The Miracle in July: I'm just getting started
Tomorrow will be the third week since I unleashed The Miracle in July into the wild, and the overwhelmingly positive response continues to thrill me. Tweets, emails and personal conversations with readers about my project have brought fantastic feedback about things to try in the future and what isn't working just yet. The "brutally honest, compelling" writing is a hit, the embedded media elements are dead-on, and my lofty, ambitious balls are basking in accolades. The launch of my storytelling project was good, really good, and I've only just begun.
There are also a lot of questions about what the hell it is. What IS The Miracle in July?
At the moment I'm calling it a semi-autobiographical venture in destiny manifestation. I hesitate to call it a fictionalized memoir because that phrase pricks the eyeballs of many in the publishing industry, and also because it's mostly true. I have many thoughts about a blanket refusal to accept all genre-bending works as equal and acceptable. I mean, if Publisher's Weekly is touting Jane Austin Monster Mashup novels (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters) then who the fuck dare tell me there is no such thing as a true life story set in the future? #seriously
The Miracle in July is my experiment in reverse-engineered publishing. The online publication is only the first step in seeing my story on the shelf at Powell's Books one day. I'm using blogging software to tell this story and as much online user-generated content and social media tools as possible. Not having to spend copious amounts of money on advertising or development is what makes publishing the story online first so attractive. Add to that the instant feedback from readers and the chance to build a frenzied fan club, and I've got myself a win-win situation.
I also found myself an Intern, one who really understands the vision of my ambitious project. @MeaganKate is gorgeous and sassy and super smart, and loves me and the story. She's also a really great writer. We've begin scheming, and this tweet pretty much sums up our plan. Meagan will be helping me get the word out about The Miracle in July. By this I mean she'll help me "pimp it real good" using both traditional and new media methods, and figure out new ways to share what I'm up to. I need readers to read it and authors who want to try my experiment in reverse-engineered publishing, too. We're also looking for a forward-thinking publisher who wants to help redefine how books are promoted and created. Meagan is damned qualified to do this and I'm lucky to have her.
If you'd like to help me get the word out, I invite you to go to The Miracle in July and click on the following image (they're at the bottom of eacg page and segment) and share or save it to your favorite bookmarking and social networks. There is also a hashtag to use on Twitter, if you want: #themiracle. For those of you who have done that for me already, I can't tell you how much it means to me. Wait! Yes I can! THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO ME! THANK YOU!
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The Miracle in July has a solid, juicy structure thanks to my wonderful plot editor @jcrotham, a guy I've known since we were kids. JC is overly educated in old dead guy literature and angsty screenplay writing exploring existentialism. He's been writing stories and agonizing over details and plot arcs for as long as I've known him. Perfect! He keeps me on track and my feathers smoothed. Let me tell you: that's not easy. This story is already kicking my ass, and with 30-40 more segments (and weeks) to go, really his job is to keep my ass looking good.
In addition to cranking out one new segment a week, on Monday mornings, I'll soon have a Members Section for tasty Easter egg linkies and other goodies, a social media press page for "copy this code" badges, blog widgets and links to published articles about The Miracle in July. And yes, soon you'll be able to pre-order the gorgeously designed eBook version of Act One. It'll be missing it's interactive media, of course, but the writing is designed to stand alone and you won't be too sad that it's not there. (My Wish to the Universe: hurry up and make an affordable eReader with clickable hyperlinks. There's a huge market for it!)
Want to know more about The Miracle in July? Contact me. Please. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading my life story and watching me follow my bliss.
Meow!
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