Andrew Seiple's Blog: Transmissions From the Teslaverse, page 8

Battle Rhythm

There's a rhythm to this whole writing thing; at least for me, there is.

First few weeks on a new book, I'm finding my way along, moving at half speed, building up steam. Getting the intro right, working on the outline as I go, and tasting it.

Then I get great guns into it, and the weeks roll by, until I get to the end. Then it's the last ten percent or so all at one go, and boom. Manuscript's done. Out to the betas, then a quiet celebration and editing as soon as it comes back.

Then comes release day, once everything's in order and the editing's done. But for a week or three afterward, I'm dazed. Can't stand to write until I get my head on straight.

The time comes when my fingers start itching, and that's when it's time to get going again. Start on the next big project, or work small filler projects until I'm clear for the big one.

Figure I've got another week. Then it's time to get back in the saddle again. Maybe less, if things go well.

Every writer has a different rhythm to them, this I know. The trick is to learn your own. Once you do, everything gets a heck of a lot easier.

Createspace and the coming shift

For a couple of years now, Amazon Createspace has always been my go-to for making print books.

Oh, it's not perfect; formatting can be a pain until you learn the idiosyncrasies of the template, and it's fussy about the cover images that it accepts. Also, the ISBNs that used to cost me $10 went up to $99 last year, thanks to a deal with Bowker running out or something like that.

But honestly? Once you learn the quirks and compensate for them, it's still one of the best source of POD books for Indie authors. Sure, there's also Ingram Spark/Lightning Source, but from what I've seen, they're more complicated and require more money. Not a lot more, but enough that Createspace is the better bargain.

I might feel differently about them if I wanted more customization for my books. I view IS/LS as the advanced mode. If you know you're going to sell a ton, and are willing to put a few more days of work in on'em, then it might be a factor.

But as it is, Createspace is simple, cost-effective... and makes pretty darn good book.

Print books aren't a huge seller for me. Figure they make up two percent of my profits in online sales. But the ability to get them shipped to me at cost means I can sell them at conventions and turn a small profit. Usually it's enough to pay for the books and the conventions, if I'm lucky.

But it's a marketing vector I wouldn't have covered otherwise, and it also lets me donate books to libraries for another method of attack.

And I got to hand a signed copy of my first to my Dad, and watch his reaction. That's a lot to me.

Now Createspace is being phased out, so they say. Amazon KDP is picking up the slack. But... they don't have full capabilities on their paperback creation yet. They don't offer proof copies, or print author-bought copies at cost.

Someday they might do that. Until they do, it's Createspace all the way.

Dire:Wars is out!

Been a long winter! But I've not been idle, and the proof of that is out at Amazon now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WVPXBP7

This is where Dire really begins to step up her game, folks. Check it out!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go and get started on the next book...

Still alive

Still alive, still here. The newest Dire book is out to my beta team, and its editor. Still waiting on the cover art, too. So there's not much to talk about at the minute.

I'll have a bit more to say next week, after the I.C.E convention. Until then, be well!

Next Dire Book on the horizon... and convention events, too!

Evening, all! I'm happy to announce that the next Dire book is undergoing beta reading right now! Expect her to drop in March... possibly February, if the stars align.

In other news, my convention and events winter season is shaping up nicely.

February 18th, I'll be at I.C.E in Dayton ( https://www.facebook.com/events/18166... )

At the end of March I'll probably be holding a small book signing/meet and greet at Urbana University.

And the first weekend in April, I'll be attending the Gem City Comics Convention. ( http://gemcitycomiccon.com/ )

There may be another event or two in there, I'm still sounding out possibilities. But this should make for a pretty full season.

Stay warm, be well, and may politics never touch your life...

Turns out that sometimes the only limitation you have is you

One of my New Year's resolutions was to try and write faster. I'd been going along at one thousand words a day, and that did pretty well for a while... but coming into this year, I thought I could do better.

I decided to up it to a 1500 word a day minimum and go from there.

Twenty days later I'm steady at two thousand words a day, sometimes a bit more. Have been keeping it up for a couple of weeks, now.

You never know what you can do until you try. Never get too comfy, always test your limits. You might pleasantly surprise yourself.

Maximizing Effort in Accordance with Time

The deeper I get into self-publishing, the more the elephant in the room rears its head.

Simply put: There's not enough time to do every aspect of this job in the best manner possible.

So what you do, is find the best possible use of your time, that provides the most quality for your effort, and you maximize that.

Sounds simple, yeah? But a lot don't learn that. They don't figure out what their strengths are in time to figure out how to play to them. So a lot get fed up, frustrated after a book or two, and move on.

I'm still figuring out my strengths, and will be for years. But the basic message I seem to be getting is the same maxim I learned from Stephen King's book years ago. Usually, you're better off writing; there's no substitute for butt-in-seat time.

So if you're a starting writer, or one who isn't satisfied with their stuff to date... keep at it. Sit down and write. Make the time. Make yourself do it, get it done.

No substitute, and no excuses!

New Year, and much work to do...

2016 was a hell of a ride, huh?

Good for my family personally, for the most part. But man, a lot of celebrities bit it.

And Trump's president.

So, I said I'd avoid politics here and I'll keep trying to do that, but depending on how it goes that might be really, really difficult. Just sayin', expect an angry rant or two if things get overly nuts.

In other news, the fourth Dire book is about a third done. We're aiming for a March release there, though that's going to be up to other people's schedules, so... tough to say.

In all, I want to write and publish three Dire books this year, and have time left over for either a new series or a new standalone. Also going to try shopping an MG manuscript around to trade publishers, so wish me luck there. It helps that I've got no time limit on this one... I can keep writing self-publishable stuff while shipping the manuscript around. If it takes a year or two for other people to get their heads straight, that's fine.

Wellp, back to the grind. I'll let you guys know if anything interesting comes up for me...

Christmas Card freebies!

...not your traditional ones, mind. I'm doing a giveaway, to promote my new boxed set.

Long story short, I've had the cover art broken down into individual tarot cards. Three of them, to be precise, three different designs. They're pretty, and you can check out a picture on my facebook page.

I want to give them to loyal readers, as thanks for a thoroughly Dire year! So if you email me with the following info, I'll mail them to you in the next week or two.

I'll need the following stuff in your email...

1. You'll need to say "I saw this at Goodreads! Gimme some cards!" Or something like that.

2. A mailing address.

It's that simple. Email 'em to

andrewseiple@andrewseiple.com and give it a few weeks.

I have fifty sets to give out to Goodreads followers. Hope you're one of them! After they're gone, you'll need to catch me at conventions if you want a set.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Holiday Rush

Still here, still alive. Just busy with holiday stuff.

Don't have too much to say just yet... but you might want to watch this space, because I'm planning a Christmas gift for my readers. I'm sorting out the last few details now, and should have things ready to roll within a week or so, if things fall my way...