Chat thread

[Ashe]

I wish I'd gotten to see the Manos showing. That would've been amazing.

[John]

+1 MST3K

[Ashe]

I'm makin burgers and we're watchin Hocus Pocus tonight. I need it.

[[deleted user]]

Sounds good!

Oh, on the topic of MST3K, anyone have any favorite episodes of the show? There were nine seasons, so you can name more than one. I highly recommend watching any of the several "Gamera" episodes, "Cave Dwellers" and "Werewolf".

[Ashe]

And then there's rifftrax.

[Justin]

What does MST3K stand for?

[Quentin]

Justin wrote: "What does MST3K stand for?"

Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was a comedy show where robots from the future basically made fun of bad movies.

[Ashe]

Go watch some episodes on Netflix!

[[deleted user]]

Yeah, Netflix has a decent selection of their 9 seasons worth of work, so you'll get to see the host line up changes over the years. But the movies are all bad, all worth being lampooned, and great fun.

[Ashe]

TO THE WIENIE MOBILE!

[[deleted user]]

"It is a whur-wolf!" "Wharwelf?" "Wherewulf?"
"Maybe this arrow is the source of her pain."
"Marmaduke! Don't use the double-overhand stitch! Bad dog!"
"Gamera is really neat! Gamera is made of meat! We believe in Gamera!"

I may have watched too much.

[Ashe]

The first one i remember ever seeing was one for a movie called "Puma Man."

[Justin]

Oh I've seen that show before. Just wasn't aware of the abbreviation.

[Ashe]

Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I have just felt like total shit this week. Weather changes wreck me. And I'm allergic to Oklahoma. I'll be happy to get out in December.

[Ashe]

Here is a thought I'm curious about it: Do authors need serious, "professional" looking photos for their bios? If so, why?

[Quentin]

Ashe wrote: "Here is a thought I'm curious about it: Do authors need serious, "professional" looking photos for their bios? If so, why?"

At this point I haven't even put an author photo on the two books I've released. I like the idea of a bit of mystery, at least for right now. As far as your question, I'm guessing you don't like the idea of the common headshots almost all authors seem to use. I would say use whatever pic you would like. If you want it to be a silly picture, candid picture, whatever, I say go for it. Just keep in mind an author photo could perhaps influence how people view the book. The generic headshot just gives readers a picture without leading to any type of judgement. If you have a picture of, say, you with a knife covered in blood, people will assume your book is gory. If it's you clowning, they may think it's funny. I know the idea is your book synopsis should decide all of that, but just keep in mind the old "picture says a thousand words" thing. Maybe I'm overthinking it, I dunno. I'm curious to hear what everybody else has to say?

[[deleted user]]

My "author photo" is the same one as my profile picture, as well as on my author FB page. Would I like of of those brooding black and white author photos someday? Yes, maybe, but from what I've seen they don't seem that necessary. A generic headshot done well with a decent camera should do, especially if you are on a budget.

[Ashe]

I don't hate the headshots, I'm just a very silly person and find it hard to look serious unless it's like in my current picture, where I was taking a picture of my glorious locks. My hair is fucking majestic, okay? I'm much more apt to make some stupid silly face because I can't take myself seriously in photos.

[John]

I started my career as a photojournalist, and still shoot on assignment, so I place a lot of importance on visuals--well-designed book covers, pleasing text formatting, professional author photo. Of course, it also helps to have a kick-ass story to tell. :)

I was hired last month by a publishing company to come in and shoot portraits of about a dozen of their authors, none of whom had photos any better than blurry snapshots that looked like they were taken by Aunt Mabel at a family picnic in the 1950s. One woman was so happy with her "pro" portrait that she broke down and cried. It wasn't that big a deal to shoot, just off-camera flash shot through a big diffuser, bounce fill, and a nice seamless. Simple. (I did it a little differently for the horror authors, with a harder edge and ramped-up drama.)

I have to say, though, that you certainly don't need to hire a pro to have an effective author photo. The avatar I'm using on social media nowadays was shot by my daughter while we were having a conversation in a local coffee house (where I wrote much of my last book). I thought it was pleasing, and it reminds me of that nice moment. Everyone is different. Pick a photo you like and roll with it. But for heaven's sake, take the camera away from Aunt Mabel.

[Ashe]

I'm not sure if my aunt even knows how to work a smartphone...so no worries there haha!

And I'm sure when the time comes, I'll go through the effort to have a "nice" photo done, even if I'm just sitting on the back porch and having my girlfriend use my camera. It's mostly just a topic I was wondering about. Part of me does wonder about just putting a silly face in there but I'll probably go for the whole quiet dignity. Even though my dignity is very quiet indeed.

[Quentin]

As long as you get the hair, Ashe, as long as you get the hair...

[Ashe]

Without my hair, I lose my power. Like a great, bit, goofy Samson.

[[deleted user]]

I have a question for everyone: what are your opinions on mentorship?

I'm discovering a lot of authors had someone who showed them the ropes, guided them through their earliest works, were both a friend as well as first and usually harshest critic. Maybe not everyone, but it seems like a lot of them.

As someone who has always had to work in a vacuum (I prefer the Hoover line, before you ask) I'm used to trying to accomplish my work alone with no support or really even understanding of what I'm trying to accomplish, and not getting feedback until my work is out there in public being graded solely on the "I liked it/you suck and should quit now" scale of criticism. I've begun to wonder if I've either missed out not having a mentor or if its not necessary.

Any thoughts on the subject, anyone?

[John]

Mentors are a big plus if you're lucky enough to find one. Or even a colleague who's secure enough to give you honest feedback. Not always easy to find. I'm a big fan of writers groups. You often have to take their advice with a grain of salt, but getting actual opinions before you publish is invaluable.

[Ashe]

I am flying blind and trying to learn this as i go along. The GOOD news is that i've gained friends who've helped some and made a nice little peer group. The bad news is I'm still not a good businessman and still a bit rash at times.

[Quentin]

I don't know about a mentor as such, but it's probably a good idea to find someone to look your work over before its published. I recently had a guy really give me some tough criticism on my book, and while I didn't agree with everything, he raised some very valid points that lead me to do a revision. It was stuff that you look at and go "oh man, how did that get past me!" I am terrible at editing my own work, I always read it the way I wrote it in my mind, regardless of errors. So yes, I would say to have some people look it over before publishing, even if it's just friends of yours and not authors.

One thing to look out for though is "writing style." If you get an author to review your book, sometimes they want it to sound as if they had written it, rather than you, and maybe what you're going for isn't what they would go for, so you kinda have to debate writing style vs. writing wrong, so to speak.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately I think a peer group is currently beyond my reach but perhaps someday; as far as writer's groups I'm not sure where I belong myself to decide what type what might be best for me. My editor has been my safety catch for my work so far (and thankfully she really believes in my work!) but I agree that having a colleague of some sort to give things a once over would be a great help.

[Ashe]

Group's gettin quiet again and I'm low on energy and ideas to keep things lively. What if we did a group read? Maybe keep it to short stories?

[Justin]

I usually don't take part in group reads but I'd definitely make an exception and consider one for this group.

If we could all vote or agree on a particular book then I'd be all for it.

[Ashe]

I was just thinkin shorts because that's usually 50 pages at most and a lot of shorts are pretty easy to get. Especially older ones. Like if we did Robert E. Howard's "The Horror From The Mound." Project Gutenberg ahoy.

[Justin]

A short story would definitely work. I tend to have a short attention span when it comes to reading sometimes so short and sweet works for me.

[Gwyn]

I'd be down with a group read :-) I'm not to opposed to the group not going at 100 miles an hour though. I had to turn off Goodreads notifications since y'all were blowing up my phone. ;)

[Ashe]

Well, clearly, Liz, that means you need to be around more. :P

I guess we should pester SA about this too.

[Quentin]

I would probably participate too if it's a short story and we have some time to read it.

[Ashe]

I sent our illustrious mod a nudge about it.

[Justin]

You know, ever since this group has gotten more lively I haven't seen the mod around lol.

[Quentin]

I noticed that too Justin, about the time I got here he left. Hmm..that seems to be a pattern lol

[Justin]

Quentin, we may have to start calling you Mod killer if you have a bad rep lol.

[Ashe]

He actually made a comment to me about that on reddit one night. Dude's pretty busy with his writing. He's still active around here too.

[Ashe]

Also, for the record, I won't be getting anyone's books til after xmas probably. Out of state moves are fun.

[Quentin]

Justin wrote: "Quentin, we may have to start calling you Mod killer if you have a bad rep lol."

That's actually a pretty cool nickname LOL but I don't think I'm at that level...yet.

[Justin]

Ashe- Good to know he hasn't fizzled away like some mod's I've seen. You know the American Western's group? That mod hasn't been in that group since 08!

Quentin- Now you got something to try and live up to if you want lol. Odd goal but ehh I've seen stranger things on here.

[Ashe]

Man, if he wants, I'll take some mod duties. Lord knows I'd get to do more than on deviantart. I started the only goddamn weird west group and no one wants to discuss anything, get promoed, and I'm constantly having to delete art that's not weird cause most of the artists seem to think all the western groups are exactly the same.

[Gwyn]

Ashe wrote: "Man, if he wants, I'll take some mod duties. Lord knows I'd get to do more than on deviantart. I started the only goddamn weird west group and no one wants to discuss anything, get promoed, and I..."

DA is a tricky group though. There are SO many kids, not a very big percentage of serious artists etc. I had an account for a long time (well, still do, I just very rarely log on) and finally abandoned it since it wasn't doing me any good to promote my photography there. I also posted a lot of rodeo photography there and got sick of arguing with 10 year olds in Poland how evil it is. Um, K, when you've been within a thousand miles of a rodeo let's have this convo again alright? ;-P

[Ashe]

The biggest problem, and I'm gonna sound like a judgmental asshole a bit, is that most of the submissions over the past four years have been furry related. Entire swaths of art where the only aspect of "weird" is that the characters are anthropomorphic animals. Which isn't very weird.

And then there was the guy submitting shitty CGI art of naked tribal women. Super gross.

I may just pick the person who has submitted the most works and turn it over to them. I have tried so hard to make the group good and showcase the best of Weird Western art but pffft. Nope.

[John]

Liz, do you have a website where we can see your rodeo photography?

[[deleted user]]

Liz wrote: "Ashe wrote: "Man, if he wants, I'll take some mod duties. Lord knows I'd get to do more than on deviantart. I started the only goddamn weird west group and no one wants to discuss anything, get p..."

Yeah, that's a lot of the reason I got rid of my DA account a long time ago, when I was an illustrator. I did some weird western stuff then as well as other bits, but I didn't feel it was worth keeping the account with the slush of junk.

[Ashe]

The irony now is the new update added the ability to see collections of people's favorites with similar art, thus making the need for the group obsolete.

[[deleted user]]

Hey everyone, I'm hoping y'all came help point me in a good direction.

I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with ideas for cover designs, or of a way to explain the concept of weird western to possible cover designers. I have two short stories featuring a steam-driven vigilante robot wandering the desert, but I don't want to post them without covers. I am really stuck for concepts.

Does anyone know any sort of resource or art pieces of something similar I could look at to maybe generate some ideas? Maybe artists or designers you might recommend who understand the weird western theme? Any sort of help would be really appreciated.

[Ashe]

Check this thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Otherwise, try searching "steampunk robot" on dA. You're bound to find something.