C.R. Richards's Blog, page 32

Adventures in Indie Publishing

The Decision

“Never Get Too Comfortable” is a phrase I lived by coming up in the ranks of fresh faced Project Managers.  You miss valuable opportunities and life experiences which could help you in the future. I’ve tried to stick with that motto in my writing career as well. By challenging my skills and perceptions of who I think I am as a writer, I’ve grown as a professional.

I started off on this writing journey as an “Epic Fantasy” gal. Opportunities (some might call them setbacks) have helped me to expand my career. I’ve written Horror, Romance and Dark Fantasy with a touch of Thriller. There has always been a lingering doubt I’ve had stuck in my head for years. “I only write novel length stories. I CAN’T write short stories!” Well, I decided to challenge this assumption and I wrote a short horror story called “Lost Man’s Parish.”

The first magazine politely declined. As I was preparing to send the story onto the next one, a thought struck me. I’m already taking a risk by writing outside my comfort zone. Why am I going through someone else’s process when I could give Indie Publishing a try? The old stigma of the “Vanity Press” is slowly fading. Indie Publishing is about controlling your own fate and art form. I’m not naive. I understand by choosing this route, everything is on me: editing, book formatting, cover design, selecting a distributor, marketing. No Risk. No Reward.

Where to start – The first step was to make sure my manuscript was properly edited and professional.  There is stiff competition out there vying for reader attention. And there is some not so good stuff as well. I want to stand out. Delivering a quality product will help me be noticed and build upon my reputation.
Choose Wisely Young Padawan – The eBook Industry offers vast market potential. I’ll need someone savvy to distribute my work for me. I chose to stick with either Amazon or Smashwords for distribution. I already have a relationship with both of them. After taking a look at their services and existing short story formats, I decided to go with Smashwords. They seem a little more “Horror friendly” in their library. They also have helpful resources for the first-timer. A huge plus!

Update: Roughly a week after I made my decision to Indie Publish, a life event underscored for me how important it is to not get too comfortable. Writing is a business and sometimes things change. This can be good or bad or both. The smart business person plans ahead and looks for many opportunities.

Next Week on DT&J: Pulling the Trigger on my Indie project.

Sneak Peek at Lost Man’s Parish!

Now Available on Smashwords for multiple E-Readers

Villains – Part III: Are You Ready to Rumble?!

We grip the arm rest of our seats, leaning closer to the darkened stage. Tension hangs in the air, suspended aloft by anxiety and eager expectations. The lights come up. The curtain opens. Act III is about to begin.

Your Readers have followed the strands of conflict in the story you’ve carefully woven. Don’t disappoint them in Act III. Make sure your villain is a challenging match for the hero/heroine. Give them that epic battle to reward their patience and their need for a satisfying ending.

Super Sleuth and the Napoleon of Crime – Perhaps the most famous game of wits in literature is between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s intrepid consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes and his arch-enemy, Professor James Moriarty. Both men share cunning intelligence.

One uses his gifts to control as Doyle writes,

“He sits motionless, like a spider in the centre of its web, but that web has a thousand radiations, and he knows well every quiver of each of them.”

While the other uses it to hunt and conquer.

“He [Holmes] loved to lie in the very centre of five millions of people, with his filaments stretching out and running through them, responsive to every little rumor or suspicion of unsolved crime.”

Watson’s Observation of Sherlock Holmes

The End – Your villain has stymied the hero’s efforts every step of the way. If you’ve carefully considered your villain’s back story, motivation and master plan, then all paths should lead to the inevitable epic battle between good and evil. Take a look at Holmes and Moriarty. We know Holmes is extremely clever and brave. He is always three steps ahead of everyone else…except Moriarty. In “The Final Problem”, Moriarty hounds Holmes at every turn. Out of options, the great detective draws Moriarty to the Reichenbach Falls in the hopes of defeating him. Once again they are equally matched in physical strength. Both men perish as they fall over the side (or so Watson believes).

Final Thoughts – The villain is a critical element to any story. This force of conflict may not be a human or humanoid. Rather, it could be a killer virus or a rampaging robot. No matter the form you choose to present conflict, do your homework. Make the motives relatable and the master plan plausible.

Images: original art work by Sidney Paget

Villains – Part II: That’s the Master Plan

Long John Silver by the Scots-born American illustrator Edward A. Wilson (b.1884) http://library.sc.edu/spcoll/britlit/rls/rls3.html

You’re watching a Star Wars Marathon. Darth Vader’s theme song comes on. You know he’s going to “force choke” somebody. Tall, dark and breathy, we expect him to whip out that light saber and start killing rebels. Imagine instead if he were running around the “Goon Docks” chasing Chunk and trying to find One-eyed Willy’s treasure? Not a believable picture. The Villain’s personality must fit the evil plan and vice versa.

Your villain’s master plan must be a living organism that helps drive the story. A classic example of a clever villain’s master plan is Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Long John Silver is the colorful villain who makes this story so memorable. He is one of the reasons Treasure Island remains in the top five of my favorite books of all time.

Motivation (see last week’s post Villains – Part I) He served in the Royal Navy where he lost a leg to the hip. Piracy seems the logical choice to earn a living. He feels betrayed and robbed out of a great fortune by his former Captain, Flint.
Master Plan : Long John befriends young Jim Hawkins in order to get the treasure map. He has designed a well planned mutiny to take the gold away from Jim and his friends after they’ve done the hard work of locating its hiding place. When things go array, Long John takes Jim along with his compass to get the gold. The betrayal stuns everyone, especially the reader.
The Hick Up: Where did it go wrong? The pirates grow impatient. Rather than following Silver’s plan to wait until the Hispaniola’s officers recover the treasure to mutiny, they jump the gun and get clumsy. This allows the officers to escape and come up with a plan.

Final Thoughts – Do your homework on the Master Plan. Is the goal your villain trying to achieve plausible? Does it contain some element of truth? Will it leave the Reader unsettled with thoughts of “Wow. This could actually happen.” Some genres allow for the use of magic and special powers to execute the plan, however, there is still an element of plausibility there. Your goal is to make the Reader worried for the hero and his/her world.

Villains – Part I: I Love it When You’re Bad

There’s nothing like a good, bad…um, gripping villain. The best ones (in my opinion) are flawed and complicated. They have perfectly rational reasons for destroying a country’s economy or inflicting turmoil upon the Earth. We almost buy their rationale. Almost. If it weren’t for the murder of innocents or their utter disregard for everyone else, we’d actually feel pity for them.

Strong motive is a key element to creating a great villain – A character’s back story is a valuable tool in a writer’s kit. After putting the rough draft of a story to paper, I take the time to summarize each of my major character’s lives. It could be one page or thirty, depending on how much fun my mind is having inventing that fictional person. Ninety-seven percent of what I write in a character’s back story will never be seen by anyone else but me and the cat (and he’s not very interested anyway). Why go to so much work? The back story helps me answer the burning question readers will expect satisfying explanations for:

What drives the villain? What traumatic event in their life was the turning point to push them over the edge?
Why do they want to conquer and/or destroy that particular (world, business, school, fill in the blank)?
Why are they set on capturing, stopping and/ or killing the hero?

One of the best current century examples of a sympathetic villain is Professor Snape from the Harry Potter Series.  J. K. Rowlings masterfully created this embodiment of spite and resentment. Snape left no doubt he loathed James Potter and poured a little of that acid out on Harry as well. It’s no wonder. Snape was horribly bullied as a child by Harry’s dad. We are convinced of Snape’s evil just as Harry is and share his concern when Snape is welcomed as part of their secret rebellion. What we don’t find out until the end of the series is how much Snape loved Harry’s mother. He becomes the tragic hero of the series in his love for her.

Final Thoughts – What about the villains that are just bat crap crazy? Take the classic Bond Villains. Can anyone really relate to Dr. No and Goldfinger? I love each and every one of the 007 flicks, but the movie makers took a few liberties with the original storylines from the book series. Dr. No is a frustrated scientist who suffered a terrible accident. Goldfinger is all about the greed. Both of these are powerful motivators. If you read about the bat crap crazies (the memorable ones anyway), you’ll find they have recognizable motives too.

When I was a Kid

When I was a kid I spent many a summer’s night laying back in the dew-covered grass staring up at the stars in an endless sky. I knew there were other inhabited planets and wonders to see. If I could just WILL  my mind to travel across space, I’d be there.

When I was a kid I’d climb my big box elder tree in our backyard. My favorite spots rested among the highest branches. It was like floating in a green cloud. Nothing below or above existed outside my fortress of leaves.

When I was a kid my big sister and I would play Wind God. We’d run outside during a wind storm, twirling around in the gusts. It was a little like flying.

Now that I’m a big kid I spend many a summer’s night sitting on my patio staring up at the stars in a Colorado sky. I know there are other inhabited planets and wonders to see. With sad acceptance, I realize these wonders will be discovered by those who come after me. Yet my dreaming does not end. An even bigger adventure awaits.

Now that I’m a big kid the tree limbs won’t hold my adult body. I miss my floating cloud of green leaves. I cannot forget the people and adventures I’ve experienced among the branches. Each story I write is an attempt to recreate and share that wonderful place of imagination.

Now that I’m a big kid my sister and I still talk about our times playing Wind God. We laugh and shake our heads at the whimsy of children. In our secret hearts, I suspect both of us are sometimes tempted by the wind.

Birth. Growth. Experience. Mentoring. Transition. There is no “The End” to my story.

Are We on the Verge of the Next Great Mental Shift?

The premiere of COSMOS with Neil deGrasse Tyson (First aired on FOX March 9, 2014) really got my brain cells clicking. Phenomenal cinematography aside, it was the story of Giordano Bruno that impacted me the most. In a time where the entire world was convinced the Sun revolved around the Earth, Bruno wrote about a crazy idea he had of an Infinite Universe where the Earth revolved around the Sun. He was suggesting we were not really the center of the Universe. The society of the day vehemently disagreed and was frightened by his theories. It eventually led to his imprisonment for eight years and ultimately his execution.

There have been a great many monumental mental shifts throughout history by the great and like-minded thinkers of our species. It’s impossible to list them all. Galileo, Copernicus, De Vinci, Confucius, Aristotle, Marie Curie, Bell, Margaret Mead, Einstein, Gandhi, Steve Jobs (think about it), the list goes on. These great thinkers or “Change Agents” stood against the fearful establishments of their day. They effected change for our species despite the risks, hardships and even certain death to pull the rest of us one rung up the growth ladder.

In our world today, technology is taking us to places we couldn’t reach before. The world and all of its cultures are available at our fingertips. We are now able to better understand each other. It opens our minds to new possibilities only knowledge and fresh understanding can promote. Does this mean we are on a verge of the next great mental shift? I believe it does.

What do I mean by “mental shift”? Let’s go back to Bruno. He and other like-minded individuals refused to believe society’s view that the Sun revolved around the Earth. The old point of view seems silly to our modern, science-based knowledge. Back then it was gospel. A more current example: our ability to send large amounts of data (text, picture, voice) around the world through tiny fibers in a matter of seconds (Depending on your internet provider).

Changes in Scientific Theory – While some well-known scientists still are holding firm, String Theory has been called into question by others. Alternate lines of research are starting to sprout up like Biocentrism, Dr. Lanza’s concept which suggests Biology should replace Physics in foundational science. According to his book, this new concept leans toward supporting the beliefs of the Eastern Religions. I’m reading the book now. It has some thought altering ideas.

Speaking of Religion – The world has become a smaller place. People from distant lands with different religious beliefs and philosophies have moved into towns half a world away. They share with the locals, giving Miss Small Town an opportunity to choose a different belief system which may fit her personal outlook.  Hatred of “those people” who believe differently than the locals in the small town, diminishes. These strangers aren’t strangers anymore. They’re neighbors who just happen to worship differently. We learn tolerance for the sake of harmony.

I think one of the finest examples of a modern day Change Agent is constantly in the news. There has been a major mental shift for a centuries old religion, one I’d never thought to see in my lifetime. This mental shift has been brought about by one man, Pope Francis. He’s loved by those who don’t classify themselves as part of his religion. He frustrates and worries those who, I believe, view him as the supreme head of the church. Can he bring about a mental shift for the largest and most powerful Christian Church in the world? I have hope he can.

Final Thoughts:  Our world is a place of infinite possibilities. Attitudes are shifting. Friends that were once enemies share ideas. The plight of faraway places have become real to the average person. That person has the ability to effect change for those in a distant land with the click of a mouse.

Chaos often foreshadows change. Leaders entrenched in the old ways, fight against the new to continue their way of life. Storms of conflict blanket nations, organizations and cities. Growing pains are inevitable when we develop as a species, but it’s time to explore with the new tools and awareness we’ve been given. If we look past the storm clouds, we see a horizon full of hope.

Cleaning Out the Closets of Your Mind

(Image: Double Daffodils and Pink Giant Hyacinths from my garden)

I love Spring. We pull our grumpy winter selves out from under the blankets and back out into the sunshine. If you’re like me, you shed the old stuff from closets and drawers to make room for the new. This morning I noticed a ragged old sweat shirt I’ve had for about ten years. It once belonged to a heather purple jogging outfit I thought was pretty stylin’ back then. Gawd knows what happened to the pants.  Why have I kept it so long if I never wear it? No idea.

There are other closets that need to be cleaned out now and again. Preconceived notions of people or things need to be reexamined. Ideas I thought were outlandish or just plain wrong in my youth have a different hue when I study them with wisdom coming from life experience (okay…age if you want to be a stickler).  Some certainties I once believed were unshakably accurate, have changed as the world has changed.

Take a Step Back: One of my biggest personality flaws is taking for granted the people in my life never change. I have friends I may not speak to for months if not years (Not making the effort to stay in contact with loved ones is another personality flaw for another day). We get together for dinner or a chat. In my mind, no time has passed and this person sitting across from me hasn’t had any life changing experiences. I don’t consider they may have grown as a person.

This flaw came back to bite me about a year ago. I was on travel for the day job and made arrangements to meet with an old friend of mine who lived in the area. Her life had dramatically changed and because we hadn’t been in touch, I was caught off guard by this new person I no longer knew. We muddled through an awkward dinner. I’m sorry to say, my friend and I haven’t spoken since.

Friends and family are precious. I don’t own them. They don’t sit on a shelf waiting for me to pick them up again. I consciously make the effort to take a step back and reexamine the people I think I know.

Listen: I turn off the “I already know everything about this person” record in my mind and I listen to what they’re telling me
Let Go: I consciously make the effort to let go of my pre-conceived notions of this person.  People change. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the not so good
Respect: I respect the change in this person and treat them accordingly. If they’ve changed into someone that isn’t good for me, then I respect myself by taking them out of my life

Final Thoughts: There are some things I will never get rid of like my tattered old writing sweater. Sure, it’s seen better days, but it’s comforting and still of value. Other things will never go out of style or become threadbare: integrity, honesty and hard work. These things should be worn proudly and never be tucked away or thrown out.

What’s in it for me?

You’ve been working long and hard on your project (Novel/Software Application/Workshop Pitch/Fill In the Blank). It’s colossal! It’s amazing! You’re ready to show it off to the world or at least your potential customers. The presentation goes well and you believe folks are on board. Then it happens. There’s always one “Neddy Negativity” in the crowd who tries to squash it.

What is Neddy’s motivation for dumping cold water on your idea? Is he hell-bent on squashing you to lift up his own kingdom? Sometimes. In my many years of experience, I’ve found that usually isn’t the case. Most folks are afraid of change. They don’t understand how your new idea is going to impact their world. Is it a good thing? Or is it just a waste of time that they really don’t have energy to bother with?

It doesn’t really matter what the Neddy Negativities of the world think (though sometimes Neddy has some really good points and should at least be heard). Don’t let them squash good ideas. Be ready to tell these difficult folks about the benefits you’re offering. In other words: What’s in it for them?

DO: Research your potential customer. What are their needs? Who are their customers?
DO: Be as specific as you can. How will your writing workshop benefit their conference attendees (and pull in more interested students)? How will your software application make their life easier and reduce costs and/or streamline processes?
DON’T: Give an exaggerated used car salesman pitch. Do not exaggerate what your product can do. “Truth Will Out!” If you and your product can’t live up to the promises you make, your credibility will be in question and so will your professional reputation.
DON’T: Be vague. There are professional bullshit blockers (like myself) out there whose job it is to protect the fiscal, technical infrastructure and employee well-being of their organizations. If you can’t tell us exactly what, when, why, how and how much…well, we’ll go to the next person who can. Think your presentations through from this point of view.

Final Thoughts – Before people are willing to invest time and resources into something, they want to understand what’s in it for them. It’s human nature. We’re pulled and prodded into so many directions, the last thing we want is yet another responsibility. How is what you’re trying to sell me of any benefit? How is it going to make my life easier? How is it going to benefit my customers? If you can answer those questions, then your chance for success dramatically increases.

Hit Those Target Goals!

I’m a very driven person. After years of wasting time putting off my dreams, a health scare taught me something important. I am mortal! The epiphany hit me hard. I only have a limited amount of moments on this planet, so if I wanted to achieve my goals and dreams it was up to me to make it happen. Tick Tock!

My attitude about life completely changed. Now it is in my nature to set a goal with a date and then work until I drop in order to meet that objective. Hard life lessons and project management methodologies have taught me how to set realistic and healthy goals. I’m going to state that again, because it’s important. Set Realistic and Healthy Goals. Don’t kill yourself trying to fulfill an obligation you didn’t take time to think through.

What if you’re the opposite personality type? You want to achieve your goal, but that program you want to watch is on tonight. Maybe you have a bad case of S.S.T.A (Sofa Stuck to Ass)? Here are some pointers from my many years of experience planning and managing large projects:

Use Short Term Goals to Achieve Your Long Term Goal

A short term goal can be an activity or product you can complete in a small bite-sized chunk within a short period of time. For Example: I’m working on my next dark fantasy novel. I don’t care who you are or how many novels you’ve written. Each one is a daunting task.  I keep the Long Term Goal (the entire novel) in mind. However, I focus on those bite-sized chunks.  If I chop down the book into Acts, these become achievable goals rather than one big Herculean task.

Buffer! Buffer! Buffer!

Setting a deadline date is key for achieving goals. However, not giving yourself enough time can guarantee failure. Think about all the activities you’ll have to complete to reach your short term goal. Let’s walk through my example:

Outline Act I
Write the First Draft
Edit and Update Act I
Final Polish

I estimate it will take me three months to complete all these tasks. There are three Acts in my book. Does that mean I can complete the entire book in nine months? Yep, I could if my life was perfect and I didn’t work a day job. Sometimes life gets in the way of our goals. I get sick and miss a few days or the book takes a new direction. I have to stop and do further research. If you’re working against someone else’s deadline that could be a major problem. Give yourself “Buffer Time” in case of emergencies. I try to allot myself a week or two of extra time to sort out any problems. If I don’t use them, then I look good for coming in early.

Final Thoughts: Set Realistic and Healthy goals. Chasing your dreams should be fun, not a chore.

 

Breaking Free of the Zombie Mob: Finding Your Passion

(Above Image found on: http://tipsforclassicalmusicians.com)

I love “Shaun of the Dead” with Simon Pegg. The movie opens with Shaun shuffling zombie-like into the doorway. He moans the call of the undead. Most of us would think of it as the “Oh Gawd, not this again!” realization of the weekday morning. He soon joins other commuting zombies on the way to work. We can all relate, but do we really want to?

We change the channel to a news story about an amazing, happy person who has achieved something awesome. They seem so passionate about what they do! You just know that person jumps out of bed in the morning, anxious to get back to their life’s passionate purpose. It didn’t matter to them how hard or daunting their goal might seem. They kept going and made it despite the odds. Sometimes you wonder how they found that strong sense of purpose. What makes them different than you?

They found their dream, their passion. These folks turned their backs on the many naysayers in their lives and accepted the risks. Are you ready to do the same?

Take Stock: Sit down with the information capturing device of your choice (pen and paper, laptop, iPad, Etch A Sketch) and then answer the following: What are your current skill sets? What are your current hobbies and interests?

Did you feel something spark?

Example:

My current skill sets: Project Management, Mentorship/ Trainer

My current Interests: Writing, Encouraging Others

Result: I use my PM and Mentorship experience to mentor and encourage new writers. This is something I enjoy very much.

Go Outside Your Comfort Zone: Maybe you’re completely bored with the “Me” thing and want to try something completely different? This one is going to take a little more creativity. Consider looking through the free community education magazine you usually throw away. Do you see any classes you’re curious about? Try going to local events: races, special lectures at libraries, museums or botanic gardens. Okay – you get the idea. You may just find your passion out there where you’ve never considered looking. If you don’t find it, at least you’re having fun!

Example:

Getting out of my comfort zone: I was diagnosed as a potential Celiac several years back. Hollywood eventually adopted the Gluten Free Diet and changed the restaurant industry’s approach to food allergies for the better. I had to adhere to the diet before it was cool (FYI – it’s never going to be an easy diet). Finding food with no wheat, barley, rye or oats away from the house back then was a nightmare. I was terrified of traveling. What if I ate the wrong thing and wound up in the emergency room again?

Action: I don’t like fear. It vexes me. I decided to try a quick four day trip to some place I’d never been before. San Antonio, TX seemed like a great choice. It has the Alamo and the Riverwalk. I didn’t know how Gluten Free Friendly it was until I got there. What a lovely surprise. I had a great time. It remains a favorite destination of mine.

Result: That trip helped me realize FEAR was the only thing stopping me. My love of travel was rekindled. Today, I travel all over the country managing IT and medical projects. I’ve experienced some pretty cool things in this job, things I never would have seen if I’d let fear continue to cage me.

Take Steps: Do you have that spark of excitement yet? It’s time to take action. Obviously, the steps will depend on what your passion turns out to be.

Here are a few suggestions: take classes, get involved with an organization, ask an expert about your interest.

See! I’m excited for you! Get after it and don’t give up!

Advice From My Project Manager Side: If you decide your new interest might be something you’d like to translate into a new career, please approach it thoughtfully. Understand you may have to work the day job and do your passion in your spare time for a while. The added pressure of earning an income will crush a dream in no time. Careful business planning is key. I know there are those exceptional individuals who quit their jobs and open thriving businesses. They are the exception! Have a thoughtful plan with adequate funding to get you through hard times. Your dreams can come true, but you need to set yourself up for success first.

Final Thoughts: I am deeply committed to my own passion – writing. Sometimes I forget not everyone wants to pursue grand literary dreams, climb Mount Everest or find a cure for Cancer. Sometimes, as an old friend reminded me, small dreams can be the most rewarding. My friend’s dream was a home and a family. After searching and visualizing for many years, he found the person he was meant to be with. I am pleased to say Dad, Mom and their two wonderful kids are very happy.

Find your dream! Live your dream passionately! You’ll be happier whether you’re “garage band” or “rock superstar” successful.