Gordon A. Wilson's Blog, page 7
September 18, 2015
Rebalancing the Universe with Cute Bunnies
It would seem I need to do a follow up to my kind of deeply disturbing last post.
It has bothered me likely more than anyone else but it is still on my mind. I am not a very morbid person unless being honest falls into the category. For some I suppose that is the case. I have been thinking quite a bit not so much about mortality or you know the other stuff in that article but I was thinking more like what could I do to offset that one.
I wanted almost to apologize but that is not the right term. I remember reading something the most famous author wrote about how his mind worked. A vague recollection was something like, you see a pretty lake scene. I see the monster about ready to come out of the lake... I cannot take the trash to the dumpster without bracing for whatever it is which will jump out at me. I am not kidding. Every time. Nothing ever happens but I am always prepared. The student who hides behind the door and yells, scaring the breath out of me, every time. I have not gotten to that point of preparedness yet.
My spirit has been telling me I need to reset the balance of the universe after the whole crematory dog walk incident.
What could possibly have the power to offset that oft disturbing content which flows from my mind?
I started thinking about cute little bunnies. Not the Hugh Hefner type, the rabbit type. What could possibly be less disturbing than bunnies? No need to think about the hungry wolf just out of site. Put that out of mind for the moment. Let's stick with fluffy, adorable bouncing bunnies. Kittens are kind of cute too, but bunnies have to take top placing. We have one of those super cute all white mini bunnies with all the super fluffy fur. I am told it is a mini lion head? I am not sure what her name really is, every rabbit at our house has one name from me. She was originally purchased by one of my kids who moved out and left his pets behind, subsequently forgetting about them. I am kind of glad he chose to have rabbits rather than children. His care taking ability could use a bit of refinement.
So back to the bunny. She is completely adorable in appearance. Her personality leaves a little to be desired, a trait believe it or not I have also experienced in humans who have been endowed with a little too much physical attractiveness. Interesting how that works. In Bunny Love's case, she isn't conceited nor does she look down on us because we are not pretty, as far as I know she hasn't even taken her first "selfie", she is just a little skittish. Rabbits have a built in flight response, what else could a non Monty Python rabbit do besides run from trouble? Back to her looks. I was truly asking myself what makes a bunny cute? This led to the question, what makes anything cute? There is science to it. Here is another one of those moments of disbelief. The science of being cute?
Kinderschema. Essentially 5 traits humans find attractive. The term adds one German word to my vocabulary which is not a delicious sausage I would love to eat with some type of cabbage and lots of beir. The five traits. Large round head. Large protruding forehead. Large eyes set below mid line on the face. Large bulging cheeks. Rounded body and soft body surfaces. That is my non scientific description. As I consider these, the space alien cartoon definitely comes to mind but I think he is disqualified on the cheek requirement. Every Disney character I can remember pretty easily fits in though.
Without getting into debate about specifics, a babies eyes are pretty close if not exactly the size when born as an adult. Not necessarily pertinent to the matter at hand but I find that interesting. If I ever heard it before, I forgot.
Lets get back to being cute. Evidently babies have this universal attractiveness in part as a survival mechanism. As the human grows in ability to care for itself it also outgrows its cuteness. I have seen enough teenagers to accept this as fact without further research. I could likely find a group of scientists willing to do a study on how their attitudes become such that the adults of the species are very much discouraged from interaction possibly to the point of kicking them out of the nest, donating them to the Salvation Army, sending them to boarding school or something similar. If you have not had teenage kids, or don't remember being one, ignore the last sentence.
How does all of this cuteness translate back to Bunny Love? It would seem humans are willing to take the same traits we identify as cute and apply them to animals as well. I really get this. I cannot see a picture of a baby monkey of any species and not want to hold it. I have seen a few human babies where this truly was not the case, but monkeys- always. I even realize the baby monkey will eventually grow into a rebellious gotta be me ape who will trash the house, his mother, my values and other things, but it is such a cute baby.
So Bunny Love has all the kinderschema traits right? The answer is yes, all of them. With one high level extra weapons grade secret. She isn't just hairy, any dog or opossum is hairy. She is fluffy. If human babies were fluffy, they would never get set down right? What a different world we would live in.
I think I have reset the balance of the universe with cuteness and it wasn't really even that hard. Now I know what is cute and why. That my friend is a long way from horror...or is it?
Bunny Love.
It has bothered me likely more than anyone else but it is still on my mind. I am not a very morbid person unless being honest falls into the category. For some I suppose that is the case. I have been thinking quite a bit not so much about mortality or you know the other stuff in that article but I was thinking more like what could I do to offset that one.
I wanted almost to apologize but that is not the right term. I remember reading something the most famous author wrote about how his mind worked. A vague recollection was something like, you see a pretty lake scene. I see the monster about ready to come out of the lake... I cannot take the trash to the dumpster without bracing for whatever it is which will jump out at me. I am not kidding. Every time. Nothing ever happens but I am always prepared. The student who hides behind the door and yells, scaring the breath out of me, every time. I have not gotten to that point of preparedness yet.
My spirit has been telling me I need to reset the balance of the universe after the whole crematory dog walk incident.
What could possibly have the power to offset that oft disturbing content which flows from my mind?
I started thinking about cute little bunnies. Not the Hugh Hefner type, the rabbit type. What could possibly be less disturbing than bunnies? No need to think about the hungry wolf just out of site. Put that out of mind for the moment. Let's stick with fluffy, adorable bouncing bunnies. Kittens are kind of cute too, but bunnies have to take top placing. We have one of those super cute all white mini bunnies with all the super fluffy fur. I am told it is a mini lion head? I am not sure what her name really is, every rabbit at our house has one name from me. She was originally purchased by one of my kids who moved out and left his pets behind, subsequently forgetting about them. I am kind of glad he chose to have rabbits rather than children. His care taking ability could use a bit of refinement.
So back to the bunny. She is completely adorable in appearance. Her personality leaves a little to be desired, a trait believe it or not I have also experienced in humans who have been endowed with a little too much physical attractiveness. Interesting how that works. In Bunny Love's case, she isn't conceited nor does she look down on us because we are not pretty, as far as I know she hasn't even taken her first "selfie", she is just a little skittish. Rabbits have a built in flight response, what else could a non Monty Python rabbit do besides run from trouble? Back to her looks. I was truly asking myself what makes a bunny cute? This led to the question, what makes anything cute? There is science to it. Here is another one of those moments of disbelief. The science of being cute?
Kinderschema. Essentially 5 traits humans find attractive. The term adds one German word to my vocabulary which is not a delicious sausage I would love to eat with some type of cabbage and lots of beir. The five traits. Large round head. Large protruding forehead. Large eyes set below mid line on the face. Large bulging cheeks. Rounded body and soft body surfaces. That is my non scientific description. As I consider these, the space alien cartoon definitely comes to mind but I think he is disqualified on the cheek requirement. Every Disney character I can remember pretty easily fits in though.
Without getting into debate about specifics, a babies eyes are pretty close if not exactly the size when born as an adult. Not necessarily pertinent to the matter at hand but I find that interesting. If I ever heard it before, I forgot.
Lets get back to being cute. Evidently babies have this universal attractiveness in part as a survival mechanism. As the human grows in ability to care for itself it also outgrows its cuteness. I have seen enough teenagers to accept this as fact without further research. I could likely find a group of scientists willing to do a study on how their attitudes become such that the adults of the species are very much discouraged from interaction possibly to the point of kicking them out of the nest, donating them to the Salvation Army, sending them to boarding school or something similar. If you have not had teenage kids, or don't remember being one, ignore the last sentence.
How does all of this cuteness translate back to Bunny Love? It would seem humans are willing to take the same traits we identify as cute and apply them to animals as well. I really get this. I cannot see a picture of a baby monkey of any species and not want to hold it. I have seen a few human babies where this truly was not the case, but monkeys- always. I even realize the baby monkey will eventually grow into a rebellious gotta be me ape who will trash the house, his mother, my values and other things, but it is such a cute baby.
So Bunny Love has all the kinderschema traits right? The answer is yes, all of them. With one high level extra weapons grade secret. She isn't just hairy, any dog or opossum is hairy. She is fluffy. If human babies were fluffy, they would never get set down right? What a different world we would live in.
I think I have reset the balance of the universe with cuteness and it wasn't really even that hard. Now I know what is cute and why. That my friend is a long way from horror...or is it?
Bunny Love.
September 17, 2015
Life, Death and Keeping it in Perspective
What is really on my mind.
I will say often it is tough to put a finger on it, but here is where I will start. I want to say up front, this post is disturbing. It is totally real but disturbing. It is not intended to be sensational but I feel I have to share it. I typically have a caveat- here it is. If you are not ready for a dose of reality, run like mad now.
We try to start the day as often as possible with a walk, it seems to help arthritis especially in dogs and people. One of them does not do the best when encountering anything which moves. We make the walks on less traveled roads for obvious reasons. One route which seems to be the most popular goes down through a small industrial area with railroad tracks and other low traffic buildings.
One of these buildings along the path is a crematory. No one would know this from driving by. I cannot say I have ever seen a vehicle in the parking lot other than one which belonged to a funeral operation. There is no sign, no sticker on the window. Nothing. The only reason I know it is there is from a past experience I wish I never had.
So we were walking up that dead end road it is on the other day and I kept smelling a real carbon odor almost like coal burning. If I had to put a label on it, that is as close as I can get. The smell of burning coal, but not quite. Not cooking charcoal, real coal. We were quite a ways from the building when I noticed the odor. My mind stopped. My body stopped. Everything stopped and this big rush came over me. I couldn't even talk for a couple minutes. There were many things which contributed to the emotional avalanche. It was an intense experience.
Is that what a body being cremated smells like? We turned around short of the dead end and made our way back by the building. A bit of not really smoke was coming out of both of the stacks. I was right. That was exactly what we were smelling. There was something deeply disturbing and still somehow enlightening about it all. I think now, man that is about the final smell isn't it?
The disturbing part? Can I put a finger on it? Maybe not but I may have been smelling all that was left of someone. After this is done they end up with a small box of ashes for whoever to do whatever they choose with. I couldn't help but think about the finality of the situation. The hopes, dreams, aspirations and about any other word you could put in here. It all pretty well meets with some finality in an industrial park in a nondescript building with an empty parking lot.
What is inspirational about this? There has to be something. One part I can see is the whole, "your problems don't amount to a hill of beans" paradox. I cannot help but think somewhere is a grieving family who would trade their situation for what many of us consider "problems". Just yesterday I was listening to a mother making a plea for a child with some type of inoperable brain cancer. That is a real problem. It makes me sick.
The family of the firefighter who was intentionally run down and killed with a car last week. That is a real problem. That is horrific. Where do these people come from and how do we get rid of them? Thousands of refugees fleeing their homes in an effort to keep from getting killed, leaving everything they have ever known to increase the prospects of life. That is a real problem. That is horrific.
What is inspiring about any of this? It almost sounds like a depressing rant. It does not need to be. Things may be going great right now, or they may not. Keeping things in perspective, that well could be inspiring. So what then is the enlightening part? Life. Enjoying life. How about getting out there and doing something good? To borrow an Alanis line, "How about getting naked and dancing in your living room?" How about caring for someone? How about doing something randomly nice, for no reason?
How about enjoying life as much as possible before it is time for me to end up at the nondescript building with the empty parking lot on the dead end road.
I will say often it is tough to put a finger on it, but here is where I will start. I want to say up front, this post is disturbing. It is totally real but disturbing. It is not intended to be sensational but I feel I have to share it. I typically have a caveat- here it is. If you are not ready for a dose of reality, run like mad now.
We try to start the day as often as possible with a walk, it seems to help arthritis especially in dogs and people. One of them does not do the best when encountering anything which moves. We make the walks on less traveled roads for obvious reasons. One route which seems to be the most popular goes down through a small industrial area with railroad tracks and other low traffic buildings.
One of these buildings along the path is a crematory. No one would know this from driving by. I cannot say I have ever seen a vehicle in the parking lot other than one which belonged to a funeral operation. There is no sign, no sticker on the window. Nothing. The only reason I know it is there is from a past experience I wish I never had.
So we were walking up that dead end road it is on the other day and I kept smelling a real carbon odor almost like coal burning. If I had to put a label on it, that is as close as I can get. The smell of burning coal, but not quite. Not cooking charcoal, real coal. We were quite a ways from the building when I noticed the odor. My mind stopped. My body stopped. Everything stopped and this big rush came over me. I couldn't even talk for a couple minutes. There were many things which contributed to the emotional avalanche. It was an intense experience.
Is that what a body being cremated smells like? We turned around short of the dead end and made our way back by the building. A bit of not really smoke was coming out of both of the stacks. I was right. That was exactly what we were smelling. There was something deeply disturbing and still somehow enlightening about it all. I think now, man that is about the final smell isn't it?
The disturbing part? Can I put a finger on it? Maybe not but I may have been smelling all that was left of someone. After this is done they end up with a small box of ashes for whoever to do whatever they choose with. I couldn't help but think about the finality of the situation. The hopes, dreams, aspirations and about any other word you could put in here. It all pretty well meets with some finality in an industrial park in a nondescript building with an empty parking lot.
What is inspirational about this? There has to be something. One part I can see is the whole, "your problems don't amount to a hill of beans" paradox. I cannot help but think somewhere is a grieving family who would trade their situation for what many of us consider "problems". Just yesterday I was listening to a mother making a plea for a child with some type of inoperable brain cancer. That is a real problem. It makes me sick.
The family of the firefighter who was intentionally run down and killed with a car last week. That is a real problem. That is horrific. Where do these people come from and how do we get rid of them? Thousands of refugees fleeing their homes in an effort to keep from getting killed, leaving everything they have ever known to increase the prospects of life. That is a real problem. That is horrific.
What is inspiring about any of this? It almost sounds like a depressing rant. It does not need to be. Things may be going great right now, or they may not. Keeping things in perspective, that well could be inspiring. So what then is the enlightening part? Life. Enjoying life. How about getting out there and doing something good? To borrow an Alanis line, "How about getting naked and dancing in your living room?" How about caring for someone? How about doing something randomly nice, for no reason?
How about enjoying life as much as possible before it is time for me to end up at the nondescript building with the empty parking lot on the dead end road.
September 11, 2015
Five fabulous reasons to self-publish right now!
Here is the next installment in an exploration into publishing. A Guest Post by Bibiana Krall. She has book due out next week, but that is not what she is talking about today. This is some thoughtful insight on her top five of how she ended up on the self publish side of things for her upcoming release. As always, this is a discussion. If you find something you agree or disagree with, let's talk about it. Bibiana, welcome to the blog.
Congratulations! You wrote your book! What happens now? My name is Bibiana Krall. I am a self-published (Indie) novelist and rainy day blogger. It is a delight to be here as a guest with my friend Gordon A. Wilson and to present a few positive aspects of self-publishing. You will find that my reasons are similar to many Indie writers.
Hopefully you have done some research and are aware of market trends and know where to reach the people that will appreciate all your hard work. This is not a race. Tell yourself that and pace yourself accordingly.
There is no right or wrong way to do this. Trust yourself and learn as much as possible about what works and what doesn’t. Prepare to work smart and work harder than you ever expected. So come on, let’s get real…
1.Control-You are a creative person and this is your baby.
How many hours have been invested and what is it you really want to accomplish? When you self-pub it is important to understand who and why people will be drawn to your work. There is a misconception that snagging a traditional book deal means you can move to the Bahamas and someone else does the marketing for you. Wrong. If you have created your own successful brand like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling… you can stop reading, because you have arrived.
If you are doing most of the work, you may as well be steering the ship. Are you seeking the status of the publishing house or are you after something else? After the legion of people involved with your book in traditional publishing get their cut, there isn’t a whole lot of dinero left for you. Envision a pizza and a room full of starving teenagers. Need I say more?
I have learned in my forty-six years to never say never. It is possible traditional publishing will come into play at some point, but right now this is exactly what I want to do.
2. Technology-We live in a world of instant connections, software and social media providing us the ability to reach people across the globe.
Gone are the days when word of mouth or a brick and mortar bookstore are the only options for us. People are reading again, especially for pleasure. It is easier than ever to create and distribute your work. Just a year ago I saw numbers of approximately 18 percent of the market share for self publishing authors. I have recently seen reports of 50 percent! It is amazing how quickly this is changing. This is our time to take the car out on that country road and rev the engine!
Createspace is one amazing example of what you can utilize to help yourself. They will help you format paperbacks and distribute directly to Amazon. For free! Electronic delivery of your book on additional platforms is even easier. Research the choices and decide what will give you the edge for your work.
John Grisham would have gone for this in a heartbeat. He must have gotten awfully tired of selling his books from the trunk of his car. You must be willing to try anything, just like he was… to get it out there. The beauty is you don’t have to anymore.
3. Organic content- You know your brand best!
Just in case you haven’t figured it out, as a writer you are the brand. There are no company meetings or publicists telling you how or when to do things, if you self-pub. When you see a trend or a way to get out there, you can jump on it and roll. When I had some changes to make in my latest project Carolina Spirit, I made them immediately and proceeded as needed.
I had an enlightening conversation with Gordon about this knowledge. People desire real, and honest content. When you engage massive filters of editors, publicists and executives… what really happens to your project? Perhaps it is improved, but perhaps it isn’t. In self-publishing you can be as honest and open as your heart allows. Isn’t that what drove you to write in the first place? #no filters #creative license
4. Deadlines-They exist even when it is your project, but you control how and when your content is delivered.
A traditionally published book can take up to two years or more to hit the shelves. If your book refers to technology or current social issues, by the time your book is out there, it is already a dinosaur. A little pressure is a good thing. It helps propel you forward and gives a feeling of urgency. If you don’t publish the book, it won’t ever be seen. How is that for some wisdom? Discipline is important, but it should be for the right reasons.
If your phone is constantly ringing or you don’t take the sage advice of your editor and people are interrupting your creative time, your work suffers. There is no real deadline when you self-publish. If you want to change the date or move it to match your busy schedule, then so be it. The contract in self-pub is one you make with yourself alone. There are no attorneys wandering into my office and no fine print to worry about. The buck stops here.
5. Freedom-This is the #1 reason for me. You are the toilet scrubber and the CEO of your small business.
I have spent the majority of my life working for corporations. There are rules and criteria that must be met within policy. As a self publishing writer, you will make or break your own policies every day. If an hour needs to be spent working on something else, so be it. If you can devote all of your Saturday morning to editing you totally should! No explanation is needed, as to why you scanned your badge and fired up ye olde coffee pot.
Perhaps you penned a brilliant YA novel and have decided that you enjoy writing horror or suspense more? If you signed a legal contract, it doesn’t matter if you enjoy it or not. You need to fulfill your obligations at the cost of your creative freedom. Life is a constant in doing things you prefer not to. Why would you limit where you travel with you inner voice and creativity?
Bottom line-No matter what happens from here, congratulate yourself. You created something that took a lot of devotion and time.You don’t have to generate a million dollars to realize that you did something awesome! Creative life is not about money and spreadsheets. It is about living, experiencing and stopping to smell the roses. Your legacy will always have this accomplishment and that is pretty incredible right?
So whatever you decide to do from here, remember this. You are in control and you can give it away or do it your way. The future is in your hands. Trust your inner voice to help formulate the right plan for you and your project. Remember to be flexible no matter what! Don’t give up!Getting it right will involve mistakes, so allow them to pave the way to your future success.
Let’s be friends on Twitter @Bibiana1Krall. Come take a peek at my books and website www.bibianakrall.com to view my latest book projects. It is never too late to live a creative life and take chances. Peace and love- Bibiana
A million thanks to my new friend Gordon for hosting me on his wonderful blog and his insight along the way. You are the best!
Congratulations! You wrote your book! What happens now? My name is Bibiana Krall. I am a self-published (Indie) novelist and rainy day blogger. It is a delight to be here as a guest with my friend Gordon A. Wilson and to present a few positive aspects of self-publishing. You will find that my reasons are similar to many Indie writers.
Hopefully you have done some research and are aware of market trends and know where to reach the people that will appreciate all your hard work. This is not a race. Tell yourself that and pace yourself accordingly.
There is no right or wrong way to do this. Trust yourself and learn as much as possible about what works and what doesn’t. Prepare to work smart and work harder than you ever expected. So come on, let’s get real…
1.Control-You are a creative person and this is your baby.
How many hours have been invested and what is it you really want to accomplish? When you self-pub it is important to understand who and why people will be drawn to your work. There is a misconception that snagging a traditional book deal means you can move to the Bahamas and someone else does the marketing for you. Wrong. If you have created your own successful brand like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling… you can stop reading, because you have arrived.
If you are doing most of the work, you may as well be steering the ship. Are you seeking the status of the publishing house or are you after something else? After the legion of people involved with your book in traditional publishing get their cut, there isn’t a whole lot of dinero left for you. Envision a pizza and a room full of starving teenagers. Need I say more?
I have learned in my forty-six years to never say never. It is possible traditional publishing will come into play at some point, but right now this is exactly what I want to do.
2. Technology-We live in a world of instant connections, software and social media providing us the ability to reach people across the globe.
Gone are the days when word of mouth or a brick and mortar bookstore are the only options for us. People are reading again, especially for pleasure. It is easier than ever to create and distribute your work. Just a year ago I saw numbers of approximately 18 percent of the market share for self publishing authors. I have recently seen reports of 50 percent! It is amazing how quickly this is changing. This is our time to take the car out on that country road and rev the engine!
Createspace is one amazing example of what you can utilize to help yourself. They will help you format paperbacks and distribute directly to Amazon. For free! Electronic delivery of your book on additional platforms is even easier. Research the choices and decide what will give you the edge for your work.
John Grisham would have gone for this in a heartbeat. He must have gotten awfully tired of selling his books from the trunk of his car. You must be willing to try anything, just like he was… to get it out there. The beauty is you don’t have to anymore.
3. Organic content- You know your brand best!
Just in case you haven’t figured it out, as a writer you are the brand. There are no company meetings or publicists telling you how or when to do things, if you self-pub. When you see a trend or a way to get out there, you can jump on it and roll. When I had some changes to make in my latest project Carolina Spirit, I made them immediately and proceeded as needed.
I had an enlightening conversation with Gordon about this knowledge. People desire real, and honest content. When you engage massive filters of editors, publicists and executives… what really happens to your project? Perhaps it is improved, but perhaps it isn’t. In self-publishing you can be as honest and open as your heart allows. Isn’t that what drove you to write in the first place? #no filters #creative license
4. Deadlines-They exist even when it is your project, but you control how and when your content is delivered.
A traditionally published book can take up to two years or more to hit the shelves. If your book refers to technology or current social issues, by the time your book is out there, it is already a dinosaur. A little pressure is a good thing. It helps propel you forward and gives a feeling of urgency. If you don’t publish the book, it won’t ever be seen. How is that for some wisdom? Discipline is important, but it should be for the right reasons.
If your phone is constantly ringing or you don’t take the sage advice of your editor and people are interrupting your creative time, your work suffers. There is no real deadline when you self-publish. If you want to change the date or move it to match your busy schedule, then so be it. The contract in self-pub is one you make with yourself alone. There are no attorneys wandering into my office and no fine print to worry about. The buck stops here.
5. Freedom-This is the #1 reason for me. You are the toilet scrubber and the CEO of your small business.
I have spent the majority of my life working for corporations. There are rules and criteria that must be met within policy. As a self publishing writer, you will make or break your own policies every day. If an hour needs to be spent working on something else, so be it. If you can devote all of your Saturday morning to editing you totally should! No explanation is needed, as to why you scanned your badge and fired up ye olde coffee pot.
Perhaps you penned a brilliant YA novel and have decided that you enjoy writing horror or suspense more? If you signed a legal contract, it doesn’t matter if you enjoy it or not. You need to fulfill your obligations at the cost of your creative freedom. Life is a constant in doing things you prefer not to. Why would you limit where you travel with you inner voice and creativity?
Bottom line-No matter what happens from here, congratulate yourself. You created something that took a lot of devotion and time.You don’t have to generate a million dollars to realize that you did something awesome! Creative life is not about money and spreadsheets. It is about living, experiencing and stopping to smell the roses. Your legacy will always have this accomplishment and that is pretty incredible right?
So whatever you decide to do from here, remember this. You are in control and you can give it away or do it your way. The future is in your hands. Trust your inner voice to help formulate the right plan for you and your project. Remember to be flexible no matter what! Don’t give up!Getting it right will involve mistakes, so allow them to pave the way to your future success.
Let’s be friends on Twitter @Bibiana1Krall. Come take a peek at my books and website www.bibianakrall.com to view my latest book projects. It is never too late to live a creative life and take chances. Peace and love- Bibiana
A million thanks to my new friend Gordon for hosting me on his wonderful blog and his insight along the way. You are the best!
September 10, 2015
A BOOK, A BLOG AND A BIG WHITE DOG
As a hybrid post of sorts, Sheri McInnis and I have put a post together I would likely never have done on my own. Here we go in her words...
I recently wrote a guest post for Gordon Wilson's blog Firetok.com about why I'm going indie on my third novel. I got such great feedback, I feel lucky to have entered Gordon's blogosphere.
His blog, Firetok.com, has attracted a lot of attention for his honest thoughts about writing, inspiration and life - including guest posts from authors like Julie Anne Hacker - who wrote a great piece about the inspirational nature of horror - and Michele Barrow-Belisle who basically broke the internet with her real-life Cinderella story about selling the movie rights to her book.
But Gordon isn't just a blogger. He's an author too. He doesn't talk about it very much because he's not 100% comfortable with self-promotion. But his first novel, Firetok, was self-published a couple years ago.
I ordered it shortly after I met Gordon on Twitter. Not just because he's smart and generous and has been my personal IT department for the last few weeks. But because of the book's ratings!
86% of his reviews are five stars! Wow! And all the rest are four stars! Having stewed over my own mixed reviews, I'm truly blown away by some of these comments:
"Firetok is a quick read and full of fleshed out characters I cared about immediately ..."
"Well written thriller by unknown author. I hope he has more to come ..."
"The vividness of the story really allowed me to create the scenes in my head which is what I crave as a reader - well done!"
Someone even bought the paperback and e-version, so he could take it everywhere.
Readers have obviously responded not just to someone who's managed to publish a book - which is hard enough. But to a novelist who's written a story people really care about - with characters they actually love. It's the hardest part of being a writer - and he's already got that part down.
By the way, I just finished the book yesterday. It's mysterious, mystical and full of suspense. About one man's journey to find his destiny with the help of an enigmatic character called 'the old man.' On his way he meets crooked cops, a tough damsel in distress - and a big white dog named Firetok.
Gordon's style is part Stephen King, part Jack Kerouac - lyrical without being saccharine. The characters are unique and memorable - and the climax is killer. It's the kind of book that has a vision behind it. You're never sure where you're going, only that you want to be there. From mystical hallucinations in a cave to a team of secret crime-fighters who can get anything done, it's a thriller with a touch of magic.
I know how humble Gordon is - so I'll leave it there for now. The link is on this page.
By the way, Gordon and I have gone back and forth about this. He originally wrote a guest post for me about his journey as a writer. But when I read it, I thought his readers would enjoy the full story behind the birth of both the blog and the book. It's a story that, like everything else about Gordon, will inspire you to believe in yourself - and others, too.
I'll have to hound him for another guest post later. ;) Thanks, Sheri
I was recently asked as part of an author interview, "I see a lot of recent posts on your blog, are you ramping up for a future project?" I have a good answer, and when Sheri asked me to do a collaborative post for her, I thought it kind of ties in with the recent post she did for me, so why not expound on it.
Let me answer the question in more than one way. First, the answer is no, kind of, not really. The answer is not a yes no deal, so relax for a minute while I explain.
I was in a position for a couple of years where I was working so many hours, creative writing was not happening. I was so tired and worn out, I wrote almost nothing for quite awhile. I would write a little and no magic really happened so it did not feed itself. I was going to school so I was writing plenty of papers and business plans etc... I just wasn't writing for fun.
During this time I was playing guitar and singing with a group, so I had some creative outlet which was pretty essential to my survival. It gave me that place of mental refuge and something to work for. Over and over my wife would tell me how she wanted to get me working with her so I could write once again. The timing never seemed to be right and I pretty much saw it as a dream which would never happen.
Things happened. In a story all its own, I came home early one day without the job. I was ecstatic. Things began to change immediately. She insisted I go write something the next morning. I logged back into my blog which I started in about 2008 but had not touched in years. I wrote this and that. I found it a good way to sort out my feelings. I actually had some comments on the early posts, it was encouraging.
When I self published Firetok several years ago, I may have redefined the self part. I had help from two people who I was not married to during the process. Thankfully they were the ones who did the editing, or should I say made the editing suggestions. I actually edited it. Everything about the book I did myself. After about eight months of editing (I was working full time and trying to finish my bachelors degree full time also) I published the book through Create Space, Amazons publishing arm at the time.
I self published a book, so what happens next? Great question. We put the word out to all family and friends primarily through Facebook. I could not help but talk about it when I would meet people on the street or the hardware, this was the culmination of a huge effort. I was thrilled to achieve a life goal. I published a book. Ever since I was very young I wanted to write books. Oh crap, did I say I wanted to write books? Publishing, formatting, querying,advertising, networking, promoting... not part of the childhood dream. I will say again so what happens next? I could do a whole section on the how and why of self publish but the entire agent query thing was way too intimidating for me. It was all I could do at the time to write the damn thing. I read all the articles I could and just decided against it.
So, what happens next? Everything I read now, still indicates it is up to me to figure out how to put this book in other peoples hands. I was on about a zero dollar budget so giving away tons of books wasn't going to work. In my case the friends and family really worked out well, I was overwhelmed with support. Beyond my friends and family I still did not know how to promote the book, especially without spending a bunch of money.
So what am I doing now? I am not in any way trying to promote my first book. A couple friends convinced me to link to it here, but that isn't my goal. I look at it as a learning experience which will some day find more of its audience, likely after the subsequent books are released. I am reading every article I can about writing, genres, rules to follow, bla bla bla. I read about it and write about it. I was more than half way through the sequel to Firetok when I came to the realization I am no closer to answering the what happens next question than I was then. I pretty much put the project on hold until I get a better grasp on what the answer is. I still write just about everyday but it is more focused on the trail I create as I try to figure out how to write better and what to do next.
Has it worked? No, kind of, maybe? I have a much better understanding of the mechanics of writing, plotting, genre, tension...you get the idea. But as far as promoting the book, the single best thing I believe I have learned is this, the writing must be very good. Over and over I read experts say, a good well written book will find its audience. The not so good ones are easy to find as well. Bottom line, the book needs to be well done. The pot of gold under the rainbow is the writing itself. What am I doing then? Trying to figure out how to write better. Discovering the mistakes I had no idea I was making and trying to find a fix. I am concentrating on the mechanics and I will see where that takes me.
An unintended consequence of my quest? Beyond the learning, I have come across some very interesting people with things to say. I listen. I am hanging out with other authors, so these are who I am listening to, but people are willing to share their experiences, which I appreciate. As much as I am sure I do not know, I still have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and want to learn more. This is a rewarding part of my journey and I too am willing to share with anyone who wants to listen.
So how does this tie in with the rebirth of my blog? That is yet the most astounding unintended consequence I could imagine. My wife and I commute two hours a day and we talk the whole time. Whatever we have been reading about becomes the topic. One day the topic was some of the basic stuff I have learned about using Twitter. I was once so turned off by Twitter I signed out for years. I said, "I should write this stuff down." Someone else could find my "discoveries" helpful. I had read days worth of "stuff" and essentially boiled it down. I put it up on the blog and people went nuts for it. That was quite awhile ago and it was at the time my most popular post. A very humbling experience. I look at my blog stats and am 100% blown away. I don't like to use numbers because it so easily sounds pretentious. Hopefully if you have read this far you will believe its not my nature nor my intent. So when I see tens of thousands of people are visiting my blog a month, you may understand why I am blown away. Unintended consequence. I find this inspirational.
So to wrap it all up, What am I doing?
Trying to figure it all out. Trying to accumulate more knowledge so when my book is ready to be published, I will be too. Have I got a plan? Kind of, I want to figure out all the mistakes I made so I wont do them again. Does the list get smaller, not really. It seems the more I learn, the more I realize I did not know.
Bottom note- Thank you so much Sheri for the intro. I am better off for having met you and appreciate your honesty and support. Here is to future ventures.
Inspiration from Wanting to Be a Better Person
So much has been going on here lately I don't even know where to start.
I have had some really valuable conversations with people I have known forever and some whom I only recently met. The age of the relationship doesn't really matter but the diversity of topic is more than interesting.
I have heard how people are putting things in their life together through writing. I could not be more thrilled.
More than a few have found inspiration from something on this site enough to help them in their own personal journey. Maybe it was just a nudge or more, but something happened. Anyone who knows anything about me will know how humbling this is. Not only humbling, a sincere compliment. I have found the same inspiration.
I have been inspired by so many people and things along my journey. The people who so generously have chosen to share with me, you make a difference. I get your letters and am blown away. Thank you. I am also fortunate enough to have someone to share with on a full time basis. In my case I have a best friend whom I have also been married to since we were like 5 years old. We have been through it all together. When that guy said for better or worse, we set out to prove it and then some. Having someone in your life you can always count on is a rarity.
Who am I kidding?
Having anyone you can really count on is a rarity.
What a blessing it is to have that in my life. More people need this. I have written on several occasions about my dad. He and I were very close. When I was younger, we definitely went through some patches. As I grew up and matured I really began to count on him. It took years for me understand he was the one person as my father who could have that kind of faith in me. That unshakable, indescribable confidence. That, you are making a huge mistake here but I still love you kind of relationship. Loss of that person in a life is a pretty permanent feeling. Devastating.
So I am not really trying to talk about loss I am talking about inspiration and helping someone else out. You can't have one without the other. If I did not once have that unshakable support, I would have experienced no loss.
Is the devastation worth the enrichment? Yes.
We can't go around afraid of getting hurt enough to miss out on the enrichment phase. Can we shield ourselves from situations sure to bring us down. Absolutely, it's part of emotional survival. Can and should. Can anyone look around and find this type of support? Not as easily as giving the support to someone else. This is the part as a person I can control. That is the part I can do. Will you be able get a guarantee of reciprocity? No. As much as I try, it makes no sense to expect something from someone else. I can hope, wish, want and a bunch of other words, but expectations are based on me not them. In order for me to receive this type of support, I must provide that type of support. In order for me to have this thing I have to be this thing. This could be a little motivation to be a better person. A more caring, better listening, honestly concerned individual.
A scene from the old "As Good as it Gets" movie comes to mind. "You make me want to be a better man." It does not have to be gender specific. If I am going to have any expectation from you, I need to be that person to you.
Bottom note-
I am so thankful I have that one person who cared enough to say, "go write something". She knew enough about me to know I had a lot to deal with and how I would get it fixed. That my friend is inspiration.
I have had some really valuable conversations with people I have known forever and some whom I only recently met. The age of the relationship doesn't really matter but the diversity of topic is more than interesting.
I have heard how people are putting things in their life together through writing. I could not be more thrilled.
More than a few have found inspiration from something on this site enough to help them in their own personal journey. Maybe it was just a nudge or more, but something happened. Anyone who knows anything about me will know how humbling this is. Not only humbling, a sincere compliment. I have found the same inspiration.
I have been inspired by so many people and things along my journey. The people who so generously have chosen to share with me, you make a difference. I get your letters and am blown away. Thank you. I am also fortunate enough to have someone to share with on a full time basis. In my case I have a best friend whom I have also been married to since we were like 5 years old. We have been through it all together. When that guy said for better or worse, we set out to prove it and then some. Having someone in your life you can always count on is a rarity.
Who am I kidding?
Having anyone you can really count on is a rarity.
What a blessing it is to have that in my life. More people need this. I have written on several occasions about my dad. He and I were very close. When I was younger, we definitely went through some patches. As I grew up and matured I really began to count on him. It took years for me understand he was the one person as my father who could have that kind of faith in me. That unshakable, indescribable confidence. That, you are making a huge mistake here but I still love you kind of relationship. Loss of that person in a life is a pretty permanent feeling. Devastating.So I am not really trying to talk about loss I am talking about inspiration and helping someone else out. You can't have one without the other. If I did not once have that unshakable support, I would have experienced no loss.
Is the devastation worth the enrichment? Yes.
We can't go around afraid of getting hurt enough to miss out on the enrichment phase. Can we shield ourselves from situations sure to bring us down. Absolutely, it's part of emotional survival. Can and should. Can anyone look around and find this type of support? Not as easily as giving the support to someone else. This is the part as a person I can control. That is the part I can do. Will you be able get a guarantee of reciprocity? No. As much as I try, it makes no sense to expect something from someone else. I can hope, wish, want and a bunch of other words, but expectations are based on me not them. In order for me to receive this type of support, I must provide that type of support. In order for me to have this thing I have to be this thing. This could be a little motivation to be a better person. A more caring, better listening, honestly concerned individual.
A scene from the old "As Good as it Gets" movie comes to mind. "You make me want to be a better man." It does not have to be gender specific. If I am going to have any expectation from you, I need to be that person to you.
Bottom note-
I am so thankful I have that one person who cared enough to say, "go write something". She knew enough about me to know I had a lot to deal with and how I would get it fixed. That my friend is inspiration.
September 2, 2015
Cinderella Story- Inspiration from Author Michele Barrow-Belisle
Alright, so I have written extensively about inspiration on this blog. I have found inspiration from pain, kids, students, animals, writers and of course the recurring horror aspect. I have been willing to take inspiration from where I find it and would encourage anyone to do the same. An interesting aspect of what has been happening on this blog is my interaction with some fascinating people. Fellow author and co-conspirator Sheri McInnis told me about Michele Barrow-Belisle's story and said she needed to be here. I read up a little and totally agreed. The inspiration to be found in this Cinderella story should have a universal appeal. Read on and judge for yourself. 
4 Ways Selling the Film Rights to My Book was Like a Cinderella Story
Okay not the best title but I’m a sucker for fairy tales and who doesn’t love a happy ending?
Have gutsy audacious goals and never give up. Where the fairy godmother says to Cinderella, “Nonsense, child. If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here. And here I am.” Just the fact that I believed I could write a novel was gutsy for me. I'd never done anything like it before and while I've had a love affair with books for as long as I can remember, and writing had always been fun for me, the idea of actually writing an entire novel (never mind a trilogy of them) was not something I'd ever envisioned. But the characters in my head refused to be silenced, and the psychics I went to all sent the same message. (That’s another story for another time) So I wrote, and learned the subtle nuances and important elements as I went along.
“A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Cinderella
In 2013 I published my first novel Fire and Ice, (Faerie Song Trilogy) a young adult fantasy romance. My dream was to write a bestselling novel, to sign with an amazing NY agent, to sell my manuscript to a big publishing house and to sell the movie rights. From the moment the wish left my lips, I was stunned by how many people told me it couldn’t be done. I decided not to listen to them. Gordon described my tale as a Cinderella story in a tweet and something about that description made me smile. I decided it was the perfect theme for this guest post. There was no pumpkin carriage or fairy godmother, although often I felt like there was one, but there was most certainly a hint of magic.
Listen to no one. Unless everyone around you tells you your goals are achievable. Then listen to everyone. Where the Fairy Godmother tells Cinderella “If you keep believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.”My journey from wanting to write to actually writing was interesting. I met so many authors published and not yet published and I always found it so interesting to listen to their perspectives. Starting out, it felt like the prevailing theme song was that writing was hard, getting published even harder, making money—nearly impossible, and getting a movie deal… well just forget about it. I admit to being somewhat Pollyanna in my world views, but I chose not to let any of those statistics deter me from my intentions. That was when I met more and more uplifting, fulfilled and successful writers who were making a great living doing what they loved, and who offered encouragement, positive feedback and support. That was of great benefit on the dark days when I felt like nothing was ever going to happen.
Listen to all the rules. Keep the ones that work for you, and toss the rest. Where Cinderella’s stepmother told her she wasn’t allowed to go to the ball. And she went anyway. They tell you not to approach anyone and say hey wanna read my book. I totally agree with that one. Although yes, I’ve done it once or twice, and yes, it has worked for me, once or twice. For the most part though, I’ve done very little direct marketing in that sense while utilizing social media. Just one example of a rule I decided to follow. As for many of the others, well…. I was told a first time writer can’t possibly hope to sell a 130K novel. But it sold. I was told only famous authors with multimillion dollars in book sales ever get any input into the making of their film once the rights are sold. But I’ve been in close contact with the producer, and he has insisted on having my input to keep the story as true to the books as possible. And here’s my favorite story: I was told you should never, ever approach an editor who’s reviewing your manuscript, without an appointment. But I flew from Canada to New York City on a shopping trip with a friend, and on a whim, went right into the office building of one of the big NY publishing houses. I figured either the editor would refuse to see me, security would have us shipped back across the border, or…well my stomach was churning too violently to come up with any other less dramatic scenarios. But we went to the security desk and they made a quick phone call. Minutes later I was standing in the beautiful offices of my dream publisher. The editor greeted me with a smile, a stack of books to take home and a farewell hug. A lasting impression was made, because I can only imagine very few people have the audacity to brazenly break the rules like that, and with good reason. Was it a good idea? I’m not sure, but it felt inspired at the time and it worked in my favor. And while they didn’t end up publishing the manuscript I submitted, I made yet another connection and received an open invitation to submit again… and here’s the interesting part… agented or not. Something else I was told would never happen. So rules are there for good reason, I’m sure. But selectively tweaking them, worked in my favor, perhaps it would work in your favor too.
Get creative in your networking, but stay true to you. Where Cinderella’s little forest creatures, who because of her friendships with them, wound up helping her along the way.
Networking. This is where the really cool stuff began to happen. I took a course in business management, and I recall vividly the words of my instructor: “Networking is everything.” At the time I heard the words and dismissed them as a pithy catch phrase with limited merit. Surely networking was only a small piece of the equation. True…but little did I understand how powerful that small piece really was. For me, I discovered it was a powerful key that unlocked doors that were previously impenetrable. There were only so many conferences, lectures and classes I could attend in person, and still have time to write and money to live. Enter social media; a tool I'd been using all along, but not quite to its full potential. I brainstormed creative unique ways to meet people in the “know”. People who might be willing to offer a key introduction to someone in the film making industry. I should mention that I was completely ignorant of who that person might be, or what position they would hold, but part of my desire to see my book as a film stemmed from my passion for filmmaking. I also dabbled in acting, seriously considering it as a profession for a time. So when the opportunity to join a coaching group for actors and musicians appeared I jumped on it. Then I joined every social media group I could find that lined up with both my dreams and my interests. Law of Attraction clubs, (I was a huge fan of The Secret) Facebook groups for screenwriters, actors, filmmakers, publishers, agents… you name it. If they were in the industry or knew someone who was, and shared any of my interests, I signed up. Then I looked for ways that I could possibly be of service—or in the case of coaches, hire their services. I met some incredible people along the way and I hope I offered as much advice as I received. Relationships have to be reciprocal in order to survive, and networking and business relationships are no different. I think it was two parts serendipity, one part luck and 10 parts networking that led to my film deal. One day, I sent a congratulatory message to a fellow group member who had just scored a position within a production company. One thing led to another and before long she offered the name of a producer she thought I should check out. And so the conversation began, not from a place of trying to sell something, but from the place of creating a connection. The producer and I exchanged a few messages on Twitter, where I mentioned my book and asked if he’d be interested in reading it. I sent him a copy, with zero expectations. He told me it might take him a few months to get to it. One week later, he emailed to say he was 100 pages in and already wanted to say “let’s make a movie!” And while I agonized that he might change his mind after reading the other 200 + pages, he didn’t. The rest, as they say, is history.But the takeaway was definitely the true value and potential of networking. I have a whole new appreciation for social media. Especially Twitter. I’m truly falling in love with Twitter…something I used to think had no practical use whatsoever. I'm always willing to share my story, though surprisingly few have asked for it. I try to be as transparent as possible in sharing my writing journey so far, in the hopes that it might help someone else on their journey. And I‘m very grateful to have met so many authors who have shared their journeys with me. Uhm, that includes you Sheri McInnis, for your wonderful insights on self-publishing and for kindly introducing me to Gordon’s fabulous blog!
That is my story, such that it is. It’s been a fascinating journey and I’m looking forward to what comes next. As for my dreams coming true, they seem well on their way so far. I didn’t sign with the NY agent, but I did have an awesome NY agent rep me for the film deal. I didn’t sell to a NY publishing house, but I signed with a wonderful mid-sized publisher who I’m thrilled to be working with. I just got back the samples for the audio books of my first two novels Fire & Ice and Bittersweet, and I can’t wait to see the foreign language covers. The support keeps pouring in and I’m meeting more and more amazing authors. My to-read pile grows exponentially every day! And of course I’m very excited about the journey my books will take from page to screen. Now I’m back at it, shopping for agents and doing all the things I did in the beginning with the first book, but with a little more ease in getting into doors which were previously harder to get through. And I still hold fast to my Disneyesque belief in hard work, big dreams and a hint of magic.
Fortune favors the bold. I wish you all audacious dreams and magnificent writing success!
Michele Barrow-Belisle
https://twitter.com/MicheleBelisle
www.michelebarrowbelisle.com
Bottom note- Thank you to Michele for sharing your story and thank you to Sheri for helping put this together.
4 Ways Selling the Film Rights to My Book was Like a Cinderella StoryOkay not the best title but I’m a sucker for fairy tales and who doesn’t love a happy ending?
Have gutsy audacious goals and never give up. Where the fairy godmother says to Cinderella, “Nonsense, child. If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here. And here I am.” Just the fact that I believed I could write a novel was gutsy for me. I'd never done anything like it before and while I've had a love affair with books for as long as I can remember, and writing had always been fun for me, the idea of actually writing an entire novel (never mind a trilogy of them) was not something I'd ever envisioned. But the characters in my head refused to be silenced, and the psychics I went to all sent the same message. (That’s another story for another time) So I wrote, and learned the subtle nuances and important elements as I went along.
“A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Cinderella
In 2013 I published my first novel Fire and Ice, (Faerie Song Trilogy) a young adult fantasy romance. My dream was to write a bestselling novel, to sign with an amazing NY agent, to sell my manuscript to a big publishing house and to sell the movie rights. From the moment the wish left my lips, I was stunned by how many people told me it couldn’t be done. I decided not to listen to them. Gordon described my tale as a Cinderella story in a tweet and something about that description made me smile. I decided it was the perfect theme for this guest post. There was no pumpkin carriage or fairy godmother, although often I felt like there was one, but there was most certainly a hint of magic.
Listen to no one. Unless everyone around you tells you your goals are achievable. Then listen to everyone. Where the Fairy Godmother tells Cinderella “If you keep believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.”My journey from wanting to write to actually writing was interesting. I met so many authors published and not yet published and I always found it so interesting to listen to their perspectives. Starting out, it felt like the prevailing theme song was that writing was hard, getting published even harder, making money—nearly impossible, and getting a movie deal… well just forget about it. I admit to being somewhat Pollyanna in my world views, but I chose not to let any of those statistics deter me from my intentions. That was when I met more and more uplifting, fulfilled and successful writers who were making a great living doing what they loved, and who offered encouragement, positive feedback and support. That was of great benefit on the dark days when I felt like nothing was ever going to happen.
Listen to all the rules. Keep the ones that work for you, and toss the rest. Where Cinderella’s stepmother told her she wasn’t allowed to go to the ball. And she went anyway. They tell you not to approach anyone and say hey wanna read my book. I totally agree with that one. Although yes, I’ve done it once or twice, and yes, it has worked for me, once or twice. For the most part though, I’ve done very little direct marketing in that sense while utilizing social media. Just one example of a rule I decided to follow. As for many of the others, well…. I was told a first time writer can’t possibly hope to sell a 130K novel. But it sold. I was told only famous authors with multimillion dollars in book sales ever get any input into the making of their film once the rights are sold. But I’ve been in close contact with the producer, and he has insisted on having my input to keep the story as true to the books as possible. And here’s my favorite story: I was told you should never, ever approach an editor who’s reviewing your manuscript, without an appointment. But I flew from Canada to New York City on a shopping trip with a friend, and on a whim, went right into the office building of one of the big NY publishing houses. I figured either the editor would refuse to see me, security would have us shipped back across the border, or…well my stomach was churning too violently to come up with any other less dramatic scenarios. But we went to the security desk and they made a quick phone call. Minutes later I was standing in the beautiful offices of my dream publisher. The editor greeted me with a smile, a stack of books to take home and a farewell hug. A lasting impression was made, because I can only imagine very few people have the audacity to brazenly break the rules like that, and with good reason. Was it a good idea? I’m not sure, but it felt inspired at the time and it worked in my favor. And while they didn’t end up publishing the manuscript I submitted, I made yet another connection and received an open invitation to submit again… and here’s the interesting part… agented or not. Something else I was told would never happen. So rules are there for good reason, I’m sure. But selectively tweaking them, worked in my favor, perhaps it would work in your favor too.
Get creative in your networking, but stay true to you. Where Cinderella’s little forest creatures, who because of her friendships with them, wound up helping her along the way.
Networking. This is where the really cool stuff began to happen. I took a course in business management, and I recall vividly the words of my instructor: “Networking is everything.” At the time I heard the words and dismissed them as a pithy catch phrase with limited merit. Surely networking was only a small piece of the equation. True…but little did I understand how powerful that small piece really was. For me, I discovered it was a powerful key that unlocked doors that were previously impenetrable. There were only so many conferences, lectures and classes I could attend in person, and still have time to write and money to live. Enter social media; a tool I'd been using all along, but not quite to its full potential. I brainstormed creative unique ways to meet people in the “know”. People who might be willing to offer a key introduction to someone in the film making industry. I should mention that I was completely ignorant of who that person might be, or what position they would hold, but part of my desire to see my book as a film stemmed from my passion for filmmaking. I also dabbled in acting, seriously considering it as a profession for a time. So when the opportunity to join a coaching group for actors and musicians appeared I jumped on it. Then I joined every social media group I could find that lined up with both my dreams and my interests. Law of Attraction clubs, (I was a huge fan of The Secret) Facebook groups for screenwriters, actors, filmmakers, publishers, agents… you name it. If they were in the industry or knew someone who was, and shared any of my interests, I signed up. Then I looked for ways that I could possibly be of service—or in the case of coaches, hire their services. I met some incredible people along the way and I hope I offered as much advice as I received. Relationships have to be reciprocal in order to survive, and networking and business relationships are no different. I think it was two parts serendipity, one part luck and 10 parts networking that led to my film deal. One day, I sent a congratulatory message to a fellow group member who had just scored a position within a production company. One thing led to another and before long she offered the name of a producer she thought I should check out. And so the conversation began, not from a place of trying to sell something, but from the place of creating a connection. The producer and I exchanged a few messages on Twitter, where I mentioned my book and asked if he’d be interested in reading it. I sent him a copy, with zero expectations. He told me it might take him a few months to get to it. One week later, he emailed to say he was 100 pages in and already wanted to say “let’s make a movie!” And while I agonized that he might change his mind after reading the other 200 + pages, he didn’t. The rest, as they say, is history.But the takeaway was definitely the true value and potential of networking. I have a whole new appreciation for social media. Especially Twitter. I’m truly falling in love with Twitter…something I used to think had no practical use whatsoever. I'm always willing to share my story, though surprisingly few have asked for it. I try to be as transparent as possible in sharing my writing journey so far, in the hopes that it might help someone else on their journey. And I‘m very grateful to have met so many authors who have shared their journeys with me. Uhm, that includes you Sheri McInnis, for your wonderful insights on self-publishing and for kindly introducing me to Gordon’s fabulous blog!
That is my story, such that it is. It’s been a fascinating journey and I’m looking forward to what comes next. As for my dreams coming true, they seem well on their way so far. I didn’t sign with the NY agent, but I did have an awesome NY agent rep me for the film deal. I didn’t sell to a NY publishing house, but I signed with a wonderful mid-sized publisher who I’m thrilled to be working with. I just got back the samples for the audio books of my first two novels Fire & Ice and Bittersweet, and I can’t wait to see the foreign language covers. The support keeps pouring in and I’m meeting more and more amazing authors. My to-read pile grows exponentially every day! And of course I’m very excited about the journey my books will take from page to screen. Now I’m back at it, shopping for agents and doing all the things I did in the beginning with the first book, but with a little more ease in getting into doors which were previously harder to get through. And I still hold fast to my Disneyesque belief in hard work, big dreams and a hint of magic.
Fortune favors the bold. I wish you all audacious dreams and magnificent writing success!
Michele Barrow-Belisle
https://twitter.com/MicheleBelisle
www.michelebarrowbelisle.com
Bottom note- Thank you to Michele for sharing your story and thank you to Sheri for helping put this together.
August 28, 2015
Inspiration from Horror and Life. A "Horror" Authors Perspective
Guest Post by Author Julie Ann Hacker
Here is the next in the series of exploration, this time more into the genre of horror. Why am I hung up here? For me it is because I was (am) so ignorant on the subject and nearly clueless on what the horror genre has become and what exactly it encompasses. I realize, a modern genre is more about marketing than content, but if you are an independent author, this is something you need to understand. Here is an author who also agrees our culture has been so saturated with real horror we have become numb to it. In her words-
We've gotten lulled into not calling the news "horror."
She also has a dream of inspiring readers with her writing regardless of which genre she gets put in. In her case it may not be traditional horror, but horror nonetheless. My biggest thrill in conversing with Julie was her surprise at her work being considered horror. I totally understand how this can happen. Trust me here, or check out some of my older posts. Julie's desire to help other people really resonates with me. This says more about her character in a sentence than I could in a page. I sincerely hope her thoughts will encourage other writers and readers to join in the discussion. Thank you Julie for taking the time to share your experience.
Recently, Gordon and I ran into each other on Twitter. I’m not sure how it all started but I saw a post of his saying something about a new genre, inspirational horror. I was intrigued. An inkling fell over me, this may be where I fit in to the writing world.Never did I realize I was a horror writer. I never set out to be. My only concern was writing a good story with underlying principles and all the creepiness our humanness offers on an everyday basis. And even though I’m not convinced I’m accomplishing my goal, good reviews continue coming in for The Dead Dance Faster – Unsacred Awakening. I noticed a couple of them mentioning horror. People on twitter from the “horror” genre started following me and I them. I figured why not. I didn’t take it too seriously until I reminded myself why I write. Not only for fun, but to inspire others to see they’re not alone. “Like, hey, something like this really happened to me,” I could picture them saying. My purpose is always to help, lift, and edify people. By reading The Dead Dance Faster series and other inspirational horror such as Gordon’s (and I know there are others out there), readers can understand on some level how to come through life’s horrors a stronger person willing to fight for who they truly are and the life they deserve. If they read it happening to a fictional character then hope stands firm attaching itself to another part of the psyche. Oh, yeah, that’s inspirational; although not in the traditional sense.We’re used to being spoon fed hope and inspiration through other avenues such as religion, education, or counselors. Inspiration can come from religion, education, or counselors. Don’t get me wrong. But, they are certainly not a means to an end. I mean, really, the Bible is one of the most horror-filled literary pieces ever written, not to mention, the most widely read work of literature since mankind began writing. No, no, not a means to an end, but only the beginning. Will people be willing to take away glimmers of hope and inspiration from fictional horror? Are times progressive enough for people to be open to new, unheard of genres? This I don’t know. But, I will say, there seems to be others, like Gordon, who are listening to their own instincts. So, if horror is what speaks to many people, then it should be written and used and pondered…and INSPIRATIONALLY PROGRESSIVE! For those who don’t necessarily crave traditional horror, or want a break to try something new, this may just be the venue for you.
Pertinent links for Julie-
http://www.julieannhacker.com/
https://twitter.com/JulieAnnHacker
https://www.facebook.com/julieannhacker
Here is the next in the series of exploration, this time more into the genre of horror. Why am I hung up here? For me it is because I was (am) so ignorant on the subject and nearly clueless on what the horror genre has become and what exactly it encompasses. I realize, a modern genre is more about marketing than content, but if you are an independent author, this is something you need to understand. Here is an author who also agrees our culture has been so saturated with real horror we have become numb to it. In her words-
We've gotten lulled into not calling the news "horror."
She also has a dream of inspiring readers with her writing regardless of which genre she gets put in. In her case it may not be traditional horror, but horror nonetheless. My biggest thrill in conversing with Julie was her surprise at her work being considered horror. I totally understand how this can happen. Trust me here, or check out some of my older posts. Julie's desire to help other people really resonates with me. This says more about her character in a sentence than I could in a page. I sincerely hope her thoughts will encourage other writers and readers to join in the discussion. Thank you Julie for taking the time to share your experience.
Recently, Gordon and I ran into each other on Twitter. I’m not sure how it all started but I saw a post of his saying something about a new genre, inspirational horror. I was intrigued. An inkling fell over me, this may be where I fit in to the writing world.Never did I realize I was a horror writer. I never set out to be. My only concern was writing a good story with underlying principles and all the creepiness our humanness offers on an everyday basis. And even though I’m not convinced I’m accomplishing my goal, good reviews continue coming in for The Dead Dance Faster – Unsacred Awakening. I noticed a couple of them mentioning horror. People on twitter from the “horror” genre started following me and I them. I figured why not. I didn’t take it too seriously until I reminded myself why I write. Not only for fun, but to inspire others to see they’re not alone. “Like, hey, something like this really happened to me,” I could picture them saying. My purpose is always to help, lift, and edify people. By reading The Dead Dance Faster series and other inspirational horror such as Gordon’s (and I know there are others out there), readers can understand on some level how to come through life’s horrors a stronger person willing to fight for who they truly are and the life they deserve. If they read it happening to a fictional character then hope stands firm attaching itself to another part of the psyche. Oh, yeah, that’s inspirational; although not in the traditional sense.We’re used to being spoon fed hope and inspiration through other avenues such as religion, education, or counselors. Inspiration can come from religion, education, or counselors. Don’t get me wrong. But, they are certainly not a means to an end. I mean, really, the Bible is one of the most horror-filled literary pieces ever written, not to mention, the most widely read work of literature since mankind began writing. No, no, not a means to an end, but only the beginning. Will people be willing to take away glimmers of hope and inspiration from fictional horror? Are times progressive enough for people to be open to new, unheard of genres? This I don’t know. But, I will say, there seems to be others, like Gordon, who are listening to their own instincts. So, if horror is what speaks to many people, then it should be written and used and pondered…and INSPIRATIONALLY PROGRESSIVE! For those who don’t necessarily crave traditional horror, or want a break to try something new, this may just be the venue for you.
Pertinent links for Julie-
http://www.julieannhacker.com/
https://twitter.com/JulieAnnHacker
https://www.facebook.com/julieannhacker
August 26, 2015
What is the genre of horror and what is the appeal?
I have been trying to answer this question for months.
It seems the harder I dig the more I realize how complex the answer is. I have been looking especially for inspiration from horror. Turns out there are real doctors and psychologists who have done studies, and written giant papers. No kidding.
I am digging through none other than a Journal of Psychology article among others looking for more answers.
Psychological definitions of horror commonly include “fear of some uncertain threat to existential nature and . . . disgust over its potential aftermath” and commonly assert that “the source of threat is [often] supernatural in its composition” (Tamborini & Weaver, 1996, p. 2).
Sorry about getting all book report-ish here, but I really wanted to include a quote from the paper to set up what is about to come.
According to this paper there are three base assumptions for horror.
It must be fiction.The intent is to invoke terror. The laws of nature must be somehow circumvented.
Sounds easy enough. So giant people-eating rats, or giant people eating rats, or a killer who keeps coming back fit snugly here. I would always get so frustrated with those kids inability to kill Jason. I never looked at is as his inability to be killed. Speaking of Jason though, what did he do the rest of the year when there were no kids at the camp. Just something to ponder. I don't imagine he had a very large social network. But who knows.
So here is something I never considered. Jaws, the giant rubber shark which terrified me and all my friends as a kid. Horror. No kidding? I never would have made that connection. It was intended to evoke fear through a very abnormal or supernatural force. I remember it was very scary. Let me push it a little further. The film where the couple is on a diving charter and get left behind out in the ocean. For me a terrifying concept. The couple eventually drowned. There was no happy ending here. This touches on more than one of my fears. Let me guess... horror? Probably so. For me, absolutely. Not sure if we get the laws of nature circumvented on this one but I am terrified enough to make up for it.
As part of a recent conversation with a fellow author, she described a cultural numbness to the real horrors of life. She had a list like rape, murder, dysfunction, terrorism somehow being so part of the norm that people are no longer recognizing it as horror. I agree with her. It doesn't mean it is less horrific but with the massive over saturation of "news" and media, real horror has become commonplace and I say as a whole, less shocking.
What is the tie in here? What is the appeal? I am sure I cannot answer this definitively but I have found some potential answers. Maybe it is more obvious to someone else. I do not want to meet a person who enjoys real life horror. Not the thrill of a roller coaster, I mean real horror. This woman about an hour from here killed two of her kids and kept them in her freezer. Not cringing at that news story, that to me defies the laws of nature. The events in horror cannot be real. Real horror is not enjoyable. At least that is how I see it.
Enjoying fictional horror however is pretty acceptable, its actually quite popular. Why? What is the difference? What I see, the fictional aspect. I realize this is implied in the fact we are talking about fiction to start with, but that is not what I am getting at. Catharsis is a possibility. It is entirely possible people who have outgrown the desire to be terrified for its own sake, may actually be using horror for other reasons. I may be one of them. House payments, property taxes and government officials are plenty horrific for me, and I haven't even mentioned the idiots who drive on I-94. I definitely do not need to be scared for the sake of getting scared. Getting forced off the highway by a stupid mother fucker texting while driving at 80 mph is enough real horror for me. When I was a kid it was considerably different but then I likely would have had a different reaction to the texting situation as well. Things change with age. I get plenty of horror in a typical day.
Fiction Horror tends to have a positive outcome, I am talking generality here. In previous articles I have discussed the necessity of coming out on the other side of the horror. So if I can deal with some of the horror in my life by using words to kill a monster I cannot even confront in real life, there is a potential cathartic release. I guess I am approaching this a writer but if a fictional character can go out and right some wrongs or face down evil in a way I can only dream of... I applaud that. That would be inspirational, right?
There is a possibility that we can use fictional horror to deal with real life horror. It would definitely help explain the necessity of a supernatural or abnormal element. This gives us an excuse to enjoy the horrific. Not because I am a deranged person but it is fantasy, it is impossible. The supernatural un-explainable element makes it for lack of a better word...acceptable? Not just acceptable, highly sought after. But the nonfictional aspect is part of our daily life which would be hard to avoid.
So here I have laid out some of the seemingly essential components of the horror genre. I begin to see more and more a spot for a niche of inspirational horror as well. It may be that it is currently implied or it may be that I am not the only one who has a big misconception of the genre from the start. Each of these ideas could be expounded on considerably but I will leave the dissertations to the doctors or at least another post. What I have been surprised by is finding other people out there who at first did not consider their writing as horror. If you have read any other of the articles in this series, you know the impetus for my quest was the realization my writing was considered by others as horror. A surprise or an awakening of sorts but I have find a lot more than I ever expected in what I will call a very misunderstood genre.
Bottom note-
Join me in the discussion. If you are interested in this subject, please let me know. It turns out we are not alone.
It seems the harder I dig the more I realize how complex the answer is. I have been looking especially for inspiration from horror. Turns out there are real doctors and psychologists who have done studies, and written giant papers. No kidding.
I am digging through none other than a Journal of Psychology article among others looking for more answers.
Psychological definitions of horror commonly include “fear of some uncertain threat to existential nature and . . . disgust over its potential aftermath” and commonly assert that “the source of threat is [often] supernatural in its composition” (Tamborini & Weaver, 1996, p. 2).
Sorry about getting all book report-ish here, but I really wanted to include a quote from the paper to set up what is about to come.
According to this paper there are three base assumptions for horror.
It must be fiction.The intent is to invoke terror. The laws of nature must be somehow circumvented.
Sounds easy enough. So giant people-eating rats, or giant people eating rats, or a killer who keeps coming back fit snugly here. I would always get so frustrated with those kids inability to kill Jason. I never looked at is as his inability to be killed. Speaking of Jason though, what did he do the rest of the year when there were no kids at the camp. Just something to ponder. I don't imagine he had a very large social network. But who knows.
So here is something I never considered. Jaws, the giant rubber shark which terrified me and all my friends as a kid. Horror. No kidding? I never would have made that connection. It was intended to evoke fear through a very abnormal or supernatural force. I remember it was very scary. Let me push it a little further. The film where the couple is on a diving charter and get left behind out in the ocean. For me a terrifying concept. The couple eventually drowned. There was no happy ending here. This touches on more than one of my fears. Let me guess... horror? Probably so. For me, absolutely. Not sure if we get the laws of nature circumvented on this one but I am terrified enough to make up for it.
As part of a recent conversation with a fellow author, she described a cultural numbness to the real horrors of life. She had a list like rape, murder, dysfunction, terrorism somehow being so part of the norm that people are no longer recognizing it as horror. I agree with her. It doesn't mean it is less horrific but with the massive over saturation of "news" and media, real horror has become commonplace and I say as a whole, less shocking.
What is the tie in here? What is the appeal? I am sure I cannot answer this definitively but I have found some potential answers. Maybe it is more obvious to someone else. I do not want to meet a person who enjoys real life horror. Not the thrill of a roller coaster, I mean real horror. This woman about an hour from here killed two of her kids and kept them in her freezer. Not cringing at that news story, that to me defies the laws of nature. The events in horror cannot be real. Real horror is not enjoyable. At least that is how I see it.
Enjoying fictional horror however is pretty acceptable, its actually quite popular. Why? What is the difference? What I see, the fictional aspect. I realize this is implied in the fact we are talking about fiction to start with, but that is not what I am getting at. Catharsis is a possibility. It is entirely possible people who have outgrown the desire to be terrified for its own sake, may actually be using horror for other reasons. I may be one of them. House payments, property taxes and government officials are plenty horrific for me, and I haven't even mentioned the idiots who drive on I-94. I definitely do not need to be scared for the sake of getting scared. Getting forced off the highway by a stupid mother fucker texting while driving at 80 mph is enough real horror for me. When I was a kid it was considerably different but then I likely would have had a different reaction to the texting situation as well. Things change with age. I get plenty of horror in a typical day.
Fiction Horror tends to have a positive outcome, I am talking generality here. In previous articles I have discussed the necessity of coming out on the other side of the horror. So if I can deal with some of the horror in my life by using words to kill a monster I cannot even confront in real life, there is a potential cathartic release. I guess I am approaching this a writer but if a fictional character can go out and right some wrongs or face down evil in a way I can only dream of... I applaud that. That would be inspirational, right?
There is a possibility that we can use fictional horror to deal with real life horror. It would definitely help explain the necessity of a supernatural or abnormal element. This gives us an excuse to enjoy the horrific. Not because I am a deranged person but it is fantasy, it is impossible. The supernatural un-explainable element makes it for lack of a better word...acceptable? Not just acceptable, highly sought after. But the nonfictional aspect is part of our daily life which would be hard to avoid.
So here I have laid out some of the seemingly essential components of the horror genre. I begin to see more and more a spot for a niche of inspirational horror as well. It may be that it is currently implied or it may be that I am not the only one who has a big misconception of the genre from the start. Each of these ideas could be expounded on considerably but I will leave the dissertations to the doctors or at least another post. What I have been surprised by is finding other people out there who at first did not consider their writing as horror. If you have read any other of the articles in this series, you know the impetus for my quest was the realization my writing was considered by others as horror. A surprise or an awakening of sorts but I have find a lot more than I ever expected in what I will call a very misunderstood genre.
Bottom note-
Join me in the discussion. If you are interested in this subject, please let me know. It turns out we are not alone.
August 19, 2015
Hidden Dangers of Automating Twitter
What else have I been noticing while I slog around on Twitter trying to figure things out?
I will just call it automation. What most experts say is don't do automated direct messages. I have read it so often and experienced it enough, I have begun to say it myself. I am not even an expert.
I just checked my Twitter messages, everyone in view is hitting me up. 15 messages, Two of them are True Twit validation, I went back and unfollowed them immediately. What kind of nonsense is that anyhow? 11 want me to go to their site, like their Facebook etc... 1 is a robot "thanks for the follow" (I did that in my take me to your leader alien voice) And one was a message saying thanks and how they are looking forward to my tweets. Every one of them feels like a commercial, even the well crafted one. I will call him Mr. Android because he seems more like a robot with lifelike skin and two glass eyes which give him a personal look.
Robots are really cool especially that R2D2, but what was he ever even saying? I think I would rather get him to mow the lawn while I converse with a human. Mr. Android, close one here, I think I met you one time, you walked clear across the room to introduce yourself before you unloaded a sales pitch on me. You were selling some pyramid scam or something, doesn't really matter, it was a one sided conversation. It was a total turn off. Good luck building your empire though. Some folks enjoy being talked at. I know a guy who likes getting hit with folding chairs too, its just not me.
Another piece of automation I have been noticing is the tool which retweets for you like crazy. This is not a bad idea. You can send the robot out to see what you might be interested in and he (my robot is a male) scours the Twitter-verse finding articles you may like and retweets them. Its kind of cool. I am the beneficiary of many of these. I have several folks who retweet tons of things for me. Thank you, that is great and I appreciate it. I have found two hidden dangers with doing this.
Hidden Dangers
The first is this. If you retweet something of mine, instead of a thank you or a re-retweet, I go to your profile and find something of interest and share it. If you look really interesting I go to your blog and share something directly. That is me saying thank you. This takes a minute, but I usually find some interesting things.
When you leave your robot home alone, he totally fills your feed with other peoples stuff. I will scroll down for a little bit, but this feed isn't about you, there is nothing personal, nothing of yours. You can pin one of your tweets at a minimum, and I think you should. At least I have some idea of what you are about.
Having a robot answer the door is cool but if he just tells me you are not home, I kind of wasted a trip to a scary part of town for no reason. I'm not trying to knock your neighborhood, you should see where I live. Training your robot to hand me a cookie while he shows me that picture of you makes the trip seem more worthwhile. Maybe sometime when you are home we could actually talk.
Now here is another hidden danger.
Lets say you take an interest in something I have written and take the time to share it with your friends. I really appreciate this, and I mean really. So my robot retweets your effort. You read another article which I wrote and you are so excited you really push it out to thousands of people, you rent the billboard by the highway, get a promotional tattoo, tell your neighbors, rename your cat and even take a note to my mom. My robot retweets it. You have just paid me the highest compliment I could ask for. You liked something I did, you appreciated it. In your case you REALLY appreciated it. I mean seriously how many cats named Gordon are there? Lets talk about the tattoo later.
This is a big deal. In return my robot just snubbed you. Hopefully my mom was alright, but if you delivered the note during Judge Judy you got what you had coming. Back to the robot. He is just a robot after all but damn it, in this case he is just being a rude robot. I think he meant well, but left without supervision it kind of reminds me of the snow day as a kid when my friend and I drank all his dads whiskey. It may be a good idea, but one that can easily get out of control. In the case of the Canadian Club it definitely got out of control and I am not sure now it was even a good idea.
So what do you think? Automation could be a great idea. Can it be a time saver and lead to some missed opportunities. I am fairly confident that answer is yes. Is it worth it? I can only answer that for myself but its worth talking about.
August 14, 2015
The Holy Grail for Authors. 5 Reasons to Self Publish
This is my next departure from the typical into having another writer guest post. The subject is one I find particularly interesting for many reasons. I for one, would think as many others do, a book deal is the "holy grail" for authors. You know the whole "stack of rejection letters" thing. The urban legend that Stephen King had to get a bigger nail to hold all of his to the wall. If you have been around five minutes, you know what I am talking about.Sheri McInnis is one author who has been there, done that and her take and perspective has been enlightening for me. I recently met Sheri on Twitter and have already had some fun and productive conversations as a result, she is enthusiastic, sincere and a pleasure to talk with. On top of that, she's Canadian, do I need to say more? I see an unintended trend. I will admit as well, I did not know until I read the draft for this article she is working on a supernatural thriller. What?! This firmly puts us in the same camp and I am thrilled. Look out Sheri, we are not done here. Sheri has become one of the "real people" I have met on Twitter, and I look forward to learning more from and about her. Check this out...
The Top 5 Reasons I'm Self-Publishing – Instead of Going Back to the Big Guys
By Sheri McInnis @SLMcInnis
Gordon asked me to explain why I've decided to self-publish my third novel after working with traditional publishers on my other books. He said most writers consider a book deal the "holy grail." Why would I make the change? I know what he means. All my life I dreamed about getting published too. I was lucky enough to have it happen twice: first by Simon & Schuster/Atria and then again by MacMillan/St. Martin's Press.
I know a lot of writers are on the fence about going indy, so if you're confused, I hope my top five reasons can help.
1) CONTROL
I've worked with some of the most successful editors in the business – and I was especially fond of my first one at Atria. But that didn't make the revision process any easier.
Because as much as publishers hail creative freedom, unless you deliver an 'approved manuscript' your book won't even be published. That means there's subtle pressure on you to take your editor's notes – whether you agree with them or not.
The editor isn't the only one who requests changes either. Notes will come from your agent, the editorial assistant, even the publisher. And their input can range anywhere from the helpful – to the heartbreaking.
Even the marketing department gets in on things. For instance, the marketing people didn't like the original title of my first book, so the publisher changed it to Devil May Care. Bad luck for me because at around the same time another 'devil' book came out. But you probably heard of that one.
The Devil Wears Prada was so popular, people didn't just confuse the titles – they actually thought I was Lauren Weisberger! One bookstore manager was so excited to meet because my book was "just flying off the shelves!"
You can't imagine how disappointed we both were when I got to the store and he had a huge stack of Prada waiting for me to sign.
Remember there are lots of people who get involved in publishing your book – and as the author, you aren't the one with the most control. 2) TIMING
Even if I signed a contract tomorrow, the book wouldn't hit the shelves for at least eighteen months – probably more. I simply don't want to wait that long.
For one thing, I'm not getting any younger. But most importantly, the main part of the book takes place in 2021. There are technological advances and environmental disasters that only make sense with a believable padding of time.
I also have a specific release date in mind – November 11. The book – a supernatural thriller called The Hunter's Moon – is about witches and this date is pivotal to the main character's story arc.
But unless I'm Stephen King or Sophia Kinsella, it would be crazy to request a particular release date from a publisher. They have hundreds – if not thousands – of titles carefully staggered over many seasons.
Even then, a publisher has the right to change the release date – which happened on my second book, By Invitation Only. A more popular writer bumped the release by a month. That writer was Sophie Kinsella.
3) MONEY
Just a handful of years ago, even a mediocre book advance was in the fifty thousand dollar range (that's what mine were; though I shared the second with my co-writer).
Unfortunately, publishers didn't fare well after the 2008 recession. My (former) agent told me most advances were down to about 10% what they were – and the business is still recovering.
The downturn also resulted in less money for promotion. Book tours, launch parties and flashy displays are for only a lucky few writers. So whether you self-publish or not, you still have a huge job of promoting the book yourself – both in terms of time and money.
There are still great book advances out there. Romance writer Jasinda Wilder recently signed a 7-figure book deal with Berkley. Of course she had quite a bit of success already – she'd sold two million e-books as an indy author.
What I find most interesting is that even with a big contract, Jasinda is going to continue to self-publish some titles. According to the Guardian, the most financially successful – and happy – writers are the ones with a foot in both camps.
4) PRACTICALITY
In all honesty, it would probably take years – if ever – for me to get another book deal. Neither of my novels were disasters but they didn't perform as well as expected. What's worse, I turned into an emotional wreck after the books flopped and actually gave up writing fiction (twice!). Meaning I wasn't able to quickly write another book to bounce back.
So why would a publisher take a chance on me when there are so many great first-timers out there? Or thousands of bestselling indy authors who already have a loyal following?
Over and above the performance of my books, I'm launching into a genre that I have no experience in. There'd have to be a lot of changes in the publishing world before someone signed me simply because 'this idea came to me in a dream.'
So if I want to continue writing, I really don't have a choice but to go indy. Which brings me to … 5) BECAUSE I CAN
Since the beginning of the printing press, books have been expensive and complicated to produce. Which is why authors have always been dependent on publishers to print and distribute their work.
However, in just a few short years, indy writers have changed the game completely. Today every writer on the planet has the opportunity to reach millions of readers – and there isn't the same stigma to self-publishing there once was. That's not just a change in the publishing world. It's a revolution in the way stories are told.
So whether you decide to follow the holy grail, choose to self-publish – or try some combination of the two – it's an exciting time to be a writer. Because telling stories is what really counts – no matter how we get it done!
Here are Sheri's pertinent links, her books on Amazon and her blog. Find her blog Sheri's Blog or on Twitter @SLMcInnis
Devil May Care
By Invitation Only
Sheri's Blog
Bottom note. My thanks to Sheri for writing this post and allowing me to share it.
