Riley Amos Westbrook's Blog, page 50
March 15, 2016
My Hunting Song
I’m always amazed by the power of words.
When shall the sun be rising here?
How long must I keep postponing
my apocalypse, the promised rebirth?
Do these beads of sweat mean a thing?
The moral compass of the world
is all over the place, old age
decays, while wide eyed Innocence
falls in love with Fraud and Deceit
and Empathy is cruelly drowned
in blind gratifications of the Self!
As the heavens are pushed by space and time
and the whole universe expands,
I sleep for eighteen hours a day
and go hunting for my staple words at night!
.
Filed under: Musings
Bearded Dragon
New (to me) photo blog! Y’all should check it out, some beautiful pics on here. I really like how he captured this bearded dragon.
Here are a few shots of an inland bearded dragon provided by ‘Teaching Talons’ (www.teachingtalons.co.uk) an exotic animal awareness company who’s aim is to transform the way children and adults alike see the natural world through edutainment.
© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2016]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Filed under: Musings
Day 37 of 90: The Game #SupportIndieAuthors #ASMSG #IAN1 #IARTG #Inspiration
I keep hearing people worried about the future of publishing, and of authors in general. I’ll admit, I started writing thinking of sharing my story with the world. I planned on it being an instant hit, and me making tons of money from it. I thought a publisher would pick it up, all on the strength of the story. I wouldn’t need to do any looking, they would find me.
Now I know better. That isn’t to say that you can’t be an overnight success, or that you shouldn’t dream, quite the contrary. But even those overnight successes put in the work. They wrote the book, they planned the story, they had a plan for what they were going to do.
I’m learning that being an author is a very deliberate process. If you aren’t willing to do the work of marketing and pushing your work, or pay someone else to do it, you’re not going to make it. If you’re not going to keep writing that series you started, you’re not going to make it. In order to win this massive lottery of pop culture, you have to play the game. If you don’t, there’s no way for you to win.
Some people say they don’t want to play the game. What they don’t understand, is you’re born playing it. The moment you crawl out of your mother, your own personal game starts. It’s up to you to decide where your character goes, what kind of person you become. Are you going to look on the world with cynical eyes? Or are you going to observe with a naivety that would put Maxwell Smart to shame(Don’t know who he is, Google is an amazing tool.)
Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 14, 2016
Day 35 & 36: Damn Power Outtage #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration
I wrote this yesterday while the power was out, and continued it this morning as a two days in one spread. Just a couple issues I think need to be addressed, because people are going to people.
Why is everyone so threatened by having a place where they can’t just rip on someone? As most of you know, I help moderate a Goodreads board, Support Indie Authors, where we try to help authors, both new and old, to find the tools they need to help spread the word about their books. We don’t have a lot of rules, but there are two in particular that are ignored, and I don’t understand why.
The first rule, no bookwhacks, is supposed to help limit the amount of drive by bookings we have where someone joins, drops their book, and never looks at the group again. It’s not 100% successful, but we have managed to have a lot of authors that participate in conversations versus trying to sell their books to others. However, there’s always that one guy…comes in drops their book, says read me, and then you never hear from them again. I don’t understand this thinking, do you really think this is going to get people to read your book? You have to interact! You have to show an interest and willingness to help others! Just dropping your book like that is a good way to get ignored by people that might otherwise have given you a legitimate chance.
Afterall, which are you going to read, a book from a random stranger that posted on a message board but has no other interactions with you? Or someone who has helped/asked for help and you have some interactions with that person? Part of this is related to the “Great Review Experiment” of 2016, so I’ll go much more in depth on this at a later date.
The other one is, “No Negativity”. People seem to have the biggest problems with this rule. They say, “You’re doing a disservice to other authors by not telling them their work stinks! Tell them it sucks and maybe they’ll get better!”
I don’t understand this line of thinking either. There are tons of places on the internet where you can bash your fellow writers at will. You can insult and name call all you want. Heck, if it really bothers you, you can buy their book and leave a review that is scathing. Your opinion is your own! But what’s wrong with trying to set up a place where authors can receive constructive feedback in a positive environment?
That’s not to say you aren’t entitled to your opinion. You are, and we don’t want to take that away from you. But if sharing your opinion has you calling someone a hack, or saying they have to do something like get an editor or a professional cover designer, these are not constructive feedback. Offering specific examples in a private message is usually best for cases such as this, if it really bothers you that much and you can’t say something nice.
Saying, “Your font blends in too much with the background and I think the colors could pop more.” Is different than, “You cover sucks! Font is wrong, colors are wrong, do it again!” See, one offers constructive feedback with helpful opinions not filled with dripping malice and spite, while they other may drive someone away from writing for good.
Too often I still see authors looking at others as rivals instead of the allies they could be.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 12, 2016
Take me to church – and back (5).
Allerlaatste loodjes aan de opbouw van de expo ‘Er was eens Niets’.
Zaterdag 5 maart, om 19h30, de vernissage. Iedereen welkom.
Filed under: Musings
Day 34 of 90: Fimuk #SupportIndieAuthors #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #Inspiration
I don’t give a crap what you think. I mean that in the best way possible. I’ve been told plenty of times that I’m an upfront a-hole, I tend to dig myself holes that are difficult to recover from. It’s like I suffer from Insert Foot Into Mouth Up To The Knee Syndrome, or FIMUK.
I have the most unenviable timing, and tend to speak before I think. I tend to find writing in the written word much easier to communicate my thoughts. Not for any reason other than I can put whatever I want, and if I don’t like it, I can take it back.
Try doing that with words. Much more difficult, if not impossible. You can never unsay what you have said, the best you can do is apologize for it.
Even the written word isn’t immune to this inevitable position. Something you write is going to upset someone. The way you meant words are going to be misinterpreted by others, you need to prepare for this as an author, and back your preparations up with proper research. Or you can ignore the chafe, and continue to create your own lore. We’re all writing our life legends one day at a time.
Is there anything we can do about time’s perspective of us? I know that positions on personal issues continue to change on a daily basis. What’s alright today maybe taboo tomorrow. What was taboo in the past, is well on its way to becoming the new norm.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 11, 2016
Day 33 of 90: Change #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors #Inspiration
I hear it takes fourteen days to form a habit. Fourteen days, and it all starts to come together.
While you might struggle to remember or start the task to start, by the end of two weeks you should find it much easier.
That is to say, things get easier with time. I believe this is true of almost everything. As I continue to write books, I’m finding it easier and easier everytime. The words flow, versus having to rip them from my brain.
When I go back to edit, I notice fewer mistakes. Time matched to my imaginary musings, with the determination to succeed, is leading me down a path. What lies at the end of the trail, I don’t know. I do know I’m ready and waiting with an open mind to find out.
I’m learning that even insurmountable obstacles are easy to conquer with time, and an unwillingness to bow under the pressures of the day.
There are plenty of people who will look to drag you down, don’t let them. Instead, remember that some people are just assholes, and others have bad days, don’t let their insecurities and stress drag you to their level. Rise above it.
Keep your head held high, and live life like the world is your toy. Someone is bound to notice you if you don’t follow the crowd. That’s how change is started.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
March 10, 2016
March 9, 2016
Day 31 of 90: #Inspiration Origin #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors
Where does inspiration come from? How do you start to build an entire world, populate that world with different people, express those different personalities and views all while coming from your own perspective? You live life. You go out and experience a sunset, you stop to smell the flowers. You let the wind rustle the leaves overhead, and listen to their beautiful music. Or you crank up your favorite tunes, and take the story where you will.
There’s a million different ways to draw on inspiration. Mostly it involves doing something that relaxes you, puts you in the state of mind to write and see your work be read. Some people it’s as simple as staring at videos of cats on the internet, to others it’s listening to their favorite television show while they work. Another person will drink themselves silly. The point is, relaxing. I’m not saying you can’t write under stress. Some of your best writing could come at a point of crisis specifically because you’re at a crisis. With emotions heavy in your mind, your writing may convey an aspect that you want with greater authority.
Every writer has a different way they write, a style or plan that leads to their voice coming through in their works. Like how I view mine, they are characters on a role playing board. I literally picture the old style D&D maps in my head, and plan where I want my characters to go. I plan their actions, or leave it random to the gods. The only thing I know is the general direction I want the story to go. The tone, the mood, the world should be conveyed in your writing, and it makes it easier for me to slip into old style habits.
Whatever your ritual is, it’s best for you to own it. Just as the saying goes about other people’s trash, what works for one person may not work for another.
Filed under: Musings, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Reviews, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
