J.B. Garner's Blog, page 65
August 6, 2014
Wrapping things up: The Opening Bell 2nd edition
I’m happy to say that I’ve wrapped my end of editing duties for a while yesterday when I finished up the second edition editing of The Opening Bell. That’s not to say there isn’t more work to do. As any writer can tell you, you are your own worst editor. I have several trusted associated reading over my current drafts to ferret out those lingering typos and illogical sentences.
The most important thing I personally can do now for the process is to let it actually work. I’ve learned a lot from my first two jaunts down self-publication road, especially from my mistakes. The biggest one of those mistakes was my impatience. I didn’t wait for the editing process to finish on its own. I pushed and pushed and hence need to have second editions. Lessons learned.
If you’re a writer reading this, how do you approach the editing process? How extensive a network of beta readers and editors do you think is necessary to ensure a quality product? How do you even find your readers?
Oh, and do you want to be a beta reader? There’s still three weeks left! (This is only somewhat a joke. If you really do want to beta read my work, I’m always open for it.)
August 4, 2014
The editing wars continue! Indomitable 2nd edition coming!
A new round of editing on Indomitable, the first novel in The Push Chronicles, finished up today. It really amazed me how much I had tightened up my writing in just a space of a few months. Having a chance to revisit the work I had already done was something of a joy and will make the entire series a more refined and enjoyable circumstance for my readers.
I originally felt kind of bad about going back and doing this second edition, even though e-book readers won’t have to pay a dime for the new edition. Maybe it was the constant reminders from so many writing advice pages that say, “Make it perfect the first time before it’s released!”. Then I remembered Stephen King. Anyone who’s read the first edition of The Gunslinger and the revised edition know what I’m talking about.
All I know is that if it’s good enough for him, it’s sure good enough for me!
Everything is looking to still be on track to not only release Indomitable and The Opening Bell‘s second editions by the end of August, but their sequels as well. More news to come!
August 2, 2014
Hook, Line, and Sinker: Does ‘free’ bring in readers?
If you’ve read any of this blog, you know that I have a few books already self-published, each the start of a respective book series. You also know that I will be (cross your fingers) publishing the next books in said series later this month. This presents a golden opportunity in my eyes: a chance to extend my readership.
You see, I have noticed an intelligent common practice in the self-publishing world to make your first books free or very cheap. People love free stuff and are likely to pick up a free book on a lark. If they read that free book and love it, they will have a lot of incentive to pick up the rest of the series, or at least that’s how the theory goes.
As a writer, there’s an understandable reluctance on my part to give away my hard work for nothing. At the same time, I’m happy for anyone to read it, so why shouldn’t I be willing to take a financial hit to spread my works around?
For those of you who have done this dance before, have you have any good results with this kind of strategy? If not, is there any sage advice to dole out? If so, did you make your first books-in-a-series free forever or just for an initial period to drum up interest? I’m curious to see what people’s experiences are.
August 1, 2014
Fun vs. Meaning: Does writing have to be deep?
I write action-adventure, sports, and superhero yarns. Those genres certainly would seem to represent a stronghold of fun and a refugee from deeper meaning. I can imagine in some people’s minds there’s an inverse relationship between fun books and educational books. If something is supposed to be ‘insightful’ or ‘meaningful’ or ‘instructive’, it’s really not allowed to be ‘entertaining’ or ‘engrossing’ or ‘delightful’, is it? I mean, we have laws for that, right?
I think most of us that write or most of us that truly enjoy reading would find objection to that notion. The simple fact of the matter is that most any piece that is written from the author’s heart bears an imprint of some kind of deeper meaning. Sure, it may not be the point of the piece and it may not even be intended, but that meaning is still there.
Sure, that meaning isn’t always the most though-provoking and it may not even be properly explored by the story, especially when such themes are unintentional. It still does not mean we cannot learn something from everything we read, even the really bad books. Even the process of writing a piece can be eye-opening to the author as they discover things about themselves they never knew before.
The next time you pick up a favorite popcorn novel, stop to think about what other meanings are behind the entertainment. The next time you finish a short story or a chapter or a poem, contemplate what meaning you have left behind in it. You never know what you may find.
July 24, 2014
Another manuscript done, time to celebrate!
Actually ….
It’s time to edit. A lot.
I completed the rough manuscript of The Tale of the Tape yesterday. The finish of this novel has actually sparked some ideas for a few more blog posts which will come in the following days. Now, as I said, it’s time for the editing process to begin.
My estimated time frame to be ready for publishing is in August, so let’s cross our fingers. I also will be publishing the second editions of Indomitable and The Opening Bell alongside Indefatigable and The Tale of the Tape. Why second editions? Well, the fact of the matter is that I have an infinitely greater understanding of the publishing and editing process now, as well as some more dedicated editors. Between a file mix-up and the need for a closer eye than my own, a revised edition is really needed, or else the first books won’t match the polish of the sequels.
Wish me luck!
July 18, 2014
Goodreads and Ask an Author
If you have any question you ever wanted to ask me for whatever reason, swing on down to http://www.goodreads.com and look me up. I’m now participating in the Ask an Author program and you can drop me a question about anything. Preferably about my writing or my book series but who am I to judge? I’ll answer anything.
July 12, 2014
Sneak Peek: Table of Contents of Indefatigable
Having finished up the first draft of Indefatigable, the sequel to Indomitable, I figured one last sneak peek was in order. Without further ado, here is the full table of contents so you can puzzle over the chapter titles.
July 10, 2014
The 7 Reasonable Rules of Writing
I had not really thought about the writing world in terms like this, but this really rings true to me.
Originally posted on Christine Plouvier, Novelist:
We’ve recently celebrated the establishment of the United States of America, the haven of my immigrant ancestors (some of whom lived long enough for me to know them).
Many immigrants to the USA fled the “old country” in search of the opportunity for freedom of expression. Art is the self-actualized level of expression. As Artists, writers must stand up for what they believe, and not apologize for their preferences in mode of communication.
One testament to the true nature of Writing as an Art (not a Craft), is the existence within its ranks of a fifth column, called the avant-garde. This group advocates artistic Darwinism: whatever is newest is deemed to be the best, because it’s presumed to have been built upon the ruins of discarded forms and outmoded beliefs.
A work of Art, communicating about Craft
Such a disdain for tradition is not found among the producers…
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Why the posts have slowed (IT’S A GOOD REASON!)
Anyone who reads this blog and is a writer will immediately understand the validity of my infrequent updating in the past month, so without further ado: The Muse has struck and struck hard.
As we all know, even professional writing can come in fits and torrents. Sometimes, no matter what, the words just won’t arrange themselves on the page. Other times, the only limit to the speed of your writing are the frailties of the physical world. This past month has been the latter. I have engaged in a hermetic lifestyle where the only things I do outside of writing is basic world upkeep and some small time with my family each day. Everything else has been devoted to my craft.
What that ultimately means is that by week’s end, Indefatigable will be finished, at least in the first draft manuscript. The Tale of the Tape should be wrapped up next week or, at latest, the week after. Looking at my files, I only started serious work on these a month ago so, really, this leaves me a bit dizzy.
However, all this writing is worthless (outside of my own personal satisfaction) if I don’t maintain social media stuff like this blog. As I have said before, I grow more and more understanding of the need for professional promotional services.
I’m about to tuck into the next chapter on my plate. Wish me luck!
P.S. If anyone who reads this and has gone down this same indie author road has any insights on ways to manage self-promotion and advertising, I’d love to hear that insight.
June 24, 2014
Yowzers! Time flies fast.
Do you ever wake up in the morning and get to work with each day ending as if you’d forgotten something?
Welcome to me this past week plus!
I’ve honestly been so busy taking care of normal life, dealing out a chapter or two of my next two novels, and doing revisions, that I frankly have totally forgotten that simple ‘every day make a blog post’ promise I made myself. Bad me. Very bad me.
I am starting to grasp now the attraction of media sites who handle an author’s promotional needs. It’s so very easy to get it lost in the, well, writing!
