I haven't updated in at least a week, so here's what's new:
First of all, fellow Firefly & Wisp author T.R. Stampz has graciously offered to loan me the money with which to purchase a bus ticket to Akron for a book signing and convention in June. Of course, I'll pay her back as I can, but with my sister's graduation next week, I need some gift money out of my monthly check, so my compensation may have to wait. In other news, I've been reading a lot of writer blogs lately. (If only I'd write them nearly as often)... Some of them are very helpful to me, but others aren't helpful at all, to anyone. I came across one that talked about "how to become a writer," which would be fine if the author weren't talking about creating stories for a readership. I've said it before (at great length) and I'll say it again: storytelling is not learned; you have to be born with it. True, you need to learn proper spelling and grammar to be good at putting the story idea into words on paper (or ebook, whatever), but if you're not already a storyteller, you never will be. I found another that put the same idea into MUCH better words, making sense out of it: "Helping writers become authors." That's more like it. If you write blogs, poems, journals, cartoons, whatever, that's great. But you're not really an author until you have something ready for public consumption by an audience. Being a natural writer does require learning language skills for literary purposes, whereas being an author does not. And you can be one without being the other. I'm sure the original teller of Beowulf, which was passed down from oral tradition, never thought himself an author (if they even had such a profession back then), but that's what he was. The scroll maker who put the epic poem down was the writer, and a very talented writer... but it wasn't his story. That manuscript was more like really well-written, elaborate fan-fiction. I guess one could compare it to Fifty Shades of Grey or any number of the series novels spun off from Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek, or any number of other original franchises that made the literary jump.... only, you know, Beowulf is a classic and the others probably won't be considered such in 100 years. There was another blog about how there's no such thing as writer's block, only harsh self-editing that causes writers to stop writing. I couldn't help but wonder if that one editor from all those years ago is the reason I can't finish a novel. There's got to be some kind of subconscious block behind it, I just can't figure out what that might be. Maybe I just need the right inspiration. Speaking of inspiration, I found a local author who needed someone to help her brainstorm on how to get her writing in order for publication. I volunteered. Brainstorming might get me past this funk I'm in. I got the new Poets & Writers Tuesday, and I went straight to the classified ads in the back so that I could find some publishers seeking submissions so that I could help my new friend in finding a place to send her poems. However, in reading those requests, it made me want to submit some of MY poems to contests. After all, the fee only allows one short story, but up to 3 poems usually. That would give me a better chance at winning with one of them, if the poems are good enough. I think I shall submit some of them, if I can afford a few entry fees. Or maybe I should only submit to anthologies and magazines and fee-less contests. At this point, I need to save all the money I can! Whoever said the life of an indie author was a glamorous one (if anyone) was full of shit! ;)
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Yesterday I mentioned two possible cons I could visit this year. Last night I found out that my friend in Cincinnati will be out of town the weekend of Utopia Con, meaning I really would be alone if I went, so I canceled those plans. Today, I realized I can't afford the Akron con in June, even with my sister agreeing to drive and my editor Danielle agreeing to let us stay at her home. If I start saving after all my bills are paid (after the Akron con), I might be able to swing going to Dragon Con on August 31st... but I would be as a spectator only. Danielle said last night that next year, the Firefly & Wisp group will be headed to Dragon Con as guests. That's awesome since it's in Atlanta, which is only a 3-hour drive away. So sadly, I won't be going to any cons as an author that I know of this year, which kinda sucks, but there's always next year. Also, I can do some promoting at our indie bookseller downtown. I'm going over there with a bag of trades tomorrow, so I'll bring it up then.
Okay, so maybe I'm not a pro. ;) Anyway, I was planning to go to Cincinnati's Utopia Con in October. There doesn't seem to be much to it, but that's the month my book comes out, and I was hoping to do some Halloween type stuff with a friend who lives there. However... in June, there's a convention in Akron, and the Firefly & Wisp crew wants me to go to that one. I want to, but that's only two paychecks away, and I've got bills to pay. If I don't spend ANY money aside from those bills, I'll have just enough for travel fare to Akron. No money for a place to stay, though. So I don't think I can go to that one. It sucks, though, because I don't think any of the others will be at Utopia Con. I don't want to be all alone during the con, or else it wouldn't be a problem. Oh well, if I can't afford June and nobody else from F&W goes in October, I'll have to suck it up and deal. I'm Facebook friends with another author who lives in Cincinnati, so maybe she'll stop by to keep me company.
Last week, I wrote what could be a stand-alone story about werewolves and vampires, but I'd prefer if it were the introduction to a novel. We'll see if I'm inspired to follow it up.
Thursday (I think) was Bad Poetry Day, so I wrote the following Haiku: "Bad Poetry Day/Ha! That's every day if you/suck at poetry." It's something. In case you missed it, I found out last night that Relic is now due out in October, which is when the majority of the book's action takes place. I couldn't be more pleased about the bump, especially if I travel to Ohio in October for the little sci-fi/fantasy convention they're having there. It'd be a good time for sure. Not much else has been going on, writing-wise. I've been reading a bit more than previously, as my Goodreads page will testify. Nothing too deep; graphic novels, comics collections, and humor books. I bought Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter last week, but keep picking up other stuff, even though I want to read it before the movie opens in June. Hopefully I'll get to that. Nothing left to say, so I won't say it. More later. |
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January 2020
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