Doug Farren's Blog, page 14
September 20, 2015
Self-Publishing: What Not To Do
Last month, I was at WorldCon -- a weekend that changed how I view myself as an author and a publisher. While I was there, I took a number of pictures which I have posted on my Flickr account. You can view them by clicking here.
I am about 75% complete with my re-edit of Translight. I've also recently finished reading two books by a successful self-published author that I recommend to anyone who is thinking of or who has self-published. These are:
Createspace and Kindle Self-Publishing MasterClassFrom Word to Kindle
The author has a whole series of books on self-publishing that are easy to read and filled with useful information. His advice sometimes conflicts with what Amazon puts out, but that's because he has done the research and he knows what does and does not work.
Self-Publishing: What Not to Do
This is the third post in my new series on self-publishing. If you missed the first two, you can find them by clicking on the following links:
Writing is a BusinessEstablish Your NetworkBy now, many of you are probably wondering when I'm going to get around to telling you how to actually publish your book. I'm not, and here's why: Every book is different. Internal formatting is important and the look of the book is a personal choice. The actual mechanics of publishing your book are quite simple -- you upload it to Amazon. There, my part is done, you know how to publish. The part that's difficult is making your book look professional. For that information, I will ask that you read the above books and then read some more.
When you publish your book, you're making it available for the world to see. The reading public will judge you by the quality of your work. If you want to be viewed as a professional, then you need to produce a professional product. Some authors will tell you this means spending hundreds of dollars on having your work professionally edited and formatted. I call bull on that. Yes, it's an important part of publishing, but if you don't have the money, then you shouldn't go into debt just to pay an editor. That's not good business practice. But you should do the absolute best you can. Become knowledgeable on how to format your book, have others look at it with a critical eye, and then publish. You can always go back and fix things as your readers point them out to you and if you make money on your book, by all means have it professionally edited when you can afford it.
So, the first thing you should not do is release a poorly formatted, poorly edited book. The second is to put yourself in debt to have your book professionally edited and formatted.
At this point, you might be thinking, "But I don't have the time to read all those books on self-publishing!" You might be tempted to go with one of the publishing companies listed in the back of a magazine or one that pops up on a Google search. Most will charge you for the privilege of publishing your book. Some will do it for free. Most will tell you they will have your book edited and proofed by their staff of professionals. Please -- do not do this!
I know people who have handed over thousands of their hard-earned money to a publishing company that has promised them the world. They've signed a contract giving the publisher the rights to their work. Their book was published, but it was never professionally edited or formatted. They took what the author gave them and stuck it into a book. For an extra fee, they will promise to promote your book. Don't believe them! Item number three on the never to do list is: Pay money to have your book published.
There are some exceptions to this rule. There are some very good publishers who will ask for a small fee to print your book. Ingram-Sparks is one such company. Their rates are reasonable and you retain full rights to your book. There is one member of my writers group who is planning to go this route. Do your research. If a publisher wants you to hand over thousands of dollars and promises you all sorts of great returns, shy away from them. I've never met anyone who's actually made any money on a deal like this. A small fee to have a well-known printer produce your book is not unwarranted. But, if this is your first novel and you're short on cash, go with Createspace -- it's free and you can always change your mind when you learn more.
Okay, your book is live on Amazon, a stack of printed copies is on the way. Now what? Promote! You hop on Twitter and blast out your news, next stop is Facebook, then Google+. Oh my, it's been 15 minutes, someone might not have seen your first posts so you repeat them. Then you hunt down all the discussion boards you can find and... STOP! You're going about it all wrong. People, especially other authors, are going to see you as a pest, a loud advertisement, or worse. You'll be tuned out, blocked, unfriended, and ignored. Don't be a pest!
It's okay to be proud of your accomplishment. Let people know. Put out a short tweet, or a message on Facebook and other social networking sites. That's fine. Just don't repeat yourself. Over-promoting will get you a bad reputation. People do not respond well to this. You can be banned from most forums if you engage in this type of activity. If you've been a presence on a forum for some time, it's probably okay to let people know you've released your first book, but do it in a subtle manner. Hitting people over the head with a billboard is not subtle. By all means tell your friends. Post a sign-up sheet at your work for anyone wanting to buy a copy of your book. Politely ask people to share the news with their friends. Be proud, yet humble.
Finally, you're going to get feedback, treat it as such. There are some authors who will tell you to never read your reviews. I disagree. Do not ignore your readers. You will most likely get a few very negative reviews from people who get a kick out of trying to humiliate others. Ignore them. What you're interested in are the meaningful reviews from people who have a specific comment to make. If you get more negative reviews than positive ones, then perhaps it's best to pull the book until you can fix the problems the readers are pointing out. Listen to what your readers have to say. I do, and I've benefitted from their comments. I know it's hard, but don't take these comments personally. If a reader is honest, they will be reviewing the book, not you as a person.
Do not engage in a war of words on the comments you receive. Remember, the entire world can read what is said. Flaming someone because they wrote a negative review is a sure way to end your writing career. I have replied to a review asking for additional information if it seems as if the reader could provide it. If you simply can't resist the urge to reply, do so in a professional manner. I recently had a 4-star review on Chroniech and the reviewer mentioned that the editing was poor. I replied, telling them that the first 3 books of the series (my first published novels) were being re-edited. I thanked them for the review.
There are more items that can be added to the list, but I will refrain from turning this post into a small novel. The bottom line is you want to present yourself as a professional author. Someone another person would love to meet. You should also have good business sense. I know you're anxious to publish, but take a step back and think about what it is you are about to do. You're making something you spent a lot of time creating available to the entire planet to read and comment on. Is it ready? Are you ready? Is your publisher betting they can take your money because you're too anxious? Slow down, take a deep breath, think about the future, and then, when you are absolutely confident in your decision, publish.
In summary here is what you should not do:Release a poorly formatted, poorly edited book.Put yourself in debt to have your book professionally edited and formatted.Pay money to have your book published.Be a pest when it comes to promoting your book.Ignore your readers.Reply to a bad review meant to illicit such a response.Be unprofessional.Next week's post will be on Protecting Your Hard Work (copyrights, electronic storage, etc). This is different than what I originally planned 3 weeks ago because protecting your work is important.
I am about 75% complete with my re-edit of Translight. I've also recently finished reading two books by a successful self-published author that I recommend to anyone who is thinking of or who has self-published. These are:
Createspace and Kindle Self-Publishing MasterClassFrom Word to Kindle
The author has a whole series of books on self-publishing that are easy to read and filled with useful information. His advice sometimes conflicts with what Amazon puts out, but that's because he has done the research and he knows what does and does not work.
Self-Publishing: What Not to Do
This is the third post in my new series on self-publishing. If you missed the first two, you can find them by clicking on the following links:
Writing is a BusinessEstablish Your NetworkBy now, many of you are probably wondering when I'm going to get around to telling you how to actually publish your book. I'm not, and here's why: Every book is different. Internal formatting is important and the look of the book is a personal choice. The actual mechanics of publishing your book are quite simple -- you upload it to Amazon. There, my part is done, you know how to publish. The part that's difficult is making your book look professional. For that information, I will ask that you read the above books and then read some more.
When you publish your book, you're making it available for the world to see. The reading public will judge you by the quality of your work. If you want to be viewed as a professional, then you need to produce a professional product. Some authors will tell you this means spending hundreds of dollars on having your work professionally edited and formatted. I call bull on that. Yes, it's an important part of publishing, but if you don't have the money, then you shouldn't go into debt just to pay an editor. That's not good business practice. But you should do the absolute best you can. Become knowledgeable on how to format your book, have others look at it with a critical eye, and then publish. You can always go back and fix things as your readers point them out to you and if you make money on your book, by all means have it professionally edited when you can afford it.
So, the first thing you should not do is release a poorly formatted, poorly edited book. The second is to put yourself in debt to have your book professionally edited and formatted.
At this point, you might be thinking, "But I don't have the time to read all those books on self-publishing!" You might be tempted to go with one of the publishing companies listed in the back of a magazine or one that pops up on a Google search. Most will charge you for the privilege of publishing your book. Some will do it for free. Most will tell you they will have your book edited and proofed by their staff of professionals. Please -- do not do this!
I know people who have handed over thousands of their hard-earned money to a publishing company that has promised them the world. They've signed a contract giving the publisher the rights to their work. Their book was published, but it was never professionally edited or formatted. They took what the author gave them and stuck it into a book. For an extra fee, they will promise to promote your book. Don't believe them! Item number three on the never to do list is: Pay money to have your book published.
There are some exceptions to this rule. There are some very good publishers who will ask for a small fee to print your book. Ingram-Sparks is one such company. Their rates are reasonable and you retain full rights to your book. There is one member of my writers group who is planning to go this route. Do your research. If a publisher wants you to hand over thousands of dollars and promises you all sorts of great returns, shy away from them. I've never met anyone who's actually made any money on a deal like this. A small fee to have a well-known printer produce your book is not unwarranted. But, if this is your first novel and you're short on cash, go with Createspace -- it's free and you can always change your mind when you learn more.
Okay, your book is live on Amazon, a stack of printed copies is on the way. Now what? Promote! You hop on Twitter and blast out your news, next stop is Facebook, then Google+. Oh my, it's been 15 minutes, someone might not have seen your first posts so you repeat them. Then you hunt down all the discussion boards you can find and... STOP! You're going about it all wrong. People, especially other authors, are going to see you as a pest, a loud advertisement, or worse. You'll be tuned out, blocked, unfriended, and ignored. Don't be a pest!
It's okay to be proud of your accomplishment. Let people know. Put out a short tweet, or a message on Facebook and other social networking sites. That's fine. Just don't repeat yourself. Over-promoting will get you a bad reputation. People do not respond well to this. You can be banned from most forums if you engage in this type of activity. If you've been a presence on a forum for some time, it's probably okay to let people know you've released your first book, but do it in a subtle manner. Hitting people over the head with a billboard is not subtle. By all means tell your friends. Post a sign-up sheet at your work for anyone wanting to buy a copy of your book. Politely ask people to share the news with their friends. Be proud, yet humble.
Finally, you're going to get feedback, treat it as such. There are some authors who will tell you to never read your reviews. I disagree. Do not ignore your readers. You will most likely get a few very negative reviews from people who get a kick out of trying to humiliate others. Ignore them. What you're interested in are the meaningful reviews from people who have a specific comment to make. If you get more negative reviews than positive ones, then perhaps it's best to pull the book until you can fix the problems the readers are pointing out. Listen to what your readers have to say. I do, and I've benefitted from their comments. I know it's hard, but don't take these comments personally. If a reader is honest, they will be reviewing the book, not you as a person.
Do not engage in a war of words on the comments you receive. Remember, the entire world can read what is said. Flaming someone because they wrote a negative review is a sure way to end your writing career. I have replied to a review asking for additional information if it seems as if the reader could provide it. If you simply can't resist the urge to reply, do so in a professional manner. I recently had a 4-star review on Chroniech and the reviewer mentioned that the editing was poor. I replied, telling them that the first 3 books of the series (my first published novels) were being re-edited. I thanked them for the review.
There are more items that can be added to the list, but I will refrain from turning this post into a small novel. The bottom line is you want to present yourself as a professional author. Someone another person would love to meet. You should also have good business sense. I know you're anxious to publish, but take a step back and think about what it is you are about to do. You're making something you spent a lot of time creating available to the entire planet to read and comment on. Is it ready? Are you ready? Is your publisher betting they can take your money because you're too anxious? Slow down, take a deep breath, think about the future, and then, when you are absolutely confident in your decision, publish.
In summary here is what you should not do:Release a poorly formatted, poorly edited book.Put yourself in debt to have your book professionally edited and formatted.Pay money to have your book published.Be a pest when it comes to promoting your book.Ignore your readers.Reply to a bad review meant to illicit such a response.Be unprofessional.Next week's post will be on Protecting Your Hard Work (copyrights, electronic storage, etc). This is different than what I originally planned 3 weeks ago because protecting your work is important.
September 13, 2015
Self-Publishing: Establish Your Network
I just had a 4-star review of
Chroniech
. The reviewer enjoyed the story but said the editing was horrible. I agree. Chroniech was actually the first book I wrote even though it is the second book of the series and it has never been properly edited. My wife is my grammar-checker and proof-reader, but she did not begin doing this until later in my writing career.
This review highlights why I've put Dragonverse Origins on hold to go back and re-edit the first 3 books of the Galactic Alliance series, reformat the text, redo the covers, and re-publish the series. I have learned plenty in the years since I started writing and it's time for me to present myself as a professional writer.
The editing of Translight has hit the 50% point. I am continuing to work my way through the book, making changes to improve the quality of the experience without changing the scope of the story. When that's done, I will reformat for Kindle and create a new cover. Then the book will appear in its new form.
Establish Your Network
Last week, I wrote about treating your writing as a business. The number of people reading that post is among the highest for any past blog post I've written. Apparently, this is what people want to hear; not random thoughts about writing in general or my progress on various projects, but down-to-earth advice on how to become a self-published author. This week's post talks about establishing a network of writer friends and acquaintances.
Up until July of 2012, I did not know or have contact with any other writers. I self-published my first book in early 2009. That's a long time to be involved in something and not know anyone else in the field. It was too long a time. Writing is a lonely activity, there's no doubt about that. But that does not mean you should become a hermit. For a writer to progress to the point where they can be called an author, that person needs to have a network of people interested in the same thing to converse with.
A network will also give you a sense of being. It's a hard feeling to describe, but it's real. If you love to fly model airplanes, you want to share this experience with other people so you join a club. If you like to read science fiction, you find friends who also like to read those types of stories and you spend time talking about them. Being able to talk about what you love to do is part of the reason why you do it and why you search out others with similar tastes. Writing is no different.
I have learned and grown by more than I can possibly explain to you because of who I know in my personal network. I feel as if I am part of a larger community and I'm involved in something I enjoy doing. No single person can know everything there is to know about any subject. That's why people form clubs and gather together at conventions. Each encounter with another author is a learning experience even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. Humans are social animals and we tend to socialize with others of like interest. Having a personal network of writing-related people will satisfy this primitive desire to feel like you are part of a community.
So, where to start?
I started building my network when I applied for and was accepted to Launch Pad. That was when I learned the importance of knowing others in the field. Launch Pad didn't just kick-start my network, it opened my eyes to the world of writing. I learned more about what it is to be a writer during that one week in July of 2012 than I did of astronomy which was the purpose of the workshop. But getting accepted into Launch Pad is difficult. Out of 90+ applications this year, Mike Brotherton was only able to accept 14 lucky individuals. Most of these were award-winning authors or editors. If not Launch Pad, then what?
Look around your area for writer's groups and join one or two. Stick it out over several meetings and see if you feel comfortable with them. If not, find another group. You're looking for a group of people you enjoy being around and are willing to provide you with meaningful feedback on your work. Make friends with them. Stick around after the meeting and talk about writing. Find out if any of them have publishing experience or if someone has gone to a convention. You might only find 2 or 3 people you gravitate towards, but that's a start.
Go to conventions. A good place to look for upcoming conventions is con-news.com. Or, you could ask you new friends from your writer's group. Don't do what I did! I started out small and I went to a local convention called MillenniCon which is held in Cincinnati, about a 5-hour drive from my house. I attended the panels (Mike Resnick and David Drake were on one) and learned quite a bit. I spent too much time in my room writing. I should have been hanging out talking to the other people who went and trying to establish contacts.
Satisfied with MillenniCon, I decided to go to DragonCon - one of the largest conventions. I had a great time, and it worked out very well for me, but I don't recommend it for new writers. I had lunch with several authors I met at Launch Pad and they introduced me to a couple other people who are now my friends. But, if I had not known those authors, DragonCon would have been an expensive waste of my time. Stick to the smaller, local conventions. Go to as many as you can. Spend time getting to know some of the people who attend. And, if at all possible, introduce yourself to the panelists if they make themselves available. Some won't, but many will be available for you to approach either after the panel or later during the convention.
Another way to establish your author network is to join online groups or get yourself a Twitter account and follow some authors. I'm not a big fan of this technique unless you are particularly good at long-range relationships. Being able to sit down and chat with a person face-to-face is a much better way to interact than tweeting or messaging a person you've never met. But, if that's all you can manage now, then by all means give it a try. It might lead to something.
There are other ways as well. Attend a writing class and get to know the people in the class with you. Go to an author reading and interact with those who also attend -- some of them are most likely authors. As a last resort, see if you can locate one or two local authors and invite them to join you for coffee or lunch. Explain to them that you're a writer looking to find other authors to interact with. Most writers are more than willing to share their experience with you.
If you happen to get lucky and your network of writing-related friends includes award-winning authors, magazine editors, or movie producers, don't think for one minute that you can use these people for your own gains. These individuals are your friends and acquaintances, not your ticket to publication. Treat them with the respect they deserve. If you know a magazine editor, do not ask for a special review of your story--submit it through the proper channels. If you want to be respected by other authors, earn your place among their rank by doing the work yourself. Don't be afraid of rejection. It happens to all writers. Accept it and move on.
My personal network includes award-winning authors, a movie producer, a Hollywood animator, script-writers that have written for popular television series, magazine editors, and blockbuster game developers. I know people who live in the UK as well as Australia. Some of these people are good friends. Most are acquaintances I stay in touch with. If I ever need help on something or if I have a question that only a seasoned author can answer, they are there to help. But, and more importantly, we all have learned something from each other. I may not be able to list the specifics, but without this network I would be a very poor writer indeed. In fact, I would be just a writer--not an author.
This review highlights why I've put Dragonverse Origins on hold to go back and re-edit the first 3 books of the Galactic Alliance series, reformat the text, redo the covers, and re-publish the series. I have learned plenty in the years since I started writing and it's time for me to present myself as a professional writer.
The editing of Translight has hit the 50% point. I am continuing to work my way through the book, making changes to improve the quality of the experience without changing the scope of the story. When that's done, I will reformat for Kindle and create a new cover. Then the book will appear in its new form.
Establish Your Network
Last week, I wrote about treating your writing as a business. The number of people reading that post is among the highest for any past blog post I've written. Apparently, this is what people want to hear; not random thoughts about writing in general or my progress on various projects, but down-to-earth advice on how to become a self-published author. This week's post talks about establishing a network of writer friends and acquaintances.
Up until July of 2012, I did not know or have contact with any other writers. I self-published my first book in early 2009. That's a long time to be involved in something and not know anyone else in the field. It was too long a time. Writing is a lonely activity, there's no doubt about that. But that does not mean you should become a hermit. For a writer to progress to the point where they can be called an author, that person needs to have a network of people interested in the same thing to converse with.
A network will also give you a sense of being. It's a hard feeling to describe, but it's real. If you love to fly model airplanes, you want to share this experience with other people so you join a club. If you like to read science fiction, you find friends who also like to read those types of stories and you spend time talking about them. Being able to talk about what you love to do is part of the reason why you do it and why you search out others with similar tastes. Writing is no different.
I have learned and grown by more than I can possibly explain to you because of who I know in my personal network. I feel as if I am part of a larger community and I'm involved in something I enjoy doing. No single person can know everything there is to know about any subject. That's why people form clubs and gather together at conventions. Each encounter with another author is a learning experience even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. Humans are social animals and we tend to socialize with others of like interest. Having a personal network of writing-related people will satisfy this primitive desire to feel like you are part of a community.
So, where to start?
I started building my network when I applied for and was accepted to Launch Pad. That was when I learned the importance of knowing others in the field. Launch Pad didn't just kick-start my network, it opened my eyes to the world of writing. I learned more about what it is to be a writer during that one week in July of 2012 than I did of astronomy which was the purpose of the workshop. But getting accepted into Launch Pad is difficult. Out of 90+ applications this year, Mike Brotherton was only able to accept 14 lucky individuals. Most of these were award-winning authors or editors. If not Launch Pad, then what?
Look around your area for writer's groups and join one or two. Stick it out over several meetings and see if you feel comfortable with them. If not, find another group. You're looking for a group of people you enjoy being around and are willing to provide you with meaningful feedback on your work. Make friends with them. Stick around after the meeting and talk about writing. Find out if any of them have publishing experience or if someone has gone to a convention. You might only find 2 or 3 people you gravitate towards, but that's a start.
Go to conventions. A good place to look for upcoming conventions is con-news.com. Or, you could ask you new friends from your writer's group. Don't do what I did! I started out small and I went to a local convention called MillenniCon which is held in Cincinnati, about a 5-hour drive from my house. I attended the panels (Mike Resnick and David Drake were on one) and learned quite a bit. I spent too much time in my room writing. I should have been hanging out talking to the other people who went and trying to establish contacts.
Satisfied with MillenniCon, I decided to go to DragonCon - one of the largest conventions. I had a great time, and it worked out very well for me, but I don't recommend it for new writers. I had lunch with several authors I met at Launch Pad and they introduced me to a couple other people who are now my friends. But, if I had not known those authors, DragonCon would have been an expensive waste of my time. Stick to the smaller, local conventions. Go to as many as you can. Spend time getting to know some of the people who attend. And, if at all possible, introduce yourself to the panelists if they make themselves available. Some won't, but many will be available for you to approach either after the panel or later during the convention.
Another way to establish your author network is to join online groups or get yourself a Twitter account and follow some authors. I'm not a big fan of this technique unless you are particularly good at long-range relationships. Being able to sit down and chat with a person face-to-face is a much better way to interact than tweeting or messaging a person you've never met. But, if that's all you can manage now, then by all means give it a try. It might lead to something.
There are other ways as well. Attend a writing class and get to know the people in the class with you. Go to an author reading and interact with those who also attend -- some of them are most likely authors. As a last resort, see if you can locate one or two local authors and invite them to join you for coffee or lunch. Explain to them that you're a writer looking to find other authors to interact with. Most writers are more than willing to share their experience with you.
If you happen to get lucky and your network of writing-related friends includes award-winning authors, magazine editors, or movie producers, don't think for one minute that you can use these people for your own gains. These individuals are your friends and acquaintances, not your ticket to publication. Treat them with the respect they deserve. If you know a magazine editor, do not ask for a special review of your story--submit it through the proper channels. If you want to be respected by other authors, earn your place among their rank by doing the work yourself. Don't be afraid of rejection. It happens to all writers. Accept it and move on.
My personal network includes award-winning authors, a movie producer, a Hollywood animator, script-writers that have written for popular television series, magazine editors, and blockbuster game developers. I know people who live in the UK as well as Australia. Some of these people are good friends. Most are acquaintances I stay in touch with. If I ever need help on something or if I have a question that only a seasoned author can answer, they are there to help. But, and more importantly, we all have learned something from each other. I may not be able to list the specifics, but without this network I would be a very poor writer indeed. In fact, I would be just a writer--not an author.
September 7, 2015
Writing is a Business
The Translight re-edit is coming along well. I am about 15% done and I’ve been making a lot of little changes. Although Translight is the first book in the Galactic Alliance series, it was actually written after Chroniech. Heather Zak, my cover artist, has sent me the art-only she used to make the Galactic Alliance covers. I plan on using them to redo the covers.
I’ve created a closed Facebook group named “Self-Publishing Authors” to promote discussion among people looking to self-publish and those who have already done so. This new group is dedicated to answering questions and passing on new ideas concerning self-publishing. Promoting your book is prohibited. Please consider joining if you are interested in or have experience with self-publishing.
The topic for this week -- Writing is a businessLet me start out by saying that I am not a tax expert. Everything I am about to tell you has been learned from reading various books as well as the IRS publications. Believe it or not, the IRS publications are not at all that hard to read and they’re freely available from their website: http://www.irs.gov/
Unless you are writing for your own pleasure, or you never expect to profit from your writing, you should treat your writing activities as a business. You should do this even if you have not yet finished your first manuscript. Why? First, because when you do begin to make an income from writing, you are going to want to have some tax deductions to offset the taxes you are going to pay to the IRS. Secondly, why not start taking those tax deductions now?
If you write as a hobby and you’re not serious about earning a profit from writing, the IRS will not believe you have a valid business. Be very careful about this. If you are ever audited and the IRS concludes you write as a hobby, they can, and will, invalidate all of your past deductions. This is spelled out very clearly in IRS publication 587 (as well as others I’m sure). How are you to avoid this? Easy, keep reading.
As soon as you form your business, you should begin planning for tax time. One of the first things you should do is get yourself an EIN. This is an Employer Identification Number and it’s available instantly from the IRS through their website. To get one now, click here. You should use this number in place of your SSN for all business-related transactions. When you publish on Amazon, you can use your EIN in place of your Social Security Number. It will link back to your SSN and it keeps your SSN private. It also helps show that you are serious about treating your writing as a business.
One thing the government is very keen on is detailed and accurate documentation. No matter what type of business you create, you should keep anything and everything associated with it in a separate location. You should also start and maintain a business log. This is required (I believe) if you form an actual company (such as an LLC). The simplest, and most common, type of business is the self-proprietor. It requires nothing more than a declaration to establish. Keeping a logbook is one way of showing you are serious.
If you qualify for a home office deduction, then you can also claim mileage. One thing you will note when you file your taxes is the IRS does not seem to think a small business can utilize more than one vehicle. I have two cars. I have an Excel spreadsheet that I use to track the business-related mileage. It identifies the following: Which car I drove. Starting odometer reading. Ending odometer reading. Total miles driven. Purpose and if it the mileage recorded is one way or round trip. When tax time comes, I pick the vehicle I use the most and put that on the form. I treat both cars as if they were one. Having the detailed log backs me up if I ever get audited.
Do you use a computer exclusively for writing? The cost of that computer is a business expense. Do you buy books to help you become a better writer, attend conferences, drive to a writer’s group, or take writing classes? These are all valid business expenses as are the miles you put on your car to travel to and from them. A word of caution here. The IRS views writers as being able to conduct their business anywhere. This means that unless you have a home office and you claim one on your tax return, you cannot take any deductions for travel even if you travel out of State. A home office must follow some very specific rules and I will refer you to IRS publication 587 if you want to set one up. If you do, take a picture of it and file it away.
A self-published writer is more than just a writer. You are a writer, editor, proof-reader, publisher, marketer, and many other titles. You are very often the entire package. If you pay to have someone create a cover for your book, that’s an expense. If you pay to have your manuscript edited, write it off. If you use the internet to do research, publish your book, or even check your grammar with a program such as Grammarly, it’s a valid expense.
But, if you do not declare yourself a business, none of these expenses (and many more) can be deducted from your taxes. Are you worried about reporting a loss? Don’t be! The IRS realizes that most businesses will report a loss during its first few years. In fact, reporting a loss for up to five years is okay. But, if you report a loss year after year without showing any appreciable income from the business, it could trigger an audit and the IRS will scrutinize your records. If you’ve kept a detailed log, have all your receipts, and can prove you are actually writing a novel, then I would not worry.
There are other types of businesses you can form. One of the most popular is an LLC. Unless you believe you can be sued for what you write, I don’t believe this is a cost-effective path to follow. I should point out that an LLC will not protect you if you plagiarize someone else's work. Most writers will do fine to simply file as a sole proprietor. If you have a tax professional who does your taxes, have a talk with them. Carefully read the IRS publications. If you are really worried, consult a lawyer although that can be expensive.
There are a few other things you will want to do:Open up a checking account specifically for business use. If you do pull funds from this account for personal use, transfer it to your personal account and use a memo to identify it as profit-taking.Get or designate a credit card solely for use by the business.Print business cards.
If you are serious about being a writer and you plan on making money at it, now is the time to declare yourself a business. As with all my posts, if you have any questions about anything I’ve said please feel free to write me.
Future Posts:Establish your network -- Writing is a lonely job, but you will need access to a network of writer friends you can interface with and call on if you ever need help. Most writers are eager to help other writers out.What NOT to do -- There are many mistakes a self-publishing author can make, especially if you are eager to get your book out into the world. I will try to list the mistakes to avoid.You as an Author -- Writers are a strange bunch. We spend hours behind locked doors hunched over a keyboard or notepad working furiously to create a masterpiece. Once your book is available, you become a public figure. This post will include my advice on how to present yourself to the public and especially your readers.Conventions, Awards, and Professional Organizations -- There are a lot of them out there. What are they for, what benefit does a writer get out of them, and which ones should you go to. Awards are great to strive for. But, are they really worth it? There are many professional organizations available to the self-published author. There are many good reasons to join them.Protecting your hard work -- Copyrights and electronic backups are discussed.As usual, if you have any suggestions for future posts, please let me know. If there is enough interest in one, I'll move it ahead in the schedule.
I’ve created a closed Facebook group named “Self-Publishing Authors” to promote discussion among people looking to self-publish and those who have already done so. This new group is dedicated to answering questions and passing on new ideas concerning self-publishing. Promoting your book is prohibited. Please consider joining if you are interested in or have experience with self-publishing.
The topic for this week -- Writing is a businessLet me start out by saying that I am not a tax expert. Everything I am about to tell you has been learned from reading various books as well as the IRS publications. Believe it or not, the IRS publications are not at all that hard to read and they’re freely available from their website: http://www.irs.gov/
Unless you are writing for your own pleasure, or you never expect to profit from your writing, you should treat your writing activities as a business. You should do this even if you have not yet finished your first manuscript. Why? First, because when you do begin to make an income from writing, you are going to want to have some tax deductions to offset the taxes you are going to pay to the IRS. Secondly, why not start taking those tax deductions now?
If you write as a hobby and you’re not serious about earning a profit from writing, the IRS will not believe you have a valid business. Be very careful about this. If you are ever audited and the IRS concludes you write as a hobby, they can, and will, invalidate all of your past deductions. This is spelled out very clearly in IRS publication 587 (as well as others I’m sure). How are you to avoid this? Easy, keep reading.
As soon as you form your business, you should begin planning for tax time. One of the first things you should do is get yourself an EIN. This is an Employer Identification Number and it’s available instantly from the IRS through their website. To get one now, click here. You should use this number in place of your SSN for all business-related transactions. When you publish on Amazon, you can use your EIN in place of your Social Security Number. It will link back to your SSN and it keeps your SSN private. It also helps show that you are serious about treating your writing as a business.
One thing the government is very keen on is detailed and accurate documentation. No matter what type of business you create, you should keep anything and everything associated with it in a separate location. You should also start and maintain a business log. This is required (I believe) if you form an actual company (such as an LLC). The simplest, and most common, type of business is the self-proprietor. It requires nothing more than a declaration to establish. Keeping a logbook is one way of showing you are serious.
If you qualify for a home office deduction, then you can also claim mileage. One thing you will note when you file your taxes is the IRS does not seem to think a small business can utilize more than one vehicle. I have two cars. I have an Excel spreadsheet that I use to track the business-related mileage. It identifies the following: Which car I drove. Starting odometer reading. Ending odometer reading. Total miles driven. Purpose and if it the mileage recorded is one way or round trip. When tax time comes, I pick the vehicle I use the most and put that on the form. I treat both cars as if they were one. Having the detailed log backs me up if I ever get audited.
Do you use a computer exclusively for writing? The cost of that computer is a business expense. Do you buy books to help you become a better writer, attend conferences, drive to a writer’s group, or take writing classes? These are all valid business expenses as are the miles you put on your car to travel to and from them. A word of caution here. The IRS views writers as being able to conduct their business anywhere. This means that unless you have a home office and you claim one on your tax return, you cannot take any deductions for travel even if you travel out of State. A home office must follow some very specific rules and I will refer you to IRS publication 587 if you want to set one up. If you do, take a picture of it and file it away.
A self-published writer is more than just a writer. You are a writer, editor, proof-reader, publisher, marketer, and many other titles. You are very often the entire package. If you pay to have someone create a cover for your book, that’s an expense. If you pay to have your manuscript edited, write it off. If you use the internet to do research, publish your book, or even check your grammar with a program such as Grammarly, it’s a valid expense.
But, if you do not declare yourself a business, none of these expenses (and many more) can be deducted from your taxes. Are you worried about reporting a loss? Don’t be! The IRS realizes that most businesses will report a loss during its first few years. In fact, reporting a loss for up to five years is okay. But, if you report a loss year after year without showing any appreciable income from the business, it could trigger an audit and the IRS will scrutinize your records. If you’ve kept a detailed log, have all your receipts, and can prove you are actually writing a novel, then I would not worry.
There are other types of businesses you can form. One of the most popular is an LLC. Unless you believe you can be sued for what you write, I don’t believe this is a cost-effective path to follow. I should point out that an LLC will not protect you if you plagiarize someone else's work. Most writers will do fine to simply file as a sole proprietor. If you have a tax professional who does your taxes, have a talk with them. Carefully read the IRS publications. If you are really worried, consult a lawyer although that can be expensive.
There are a few other things you will want to do:Open up a checking account specifically for business use. If you do pull funds from this account for personal use, transfer it to your personal account and use a memo to identify it as profit-taking.Get or designate a credit card solely for use by the business.Print business cards.
If you are serious about being a writer and you plan on making money at it, now is the time to declare yourself a business. As with all my posts, if you have any questions about anything I’ve said please feel free to write me.
Future Posts:Establish your network -- Writing is a lonely job, but you will need access to a network of writer friends you can interface with and call on if you ever need help. Most writers are eager to help other writers out.What NOT to do -- There are many mistakes a self-publishing author can make, especially if you are eager to get your book out into the world. I will try to list the mistakes to avoid.You as an Author -- Writers are a strange bunch. We spend hours behind locked doors hunched over a keyboard or notepad working furiously to create a masterpiece. Once your book is available, you become a public figure. This post will include my advice on how to present yourself to the public and especially your readers.Conventions, Awards, and Professional Organizations -- There are a lot of them out there. What are they for, what benefit does a writer get out of them, and which ones should you go to. Awards are great to strive for. But, are they really worth it? There are many professional organizations available to the self-published author. There are many good reasons to join them.Protecting your hard work -- Copyrights and electronic backups are discussed.As usual, if you have any suggestions for future posts, please let me know. If there is enough interest in one, I'll move it ahead in the schedule.
August 30, 2015
New Focus
[Warning - this might be a longer post than normal]
This week, I start a new direction for this blog. I intend on focusing on helping any writer who is looking to self publish their work. I am a self-published author and I've done well at it. That does not mean I'm making money by the truckload, but it does mean that I'm making money from my books. There are other blogs and entire websites devoted to self-publishing and I encourage you to seek them out. If you're looking to self-publish, you should do your research, read, take notes, and then act.
I've been blogging for some time so what brought me to this point? My last post described some of the revelations I had while at WorldCon and if you have not read it yet I encourage you to go read it now. I have started on a plan to elevate my self-publishing to a more professional level. In the past, I would write a novel, edit it multiple times, have my wife check it for grammar, have a friend of mine create a cover, and then upload the book to Amazon and Smashwords. Sounds like the right way to go about it- wouldn't you say? Perhaps, if you want to be seen as a semi-professional or even an amateur.
Self-published author: What does this mean? It means you are the writer and publisher of your work. Publishers are viewed as professionals and that means a self-published author should be as professional as possible. So what does that mean? What have I been missing? Plenty!
I published my first book in 2009. My writing skills have improved since then yet, I have not gone back and reviewed my early novels to see if they can be improved. I've corrected grammatical mistakes, but I've never gone back and done a full re-edit. I have relied on the automatic Word to Kindle converter provided by Amazon to convert and format my novels for ebook distribution. I glance at the end result and if it looked okay I was done. I did no post-conversion formatting at all.I sent my Word version to a PDF and used that to create a print version using CreateSpace. I thought I would be "different" and use ragged-right. If you put all of my print books side-by-side you will notice that they are all formatted differently and they do not conform to today's standards for print publications.
I've been working on a new novel for several months. Dragonverse Origins is 75% complete and I'm setting it aside to fix what I believe is a major problem with my writing platform. I've laid out a plan to set things right:
I've been doing some serious reading and taking notes on how to properly format a novel in print form. I have a collection of notes and observations that I intend on applying to my previously published works starting with the entire Galactic Alliance series.Beginning with Translight, I will go through the entire manuscript and perform a detailed re-edit, fixing any mistakes I find and improving the novel without changing the story. I will have another person read the newly edited novel looking for areas of improvement. After putting the improvements into place, the novel will be republished.Each new book will most likely have a new cover. I hope to use the original cover art with updated titling and author bylines. The interiors will be formatted the same and I will hand-format the final ebook if necessary. Additional changes will be made to the front and back matter to enhance the book's sales (more on this in a later post).I will use Microsoft Publisher to generate the newly formatted interior for each book making sure that the typesetting looks professional, follows today's best practices, and presents a consistent look and feel for the entire series. Microsoft Publisher is a very powerful typesetting program--something I just recently discovered.While I'm involved in all this above work, I will be working on a list of issues I plan on discussing in this blog as it relates to self-publishing. I will post this proposed list next week. I am also thinking of creating a Facebook group dedicated to self publishing where advertising your book is strictly forbidden. I've looked at a few writer groups and it seems they turn into places where authors try to promote their books. I want a group where self-published authors can share their opinions, ideas, and experiences.
One point I do want to make before I close: Self-publishing is easy. So easy that there are a lot of people out there who have written a poor story and uploaded it to Amazon thinking they will become wealthy. If you are serious about self-publishing, there is a formula you need to follow:
Write the best book possible. If your writing skills are weak, pick up some books on writing and start reading.Edit your manuscript at least once.Have two or three opinionated people read your story. These should be people who are not afraid to tell you that your story needs work. If they all agree that the story is bad--either rewrite it or forget it and start on another one.Set the novel aside and start reading books and websites on how to self publish.Take the comments you've received and revise your story. Edit it again and again. Read it out loud to yourself and edit it again. Run it through a grammar checker and spell checker.If you are making money on a book, then by all means spend a few extra dollars to have your book professionally edited. This can get expensive but if you are already making an income on your writing this is the professional thing to do. If you do not have a writing income yet you can skip this step.Get yourself a top-notch cover. Look into using Fiverr.com to get a decent cover for as little as $5.00. If you know someone who can do a good cover, then ask them to make one for you.When you're set, upload you book to Amazon. If you've done your research you should know what to expect when you get to this point.One last point: If you are serious about being a writer you need to think of yourself as a business. This will be the subject of next week's post. I will also be sharing all of my notes with you.
Comments concerning the new focus of this blog are welcome. If you have any specific questions, I am always willing to engage with other authors. Please email me if you have questions: author@dougfarren.com
This week, I start a new direction for this blog. I intend on focusing on helping any writer who is looking to self publish their work. I am a self-published author and I've done well at it. That does not mean I'm making money by the truckload, but it does mean that I'm making money from my books. There are other blogs and entire websites devoted to self-publishing and I encourage you to seek them out. If you're looking to self-publish, you should do your research, read, take notes, and then act.
I've been blogging for some time so what brought me to this point? My last post described some of the revelations I had while at WorldCon and if you have not read it yet I encourage you to go read it now. I have started on a plan to elevate my self-publishing to a more professional level. In the past, I would write a novel, edit it multiple times, have my wife check it for grammar, have a friend of mine create a cover, and then upload the book to Amazon and Smashwords. Sounds like the right way to go about it- wouldn't you say? Perhaps, if you want to be seen as a semi-professional or even an amateur.
Self-published author: What does this mean? It means you are the writer and publisher of your work. Publishers are viewed as professionals and that means a self-published author should be as professional as possible. So what does that mean? What have I been missing? Plenty!
I published my first book in 2009. My writing skills have improved since then yet, I have not gone back and reviewed my early novels to see if they can be improved. I've corrected grammatical mistakes, but I've never gone back and done a full re-edit. I have relied on the automatic Word to Kindle converter provided by Amazon to convert and format my novels for ebook distribution. I glance at the end result and if it looked okay I was done. I did no post-conversion formatting at all.I sent my Word version to a PDF and used that to create a print version using CreateSpace. I thought I would be "different" and use ragged-right. If you put all of my print books side-by-side you will notice that they are all formatted differently and they do not conform to today's standards for print publications.
I've been working on a new novel for several months. Dragonverse Origins is 75% complete and I'm setting it aside to fix what I believe is a major problem with my writing platform. I've laid out a plan to set things right:
I've been doing some serious reading and taking notes on how to properly format a novel in print form. I have a collection of notes and observations that I intend on applying to my previously published works starting with the entire Galactic Alliance series.Beginning with Translight, I will go through the entire manuscript and perform a detailed re-edit, fixing any mistakes I find and improving the novel without changing the story. I will have another person read the newly edited novel looking for areas of improvement. After putting the improvements into place, the novel will be republished.Each new book will most likely have a new cover. I hope to use the original cover art with updated titling and author bylines. The interiors will be formatted the same and I will hand-format the final ebook if necessary. Additional changes will be made to the front and back matter to enhance the book's sales (more on this in a later post).I will use Microsoft Publisher to generate the newly formatted interior for each book making sure that the typesetting looks professional, follows today's best practices, and presents a consistent look and feel for the entire series. Microsoft Publisher is a very powerful typesetting program--something I just recently discovered.While I'm involved in all this above work, I will be working on a list of issues I plan on discussing in this blog as it relates to self-publishing. I will post this proposed list next week. I am also thinking of creating a Facebook group dedicated to self publishing where advertising your book is strictly forbidden. I've looked at a few writer groups and it seems they turn into places where authors try to promote their books. I want a group where self-published authors can share their opinions, ideas, and experiences.
One point I do want to make before I close: Self-publishing is easy. So easy that there are a lot of people out there who have written a poor story and uploaded it to Amazon thinking they will become wealthy. If you are serious about self-publishing, there is a formula you need to follow:
Write the best book possible. If your writing skills are weak, pick up some books on writing and start reading.Edit your manuscript at least once.Have two or three opinionated people read your story. These should be people who are not afraid to tell you that your story needs work. If they all agree that the story is bad--either rewrite it or forget it and start on another one.Set the novel aside and start reading books and websites on how to self publish.Take the comments you've received and revise your story. Edit it again and again. Read it out loud to yourself and edit it again. Run it through a grammar checker and spell checker.If you are making money on a book, then by all means spend a few extra dollars to have your book professionally edited. This can get expensive but if you are already making an income on your writing this is the professional thing to do. If you do not have a writing income yet you can skip this step.Get yourself a top-notch cover. Look into using Fiverr.com to get a decent cover for as little as $5.00. If you know someone who can do a good cover, then ask them to make one for you.When you're set, upload you book to Amazon. If you've done your research you should know what to expect when you get to this point.One last point: If you are serious about being a writer you need to think of yourself as a business. This will be the subject of next week's post. I will also be sharing all of my notes with you.
Comments concerning the new focus of this blog are welcome. If you have any specific questions, I am always willing to engage with other authors. Please email me if you have questions: author@dougfarren.com
August 24, 2015
Sasquan (WorldCon) Report
Worldcon has ended. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. I am, however, unsure if I will repeat it. I will refrain from giving a day-by-day, blow-by-blow report and, instead, present the highlights.
I sat on 5 panels and I have mixed emotions concerning them. On one of the panels (The New Space Opera) I was very much out of my league and felt very uncomfortable. The other panelists had far more experience than I and one of the members had an encyclopedic memory of the field, being able to rattle off the names of novels along with the author and date of original publication. But, I believe I did okay. Two of the panels had a hard time staying on the subject and the moderator allowed two of the more forceful panelists to dominate the conversation. There were things I felt we should have talked about but the panel never seemed to come close to the subject. The remaining panels went very well and I had several individuals approach me afterwards to discuss additional details.
Overall, if I decide to do panels in the future, I will pay very close attention to who else is assigned and withdraw if I feel I will not be able to contribute. I will say that I learned as much as a panelist as I would have had I been sitting in the audience. I also attended a handful of panels on a broad range of subjects and picked up a lot of useful information.
There were two highlights I need to mention: The Launch Pad reunion, and the Hugo awards. The Launch Pad reunion was my idea and I believe it was a big success. I connected with many of the people I have met over the years as well as people who attended Launch Pad before I started going. Vonda McIntyre suggested that we introduce ourselves and share our experience. As each person talked I noticed that everyone agreed that becoming friends with a group of people you otherwise might never have met was one of their best memories. I am still kicking myself for not recording that part of the meet-up.
The second highlight event was attending the Hugo awards. Stu Segal obtained a ticket for me in the upper tier press area where I had a great view of the proceedings. This year's Hugo awards have been marred by controversy (the Sad Puppies thing) and the awards reflected how the fans felt about what had happened. As of 1967 (I hope I have the date right) there has been a choice for voters of "No Award". Between then and 2014 there have been a total of 5 such awards. That number was doubled at this year's ceremony. Although I'm still a bit confused over exactly what transpired, from all the tweets I've read from my fellow authors, it sounds as if the voting fans have overwhelmingly declared that the attempted manipulation of the Hugos was not something they appreciated. I should also mention that David Gerrold and Tananarive Due did an outstanding job of MCing the event. I had a great time time.
WorldCon has been a staple of science fiction fans for 78 years and it still remains a relatively uncrowded convention. While large conventions such as DragonCon and San Diego Comicon draw tens of thousands, this year's WorldCon had a total attendance of just under 12,000 (at last count). Because of how spread out it is and the number of activities going on at any one time, it did not seem overly crowded. According to those who know, there were over 600 writers in attendance. These writers mingled with the fans, making themselves available to them as well as to each other.
Unfortunately, because I was so busy, I did not manage to get any writing done. I have not added a single word to Dragonverse Origins for over two weeks. And, I'm not sure when I will get back to it. There are some things I learned at WorldCon that I need to attend to first. The reasoning behind this is that after it was all said and done, I've learned that I have a lot of work ahead of me if I want to be viewed as a "professional" writer. I'm a member of SFWA (based on my sales) and I sell a fair number of books. But, I have not buckled down and spent the time I need to spend on putting the finishing touches on my novels. I'm weak in the promotion area as well. WorldCon has shown me that after a writer finishes a novel, gets a cover, and has the manuscript edited, there is still much work to be done. I need to pay more attention to that phase of my writing. I am, in the words of several authors, not just a writer, but a publisher as well. It's time I start acting like one.
WorldCon also helped me decide on where to focus my future blog posts. I learned that traditionally published writers (even those who were once self-published) tend to have a warped view of how a self-published author should produce and market their work. I got the general (but not always) feeling that many traditionally published authors have forgotten that they were once an unknown. Everyone starts off as an unknown author. In the past, you would gain a reputation and hone your skills as a writer by publishing in magazines until you signed a contract with a publisher. These days, anyone can upload a book--and therein lies the problem. The number of bad stories out there continue to give self-published authors a bad name.
I intend to alter the focus of this blog on self-publishing. Next week's post will be the starting point. If you know someone who is looking to self-publish, please tell them about this blog and ask them to join my mailing list. If you send me an email question, I will respond--I promise.
I attended WorldCon with a friend of mine--a member of our local writers group. Andi Lawrencovna (her pen name) has written a very interesting post on her take of her time at WorldCon. I encourage you to read it.
I sat on 5 panels and I have mixed emotions concerning them. On one of the panels (The New Space Opera) I was very much out of my league and felt very uncomfortable. The other panelists had far more experience than I and one of the members had an encyclopedic memory of the field, being able to rattle off the names of novels along with the author and date of original publication. But, I believe I did okay. Two of the panels had a hard time staying on the subject and the moderator allowed two of the more forceful panelists to dominate the conversation. There were things I felt we should have talked about but the panel never seemed to come close to the subject. The remaining panels went very well and I had several individuals approach me afterwards to discuss additional details.
Overall, if I decide to do panels in the future, I will pay very close attention to who else is assigned and withdraw if I feel I will not be able to contribute. I will say that I learned as much as a panelist as I would have had I been sitting in the audience. I also attended a handful of panels on a broad range of subjects and picked up a lot of useful information.
There were two highlights I need to mention: The Launch Pad reunion, and the Hugo awards. The Launch Pad reunion was my idea and I believe it was a big success. I connected with many of the people I have met over the years as well as people who attended Launch Pad before I started going. Vonda McIntyre suggested that we introduce ourselves and share our experience. As each person talked I noticed that everyone agreed that becoming friends with a group of people you otherwise might never have met was one of their best memories. I am still kicking myself for not recording that part of the meet-up.
The second highlight event was attending the Hugo awards. Stu Segal obtained a ticket for me in the upper tier press area where I had a great view of the proceedings. This year's Hugo awards have been marred by controversy (the Sad Puppies thing) and the awards reflected how the fans felt about what had happened. As of 1967 (I hope I have the date right) there has been a choice for voters of "No Award". Between then and 2014 there have been a total of 5 such awards. That number was doubled at this year's ceremony. Although I'm still a bit confused over exactly what transpired, from all the tweets I've read from my fellow authors, it sounds as if the voting fans have overwhelmingly declared that the attempted manipulation of the Hugos was not something they appreciated. I should also mention that David Gerrold and Tananarive Due did an outstanding job of MCing the event. I had a great time time.
WorldCon has been a staple of science fiction fans for 78 years and it still remains a relatively uncrowded convention. While large conventions such as DragonCon and San Diego Comicon draw tens of thousands, this year's WorldCon had a total attendance of just under 12,000 (at last count). Because of how spread out it is and the number of activities going on at any one time, it did not seem overly crowded. According to those who know, there were over 600 writers in attendance. These writers mingled with the fans, making themselves available to them as well as to each other.
Unfortunately, because I was so busy, I did not manage to get any writing done. I have not added a single word to Dragonverse Origins for over two weeks. And, I'm not sure when I will get back to it. There are some things I learned at WorldCon that I need to attend to first. The reasoning behind this is that after it was all said and done, I've learned that I have a lot of work ahead of me if I want to be viewed as a "professional" writer. I'm a member of SFWA (based on my sales) and I sell a fair number of books. But, I have not buckled down and spent the time I need to spend on putting the finishing touches on my novels. I'm weak in the promotion area as well. WorldCon has shown me that after a writer finishes a novel, gets a cover, and has the manuscript edited, there is still much work to be done. I need to pay more attention to that phase of my writing. I am, in the words of several authors, not just a writer, but a publisher as well. It's time I start acting like one.
WorldCon also helped me decide on where to focus my future blog posts. I learned that traditionally published writers (even those who were once self-published) tend to have a warped view of how a self-published author should produce and market their work. I got the general (but not always) feeling that many traditionally published authors have forgotten that they were once an unknown. Everyone starts off as an unknown author. In the past, you would gain a reputation and hone your skills as a writer by publishing in magazines until you signed a contract with a publisher. These days, anyone can upload a book--and therein lies the problem. The number of bad stories out there continue to give self-published authors a bad name.
I intend to alter the focus of this blog on self-publishing. Next week's post will be the starting point. If you know someone who is looking to self-publish, please tell them about this blog and ask them to join my mailing list. If you send me an email question, I will respond--I promise.
I attended WorldCon with a friend of mine--a member of our local writers group. Andi Lawrencovna (her pen name) has written a very interesting post on her take of her time at WorldCon. I encourage you to read it.
August 16, 2015
Preparing for WorldCon
I accomplished very little in the writing department this past week. Excuses:
1) My sister-in-law brought over several computers that needed work: A slow laptop; An old XP box with pictures on it that refused to remain on; An all-in-one that is dead. I loaded Windows 10 on the laptop and then had to remove McAfee antivirus because it was hogging the CPU. Cleaned it up and now it works great. I managed to pull the pictures off the XP box and loaded them into her newly upgraded laptop. I have not had a chance to look at the all-in-one.
2) I've been neglecting some minor home repairs - these have been completed.
3) Other household activities such as scanning 1.5 months of receipts into the system, putting shelves together that my wife bought weeks ago, and other little items that have piled up.
4) Research into the self-publishing industry in preparation for being on panels at next week's World Science Fiction Convention.
One of the new members of the writer's workgroup I attend is preparing to launch her books using a well-crafted self-publishing scheme. She's done her research and is on top of the game. Her son speaks several languages and has translated her books into both Spanish and German giving her an edge. She's purchasing ISBN numbers, has formed an LLC company, and has chosen her printer. I dug into her choice of printer and other aspects of her plan to help give me some insight when I sit on the self-publishing panels at WorldCon. I agree with most of her plan but there are aspects of it that I believe are unnecessary. I wish her all the luck in the world.
I did, however, manage to put the finishing touches on my short story--Ship's Logs--following having it critiqued at my writer's workgroup. They, as always, had some very good feedback and now the story is complete. I will begin submitting it to magazines in the very near future. This is also a new adventure for me because I've never submitted anything to a magazine before. I'm also not a short story writer.
My next post will be from an airport (most likely Denver) on my way back from Spokane. You can see my panel schedule by clicking here. Now, I have to finish scanning. Writing will have to wait awhile longer.
1) My sister-in-law brought over several computers that needed work: A slow laptop; An old XP box with pictures on it that refused to remain on; An all-in-one that is dead. I loaded Windows 10 on the laptop and then had to remove McAfee antivirus because it was hogging the CPU. Cleaned it up and now it works great. I managed to pull the pictures off the XP box and loaded them into her newly upgraded laptop. I have not had a chance to look at the all-in-one.
2) I've been neglecting some minor home repairs - these have been completed.
3) Other household activities such as scanning 1.5 months of receipts into the system, putting shelves together that my wife bought weeks ago, and other little items that have piled up.
4) Research into the self-publishing industry in preparation for being on panels at next week's World Science Fiction Convention.
One of the new members of the writer's workgroup I attend is preparing to launch her books using a well-crafted self-publishing scheme. She's done her research and is on top of the game. Her son speaks several languages and has translated her books into both Spanish and German giving her an edge. She's purchasing ISBN numbers, has formed an LLC company, and has chosen her printer. I dug into her choice of printer and other aspects of her plan to help give me some insight when I sit on the self-publishing panels at WorldCon. I agree with most of her plan but there are aspects of it that I believe are unnecessary. I wish her all the luck in the world.
I did, however, manage to put the finishing touches on my short story--Ship's Logs--following having it critiqued at my writer's workgroup. They, as always, had some very good feedback and now the story is complete. I will begin submitting it to magazines in the very near future. This is also a new adventure for me because I've never submitted anything to a magazine before. I'm also not a short story writer.
My next post will be from an airport (most likely Denver) on my way back from Spokane. You can see my panel schedule by clicking here. Now, I have to finish scanning. Writing will have to wait awhile longer.
August 9, 2015
Vigilance in a Digital World
I want to start off by thanking everyone who replied to my request in my last blog. I will compile the answers and send them off to Mr.Capobianco this week. Also, if you're interested in seeing some pictures from the Schrodinger Sessions or some of the Launch Pads I've attended you can view them here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/64567572@N08/sets
I use a program called Crystal Disk to monitor the health of my hard drives (there are others as well). I have 3 external and 2 internal drives that are packed full of information. Pictures I've scanned in or that we've taken, videos that I've converted from VCR format (remember those?) as well as ones we've taken, my entire CD collection as well as most of the DVD's I own are all on those hard drives. Important electronic records are stored there as well; Tax returns; Quicken financial data; Scanned documents; And tons of other stuff. One of my internals is dedicated to being used by Windows Media Center as a DVR and it holds all sorts of shows we want to watch and keep.
Last year, my internal DVR drive began to fail. I purchased a new one, transferred the data, and replaced it prior to complete failure. This morning, Crystal Disk reported that one of my external drives was reporting an excessive number of sector reallocation errors - one of the first signs of a failing hard drive. I'm in the process of offloading all that data to one of my spare externals.
It pays to be vigilant when it comes to protecting your data. As a writer, I can't afford to loose a day's work. I back up my writing using Dropbox. It runs on all my devices and just works. I use CrashPlan to back up almost 2 terrabytes of data from multiple computers to the cloud. And, I monitor the health of my hard drives so I can be proactive and replace one that's failing before it completely dies. One of my wife's relatives had their laptop pulled off a table by a running dog. She lost 3 years worth of pictures because she did not have her computer backed up.
Hard drives fail - that's a fact of life. Think about it for a minute: If one of your hard drives were to crash this morning, what would you lose? Solid state drives (SSDs) are not immune to crashes either. Their electronics can fail and you can lose everything. Be vigilant! Check the health of your hard drives on a regular basis - that's why they have built-in internal monitoring programs. Replace them when they show signs of impending failure. Back up all your data in case the drive fails suddenly.
One of these days, I'm going to either build or buy a file server with a high-capacity RAID and hot-swappable disks. Even then, I'll be backing things up to the cloud. Because the entire RAID could be lost in a house fire or break in. We live in an increasingly digital world where we store our entire life in electronic bits. Your computer hard drives are not the only thing you should be worried about - what about your phone?
How many phone numbers can you recall from memory? How many phone numbers would you lose forever if your phone were to be lost? How many pictures and videos would you lose? What about financial apps such as PayPal? Are they protected? If a thief were to steal your phone can they drain your bank account? If you don't take measures to protect and back up your phone's data you could lose it all. If you don't password protect your phone, then anyone can access the information it contains.
Too many people these days take our electronic life too lightly. Your life can be ruined if that data falls into the wrong hands. Think about the consequences of losing a hard drive or having your phone stolen. Back up your data. Password protect your phone. Encrypt your sensitive data if at all possible.
I use a program called Crystal Disk to monitor the health of my hard drives (there are others as well). I have 3 external and 2 internal drives that are packed full of information. Pictures I've scanned in or that we've taken, videos that I've converted from VCR format (remember those?) as well as ones we've taken, my entire CD collection as well as most of the DVD's I own are all on those hard drives. Important electronic records are stored there as well; Tax returns; Quicken financial data; Scanned documents; And tons of other stuff. One of my internals is dedicated to being used by Windows Media Center as a DVR and it holds all sorts of shows we want to watch and keep.
Last year, my internal DVR drive began to fail. I purchased a new one, transferred the data, and replaced it prior to complete failure. This morning, Crystal Disk reported that one of my external drives was reporting an excessive number of sector reallocation errors - one of the first signs of a failing hard drive. I'm in the process of offloading all that data to one of my spare externals.
It pays to be vigilant when it comes to protecting your data. As a writer, I can't afford to loose a day's work. I back up my writing using Dropbox. It runs on all my devices and just works. I use CrashPlan to back up almost 2 terrabytes of data from multiple computers to the cloud. And, I monitor the health of my hard drives so I can be proactive and replace one that's failing before it completely dies. One of my wife's relatives had their laptop pulled off a table by a running dog. She lost 3 years worth of pictures because she did not have her computer backed up.
Hard drives fail - that's a fact of life. Think about it for a minute: If one of your hard drives were to crash this morning, what would you lose? Solid state drives (SSDs) are not immune to crashes either. Their electronics can fail and you can lose everything. Be vigilant! Check the health of your hard drives on a regular basis - that's why they have built-in internal monitoring programs. Replace them when they show signs of impending failure. Back up all your data in case the drive fails suddenly.
One of these days, I'm going to either build or buy a file server with a high-capacity RAID and hot-swappable disks. Even then, I'll be backing things up to the cloud. Because the entire RAID could be lost in a house fire or break in. We live in an increasingly digital world where we store our entire life in electronic bits. Your computer hard drives are not the only thing you should be worried about - what about your phone?
How many phone numbers can you recall from memory? How many phone numbers would you lose forever if your phone were to be lost? How many pictures and videos would you lose? What about financial apps such as PayPal? Are they protected? If a thief were to steal your phone can they drain your bank account? If you don't take measures to protect and back up your phone's data you could lose it all. If you don't password protect your phone, then anyone can access the information it contains.
Too many people these days take our electronic life too lightly. Your life can be ruined if that data falls into the wrong hands. Think about the consequences of losing a hard drive or having your phone stolen. Back up your data. Password protect your phone. Encrypt your sensitive data if at all possible.
August 2, 2015
Schrodinger Sessions
Correction: I have mentioned Grammarly several times in the past. I would like to point out that this product has a totally free plug-in for most browsers. If you want a grammar-checker embedded in your browser that will help you check your grammar, I recommend getting the plug-in.
I have returned from a 3-day workshop on quantum mechanics. My brain is still throbbing from the experience. The workshop took place at the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland. The workshop is named The Schrodinger Sessions and is modeled after Launch Pad. We were treated to lectures from a variety of instructors who told us about various aspects of quantum mechanics. Over a two-day period, we were given a tour of four labs working on various quantum experiments including quantum teleportation. One of the biggest disappointments was the cancellation of the reactor tour - more about this in a moment.
On the second day, Eric Choi put together a mixer and invited several of his friends and acquaintances from the International Space University. This event took place in a bar appropriately named Science Club. It was during this event that I met and had a long talk with Michael Capabianco - former President of SFWA. I don't need to go into the details of that discussion but I will say that he inspired me to become more involved in SFWA activities.
On the last night of the workshop, we were treated to a dinner at a very interesting restaurant called Busboys and Poets. The guest speaker was Jim Gates, winner of the National Medal of Science, former science adviser to the Obama administration, and a highly respected theoretical physicist.
One of the most interesting instructors--Raman Sundrum--spoke to us on the very last day. He presented a lot of information of great interest to science fiction writers and was such a clear and informative speaker that many of us kept him talking even while we was trying to eat lunch.
All-in-all, it was a wonderful experience that I hope to see repeated. It was obvious that this was the first time the workshop has been done and it did not run as smoothly as Launch Pad now does. Transportation to and from the airport as well as locally was a constant issue. One of the biggest complaints was the cancellation of the reactor tour. We were told that the university Director has the authority to allow anyone to visit the reactor except writers. At first, we thought they were joking, but this is an actual university policy. This struck many of the class as being discriminatory and several people felt offended. So, perhaps after attending the workshop there will be a few stories written about a certain nuclear reactor at the University of Maryland.
Thanks to the workshop, I now have a lot to process. Thanks to the people this workshop allowed me to meet, I have a lot of things to do relating to my writing.
Finally - and I'm asking everyone who reads this blog to please respond - Mr. Capabianco asked if I had any idea if the people who read my books are also the same people who attend conventions and read traditionally published science fiction. In order to try to answer that question I'm asking everyone who reads this blog to answer a few simple questions:
Have you read at least one of my books?Do you also read traditionally published science fiction?Have you or do you think you might attend a science fiction convention?Please send the answers to: author@dougfarren.com
I have returned from a 3-day workshop on quantum mechanics. My brain is still throbbing from the experience. The workshop took place at the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland. The workshop is named The Schrodinger Sessions and is modeled after Launch Pad. We were treated to lectures from a variety of instructors who told us about various aspects of quantum mechanics. Over a two-day period, we were given a tour of four labs working on various quantum experiments including quantum teleportation. One of the biggest disappointments was the cancellation of the reactor tour - more about this in a moment.
On the second day, Eric Choi put together a mixer and invited several of his friends and acquaintances from the International Space University. This event took place in a bar appropriately named Science Club. It was during this event that I met and had a long talk with Michael Capabianco - former President of SFWA. I don't need to go into the details of that discussion but I will say that he inspired me to become more involved in SFWA activities.
On the last night of the workshop, we were treated to a dinner at a very interesting restaurant called Busboys and Poets. The guest speaker was Jim Gates, winner of the National Medal of Science, former science adviser to the Obama administration, and a highly respected theoretical physicist.
One of the most interesting instructors--Raman Sundrum--spoke to us on the very last day. He presented a lot of information of great interest to science fiction writers and was such a clear and informative speaker that many of us kept him talking even while we was trying to eat lunch.
All-in-all, it was a wonderful experience that I hope to see repeated. It was obvious that this was the first time the workshop has been done and it did not run as smoothly as Launch Pad now does. Transportation to and from the airport as well as locally was a constant issue. One of the biggest complaints was the cancellation of the reactor tour. We were told that the university Director has the authority to allow anyone to visit the reactor except writers. At first, we thought they were joking, but this is an actual university policy. This struck many of the class as being discriminatory and several people felt offended. So, perhaps after attending the workshop there will be a few stories written about a certain nuclear reactor at the University of Maryland.
Thanks to the workshop, I now have a lot to process. Thanks to the people this workshop allowed me to meet, I have a lot of things to do relating to my writing.
Finally - and I'm asking everyone who reads this blog to please respond - Mr. Capabianco asked if I had any idea if the people who read my books are also the same people who attend conventions and read traditionally published science fiction. In order to try to answer that question I'm asking everyone who reads this blog to answer a few simple questions:
Have you read at least one of my books?Do you also read traditionally published science fiction?Have you or do you think you might attend a science fiction convention?Please send the answers to: author@dougfarren.com
July 26, 2015
Productivity
Accomplishments this past week include:
Resurfaced my blacktop driveway.Sealing the gap between the house and my cement sidewalk and back patio.Charging and updating all of our computers (2 desktops, 2 laptops, and my netbook).Chased a steam locomotive from just outside of Youngstown to Ashtabula.Caught up on a bunch of television shows that have been sitting on the hard drive for a long time.You will notice that writing does not appear in the list. I have been putting off doing some things around the house because of my desire to write. Last week, I decided to catch up on the growing list of things that needed done. I will have time to write this coming week while I'm at the Schrodinger Sessions.
I did manage to get a small amount of writing done. Dragonverse Origins currently stands at 53,695 words.
Next week, I will be attending The Schrodinger Sessions, a 3-day course on quantum physics at the Joint Quantum Institute located just north of Washington D.C. in Maryland. Several of my Launch Pad acquaintances will be attending as well. Merrie Haskell (Launch Pad acquaintance) will be driving to my house and we will ride together from here in my car. I'm looking forward to the trip: I get to spend some time with an award-winning author; I get to see a few of my author acquaintances again; I get to learn some quantum physics; And, I will be meeting up with a group of alumni from the International Space University (www.isunet.edu) as well as some local authors. This meeting will take place in a bar called (appropriately) Science Club (www.scienceclubdc.com).
My wife is still asleep and words that must become part of Dragonverse Origins are jumping up and down in my head wanted to snuggle up next to the others that are already in the novel. Time to start writing.
Resurfaced my blacktop driveway.Sealing the gap between the house and my cement sidewalk and back patio.Charging and updating all of our computers (2 desktops, 2 laptops, and my netbook).Chased a steam locomotive from just outside of Youngstown to Ashtabula.Caught up on a bunch of television shows that have been sitting on the hard drive for a long time.You will notice that writing does not appear in the list. I have been putting off doing some things around the house because of my desire to write. Last week, I decided to catch up on the growing list of things that needed done. I will have time to write this coming week while I'm at the Schrodinger Sessions.
I did manage to get a small amount of writing done. Dragonverse Origins currently stands at 53,695 words.
Next week, I will be attending The Schrodinger Sessions, a 3-day course on quantum physics at the Joint Quantum Institute located just north of Washington D.C. in Maryland. Several of my Launch Pad acquaintances will be attending as well. Merrie Haskell (Launch Pad acquaintance) will be driving to my house and we will ride together from here in my car. I'm looking forward to the trip: I get to spend some time with an award-winning author; I get to see a few of my author acquaintances again; I get to learn some quantum physics; And, I will be meeting up with a group of alumni from the International Space University (www.isunet.edu) as well as some local authors. This meeting will take place in a bar called (appropriately) Science Club (www.scienceclubdc.com).
My wife is still asleep and words that must become part of Dragonverse Origins are jumping up and down in my head wanted to snuggle up next to the others that are already in the novel. Time to start writing.
July 19, 2015
WorldCon Panel Schedule
Dragonverse Origins now stands at 53,000 words. Feedback from my content editor has been very positive. I'm looking forward to his detailed comments. Much editing will have to be done to turn this into a finished novel.
I've been reading the material I finally received from SFWA. (Two previous welcome packages never arrived. The third arrived opened but the contents were all there. Thanks to Kate Baker for sending out the replacement packages.) Being a member of SFWA has been a goal of mine since I published my first book. Being accepted as a member meant a lot to me. Going to WorldCon as a panelist as well as a SFWA member...well...words cannot adequately describe how I feel.
I've been reading the SFWA bulletin included in the welcome package as well as the other material. I am amazed to discover I know quite a number of the people that are mentioned as well as the authors of some of the material. I know these people because of my connection to Launch Pad. It has been an amazing journey since I first attended Launch Pad and I can only imagine what the future is going to bring. I owe Mike Brotherton a huge debt.
My WorldCon schedule is finalized. If you are planning on attending WorldCon, please look me up. here are the panels I will be on:
Self-publishing — How To Do ItThursday 11:00 - 11:45, Conference Theater 110 (CC)
Once your book is written, what next? Successful self-published authors explain how to go from manuscript to completed book, or ebook. (This panel discusses the sources, processes and procedures. Marketing and promotion are covered in a separate panel.)
Stu Segal (M), Doug Farren , Nick Mamatas, Linda Nagata, H.M. Jones
Launchpad MeetupFriday 18:00 - 18:45, 401C (CC)
Have you attended a past Launchpad? Would you like more information about Launchpad http://www.launchpadworkshop.org/about/
Doug Farren
Stroll with the StarsSaturday 09:00 - 09:45, Breezeway/Statue (CC)
A gentle morning stroll with some of your favorite authors, artists and editors. Meeting each morning at 9AM in the Breezeway between the INB Theater and the Convention Center (check your map), and returning in time for 10AM programming.
Stu Segal (M), Kevin J. Anderson, Paolo Bacigalupi, Troy Bucher, Vincent Docherty, Doug Farren, Toni Weisskopf, Connie Willis
The Future of "Back to the Future," or, just where is my flying skateboard?Saturday 12:00 - 12:45, 401C (CC)
In 1985 Marty McFly set the dial on the DeLorean to 30 years in the future. As we approach 10/21/15, the date Marty set, does 2015 bear any resemblance to the future of "Back to the Future"? Panel discussion of imagined futures versus realities.
Stephen Segal (M), Troy Bucher, Neil Clarke, Doug Farren, Megan Frank
Finance for WritersSaturday 14:00 - 14:45, 303A (CC)
What are the implications for writers under contract to a publisher vs. self-published writers? Tax issues
Gail Carriger, Doug Farren, Madeleine Robins, Kevin Wiley
The New Space OperaSaturday 15:00 - 15:45, 302AB (CC)
We've come a long way since the days when "space opera" was a derogatory term. Many of SFs best writers over the last 20 years have written space opera. What's made the difference?
Rich Horton (M), Jeffrey A. Carver, Ann Leckie, Charles Stross, Doug Farren
Self-publishing — How to Market Your WorkSaturday 16:00 - 16:45, 303A (CC)
Your manuscript is done, you've found your printer, uploaded your files, and your book is done. Now how the heck do get people to buy it? Successful self-published authors share their methods.
Sarina Dorie, Doug Farren, Kameron Hurley, Annie Bellet
I've been reading the material I finally received from SFWA. (Two previous welcome packages never arrived. The third arrived opened but the contents were all there. Thanks to Kate Baker for sending out the replacement packages.) Being a member of SFWA has been a goal of mine since I published my first book. Being accepted as a member meant a lot to me. Going to WorldCon as a panelist as well as a SFWA member...well...words cannot adequately describe how I feel.
I've been reading the SFWA bulletin included in the welcome package as well as the other material. I am amazed to discover I know quite a number of the people that are mentioned as well as the authors of some of the material. I know these people because of my connection to Launch Pad. It has been an amazing journey since I first attended Launch Pad and I can only imagine what the future is going to bring. I owe Mike Brotherton a huge debt.
My WorldCon schedule is finalized. If you are planning on attending WorldCon, please look me up. here are the panels I will be on:
Self-publishing — How To Do ItThursday 11:00 - 11:45, Conference Theater 110 (CC)
Once your book is written, what next? Successful self-published authors explain how to go from manuscript to completed book, or ebook. (This panel discusses the sources, processes and procedures. Marketing and promotion are covered in a separate panel.)
Stu Segal (M), Doug Farren , Nick Mamatas, Linda Nagata, H.M. Jones
Launchpad MeetupFriday 18:00 - 18:45, 401C (CC)
Have you attended a past Launchpad? Would you like more information about Launchpad http://www.launchpadworkshop.org/about/
Doug Farren
Stroll with the StarsSaturday 09:00 - 09:45, Breezeway/Statue (CC)
A gentle morning stroll with some of your favorite authors, artists and editors. Meeting each morning at 9AM in the Breezeway between the INB Theater and the Convention Center (check your map), and returning in time for 10AM programming.
Stu Segal (M), Kevin J. Anderson, Paolo Bacigalupi, Troy Bucher, Vincent Docherty, Doug Farren, Toni Weisskopf, Connie Willis
The Future of "Back to the Future," or, just where is my flying skateboard?Saturday 12:00 - 12:45, 401C (CC)
In 1985 Marty McFly set the dial on the DeLorean to 30 years in the future. As we approach 10/21/15, the date Marty set, does 2015 bear any resemblance to the future of "Back to the Future"? Panel discussion of imagined futures versus realities.
Stephen Segal (M), Troy Bucher, Neil Clarke, Doug Farren, Megan Frank
Finance for WritersSaturday 14:00 - 14:45, 303A (CC)
What are the implications for writers under contract to a publisher vs. self-published writers? Tax issues
Gail Carriger, Doug Farren, Madeleine Robins, Kevin Wiley
The New Space OperaSaturday 15:00 - 15:45, 302AB (CC)
We've come a long way since the days when "space opera" was a derogatory term. Many of SFs best writers over the last 20 years have written space opera. What's made the difference?
Rich Horton (M), Jeffrey A. Carver, Ann Leckie, Charles Stross, Doug Farren
Self-publishing — How to Market Your WorkSaturday 16:00 - 16:45, 303A (CC)
Your manuscript is done, you've found your printer, uploaded your files, and your book is done. Now how the heck do get people to buy it? Successful self-published authors share their methods.
Sarina Dorie, Doug Farren, Kameron Hurley, Annie Bellet
