Aaron Polson's Blog, page 11
March 27, 2012
Seven Deadly Sins... Er, My WIP
Jarmara Falconer was kind enough to take me to different place with this meme. I'm terrible about tagging others, but I don't mind sharing 7 lines starting at line 7 from page 77...
From Badlands:
...including the couple walking on the other side of the lot, until he slammed the passenger door shut. He pressed his sweaty palms against his jeans.
The couple, a man and woman in their mid-forties, had stopped to watch.
Ryan took a breath.
The woman tugged on the man's arm. The man didn't move, his eyes fixed on Ryan.
"Had too much to drink," Ryan said.
"Is she okay?"
No, she isn't. And Ryan isn't either, but I haven't sorted that end yet.
I'm terrible about tagging others, so let's just say the seven dwarves are on my list. Go!
From Badlands:
...including the couple walking on the other side of the lot, until he slammed the passenger door shut. He pressed his sweaty palms against his jeans.
The couple, a man and woman in their mid-forties, had stopped to watch.
Ryan took a breath.
The woman tugged on the man's arm. The man didn't move, his eyes fixed on Ryan.
"Had too much to drink," Ryan said.
"Is she okay?"
No, she isn't. And Ryan isn't either, but I haven't sorted that end yet.
I'm terrible about tagging others, so let's just say the seven dwarves are on my list. Go!
March 26, 2012
I am Alive?
I haven't gone a week without some sort of blathering blog post in nearly five years. Five years.
I missed blogging, slightly, but I've been busy--I wish I was busy writing the great American (horror) novel, but I haven't.
My grandfather passed away on my birthday. He was 97, so it wasn't exactly unexpected, but all the same... death is always sad. We had to adjust spring break travel plans and come home a day early from our little trip to Omaha (zoo, water park...) My mother-in-law stayed with us for three days (breathe...) I got a new job (guidance counselor at the same school) And my Amazon KDP account was blocked.
Ouch.
I'd had a few books for sale under pseudonyms which were compiled of material from my years as an English teacher. Evidently, these were considered "freely available on the internet". Amazon warned me once and blocked a book. Three days later, my account was shut down. I've received nothing but form replies to my queries.Form replies never answer very specific questions.
Me? Bewildered. Sad. Frustrated. Maybe I was a little too ambitious, but I really didn't think anything I was doing violated the TOS. Of course that TOS is slightly ambiguous in parts. I would have unpublished all of my books and started from scratch had I enough foresight, but alas... I didn't.
Amazon, here's a plea from me to future independent authors: Please complete a more thorough review of books before allowing them to be published (you suggest 24-48 hours, but most books are up within 12). Every book you took issue with had been for sale for weeks (if not months) before I had any indication I'd stepped over a line (a line I continued to step over with no warning).
What do I do now? Find a publisher for my books?
And keep writing. Keep writing.
Roadblocks are just roadblocks. There's more than one way to Omaha.
I missed blogging, slightly, but I've been busy--I wish I was busy writing the great American (horror) novel, but I haven't.
My grandfather passed away on my birthday. He was 97, so it wasn't exactly unexpected, but all the same... death is always sad. We had to adjust spring break travel plans and come home a day early from our little trip to Omaha (zoo, water park...) My mother-in-law stayed with us for three days (breathe...) I got a new job (guidance counselor at the same school) And my Amazon KDP account was blocked.
Ouch.
I'd had a few books for sale under pseudonyms which were compiled of material from my years as an English teacher. Evidently, these were considered "freely available on the internet". Amazon warned me once and blocked a book. Three days later, my account was shut down. I've received nothing but form replies to my queries.Form replies never answer very specific questions.
Me? Bewildered. Sad. Frustrated. Maybe I was a little too ambitious, but I really didn't think anything I was doing violated the TOS. Of course that TOS is slightly ambiguous in parts. I would have unpublished all of my books and started from scratch had I enough foresight, but alas... I didn't.
Amazon, here's a plea from me to future independent authors: Please complete a more thorough review of books before allowing them to be published (you suggest 24-48 hours, but most books are up within 12). Every book you took issue with had been for sale for weeks (if not months) before I had any indication I'd stepped over a line (a line I continued to step over with no warning).
What do I do now? Find a publisher for my books?
And keep writing. Keep writing.
Roadblocks are just roadblocks. There's more than one way to Omaha.
March 15, 2012
Happy Birthday to Me (with free books for you)
It's my party and I'll give away anything I want.
Use the following codes for free ebooks at Smashwords (click on the cover for the link):
Code: FF45T
Code: AE44L
Code: RK92P
Code: NV35C
Code: XV89M
Rawr.
Use the following codes for free ebooks at Smashwords (click on the cover for the link):
Code: FF45T
Code: AE44L
Code: RK92P
Code: NV35C
Code: XV89MRawr.
March 9, 2012
Too Many Characters Killed My Story
I finished watching the latest episode of The Walking Dead ("Judge, Jury, and Executioner"). Then... I made the mistake of reading a review on the Huffington Post. I tend to do this sort of thing... so shoot me. And by the way--***spoiler alert***
With all the uproar about poor character development, unrealistic writing (um, zombies aren't real folks--duh), and other belly-aching, I think many detractors of the show are missing a key point.
The Walking Dead suffers from a glut of characters.
Far too many characters for any of us (viewers) to care about. And that's what fiction should do, right? Make us care about the characters. I understand AMC has made a staffing change in the writing department. That can cause issues... sure. Until a zombie eviscerates Dale in the final five minutes of "Judge, Jury, and Executioner", we (the viewers) haven't seen a good ol' fashioned zombie-killed-my-loved-one moment since Sophia disappeared in the first episode of season two. (Let's face it: we all knew she was dead, right?) Let's knock off a few others while we're at it, okay? Cull the herd a bit.
It's only fiction.
The search for Sophia which dominated the first half of season two allowed some serious insight into great characters like Daryl (the most fully rendered of all the characters so far). The wishy-washy debate about Randall's fate has left me with the bitter taste of "I don't care about these people anymore".
And that, dear friends, is when I stop watching.
And no--this post isn't just about The Walking Dead. Every character in every story needs a purpose. If not, they're just in the way.
I keep telling myself that... Maybe I'll start listening.
With all the uproar about poor character development, unrealistic writing (um, zombies aren't real folks--duh), and other belly-aching, I think many detractors of the show are missing a key point.
The Walking Dead suffers from a glut of characters.
Far too many characters for any of us (viewers) to care about. And that's what fiction should do, right? Make us care about the characters. I understand AMC has made a staffing change in the writing department. That can cause issues... sure. Until a zombie eviscerates Dale in the final five minutes of "Judge, Jury, and Executioner", we (the viewers) haven't seen a good ol' fashioned zombie-killed-my-loved-one moment since Sophia disappeared in the first episode of season two. (Let's face it: we all knew she was dead, right?) Let's knock off a few others while we're at it, okay? Cull the herd a bit.
It's only fiction.
The search for Sophia which dominated the first half of season two allowed some serious insight into great characters like Daryl (the most fully rendered of all the characters so far). The wishy-washy debate about Randall's fate has left me with the bitter taste of "I don't care about these people anymore".
And that, dear friends, is when I stop watching.
And no--this post isn't just about The Walking Dead. Every character in every story needs a purpose. If not, they're just in the way.
I keep telling myself that... Maybe I'll start listening.
March 7, 2012
Read an Ebook Week (With Discount Codes)
So it's read an ebook week over at Smashwords, and Belfire Press has offered some nice discounts to celebrate. My novel of ruined men and spooky forests, Loathsome, Dark and Deep is available (along with several other titles) for 50% with the following code: REW50
Check out Belfire's list of other discounted titles, or head over to Smashwords for your own very Loathsome copy.
Happy reading.
Check out Belfire's list of other discounted titles, or head over to Smashwords for your own very Loathsome copy.
Happy reading.
February 28, 2012
Too Many Masks, Not Enough Faces
Many writers express a love/hate relationship with marketing. Smarter people than me have said anonymity is an author's worst enemy. I'd agree. (*shakes fist at anonymity*)
But who is that worst enemy's field marshal? Wearing someone else's mask.
Here's what I mean:
Too many authors, especially indies, are chasing the same brass ring and stomping the same path to get there. Just because something works for an indie juggernaut like J.A. Konrath or John Locke or Amanda Hocking or (insert name here), doesn't mean it will work for me. In fact, I'm likely to fail, and fail epically if I try to be someone I'm not.
Readers appreciate a good experience more than anything. A good experience starts with a good, solid story. "Knowing" an author helps, I think, but it's the icing on the proverbial cake.
My twitter feed is choked with authors saying basically the same thing about their books. Discussion boards are full of the same chatter. Everyone does a blog tour--and while this is a valid way to reach new readers, a blog tour should really try to bring something new and unique to the table. Introduce yourself but be yourself. Whatever marketing one chooses, please, please be you. Be yourself. Make it yours.
In the end, if I'm selling me, I can only sell the "me" I am. If I try to borrow a mask from someone else, it's going to look false. I work with teenagers all day. They're good at sniffing bullshit. So are readers.
Am I a marketing genius? My bank account would say no. Hell no. But I'm not going to get to the Emerald City on a borrowed yellow brick road.
(My path goes a bit wonky through the darkest part of the woods. But I hear there's a secret there, and perhaps I may find it.)
But who is that worst enemy's field marshal? Wearing someone else's mask.
Here's what I mean:
Too many authors, especially indies, are chasing the same brass ring and stomping the same path to get there. Just because something works for an indie juggernaut like J.A. Konrath or John Locke or Amanda Hocking or (insert name here), doesn't mean it will work for me. In fact, I'm likely to fail, and fail epically if I try to be someone I'm not.
Readers appreciate a good experience more than anything. A good experience starts with a good, solid story. "Knowing" an author helps, I think, but it's the icing on the proverbial cake.
My twitter feed is choked with authors saying basically the same thing about their books. Discussion boards are full of the same chatter. Everyone does a blog tour--and while this is a valid way to reach new readers, a blog tour should really try to bring something new and unique to the table. Introduce yourself but be yourself. Whatever marketing one chooses, please, please be you. Be yourself. Make it yours.
In the end, if I'm selling me, I can only sell the "me" I am. If I try to borrow a mask from someone else, it's going to look false. I work with teenagers all day. They're good at sniffing bullshit. So are readers.
Am I a marketing genius? My bank account would say no. Hell no. But I'm not going to get to the Emerald City on a borrowed yellow brick road.
(My path goes a bit wonky through the darkest part of the woods. But I hear there's a secret there, and perhaps I may find it.)
February 27, 2012
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Blah blah blah... Oscars. I watched with half an eye open last night. Yay for The Artist, a truly original film with some brilliant performances. I figure the rest of the blogosphere will be abuzz with Oscar-ness, so I'm bringing you this delicious blast from my past, a desert ANYONE can make in less than five minutes (prep time--it does bake for 30-40). And I did make it in less than five minutes, twice this weekend for guests my wife invited. This happens.
A lot.
Poor Man's Fruit Crisp
Ingredients:
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 stick of butter (softened)
1 can of fruit pie filling
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Dump the pie filling in an 8" x 8" square pan or 8"/9" round.
3. Mix the first three ingredients to a lumpy texture (a fork works well--just press it into the goo until it combines).
4. Drop and loosely spread the topping on the pie filling.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes until bubbly and brown. You may want to crank the temperature to 400 F for the last 5-10 minutes for a nice browned crust.
Simple. Freaking delicious.
You can always combine fresh fruit and sugar to make your own pie filling. I like to add 1/4-1/3 cup of rolled oats to the topping. It looks more healthy that way. ;)
Have a special week.
A lot.
Poor Man's Fruit Crisp
Ingredients:
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 stick of butter (softened)
1 can of fruit pie filling
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Dump the pie filling in an 8" x 8" square pan or 8"/9" round.
3. Mix the first three ingredients to a lumpy texture (a fork works well--just press it into the goo until it combines).
4. Drop and loosely spread the topping on the pie filling.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes until bubbly and brown. You may want to crank the temperature to 400 F for the last 5-10 minutes for a nice browned crust.
Simple. Freaking delicious.
You can always combine fresh fruit and sugar to make your own pie filling. I like to add 1/4-1/3 cup of rolled oats to the topping. It looks more healthy that way. ;)
Have a special week.
February 23, 2012
Keeping the Dead
Author's evolve. Here's a bit of evolution from yours truly, currently available for Kindle:
Keeping the Dead will be free this weekend. From the foreword:
The fear of death is persistent. It can be a monster. But fates worse than death abound. These stories are not simple shocks, basic cut-and-slash horror which leaves a reader panting but unsatisfied. These stories sleep with the cold, impersonal knowing which dwells inside us all—a knowing that death waits, the unknown is coming. It's close. It's just beyond the door.
Dead tree fans--I'm planning an "omnibus" of my "best" short stories next summer.
Keeping the Dead will be free this weekend. From the foreword:
The fear of death is persistent. It can be a monster. But fates worse than death abound. These stories are not simple shocks, basic cut-and-slash horror which leaves a reader panting but unsatisfied. These stories sleep with the cold, impersonal knowing which dwells inside us all—a knowing that death waits, the unknown is coming. It's close. It's just beyond the door.
Dead tree fans--I'm planning an "omnibus" of my "best" short stories next summer.
February 21, 2012
Certain Lines I've Drawn
While I love my Kindle (and I do), I still enjoy reading actual dead trees. A colleague recommended Erik Larson's Devil in the White City yesterday, so I headed over to Amazon.
The trade paperback is priced at $10.85. The Kindle edition? $9.99.
Right now, for me, it's worth 86 cents to hold a copy of the book. I'm not ready to go purely digital. Anyway--if I buy the book, I can pass it on.
Now wait, you say. You can share Kindle books.
Sure.
But here's the digital caveat:
I purchased and downloaded a copy of 30 Days: Jail from iTunes several years ago. I show clips of the episode in class each year while we study justice. When our computer exploded (metaphorically) last summer, I had to reset all the devices on which my iTunes content could be played (I'd maxed out my license, and one of the devices was now dead).
Guess what? 30 Days is no longer available via iTunes. Even though I "own" the digital content, I can't play it.
Digital, it seems, is not forever. In this case, digital is now worth nothing.
This, dear reader, is why I'll pay the 86 cents. Get it to me faster (like the episodes of The Walking Dead I download each week--I don't have cable and the DVDs won't be available for another six months) or cheaper ($2.99 ebooks, anyone), and I'll go digital. Anything else, and I'll stick with a physical copy.
Where's your digital line?
The trade paperback is priced at $10.85. The Kindle edition? $9.99.
Right now, for me, it's worth 86 cents to hold a copy of the book. I'm not ready to go purely digital. Anyway--if I buy the book, I can pass it on.
Now wait, you say. You can share Kindle books.
Sure.
But here's the digital caveat:
I purchased and downloaded a copy of 30 Days: Jail from iTunes several years ago. I show clips of the episode in class each year while we study justice. When our computer exploded (metaphorically) last summer, I had to reset all the devices on which my iTunes content could be played (I'd maxed out my license, and one of the devices was now dead).
Guess what? 30 Days is no longer available via iTunes. Even though I "own" the digital content, I can't play it.
Digital, it seems, is not forever. In this case, digital is now worth nothing.
This, dear reader, is why I'll pay the 86 cents. Get it to me faster (like the episodes of The Walking Dead I download each week--I don't have cable and the DVDs won't be available for another six months) or cheaper ($2.99 ebooks, anyone), and I'll go digital. Anything else, and I'll stick with a physical copy.
Where's your digital line?
February 20, 2012
A Shimmery Survey
So Shimmer does this readers' survey with each issue, and you can vote for your favorite story from #14 here. I'm not suggesting you pick my story (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), but it's fun to take surveys.
