Status: On vacation till the end of the month due to a lot going on.
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: Nothing at the moment.
Listening to: "In Winter; Pain"--by Kittie
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 404.
STAR TREK-THE NEXT GENERATION: WAR DRUMS. Page 78.
TOPIC: YOU JUST GOTTA BE YOURSELF. NO ONE CAN BE THAT FOR YOU.
It's funny how some people react so negatively to an idea.
I thought it would be beneficial if I had posted my publishing ideas and plans on one of these writers' sites--which is dealing with the fallout from NCP, and all I got was from the majority: "If I had a publisher like that, I'd take my pocketbook and run."
Run to where--exactly? To someone else that doesn't appreciate you or your work? Someone whom doesn't pay you for what you're actually worth? Just where do you plan on taking your money to? Hmm?
Anyone want to answer me that one?
How about taking your works to a publisher that understands the writer? The art of a good book? What will connect the reader to such books in the first place? That will cause these newfound readers to come back wanting more--because they are of a different fare than those seen in commercial bookstores?
How about a publisher that treats their clients like assets instead of commercial liabilities?
Or publishers that treat their first-time clients like crap?
It makes me wonder just how different most publishers are from the ones that go out and deliberately try to schnooker their way onto an unsuspecting writer; steal away their rights (and their money)--and don't give nothing back?
Or the ones that give so little to that first-time author to start out with--but in turn, heavily FAVOR their top 1% with everything but the kitchen sink?
And I in turn get shot down because I want to be a different writer and future publisher?
It's not like the same model of writing success has been equally applied to each and every writer/author which has traveled down the pike in the last hundred years or so.
The same thing can be applied with a business model.
Outside of the basics, you could run it however you see fit. But from what I gathered, so many writers are still fixated on nothing but the money; acting like my stance is something of a pariah against whatever they've been taught to believe in.
Y'know?
Personally, I don't find anything wrong with what I want to do.
Being different, acting differently, is not a weakness or a business liability. But not many people see that as something they can live with.
Pretty much why so many McCain supporters and other GOP trolls are so terrified of Obama on Yahoo! Answers: They can't take the chance of everything that's worked for them (and not everyone else) going down the drain or stopping entirely--in order to favor the struggling American man, woman, or child.
Much like my openly transparent publishing ambitions. Y'know? I want to try something different that hasn't been tried before. Instead of focusing on pure profit, how about focusing on the writer and the book in question?
Oh, no!...we can't have that, now can we, people?
Nope.
Everything has to follow the same failed capitalistic model of greed, power, and most importantly...? MONEY.
Screw personal endeavors.
Screw personal ambitions.
Screw delivering a well-made product.
Screw even the guy who had made it or fashioned it with his own blood, sweat, and tears.
Just focus on the business side of the model and fuck everything else along the way!
And people keep wondering why nothing in made in America anymore?Because we've outsourced all our damned ambition, hard-work ethics, and DRIVE--to places like China and India for cheap-on-the-fly business ethics!
PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORKER. PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM!
And people think I'm nuts for wanting to do things differently?
Maybe it's because I'm tired of seeing things the way they are and want to affect a little change for the common good!
Has anyone figured that out yet? Do I need to keep spelling it out until it finally sinks into those thick heads of theirs?
I DON'T FUCKING CARE ABOUT THE MONEY!!! IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANY OF US ANY GOOD ONCE WE ARE DEAD!!!
HELL~O PEOPLE!
FOCUS!!!
If none of us can accomplish anything in our miserable begotten lives--what the fuck difference does it matter if we aren't able to get our hands on all that wealth, fame, and name-recognition in the first place?!?
What is so damned scary about doing things differently?
Did we all just fall off the highest branch of the tallest stupid tree in existance--and declare that ambition is no longer a necessity in our shortened lifespans?
But I look at the common writer and all I see is greed from those whom don't care about whether or not their books sell or not. For those few of us who are bucking the tend--I implore you to keep doing it.
Because one of these days, I'm going to come after you and sign your butts up.
***
I realize that having money is important, but what few writers (and some published authors) don't seem to realize is that if you don't have a good book (preferably one that connects to the reader), how is that "it's all about the money"-ideal going to help you when you can't even break even in book sales after you get published; because either your book--or book sales--sucked so bad from the start?
See, this is the dark reality the majority still doesn't want to face. They think if they can get TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED, everything will still be hunky-dorey F-I-N-E. (Or as my wife calls it: "Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.")
Wish that were true, peeps! But...reality can be such a bitch sometimes, y'know?
Granted, I probably won't make enough for a down payment on a beat-up looking Gremlin--but at least I didn't go the same route as the rest of us struggling eggheads; by dumping all my hopes and dreams on traditional publishing and stubbornly believing that is where the big bucks lie.
(Because I already went and did that. Nearly 10 years wasted trying to beat my head against that unmoveable brick wall. After which I said: "Enough of this shit. Let's try something else.")
So to those who want to continue to shoot me down on what I want to do?
AT LEAST I'M DOING SOMETHING THAT WON'T BE CONSIDERED A CONSTANT EXERCISE IN UTTER FUTILITY.
I'm getting something out of this. A real life-learning, life-changing, experience.
That is what I apply to my books. To all of my characters. To every world I have built in the last 20+ years.
And if society in general can't understand that? Well, then, that's their loss.
Not mine.
Sky
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
TUESDAY MORNING.
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; drinking chocolate milk.
Watching: STEAMBOY; CBS Morning News.
Listening to: "Go Zombie" by Zombie Girl
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE
It's been a few days since I've posted anything--with the second part of the interview later due today or tomorrow--so I thought I'd post something from my site called "Finding The Alternative To Successful Writing.* "
***
(*This isn't a conversion to my way of writing and publishing, this is simply my own views, my observations--as I don't know who you are, or what kind of books you like reading. But there are still some unnamed parties out there who feel that I'm trampling on their "Holy Grail" of writing and publishing by having posted this controversial blog entry. If you feel that you are one of these such persons, please disregard this blog in its entirety.)
Here we go!
We've all heard it many times throughout the years: "In order to become published, you have to follow everyone else who is published." Or: "You have to take classes, courses, and hinge on every word from those published before you in order to become published."
But why must we do this? Why must we follow a pre-set pattern to success? Why cannot we try other avenues and methods which aren't etched in stone--thus allowing us some much needed breathing space and flexibility?
Because for some people in this profession, trying anything else is considered unproductive and wrong. It doesn't give them their 15 minutes of fame and fan adoration which easily translates into mega bucks and a comfy retirement.
They don't think that doing things differently will get them to their respective goals any quicker.
So when someone like me comes around once in a blue moon, they get defensive, they get upset, irate, pissed off, whatever words you can think of.
Why does this happen?
Because I offer a different view to success in writing which doesn't involve carbon copy authors, cloned books, fake reviews, fake applause, fake fan clubs which turn out useless chatter about how great their books are, and how much gushing they do wishing they could be just like him or her. (Gag me with a spoon! Please!)
What I offer is some piece of advice and some hard-earned experience. This doesn't make me a genuis, or some god, but rather someone who knows his shit and knows what it takes to write a book.
And to top it off, it doesn't involve going to a writer's class, taking a course to cheat your way through to that coveted (possibly crappy) contract which most likely will end your writing career--because your book sales have basically turned to shit based on your publisher's personal opinion; leaving you in a noticeable rut and your chances of further publication down the drain faster than a hooker going to Sunday confessional!
Success as a writer is a lot like having a successful blog or a successful site:
You've got to know what you're writing and write it well!
If you can't do it, why bother trying to attract the masses if all your book is going to do is make one big giant (and awful-sounding) thud! at the bookstore in that 5-month window of opportunity? (Now two months unfortunately.)
All you're going to do is start beating yourself over the head as to why you didn't take the time to write the book better, and thus save yourself and your career a butt-load of pain in the long run. You're going to start questioning yourself and really making a mess of your own self-confidence and your skills as a writer and author; bemoaning it all as a simple, "How could this have happened to me?" rant and nothing else.
Why indeed?
Because it's not you. It's the publisher. They want everything to be their way (like in the BK commercials), and everyone else can take a flying leap off the nearest suspension bridge.
So you have to play by their rules and not yours. And in doing so, there is a better than 80% chance you'll never get past your first book. And even if you manage to squeak by after the first one, there's still no guarantee that you'll have a successful career in writing and publishing. More than likely, you'll still be working that same tired, dead-end job, and your book will be spending a good chunk of its time collecting dust on the shelf.
So what's the solution?
If I told you that there was an alternative to having a successful publishing career, you'd immediately draw the conclusion that I'm full of shit or pulling your leg.
And you'd probably be right. I don't have an exact alternative which will guarantee that you'll be making millions and drawing in a ton of fans for you and your books.
What I do have is something more valuable than what the mainstream industry hasn't got: And that's knowledge. And knowledge--as they say--is power.
And it's not any kind of knowledge which you can simply pull from a book, or get off on some online web page, but rather personal experience and an insight into what makes a good book good and what makes everything else you've read in the last 10 years to be nothing more than crap.
Because they (99% of today's mainstream authors) are in it for the money. Not the book itself.
And as a result, their books don't make it as far as they should. Because they aren't allowed to go beyond their own limitations--set into place long before you and I were born (in some instances).
Why is that?
Classes and courses are supposed to be the answer to what ills the publishing and writing world. They are supposed to be the roadmap to success and fame for all would-be authors.
But in truth, they are basically useless in the overall scheme of things.
Now--before you start wanting to ream me a new one--hear me out.
Growing up, we are told that we need to get an education in order to survive. Our parents have told us this, our friends have told us this, everyone we know has told us this.
Right?
Duh!
But once we get out into the real world, we only apply maybe 5% of what we've learned in total to the problems facing us in today's society. The rest of what we learned just goes out the window, or gets stuck on the back shelf gathering dust for all eternity--never to be used.
Writing classes are pretty much the same way. Sans the collective chuminess that we all want to hold, feel, and flow around us to give us that all important ego boost, what we learn in those classes, those courses, and anything else that we pick up--essentially is a waste.
A waste of energy, a waste of time. Because you are only going to need a fraction of what you learned in those set time frames. The remainder gets totaled and left out to rot.
And your point is?
My point (for those of us paying close attention here) is that you don't need writing classes, courses, speaking engagements, and flowery "can do" attitudes of published authors--in order to have a successful writing career.
What you do need is the ability to see beyond the limitations to your own writing. Classes, courses, and so forth...they are all structured to keep you and your imagination confined to one particular mindset. That which--in itself--tells you, "No! You can't step outside the box! That's a grave no-no, and will get you rejected faster than you can imagine! No--this is the safer path to success."
In essence, you are programmed to write accordingly and you cannot deviate from that said method. So all of what you will ever write will sadly reflect that level of thinking.
Nice, eh?
So what's left?
What's left is this: In order to be successful in writing, you have to let yourself go. You have to forget everything that was taught to you from the beginning, and embark on new and more wonderous journies which doesn't involve fame, fortune, and all that cozy shit.
You have to understand...writing is so much more than just being able to write and call yourself a writer. You have to know what writing is. It isn't just a collection of words penned on a piece of paper, typed on a screen for you or anyone else to see.
It is a state of consciousness which exists for you and you only, and all you have to do is go out there and find it. But it can't be done in a classroom, or at some posh convention--listening to some stuffed shirt's version of a successful writing career--and hoping you follow in their engravened footsteps.
Because in retrospect, they know less than you do, because they've gone through all the motions set in play by someone else decades before them. (It's like that Pete and Repeat joke all over again...)
But if you can break away from the fold, go off on your own little journey of self-discovery and find out what it means to be a writer, and to write some really awe-inspiring work...?
Then you've become a success. You've found what it takes to be a writer and an author.
And it wasn't through a class, a convention, a $3 writer's course found on the internet.
It's your imagination. And if you use it more often than naught--then you're already on your way to unlocking your potential.
And through that lies your path to overall success. But you can only take it if you don't fear the unknown.
Doing: Writing this blog; drinking chocolate milk.
Watching: STEAMBOY; CBS Morning News.
Listening to: "Go Zombie" by Zombie Girl
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE
It's been a few days since I've posted anything--with the second part of the interview later due today or tomorrow--so I thought I'd post something from my site called "Finding The Alternative To Successful Writing.* "
***
(*This isn't a conversion to my way of writing and publishing, this is simply my own views, my observations--as I don't know who you are, or what kind of books you like reading. But there are still some unnamed parties out there who feel that I'm trampling on their "Holy Grail" of writing and publishing by having posted this controversial blog entry. If you feel that you are one of these such persons, please disregard this blog in its entirety.)
Here we go!
We've all heard it many times throughout the years: "In order to become published, you have to follow everyone else who is published." Or: "You have to take classes, courses, and hinge on every word from those published before you in order to become published."
But why must we do this? Why must we follow a pre-set pattern to success? Why cannot we try other avenues and methods which aren't etched in stone--thus allowing us some much needed breathing space and flexibility?
Because for some people in this profession, trying anything else is considered unproductive and wrong. It doesn't give them their 15 minutes of fame and fan adoration which easily translates into mega bucks and a comfy retirement.
They don't think that doing things differently will get them to their respective goals any quicker.
So when someone like me comes around once in a blue moon, they get defensive, they get upset, irate, pissed off, whatever words you can think of.
Why does this happen?
Because I offer a different view to success in writing which doesn't involve carbon copy authors, cloned books, fake reviews, fake applause, fake fan clubs which turn out useless chatter about how great their books are, and how much gushing they do wishing they could be just like him or her. (Gag me with a spoon! Please!)
What I offer is some piece of advice and some hard-earned experience. This doesn't make me a genuis, or some god, but rather someone who knows his shit and knows what it takes to write a book.
And to top it off, it doesn't involve going to a writer's class, taking a course to cheat your way through to that coveted (possibly crappy) contract which most likely will end your writing career--because your book sales have basically turned to shit based on your publisher's personal opinion; leaving you in a noticeable rut and your chances of further publication down the drain faster than a hooker going to Sunday confessional!
Success as a writer is a lot like having a successful blog or a successful site:
You've got to know what you're writing and write it well!
If you can't do it, why bother trying to attract the masses if all your book is going to do is make one big giant (and awful-sounding) thud! at the bookstore in that 5-month window of opportunity? (Now two months unfortunately.)
All you're going to do is start beating yourself over the head as to why you didn't take the time to write the book better, and thus save yourself and your career a butt-load of pain in the long run. You're going to start questioning yourself and really making a mess of your own self-confidence and your skills as a writer and author; bemoaning it all as a simple, "How could this have happened to me?" rant and nothing else.
Why indeed?
Because it's not you. It's the publisher. They want everything to be their way (like in the BK commercials), and everyone else can take a flying leap off the nearest suspension bridge.
So you have to play by their rules and not yours. And in doing so, there is a better than 80% chance you'll never get past your first book. And even if you manage to squeak by after the first one, there's still no guarantee that you'll have a successful career in writing and publishing. More than likely, you'll still be working that same tired, dead-end job, and your book will be spending a good chunk of its time collecting dust on the shelf.
So what's the solution?
If I told you that there was an alternative to having a successful publishing career, you'd immediately draw the conclusion that I'm full of shit or pulling your leg.
And you'd probably be right. I don't have an exact alternative which will guarantee that you'll be making millions and drawing in a ton of fans for you and your books.
What I do have is something more valuable than what the mainstream industry hasn't got: And that's knowledge. And knowledge--as they say--is power.
And it's not any kind of knowledge which you can simply pull from a book, or get off on some online web page, but rather personal experience and an insight into what makes a good book good and what makes everything else you've read in the last 10 years to be nothing more than crap.
Because they (99% of today's mainstream authors) are in it for the money. Not the book itself.
And as a result, their books don't make it as far as they should. Because they aren't allowed to go beyond their own limitations--set into place long before you and I were born (in some instances).
Why is that?
Classes and courses are supposed to be the answer to what ills the publishing and writing world. They are supposed to be the roadmap to success and fame for all would-be authors.
But in truth, they are basically useless in the overall scheme of things.
Now--before you start wanting to ream me a new one--hear me out.
Growing up, we are told that we need to get an education in order to survive. Our parents have told us this, our friends have told us this, everyone we know has told us this.
Right?
Duh!
But once we get out into the real world, we only apply maybe 5% of what we've learned in total to the problems facing us in today's society. The rest of what we learned just goes out the window, or gets stuck on the back shelf gathering dust for all eternity--never to be used.
Writing classes are pretty much the same way. Sans the collective chuminess that we all want to hold, feel, and flow around us to give us that all important ego boost, what we learn in those classes, those courses, and anything else that we pick up--essentially is a waste.
A waste of energy, a waste of time. Because you are only going to need a fraction of what you learned in those set time frames. The remainder gets totaled and left out to rot.
And your point is?
My point (for those of us paying close attention here) is that you don't need writing classes, courses, speaking engagements, and flowery "can do" attitudes of published authors--in order to have a successful writing career.
What you do need is the ability to see beyond the limitations to your own writing. Classes, courses, and so forth...they are all structured to keep you and your imagination confined to one particular mindset. That which--in itself--tells you, "No! You can't step outside the box! That's a grave no-no, and will get you rejected faster than you can imagine! No--this is the safer path to success."
In essence, you are programmed to write accordingly and you cannot deviate from that said method. So all of what you will ever write will sadly reflect that level of thinking.
Nice, eh?
So what's left?
What's left is this: In order to be successful in writing, you have to let yourself go. You have to forget everything that was taught to you from the beginning, and embark on new and more wonderous journies which doesn't involve fame, fortune, and all that cozy shit.
You have to understand...writing is so much more than just being able to write and call yourself a writer. You have to know what writing is. It isn't just a collection of words penned on a piece of paper, typed on a screen for you or anyone else to see.
It is a state of consciousness which exists for you and you only, and all you have to do is go out there and find it. But it can't be done in a classroom, or at some posh convention--listening to some stuffed shirt's version of a successful writing career--and hoping you follow in their engravened footsteps.
Because in retrospect, they know less than you do, because they've gone through all the motions set in play by someone else decades before them. (It's like that Pete and Repeat joke all over again...)
But if you can break away from the fold, go off on your own little journey of self-discovery and find out what it means to be a writer, and to write some really awe-inspiring work...?
Then you've become a success. You've found what it takes to be a writer and an author.
And it wasn't through a class, a convention, a $3 writer's course found on the internet.
It's your imagination. And if you use it more often than naught--then you're already on your way to unlocking your potential.
And through that lies your path to overall success. But you can only take it if you don't fear the unknown.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
EARLY MORNING INTERVIEW RUN (Part 1)
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; finished shopping; taking the dogs out; fed the animals
Watching: Tavis Smiley
Listening to: Ian Van Dahl; Icon of Coil; INXS
TOPIC: AUTHOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THROUGH INTERVIEWS
Yeah, yeah...
We've heard this one before many of times:
"How do you advertise and market your book?"
>hits the snooze alarm<
Here's a simpler approach to doing it: Take all the guesswork there is to advertising and marketing and pitch what you want about the book and yourself as its author, and creator.
Keep it simple, neat, and clean. You don't want anything more complex than that.
So let's role play an interview on the following book and see how well things turn out, okay?
***
What is the name of your book?
It is called The Starchild.
What is the book about?
The novel is about a 14-year-old girl given the mantle of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore.
How many pages is it?
Roughly 1,273 pages. (1,250 after editing--maybe. It depends on what Linda decides.)
What audience are you targeting?
Anyone who likes a good science-fiction and fantasy read. I'm not all that interested in the usual play-by-play demographics. If you like this kind of genre, then the book may interest you. If not, that's fine. I'm not looking to play favorites here.
I'm just the book's author, not a referee.
When will the book be available? And what format?
Hopefully by the middle of 2009. I'm still waiting on the editing process. But it's a slow go, which is okay with me.
Format? E-book first for $7.50. But I am tinkering with a 2 for 1 special idea. I'm most interested to see how many people would be receptive to that marketing pitch.
Until I can get better established, I'm holding off the limited print edition for a couple of years. But for those who are interested, I am planning on breaking the novel into a serial.
Hopefully, that will happen within the first six months after the book's initial release date.
However, a lot what I am planning now depends on how well the e-book sells. So it's important that I keep getting the word out--whichever way possible.
Are you afraid of failing?
If I wasn't afraid, I wouldn't be here--tempting something mighty risqué. (laughs)
Failure for me is something that I am quite used to. I would be more worried about succeeding 90% of the time and having little in the ways of setbacks and of course--failures.
And if your book were to fail? What then?
If my book were to fail, it's only because I didn't put a whole lot of effort into it. That's the only reason why it would fail outright.
When you put out a product, you're expected to put out your best work. Not something that's half-assed done and skating on thin ice. People are simply not going to give you a second glance at what you have to offer--if you choose the quick and easy path.
Despite all my obstacles and opposition to this novel, I didn't buckle under the pressure. I simply changed the rules.
Changed the rules? What do you mean by that?
Changing the rules by doing things differently. We all learn by doing. But many people are still stuck on the old ways of accomplishing their goals. That's sooo 20th century! (chuckling)
You don't get much done by following everyone else and doing what they do. Believe me, I speak from experience. Once I found a better way, I went and did it--contrary to what others told me not to do.
Yes, it irritated them. Pissed them off even. But I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do.
So with writing my books, I adopted a similar stance. My position garnered a lot of flak--but only because I was still dealing with an obsolete mechanism which had yet to catch up with the rest of the everchanging world.
For example: I had people tell me that first-time writers shouldn't be writing large tomes like The Starchild. But I did it anyways because I couldn't be held back.
My imagination couldn't be held back.
Then I got people telling me that I won't be published because of it.
My response? "It won't stop me from writing them."
Then--as a last ditch attempt--some people suggested that my novel would bankrupt the book industry. (shakes head)
I ask them, "When was the last time an e-book bankrupted a $20B+/year enterprise?"
Seriously, I would like to see that happen! If it does? I'm going to take a bow as being the only author on record to accomplish such a feat!
What would you like to see come out of people reading The Starchild?
I would like people to see the possibilities that exist in their own world--by opening up their minds to ideas and dreams that once existed in the realm of science-fiction and fantasy.
By embracing change, we have less to fear from our fellow man. The Starchild has a lot of what I call 'reality anchors'--which ties the world we live in to the one that my heroine--Isis McGowan--lives in 10,000 years down the road.
Much of it has a lot of bearing on how we have treated ourselves in the past--only to be faced with such a bleak and uncaring future. Is it an omen of things to come?
I don't know. But by giving Isis the power to either save the world or destroy it--as she sees fit--it says a lot about the human equation for unlimited potential.
Why 10,000 years in the future? Why not in the present?
The Starchild was a culmination of 13 years of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. In all that time, I had to juggle many different draft prototypes. Many of which landed me in the middle of a theological nightmare.
I'm not religious. Not by a long shot. I stopped believing in God and religion because the answers contained in either--didn't hold water in the face of reality. In other words, I was lied to.
Once I saw how fake many of our religions were--based more so on politics and power--than faith and beliefs--I started to ask myself more questions about the origins of our own universe and existance. Putting forth science and hard evidence--rather than attaching some spiritual connotation to the problem at hand.
I think so many people miss out on the awe and wonder of our own world--that they forget one important thing: If god were to truly exist, we wouldn't be such a poor and decrepit society in the first place.
We would be everlasting and in perfect harmony with one another.
But past histories have shown that man was always at war with one another. And where was God--I ask you?
Nowhere to be seen, felt, or heard.
The ugly truth is that god never existed--except in the minds of man. That in turn allowed him to use religion as a weapon against his fellow man--to get what he wants.
But never used for the good of the many.
I stopped using theology heavily in The Starchild's final draft because I wanted to show that both God and religion were the works of men and women who wanted nothing more than to covet power and greed; while using religion as a crutch.
By showing the reader what a future without a base religion looked like--maybe people in the here and now could understand that our own religions are nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Our faiths are born out of something which has been proven time and again to be non-existent.
And while this may seem like an attack on people's individual faiths, it's simply how I've viewed the world's source of religion. And presently, it's being used to wage countless wars against other people and their countries.
That's why I can't subscribe to it. It would put me right in the middle of one big hypocritical quagmire. I do respect people's right to having their own beliefs and religions, but that doesn't mean I have to participate in them.
The timeline choice was a concience one. I didn't want to have to deal with the vulgarities of the present and have to have a superhero mixed up in today's world--especially when she's not ready for it.
So I shunted everything forward about 10,000 years, added a ruined society, and the rest--as they say--is history.
So there is no God or Christianity in The Starchild?
No. Not in the religious sense. And my characters don't seem to miss that fact. They live their lives how they see fit--which does disturb Keron Sogi'kiagta. She can't understand how people can live without a source of faith or religion.
Bayen Yelou remarked on how it almost destroyed the planet in the past. Once the God of Insanity came, religion and God basically had no basis in their reality.
Are you afraid that people will call you out on your beliefs?
The way I see it, we can either be afraid of something that has no basis in our reality, or we can be afraid of ourselves, and each other.
People can call me what they will, but it won't change me or my own beliefs in life.
So you aren't a religious person by choice. But what about spiritually?
Spiritually, I have a higher sense of awareness. Of the world around me and the universe in general. That's what I use to guide me. It doesn't have a name, it doesn't have a religion, it doesn't have anything which mankind has pinned itself down with.
How much the storyline ties in with their own lives growing up.
Like what?
Being a teenager. Growing up without one parent or both. But in Isis's case, it was her father. Kelin was jailed for something which wasn't entirely his fault.
Other things which cropped up was Isis's fierce streak of independence and cavalier attitude towards things. It reminded me of the days when I acted out in such a fashion.
And of course, Isis's perchance for not being a morning person. This tied in nicely with me--because I never liked getting up earlier either.
I'm sure that most of my readers will agree with that.
Doing: Writing this blog; finished shopping; taking the dogs out; fed the animals
Watching: Tavis Smiley
Listening to: Ian Van Dahl; Icon of Coil; INXS
TOPIC: AUTHOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THROUGH INTERVIEWS
Yeah, yeah...
We've heard this one before many of times:
"How do you advertise and market your book?"
>hits the snooze alarm<
Here's a simpler approach to doing it: Take all the guesswork there is to advertising and marketing and pitch what you want about the book and yourself as its author, and creator.
Keep it simple, neat, and clean. You don't want anything more complex than that.
So let's role play an interview on the following book and see how well things turn out, okay?
***
What is the name of your book?
It is called The Starchild.
What is the book about?
The novel is about a 14-year-old girl given the mantle of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore.
How many pages is it?
Roughly 1,273 pages. (1,250 after editing--maybe. It depends on what Linda decides.)
What audience are you targeting?
Anyone who likes a good science-fiction and fantasy read. I'm not all that interested in the usual play-by-play demographics. If you like this kind of genre, then the book may interest you. If not, that's fine. I'm not looking to play favorites here.
I'm just the book's author, not a referee.
When will the book be available? And what format?
Hopefully by the middle of 2009. I'm still waiting on the editing process. But it's a slow go, which is okay with me.
Format? E-book first for $7.50. But I am tinkering with a 2 for 1 special idea. I'm most interested to see how many people would be receptive to that marketing pitch.
Until I can get better established, I'm holding off the limited print edition for a couple of years. But for those who are interested, I am planning on breaking the novel into a serial.
Hopefully, that will happen within the first six months after the book's initial release date.
However, a lot what I am planning now depends on how well the e-book sells. So it's important that I keep getting the word out--whichever way possible.
Are you afraid of failing?
If I wasn't afraid, I wouldn't be here--tempting something mighty risqué. (laughs)
Failure for me is something that I am quite used to. I would be more worried about succeeding 90% of the time and having little in the ways of setbacks and of course--failures.
And if your book were to fail? What then?
If my book were to fail, it's only because I didn't put a whole lot of effort into it. That's the only reason why it would fail outright.
When you put out a product, you're expected to put out your best work. Not something that's half-assed done and skating on thin ice. People are simply not going to give you a second glance at what you have to offer--if you choose the quick and easy path.
Despite all my obstacles and opposition to this novel, I didn't buckle under the pressure. I simply changed the rules.
Changed the rules? What do you mean by that?
Changing the rules by doing things differently. We all learn by doing. But many people are still stuck on the old ways of accomplishing their goals. That's sooo 20th century! (chuckling)
You don't get much done by following everyone else and doing what they do. Believe me, I speak from experience. Once I found a better way, I went and did it--contrary to what others told me not to do.
Yes, it irritated them. Pissed them off even. But I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do.
So with writing my books, I adopted a similar stance. My position garnered a lot of flak--but only because I was still dealing with an obsolete mechanism which had yet to catch up with the rest of the everchanging world.
For example: I had people tell me that first-time writers shouldn't be writing large tomes like The Starchild. But I did it anyways because I couldn't be held back.
My imagination couldn't be held back.
Then I got people telling me that I won't be published because of it.
My response? "It won't stop me from writing them."
Then--as a last ditch attempt--some people suggested that my novel would bankrupt the book industry. (shakes head)
I ask them, "When was the last time an e-book bankrupted a $20B+/year enterprise?"
Seriously, I would like to see that happen! If it does? I'm going to take a bow as being the only author on record to accomplish such a feat!
What would you like to see come out of people reading The Starchild?
I would like people to see the possibilities that exist in their own world--by opening up their minds to ideas and dreams that once existed in the realm of science-fiction and fantasy.
By embracing change, we have less to fear from our fellow man. The Starchild has a lot of what I call 'reality anchors'--which ties the world we live in to the one that my heroine--Isis McGowan--lives in 10,000 years down the road.
Much of it has a lot of bearing on how we have treated ourselves in the past--only to be faced with such a bleak and uncaring future. Is it an omen of things to come?
I don't know. But by giving Isis the power to either save the world or destroy it--as she sees fit--it says a lot about the human equation for unlimited potential.
Why 10,000 years in the future? Why not in the present?
The Starchild was a culmination of 13 years of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. In all that time, I had to juggle many different draft prototypes. Many of which landed me in the middle of a theological nightmare.
I'm not religious. Not by a long shot. I stopped believing in God and religion because the answers contained in either--didn't hold water in the face of reality. In other words, I was lied to.
Once I saw how fake many of our religions were--based more so on politics and power--than faith and beliefs--I started to ask myself more questions about the origins of our own universe and existance. Putting forth science and hard evidence--rather than attaching some spiritual connotation to the problem at hand.
I think so many people miss out on the awe and wonder of our own world--that they forget one important thing: If god were to truly exist, we wouldn't be such a poor and decrepit society in the first place.
We would be everlasting and in perfect harmony with one another.
But past histories have shown that man was always at war with one another. And where was God--I ask you?
Nowhere to be seen, felt, or heard.
The ugly truth is that god never existed--except in the minds of man. That in turn allowed him to use religion as a weapon against his fellow man--to get what he wants.
But never used for the good of the many.
I stopped using theology heavily in The Starchild's final draft because I wanted to show that both God and religion were the works of men and women who wanted nothing more than to covet power and greed; while using religion as a crutch.
By showing the reader what a future without a base religion looked like--maybe people in the here and now could understand that our own religions are nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Our faiths are born out of something which has been proven time and again to be non-existent.
And while this may seem like an attack on people's individual faiths, it's simply how I've viewed the world's source of religion. And presently, it's being used to wage countless wars against other people and their countries.
That's why I can't subscribe to it. It would put me right in the middle of one big hypocritical quagmire. I do respect people's right to having their own beliefs and religions, but that doesn't mean I have to participate in them.
The timeline choice was a concience one. I didn't want to have to deal with the vulgarities of the present and have to have a superhero mixed up in today's world--especially when she's not ready for it.
So I shunted everything forward about 10,000 years, added a ruined society, and the rest--as they say--is history.
So there is no God or Christianity in The Starchild?
No. Not in the religious sense. And my characters don't seem to miss that fact. They live their lives how they see fit--which does disturb Keron Sogi'kiagta. She can't understand how people can live without a source of faith or religion.
Bayen Yelou remarked on how it almost destroyed the planet in the past. Once the God of Insanity came, religion and God basically had no basis in their reality.
Are you afraid that people will call you out on your beliefs?
The way I see it, we can either be afraid of something that has no basis in our reality, or we can be afraid of ourselves, and each other.
People can call me what they will, but it won't change me or my own beliefs in life.
So you aren't a religious person by choice. But what about spiritually?
Spiritually, I have a higher sense of awareness. Of the world around me and the universe in general. That's what I use to guide me. It doesn't have a name, it doesn't have a religion, it doesn't have anything which mankind has pinned itself down with.
And I am comfortable with that.
What about your book do you think readers will like the most?How much the storyline ties in with their own lives growing up.
Like what?
Being a teenager. Growing up without one parent or both. But in Isis's case, it was her father. Kelin was jailed for something which wasn't entirely his fault.
Other things which cropped up was Isis's fierce streak of independence and cavalier attitude towards things. It reminded me of the days when I acted out in such a fashion.
And of course, Isis's perchance for not being a morning person. This tied in nicely with me--because I never liked getting up earlier either.
I'm sure that most of my readers will agree with that.
If you could, what book would The Starchild be comparable to?
Unfortunately, my exhaustive research over the last decade has pointed to the fact that there is not one single book out there upon which my book could be related to.
I realize that this is critical to good book placement with the mainstream--but if your book (like mine) doesn't have a home, what chance will it have being sold successfully at the chain stores?
So are you saying that you're hosting a lost cause then?
No.
The problem with the mainstream is that they are too rigid and inflexible with their views of what a book should be and what it shouldn't. It used to be that a lot of new books popped up which defied description--and many found homes within the industry itself.
The problem is that even though The Starchild is primarily science-fiction/fantasy, the novel itself is completely alien to the mainstream. It does not fit anything that is--or was--on the market today.
So in other words, this book is so far outside the mainstream, the chances of it being picked up is extremely remote.
Have you tried to write other novels?
(chuckling)
Yes. I've written my fair share of books. But the majority still fall outside the mainstream.
Why is that? Is following the crowd not important? How else are you expecting to become successful?
To answer your first question: I don't write mainstream. I read it. To me, mainstream novels are my source of personal escape. But that's all. I have no desire to copy or emulate them.
The only thing I did was study some earlier published novels for pointers--grammar, spelling, punctuation. But I did not actively seek to follow in their footsteps.
It just wasn't my style.
Second question: Following the crowd is like seeking others' approval for what you are about to do in life. You need their permission before embarking on a new venture.
What's wrong with going at it alone? Find out what works best for you? I certainly found more joy in my writings, then I did if I were to try and emulate someone else by doing it their way.
And--as I found out--doing it their way didn't spell immediate success or instant gratification.
And that left me quite stymied. I was like, Why isn't this working?
Then I realized, "Because agents and publishers have been expecting this."
It's easy to copy and emulate something else without having a full understanding of it. But these agents and publishers are professionals. They are going to see right through your charade like it were nothing.
So I went back to what worked best for me. Does it matter if it will bring me a ton of money and such?
Not anymore. I've looked past the innate desire for money, wealth, and name recognition. It's not important.
As for your third question, success can't be measured by how much money you make or how well known you are. It's primarily by how much of an impact you have on people's lives--both directly and indirectly.
If you like helping people out like I do--than you're a success. If you can write and finish a book, then you are a success.
But writers will be writers. And they will always tie their books to how successful they will eventually become.
Sadly, not many make it. A lot of them burn out trying to be so successful--that they become more of a liability than anything else.
Success for me is measured by the fruits of my labor. Not by how much money I plan on making, how many people I can get to buy my books and so forth.
I've lived an impoverished lifestyle growing up. I still do--despite my best efforts to change it. But everything I've done points to the varying degrees of success I've tallied up.
Despite all the disabilities I have, I was known to never quit--no matter what the circumstances. The mainstream may have shut me out of a promising career as a published author, but it doesn't mean I have to give up my career as a promising writer.
That's success in my book. That's what success means to me.
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