSIVE BRAIN POWER, YO. Ask to see it. Bend down. Lift back up and a name badge is now the first thing that I see.

It’s Timothy Zahn. I am staring at his chest.

I stand up and am now extraordinarily, painfully aware of said garments. Folks, my ass was shiny. No matter, I attempt to own it by acting like a professional. I think I’m doing all right, and then my primordial brain takes over:

“Dumbass. This is Timothy Zahn. You’ve read how many Star Wars extended universe books? Your childhood was defined by Star Wars and The Muppets and PBS, etc. you idiot. Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was how important to you? This is the guy who’s in charge of YOUR CHILDHOOD, coordinating with dozens and dozens of people to ensure that great stories are being told and shared, to preserve this amazing legacy. He must be a super-genius! Now’s your chance! Be bold! Be brave! Be—”

It took all of… What? Ten seconds for me to say… “Um, can I write for Star Wars?”

Do-dee-doh.

Okay, so this situation ended… poorly. I chose poorly. I had an “in” and it closed. Quickly. Why? Because I became “that fan.” I am now part of the masses, the proud and the free, who always ask the same question in the same way. And? Worse? I forgot the most important thing: this is not Timothy Zahn, the Star Wars managing editor who can get me something standing in front of me. This is Timothy Zahn, the human being.

Keep in mind, I used to interact with celebrities often via a casual photog event that I created, and I came to understand it’s a “job!” (I was also in a rock opera for two years, too!) And now, ten years later, when I had the opportunity to pitch through the appropriate channels, I did… At the same, precise moment that behind-the-scenes corporate mergers were happening. Ergo…

I’m not certain that Timothy Zahn will remember me. I tend, sadly, to have hoof-in-mouth disease. (And yes, I act like a total idiot in front of people I admire because I am trying like hell not to be “that fan.”) I may be a professional, but I still dissolved into a pile of goo when I met Harry Turtledove last August — and my default nature is extraordinarily sarcastic and pointed. So, my coping mechanism is attempting to err on the side of polite with total strangers until they’ve had enough. For the first six months I worked with Steve Jackson from Steve Jackson Games, I kept calling him “Sir,” until he told me not to.

I have never written for Star Wars. OBVIOUSLY. But? I’m now writing for Firefly and managing an entire team of people for this game. I am working with NYT best-selling author Margaret Weis. She’s edited me and I’ve done the same for her.

Today’s first lesson is: fans become professionals. My friends, this should blow your minds because this means that people, just like you, become those you most admire.

*waiting to let that sink in for a minute*

Margaret Weis… Oh, this talented lady. She’s a HUGE Firefly fan. Did you know that? Huge. There is so much love here, so much passion. But, here’s the difference between what Margaret Weis does and a regular fan. Wait for it…

Business and experience.

Margaret has been amazing to work with not because she agrees with everything I say. (She doesn’t, by the way.) But she gave me an order, a vision she had, and it’s been up to me to fulfill that based on my expertise. I check with her often, but working with me, she understands that I am doing what she asked for in the context of the business realities. I am perfectly blunt with her. I don’t tell her what she wants to hear but, at the same time, I am polite, professional as much and as often as humanly possible.

Let me repeat this, because it’s important:

1) I don’t blow smoke up people’s bits just because that’s what they want to hear and

2) I don’t meet people to “get” something out of them. That, my friends, happens all the time and it is [F-bomb] rude and, at times, wholly sociopathic and manipulative.

Meet people because you want to meet them, not because you’re thinking about what assets they provide. By treating professionals like human beings, you will get to know who’s who and work with the people that are a better fit for your personality and your goals. Not only will you present yourself in a way that doesn’t put folks on the defensive, you will also build longer-term relationships. You may work alone, but people in general are key to your survival as a human being and as a professional.

If you do not know what you want for your business, the best way to find out is to talk to people. Listen. Ask questions. I did! I knew [F-bomb]all about being a full-time novelist outside of my writing group and the gaming industry. Why on earth do you think I went to WorldCon? To get work? NO. To find out what being a novelist was really like by talking to different novelists. And I did. I got a damn, good picture out what the industry was like and I’ve incorporated that into my short-term and long-term plans. I also connected people I knew on an acquaintance level and sold somebody else‘s book. LMAO!

You will get the assignments you desire, you will get invitations to sell your stories, and… AND… You will wake up one day and realize you have a network of people you can talk to, ask advice from, and continue to do the work. You cannot do this if you are an asshole and if you know everything. FFS, when you’re just starting out? YOU DON’T. You cannot do this if you are desperate, either. Why? People talk. Assholes are known quantities. Desperate fans are known quantities.

Instead, the people who keep getting work, who will build a career, are the ones who know this: it takes years to build a career as a successful writer and even then success is subjective and not a guarantee. To some, I am a failure because I don’t have an original novel out and I haven’t sold the movie rights or gotten an award or am internet famous. (Accusations that have all been leveled at me, by the way.) To others, I am a success story because I keep getting work, I put out quality on time, and I get paid.

Appearances boil down to opinions. You have an opinion of yourself and that will reflect in your appearance, and will resonate throughout your business. It really is that simple. If you believe yourself to be incompetent, that’ll show. If you think you’re not qualified, that insecurity will also come across. This is not “book release jitters” by the way. Everybody gets those. This is full on “I’m not sure if I can do this!” freezy, uppy panic that prevents you from writing, revising, polishing, and selling. The hand of publishing will NOT come down and bless your brilliance. You need to make shit happen. Seriously. Those unconscious cues you’re giving off will affect how other people see you even if it’s just an e-mail.

Instead, believe that you belong where you are, that you have every right to be among those who write full-time — and then do it. This is now your job. Don’t “fake it until you make it.” FFS, I haven’t faked anything in my damn life since… Well, one day I’ll tell that story. But, not now. I was twenty-nine. There. You have a reference. “Fake it until you become it.” Or, better yet, pretend you are a very. famous. author. Adapt their habits. Do what they do, but keep yourself grounded. (When in Rome…) Some people can pull off arrogant asshole. Most can’t. New writers? Not really an option for you, because there’s plenty of shit-talkers out there. You still have to prove you can do the work and you haven’t had the chance to do that yet. Then again, I would never advocate erring on the side of asshole — that’s on the bottom, baby. That’s where people sit.

The trust Margaret has placed in me was earned, people. She may have hired me, but that didn’t mean she was going to automatically hand over the keys to her company. She didn’t. I worked my ass off (and my team’s ass off) to ensure that I over-delivered. I had MASSIVE shoes to fill, considering how much she adores Cam Banks and the volume of game books this man has put out. Still…

Business. We have certain things we have to satisfy because this is a license with 20th Century Fox. We also have certain processes we need to undertake, and I have to get books out on time. This is now on “me,” not on Cam. Meaning, I have to do the work in order to get paid. All b.s. aside, it’s back to that, to the same thing every other effing person out there is doing: writing, revising, putting shit out on time, and getting paid.

By telling you these anecdotes, I hope you’ve come to understand lesson number two. Business is not the soul-sucking corporate machine you think it is. Get that out of your head. I don’t care what you’ve been taught. I don’t care what your experiences are. If you want to truly be successful in any aspect of the creative industries, understand that fans become your boss. Business is the vehicle, the underpinnings by which YOUR stories and games are produced FOR readers, fans, etc. Business, my friends, is about building relationships with people in a manner that isn’t overly familiar or condescending.

This is why appearances matter.

Let’s talk about that. Let’s have a chat, you and I, about how appearances and demeanor really make a difference in the day-to-day. Do you think that if I was a right, foul, arrogant git that I would have gotten the jobs I did? If I got swept up in drama, gossip, rumors, if I drank and slept with people I went to cons with, that I’d have a snowball’s chance of doing what I do?

No. I get a continuous line of work because I am vigilant, but I also keep my distance. I ensure that I book work three months out, typically, and I know what words I can produce and what I can’t. I also get work for the following reasons:

a) I can do the job in a timely fashion

b) I am a reasonable person to work with

c) I produce quality work

d) I don’t overcharge

e) I will go out of my way to make things right if I screw up

f) I’m not an arrogant asshole

g) I’m not desperate

h) I’m not overly familiar with people I don’t know very well

i) I add value because I understand business and

j) I don’t throw a public temper tantrum if things don’t go my way.

This is why appearances matter. It’s not just about becoming “as well known as” your favorite writer, it’s about writing and revising, then selling copies of books. If getting work is about presenting yourself as a sane and reasonable human being, to make a connection where someone will either hire you (or buy your work), then selling copies of your published books is about getting readers or, in my case, readers and gamers.

That, my friends, is the other side of the appearance coin. It’s not just about how you present yourself to potential hires. It’s also about how your audience perceives and interacts with you.

Here’s a secret I learned from author Laura Anne Gilman: Anyone can be a potential reader. Think about that for a second. How does that apply to what you’re doing? If anyone can be a potential reader, then… Anyone can potentially buy your book, and that makes them a customer. Does that mean you need to shove your book down their throat? No, not at all. What this does, is give a face to your audience. It gives you the opportunity to write for someone other than yourself, your family, or your critique group. Write for that perfect stranger or ideal fan. I do! By doing so, by trying to satisfy the undefinable “them,” you won’t get caught up in personal b.s.

That’s all the time I have for today. Yesterday’s post and today’s screed should blow a lid off of any magical thinking you might have. I know this might be a lot to deal with, but the rambly-ness was important to get out there. Tomorrow, I’m going to talk about figuring out your core competency and offer you some questions.

If you have questions, post them below.

Over and out.

Business 101: Smashing Assumptions on Day One

This week, for five days or so, I’m pulling back the curtain and blogging about what you need to know from a business perspective as a new writer. I’m a little punchy, because I’ve been seeing so much b.s. not related to the nuts and bolts about the business of writing, so please forgive me if I come across as blunt and overly comma splice. These posts are not going to talk about administrative-related piecemeal crap or “theories.” This, quite frankly, is about a word I understand very well — survival. Not everybody can be a writer full-time or make a career out of it. That is totally fine. That’s why I’m blogging this week, because if you’re ready to make that decision, then these are the questions you need to ask yourself.

Today’s post is very important to understand where I’m coming from in my business philosophy. Every business has one, whether you see it or not. There is no one way to run a business and, for everything that you could be doing, there’s another example of someone who was successful doing the exact opposite. These are my opinions on the subject, and no doubt you have yours. Good. Own them, but put them into practice. Otherwise they are just theories, and thinking does you no good unless you actually go forth and do.

On to the assumption-smashing!

Agents are not satanic worshippers who sacrifice new writers at the gilded altar of publishing.

If you go the agent route, look at that person as somebody you want to enter a business relationship with. Don’t worship them. Don’t stalk them or be pushy. Don’t expect that they owe you anything, either. Listen to them. Respect them. Follow their guidelines and ask questions. At the same time, return e-mails as appropriate. You may decide not to seek out an agent and that’s okay! This is one of many business models. This does not mean you’re right and they’re bad, though. Different does NOT equal bad. Different is just different.

Publishers are not six-horned beasts with eight toes who drink your blood and suck you dry.

Publishers are business owners. Some are good at running a business; others are not. These business are large, medium, and small. To trust that the publisher will automatically do everything in your best interest is foolish. Let me be very, very clear about this: you can have faith, yes, but you cannot build a business based on your expectations about what other people should be doing for you. At the same time, being overly skeptical or nervous about basic business practices like contracts and the like will send up a red flag. When you get a book/story published, you are entering a business agreement. This is not your first born child you’re sacrificing here. This is about selling your work for money. Dinero. Soldi.

Anyone can be a writer.

I hate semantics, but I had to put this one in here. Yes, anyone can be a writer – as long as you write to get paid. Being a professional writer means that you are either providing a service, by freelancing, or you are selling your finished work to a publisher or publishing it yourself. There are multiple business models out there with a variety of levers to push and pull, but in the end: the goal is to earn money through your business either full-time or part-time.

Any model you choose or build should serve your core competency as a writer who wants “x.” That “x” could be a dollar sign or number of copies sold, but bottom line: “x” is career-related. If you’re in this for the long haul, then “x” changes. Maybe there’s a new “x”. Maybe you raise the bar or remove it completely. Either way, “x” isn’t about achieving the one goal and quitting. It’s about the milestones you achieve to build your career.

I don’t need to make money as a writer. I’m creating Art!

Okay, then. Well, you’re probably not the writer who needs to read posts about building a business. The process of creating Art is separate from selling it. If you only want to create it, that’s fine. Just don’t shit on any other writer who feels differently than you do.

Only writers who write “X” are real writers.

My answer to this statement is usually an eye roll. I’m very good at them. :-p

I can post whatever I want online and not experience any consequences.

Bullshit. Yes, it’s true: we’re all human. The more people get online, the more common certain behaviors might be, the more social pressures you’ll encounter, but silent judgments are always occurring. Never mind the legal implications of what you post online, bias is a fact of life and it’ll never go away. Posting about your long, laundry list of medical ailments, begging for money, revealing the intimate details of your sex life, always being negative and reactionary about rumors/politics/etc., attacking other writers, being so desperate for attention that you have to give us the sordid details about your personal sob story…

Folks, if I’m pissing you off, slow down for a second. People do read what you post and either stop reading or make an instant assessment about you. New writers without a proven track record are not treated or viewed the same as established writers. Do you really want to come across as someone who can’t get their shit together? If you’re applying for a day job, the answer would be: “No.” Then why the hell would you present yourself in a way that gives people a reason NOT to work with you or buy your work? If you tell people you’re broke, you come across as desperate. Then? The offers you get will be lowballed. After all, you’ll sign any deal on the dotted line. You’re broke. You’ve broadcasted that… And now you’ll continue to be so.

I wrote my first book and it’s a guaranteed best-seller. I write better than [insert famous author here] and you should be privileged to publish my masterpiece.

Let me be blunt, because if you’re reading this, you probably have dreams. So, allow me to crush them by saying one word: no.

To end today’s post, here’s a breakdown of this “No!” point-by-point.

1) Bragging leads to buying your own bullshit. When you’ve got those blinders on, then you make really terrible decisions for yourself and your business. I’ve seen this happen all too often, sadly. Have some amount of pragmatism and find a way to remain grounded. This is not the same thing as letting success get to your head. This is full on “I’m a very successful writer” delusion territory, even though you aren’t making any money. That’s dangerous.

2) Agents, editors, and publishers are inundated with people who make broad, sweeping claims – all of which can now be researched by a click on the internet. It’s just not possible to make shit up anymore. The rapid speed of communication and the way people are super-connected to one another, especially in this industry, means that if you talk smack you will get caught.

3) Even if your story is that good? You still have to find a way to sell the book. If it really is that good, it’ll sell itself. Focus first on the story, not on the fact that YOU wrote the story. Marketing comes later.

4) You will not sell every book and story you write. You cannot sell every word. At times, you will suck and you will need to revise. Own it. This is the unsexy part of being a writer.

5) Your first book usually blows. I say “usually” because this obviously isn’t always the case. There are exceptions, but this is not the rule. Laugh. Rip it up. Delete it. (I did!) Write the next one.

6) The only way to get better as a writer is to write, and that takes time. I’ll be talking about time this week as a stand-alone post. This one… Oh, you may not like that one in particular. But, it must be said.

7) Success can be desired and dreamt about, but you will starve if you bank on what you haven’t sold. Pay your flipping rent and put food on your table. If you aren’t selling enough to pay rent and eat, then get a job. Your health and safety are important. You may be able to write anywhere and cheaply, without a ton of equipment, but take care of yourself. Sheesh!

8) You cannot predict what will be popular and will go Cthulhu-crazy if you do. I’ve tried to analyze books after the fact, but that’s after the fact. BAD MONICA! See also: before I knew what the story was about, I thought 50 Shades of Gray was a book about graphic design… The moral here is: the market is unpredictable and publishers are always operating way ahead of you. The trick is to always have a polished story to sell — one that you’ve loved to write!

9) Quality is subjective. I have unsold stories like every other writer out there. Sent a story to a publisher who has two editors. One loved it, the other hated. The “No” won out. This has happened to me twice. Besides quality, there are other factors that influence buying decisions. Good stories don’t always get published according to YOUR schedule. Sometimes, it takes a while.

10) FFS, write like yourself. Writing like Stephen King or Nancy Collins or whomever means you’re writing like them. You’re not writing like you. Have some flipping pride in yourself and in your work. Readers will make that comparison – DON’T DO THIS TO YOURSELF. The only way you can write like you? WRITE. Just [1,000 F-bombs] write.