Justin Pyfrom's Blog, page 42

Fun in Hell’s Kitchen

This week has been very busy and I’ve been loving every bit of it. However, I have to address something very important.

First and foremost, my deepest heartfelt sympathies and condolences goes out to everyone effected by the senseless act of violence that occurred at the Las Vegas Strip. It’s been documented as the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history surpassing the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. This reason. THIS REASON RIGHT HERE why there needs to be gun CONTROL in this country. Screw what the NRA says. We need it and they know it. I don’t know how many more attacks our country needs to take before they get the picture

*exhales* Now, on to a brighter topic.

We start with my copyright finally coming through the halfway point of its process. Now, the only thing I have to do is mail the Copyright Office two copies of my book and I’ve completed the process and I can give my producer buddy the green light to do this thing – which, in turn, will allow me to talk about his project. My buddy found it kinda funny that I may have to buy two copies of my OWN books to send to the Copyright Office.

Along with that, I am having a ball at NYCC (New York Comic Con) and we’re only at the halfway point. I’ve already taken around 100-150 pictures and I’m trying to maintain a steady goal of 50-75 pictures a day before putting them all on Facebook and Instagram. I kinda don’t want to flood the Instagram News Feed with loads of beautiful cosplay so I’ll probably just upload my favorites along with reuniting with friends.

I also got to enjoy various panels that strengthen my abilities to character build as well as designing more compelling stories for comics. Maybe I might venture back into comic book storytelling when I mean someone who matches my ambition but, for now, it’s all about learning the craft and opening my mind.

Finally, I got to talk to a buddy of mine who gave me the most profound words of advice regarding my writing. He cited that I’m going a good job and that my utter frustrating in my progress is a good thing. It means that I truly care about my craft and only want to see the best in my work. But he also gave me a stern warning: To expect more frustration in the near future. Makes sense since I’ll be working on more series and other projects and I continue to venture down this path. It’s was very insightful.

All and all, at the halfway point, I am having a ball and I’m slowly feeling the post-con depression coming in…I don’t want it to end.

Relaxation Among Gamers

Sorry about the late entry. I got caught up with hanging out with my friends and playing some games and completely forgot about my blog entry. But, alas, it shall get done.

This week has been nothing but fun and excitement for me. Friends continue to show support and admiration about me following my dreams – finally. Most of them found the stories to be really dark but expected nothing less from me when writing short stories. However, surprisingly, a few of them was expecting the stories to be darker. I guess I’m going to have to show me how dark I can be in my next installment of Dimensions. Just remember…they asked for it. Ha ha ha

Now, I haven’t been doing a lot of story outlines because I’ve been working on my buddy’s project for his production company. It was actually pretty nice to give script-writing another chance. Plus, this time around, I got to learn how to write a proper script via books at the library. That’s right. I’m that bloke that still goes to the library; I like the silent and occasional solitude. Plus, there’s just something about the atmosphere of such a building that makes me smile.

Also, I have been catching up on some of my video games collections. I recently beat the first installment to the Fire Emblem franchise and I’m becoming more of a fan as I continue to play each installment. The aspect of permanent death forces me to think before I move and plan everything out before executing it; it’s something I apply to my life and my career because, like in the game, there are consequences to not thinking ahead. I mean, I can still be impulsive from time to time but, when it really counts, I plan everything out before executing the first step.

I’m also, finally, making some headway with Horizon Zero Dawn. I bought the game on its release day but shelved it since I wanted to beat the games I already have. But, oh my goodness, it’s so worth it because it’s absolutely beautiful!!! I spend about half my time admiring the scenery and the intriguing focal points within the main story. Furthermore, I so love the dystopian future regarding the rise and usage of machines. This game is going to take me a while to beat. I can guarantee you that. Ha ha

Finally, I have been getting myself ready for NYCC. I don’t cosplay because it’s not my cup of tea but I LOOOOVE seeing other people’s take and feel on various characters in the sci-fi, comic, video games and various other pop culture. I can’t wait to see what cosplay I will encounter this year along with creating more memories and forging more friendship. But! I shall report about my expectation and hope around the convention.

Ambition Float, Too…

First thing first, anybody who has admiration for the horror movie genre and/or Stephen King should different go see IT. The movie is a remake of the American-Canadian supernatural horror drama miniseries that aired on ABC in 1990. And I must say this version is ten times better than the original; this is no small feat. I tip my hat to the team between this version. Especially Bill Skarsgård. He played the role of Pennywise to perfection and I’m pleased that he’s coming back for the sequel. What makes it better was that I was watching American Horror Story: Cult almost immediately watching the movie so, safe to say, I had my full night of terror. Watching such brilliant horror films and shows, I have created a great appreciation for the genre and it was a nice to get a legitimate break from my writing regimen.

 

Now, nightmares aside, I did have to return to my regimen but not in the way you would think.

 

I was given the task of writing a script for an indie production company that my buddy runs. The purpose was for him to have a tv series to his name since he’s already have small commercial and an indie film to his name. Interesting enough, I already have a script for a 10-episode season written out three years ago from a previous project that fell through the cracks due to the lack of ambition from the team who hired me.

 

Now, I told him that I’m not really attached to the script so he can keep it. However, he seems really adamant about me sticking with him on the script/series growth because he has a good feeling about this. So, I told him that I would increase my involvement in the project after I copyright the series. It makes sense since the series is based off one of my stories from my book Dimension: The College Years. Finally, and more importantly, he made me promise him not to talk about the project in great details until actual progress has been made. Which means, the only thing I can say is that I’m helping a friend with a potential indie tv series.

 

Honestly, I’m excited about the project but I’m not holding my breath on it. It’s mainly because I’ve been a part of enough “failed” projects to grow pretty numb to the process. Therefore, I’m always going to have writing book as my PRIMARY focus to my career path. I mean…I’ll perform some scriptwriting duties but only if I KNOW the project is going somewhere. Let’s call it being professionally cautious.

Swimming Through New Waters

It’s beautiful how helpful people becomes when you’re venturing into my writing career. All week I have been given so many advices and suggestions about how to proceed with my path. Rather it’s advice about marketing and promoting or just general story ideas, I have been blessed to hear so many people who are willing to give their wisdom and knowledge.

One gentlemen, a buddy who’s in the production, was gracious enough to give me advice on how to market and promote my current and future book release without spending too much money. He called it “The Broke Man Marketing Strategy” and found it to work about 80% of the time so I will have to give it a whirl when I get to Ohio.

Now, the best form of information came from my delightful bloke from the Green Line Café. This café is in Philadelphia that I strongly recommend visiting. The food is simple but delicious and the coffee, along with the other beverage, are wonderful – both caffeinated and non-caffeinated. Plus, it’s affordable and the atmosphere is so lovely and QUIET!!!! I got so much writing done within two weeks and I’m mortified that I only learned about this brilliant place when I’m about to leave Philadelphia. Such sadness…

Oh! Back to the “best form of information”:

The LGBT+ series is having me dive into fields that I’m not too familiar with. As gay man, I am completely aware of the woes that surrounds me and my friends under the L, G, and B community. However, I’m not too familiar with the terrors and woes that troubles the transgender community. Truth be told, I wasn’t even aware of the problems that the community up until I read about the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. (Laverne Cox is a wonder!!!) This gave me the idea of making one of the main characters a Caucasian gay transgender man thus beginning my research on the topic.

And, as you can imagine, I began to have a bit of a hydra problem. Every time one of my question was answered, I ended up have two new questions pop into my head. This led me to an individual who was pleased to hear about my new series and advised me to seek out and interview people of the trans community. That way, I can the character more realistic and relatable to the public. He was even willing to talk about his experience as a Trans non-binary man and everything he had to deal with in his life – both good and bad. As a bonus, he educated me on “talking” and “addressing” the community when conducting interview and listening to stories. I must say, I think I made a new fan…or, at least, an intrigued one.

Afterwards, I visited the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania and was invited to a speaking event among the transgender community. (Something I’m really excited about!) I was forewarned that this approach would be far more professional than “bum rushing” an individual for an interview. Just like me and my community, they’re just as guarded.

I’m still going to write the outlines for one side of the series (the crime side) but I won’t write the other side (the trans man’s side) until I get sufficient enough information to make him three dimensional. This series is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!

Working Progress

This week has been pretty crazed with talking about my book’s (Dimensions: The College Years) release to various entities and individuals. Combined that with the overwhelming support and love from my family and friends, you could imagine how lifted my heart became in such a short period of time. Though the book is growing at a steady rate for an amateur author, I should admit something: I’m not particularly satisfied with the stats of the first installment in the Dimensions series.

My brothers and my close mates understood completely. They told me that I was trying to achieve so many in such a little time. To be patience and proud of my progress so far. Basically, to take the time to enjoy the accomplishment rather than speeding by it. I have a little problem with understanding the aspect of “enjoying the moment”. Ha ha ha

Now, after three days of “enjoying the moment”, I felt the need to get back to working on the next installment of the Dimensions series. But, this time around, my writing schedule is going to put into overdrive for the next few months because I’m going to be working on the outlines for the next two installments of the Dimensions series and the official synopsis of my LGBT series.

For the second installment of Dimensions, I’m pushing for an earlier release date – maybe Spring 2018. This time around, the eight stories are going to follow a common theme among movies. I’m also working with a fellow writer for the third installment of Dimensions; we’re just deciding on the theme and subtitle for that installment.

Now, the LGBT+ series, I have the main characters and the synopsis of the “Season One”. The only thing that’s becoming a problem is Amazon’s unofficial policy of creating episodic novels. They’re mostly concern with customers complaining about being “cheated out of their money.” What’s funny about it is that they actually love the idea of constantly updating the book. They just don’t want the customers/readers – both old and new – feeling cheated for buying the books at different time frames. So! I may be forced to release a full novel as oppose to my original plan of a chapter/episode a week. Hopefully, I can figure something out before the end of the month.

Finally, I’ve also been working a couple of individuals on a few marketing campaign and strategies for my current book after my move to Ohio. However, before anything, I want to make sure that I become part of the appropriate community and guilds. The main goal is to maximize my exposure to the public without breaking the bank; it’s a very interesting process. Still though, I have to say…this journey is going to be a splendid one.

Start of Something New

So, my first book (Dimensions: The College Years) was released to the public via Amazon. The process took nearly eight months to complete due to a wide variety of reasons but, nonetheless, I am overwhelmed with pride and joy that I have finally have a completed project under my belt thus effectively beginning my career path of a writer. Or author, which ever one you prefer to use.

Now, while the book is complete and released, you can’t expect me to stop at just one book, right?

Of course not. I am already working on the second installment of the Dimensions series that will be a little darker than the previous installment. I’m also taking an avant-garde approach as I’m working on a LGBT series but I need to get approval from certain channels before continuing.

Please, as I am following to begin regularly blogging my life and progress as a writer, check back regularly to see how my series is going and what fresh ideas I’m coming up with along the way. Also, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and my Author Central Page (Amazon) – all listed at the bottom.

Twitter: @DimensionAuthor

Instagram: jpyfrom

Author Central Page – amazon.com/author/justinpyfrom