A.J. Race's Blog, page 17

That’s Clever

One thing I don’t think I touched on all that much was the idea of a slogan or tagline when it comes to branding (something just about every brand has at some time or another). Some of them are clever

Think Different– Apple

An Evil Plot to Destroy the World. Enjoy– Hulu

Just Do it– Nike

The Greatest Tragedy is Indifference– Red Cross

Good taglines or slogan’s should be simple, effective and clever. And above all they should make sense. As an author your tagline/slogan should represent you and what your all about. For Cult of Racewood I decided on write, defiant! Because I wanted to make the statement that you shouldn’t just write something because it’s popular. Don’t jump on the bandwagon of yet another vampire novel. I was tired of seeing authors writing the same old thing.

There are some slogans that just don’t work. They can be offensive, silly or just completely miss the point altogether. Here are a few with reasons of why they don’t work.

It’s Not For Women– Dr. Pepper Ten

Where do I even begin with why this doesn’t work? First of all, cutting out a large potential marketshare of your audience with sexist remarks is always a bad idea. Why is a ten calorie soda not for women, specifically?

Kills Bugs Dead– Raid.

Unlike the previous example this isn’t offensive, it’s just overkill. They really want you to know that Raid kills bugs. (Which sometimes they seem to just scurry and not die, but that’s another story).

Reach Out And Touch Someone– AT&T

I get where they were trying to go with this particular slogan but I really think they missed the mark. It doesn’t necessarily read as a phone company.

Ultimately what you have to remember about a good slogan is that it has to be effective. It should be instantly clear what it’s about, not offensive and not specifically ignore any potential marketshare. The point of a slogan is to add to the brand to entice customers, not exclude them.

Clever. Short. Simple.

The best slogans are easy to remember and just a few words.

Have You Lost Your Damn Mind?

Amazon… what are you doing?

So let me give you the lowdown on what’s happening. According to my favorite double blog of the week, Terribleminds, Amazon has created something called Amazon Worlds which seeks to help authors on both sides capitalize on fanfic. By which I mean the fanfic author and the original author.

It sounds great.

On paper.

It really does. Because I’m all for fanfic, always have been, I even enjoy reading it. But one of the greatest things about fanfic is that it doesn’t cost anything! Because it’s often really really bad.

Like… Fifty Shades of Twilight bad, sometimes even worse. Fifty Shades is to me proof of why needed to stay in the dark corner of the internet, because sometimes it’s really really good and sometimes well… it definitely isn’t worth whatever price Kindle would ask for it.

So what is the plus side in my mind?

If I understood Chuck’s post correctly, the original author can also make money on the sales of this. So had this been in effect when Fifty Shades happened, Stephanie Meyer would have actually made some money off of it.

Which again…

sounds great on paper.

But the reality of it is incredibly complex. I mean part of the reason fanfic was even allowed to be a thing was because the authors made no money off of it, because to do so runs into copyright complications. Just because both parties could be making money from it…

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

For the record, I wholeheartedly agree with Chuck that if you’re lucky enough to have fans who want to write more of your story you’re extremely lucky. I also know that one of the most amazing things about fanfiction is that it gets people who otherwise wouldn’t read a 200k word novel to read one. Now maybe if Amazon could help with editing or something, this would be a better idea.

Accidentally Accurate

his week has quickly become an interesting and exciting week for my writing in that I am actually doing it! And quite a bit of it at that. But one of perhaps the most interesting points (at least to me) was the fact that I managed to write a scene that was accidentally completely historically accurate. Here’s what I mean. I was describing the architectural style in which a building was created and I happened to site a year, the architectural style was fairly random (it had just popped into my head) as had the year, but when I went to google it later (to ensure that it was in fact factually accurate), I found that it had started pretty much around the exact date I had chosen.

As a part of my studies in college, we are expected to learn about different artistic periods, from all factions of design, and the times in which said artistic periods were said to have started and ended. I was sure the information hadn’t stuck, and in fact were you to ask me when exactly an artistic period started I probably wouldn’t be able to give you an exact date, but I think on a subconscious level the information must have took somewhere. Ironically the vision for this particular architectural style in my mind and what it actually looks like were two different ideas entirely, but then I think I like it better.

Alternative Reality

A/N: Today rather than writing a normal post about well… writing, I decided to do a Daily Racewood Op-Ed regarding an issue that frankly has been bothering me a lot. I’m eager to hear your thoughts on the matter, as well. 

here’s a common thought that lingers throughout the internet, that it is somehow separated from reality, and therefore has no consequences. This idea of a separate reality can be seen clearly by the statements of people everywhere when talking about their IRL friends (in real life). As if somehow the friends that you have made on the internet are not in fact real. Part of the problem this has created for us is the concept that because the internet is somehow a separate reality, we can say and do things that we otherwise could not do. People can now verbally insult people they hate (or even celebrities) via Twitter or Facebook without even leaving their house (or as a common stereotype would have you believe, their parent’s basement). The fact that one persons opinion on a matter can cause such revile and vitriol is both astounding and a testament to the power that the internet actually has over us. It isn’t as if this is new per se, but the convenience of it, an the anonymity of it has created an entirely new breed of monster that we don’t quite know how to deal with.

It’s been argued that the internet is the last bastion of freedom of the Press and freedom of speech. It’s one of the few things that younger generations are actually willing to fight for actively and very vocally and that fact has managed to catch the attention of older generations in a very real way, for some it’s almost laughable, because we’re more willing to fight for this ‘alternate reality’ than we are for our actual reality in which we desperately need to be fighting. The problem is, how do we reconcile the importance of freedom of the press and freedom of speech with the anonymity and lack of accountability that we have created? At what point do we finally start taking cyber bullying seriously? Bloggers and news editors and everyone talks about it and how serious it is, but at what point do we stop acting like a high school who merely posts the signs that bullying is not going to be tolerated, but at the end of the day never do anything about it? The internet has proven that bullying not only doesn’t end with high school, but also doesn’t even have to end at school, and worse still it’s anonymous, and more convenient then ever. There are a million ways to spew hate and I don’t think I’ve heard one sensible solution to the problem. I’m not saying it’s in the least bit easy, but sooner or later we’re going to have to do more than talk about it’s a problem. We have to do more than simply say that it gets better. We have to act. Because cyber bullying isn’t going to get better on it’s own.

Who’s Really in Control?

When it comes to the question of characters and authors who’s really in control? Some people would argue that the author is always in control while others (like myself) are of the mind that the characters often have a mind of their own.

The Author:

One could argue that as real as characters feel they are ultimately a part of the authors imagination and therefore the author is always in control, whether this control is conscious or subconscious is irrelevant. Until you live a Stranger than Fiction moment and your character literally knocks on your door, it’s all you.

The Character:

While it’s true that the characters are a product of the authors imagination, the fact that these characters can transfer across time and space into the minds of readers everywhere makes them very real. Maybe they won’t knock on your door (hopefully I should say) but if you the author doesn’t believe their real why should anyone else?

Before writing this I would have argued fairly strenuously that the characters were always in control, and then I discussed the matter with fellow author, blogger, and friend Jordanna East who had this to say of her own experience during the writing of her novella Blood in the Past. 

With Blood in the Past & Blood in the Paint, I did loose outlines, but I often found that, as I was writing, things changed. Characters killed people I didn’t know they would kill or lied when they should have told the truth, etc. Once I even found out that one character was related to another! I definitely didn’t see that coming. One went ahead and got pregnant… I have, like, 12% control.

Chief among the reasons I have always believed that characters very much take on a life of their own is because of things like this. Authors very often come up with a plan of what characters are meant to do, and then they go off and do something completely different (and in the case of one scene in Edge of Darkness something completely horrific) and we the author never saw it coming.

PS: This is totally off topic, but Stranger than Fiction is really a terribly underrated movie. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for films about writers (*cough* Infamous *cough*) but I really enjoyed it.

PPS: If you don’t know what the film Infamous it’s basically a better version of Capote. They came out the same year, but for whatever reason the latter did a lot better though I found it to be rather dry.

Is It Worth it?

In yesterday’s blogpost I mentioned a Fast Company article regarding the idea of trying to re-brand self publishing as artisanal publishing, but there was an interesting note at the end regarding building a platform:

“It’s difficult to maintain the writing pace for a personal blog,” he says, “and only a small percentage of people who visit your blog will buy your book.”

Which lead me to ask myself, is blogging really worth it?

The truth is, I follow a lot of blogs, but I don’t necessarily read all the books by the authors who’s blogs I follow. Except…there are a few authors who’s blog I follow, who’s books I really do want to buy, and not just because the book sounds genuinely interesting. I think it’s about building a connection with an author. If a reader feels you’re approachable and that you’re always nice when they comment, and you’re able to build a connection with them then you may in fact find yourself with a new reader. Blogging to me, is about building a connection with my readers, sharing similar interests and if possible giving them greater insight into myself. It may not necessarily gain me readers, but it gives me the opportunity to share information about myself in ways that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to do. It gives me an outlet to write down thoughts that I otherwise might not share, and it gives readers an opportunity to see me, not just as a writer but as a human being. With the same problems and heartbreaks and all that jazz as anyone else. And maybe, just maybe, I will be able to connect with them on such a level that they will want to check out my book.

I have absolutely nothing to loose by blogging, it doesn’t cost anything and frankly it can be fun, trying to cultivate a daily blog where I talk about me, and as often as possible educate the masses has become an incredible learning opportunity for me. It’s taught me a lot about time management and figuring out how to build a sort of schedule (although admittedly there are times when I’m late or forgetful–nobody’s perfect). It’s also given me the opportunity to discover more about myself and who I am as an author. It’s a way to spread my brand and showcase what I’m made of, and if I ever actually had the foresight to do so, it would be a way to showcase some of my writing skills.

That said, I’m extremely curious what you all think… can blogging be about more than just attracting readers, or if you’re a writer is the possibility that blogging may just be a waste of time with little to show for it a deal breaker? Sound off in the comments below, or contact me via Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or via my email at cultofracewood@gmail.com

Artisanal

 have a love hate relationship with this whole concept of calling self publishing artisanal publishing. It’s pretty and maybe it would get some people to read an otherwise likely unreadable book but let’s be real here, while quite a few authors may put a great deal of work into it, the same cannot be said of all authors. The question of “Would you rather have an artisanal book or a mass produced book” as was asked by Guy Kawasaki sounds in theory like a no brainer. Artisanal looks beautiful on paper, you could even find a graphic designer with amazing Illustrator skills to write that all scripty with swirls and it would actually be quite a designer piece. The reality however tells a different story. The author having a heavy hand in the design process is wonderful in theory, and frankly maybe publishers could allow authors more contribution, but here’s the deal, most authors are not studied in design. They haven’t spent years as a design student and even if they have they likely haven’t done anything like designed the interior of a book. Believe me, I have done it myself, it’s ridiculously difficult. It’s a little easier when you have an older file to work off of, but even then, it’s tedious and often times exhausting work which makes you want to scream at the best of times. Designing your book in Word does not a professional make. Sure ebooks are fairly boring usually so in that respect you might be fine, but overall? You still have to design a cover that is both interesting, original and appealing. It should be simple if at all possible and yet convey instantly what the book is about (admittedly I do wonder sometimes if Goddess of Carnage‘s cover isn’t too simple).

Then of course there’s the editing aspect which is entirely different altogether and yet, probably more important because as much as a bad cover can completely destroy any potential sales you may have, a bad book can do just as much damage if not worse. I’m not saying a publishing house is in anyway perfect or that you won’t still have screw ups and problems, after all we’re all human, but they’ve been doing this a long time. Self publishing is a great way to get your name out there and it’s certainly a great way to get a story out that for a lot of reasons is merely easier to tell this way, but the truth of the matter is, we’re a long way from ‘artisanal’ self publishing.

It’s worth noting, that he does express the importance of having a professional cover design, and copyeditor, at least according to this article at Fast Company. The problem of course is, given the ease of use for self publishing the market has become so flooded with authors who just want to get themselves out there that even when you do take your time it’s hard to get noticed. It’s definitely an interesting article worth a read.

Racewood Radio: All By Myself

[image error]

On my own this week I discuss luck versus talent, looking back on old ideas, my favorite character to write and discuss more about screenplay writing, also an announcement regarding a slight schedule change for Racewood Radio.

Programing Note: In case you wish to avoid listening to me altogether, Racewood Radio will now be every two weeks.

PS: I was playing with Adobe Audition for this particular podcast just to see it, and I will most likely be back to Garageband for my next podcast as I’m fairly certain I will go insane attempting to figure this program out.

Blog of the Week: Terribleminds

here is frankly no excuse for why I didn’t do the Terribleminds blog earlier. Frankly there are quite a few author blogs that I absolutely love, but I have to say Chuck Wendig’s Terribleminds blog has to be one of my favorites.

I first discovered the Terribleminds blog from StumbleUpon (an addictive site which shows you parts of the internet you’ve likely never traversed before, based on topics you like), in which he wrote a blog post discussing the dangers of dating an author. Which is perhaps my favorite blog post of all time. Some of his pronouncements: like the one that authors really do control their characters no matter what we say to the contrary, I can’t say that I all together agreed with, but overall I view the blog post (and I think one or two others) as required reading material for any potential husband in my future, and you should too. It’s important that any potential love interest (be they male or female) know what they’re getting themselves into by dating you. You may not fit all of the characteristics, but if you’re an author and you’re completely honest with yourself (which writing this I realize is sort of an oxymoron) then you probably already know that a lot of what he says is true.

We are control freaks, compulsive liars (I’m not, I swear), we always believe we’re right no matter what, don’t argue you’re probably wrong and sometimes we make things more dramatic than they really are. I don’t! Drama just follows me.

The point is… authors are assholes awesome. We’re full of shit because we have to be, it’s a part of the job description (or it should be). Chuck Wendig tells it like it is. And I respect that.

PS: I’m gonna start using that gif more often. Especially when I should be writing.

Scriptwriting

ook three is mostly over halfway done, and though I haven’t done any actual writing of it in a few days (what with school work) a recent project got me thinking, I actually really miss screenwriting.

Sometime last year I believe, I mentioned that I had been wanting to work on a screenplay version of Bridge of Memories which between working on Goddess of Carnage, edits, and now working on Edge of Darkness, needless to say, the script has sort of fallen by the wayside. But it got me thinking… I’ve discussed quite a bit on this blog, how much I want to write something totally original, something that I’ve never worked on before and in particular something to take my mind off of the fact that I haven’t really been writing all that much of Edge of Darkness as of late. The would-be horror/paranormal thriller that my friend Katrina and I were to be working on together has sort of reached a standstill as neither of us have updated our Google Drive page lately. The ideas have sort of been nil lately and so that particular idea, at least for the time being is temporarily halted.

I’ve considered writing other books that I have on my agenda, but a part of me really wants to dedicate all my focus onto those books when I get to them (e.g. after I’ve finished the trilogy) which just leaves the possibility of writing a screenplay. Thus far I’ve only written bits and pieces of screenplays, various attempts at Bridge of Memories, and I think one attempt at another story (to be announced after the trilogy) but I’ve never yet worked on anything completely original, by which I mean an idea I’ve never written as a novel before. It’s a thrilling and somewhat terrifying concept, and something tells me, given the time constraints (less than 200 pages for a 2 hour movie) I would be wise to try and outline as much about the idea as possible beforehand.

I won’t make any pronouncements here, if for no other reason than because every time I do that absolutely nothing comes of it, but I do plan to see what ideas come to mind and I would definitely like to work on a screenplay again.