Doug Farren's Blog, page 21
April 6, 2014
Houston - We Have a Problem
Well dear readers – it seems I have a bit of a problem. Peacekeeper 2 has reached the halfway point (41,547 words) and I have a huge pile of notes concerning changes to things I've already written. The other major issue concerns my main character; he is about to step away from the action and that's something I can't allow. I could diverge from the norm here and split the book off in two directions with two completely separate plots going along at the same time. I don't ever recall reading a book that's done this.
So, I've been racking my brain for days trying to figure a way out of this problem. If I try to keep my main character involved, the story will appear forced and not true to life. If I split into two parallel paths, the reader might put the book down in disgust and send me a virus-packed email in revenge. On the other hand, doing parallel paths keeps the action going as well as the exploration of the main character's growing relationship with his alien friend. Normally, this sort of thing works itself out while I sleep but so far this has not happened. I wake up just as lost for a solution as when I went to bed.
Another possibility is to begin the phase 2 editing of what I've already written so I can incorporate my changes. By the time I'm done, maybe I'll have figured things out. If a solution pops into my head, I'll just stop editing and start writing again. I guess this is one of those problems that can occur when you're a seat-of-the-pants (SOP) type of writer.
In other news, Linda Nagata has recently posted a very helpful description of what a copyeditor should and should not do. I met Linda at the 2012 Launch Pad and I met Chaz (her copyeditor) at the 2013 Launch Pad. You can read the post by following this link: http://hahvi.net/?p=3931#more-3931.
One of my Launch Pad contacts has also sent out an email with a link you might find interesting. If you write realistic SciFi, you should read the article on How Many People Does it Take to Colonize another Star System?
Feedback on this topic is requestedI recently fired off a tweet asking what is the preferred way to abbreviate "communications"; is it com or comm? Jamie Todd Rubin's was the only reply I received and he believes it should be comm. There are very few references to this on the internet but the one that directly addressed this issue said the proper dictionary abbreviation is com. I've seen (and unfortunately used) both. Which one is correct? My guess – whichever one the author prefers.
I recently signed up for a local writer's retreat I just heard about. It takes place in May and I was accepted. The cost is minimal since I will not be staying in a room there. I'll be commuting back and forth. It will be a weekend of interfacing with other writers and writing. I'll let you know how it goes in May.
So, I've been racking my brain for days trying to figure a way out of this problem. If I try to keep my main character involved, the story will appear forced and not true to life. If I split into two parallel paths, the reader might put the book down in disgust and send me a virus-packed email in revenge. On the other hand, doing parallel paths keeps the action going as well as the exploration of the main character's growing relationship with his alien friend. Normally, this sort of thing works itself out while I sleep but so far this has not happened. I wake up just as lost for a solution as when I went to bed.
Another possibility is to begin the phase 2 editing of what I've already written so I can incorporate my changes. By the time I'm done, maybe I'll have figured things out. If a solution pops into my head, I'll just stop editing and start writing again. I guess this is one of those problems that can occur when you're a seat-of-the-pants (SOP) type of writer.
In other news, Linda Nagata has recently posted a very helpful description of what a copyeditor should and should not do. I met Linda at the 2012 Launch Pad and I met Chaz (her copyeditor) at the 2013 Launch Pad. You can read the post by following this link: http://hahvi.net/?p=3931#more-3931.
One of my Launch Pad contacts has also sent out an email with a link you might find interesting. If you write realistic SciFi, you should read the article on How Many People Does it Take to Colonize another Star System?
Feedback on this topic is requestedI recently fired off a tweet asking what is the preferred way to abbreviate "communications"; is it com or comm? Jamie Todd Rubin's was the only reply I received and he believes it should be comm. There are very few references to this on the internet but the one that directly addressed this issue said the proper dictionary abbreviation is com. I've seen (and unfortunately used) both. Which one is correct? My guess – whichever one the author prefers.
I recently signed up for a local writer's retreat I just heard about. It takes place in May and I was accepted. The cost is minimal since I will not be staying in a room there. I'll be commuting back and forth. It will be a weekend of interfacing with other writers and writing. I'll let you know how it goes in May.
March 30, 2014
Western Reserve Writer's Conference
Yesterday, I attended the Western Reserve Writer's Conference held bi-annually at the Lakeland Community College. As conferences go, this one is very local and quite small. Sign-in and continental breakfast (with obligatory coffee of course) started at 0830. The kick-off meeting began at 0900. There were a total of 9 presentations being given in three groups.
The first presentation I attended was "Creative Thinking For The Creative Writer" given by Michael Wilson. He has written a book on the subject that is due to be published soon. I've never been a fan of what I call 'formalized thinking' but his presentation did have some interesting ideas. I took the handout and will review it again later. I doubt I will buy his book but I might use some of his techniques if I ever become stuck.
The second presentation was "eBooks: Good News and Challenges" by Sandra Gurvis. This speaker talked like she had just downed a 5-gallon pot of coffee. She read from a paper and went so fast I think she left most of the audience behind. The presentation was geared more towards writers who have not yet published their work. I did pick up some useful websites for promoting my books if I ever decide to go that route.
The last presentation of the day I attended was given by a lawyer named Steve Grant titled "Developing Issues in Today's Publishing". Steve is a copyright lawyer and he had a lot of interesting information to put out. He also answered quite a few questions from the audience. This was perhaps the most interesting presentation of the day.
In the end, I walked out of the conference feeling a little underwhelmed. I did pick up some useful information but it's what didn't happen that bothers me the most. I was hoping the event would have been more of a way for local writers to meet each other. Instead, everyone showed up, sat and listened to the various presenters in isolated groups, and then went home. The most animated individual there was Kevin Chapman who was trying to drum up some writers to attend his writer's group. I took his card because I'm seriously thinking of attending a couple of his meetings.
There is a need for writers to network with each other—especially local writers. I ran into two members of our Barnes & Noble writer's group at B&N after the conference (I went there for lunch and to write) and mentioned this to them. They suggested we try to put together a Lake Countywriter's meet and greet. It's an excellent idea! Now all we need to do is figure out how to make it happen.
Work on Peacekeeper 2 has been progressing well but I can sense a major snag in the plot coming up. I've sort of created a situation where my main character will be removed from the action. Since I can't allow that to happen, I need to find a way to keep him involved—I'm sure I will. Just one of those little glitches that can pop up during the initial draft. If your tracking this sort of thing, the novel's word count now sits at 39,816.
The first presentation I attended was "Creative Thinking For The Creative Writer" given by Michael Wilson. He has written a book on the subject that is due to be published soon. I've never been a fan of what I call 'formalized thinking' but his presentation did have some interesting ideas. I took the handout and will review it again later. I doubt I will buy his book but I might use some of his techniques if I ever become stuck.
The second presentation was "eBooks: Good News and Challenges" by Sandra Gurvis. This speaker talked like she had just downed a 5-gallon pot of coffee. She read from a paper and went so fast I think she left most of the audience behind. The presentation was geared more towards writers who have not yet published their work. I did pick up some useful websites for promoting my books if I ever decide to go that route.
The last presentation of the day I attended was given by a lawyer named Steve Grant titled "Developing Issues in Today's Publishing". Steve is a copyright lawyer and he had a lot of interesting information to put out. He also answered quite a few questions from the audience. This was perhaps the most interesting presentation of the day.
In the end, I walked out of the conference feeling a little underwhelmed. I did pick up some useful information but it's what didn't happen that bothers me the most. I was hoping the event would have been more of a way for local writers to meet each other. Instead, everyone showed up, sat and listened to the various presenters in isolated groups, and then went home. The most animated individual there was Kevin Chapman who was trying to drum up some writers to attend his writer's group. I took his card because I'm seriously thinking of attending a couple of his meetings.
There is a need for writers to network with each other—especially local writers. I ran into two members of our Barnes & Noble writer's group at B&N after the conference (I went there for lunch and to write) and mentioned this to them. They suggested we try to put together a Lake Countywriter's meet and greet. It's an excellent idea! Now all we need to do is figure out how to make it happen.
Work on Peacekeeper 2 has been progressing well but I can sense a major snag in the plot coming up. I've sort of created a situation where my main character will be removed from the action. Since I can't allow that to happen, I need to find a way to keep him involved—I'm sure I will. Just one of those little glitches that can pop up during the initial draft. If your tracking this sort of thing, the novel's word count now sits at 39,816.
March 23, 2014
BSinSF - Superhero nonsense
* * * S P O I L E R A L E R T * * *
The Man of Steel
I just finished watching The Man of Steel. Unlike the other Superman remakes, this one focused more on his alien origins. There were cool spaceships and advanced technology and a whole lot of really bad science. Of course I enjoyed the movie. I'm a sucker for scifi action flicks and I usually put my higher cognitive functions on hold while watching the show. But afterward my brain kicks back in and complains.
I would like to discuss two very big complaints that's common in many science fiction movies. The first involves energy supply. Kryptonians exposed to Earth's atmosphere suddenly develop the ability to shoot incredibly power beams of energy from their eyes. Where does the power for this come from? The can manipulate gravity and are capable of multi-mach flight. Again, this is an energy-intensive operation. The fight scene at the end of the movie uses up more energy than an operating nuclear power plant!
The point here is that you must always consider the energy required to perform an action. If your ship has a planet-killer weapon (aka Death Star) you'd better have a viable power source and you should have at least a ball-park idea as to how much energy is required. It's okay to exaggerate a little but don't go overboard.
Damage assessment was another major flaw in the movie. Superman gets spun around and then flung into a building. He crashed through it, and another, and another, etc. He appears to be hurt but not only is his suit unharmed, but he has nary a scratch on him. His enemy flings a locomotive at him which flies across multiple city blocks before crashing down on him. Again, not a single scratch. This is against all the laws of physics. I would love to have seen them maintain the alien aspect of superman and at least try to keep the science at least within an order of magnitude within reality.
Ironman was another movie that defied the damage assessment rule. Stark is a normal human with human frailty. I don't care how good of a suit you build, if you hit a building hard enough to go through the wall the impact is going to turn the human body inside the suit into mush. Kinetic energy is unforgiving. It also can't be created out of nowhere like in Star Trek. Why does the Enterprise shake like it has been hit by a solid object when an energy bolt strikes the shield? There's not enough kinetic energy in an energy beam to shake a multi-thousand ton ship! Don't fall into this trap when you write science fiction.
For a good laugh and some useful insight into just how bad the physics are in movies please visit http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/ for an eye-opening experience. The sad part about this is that most people don't even know they're being misled. Spaceships do not fly like airplanes; there's no sound in space; energy beams cannot be stopped by a transparent shield; energy is not unlimited.
Enough of the rantings for the day. Peacekeeper is now at 35,677 words. The story is moving along nicely but there will be a lot of editing to do later on. I've also been toying with an idea for a YA novel in my head. I did some research into what actually constitutes a YA novel and I think I can do this. It might be my next project.
Finally, I will be attending a local writer's conference on March 29 at Lakeland Community College. I have no plans to attend any cons this year.
The Man of Steel
I just finished watching The Man of Steel. Unlike the other Superman remakes, this one focused more on his alien origins. There were cool spaceships and advanced technology and a whole lot of really bad science. Of course I enjoyed the movie. I'm a sucker for scifi action flicks and I usually put my higher cognitive functions on hold while watching the show. But afterward my brain kicks back in and complains.
I would like to discuss two very big complaints that's common in many science fiction movies. The first involves energy supply. Kryptonians exposed to Earth's atmosphere suddenly develop the ability to shoot incredibly power beams of energy from their eyes. Where does the power for this come from? The can manipulate gravity and are capable of multi-mach flight. Again, this is an energy-intensive operation. The fight scene at the end of the movie uses up more energy than an operating nuclear power plant!
The point here is that you must always consider the energy required to perform an action. If your ship has a planet-killer weapon (aka Death Star) you'd better have a viable power source and you should have at least a ball-park idea as to how much energy is required. It's okay to exaggerate a little but don't go overboard.
Damage assessment was another major flaw in the movie. Superman gets spun around and then flung into a building. He crashed through it, and another, and another, etc. He appears to be hurt but not only is his suit unharmed, but he has nary a scratch on him. His enemy flings a locomotive at him which flies across multiple city blocks before crashing down on him. Again, not a single scratch. This is against all the laws of physics. I would love to have seen them maintain the alien aspect of superman and at least try to keep the science at least within an order of magnitude within reality.
Ironman was another movie that defied the damage assessment rule. Stark is a normal human with human frailty. I don't care how good of a suit you build, if you hit a building hard enough to go through the wall the impact is going to turn the human body inside the suit into mush. Kinetic energy is unforgiving. It also can't be created out of nowhere like in Star Trek. Why does the Enterprise shake like it has been hit by a solid object when an energy bolt strikes the shield? There's not enough kinetic energy in an energy beam to shake a multi-thousand ton ship! Don't fall into this trap when you write science fiction.
For a good laugh and some useful insight into just how bad the physics are in movies please visit http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/ for an eye-opening experience. The sad part about this is that most people don't even know they're being misled. Spaceships do not fly like airplanes; there's no sound in space; energy beams cannot be stopped by a transparent shield; energy is not unlimited.
Enough of the rantings for the day. Peacekeeper is now at 35,677 words. The story is moving along nicely but there will be a lot of editing to do later on. I've also been toying with an idea for a YA novel in my head. I did some research into what actually constitutes a YA novel and I think I can do this. It might be my next project.
Finally, I will be attending a local writer's conference on March 29 at Lakeland Community College. I have no plans to attend any cons this year.
March 16, 2014
Book sales
Peacekeeper now stands at 33,605 words.
So what causes book sales to go up? What causes sales to drop? Does anybody really know? Oh there are books out there by people who claim to know, people who, for the price of their book, will tell you how to market and promote your book and how to boost sales. I don't think anyone really truly understands what drives most sales. I had a spectacular run up of sales in 2012 so some people who know about this believe I'm some sort of expert in this matter. Believe me--I am not!
There are a few things that can cause a dramatic increase in sales though: Having your book mentioned or talked about on a show like Oprah or Ellen can result in a huge spike in sales. Having your book turned into a movie of course is a no-brainer way but this requires incredible luck. Winning a prestigious award might cause a small increase because most non-writers know nothing of these awards. Promoting your book on Facebook, Twitter, internet ads, Google+, and other online sources might give you a small, temporary increase in sales. Sending out a pile of postcards in the mail will most likely not result in enough sales to cover the cost of printing and mailing them. Doing signings at book stores or libraries does not seem to boost overall sales at all. So what drives sales?
Several surveys suggest that most people buy a book based on the recommendation of one of their friends. In other words--word of mouth. Following behind this are the people who buy a book because it was written by an author they've read before and liked. Next in line are those who just browse the list of books looking at titles and covers. These people will buy a book based on its visual appeal followed by the description then the reviews and finally the price.
Not every author can enjoy strong sales for long periods of time. I had my run with the Galactic Alliance series back in 2012 when Translight rose up the Amazon chart to stall at #178 of all books sold. I know I have a faithful following because sales spike when I release a new book. But the days of selling hundreds of books a day appear to be over. What caused that spike? I have no clue. But I am very happy to say that even though daily sales are low, they are steady. I still get the occasional good review which boosts my confidence and makes me want to write more.
Learning to write a great book is a never ending process. I read books on how to improve my writing. I read other books with an eye towards how the author structures her sentences and paragraphs. I read internet articles and magazine articles on how to improve my prose. And most importantly, I listen to my readers. I have always responded to their emails and I listen to their comments. I work at a nuclear power plant and we continue to strive to improve--training never ends. It's the same with writing.
Next week is my last week as an instrumentation and controls technician at the nuke plant. I'll be working nights and then I have a week's vacation. When I return to work I report to my new desk as a maintenance planner. This is a good move for me for many reasons. Wish me luck.
So what causes book sales to go up? What causes sales to drop? Does anybody really know? Oh there are books out there by people who claim to know, people who, for the price of their book, will tell you how to market and promote your book and how to boost sales. I don't think anyone really truly understands what drives most sales. I had a spectacular run up of sales in 2012 so some people who know about this believe I'm some sort of expert in this matter. Believe me--I am not!
There are a few things that can cause a dramatic increase in sales though: Having your book mentioned or talked about on a show like Oprah or Ellen can result in a huge spike in sales. Having your book turned into a movie of course is a no-brainer way but this requires incredible luck. Winning a prestigious award might cause a small increase because most non-writers know nothing of these awards. Promoting your book on Facebook, Twitter, internet ads, Google+, and other online sources might give you a small, temporary increase in sales. Sending out a pile of postcards in the mail will most likely not result in enough sales to cover the cost of printing and mailing them. Doing signings at book stores or libraries does not seem to boost overall sales at all. So what drives sales?
Several surveys suggest that most people buy a book based on the recommendation of one of their friends. In other words--word of mouth. Following behind this are the people who buy a book because it was written by an author they've read before and liked. Next in line are those who just browse the list of books looking at titles and covers. These people will buy a book based on its visual appeal followed by the description then the reviews and finally the price.
Not every author can enjoy strong sales for long periods of time. I had my run with the Galactic Alliance series back in 2012 when Translight rose up the Amazon chart to stall at #178 of all books sold. I know I have a faithful following because sales spike when I release a new book. But the days of selling hundreds of books a day appear to be over. What caused that spike? I have no clue. But I am very happy to say that even though daily sales are low, they are steady. I still get the occasional good review which boosts my confidence and makes me want to write more.
Learning to write a great book is a never ending process. I read books on how to improve my writing. I read other books with an eye towards how the author structures her sentences and paragraphs. I read internet articles and magazine articles on how to improve my prose. And most importantly, I listen to my readers. I have always responded to their emails and I listen to their comments. I work at a nuclear power plant and we continue to strive to improve--training never ends. It's the same with writing.
Next week is my last week as an instrumentation and controls technician at the nuke plant. I'll be working nights and then I have a week's vacation. When I return to work I report to my new desk as a maintenance planner. This is a good move for me for many reasons. Wish me luck.
March 9, 2014
Amtrak writer residency
Ok--so I don't stand a snowball's chance in... Well, you get the point. I'm talking about the exciting AmTrak writer's residency that officially opened its doors for submission yesterday afternoon. If you're on Twitter you've probably seen the flurry of discussions concerning this event. If you want to learn about how it all started, check out this article on the Wire website. I was glued to my Twitter feed all week waiting for the announcement. It finally came yesterday as I was walking into B&N to attend my writer's meeting. I sat down, fired up the laptop, and put in my submission. Now the waiting begins. If you're interested, check out the link above and put your name in the hat. Yes that means I'll be pushed farther down the list but it's more appropriate to share this information than to keep it private in the hopes that I'll be one of only a few to submit. Go for it!
Peacekeeper now stands at 31,309 words. I received some very positive feedback from my reading at the writer's group yesterday as well as a couple of interesting suggestions. I wish I had time to get into the suggestions because it highlights just how important it is for writers to hang out together and exchange ideas. Perhaps in another post???
Yesterday morning, in the middle of working on new material for Peacekeeper, our power went out. This is perhaps one of the scariest events that can happen in a writer's life (a total hard drive crash without having a backup is the worst). I was not working on a laptop either. If I had been, the laptop's battery would have kicked in. I was on my main system. Luckily, both of my desktop PCs are equipped with battery backups. I lost nothing. And, because I power the router and modem with the UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) I was able to save my work to DropBox in case I had to transfer to the laptop. The power was out twice; once for 15 seconds and a few minutes later it went out again for 6 minutes. Others in our area weren't so lucky. Forty-six thousand people lost their power for most of the day. The lesson learned: Backup your work and either write on a device that has a built-in battery or buy a UPS for your desktop. I use an APC XS 1000.
I was hoping this would not happen, but United airlines (which is backing out of Cleveland as one of their hubs) has changed my flight to Denver. I had originally booked a flight putting me there at the decent time of 2:34 PM. Now my arrival has been pushed back to 5:59 PM. It's a 2-hour drive to Laramie from Denver and I'm supposed to be driving a group from the airport. Luckily, nobody has been selected to attend Launch Pad yet. I've alerted Mike Brotherton of my late arrival and he can inform the new attendees of my flight times so they can plan their flights around mine if they desire.
That's enough for me--time to get some writing done.
Peacekeeper now stands at 31,309 words. I received some very positive feedback from my reading at the writer's group yesterday as well as a couple of interesting suggestions. I wish I had time to get into the suggestions because it highlights just how important it is for writers to hang out together and exchange ideas. Perhaps in another post???
Yesterday morning, in the middle of working on new material for Peacekeeper, our power went out. This is perhaps one of the scariest events that can happen in a writer's life (a total hard drive crash without having a backup is the worst). I was not working on a laptop either. If I had been, the laptop's battery would have kicked in. I was on my main system. Luckily, both of my desktop PCs are equipped with battery backups. I lost nothing. And, because I power the router and modem with the UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) I was able to save my work to DropBox in case I had to transfer to the laptop. The power was out twice; once for 15 seconds and a few minutes later it went out again for 6 minutes. Others in our area weren't so lucky. Forty-six thousand people lost their power for most of the day. The lesson learned: Backup your work and either write on a device that has a built-in battery or buy a UPS for your desktop. I use an APC XS 1000.
I was hoping this would not happen, but United airlines (which is backing out of Cleveland as one of their hubs) has changed my flight to Denver. I had originally booked a flight putting me there at the decent time of 2:34 PM. Now my arrival has been pushed back to 5:59 PM. It's a 2-hour drive to Laramie from Denver and I'm supposed to be driving a group from the airport. Luckily, nobody has been selected to attend Launch Pad yet. I've alerted Mike Brotherton of my late arrival and he can inform the new attendees of my flight times so they can plan their flights around mine if they desire.
That's enough for me--time to get some writing done.
March 2, 2014
Peacekeeper 2 update
Today's post is a little abbreviated due to our having an overnight guest and I don't want to be rude.
As of this morning, Peacekeeper now stands at 29,789 words putting the novel at just over 1/3 complete, assuming a final word count of 85,000. Last week, I told you about a suggestion from one of my readers that has improved the book enormously. Those improvements required me to add a completely different beginning. Thanks to Scrivener, doing so was a piece of cake.
If you've read Peacekeeper, you will recall that the main character—Tom—formed a unique relationship with an alien named Lashpa. Peacekeeper 2 continues this relationship and delves deeper into the problems of inter-species relations. I haven't gotten there yet but I will also be explaining the difficulties a cyborg faces in forming a close relationship with a non-enhanced individual. The results should make for a good character story. And for those who want the action, there will be some of that as well. Space battles, powerful weapons, and incredible ships.
Making the above changes would have been a nightmare in any other 'standard' word processor. Scrivener, however, made it a snap. After adding the new first chapter, I had to move a couple of scenes around to put things into the right timeline. Each scene is a separate file in Scrivener and moving them around is as simple as dragging the filenames. Throughout the entire rewrite process I didn't have to worry at all about renumbering chapters or putting in scene separators at the proper location. Scrivener does it all when I build the final product. If you're a writer and you haven't looked into this wonderful program—do it now.
Finally - Don't forget that Launch Pad is now taking applications. If you're involved in any way in the entertainment industry (writer, editor, publisher, producer, agent) please consider putting in an application to attend this incredible workshop. You will not only learn some science but you will get to know a group of individuals who share the same interest as yourself. I am so glad to have attended in the past and I'm looking forward to doing it again and again.
As of this morning, Peacekeeper now stands at 29,789 words putting the novel at just over 1/3 complete, assuming a final word count of 85,000. Last week, I told you about a suggestion from one of my readers that has improved the book enormously. Those improvements required me to add a completely different beginning. Thanks to Scrivener, doing so was a piece of cake.
If you've read Peacekeeper, you will recall that the main character—Tom—formed a unique relationship with an alien named Lashpa. Peacekeeper 2 continues this relationship and delves deeper into the problems of inter-species relations. I haven't gotten there yet but I will also be explaining the difficulties a cyborg faces in forming a close relationship with a non-enhanced individual. The results should make for a good character story. And for those who want the action, there will be some of that as well. Space battles, powerful weapons, and incredible ships.
Making the above changes would have been a nightmare in any other 'standard' word processor. Scrivener, however, made it a snap. After adding the new first chapter, I had to move a couple of scenes around to put things into the right timeline. Each scene is a separate file in Scrivener and moving them around is as simple as dragging the filenames. Throughout the entire rewrite process I didn't have to worry at all about renumbering chapters or putting in scene separators at the proper location. Scrivener does it all when I build the final product. If you're a writer and you haven't looked into this wonderful program—do it now.
Finally - Don't forget that Launch Pad is now taking applications. If you're involved in any way in the entertainment industry (writer, editor, publisher, producer, agent) please consider putting in an application to attend this incredible workshop. You will not only learn some science but you will get to know a group of individuals who share the same interest as yourself. I am so glad to have attended in the past and I'm looking forward to doing it again and again.
February 23, 2014
How important are your fans?
How important are your fans? Think hard before you answer this one because a fan is far more than just a source of income. They are the reason why you write. Without them, a writer is nothing, a voice without an audience. You should listen to them, interact with them, and always treat them with respect.
People have been saying for a long time that an author should have a wide social networking footprint. That means spending time on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and a host of other sites. Recently, I’ve read that a study has concluded there is no benefit in sales from having a strong social presence. The same study also concluded that winning an award also has little to no affect on sales. I was surprised. I thought about that for awhile and then noted that the key word here is ‘sales’.
Most people buy books based on verbal recommendations from their friends. Some read the reviews but many now realize that reviews may not always mean anything because everyone has different tastes. Writer awards are mostly for the writer community—few people other than writers have ever heard of most of them and most people simply don’t care. The average consumer wants to spend as little as possible to read a well-written book. If you write a good story and a reader enjoys it then that reader will come back for more—you’ve gained a fan.
Does all this mean that every author should quit blogging and vanish from the social network? After all, instead of writing this blog or updating my Twitter feed I could be spending that time writing. If sales is all you care about then perhaps that would be a proper strategy. I look at things in a different way.
Don’t get me wrong—sales are important; it’s what helps pay a writer’s bills. But a writer—a true writer—does not write strictly for the money. He writes because it is an insatiable itch that must be scratched. The urge to tell a story to someone else is too strong to ignore. A writer needs an audience otherwise there’s no point in writing. If you think about it carefully, this means that the reader—your fans—is all that matters. And the best way for a person to feel like they matter is to make yourself available to them for comment and to respond to those comments in a professional manner. Social networking is the modern way to accomplish this.
Example: I have a few fans who have given me feedback—good feedback. I listen to them and I try to learn from what they’ve told me. Recently, I asked one such person his opinion on an aspect of my current work in progress. The reply I received was an eye-opener and has caused me to go back and rewrite the beginning of my next novel. His feedback has changed the entire course of my main character. The novel’s basic plot remains unchanged but my main character now has a more interesting life, a more human experience, and hopefully the book will be much better because of it. I’m going to give that reader a chance for more feedback since he’ll be one of my beta-readers for Peacekeeper 2. Thank you Lee Dilkie! (You didn’t think I was going to leave your name a mystery did you?)
In case you’re wondering: I’m on Twitter (@author_farren) but I only follow fellow writers or a very few select other Twitter feeds—feel free to follow me if you desire. I have both a personal and a fan Facebook page. Because of my limited time (I do work for a living) I rarely look at what others are saying on Facebook. I also have a Google+ account and I look at that feed even less. I am on LinkedIn. I have a website and I write a weekly blog. There you have it—my complete social networking platform. If you want to get in touch with me the best way to do it is by emailing me. My email is available on all of my social network platforms which is the main reason why I have them—so people can find me. If you write me, I will write you back.
Peacekeeper update: I have managed to get some writing done this week. Peacekeeper 2 now stands at 27,788 words with a new beginning still in progress.
People have been saying for a long time that an author should have a wide social networking footprint. That means spending time on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and a host of other sites. Recently, I’ve read that a study has concluded there is no benefit in sales from having a strong social presence. The same study also concluded that winning an award also has little to no affect on sales. I was surprised. I thought about that for awhile and then noted that the key word here is ‘sales’.
Most people buy books based on verbal recommendations from their friends. Some read the reviews but many now realize that reviews may not always mean anything because everyone has different tastes. Writer awards are mostly for the writer community—few people other than writers have ever heard of most of them and most people simply don’t care. The average consumer wants to spend as little as possible to read a well-written book. If you write a good story and a reader enjoys it then that reader will come back for more—you’ve gained a fan.
Does all this mean that every author should quit blogging and vanish from the social network? After all, instead of writing this blog or updating my Twitter feed I could be spending that time writing. If sales is all you care about then perhaps that would be a proper strategy. I look at things in a different way.
Don’t get me wrong—sales are important; it’s what helps pay a writer’s bills. But a writer—a true writer—does not write strictly for the money. He writes because it is an insatiable itch that must be scratched. The urge to tell a story to someone else is too strong to ignore. A writer needs an audience otherwise there’s no point in writing. If you think about it carefully, this means that the reader—your fans—is all that matters. And the best way for a person to feel like they matter is to make yourself available to them for comment and to respond to those comments in a professional manner. Social networking is the modern way to accomplish this.
Example: I have a few fans who have given me feedback—good feedback. I listen to them and I try to learn from what they’ve told me. Recently, I asked one such person his opinion on an aspect of my current work in progress. The reply I received was an eye-opener and has caused me to go back and rewrite the beginning of my next novel. His feedback has changed the entire course of my main character. The novel’s basic plot remains unchanged but my main character now has a more interesting life, a more human experience, and hopefully the book will be much better because of it. I’m going to give that reader a chance for more feedback since he’ll be one of my beta-readers for Peacekeeper 2. Thank you Lee Dilkie! (You didn’t think I was going to leave your name a mystery did you?)
In case you’re wondering: I’m on Twitter (@author_farren) but I only follow fellow writers or a very few select other Twitter feeds—feel free to follow me if you desire. I have both a personal and a fan Facebook page. Because of my limited time (I do work for a living) I rarely look at what others are saying on Facebook. I also have a Google+ account and I look at that feed even less. I am on LinkedIn. I have a website and I write a weekly blog. There you have it—my complete social networking platform. If you want to get in touch with me the best way to do it is by emailing me. My email is available on all of my social network platforms which is the main reason why I have them—so people can find me. If you write me, I will write you back.
Peacekeeper update: I have managed to get some writing done this week. Peacekeeper 2 now stands at 27,788 words with a new beginning still in progress.
February 16, 2014
Just a quick post
Even though I was off work today, I did not get any writing done. I did our taxes, helped get my mother-in-law over to the house for a family visit (she's in a wheelchair), reorganized Quicken to make next year's taxes easier, and spent time with my wife. I did however, get some writing done yesterday--Peacekeeper now stands at 24,658 words.
I am constantly amazed at how the human brain works. When first started thinking about a second Peacekeeper novel I had no idea where it was going to lead. I wanted to build a more detailed picture of Tom Wilks and I was sure that his relationship with Lashpa would play a pivotal roll. As I thought about different story lines, the plot began to gel until I had something I could work with. It wasn't firm and I had no idea where the book would go but I started writing. As I wrote, more details filled themselves in and the novel's major challenge took shape--seemingly all by itself. It's the subconscious at work
Here's an example; Early in the writing process for Peacekeeper 2 an idea popped into my head. It was incomplete and went something like this -- A lone survivor is found in space. He has witnessed something so upsetting that he has closed himself off from the rest of the world. -- That was it. I had no idea what the event was but I wanted to use this. I do a lot of thinking while in the shower and while I'm trying to fall asleep. One day, while taking a shower, I was playing around with this idea and the perfect solution popped into my head. The solution created other problems for the story but as time went on the details were ironed out and a solid plot developed.
This is how a SOP (Seat Of the Pants) author works. If I were an outliner, I would still be thinking about the plot and working on the outline. Not a single word would be written. A year or so from now, the outline would be finished and I could start writing. But that's not how I work. I love it when a story seems to write itself. One of the things that continually blows my mind is how a little detail early in a story can reappear later on and become suddenly very important. A small factoid presented in chapter 3 can become a pivotal point in chapter 38. These events are not planned--the story writes itself and sometimes even I'm surprised at the result. I love it.
If anyone reading this post has something to offer concerning Peacekeeper 2, please let me know. I love the feedback. I will respond.
I am constantly amazed at how the human brain works. When first started thinking about a second Peacekeeper novel I had no idea where it was going to lead. I wanted to build a more detailed picture of Tom Wilks and I was sure that his relationship with Lashpa would play a pivotal roll. As I thought about different story lines, the plot began to gel until I had something I could work with. It wasn't firm and I had no idea where the book would go but I started writing. As I wrote, more details filled themselves in and the novel's major challenge took shape--seemingly all by itself. It's the subconscious at work
Here's an example; Early in the writing process for Peacekeeper 2 an idea popped into my head. It was incomplete and went something like this -- A lone survivor is found in space. He has witnessed something so upsetting that he has closed himself off from the rest of the world. -- That was it. I had no idea what the event was but I wanted to use this. I do a lot of thinking while in the shower and while I'm trying to fall asleep. One day, while taking a shower, I was playing around with this idea and the perfect solution popped into my head. The solution created other problems for the story but as time went on the details were ironed out and a solid plot developed.
This is how a SOP (Seat Of the Pants) author works. If I were an outliner, I would still be thinking about the plot and working on the outline. Not a single word would be written. A year or so from now, the outline would be finished and I could start writing. But that's not how I work. I love it when a story seems to write itself. One of the things that continually blows my mind is how a little detail early in a story can reappear later on and become suddenly very important. A small factoid presented in chapter 3 can become a pivotal point in chapter 38. These events are not planned--the story writes itself and sometimes even I'm surprised at the result. I love it.
If anyone reading this post has something to offer concerning Peacekeeper 2, please let me know. I love the feedback. I will respond.
February 9, 2014
By the numbers
Peacekeeper 2 is currently at 22,911 words. It has become a weekend only project. Obligations at home and a tough work schedule (like getting called at 7:00 PM to come in at midnight and work until 6:30 AM) have made it difficult to get any writing done at all during the week. Progress, however is being made but this is only the first draft. During the editing I will be incorporating some feedback I've received in my writer's group.
Back at the beginning of 2012, sales of Translight suddenly and inexplicably took off. I enjoyed an enormous surge in sales that lasted about 6 weeks and then began to taper off. Prior to that, sales were pitiful. Since then, sales have been relatively steady but significantly lower than the early part of 2012. So what happened? I wish I knew.
That burst of sales got me into Launch Pad 2012; an adventure I will never forget. I met a group of people I still stay in contact with and it allowed me to finally meet a group of writers. I can clearly remember feeling out of my league in their company. Most had won awards or been published by major publishing houses. I was an unknown indie author who had never met another writer.
With sales remaining more-or-less steady, I recently started wondering how I was doing in relation to other indie authors. But without knowing their sales figures I had nothing to compare my success or failure against. After a great deal of internal debating I decided to ask a writer friend of mine if she would be willing to share some general sales numbers with me. She agreed. I asked her because she has several awards and her name is fairly well known in the writing community. I am glad to report that even after my request we are still on good terms!
Before I get into the results, I want to point out something that many writers struggle with. Even though there are awards and contests for writers, writing should never be considered a competition. If I have a tip to help improve sales, I will share it with my writer friends. If someone does well, I will sincerely congratulate them. Their success does not mean I will be less successful. If a friend of mine wants to know how many books I've sold, then what harm does it cause to share the numbers? If another writer shares her numbers with me, what harm could I do to her with that information? Why are some writers so afraid to share this information?
So what were the results? I’m doing quite well—thank you. I won’t divulge the numbers or who I compared myself against so please don't ask. But having a reference point has allowed me to feel much better about my current rate of sales.
Why didn't I just look at my ranking on Amazon? Several reasons. Sales rankings include well-known authors who are published through a major publishing house. I am interested in how I am doing in relationship to other indie authors. Book sales typically spike when an author releases a new book causing the ranking of others to fall. Authors who have published a large number of books have an advantage over those who have fewer. Finally, it’s not a competition! I simply wanted to know if I was doing well—I am and that’s all I needed to know.
I loved my experience at Launch Pad so much that I went back last year and helped out by renting a van and being a driver. I am going again this year. Each time I go I will add a few more friends to my list of writer friends. And if I ever find out what drove my sales to such heights in early 2012 I will gladly share it on this blog so others can enjoy the same benefits—if only for a brief time.
One final note--it's tax time and if you receive 1099's from Amazon you need to be aware of a hidden fee they are not very open about. If you compare the total of the 1099's to the total of all the deposits you received during the year and you have foreign sales, you will notice a difference. That difference is the fee you are charged for converting the foreign currency into dollars. It's tax deductible so make sure you do the math.
Back at the beginning of 2012, sales of Translight suddenly and inexplicably took off. I enjoyed an enormous surge in sales that lasted about 6 weeks and then began to taper off. Prior to that, sales were pitiful. Since then, sales have been relatively steady but significantly lower than the early part of 2012. So what happened? I wish I knew.
That burst of sales got me into Launch Pad 2012; an adventure I will never forget. I met a group of people I still stay in contact with and it allowed me to finally meet a group of writers. I can clearly remember feeling out of my league in their company. Most had won awards or been published by major publishing houses. I was an unknown indie author who had never met another writer.
With sales remaining more-or-less steady, I recently started wondering how I was doing in relation to other indie authors. But without knowing their sales figures I had nothing to compare my success or failure against. After a great deal of internal debating I decided to ask a writer friend of mine if she would be willing to share some general sales numbers with me. She agreed. I asked her because she has several awards and her name is fairly well known in the writing community. I am glad to report that even after my request we are still on good terms!
Before I get into the results, I want to point out something that many writers struggle with. Even though there are awards and contests for writers, writing should never be considered a competition. If I have a tip to help improve sales, I will share it with my writer friends. If someone does well, I will sincerely congratulate them. Their success does not mean I will be less successful. If a friend of mine wants to know how many books I've sold, then what harm does it cause to share the numbers? If another writer shares her numbers with me, what harm could I do to her with that information? Why are some writers so afraid to share this information?
So what were the results? I’m doing quite well—thank you. I won’t divulge the numbers or who I compared myself against so please don't ask. But having a reference point has allowed me to feel much better about my current rate of sales.
Why didn't I just look at my ranking on Amazon? Several reasons. Sales rankings include well-known authors who are published through a major publishing house. I am interested in how I am doing in relationship to other indie authors. Book sales typically spike when an author releases a new book causing the ranking of others to fall. Authors who have published a large number of books have an advantage over those who have fewer. Finally, it’s not a competition! I simply wanted to know if I was doing well—I am and that’s all I needed to know.
I loved my experience at Launch Pad so much that I went back last year and helped out by renting a van and being a driver. I am going again this year. Each time I go I will add a few more friends to my list of writer friends. And if I ever find out what drove my sales to such heights in early 2012 I will gladly share it on this blog so others can enjoy the same benefits—if only for a brief time.
One final note--it's tax time and if you receive 1099's from Amazon you need to be aware of a hidden fee they are not very open about. If you compare the total of the 1099's to the total of all the deposits you received during the year and you have foreign sales, you will notice a difference. That difference is the fee you are charged for converting the foreign currency into dollars. It's tax deductible so make sure you do the math.
February 2, 2014
Humans - will we ever become civilized?
Peacekeeper 2 now stands at 20,611 words. If you're keeping track, that's not much more than last Sunday. Working 12-hr days leaves little time to write. Even when I do have a few minutes here and there I can't take the time to jog down any words. People are usually talking to me, I'm reading ahead on the next job we are about to do, or I simply can't get my train of thought back to where it needs to be.
I've been reading Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers and there are stories in this collection of people who have managed to write an entire book in 15 minute segments. I've tried and the result is that much of it gets trashed and rewritten when I have time to put it into the computer. I need silence and time to think about what I'm writing. For those parents out there who can write while the kids are running around the house screaming and your spouse is watching a show on TV--my hat is off to you!
In the news
Yesterday while playing Scrabble with my wife, I sat flabbergasted at an article that appeared in my Twitter feed. Scientists create an artificial magnetic monopole! I ignored my poor wife while I read through the article. What a fantastic discovery! We are on the brink of incredible discoveries in physics. Warp drive anyone?
I would also like to send out a congratulations to a friend of mine; Linda Nagata's self-published novel The Red: First Light is on the Locus magazine's recommended reading list. You should read this book. She is currently putting the finishing touches on the sequel.
The Launch Pad Workshop is now accepting applications! I attended this event for the first time in 2012 and had such a wonderful experience and met such a fantastic group of people that I practically begged the founder, Professor Mike Brotherton, to let me come back. Last year's event was no less enjoyable. I already have my tickets for this year and I'm helping out as a driver. If you're interested in science and want to meet a group of people you will stay in touch with for many years to come then please apply. Space is limited.
Headline
My headline is a little off my norm but it's a topic that deserves discussion. I am not a habitual watcher of the news (no time) but I don't live my life in the dark either. I listen to NPR in the car and I check out the CNN headlines at least once a day. The stories I see say a lot about humanity as a whole. We are a very diverse race with people from all extremes coexisting together. We have the ultra-generous and kind bumping elbows with the cruel and foul with every other shade of behavior smashed between them. A person leaves her kids in the car to freeze to death while having sex. Men shooting people in malls. Home invasions where the elderly are beaten or simply shot. Corporate greed running rampant and people trusted with the life savings of others becoming rich and giving nothing in return.
If you were a member of an advanced alien culture and in charge of surveying our planet for possible contact--would you recommend turning humans loose on the galaxy? My vote would be NO.
We are a technologically advanced culture with the collective mind of a six-year-old. Greed drives most of us to stab our fellow human in the back when they least expect it. Imagine, for just a moment, what we could accomplish if every last one of us learned how to behave like adults. No more murders, everyone helping those in need, tolerance of others beliefs, sharing our good fortune with those who are less fortunate. Yes I know it's a pipe dream--I'm a writer--I dream a lot. If our collective mind had matured along with our technology we would have conquered our solar system by now and may even be on our way to the stars. If there are alien civilizations out there, we would have been welcomed into their community. Poverty would be abolished and our world would be an incredibly wonderful place to live.
We are all human. That's how I think of us. Men, women, children, rich, poor, smart, mentally challenged, black, red, or white--no matter what label you slap on people we are all human. Alien races have probably turned the name of our race into an insult: "Stop acting human!" The big question is why are we like this? I do not have the answers. But at least I can try my best not to be part of the problem. A famous man once said, "I have a dream." So do I. As a writer, it's a bit more global.
I've been reading Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers and there are stories in this collection of people who have managed to write an entire book in 15 minute segments. I've tried and the result is that much of it gets trashed and rewritten when I have time to put it into the computer. I need silence and time to think about what I'm writing. For those parents out there who can write while the kids are running around the house screaming and your spouse is watching a show on TV--my hat is off to you!
In the news
Yesterday while playing Scrabble with my wife, I sat flabbergasted at an article that appeared in my Twitter feed. Scientists create an artificial magnetic monopole! I ignored my poor wife while I read through the article. What a fantastic discovery! We are on the brink of incredible discoveries in physics. Warp drive anyone?
I would also like to send out a congratulations to a friend of mine; Linda Nagata's self-published novel The Red: First Light is on the Locus magazine's recommended reading list. You should read this book. She is currently putting the finishing touches on the sequel.
The Launch Pad Workshop is now accepting applications! I attended this event for the first time in 2012 and had such a wonderful experience and met such a fantastic group of people that I practically begged the founder, Professor Mike Brotherton, to let me come back. Last year's event was no less enjoyable. I already have my tickets for this year and I'm helping out as a driver. If you're interested in science and want to meet a group of people you will stay in touch with for many years to come then please apply. Space is limited.
Headline
My headline is a little off my norm but it's a topic that deserves discussion. I am not a habitual watcher of the news (no time) but I don't live my life in the dark either. I listen to NPR in the car and I check out the CNN headlines at least once a day. The stories I see say a lot about humanity as a whole. We are a very diverse race with people from all extremes coexisting together. We have the ultra-generous and kind bumping elbows with the cruel and foul with every other shade of behavior smashed between them. A person leaves her kids in the car to freeze to death while having sex. Men shooting people in malls. Home invasions where the elderly are beaten or simply shot. Corporate greed running rampant and people trusted with the life savings of others becoming rich and giving nothing in return.
If you were a member of an advanced alien culture and in charge of surveying our planet for possible contact--would you recommend turning humans loose on the galaxy? My vote would be NO.
We are a technologically advanced culture with the collective mind of a six-year-old. Greed drives most of us to stab our fellow human in the back when they least expect it. Imagine, for just a moment, what we could accomplish if every last one of us learned how to behave like adults. No more murders, everyone helping those in need, tolerance of others beliefs, sharing our good fortune with those who are less fortunate. Yes I know it's a pipe dream--I'm a writer--I dream a lot. If our collective mind had matured along with our technology we would have conquered our solar system by now and may even be on our way to the stars. If there are alien civilizations out there, we would have been welcomed into their community. Poverty would be abolished and our world would be an incredibly wonderful place to live.
We are all human. That's how I think of us. Men, women, children, rich, poor, smart, mentally challenged, black, red, or white--no matter what label you slap on people we are all human. Alien races have probably turned the name of our race into an insult: "Stop acting human!" The big question is why are we like this? I do not have the answers. But at least I can try my best not to be part of the problem. A famous man once said, "I have a dream." So do I. As a writer, it's a bit more global.
