Kyle Pratt's Blog: Musings & Rantings, page 20

Back in School

I had the chance to go back to school this week.

Author Kyle Pratt speaking at Centralia High School

Ten years ago, I taught at Centralia High School, near where I live now in Lewis County, Washington state. However, life and other opportunities drew me away, and I haven’t been back since. I still know many of the teachers though, and last week, counselor Jim Parker asked me to come back on Tuesday and talk about writing as a career.

So, you like working for minimum wage

Author Kyle Pratt speaking at Centralia High School

I did actually start with that, but as a joke. Okay, maybe it wasn’t entirely a joke. Many authors have to have a regular job to support their meager earnings from writing. Only a few make the big money. I don’t make a fortune, but I’ve been fortunate, to earn a living writing books that I enjoy.

The Internet, print-on-demand, ebooks, and audiobooks are changing the world of writing. I spoke for nearly an hour, and in that time explained how, as a mid-list indie author, I run a small publishing company, and use all those formats to distribute my books.

Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and Apple, iTunes are all my business partners. It’s fun, but it is also a full time job.

Students asked questions before, during and after I spoke. I’m sure some of them were late for their next class. I had a great time and hope to speak with students again in the future.

Special Discount

The release date for braving the storms is only 56 days away!

As part of the celebration leading up to the release of Braving the Storms on December 18th, I’ve marked down the first book in the series, Through Many Fires, to 99 cents.

In Through Many Fires, terrorists smuggle a nuclear bomb into Washington D.C. and detonate it during the State of the Union address. Army veteran and congressional staffer, Caden Westmore, watches as a mushroom cloud grows over the capital. The next day as he drives away from the still burning city, he learns another city has been destroyed, and then another. America is under siege. Panic ensues and society begins to unravel.

I don’t know how long the book will be available at that very special price, but the goal is that everyone who wants to start reading the series can do so now, before the release of Braving the Storms. So, if you haven’t read the novel, now is the time to snag your copy!

The ebook version of Through Many Fires is available on Nook, Kobo iTunes, Smashwords and on Amazon sites, in the U.S., Canada, Britain and Australia.

Pre-Order Braving

The release date is only 61 days away!

However, you can pre-order the ebook version of Braving the Storms now and have it load right to your device the moment it’s released.

Braving the Storms is the third book of the Strengthen What Remains series. In the first book, Through Many Fires, nuclear terrorism strikes the nation’s capital and six other American cities. In the second book, A Time to Endure, society continues to unravel, and civil war threatens the divided and economically-crippled land.

Now a new and even more lethal problem emerges. A swift and deadly flu epidemic sweeps out of overcrowded FEMA camps and strikes the nation with horrific results. Caden Westmore struggles to keep his family and community safe, while others use the plague to advance their own military and political agendas. Caden must succeed, but how can he, when both the epidemic and chaos attack his hometown and family?

Braving the Storms is available for pre-order in the United States, Canada, Britain, and Australia on Amazon, and worldwide on Smashwords and Kobo.

The Cover Question

Why not let us know more about the picture?

That is the question I have for photographers. I can understand that photographers post pictures so people can see, enjoy and use them, but many post fantastic pictures with little information. Why not tell us the date and location of the shot? Why not add a bio section to your website?

That is the problem with this month’s picture. The photographer is Caleb Ralston. You can see this and many others superb pictures on his website. Unfortunately there is no bio on the site and he didn’t respond when I tried to contact him.

It’s a great picture. I just wish I knew more.  

Find previous cover pictures here.  

The Upside of Indie Writing

There are serious reasons to be an indie writer, and not so serious ones.

This is a look at a few of both.

Author Kyle Pratt at the office

1. No Alarm Clocks. I live on a small farm so I still get up early, but almost never to the blare of an alarm clock. Usually I get up to the morning sun coming in the bedroom window or the sound of chickens clucking to be fed. On those rare occasions when I must get up early for a flight or other trip, I struggle to remember how to set the fancy alarm clock by my bed.

2. My Three-Step Commute. Auto insurance agents always ask, “How long is your commute?” I love explaining my morning trip to them. The door-to-door commute from my bedroom to my office is three steps. However, I usually take a fourteen-step detour to the dining room for breakfast.

3. Casual Days. I wear slippers to the office because every day is casual Friday. If I wake with a great story idea I might start the day working in my robe. No one complains about my beard and I can go days without trimming it or shaving.     

4. The Daily Schedule. I still have busy days and enough appointments that I keep a synched schedule on all my electronic devices, but it is MY schedule. If an old friend calls or my wife wants to go out for lunch, things get moved around. My time is my time, and the schedule is always clear for Seattle Seahawk games.

5. It’s My Company. I probably work more hours than I ever did for an employer and I still have deadlines, but now every book I write, every promotion, conference or blogpost is part of building my company and my future.

There are downsides to being a writer, and even more so to being an indie writer. We’ll talk about those in future posts but, for me, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Carol Award Winning Friends

I’m pleased to know three Carol Award winners this year. 

The Carol Awards are the American Christian Fiction Writers recognition for the best Christian fiction. This year the ACFW conference was held from September 17th through the 20th in Dallas, Texas. While I didn’t attend several people I know did, and received awards.

Nadine Brandes

Carol Eaton and Nadine Brandes at the 2015 ACFW Carol Awards.

A Time to Die, the first book by Nadine Brandes, came to my attention because of the praise it received from both readers and reviewers. I found the plot, pacing and characters to be superior to that of most speculative fiction and planned to watch her progress. I’ve also recommended the book several times. Earlier this year I joined an online critique group. Only after become part of the group did I discover that Nadine was one of the members. While I’ve never met her in person, I look forward to working with her.

I’m thrilled that Nadine Brandes won the 2015 Carol Award for speculative fiction for her novel, A Time to Die.

Carol Eaton

Carol Eaton is the moderator that brought me into the online critique group. When I joined I knew Nadine by reputation only, and Carol not at all. While I’ve never met her in person, after many emails and critiques, I feel I’ve gotten to know her. However, she never mentioned that any of her work might receive an award.

I’m very pleased to say that Carol Eaton has won the 2015 Carol Award for speculative fiction for her manuscript, Null.

Melanie Dobson

While I’ve met Melanie Dobson twice, I’ve never read anything by her. My wife has enjoyed reading several Dobson novels, but historical romance is not my usual read.  

Melanie Dobson winner of the 2015 ACFW Carol award for historical fiction

However, I’ve met her twice. Last year she presented at the Southwest Washington Writers Conference, which I helped organize and I spoke with her briefly. This year she presented again, but unfortunately brought a Mac to an all Microsoft facility. I was called upon to help, and together with Melanie we melded the two operating systems in time for her class.

I wish I had the opportunity to congratulate Melanie Dobson in person for winning the 2015 Carol Award for historical fiction for Chateau of Secrets. I’m sure I’ll be seeing the novel soon.

One of the nicest things about being a writer is the chance to meet such talented and creative people.

Pushing Toward the Goal

I like to set goals.

Each week I list chapters and blogposts that I’ll write, marketing plans to investigate or execute, people to contact and more. One long term goal I have is to write 120,000 words this year. Many writers do more than that, but this would be a personal best. To track my progress, I use an Excel spreadsheet.

Earlier this week, when I entered my word count, I discovered I reached something of a milestone. I’ve written 100,000 words so far this year. You can keep track of my progress by clicking here.

While I haven’t achieved my 120,000 word goal, I’m closing in on it. I’ll let you know when I reach the final goal. 

My Local Conference

The 2015 Southwest Washington Writers Conference is over.

Marketing expert Veronika Noize and Kyle Pratt at the 2015 Southwest Washington Writers Conference

Seattle has conferences for writers, and so does Portland, but until last year this area lacked that level of education and networking. The first year of the conference, I both presented and helped with the organization and operation. This year I just helped. While both conferences were a success, this year attendance rose and the operation ran smoother.

The morning of the conference we came in early to complete final preparations. Julie Zander soon discovered the main auditorium was locked. She got it open just in time for me to turn on the projector, computer, adjust the lights and test the microphone. I finished as the first few people walked in.  

Authors Kyle Pratt and Jennifer Shaw Wolf at the 2015 Southwest Washington Writers Conference

As with last year, we had both a Keynote address and a mini-keynote. Jane Kirkpatrick, author of more historical fiction books than I care to count, provided the keynote. She spoke on the skills a writer needs to develop and often needs to discover within. Scott Eagan gave the other keynote. As an agent, he spoke on what his profession could and could not do for a writer. He spoke well, but as a purely indie writer, I’m not looking for an agent.

This year attendees had their choice of twelve workshops on everything from writing poetry, to editing and marketing. Melanie Dobson spoke on putting romance into genre writing. Unfortunately she brought a Mac to an all Microsoft facility. Again, I was called upon, and together with Melanie we melded the two operating systems in time for her class.

Authors Lisa Burnette and Jane Kirkpatrick at the Southwest Washington Writers Conference

I attended the Writing for Young Adults and Story Structure classes by Jennifer Shaw Wolf. I think she did both presentations well, and I learned things in both. However, I looked forward to the class with Veronika Noize on Marketing. I missed it last year because our presentations were at the same time. I’m an author and have little interest in marketing, but as an indie writer, the responsibility falls on my shoulders. She had many good ideas which I look forward to trying over the next few months.

Both years the conference has been organized by a few members of the Southwest Washington Writers Guild. As I mentioned, I’ve been a part of both efforts. We’re already planning the event for next year and I’m looking forward to it.

Heinlein on Writing

The first book I read was Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein.

After that, I read every other book the master of science fiction wrote. I first toyed with the idea of writing as I read one of Heinlein’s novels. More than ten years passed before I completed my first short story and then another ten years slipped away before I attempted a novel.

Robert A. Heinlein

As I struggled with that first, still unpublished book, I came across Heinlein’s five rules for writers. Gradually, I set aside that first clumsy novel and went on to finish, and publish, others. Through it all, Heinlein’s simple rules have remained with me.

I present them here with my thoughts and commentary.

Rule one: You must write

Many people tell me they have an idea about a novel. My standard reply is, “You should write it.” Very few ever do. It sounds obvious, but if you’re going to be a writer you need to write. Most never get beyond rule number one.

Rule two: You must finish what you start

The poet and writer Dorothy Parker once said, “I hate writing, I love having written.” Most that start a novel never push on to completion and so, never know the joy of “having written.” It’s a struggle to complete that first novel and, while it never gets easy, as you hone your craft, the task becomes less arduous. An author must persevere to completion.

Rule three: You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order

I know some fantastic writers that never submit their work to agents or publishers. Over and over again they edited and rewrite chapter after chapter. Their work is often spellbindingly beautiful, but few will ever read it. Write the best manuscript you can, submit it to a critique group, perhaps some beta readers and a final rigorous editor—then move on.

Rule four: You must put your story on the market

Another rule that seems obvious, but I know a writer with dozens of completed novels in his office. All of them are ready for the market, but aren’t on it. In today’s digital world there are three viable market options for authors, traditional publishing, indie publishing or a hybrid of both. Learn about all three and keep your books on the market.

Rule five: You must keep it on the market until it has sold.

If you want to be an author, don’t give up. Find a way to get your books to readers and, while continuing to sell your currently completed project, return to rule number one and start the process again.

Growing Reach

I received a surprising email recently.

Since I started, I’ve felt that the best way to promote and sell my books was online. While I’m thrilled when it occurs, I put little effort into getting them into stores and libraries. Still, over time, they have appeared in several brick and mortar establishments like the Strand in New York City, Powell’s in Portland, and my local store, Book N Brush.

So, perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised when my friend and fellow author Jennifer Vandenberg sent me these pictures. She was visiting the local Chehalis library and found the book just as you see it in the picture.

I went to the library the next day and talked with the only person I know working there, Amy Flugel. She checked the catalog and informed me the regional library system three copies of A Time to Endure, all checked out, and three more of Through Many Fires at other libraries.

So, thanks to someone in the Timberland Regional Library system, the reach of my books continues to grow.