Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer, page 5
February 21, 2020
Love is in the Air
For most retail stores and card companies, February is the month of love. To the normal population, Valentine’s Day is the one day out of the year where we show those in our lives just how much we love them. Now, if you’re like me, it’s really just another day. But this year was different. No, I didn’t exchange cards or get flowers. Instead, I thought a lot about what that day really meant to me.
As a struggling author, every week brings its whole new sets of challenges whether it be financial or an insufferable writer’s block. If I’m really unlucky, I get multiple challenges in one week and they become unbearable. It’s during these times that I’m especially hard on myself thinking I need to do better at writing or beg for more hours at my part-time job. But the truth is, it wouldn’t matter if my writing was better or if I worked 40+ hours a week. Kindness is really what matters, better yet—love matters.
Even as I write this, I feel myself cringe a bit for in this past week I can count on one hand the times I’ve been nice to myself. Every artist will tell you, they’re their own worst critic. And it’s so true. I often think that’s because it lessens the blow when others criticize us. We’ve hardened ourselves against harsh words and derogatory comments that we just don’t know how to show love to ourselves. This plays such a huge impact on our minds and emotions that self-criticism can either drive us forward or slam us against the ground. There is a medium that many of us, myself included, fail to meet.
And that’s what I learned this month. February isn’t just the month for love, it should be a constant thing in our lives. Showing a little love to ourselves and, yes, a little patience can dramatically turn things around.
As a struggling author, every week brings its whole new sets of challenges whether it be financial or an insufferable writer’s block. If I’m really unlucky, I get multiple challenges in one week and they become unbearable. It’s during these times that I’m especially hard on myself thinking I need to do better at writing or beg for more hours at my part-time job. But the truth is, it wouldn’t matter if my writing was better or if I worked 40+ hours a week. Kindness is really what matters, better yet—love matters.
Even as I write this, I feel myself cringe a bit for in this past week I can count on one hand the times I’ve been nice to myself. Every artist will tell you, they’re their own worst critic. And it’s so true. I often think that’s because it lessens the blow when others criticize us. We’ve hardened ourselves against harsh words and derogatory comments that we just don’t know how to show love to ourselves. This plays such a huge impact on our minds and emotions that self-criticism can either drive us forward or slam us against the ground. There is a medium that many of us, myself included, fail to meet.
And that’s what I learned this month. February isn’t just the month for love, it should be a constant thing in our lives. Showing a little love to ourselves and, yes, a little patience can dramatically turn things around.
January 25, 2020
The Artist Killer
Well now that I have your attention, let’s talk about something that many artists face but don’t really want to talk about it.
Complacency. (DUN DUN DUN) If that word doesn’t make you uncomfortable, it really should.
Complacency is the silent killer to all artists at some point in their lives. We get into a system that works well for us and think we don’t have to go any farther with our craft. WRONG! See, this past month has been a huge challenge for me. I’ve gone about my days planning for events, the next book, and author appearances.
“But that sounds great, Ceara! What’s wrong with all that?”
Great question! Nothing is wrong with any of that actually, but it’s how I approached it. In my mind, I kept thinking that those three things should be my only focus. I couldn’t have been more wrong. When I only fixated my attention on what I’ve been doing for the last two years (what kept me comfortable) I was missing out on some GREAT opportunities.
Let me give you an example. I had my heart set on a HUGE event coming up later in the year. I had all my ducks in a row and was prepared to dish out a ton of money for it. I probably could have made it work (emphasis on probably). But then I couldn’t do all the marketing I wanted for my new book. I ended up making the decision that marketing was more important. It was a new thing…it was different…but when I made that choice, I felt so much better about my career. The complacency killer ran off and I felt like I could do anything I wanted to do—as if a weight was lifted from me.
Now, I’m not going to lie, complacency isn’t always easy to get rid of, especially if you’ve dealt with it for years. Sometimes you have to break the repetitive cycle. And whether you’re an artist like me or just work that normal 9-5, complacency attacks everyone and it slowly drains you. Might I encourage you, this year, to step out of your normal routine? Find something small to add to it, something you have always wanted to do. All it takes is one foot forward to vanquish the silent killer.
Complacency. (DUN DUN DUN) If that word doesn’t make you uncomfortable, it really should.
Complacency is the silent killer to all artists at some point in their lives. We get into a system that works well for us and think we don’t have to go any farther with our craft. WRONG! See, this past month has been a huge challenge for me. I’ve gone about my days planning for events, the next book, and author appearances.
“But that sounds great, Ceara! What’s wrong with all that?”
Great question! Nothing is wrong with any of that actually, but it’s how I approached it. In my mind, I kept thinking that those three things should be my only focus. I couldn’t have been more wrong. When I only fixated my attention on what I’ve been doing for the last two years (what kept me comfortable) I was missing out on some GREAT opportunities.
Let me give you an example. I had my heart set on a HUGE event coming up later in the year. I had all my ducks in a row and was prepared to dish out a ton of money for it. I probably could have made it work (emphasis on probably). But then I couldn’t do all the marketing I wanted for my new book. I ended up making the decision that marketing was more important. It was a new thing…it was different…but when I made that choice, I felt so much better about my career. The complacency killer ran off and I felt like I could do anything I wanted to do—as if a weight was lifted from me.
Now, I’m not going to lie, complacency isn’t always easy to get rid of, especially if you’ve dealt with it for years. Sometimes you have to break the repetitive cycle. And whether you’re an artist like me or just work that normal 9-5, complacency attacks everyone and it slowly drains you. Might I encourage you, this year, to step out of your normal routine? Find something small to add to it, something you have always wanted to do. All it takes is one foot forward to vanquish the silent killer.
December 22, 2019
Critics...We All Need Them!
“Everyone’s a critic” I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase multiple times in your life. And if you’re an artist, you probably say that every time you get a negative comment about your work.
Well, I’m going to tell you a truth that is probably not a popular belief. Artists NEED critics!
Let me give you a recent example from my writing. I was working with an avid reader who I initially wanted to be an editor. To make a long story short, it didn’t work out. My writing wasn’t her genre and she missed a lot of concepts that I was trying to convey to the reader. But she turned out to be a phenomenal beta reader.
She pointed out several “pet” phrases and words I used that I never noticed before. And she found description areas I needed to work on that even my regular beta readers never picked up on before. It was certainly an eyeopener and I made sure to keep note of these things for my future writing. Now, the question is, will I keep sending my work to be read by this individual, probably not as my “out-of-this-world” concepts are a bit hard to understand for her. But I certainly appreciated the help she gave me.
Critics are not bad in general. Yes, you’ll get those people who just want to see you fail. Sadly, that’s a thing in this day and age. But there are those critics you’ll meet that genuinely want to help you and will point out areas you need to work on in your art!
So, if this story resonates with you and that one critic comes to mind, don’t dismiss them like I initially wanted to do with this one. They might find something that will improve your work!
Well, I’m going to tell you a truth that is probably not a popular belief. Artists NEED critics!
Let me give you a recent example from my writing. I was working with an avid reader who I initially wanted to be an editor. To make a long story short, it didn’t work out. My writing wasn’t her genre and she missed a lot of concepts that I was trying to convey to the reader. But she turned out to be a phenomenal beta reader.
She pointed out several “pet” phrases and words I used that I never noticed before. And she found description areas I needed to work on that even my regular beta readers never picked up on before. It was certainly an eyeopener and I made sure to keep note of these things for my future writing. Now, the question is, will I keep sending my work to be read by this individual, probably not as my “out-of-this-world” concepts are a bit hard to understand for her. But I certainly appreciated the help she gave me.
Critics are not bad in general. Yes, you’ll get those people who just want to see you fail. Sadly, that’s a thing in this day and age. But there are those critics you’ll meet that genuinely want to help you and will point out areas you need to work on in your art!
So, if this story resonates with you and that one critic comes to mind, don’t dismiss them like I initially wanted to do with this one. They might find something that will improve your work!
November 27, 2019
Slow Down
Busy and hectic are two words that best describe the end of October into November for me. With planning next year’s book events and getting a new book ready for launch, it’s hard to believe that December is only in a matter of days! Yet, despite how fast this month flew by, the universe seemed to think I needed to learn a lesson…or rather remember an old one.
It was near the beginning of the month where I was beginning to feel the pressure of the upcoming holidays. I remember running around trying to attend to all the tasks I was to do when a co-worker asked me to come over and help him. He then said two words two me very emphatically… “Slow. Down.”
Naturally, I roll my eyes and shrug it off. Me? Slow down? Ha! That word doesn’t exist in my vocabulary; besides he’s not a supervisor! These thoughts raced through my head that day, but little did I know those two words foreshadowed the horror that was to come.
October 26, 2019 is the date that will forever go down in my writing history. The nightmare every author faces at least once in their lifetime—my laptop unexpectedly crashed with unsaved documents on the hard drive.
I thought that kind of thing only happened to film authors, but I was proven wrong. For over a week, I fought to keep my new laptop alive. Best Buy soon became my closest friend, but my little Lenovo Yoga eventually had enough of my prodding and pleading. During this time, I couldn’t do anything writing related and it was honestly painful. However, it gave me a good excuse to finish reading a book my editor recommended to me. I was always saying how I have little time for reading now that I’m working crazy hours. Well, the universe answered and in a very unexpected way.
With my laptop situation up in the air, I found myself reflecting back on that one coworker. It was as if he was standing next to me saying, “Slow. Down.” Not going to lie—I had chills upon this realization. Even in my writing life I was hurrying to meet deadlines (which I already knew I was going to meet). I had forgotten to enjoy the little things, like curling up with a good book.
I think this is a useful lesson to us all, though. Black Friday is around the corner and the holiday chaos will just get crazier until maybe mid-January. Let’s take a pause on our busy schedules, eternally long shopping lists, and party planning to make time for these little things.
It was near the beginning of the month where I was beginning to feel the pressure of the upcoming holidays. I remember running around trying to attend to all the tasks I was to do when a co-worker asked me to come over and help him. He then said two words two me very emphatically… “Slow. Down.”
Naturally, I roll my eyes and shrug it off. Me? Slow down? Ha! That word doesn’t exist in my vocabulary; besides he’s not a supervisor! These thoughts raced through my head that day, but little did I know those two words foreshadowed the horror that was to come.
October 26, 2019 is the date that will forever go down in my writing history. The nightmare every author faces at least once in their lifetime—my laptop unexpectedly crashed with unsaved documents on the hard drive.
I thought that kind of thing only happened to film authors, but I was proven wrong. For over a week, I fought to keep my new laptop alive. Best Buy soon became my closest friend, but my little Lenovo Yoga eventually had enough of my prodding and pleading. During this time, I couldn’t do anything writing related and it was honestly painful. However, it gave me a good excuse to finish reading a book my editor recommended to me. I was always saying how I have little time for reading now that I’m working crazy hours. Well, the universe answered and in a very unexpected way.
With my laptop situation up in the air, I found myself reflecting back on that one coworker. It was as if he was standing next to me saying, “Slow. Down.” Not going to lie—I had chills upon this realization. Even in my writing life I was hurrying to meet deadlines (which I already knew I was going to meet). I had forgotten to enjoy the little things, like curling up with a good book.
I think this is a useful lesson to us all, though. Black Friday is around the corner and the holiday chaos will just get crazier until maybe mid-January. Let’s take a pause on our busy schedules, eternally long shopping lists, and party planning to make time for these little things.
October 21, 2019
It Starts With You
It’s been fourteen years since I started my writing journey. So much has changed and yet some things have remained the same. My writing style has changed, concepts have drastically improved, and my characters seem lifelike. But, with all this progress one thing has always held me back from reaching my goal—it’s a little thing I like to call self-doubt. Okay, so it’s not so little, in fact, it’s become a major detriment to my writing career.
Self-doubt plagues nearly every author at least once in their lifetime (or if you’re in my case, every single day). I’ve hinted at this problem before in other blog posts, so I won’t bore you with the same old story—no, this time, I’m coming clean about just how bad self-doubt affects me.
Let me start at the beginning. It wasn’t until three years ago that I began writing seriously. The eleven years before that I played around with the idea of being a full-time writer one day. Unfortunately, I was consumed with the idea of being friends with everyone and . . . well focusing on things that really didn’t matter. By the time 2016 came around, I remember putting my foot down with myself and saying that writing is my passion and I was going to be more dedicated. For three years I believed my writing was worth it and that my stories had a message the world should hear (don’t worry, this mentality hasn’t change 😉). But these were empty words I kept telling myself and others to hide the growing problem—self-doubt continued to rear its ugly head.
See, during those eleven years of “writing for fun” I just had an expensive hobby; my heart wasn’t really into it. I guess a part of me thought that I’d get my big break magically just like some of the great writers did. Boy, was I delusional! No one’s rise to fame is the same. Some struggle for decades whereas others get that random stroke of luck. With this mindset, my friends and family began thinking I had an expensive hobby too and no one took me seriously because I wasn’t.
So, for the last three years, I’ve put on a mask. One that tells the world I’ll be the next up and coming sci-fi/fantasy author. But behind that, I felt like a fraud. My self-doubt ate away at me day after day until the point where I believed that my writing wasn’t worth it.
And before I go further, I can already hear some of you now (who have read my latest books), “What? Are you crazy? You’re writing is great!”
Haha! Thanks, I seriously appreciate that. But I could have a room full of fans tell me how great my work is and still feel that it’s terrible. (No, I’m not diminishing what the fans are saying. I really do appreciate the support!) It wasn’t until I began working that I realized just how far I allowed self-doubt to control me. Often, my boss asks me if I can work later, which I immediately say yes even though I have so much book-related things I could be doing. I rarely say, “No, I have a lot of editing to do” or “No, I need to get some writing done.” This isn’t because I feel they wouldn’t understand; in fact, they do. They know that my primary reason for working is to help boost my writing career. But when I have to say I need to get writing done, instead of them replying, “Oh, that’s no problem! Just clock out at normal time.” In my self-doubt delusional brain, I hear, “It’s just an expensive hobby,” “We’re paying you to work extra,” “Don’t you want the extra money?”, “This is your real job, it pays the bills”.
Okay, yes, I realize how absurd that sounds, but this is what anxiety and self-doubt do. They create unreasonable scenarios and you feel like what you love doesn’t matter. Well, let me tell you it does!
After I finally opened up the self-doubt wound and peered inside to see what caused it to fester, I saw the root problem. And let me tell you, it’s an easy fix. It’s no secret that I wasn’t an English major. I barely passed English in high school and college. Heck, if your grammar is on point, you’ve probably found a dozen typos, five sentence structure errors, and maybe even a missing comma or two just in this blog post alone. That’s my Achilles Heel. The actual art of writing. Ironic, huh? It’s always been a problem for me and it’s always leading my self-doubt. So, I decided to do something about it. I became determined to learn more about the technical side of writing.
I know this post has been one of my more long-winded “confessions”, but I felt it was something I needed to unload. There are so many other artists, not just writers, who feel the same burden of self-doubt weighing them down. It’s difficult to get out of, but not impossible. It takes time, but it all starts with you. Only you can release yourself from the curse of the artist’s self-doubt. Find the root cause and yank it out of your mind. And remember, you’re not alone in this battle.
Self-doubt plagues nearly every author at least once in their lifetime (or if you’re in my case, every single day). I’ve hinted at this problem before in other blog posts, so I won’t bore you with the same old story—no, this time, I’m coming clean about just how bad self-doubt affects me.
Let me start at the beginning. It wasn’t until three years ago that I began writing seriously. The eleven years before that I played around with the idea of being a full-time writer one day. Unfortunately, I was consumed with the idea of being friends with everyone and . . . well focusing on things that really didn’t matter. By the time 2016 came around, I remember putting my foot down with myself and saying that writing is my passion and I was going to be more dedicated. For three years I believed my writing was worth it and that my stories had a message the world should hear (don’t worry, this mentality hasn’t change 😉). But these were empty words I kept telling myself and others to hide the growing problem—self-doubt continued to rear its ugly head.
See, during those eleven years of “writing for fun” I just had an expensive hobby; my heart wasn’t really into it. I guess a part of me thought that I’d get my big break magically just like some of the great writers did. Boy, was I delusional! No one’s rise to fame is the same. Some struggle for decades whereas others get that random stroke of luck. With this mindset, my friends and family began thinking I had an expensive hobby too and no one took me seriously because I wasn’t.
So, for the last three years, I’ve put on a mask. One that tells the world I’ll be the next up and coming sci-fi/fantasy author. But behind that, I felt like a fraud. My self-doubt ate away at me day after day until the point where I believed that my writing wasn’t worth it.
And before I go further, I can already hear some of you now (who have read my latest books), “What? Are you crazy? You’re writing is great!”
Haha! Thanks, I seriously appreciate that. But I could have a room full of fans tell me how great my work is and still feel that it’s terrible. (No, I’m not diminishing what the fans are saying. I really do appreciate the support!) It wasn’t until I began working that I realized just how far I allowed self-doubt to control me. Often, my boss asks me if I can work later, which I immediately say yes even though I have so much book-related things I could be doing. I rarely say, “No, I have a lot of editing to do” or “No, I need to get some writing done.” This isn’t because I feel they wouldn’t understand; in fact, they do. They know that my primary reason for working is to help boost my writing career. But when I have to say I need to get writing done, instead of them replying, “Oh, that’s no problem! Just clock out at normal time.” In my self-doubt delusional brain, I hear, “It’s just an expensive hobby,” “We’re paying you to work extra,” “Don’t you want the extra money?”, “This is your real job, it pays the bills”.
Okay, yes, I realize how absurd that sounds, but this is what anxiety and self-doubt do. They create unreasonable scenarios and you feel like what you love doesn’t matter. Well, let me tell you it does!
After I finally opened up the self-doubt wound and peered inside to see what caused it to fester, I saw the root problem. And let me tell you, it’s an easy fix. It’s no secret that I wasn’t an English major. I barely passed English in high school and college. Heck, if your grammar is on point, you’ve probably found a dozen typos, five sentence structure errors, and maybe even a missing comma or two just in this blog post alone. That’s my Achilles Heel. The actual art of writing. Ironic, huh? It’s always been a problem for me and it’s always leading my self-doubt. So, I decided to do something about it. I became determined to learn more about the technical side of writing.
I know this post has been one of my more long-winded “confessions”, but I felt it was something I needed to unload. There are so many other artists, not just writers, who feel the same burden of self-doubt weighing them down. It’s difficult to get out of, but not impossible. It takes time, but it all starts with you. Only you can release yourself from the curse of the artist’s self-doubt. Find the root cause and yank it out of your mind. And remember, you’re not alone in this battle.
September 29, 2019
Time Management
As artists, it’s always a dream of ours to do our craft for a living, however for many of us, it doesn’t always end up that way. For those of you who have been following my blog, you’ll know that I’ve had struggles with finding and keeping a job for a length of time. This is usually due to the fact that I’m only in a temporary position or the job didn’t work out.
But I recently got a new part-time job that works with my schedule! Now, I’m not going to lie, I was super nervous the first day, in fact, I felt really sad when I got home. Before you ask, no it wasn’t the job’s fault. I’ve actually grown to love what I do. I was sad, simply because I was feeling the weight of balancing two jobs. One which paid me weekly and the other which paid per Comic-Con or event.
At this point, I had been out of work for a year and was solely focusing on my writing, so taking on a new “project” was daunting, to say the least.
The next day, my mind did a complete 180! Somehow sleeping on this minor issue gave me a whole new perspective on my situation. I started to analyze my “balancing act” a bit more and realized that this new 9-5 job was actually a really good thing. Not because I was getting a steady paycheck, but it would also provide a break in between writing. This wasn’t the only “pro” to my new job. It would allow me the weekends to focus on my writing—it gave me the opportunity to manage my time better.
Here’s how I see it. I go to work, Monday-Friday and while I’m working, I can have in the back of my mind what I want to get done on the weekend. Doing this for five days gave me a clearer vision for my book goals! And let me tell you, if I didn’t have this new job, I wouldn’t have been as organized.
Sometimes opportunities come into our lives that, at first, seem impossible to take on or balance. That’s if we look at the BIG picture. As artists, that’s practically all we look at. We see ourselves on the red carpet or our own art gallery…or some big shot in the future. That’s totally natural! But, once in a grand old while, it’s best if we just sit back, analyze our situation, and list all the pros rather than the cons.
But I recently got a new part-time job that works with my schedule! Now, I’m not going to lie, I was super nervous the first day, in fact, I felt really sad when I got home. Before you ask, no it wasn’t the job’s fault. I’ve actually grown to love what I do. I was sad, simply because I was feeling the weight of balancing two jobs. One which paid me weekly and the other which paid per Comic-Con or event.
At this point, I had been out of work for a year and was solely focusing on my writing, so taking on a new “project” was daunting, to say the least.
The next day, my mind did a complete 180! Somehow sleeping on this minor issue gave me a whole new perspective on my situation. I started to analyze my “balancing act” a bit more and realized that this new 9-5 job was actually a really good thing. Not because I was getting a steady paycheck, but it would also provide a break in between writing. This wasn’t the only “pro” to my new job. It would allow me the weekends to focus on my writing—it gave me the opportunity to manage my time better.
Here’s how I see it. I go to work, Monday-Friday and while I’m working, I can have in the back of my mind what I want to get done on the weekend. Doing this for five days gave me a clearer vision for my book goals! And let me tell you, if I didn’t have this new job, I wouldn’t have been as organized.
Sometimes opportunities come into our lives that, at first, seem impossible to take on or balance. That’s if we look at the BIG picture. As artists, that’s practically all we look at. We see ourselves on the red carpet or our own art gallery…or some big shot in the future. That’s totally natural! But, once in a grand old while, it’s best if we just sit back, analyze our situation, and list all the pros rather than the cons.
August 27, 2019
The Sunshine State
“In the blink of an eye”, this common phrase really stood out to me this month as it went by in a flash! I can’t believe September is next week! Of course, I have been really busy with projects and research, so I suppose that makes sense 😉
Anyway, enough about how fast the month flew, let’s get to the good stuff. How did my events go? Excellent! I couldn’t have asked for a better Comic Con Summer Tour end! My last convention was in Tampa, Florida and boy did I learn a lot!
Even from the time I got onto the plane, it was a huge learning curb, but one I really needed! As some of you might know, Tampa Bay Comic Con is one of the larger comic cons. To me, it was bigger than Canada! I was able to comfortably fit all my books into four suitcases (yes, this includes stands and other small items). As it turns out Southwest is the way to go when you’re an author flying to comic cons! Not only do they allow two free check-in suitcases (in this case my husband went with me so it worked out!), but they allow curbside check-in for people who have a lot of luggage! 😊 Honestly, they made flying SO much easier and definitely made it stress-free!
As for the convention itself! We hit the ground running almost as soon as we landed. See, if you haven’t been there, let me be the first to tell you that Tampa is a large and congested city with more one-way streets than I can count. It took us quite a while to finally find the convention center (after taking a few wrong turns, that is). Just a note, if you’re going to a huge city you’re unfamiliar with…ALWAYS get there a day before set up so you can get a feel of the surroundings and parking garages. Downtown Tampa seems to be made up of mainly parking garages, but some are cheaper than others. Fortunately for us, there was a parking garage connected to the convention center, but you had to get there early or else it’d get filled up quickly.
And as crazy as it sounds, a very important lesson I learned the first day. . . ask lots of questions. Not that I don’t do that enough already, but if the place is massive (like this location was), ask everyone with a staff shirt where to go. Don’t assume it’s right or left because it can be EASY to get lost. And if someone isn’t sure, ask them to direct you to someone who knows. It might seem like you’re pestering people, but the truth is, this is stuff you need to know.
As great as these tips and guidelines are, I’ll get into now tell you how the book sales went. Wonderful! I sold almost 50 books! I couldn’t believe it myself; I can’t recall every sale that happened as the weekend was a whirl of excitement, but I can tell you that I feel I made a great first impression on the people of Tampa, Florida and I’m looking forward to coming back soon! 😊
Anyway, enough about how fast the month flew, let’s get to the good stuff. How did my events go? Excellent! I couldn’t have asked for a better Comic Con Summer Tour end! My last convention was in Tampa, Florida and boy did I learn a lot!
Even from the time I got onto the plane, it was a huge learning curb, but one I really needed! As some of you might know, Tampa Bay Comic Con is one of the larger comic cons. To me, it was bigger than Canada! I was able to comfortably fit all my books into four suitcases (yes, this includes stands and other small items). As it turns out Southwest is the way to go when you’re an author flying to comic cons! Not only do they allow two free check-in suitcases (in this case my husband went with me so it worked out!), but they allow curbside check-in for people who have a lot of luggage! 😊 Honestly, they made flying SO much easier and definitely made it stress-free!
As for the convention itself! We hit the ground running almost as soon as we landed. See, if you haven’t been there, let me be the first to tell you that Tampa is a large and congested city with more one-way streets than I can count. It took us quite a while to finally find the convention center (after taking a few wrong turns, that is). Just a note, if you’re going to a huge city you’re unfamiliar with…ALWAYS get there a day before set up so you can get a feel of the surroundings and parking garages. Downtown Tampa seems to be made up of mainly parking garages, but some are cheaper than others. Fortunately for us, there was a parking garage connected to the convention center, but you had to get there early or else it’d get filled up quickly.
And as crazy as it sounds, a very important lesson I learned the first day. . . ask lots of questions. Not that I don’t do that enough already, but if the place is massive (like this location was), ask everyone with a staff shirt where to go. Don’t assume it’s right or left because it can be EASY to get lost. And if someone isn’t sure, ask them to direct you to someone who knows. It might seem like you’re pestering people, but the truth is, this is stuff you need to know.
As great as these tips and guidelines are, I’ll get into now tell you how the book sales went. Wonderful! I sold almost 50 books! I couldn’t believe it myself; I can’t recall every sale that happened as the weekend was a whirl of excitement, but I can tell you that I feel I made a great first impression on the people of Tampa, Florida and I’m looking forward to coming back soon! 😊
July 25, 2019
What's in a Writer?
Just like snowflakes, every person is different. The same goes for writers. Sure, we might write the same genres, but when it comes down to it, our methods of writing are vastly different. The way I write is nothing short of . . . unusual and it’s a process that’s constantly changing depending on what it is I’m writing. So, how do I do it? How do I begin and finish a writing project? Glad you asked! Well, as the ride operator for an insane roller coaster would say, “Please keep your hands and feet inside at all times! Enjoy!”
All stories begin with an idea. For me, those can come from anywhere and at any time. Recently I’ve taken the galaxy that I introduced in one of my latest books, “Memories of Chronosalis”, and decided to expand on the worlds within that galaxy. Eventually, all my books will begin to connect with each other and characters from other books will intermingle. Now, this isn’t to say that my future books will be directly connected, they will (for the most part), be stand-alone. Sounds like a lot of characters and plots, right? Most definitely, but that’s just the easy part.
With my latest project within the “Chronosalis Galaxy”, I’ve been working on a trilogy that has two parts to each book. These parts are from different characters’ perspective. Some go back in time, some hint at the future, and some even have alternate realities! How do I do that? No clue, I listen to my characters. It’s their story after all.
Speaking of my little demons. . .I mean, characters 😉 I often like to joke with people that I have sixteen gods running around in my head. Each one desperate to share their story. Sometimes I get strange looks, other times, I get laughs. But it’s true. In this trilogy, I have sixteen gods plus other characters and each one’s story is vital to the trilogy. To me, all of my characters are real which makes them especially hard to ignore when I’m doing other things (like this post 😊). No, I’m not mentally ill. I’m a writer, it’s what happens. Now, they aren’t the only ones bothering me. Because I have other stories connected to “Chronosalis” other characters pop up now and again. Then I have to figure out what notebook their story is in. This small part of the writing process is just as challenging especially when I’m trying to sleep.
“Man, you have a lot on your mind, Ceara!”
“HA! We’re not even done yet!”
“What? What do you mean? I thought that was you’re writing process!”
Well, truth be told, there’s a LOT more that goes into writing than just. . .writing. In fact, most of that is stuff behind the scenes. For example, I don’t write all day every day. Believe me, I WISH I could do that. But life generally has other plans. No, I’m not talking about work, doctor appointments, or you know, general adulting, I’m talking about other things that make me a published author. For example, marketing, social media, advertising, comic cons, and other writing events. These are all the things that I do aside from just writing. I’m on nearly every form of social media and it gets challenging trying to post things regularly. Sometimes I don’t, mostly because I’m not up to anything worth talking about. I make my own book trailers, my own advertisements. And searching for “affordable” comic cons takes almost an entire day to do. Aside from all that, I update people on my life by writing blog posts like this. And sometimes, it takes me a good month to figure out what I want to talk about. Then, there’s the book reviews which I LOVE doing because I know it helps other authors like myself. I know I don’t have a huge following on YouTube, but as long as I’m helping my author friends, that’s all that matters to me. And you know, it takes at least three hours to do one or maybe two videos because I’m trying to find a place to film and I’m trying to perfect my “script” so the review looks professional.
I do a lot and I don’t generally have a lot of time to spare. When I do, I find myself helping other authors by going over their work. Again, not complaining, I enjoy helping others as much as I can. And when I’m not doing that, I’m reading more than one book at a time to educate myself on different writing styles and perfect my own craft.
“Well, it sounds like it’s overwhelming and too much to handle. Why don’t you just take a break?”
Easy. I can’t. Not even if I wanted to. You see, where I am right now, if I were to take a month off or maybe even three, the momentum that I’ve started with my work would die. I’d have to pick it up again and work even twice as hard to keep it going. See, self-publishing has its rewards, but it also has its problems. I do everything myself, not that I reject help. I absolutely need it, but I don’t have a lot of people in my corner to take on the loads that I have. I do have great help though. My husband comes with me to nearly every event and acts as my assistant (I don’t know what I’d do without him 😉). And my mom is often in the background helping me with advertising and promo when I literally can’t. My dad is one of my beta readers and is VERY good at his job. So I do have help. But there are still things that my “team” can’t help me with that I have to do myself. Am I complaining? Heck no. I love every step of the writing process. The good and the bad. Why? I learn something with every step. Yes, I’m constantly overwhelmed. But I’ve found ways of working around that and silencing the “demons” in my head.
Every artist of every type of medium has a story to tell. How they began their art. What their process is. What goes into it. What their muse is. I bet, if you sit down with artists, writers, musicians and so on, you’ll be amazed at what they go through to achieve their goals!
All stories begin with an idea. For me, those can come from anywhere and at any time. Recently I’ve taken the galaxy that I introduced in one of my latest books, “Memories of Chronosalis”, and decided to expand on the worlds within that galaxy. Eventually, all my books will begin to connect with each other and characters from other books will intermingle. Now, this isn’t to say that my future books will be directly connected, they will (for the most part), be stand-alone. Sounds like a lot of characters and plots, right? Most definitely, but that’s just the easy part.
With my latest project within the “Chronosalis Galaxy”, I’ve been working on a trilogy that has two parts to each book. These parts are from different characters’ perspective. Some go back in time, some hint at the future, and some even have alternate realities! How do I do that? No clue, I listen to my characters. It’s their story after all.
Speaking of my little demons. . .I mean, characters 😉 I often like to joke with people that I have sixteen gods running around in my head. Each one desperate to share their story. Sometimes I get strange looks, other times, I get laughs. But it’s true. In this trilogy, I have sixteen gods plus other characters and each one’s story is vital to the trilogy. To me, all of my characters are real which makes them especially hard to ignore when I’m doing other things (like this post 😊). No, I’m not mentally ill. I’m a writer, it’s what happens. Now, they aren’t the only ones bothering me. Because I have other stories connected to “Chronosalis” other characters pop up now and again. Then I have to figure out what notebook their story is in. This small part of the writing process is just as challenging especially when I’m trying to sleep.
“Man, you have a lot on your mind, Ceara!”
“HA! We’re not even done yet!”
“What? What do you mean? I thought that was you’re writing process!”
Well, truth be told, there’s a LOT more that goes into writing than just. . .writing. In fact, most of that is stuff behind the scenes. For example, I don’t write all day every day. Believe me, I WISH I could do that. But life generally has other plans. No, I’m not talking about work, doctor appointments, or you know, general adulting, I’m talking about other things that make me a published author. For example, marketing, social media, advertising, comic cons, and other writing events. These are all the things that I do aside from just writing. I’m on nearly every form of social media and it gets challenging trying to post things regularly. Sometimes I don’t, mostly because I’m not up to anything worth talking about. I make my own book trailers, my own advertisements. And searching for “affordable” comic cons takes almost an entire day to do. Aside from all that, I update people on my life by writing blog posts like this. And sometimes, it takes me a good month to figure out what I want to talk about. Then, there’s the book reviews which I LOVE doing because I know it helps other authors like myself. I know I don’t have a huge following on YouTube, but as long as I’m helping my author friends, that’s all that matters to me. And you know, it takes at least three hours to do one or maybe two videos because I’m trying to find a place to film and I’m trying to perfect my “script” so the review looks professional.
I do a lot and I don’t generally have a lot of time to spare. When I do, I find myself helping other authors by going over their work. Again, not complaining, I enjoy helping others as much as I can. And when I’m not doing that, I’m reading more than one book at a time to educate myself on different writing styles and perfect my own craft.
“Well, it sounds like it’s overwhelming and too much to handle. Why don’t you just take a break?”
Easy. I can’t. Not even if I wanted to. You see, where I am right now, if I were to take a month off or maybe even three, the momentum that I’ve started with my work would die. I’d have to pick it up again and work even twice as hard to keep it going. See, self-publishing has its rewards, but it also has its problems. I do everything myself, not that I reject help. I absolutely need it, but I don’t have a lot of people in my corner to take on the loads that I have. I do have great help though. My husband comes with me to nearly every event and acts as my assistant (I don’t know what I’d do without him 😉). And my mom is often in the background helping me with advertising and promo when I literally can’t. My dad is one of my beta readers and is VERY good at his job. So I do have help. But there are still things that my “team” can’t help me with that I have to do myself. Am I complaining? Heck no. I love every step of the writing process. The good and the bad. Why? I learn something with every step. Yes, I’m constantly overwhelmed. But I’ve found ways of working around that and silencing the “demons” in my head.
Every artist of every type of medium has a story to tell. How they began their art. What their process is. What goes into it. What their muse is. I bet, if you sit down with artists, writers, musicians and so on, you’ll be amazed at what they go through to achieve their goals!
June 13, 2019
Oh, Canada!
“You are not going to believe this!” is something you usually hear, right before someone tells you an outrageous story. Well, I’m telling you the same thing, but every word of my experience is true and I have pictures to prove it!
I’m not going to bore you with the minute details of our Canadian adventure. And by “our” I mean my husband and I. Although, before I get into the awesomeness of the Niagara Falls Comic Con, I want to give a huge shout-out to my husband, Jeffrey. He generally comes with me to every event and his help is truly amazing! He goes around taking pictures, mans the table when I need a break, and he’s so good at talking to people about my books and gaining their interest! I don’t know what I’d do without his help, especially at this specific comic con!
Our journey to Niagara dragged for quite some time, mostly because we had to take a quick stop along the way for a few hours rest. And although we were completely exhausted, we picked up our travels again at 3:30 am on Friday morning. By the time we arrived at the border, the border patrol agent quickly let us in. I was really concerned at first that there’d be some delay as I wasn’t coming in as a vacationer but a businesswoman. To my relief, the agent simply said that I wasn’t carrying enough product to really worry about. We didn’t expect that kind of response. Then again, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect.
As we drove into Ontario, everything went from feet and miles to meters and kilometers. But that wasn’t the only thing that was noticeably different. The people were too. And not in a bad way either, all throughout the comic con and even people we came across at restaurants and stores were all very pleasant! Now, I didn’t expect anyone to be rude, but I also didn’t expect everyone to be so friendly! Our first stop was at a really cool diner. It was all very sci-fi! It even looked like a flying saucer! I couldn’t help but wish we had cool diners like that where I live.
When we finally arrived at the convention center, we quickly unloaded our car and set up within a few minutes. (This is per usual for us, we carry just enough for each event as we have a relatively small car). But this gave us time to look around at the other vendors and boy, there were a lot! Not going to lie, I’m pretty sure I got lost a few times just trying to make my way back to my table! But while I was going from vendor to vendor, I noticed something rather interesting…I wasn’t just the only sci-fi/fantasy author. I was the only American vendor! At least, that’s what it appeared to be.
Once the comic con went underway, the buzz and excitement picked up rather quickly. I became pretty good friends with the vendors in my immediate areas. The people next to me were from the International Paintball Group and they were a fun group to talk to. Each day new people came to that table and they were from different areas of the world: Australia, Wales, England, and Canada. The people directly across from us sold lots of toys and mystery boxes. They were also really enjoyable to talk to. Between these two vendors, they really made my experience as a vendor memorable and I actually learned a lot from them. No, they weren’t selling anything like what I was selling, but some of their tactics on getting people to come to their table were pretty interesting!
Friday also was the day that was full of surprises! At one point, two Daleks came strolling by (for those of you who don’t know what that is, they’re villains from Doctor Who). And amidst their arguing, they actually stopped by my table and began “interrogating me”! They seemed rather interested in my latest book after telling them that there are alien-like creatures that try to take over humanity. They then proceeded to argue with each other and strolled on by claiming they’d be back for the book! Whether they actually came back or not is a mystery to me… *rechecks book inventory*
Speaking of book inventory, I didn’t sell a whole lot on Friday, mostly because there wasn’t a bunch of people. However, a vendor came by and actually purchased a copy of one of my earlier books! She was such a sweetheart! She loved my energy and said she was going to tell everyone that came to her table about me. That wasn’t a lie. Not too long after she left, another vendor she knew came by and bought, “Memories of Chronosalis”! It was awesome to see the support!
And to top off my first day at the con, I got to meet two celebrities that I’ve been wanting to meet for a while. William Zabka and Martin Kove from the original Karate Kid and the new Cobra Kai series. Now, I grew up with the Karate Kid and honestly, I’m surprised I don’t have the movies memorized by now. So, I guess you can say I’m a huge fan. :) Talking to William Zabka was really awesome, I even told him that I was a vendor at the comic con and was a sci-fi/fantasy author. He said he’d stop by my table and you know what? He almost did! Time just wasn’t on his side, unfortunately, but hey he almost did! That totally counts for something. And, Jeffrey was able to give him my card. Mr. Zabka wished me the best of luck on my writing which was totally awesome! Meeting Martin Kove was really cool too, I actually struck up a conversation with him about his character in the films. From a writer’s point of view, this was valuable information and he actually helped me understand a character I’m currently working on! After our conversation, I got an autographed picture from him too! And, of course, that picture is now hanging in a frame on my library wall. Hey! Don’t judge, meeting those two men was a huge encouragement to me and that autograph is a reminder of how amazing my time in Canada was! If they ever happen to come across this blog post, thank you so much!
“And this is only Friday? What else could have happened?” Haha! Glad you asked!
Saturday contained its own surprises. It actually began in the morning before doors opened. That one vendor who purchased, “Memories of Chronosalis” the night before came to me and told me he didn’t want to stop reading the book! Boy was that a huge encouragement boost! It certainly paved the way for a great day. Soon hundreds of people began piling into the convention center. In fact, people continued entering the building even at 1:30 pm and the event began at 10:00 am! I couldn’t believe the crowd! The floor in front of my table quickly became non-existent as people continued passing by. I was so glad I was behind my table!
Another woman came to my table and purchased a copy of one of my original books. She was so excited to buy a book that she asked to get a picture with me! Right then, Carrie became my first Canadian fan! I was so happy! No one had ever asked for a picture with me before! And not too long after her, came another woman who said she came to the comic con looking for sci-fi books to add to her collection! How awesome is that?
Although Saturday was a super long day, Jeffrey and I were fortunate to have some time to ourselves after the event that day. We spent three hours at the falls! We watched as the sunset and the lights on the falls turned on. It was really awesome to see! We even stayed long enough to see the fireworks. During this time, we also got the chance to talk to two couples from New Jersey who were excited to meet a sci-fi/fantasy author!
Finally, Sunday came, the last day of the event. I thought the last day would have fewer people, but man was I wrong! One of the first people I met was another vendor. He happened to be a parapsychologist! We struck up a really cool conversation. Shortly after he left, one of the vendors across the way hurried over to me and purchased a copy of, “Memories of Chronosalis”! All of this took place before the event even took place! Shortly before crowds of people began swarming around me, I quickly hurried over to see Doug Jones! It was so amazing to see him again and he even remembered me! It’s always great to get his hugs! :)
Probably around noon, I met a Canadian school teacher who was really interested in getting my books at some time for his middle schoolers! I also sold an audiobook CD to a girl who is going to promote the book on her gaming channel! I was so excited to hear that. And within the last fifteen minutes of the event, two other vendors came up to me and purchased, “Memories of Chronosalis” too! I’ve never had two people purchase books at the same time before!
After the event, every single vendor was rushing to put their things away and leave. Fortunately for us, it took only two trips and we were able to leave with ease. Even getting back into America was a breeze!
So, now you’re probably wondering, “Well, how many books did you sell?” I’m happy to report that I sold sixteen books, ten of which were, “Memories of Chronosalis”!
For those of you who have been following along on my Canadian journey, know that I’ve been preparing for this since December 2018. It’s taken time, lots of money, and countless nights of sheer exhaustion. And I’m here to tell you that it was all worth every second! And although the book sales I made were amazing, I’d have to say the people I met and the connections I made, were worth more than any number of book sales! I hope to meet those vendors again and maybe even the people that stopped by my table!
Now, this is for my writer/author friends. The lessons I learned from this trip are without a doubt invaluable. And I’d like to share with you some tips in case you’d like to venture out of the country with your own art!
• Do it by the book. I consulted with a broker who was assigned to the comic con and he helped me fill out paperwork to give to the border patrol agent. Now, again, I didn’t have enough to worry about, but I still did what I was supposed to do because I consider myself a business and I wanted to do things right. He really appreciated it. Also doing things by the book makes you less paranoid (if you’re like me that is :) )
• Plan ahead. Read the fine print on the comic con instructions. If the event setup is the day before, get there the day before. I made the mistake of only getting there the day of the event and my manager had to quickly book us a hotel Thursday night. We didn’t get a lot of sleep, big mistake. Fortunately, we still managed to make it through the day Friday.
• Have enough change. When going to Canada, you’ll have to get some Canadian currency, you’ll only get bills so make sure you go to a small pharmacy shop of sorts and get someone and two dollar coins as that’s the only form you’ll get in Canada.
• Know the exchange rate! This is a big one. If you’re close to the border, you’ll want to offer American and Canadian payment. If I hadn’t done that, I would have lost three sales.
• Don’t rely on the Square. Sadly, if you’re from the U.S. the Square won’t work in Canada. The Square explicitly states on their “terms of use” that the Square will not work in a country that it wasn’t set up in. Frustrating, I know, but they haven’t evolved yet. Maybe one day! :)
• Friday Blues. Didn’t get a lot of sales on Friday? Don’t sweat it. I see Friday as for people who seem to already know what they’re looking for. In fact, many vendors I spoke to said they got few sales.
• Sunday Craze. Many people wait till the last second to purchase something, these people are generally vendors or con-goers who have the weekend pass.
• Placement, placement, placement! As a vendor, you won’t get a say in where you are placed, so use that to your advantage. Say you have a huge vendor in front of you that gets loads of customers. Sometimes those customers will be waiting in line and will be backed into your table. Catch those people, I mean, after all, they are waiting so why not purchase something? This applies to any comic con.
• Cosplayers. There are general rules during comic cons about photos being taken. Every comic con will be a bit different. But the general consensus is to ask the individual for permission and tell them where the photo will be shown (i.e. fan page or website). This can be used to your advantage as a vendor. Most, if not all, of the cosplayers will want to see their picture and tag themselves in it. So, give them your card! Perfect way to advertise and promote yourself even if the cosplayer doesn’t purchase a book.
• Know your venue. This is probably the number one rule, if you forget everything else above, remember this. Know the comic con. Memorize everything on the website and have copies on top of copies of important information the event coordinator sends you. Not that you’ll come across people who’ll give you a hard time, but keep things on you so you’ll know the exact rules of everything because every event, whether in America or in another country, will be different. It’s always good to have yourself covered.
• Location, location, location! Another big one, if you aren’t familiar with the area, make sure you have that pretty much memorized when you’re booking a hotel. I made this mistake and booked a hotel an hour away from the location and had no idea. I canceled it just in time and had to book a motel that was a few minutes from the venue. Well, it was a place to sleep. I definitely wouldn’t go back again. So save yourself the trouble and triple check the entire area!
I’m not going to bore you with the minute details of our Canadian adventure. And by “our” I mean my husband and I. Although, before I get into the awesomeness of the Niagara Falls Comic Con, I want to give a huge shout-out to my husband, Jeffrey. He generally comes with me to every event and his help is truly amazing! He goes around taking pictures, mans the table when I need a break, and he’s so good at talking to people about my books and gaining their interest! I don’t know what I’d do without his help, especially at this specific comic con!
Our journey to Niagara dragged for quite some time, mostly because we had to take a quick stop along the way for a few hours rest. And although we were completely exhausted, we picked up our travels again at 3:30 am on Friday morning. By the time we arrived at the border, the border patrol agent quickly let us in. I was really concerned at first that there’d be some delay as I wasn’t coming in as a vacationer but a businesswoman. To my relief, the agent simply said that I wasn’t carrying enough product to really worry about. We didn’t expect that kind of response. Then again, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect.
As we drove into Ontario, everything went from feet and miles to meters and kilometers. But that wasn’t the only thing that was noticeably different. The people were too. And not in a bad way either, all throughout the comic con and even people we came across at restaurants and stores were all very pleasant! Now, I didn’t expect anyone to be rude, but I also didn’t expect everyone to be so friendly! Our first stop was at a really cool diner. It was all very sci-fi! It even looked like a flying saucer! I couldn’t help but wish we had cool diners like that where I live.
When we finally arrived at the convention center, we quickly unloaded our car and set up within a few minutes. (This is per usual for us, we carry just enough for each event as we have a relatively small car). But this gave us time to look around at the other vendors and boy, there were a lot! Not going to lie, I’m pretty sure I got lost a few times just trying to make my way back to my table! But while I was going from vendor to vendor, I noticed something rather interesting…I wasn’t just the only sci-fi/fantasy author. I was the only American vendor! At least, that’s what it appeared to be.
Once the comic con went underway, the buzz and excitement picked up rather quickly. I became pretty good friends with the vendors in my immediate areas. The people next to me were from the International Paintball Group and they were a fun group to talk to. Each day new people came to that table and they were from different areas of the world: Australia, Wales, England, and Canada. The people directly across from us sold lots of toys and mystery boxes. They were also really enjoyable to talk to. Between these two vendors, they really made my experience as a vendor memorable and I actually learned a lot from them. No, they weren’t selling anything like what I was selling, but some of their tactics on getting people to come to their table were pretty interesting!
Friday also was the day that was full of surprises! At one point, two Daleks came strolling by (for those of you who don’t know what that is, they’re villains from Doctor Who). And amidst their arguing, they actually stopped by my table and began “interrogating me”! They seemed rather interested in my latest book after telling them that there are alien-like creatures that try to take over humanity. They then proceeded to argue with each other and strolled on by claiming they’d be back for the book! Whether they actually came back or not is a mystery to me… *rechecks book inventory*
Speaking of book inventory, I didn’t sell a whole lot on Friday, mostly because there wasn’t a bunch of people. However, a vendor came by and actually purchased a copy of one of my earlier books! She was such a sweetheart! She loved my energy and said she was going to tell everyone that came to her table about me. That wasn’t a lie. Not too long after she left, another vendor she knew came by and bought, “Memories of Chronosalis”! It was awesome to see the support!
And to top off my first day at the con, I got to meet two celebrities that I’ve been wanting to meet for a while. William Zabka and Martin Kove from the original Karate Kid and the new Cobra Kai series. Now, I grew up with the Karate Kid and honestly, I’m surprised I don’t have the movies memorized by now. So, I guess you can say I’m a huge fan. :) Talking to William Zabka was really awesome, I even told him that I was a vendor at the comic con and was a sci-fi/fantasy author. He said he’d stop by my table and you know what? He almost did! Time just wasn’t on his side, unfortunately, but hey he almost did! That totally counts for something. And, Jeffrey was able to give him my card. Mr. Zabka wished me the best of luck on my writing which was totally awesome! Meeting Martin Kove was really cool too, I actually struck up a conversation with him about his character in the films. From a writer’s point of view, this was valuable information and he actually helped me understand a character I’m currently working on! After our conversation, I got an autographed picture from him too! And, of course, that picture is now hanging in a frame on my library wall. Hey! Don’t judge, meeting those two men was a huge encouragement to me and that autograph is a reminder of how amazing my time in Canada was! If they ever happen to come across this blog post, thank you so much!
“And this is only Friday? What else could have happened?” Haha! Glad you asked!
Saturday contained its own surprises. It actually began in the morning before doors opened. That one vendor who purchased, “Memories of Chronosalis” the night before came to me and told me he didn’t want to stop reading the book! Boy was that a huge encouragement boost! It certainly paved the way for a great day. Soon hundreds of people began piling into the convention center. In fact, people continued entering the building even at 1:30 pm and the event began at 10:00 am! I couldn’t believe the crowd! The floor in front of my table quickly became non-existent as people continued passing by. I was so glad I was behind my table!
Another woman came to my table and purchased a copy of one of my original books. She was so excited to buy a book that she asked to get a picture with me! Right then, Carrie became my first Canadian fan! I was so happy! No one had ever asked for a picture with me before! And not too long after her, came another woman who said she came to the comic con looking for sci-fi books to add to her collection! How awesome is that?
Although Saturday was a super long day, Jeffrey and I were fortunate to have some time to ourselves after the event that day. We spent three hours at the falls! We watched as the sunset and the lights on the falls turned on. It was really awesome to see! We even stayed long enough to see the fireworks. During this time, we also got the chance to talk to two couples from New Jersey who were excited to meet a sci-fi/fantasy author!
Finally, Sunday came, the last day of the event. I thought the last day would have fewer people, but man was I wrong! One of the first people I met was another vendor. He happened to be a parapsychologist! We struck up a really cool conversation. Shortly after he left, one of the vendors across the way hurried over to me and purchased a copy of, “Memories of Chronosalis”! All of this took place before the event even took place! Shortly before crowds of people began swarming around me, I quickly hurried over to see Doug Jones! It was so amazing to see him again and he even remembered me! It’s always great to get his hugs! :)
Probably around noon, I met a Canadian school teacher who was really interested in getting my books at some time for his middle schoolers! I also sold an audiobook CD to a girl who is going to promote the book on her gaming channel! I was so excited to hear that. And within the last fifteen minutes of the event, two other vendors came up to me and purchased, “Memories of Chronosalis” too! I’ve never had two people purchase books at the same time before!
After the event, every single vendor was rushing to put their things away and leave. Fortunately for us, it took only two trips and we were able to leave with ease. Even getting back into America was a breeze!
So, now you’re probably wondering, “Well, how many books did you sell?” I’m happy to report that I sold sixteen books, ten of which were, “Memories of Chronosalis”!
For those of you who have been following along on my Canadian journey, know that I’ve been preparing for this since December 2018. It’s taken time, lots of money, and countless nights of sheer exhaustion. And I’m here to tell you that it was all worth every second! And although the book sales I made were amazing, I’d have to say the people I met and the connections I made, were worth more than any number of book sales! I hope to meet those vendors again and maybe even the people that stopped by my table!
Now, this is for my writer/author friends. The lessons I learned from this trip are without a doubt invaluable. And I’d like to share with you some tips in case you’d like to venture out of the country with your own art!
• Do it by the book. I consulted with a broker who was assigned to the comic con and he helped me fill out paperwork to give to the border patrol agent. Now, again, I didn’t have enough to worry about, but I still did what I was supposed to do because I consider myself a business and I wanted to do things right. He really appreciated it. Also doing things by the book makes you less paranoid (if you’re like me that is :) )
• Plan ahead. Read the fine print on the comic con instructions. If the event setup is the day before, get there the day before. I made the mistake of only getting there the day of the event and my manager had to quickly book us a hotel Thursday night. We didn’t get a lot of sleep, big mistake. Fortunately, we still managed to make it through the day Friday.
• Have enough change. When going to Canada, you’ll have to get some Canadian currency, you’ll only get bills so make sure you go to a small pharmacy shop of sorts and get someone and two dollar coins as that’s the only form you’ll get in Canada.
• Know the exchange rate! This is a big one. If you’re close to the border, you’ll want to offer American and Canadian payment. If I hadn’t done that, I would have lost three sales.
• Don’t rely on the Square. Sadly, if you’re from the U.S. the Square won’t work in Canada. The Square explicitly states on their “terms of use” that the Square will not work in a country that it wasn’t set up in. Frustrating, I know, but they haven’t evolved yet. Maybe one day! :)
• Friday Blues. Didn’t get a lot of sales on Friday? Don’t sweat it. I see Friday as for people who seem to already know what they’re looking for. In fact, many vendors I spoke to said they got few sales.
• Sunday Craze. Many people wait till the last second to purchase something, these people are generally vendors or con-goers who have the weekend pass.
• Placement, placement, placement! As a vendor, you won’t get a say in where you are placed, so use that to your advantage. Say you have a huge vendor in front of you that gets loads of customers. Sometimes those customers will be waiting in line and will be backed into your table. Catch those people, I mean, after all, they are waiting so why not purchase something? This applies to any comic con.
• Cosplayers. There are general rules during comic cons about photos being taken. Every comic con will be a bit different. But the general consensus is to ask the individual for permission and tell them where the photo will be shown (i.e. fan page or website). This can be used to your advantage as a vendor. Most, if not all, of the cosplayers will want to see their picture and tag themselves in it. So, give them your card! Perfect way to advertise and promote yourself even if the cosplayer doesn’t purchase a book.
• Know your venue. This is probably the number one rule, if you forget everything else above, remember this. Know the comic con. Memorize everything on the website and have copies on top of copies of important information the event coordinator sends you. Not that you’ll come across people who’ll give you a hard time, but keep things on you so you’ll know the exact rules of everything because every event, whether in America or in another country, will be different. It’s always good to have yourself covered.
• Location, location, location! Another big one, if you aren’t familiar with the area, make sure you have that pretty much memorized when you’re booking a hotel. I made this mistake and booked a hotel an hour away from the location and had no idea. I canceled it just in time and had to book a motel that was a few minutes from the venue. Well, it was a place to sleep. I definitely wouldn’t go back again. So save yourself the trouble and triple check the entire area!
May 31, 2019
No Turning Back
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! That’s what my brain has been screaming since the beginning of this month. Why? Well, I’ve been planning for one of the biggest book events of my career (so far). I’ll be heading to Canada to the Niagara Falls Comic Con on June 7th-9th. Sounds exciting, right? Definitely, but there’s a lot more to it than I originally thought.
I’ve spent months preparing for the event and it seemed every time I thought I had things figured out, Canada whispered to me, “But wait…there’s more!” And to top it all off, I get a letter from one of the Canadian officials who are in charge of the event stating that I’m one of ten foreign vendors! That’s right, TEN! “Great, no pressure!” is what I thought upon reading that letter. I didn’t know who these other nine vendors were and for all I knew, I was the only American! (I’m probably not, but that was just what my paranoid mind was thinking at the time).
With all the legalities involved and the constant stress of having all my ducks in a row, my dad asked me, “How much money have you put into this thing already?” I’m pretty sure my brain short-circuited at this question, but I simply said, “Too much.” I then started thinking, is this going to be worth it? But my mom said, “You can’t turn back now, you already put so much time and effort into this!”
So, at this point, I became so consumed with this event and my writing that I began to forget the important things. I forgot to enjoy the journey that I’m on. Yes, preparing for this event is a big thing and obviously writing is my career, but they’re not the only things going on in my life. I began to give myself more breaks and took up exercising more whether it be hiking or biking. I even started eating super healthy foods! And you know, it made such a difference in my overall mental state.
Now, I’m not saying go on a week-long fast or go climb Mount Washington. No, but I find that taking care of one’s self is far more important than any career or hobby. I mean, subconsciously we know that. But as people, we sometimes get caught up in the awesome moments of life that we tend to forget about ourselves. Think about it, if we don’t take the time to care for ourselves first, then our careers will suffer for it in the long run.
I’ve spent months preparing for the event and it seemed every time I thought I had things figured out, Canada whispered to me, “But wait…there’s more!” And to top it all off, I get a letter from one of the Canadian officials who are in charge of the event stating that I’m one of ten foreign vendors! That’s right, TEN! “Great, no pressure!” is what I thought upon reading that letter. I didn’t know who these other nine vendors were and for all I knew, I was the only American! (I’m probably not, but that was just what my paranoid mind was thinking at the time).
With all the legalities involved and the constant stress of having all my ducks in a row, my dad asked me, “How much money have you put into this thing already?” I’m pretty sure my brain short-circuited at this question, but I simply said, “Too much.” I then started thinking, is this going to be worth it? But my mom said, “You can’t turn back now, you already put so much time and effort into this!”
So, at this point, I became so consumed with this event and my writing that I began to forget the important things. I forgot to enjoy the journey that I’m on. Yes, preparing for this event is a big thing and obviously writing is my career, but they’re not the only things going on in my life. I began to give myself more breaks and took up exercising more whether it be hiking or biking. I even started eating super healthy foods! And you know, it made such a difference in my overall mental state.
Now, I’m not saying go on a week-long fast or go climb Mount Washington. No, but I find that taking care of one’s self is far more important than any career or hobby. I mean, subconsciously we know that. But as people, we sometimes get caught up in the awesome moments of life that we tend to forget about ourselves. Think about it, if we don’t take the time to care for ourselves first, then our careers will suffer for it in the long run.
