Post: 8
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
(currently unpublished)
Pages in Grumble: 149
Reviews of
Grumble: 1
Pages in Jumble: 110
If you look at the header of my blog posts, you will see only one thing has changed in the great intervening of months: I have added this post. No progress has been made on Grumble. Perhaps life has intruded. Perhaps weakens intervenes. Perhaps fear holds sway. While I feel the need to allow free thought to take flight, that same free thought is only free within the stark confines of my thoughts. The dreams soar while the dreamer weeps, unable to lift his mental thoughts enough to be able to rise physically beyond the minimum necessary to placate my overdeveloped sense of responsibility. I teach. I grade. I tutor. I change diapers. I wash dishes. And then I sit, starring at the mental picture of my dream. A dream that encompasses so much beyond my simple effort of authorship: The opportunity to witness the coming rebirth of the Republican party. The opportunity to witness the continuing chaning attitudes of America. The opportunity to ponder what all of these changes mean for arrival of all arrivals that I expect to witness in these next few years. And each idea that gives flight sees so many images that I spend time trapped with the inability to reconcile my overdeveloped sense of responsibility with dreamer's dream in flight as I did just a few short months ago.
So I sit in my plastic webbed, aluminum tubed folding chair on the wharf of dreams where the Authorship is docked. There is a chop in the waves that has her tugging insistently at the rope, beakoning to let her loose. She has felt my dreams fill her holds and knows those same dreams will fill her sails once I am aboard.
And with a sigh the comes from my toes, I stand, I fold the chair, I sit at the table of reality, pull out some delayed grading, click my red pen, brush an imagined tear from my eye, and let loose the torrent of effort for completing the task at hand.
But she knows I am there. I can hear the waves slap her hull. I can hear the susurration of rigging against rigging as a gentle undertone. I can hear the creak of the fine-honed wood offering counterpoints to the hull slaps. A symphony of beakoning.
And still I sit.
I pray the Master of Tempest and Sea will unleash her, for I have bound her and find myself without strength to undo even one knot.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Review, Revoke, Rework, Same Dream
Post: 7
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1 (currently unpublished)
Pages in Grumble: 149
Reviews of Grumble: 1
Pages in Jumble: 110
Grumble has been reviewed. It's electronic availability has been revoked. And the reworking has begun.
It's been exactly one month since I last posted. I figured I must post today to keep things rolling. Plus, I have received my first review. JG just finished talking with me for nearly three hours. His background was definitely something to be called upon. While I write at a high school level, he writes at a Masters level. While I invoke the words of the authors, he knows the authors as his friends. But we have chosen different orders to our attempts at authoring. I seek to be published, and then refine my skills. He seeks to refine his skills, and then be published. His is definitely the smarter way to go. And I think I am going to have learn as much as he is willing to pass along so I can revert to this same path as best I can. And his review shows how much I still have to do. Because of that, Grumble was removed from access. And he is the rare exception to the aforementioned advice of picking a reviewer from friends and family. I learned quite a bit about writing from him. I hope I can remember it all. He assures me that he can write down all of his advice. I'm still wishing that I had taped the information.
We discussed plots, empathy, unwritten contract, tension, resolution, conflict, character development, authenticity, and so much more that Grumble is going back to draft status. We discussed how the writing starts out with "throat clearing". Once passed that, the writing picks up. He even pointed out a few scenes that worked very well and to pattern rewrites after those. And he mentioned problems that I was resolving in Jumble. This means I have much more to bring forward to be able to make Grumble work. There are so many ideas that are running around in my head, I'm not sure where to start recording them to make sure I have them available.
Under Authenticity, I need to write more of Stanley's awareness of his architectural surroundings.
Under Character Development, need to develop scenes with Stanley and his wife. Need to resolve inconsistencies like Stern asking about shoes and then later being able to narrate the battle. Need to much better explain the use of the word grumble.
Under Rules of the Realm (my term, not his), I need to create more detailed understanding of the rules of magic in this realm, his specific concern was the introduction of magical talismans near the end of the book. The role of that specific talisman is okay. The information surrounding talismans needs to appear earlier.
There are several misunderstandings that need to be resolved, such as the role of Pilgrin.
He had mechanical advice. Look to remove as many adverbs as possible. Look for phrases that start with "that" and challenge their existence. There is usually a better way to write it. For example, instead of "He ran quickly up the street," say, "He bolted up the street." I thought I had been doing that in my own analysis, but I need to analyze much more.
I wish with great fervency that I had written down or audio recorded this information. There is so much more we discussed. I pray with great energy of the soul that he will be able to remember all of the information. He was an exceptional source of information.
He said there are ideas that are definitely sell-able. And that there is a high level of writing.
And while he disagrees with the term, I feel well and truly mentored. I wish him well in his own authoring endeavors.
It is time to turn the Author-Ship around and head back to port. She will ever be at the ready. I am in need of going ashore and rolling up the mental sleeves, applying the intellectual elbow grease, and doing the work at hand of taking the low level work I currently have and elevating it into a better piece of work.
I will be sure to keep people apprised, especially as the reviews go forward and the revision ensue.
Dreams of the Open Ocean Fill the Sails of Possibility Still.
Dreams! Ahoy!
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1 (currently unpublished)
Pages in Grumble: 149
Reviews of Grumble: 1
Pages in Jumble: 110
Grumble has been reviewed. It's electronic availability has been revoked. And the reworking has begun.
It's been exactly one month since I last posted. I figured I must post today to keep things rolling. Plus, I have received my first review. JG just finished talking with me for nearly three hours. His background was definitely something to be called upon. While I write at a high school level, he writes at a Masters level. While I invoke the words of the authors, he knows the authors as his friends. But we have chosen different orders to our attempts at authoring. I seek to be published, and then refine my skills. He seeks to refine his skills, and then be published. His is definitely the smarter way to go. And I think I am going to have learn as much as he is willing to pass along so I can revert to this same path as best I can. And his review shows how much I still have to do. Because of that, Grumble was removed from access. And he is the rare exception to the aforementioned advice of picking a reviewer from friends and family. I learned quite a bit about writing from him. I hope I can remember it all. He assures me that he can write down all of his advice. I'm still wishing that I had taped the information.
We discussed plots, empathy, unwritten contract, tension, resolution, conflict, character development, authenticity, and so much more that Grumble is going back to draft status. We discussed how the writing starts out with "throat clearing". Once passed that, the writing picks up. He even pointed out a few scenes that worked very well and to pattern rewrites after those. And he mentioned problems that I was resolving in Jumble. This means I have much more to bring forward to be able to make Grumble work. There are so many ideas that are running around in my head, I'm not sure where to start recording them to make sure I have them available.
Under Authenticity, I need to write more of Stanley's awareness of his architectural surroundings.
Under Character Development, need to develop scenes with Stanley and his wife. Need to resolve inconsistencies like Stern asking about shoes and then later being able to narrate the battle. Need to much better explain the use of the word grumble.
Under Rules of the Realm (my term, not his), I need to create more detailed understanding of the rules of magic in this realm, his specific concern was the introduction of magical talismans near the end of the book. The role of that specific talisman is okay. The information surrounding talismans needs to appear earlier.
There are several misunderstandings that need to be resolved, such as the role of Pilgrin.
He had mechanical advice. Look to remove as many adverbs as possible. Look for phrases that start with "that" and challenge their existence. There is usually a better way to write it. For example, instead of "He ran quickly up the street," say, "He bolted up the street." I thought I had been doing that in my own analysis, but I need to analyze much more.
I wish with great fervency that I had written down or audio recorded this information. There is so much more we discussed. I pray with great energy of the soul that he will be able to remember all of the information. He was an exceptional source of information.
He said there are ideas that are definitely sell-able. And that there is a high level of writing.
And while he disagrees with the term, I feel well and truly mentored. I wish him well in his own authoring endeavors.
It is time to turn the Author-Ship around and head back to port. She will ever be at the ready. I am in need of going ashore and rolling up the mental sleeves, applying the intellectual elbow grease, and doing the work at hand of taking the low level work I currently have and elevating it into a better piece of work.
I will be sure to keep people apprised, especially as the reviews go forward and the revision ensue.
Dreams of the Open Ocean Fill the Sails of Possibility Still.
Dreams! Ahoy!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Navigating the Navigation Charts
Post: 6
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 110
So while tied to the shore, but unwilling to leave the Captain's Cabin, I pour through information while attempting to chart the course. In this case, it means I've started the Kindle eBook Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author by Zoe Winters. I would like to thank her for her book. She is a practiced author and it shows in her work. It means that I not only have high hopes for the information itself but also high hopes to be entertained and instructed in the art of authorship. Here is a break down of what I have learned about me and my efforts so far:
And as another part of the organization, I have taken the time to create a review version PDF. The idea is that I can quickly get this into hands and hearts of willing reviewers by electronic means. I am hoping to be able to afford to print it as well so that people can make notes directly on the manuscript. We shall see.
The stiff breeze of optimism still pushes against the bare masts, begging for the sails to be unfurled. I am eager to proceed, but there is more to glean. Plus, the Captain's Wife has asked for the playroom and parlor to be rearranged. Can't do that while I'm at sea, now can I?
Armoire Ahead! Steer to port! Avast! We are caught in the Straights of Loose Toys, whose current carries us between the island of Tonka dump trucks and the atoll of Legos. All Hands On Deck! Prepare for Action!
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 110
So while tied to the shore, but unwilling to leave the Captain's Cabin, I pour through information while attempting to chart the course. In this case, it means I've started the Kindle eBook Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author by Zoe Winters. I would like to thank her for her book. She is a practiced author and it shows in her work. It means that I not only have high hopes for the information itself but also high hopes to be entertained and instructed in the art of authorship. Here is a break down of what I have learned about me and my efforts so far:
- Chapter One: Starting With the Right Attitude
- The New Viability of Self-Publishing
- The author has quite a way with words and is a delight to read. But I haven't really learned anything here that I didn't already know from my IT experience. The following items are things I was reminded of.
- The instant access the Internet provides has long changed so many aspects of our life that it's difficult to remember how it was "back in the day". Self-publishing is no exception.
- Whether it's the description in The Secret or any of a variety of books on business management or being an entrepreneur, you must have a vision of what it is you want to accomplish. I have this vision and have even created a picture of it. I have shared the vision and picture with my family. Authorship is only one important part of it.
- Failure is Part of the Process
- My wife, at the end of my last stint of unemployment, informed me that in our nearly 14 years of marriage, we had been unemployed for a total of 44 months. I didn't view that as a failure, but instead as a trial. There were things I needed to learn and I hope that I have learned them.
- At this stage, I am not worried about rejection. I have been rejected by potential employers (AKA: Not hired), current employers (AKA: Fired), students (in student surveys), and numerous other situations. Rejection and failure are stepping stones. The thing that tends to make them scary is that those stepping stones are frequently suspended in midair above a gaping maw of a chasm. Having been bounced around, I know I can survive the crossing, one way or the other.
- As much as the author successfully espouses the virtues of being an independent publisher, an "Indie", I would still rather make it in the traditional route so I can have the background support of a team than trying to assemble a team myself. If it were an analytical chemistry lab that needed a team and I was to assemble it, that would be different. That team I'd like to put together and be responsible for. But an editor, a cover artist, graphics designer, etc. That team would need to know more than I do and I don't know how to determine that they know enough to trust their decisions. Does that make sense? Here is the author's viewpoint:
By this point, I have a complete cognitive disconnect when it comes to the idea that an outside corporation should determine which creative endeavors should or shouldn’t reach the general marketplace. The concept doesn’t even make sense.
Winters, Zoe (2010-11-05). Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author (Kindle Locations 118-119). IncuBooks. Kindle Edition. - Fortunately for me, and this was another important reminder, I am secure in myself and what I am doing that I know that failures are a part of getting through life.
- The 150 Copies Boogeyman
- This was a completely new concept to me. And if I had skipped this section, I would have been the better for it. I had no idea that there is a living rumor that 150 copies sold marks some measure of success.
- Being a numbers guy, I have no intention of using some magical moment in the number of books sold to say that book is a success. Authorship is an ongoing process. I'll measure success by things like being able to focus full time on authoring. For a given book, I will consider receiving ten times as many good reviews as bad reviews as an outstanding success. Three or four times as many good reviews as bad reviews as a success. I enjoy the writing. I look forward to the challenge of going from completely unknown to slightly less unknown. I want to be able to have a steady flow of publishing and purchases. 150? Really?
- Developing Realistic Expectations
- In this section, I developed the suspicion that I have been working backwards. I worked to develop as many quality chapters as possible and then ran out of time for my own personal deadline. I had decided that I needed the book published (if not thoroughly finished) prior to marketing it. This is not the point of this section of the first chapter, but that is what it hinted at.
- Other than that, my expectation is that publishing would require a great deal of effort.
- The main thing I learned from the intent of the author is that there are ways to publish your book and you cannot expect great success quickly. There are many steps involved in publishing that include involving others around you. The number of books sold is not a good measure of success. The input of others is also not a good measure of success. More to follow.
- Chapter Two: Success Predictors in Indie Authors (As far as I've read so far)
- Being an author is being the head of your own business. I like this idea very much. I want to be my own boss. And there is no mystical, magical way to accomplish this.
- You need to be a good writer
- Because good is subjective, the author needs to develop proficiency. While I believe I have achieved some level of proficiency, I am still waiting for feedback to that effect. And towards that end, I have created a review version PDF to be able to provide to people. More to follow.
- Zoe Winters brings up non-fiction at this point which served as a reminder that I should probably get working on non-fiction book ideas as well from H.P.'s suggestions.
- At this point, she makes some interesting points about reviewers. I will discuss this more when I discuss the review version PDF.
- The author recommends finding reviewers:
- Authors at least one step above you in writing proficiency. This will wait for now.
- Members of the target audience. This will be easier since I can provide my oldest kids with copies to share with their friends.
- Agents and editors in the hopes they provide a personalized rejection letter so that you can grow from the experience instead of a rejection form letter. This, too, will wait for the time being.
- You need to have the ability to separate yourself from your work
- Need to locate the right gate keepers to be able to determine when the book is ready to be released. Not sure who that will be for me at this stage.
- I know I am not the best person to be proofing my work. While I do employ the draw manuscript technique, I can miss many of my own mistakes. After all, I made them in the first place, there's no reason why I can't make it again, this time while proofing.
- I like her idea to assume that there are problems with your work and find someone that can bring light to those problems.
- You have to be a self-starter
- I have to work aboard the Author-Ship every day. At the very least, there is writing and editing to be done.
- I like this one because I like making plans and lists and I know how to keep to them.
- You have to be organized
- Track responsibilities. I'm big on personal journals or Outlook tasks. I've made my own personal journals in Excel to help me track steps and the like. You should see the one for job searching with it's multiple tabs for tracking people, positions, resume templates, deadlines, and more. I'm thinking of switching to Project to better track steps towards goals. Now, if I could just locate my installation disk for it.
- I like the reminder that disorganization could lead to lost opportunities. That means being thoroughly and thoughtfully organized has even more power in my life. Just ignore the piles of papers on either side of the computer. That's not disorganization, that is a personalized form of organization.
- You have to be in it for the long haul
- This is very good advice. There is no quick riches.
- Keep working. Get involved in the Indie community.
- You need the ability to blaze your own trail and forget the naysayers
- Blazing a trail, been there, done that. Most of my failures here came from not mapping out the pathway very well. Uncertain terrain and unexpected changes led to early defeats that wasted too much time and too many resources. Knowing this, I am eager to learn while pushing forward at the same time.
- And I'm not worried about any of the naysayers except the one in the back of my mind. Sometimes, the external naysayers give me the strength to overcome the internal naysayer.
- You need to be a good money manager
- This one is one with mixed success. I've been having trouble making ends meet, but doing okay. Then our fridge died. So I borrowed some money from my mom, added in my own money so I could buy a display model fridge. Only when it was all said and done, I'd spent too much. Turns out that the majority of the bills in any given month are due between the prior paycheck and the next paycheck. Bad planning. This advice is going to be important, especially since the time behind the authoring is a valuable investment. I'll need to protect myself and my family.
- I learned that there is an expectation of needing to spend money to become published. This is interesting.
- I like the advice that when there is money to spend, spend according to realistic expectation.
- You need the ability to determine the difference between quality and crap
- This was very important because it referred to not only the author-ship, but also the reviews. As the author puts it:
And while you have to be able to take criticism and advice, you also need to know when someone is trying to rewrite your book as they would have written it, ignoring your voice and style in favor of their own.
Winters, Zoe (2010-11-05). Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author (Kindle Locations 332-334). IncuBooks. Kindle Edition. - What has me worried on this is not whether I can see quality, but the level of quality I will have access to me, from me and from those assisting me directly (like my cover artist) or indirectly (like CreateSpace).
- You need to have passion (I haven't finished reading this section yet)
- Before I read this, I didn't think that the process of becoming a published author as a combination of creative ability and business acumen.
- I like the idea of being involved in all of the details of the business and the authoring. I am very much looking forward to this process.
And as another part of the organization, I have taken the time to create a review version PDF. The idea is that I can quickly get this into hands and hearts of willing reviewers by electronic means. I am hoping to be able to afford to print it as well so that people can make notes directly on the manuscript. We shall see.
The stiff breeze of optimism still pushes against the bare masts, begging for the sails to be unfurled. I am eager to proceed, but there is more to glean. Plus, the Captain's Wife has asked for the playroom and parlor to be rearranged. Can't do that while I'm at sea, now can I?
Armoire Ahead! Steer to port! Avast! We are caught in the Straights of Loose Toys, whose current carries us between the island of Tonka dump trucks and the atoll of Legos. All Hands On Deck! Prepare for Action!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Fresh Wind in the New Sails
Post: 5
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 107
I have spent time learning to find the chart to direct my passage into the new realm with the sleek Author-Ship beneath my feet and the steady wind of optimism at my back. And, alas, there are two early lessons from the experience. One, Jumble makes no progress in a week when time is spent muddling around with the locating of navigation charts. And two, while imaginary visions of coursing out into the open sea fill my head, I turn and look, and the shore is a stone's throw away.
But it doesn't matter, the time can grow long or short. We'll reach our destination. And there is fresh wind in the my sails to churn a fresh wake. So I hug the coast for awhile, researching my role, developing my authoring skills in the less-choppy water near shore, I'll be the better for it.
And I am already the better for it because of the influence from a nearby source. A gracious book reviewer, church leader to a daughter, and friend of the family, H.P., was kind enough to share in her experience in the publishing business to teach me. Please read her blog, Bookscoops. Her key advice:
I have included this advice because typing it up reinforces the information. And a second benefit is that this blog provides a repository so I'll be able to access this information anywhere at any time.
Though my sails be trim, full of fresh wind, let 'em slack and coast to shore. The time will be well spent. One of them that I will be spending time on is Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author. I'll be sure to tell you about it once I've read it. I can tell you now, the butler didna do it. But the coxswain is missing and the paymaster's body is in the dodger. Oh, wait! The fantasy is in the book, not the blog. Only the sailing metaphors are in play here. The bilge needs emptied and the captain's head needs filled.
Rest, for tomorrow: AHEAD!
Shore! Ahoy!
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 107
I have spent time learning to find the chart to direct my passage into the new realm with the sleek Author-Ship beneath my feet and the steady wind of optimism at my back. And, alas, there are two early lessons from the experience. One, Jumble makes no progress in a week when time is spent muddling around with the locating of navigation charts. And two, while imaginary visions of coursing out into the open sea fill my head, I turn and look, and the shore is a stone's throw away.
But it doesn't matter, the time can grow long or short. We'll reach our destination. And there is fresh wind in the my sails to churn a fresh wake. So I hug the coast for awhile, researching my role, developing my authoring skills in the less-choppy water near shore, I'll be the better for it.
And I am already the better for it because of the influence from a nearby source. A gracious book reviewer, church leader to a daughter, and friend of the family, H.P., was kind enough to share in her experience in the publishing business to teach me. Please read her blog, Bookscoops. Her key advice:
- Read, read, read
- Sign up for writer's conferences
- Already missed the one in April at Boise State
- Great one coming up is the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers, June 18-22, 2012 in Sandy, Utah.
- Use the writer's conferences
- For networking opportunities with editors and agents
- To learn about the market
- Everyone says the market is changing
- But no one is sure where it is heading
- Getting published these days has a lot to do with networking. Use conferences for networking possibilities
- Some people are trying to self-publish (like me and Kindle Direct Publishing)
- Learn to use a drawer manuscript. (I have been, and didn't even know I had been or what it was called)
- Get your book out there:
- Ask friends and neighbors to read and provide feedback
- Decide what is worth keeping and changing by listening
- Publishing Houses no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts. Need to have an agent. The Internet has made the dream of being an author explode. (I mentioned the documentary that I believe is called Cut, Copy, Paste which discusses the "democratization" of design in Graphic Arts)
- Editors are looking for authors that already have a Blog and already have a market (I have the blog, but not the market, but you, dear reader, about to change that for me. Thank You!)
- Publishers / Agents want plans for how your book fits into the market, especially in a query letter
- A good resource for this is the 2012 Writer's Market
- Look into:
- Society for Children's Bookwriters
- kidlit (Blog on advice on how to YA books)
- recommends books as well
- her information is invaluable
- amazing information on her blog to be able to see things differently to improve writing
- Word count is important for economic reasons. Need to keep the book to whatever the word count is that is about 200 pages
- Then there was this great advice from H.P.:
- since I have a background in chemistry, develop online tutorials for didactic books
- publish non-fiction first, publish fiction later, others have followed this route
- get a name and demand out first in their specialty
- work books and things like that
- then publish fiction
- Example of someone that started with didactic, then moved to YA, The Black Death by Diane Zahler
- Must be willing to accept feedback and make changes, especially from experts
I have included this advice because typing it up reinforces the information. And a second benefit is that this blog provides a repository so I'll be able to access this information anywhere at any time.
Though my sails be trim, full of fresh wind, let 'em slack and coast to shore. The time will be well spent. One of them that I will be spending time on is Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author. I'll be sure to tell you about it once I've read it. I can tell you now, the butler didna do it. But the coxswain is missing and the paymaster's body is in the dodger. Oh, wait! The fantasy is in the book, not the blog. Only the sailing metaphors are in play here. The bilge needs emptied and the captain's head needs filled.
Rest, for tomorrow: AHEAD!
Shore! Ahoy!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Among the Doldrums
Post: 4
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 107
Even before the bowline is set adrift to release the ship, the captain has long since charted his course. So maybe the nautical metaphor is not the best choice. But I have chosen to take the Author-Ship to sea and find my course on the way. Foolhardy, m'lads? To be sure. But the adventure is there. I seek opportunity before skill with the hope that both will arrive.
I have learned on this adventure so far that it is actually possible to be close to shore, still seeking the tools to chart a course, and enter into the dreaded doldrums. Time to break out the boats and row the Author-Ship onward with raw motivation and strenuous pulls at the oars. But this is not a time to be called floundering; it is a time to rejoice for the strength and desire to put the oar to water for one more pull. The Author-Ship may not have a wake, nor even the long boat a wake, but the oars do, so pull we must.
The doldrums are that I have yet to determine the logs to read, the work of the day calls too much of my attention. Pull! But the oar's wake has produced the fact that I have progressed to within one step of getting something self-published. Pull! And another oar's wake has opened the lines of communication with potential publishers. Pull! And another oar's wake has brought me into a networking contact to a local insider in the publishing business. Pull! The official copyright has been delivered.
Do my eyes deceive me, or has the uncharted course brought us a little farther from shore?
Pull!
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 107
Even before the bowline is set adrift to release the ship, the captain has long since charted his course. So maybe the nautical metaphor is not the best choice. But I have chosen to take the Author-Ship to sea and find my course on the way. Foolhardy, m'lads? To be sure. But the adventure is there. I seek opportunity before skill with the hope that both will arrive.
I have learned on this adventure so far that it is actually possible to be close to shore, still seeking the tools to chart a course, and enter into the dreaded doldrums. Time to break out the boats and row the Author-Ship onward with raw motivation and strenuous pulls at the oars. But this is not a time to be called floundering; it is a time to rejoice for the strength and desire to put the oar to water for one more pull. The Author-Ship may not have a wake, nor even the long boat a wake, but the oars do, so pull we must.
The doldrums are that I have yet to determine the logs to read, the work of the day calls too much of my attention. Pull! But the oar's wake has produced the fact that I have progressed to within one step of getting something self-published. Pull! And another oar's wake has opened the lines of communication with potential publishers. Pull! And another oar's wake has brought me into a networking contact to a local insider in the publishing business. Pull! The official copyright has been delivered.
Do my eyes deceive me, or has the uncharted course brought us a little farther from shore?
Pull!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Expanding Horizons
Post: 3
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 105
So the author-ship continues to make forward progress; there's a steady wind pushing forward, leaving a steady wake behind. The course still remains uncharted, but I have started seeking out the advice of others that have charted similar courses. I am looking to purchase navigation logs like 2012 Writer's Market and other eBooks on Kindle that have advice for e-publishing. So far, I haven't purchased them, so I haven't read them. There will be time to read and research the specifics of charting the author-ship's course soon enough. At this stage, I'm just research the references resources with the 2012 Writer's Market coming up the leader so far. While the stages of the journey still stretch out unknown before me, I have not only located, but also painted my North Star. Any goal, every dream, needs an image to adapt your life to your dream. With my Polaris at the ready, I can complete the look of how I am gong to Dream and Dream Big.
And when that dream comes true, I will post the picture created in the joyous frenzy of possibility.
There's a red sky this night as the author-ship seeks the navigation charts that will lead to a successful journey. The port of success awaits the arrival of the author-ship. All hands on deck to set the sails and keep our wake full and fresh.
Ahead!
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 105
So the author-ship continues to make forward progress; there's a steady wind pushing forward, leaving a steady wake behind. The course still remains uncharted, but I have started seeking out the advice of others that have charted similar courses. I am looking to purchase navigation logs like 2012 Writer's Market and other eBooks on Kindle that have advice for e-publishing. So far, I haven't purchased them, so I haven't read them. There will be time to read and research the specifics of charting the author-ship's course soon enough. At this stage, I'm just research the references resources with the 2012 Writer's Market coming up the leader so far. While the stages of the journey still stretch out unknown before me, I have not only located, but also painted my North Star. Any goal, every dream, needs an image to adapt your life to your dream. With my Polaris at the ready, I can complete the look of how I am gong to Dream and Dream Big.
And when that dream comes true, I will post the picture created in the joyous frenzy of possibility.
There's a red sky this night as the author-ship seeks the navigation charts that will lead to a successful journey. The port of success awaits the arrival of the author-ship. All hands on deck to set the sails and keep our wake full and fresh.
Ahead!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Voyage Continues
Post: 2
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 47
The dream continues to grow as the length of Jumble increases. The seas are still choppy as the crew strains to bring the treasure in the hold to the unread masses.
Ahead!
eBooks Sold: 1
Pages in Jumble: 47
The dream continues to grow as the length of Jumble increases. The seas are still choppy as the crew strains to bring the treasure in the hold to the unread masses.
Ahead!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
First Post to Grumble
So here I am, charting the unsettled waters of authorship. I have gone through the time and expense of copyrighting my work. I have posted it to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). I've created an author page. And now I am working on getting it published into it's own ISBN stamped hard copy reality. And now I am dong the personal marketing known as a blog. All for a little recreational effort called, "Grumble."
For some of this information, you can find it here:
So while I am expanding beyond these initial forays into literary seamanship, I will be bringing you along for the journey. I hope to find myself in the simple success of having passed beyond this one post I am making now and the one sale I have made so far.
The beacon sea beckons! No place more abandoned than a widows walk to view the arrival of this captain!
P.S.: I tried to follow in Cap'n Ahab's footsteps but fate wouldn't let me.
For some of this information, you can find it here:
So while I am expanding beyond these initial forays into literary seamanship, I will be bringing you along for the journey. I hope to find myself in the simple success of having passed beyond this one post I am making now and the one sale I have made so far.
The beacon sea beckons! No place more abandoned than a widows walk to view the arrival of this captain!
P.S.: I tried to follow in Cap'n Ahab's footsteps but fate wouldn't let me.
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