C.B.’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2015)

C.B.’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

Jim wrote: "What we need, ya'll is a world-wide "union" of independent writer/publishers that establishes some standards and supports authors getting at least a good proofreading before they put their work out..."

If you try to stop the flow of crap, you will only drown it it.

What we can do though is make sure what we publish, and what our friends publish, is the absolute best it can be so that it can shine out as a golden nugget in the bubbling sea of crap. (What a lovely metaphor that was)

Raul, the image is quite nice if it fits the story. Not the most dynamic image, but if the story is about a girl at the museum it will work.

The typography however is dreadful. I am sorry, but there are no other words for it. It isn't centred, it isn't kerned, it isn't interesting. You must fix this.

Look at some books, and see how they do typography. See if you can emulate them. Do not use fonts that came with your computer, they are far too common and people have seen them all before and www.fontsquirrel.com is a good resource.

Good luck.

hilarious! I need to go look now

My Teacher Rants! :D

Dear Maker! Teachers, some of them are so great it is beyond compare. Others...

Story One: I had taken Calculus 12 and Math 12. The same teacher. He gave the same questions on tests. You couldn't use Calculus equations on Math tests, or Math equations on Calculus equations.

My brain refused to learn the harder version of doing problems. I did the most efficient way. I couldn't keep the ways to do things separate. I now use Mathculus.

Work counted for 50% of the grade on tests and homework. I always showed it all, but I don't think I ever got more than 10% - 15% of the work marks. Famously scored a 2% grade on the 'Super Easy Answers Don't Count Test!' Got all the stupid answers though for all the stupid tests and work though. He refused to change his marking methods. Barely passed both classes.

Story Two: 5th grade teacher was appalled by my penmanship. Said my writing looked like it was always written in crayon by a kindergarten student. She wrote that on my geography report, that I had spent hours on and had twelve pages more than the minimum allowed (minimum was 2) thanks to the complicated art diagrams, extra research, and photographs I actually took. Failed it.

Was so distraught that for every project, test, assignment, anything after that I spent hours and hours making sure my printing was as straight and legible as possible. No matter how hard I tried, she still said it was awful (although I know for a fact the very next Monday it was excellent). She still gave me horrible marks, and tried to hold me back. When my parents went to see the Principal he was astounded that she thought my printing was illegible. It was far easier to read than hers!

I still write with letters straighter than a military cemetery.

Story Three: My grade 7 teacher was the gym teacher for the school. He based all marks entirely on how good people were at gym. *Spoiler alert: I'm bad at gym. I tried, but... I wasn't a star. I got bad marks all year.

I even lost significant marks in Science class for not being 'into camping'.

He traded off other classes with other teachers, so classes I didn't have him I got all As. His classes, Cs. All the jocks got As in those classes and failed the others...


How do teachers like these keep their jobs?

I'm really impressed by two things in this topic

1. How many authors genuinely didn't want to be authors.
2. How many teachers appear to be, and pardon my French here, absolute Cunt Baskéts.

I think I might need to make a group to help spread the word of Elfrotica!

...

I should probably work on releasing the book first though, huh? :)

Dwayne wrote: "C.B. wrote: "He should have listened. Lots of words of wisdom there. "

I agree with you completely! :D

Michael wrote: "I would've stopped if it weren't for my tenth grade English teacher. If not for her support and encouragement, I'd be doing something else with my time right now. "

So it is her fault we are not enjoying The Fantastic Michael and His Amazing Tap-Dancing Wiener Dog Show right now?!

Okay everyone, get the pitchforks!

A.E. wrote: "And C.B., your story is great. And of course you can 'just start'. Good thing you broke up with him. ;-)"

My original intent was to show him that you 'could' just start something, by starting something myself. :)

I can tell myself that now as a rationalization, but no I really did it at that time for spite.

There is only so many days you can be told by someone that 'They are going to make a cake tomorrow' before you just get too hungry for cake and make one yourself! (Apparently it is about 6 months).

Owen wrote: "Is there GR groups dedicated to any authors? (I never thought to check.) Personally, I think I'd find it quite creepy if we had a group (as authors). I suppose if someone set up a group to discuss ..."

I am sure there is a Mr. King group that only talks about his breakfast cereal choices. However, a group about your books would be much less creepy!

Morris wrote: "Kay wrote, "If someone ever makes a fan-group for me I will go into anaphalactic shock."

Me too.

Morris"

Have you looked to make sure there isn't one?

G.G. wrote: "haha Well I'll certainly join your group if you make one. Even if I'd have to make time for ..."

Sweet! Two members confirmed! :D

Thank you Lori, I will do just that!

Very much appreciated.

Micah wrote: "The outline was at the chapter level and on the spreadsheet I estimated the word count by chapter."

I used my spreadsheet (Just the one but with many pages) to keep on track. I kept writing outlines for the story, and then ignoring them completely when better ideas happened. I am a plan by the seat of my pants kind of writer. The outlines were useful for foreshadowing and chapter name planning, so I did like that.

My spreadsheet was mostly for tracking. I had set rules that I really needed to follow, so I needed to be able to reference them otherwise I would forget or make up something new that didn't fit within the guidelines!

I know a spreadsheet for a different project would not be as complex.

I had tabs for
1. Characters, NPCs, Fairies, and Monsters with names
2. Character Equipment and Items (amazing how fast you change gear in video games)
3. Character Classes + Skills (There are set classes and I needed to know exactly what they could do in the rules)
4. World Locations
5. Items mentioned and what they do
6. Plot outline / word estimate (mostly ignored)
Then about 6 more as the books progressed, certain charts and the like that needed to be tracked.

I would have ripped out my hair without the spreadsheet and therefore immortalized them in the novels by making one of the C Type personalities use them to track book stats.

Side Note: Cashew Cake IS amazing.

G.G. wrote: "Shit, yes it would! lol (forgive my language, but I just typed what came out of my mouth reading that.) ;)"

I think I just cursed myself. This will happen to me now.


G.G. wrote: "That's what I had done with that group. I left it not too long ago because I realized I didn't participate anymore. (I joined way too many groups and barely have time to read all the messages before the day is over. Not good. :P ) "

That makes sense. You need more time in your day... to post on my GoodReads group! :D

Adam wrote: "Hello everyone.
My name is Adam James Glass. I'm a new author and have just self published a book on Amazon. I'm not totally sure what I'm doing as I just did it on a whim at the beginning of this ..."

You are great in my books Adam! Hello and welcome.
I'm adding you as a friend on GoodReads. We have overlapping Genres! :D

What I really want to see...

Elfbutt Cosplay.

Christina wrote: "I didn't get into writing to be famous. I got into it for the sweet, sweet money. "

I'm doing it for Fan Art personally.

G.G. wrote: "I second what Kay said. However, I've seen a few authors starting their own fan group. A great example of a group that does well. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

You will notice that although he used his name, it's more than just about him and his books. That's probably why it works. "

That is a very good looking group. An inspiration even! I will study that one I think and review it.


G.G. wrote: "Your third 'Did you' made me laugh. If someone could tell any author that their not hardcore enough into their own series, they'd need a pair of glasses or something. :P "

I could imagine that happening is all. 'We only accept members with usernames based from the book series.' - Uh G.G. Isn't a name in the books, get out of here you poser!

It would make a great story!

I was wondering if anyone here has a GoodReads group dedicated to their Novels or themselves as an author.

Did you set it up?
Did you find one and join up?
Did you find one and try to join but were rejected because they didn't think you were 'hardcore' enough into that series?

It seems like it would be a blast if you stumbled upon it and found fans dedicated enough to make the group. The ultimate in love!

I like the concept as it is a marvelous pre-made forum that doesn't need to be coded into a website. It just already is a thing that is out there on a great social networking site.

I don't know if making your own fan group really qualifies as it being a fan group though.

Thoughts?