Writer Post – You Never Know
It’s been a crazy week. Which is pretty normal for a writer. You never really know what’s going to happen to you from one day to the next, one week to the next. Nor do you know when you’re going to have the opportunity to either get your work into the hands of someone unexpected or be able to market your work. Or, even more importantly, what will inspire you to greater heights of creativity and productivity.
So, let’s take this in stages:
• The hands. This comes under the category of “giving it away”. Because you never know when an opportunity will strike – even in the “virtual” and “vicarious” veins. Many may have seen my SQUEE filled posts last week regarding my “celebrity NON-endorsements” (or whatever the “neutral” version of that word would be). Even if they never ever read the chapbook, for a brief moment of photographic history, Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton held my independent project.
o The other hands - you should always be prepared – either with a hard copy, or some way to produce an electronic copy (generally via email) – to hand over some kind of sample of your work to any editor, publisher, agent, or producer that expresses interest in your work after a reading, panel, or conversation. These are people who can do something to advance your career, and whether or not it happens, it’s worth the investment. You never know what doors this will open!
• Marketing Opportunities – Here’s the deal, marketing can happen anywhere at any time. This past weekend, I had my annual eye doctor’s appointment – my second appointment with this doctor’s office. The medical assistant (and yes, I’m kicking myself for not getting her name. Bad Rhonda, no biscuit) remembered me from last year and from dropping off a Redheads of the Apocalypse to the doctor. She is a potential writer, and we had a nice chat. The return here may not be as evident as the first point, but even more valuable. No writer is an island. Seriously.
• As for inspiration – Here’s the thing, sometimes you don’t even have to go to a convention to be inspired by it. My husband went to San Diego Comic Con without me (again). However, there’s an even m ore serious plan in place to have me go next year. To that end, I have some serious plans in place to make sure there’s a way to do Step 1 up there. I have old scriptwork that needs polishing. I’m currently working on three novels – two that need finishing and one that needs writing by the end of 2011 (plenty of time!). The “what could be” is motivating me to get moving faster, better, etc (We have the technology!). There have already been a few glitches, but the desire and intent is good.
So, if you want to be a writer – really, really want to be a writer, you know what you have to do. You have to write. You have to market. And you have to be great at both. Make the time. Make the effort. It’s not really that hard once you make the decision. I’ve made mine. How about you?
Technology Fails Me…Or Vice Versa…Once More
I had some ideas for being extra creative in the next year… and trying to get a running start on that, I went to pull up some very old files. VERY OLD files. Very old WordPerfect files (like version 6 – late 1990s). So trying to figure out what to do (Office won’t open them), I went to Corel.
And thought I was in luck they have a nifty 30 day free trial of their WordPerfect Office x5 with the badge that says it runs on Windows 7. So I download it. I install it, and it errors out. Access denied on DLL files. Huh. So I redownload it. Same error. I clean out the download files – from two different places – and try it a third time. Same errors.
Blarg. Back to the drawing board to figure out how to open these technological (and probably writing quality) dinosaurs. I have my reasons. Don’t judge me. 
The Fan Girl SQUEES Again – Vicariously…Up now, Wil Wheaton!
**The following is presented for fangirl squeeness. It is not an endorsement**
That’s WIL WHEATON holding up my independent chapbook… Just holding it. It was a gift. In the same “thanks/dedication” in which I mentioned Felicia Day. I also thank Wil Wheaton – who is the master of doing things non-traditionally.
In that vein, Jimmy was under instructions to give him a copy of the book – like we did with Felicia – if he saw him. Jimmy happened to notice him at this The Guild signing…
And managed to get him a copy of the book – again, it’s a gift that may or may not be read at some point. Or could end up “filed” as something weird and cheesy. I just wanted both him and Felicia to have copies since I mentioned them in the book. I *hope* they read and enjoy, but they get a lot of stuff at conventions and are very busy people.
I’m just a goofy, goofy fan girl for being excited that either one (much less BOTH) have even touched my chapbook. Yay!!!!
Archive Post – Time Management
I don’t think I did this last week… Sorry…
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Time Management. It’s one of the biggest struggles of a writer’s life. In order to make a living doing what a writer loves to do, there are schedules and lives to juggle, projects to work in and around, and still words to get on paper or screen.
Most professionals tell new writers the most important part of writing is “applying butt to chair”, and that’s true. A writer gets nowhere without actually sitting down and doing it. But… there’s always a “but”…
I really wish there was a magic formula for getting the butt in the in chair and to get the work done. I would make millions selling the ultimate “proven method”. However, there is no magic bullet. It’s hard work and perseverance, and many times, less than great ideas.
Take this article for instance. I’m writing from the U.S. our Holiday season starts tomorrow with Thanksgiving. Yesterday I had to take off sick, and yet, the commitments are still there. So today, my butt is applied to chair, I’m getting my jobs done before handling family obligations for the rest of the weekend. Is this the most brilliant pep talk in the world? Absolutely not, but the commitment is filled.
What does this have to do with writers, writing, or the publishing industry? Simply put this…it’s better to have less than brilliant or perfect work done on time and under the agreement. A writer who is brilliant but less reliable is one that will get less work. A writer who is dependable, even if less brilliant, will be the one the publishers and editors and companies come back for.
I have always loved J. Michael Stracynski’s career motto: “I am faster than anyone better and better than anyone faster.” I’ve embraced that motto wholeheartedly. Seriously. It’s better to be competent and make or beat deadlines than gloriously brilliant and constantly blow deadlines. If you’re not good at time management and getting things done, then it will come back to haunt you.
Not that reliability grants the right to be sloppy. I’m not saying that. Every effort should be a best effort. There has to be a balance. But if a writer can make the effort, do good work, and maintain their writing commitments, then there lies the basis of a solid career path.
Writerly Post – Sort of, Not Really — TOO EXCITED.
I know I owe you guys a post on being a writer… and I started two different ones, then this happened…
You see, I sent a copy with Jimmy to #SDCC – yes, to give to her because Felicia is inspirational in doing things the non-traditional way. And because we did When the Party’s Over non-traditionally, I put her in my dedication. Then this happened…
And yes, these are iPhone pictures from Jimmy – I won’t get to see these until he gets back in a week! But now I’m too excited to focus, darn it. And I need to focus. I need to write. I have fiction words to write. I have more to do.
Though, in the writerly realms – this is a way to do some marketing. Because yee haw, my chapbook is in the hands of Felica-freakin’-Day!!!! Do I expect anything to come of it besides this incredible warm fuzzy? Heck no – except I HOPE she enjoys it if she does read it (I know she’s going to get a ton of stuff this week, and it’s not like she’s not one of the busiest people in California). But if possible, I do like to give copies to the people I thank personally in a book. BUT DUDE!!!! FELICIA DAY!!!! How cool is that????
So, while I’m being a giggly fangirl – I’m also going to do some research into a shared world universe. Shared worlds are something I will be discussing in the future – and for the record, I do consider Media Tie-In to be one of the more commercial ways to do Shared World. And Shared Worlds can be one of the most difficult – as well as (in some cases) easier if you have a good handle on the world. We’ll see how this ones goes.
Oh, and at my day job today, I was able to be creative a bit – and channel my “inner pimp”. Yeah, one of the whitest girl writers around got to channel her inner pimp – and be clean about it. It was kinda fun…fo shizzle. It was more my channeling my “inner JD” from Scrubs than my inner pimp. It worked.
Okay, now to see if I can eat something now…
Lake Worth’s Monster Bash
On behalf of Michelle Villafranca… who’s a lovely, lovely person!
The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is gearing up for the second annual Lake Worth Monster Bash which will be held on Saturday, October 2 from 10am – 3pm. Last year’s event was a success because of the great vendor participation & public attendance. I hope to make this year’s event even better. Please consider participating as a vendor (see attached vendor application).
The Lake Worth Monster Bash is a tongue-in-cheek event tailored for the entire family celebrating our local legend and the habitat he calls home. (In the summer of 1969, locals claimed to have seen a “monster” lurking in the woods around Greer Island. Numerous sightings stirred up media and police attention & over the decades, a legend was born – our very own “Bigfoot.”)
There will be guided canoe tours and interpretive hikes to Greer Island, “track the monster” self-guided hikes, hayrides, story-telling, kids’ activities, music, vendors & a display of “monster” history.
We are looking for exhibitors & vendors associated with nature & environmental-related themes. Booths are $20 (payable upon application submission) – which includes a 10X10 space, one 8 foot table & two chairs. Canopies may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no electricity available for booths.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone who might be interested in participating in this event.
Anyone wanting more information can either get in touch with me, or with Michelle. Have fun!
Writing Instruments – No Review this Week
But I have new stuff to play with this week. My husband is off to San Diego Comic Com #SDCC, so our Rotring review of the pencil we won from Dave’s Mechanical Pencils will be delayed a little longer. Mostly because I only got to play with it for about 5 minutes before it became his.
Our friend, Allen (LA) Williams, came by to get him – resulting in a trip to Azel Art Supply. Even though the store is geared toward artists – they have stuff for writers. Mostly refills and pencils, but still…I have new “toys” to play with. It’s cold comfort, but I’ll take what I can get.
And now, I need to get to work on the writing, research, and “homework” that I need to do in the next 10 days. Time to have some fun!
Savage Chickens Does Mashups
In the vein of Android Karenina and Little Women and Werewolves – I might actually read these…
For those Going to SDCC – Check out Booth 4912
Alas, I’m not going to be attending San Diego Comic Con again this year- I will one day again. I had a taste in 2007 and I will be back for the rare and random opportunities to run into professional “heroes” of mine.
However, for the over 100,000 of you who are attending – whether professionally or personally – please go by Booth 4912 in the Exhibition Hall and say hello to my wonderful husband, Jimmy, working for LA Williams Art Studio. LA Williams is a remarkable artist and has some amazing work.
I hope to be back out very soon as both a writer and a “traveling table babe” (which means I end up helping out at LA Williams’ booth and with other artists and vendor friends who need a break and may not have staff as a way of “earning” my exhibitors badge. Yes, that’s one of my goals as a writer – to have a good “reason/excuse” to go to San Diego again.
Tell Jimmy you saw this here and went there to check it out. And let me know so I can live vicariously through you.
Writerly Post – James P. Hogan In Memoriam
As a writer, I end up dealing with a lot of colorful characters – and in some aspects, I’m probably considered a colorful character by others – it’s what makes being a writer fun. Writer’s aren’t like a lot of other people. Most of us see things from angles no one else thinks of – except maybe experimental physicists and theorists, and probably actors. Yesterday, July 12th, the SF community lost one of it’s colorful characters – James P. Hogan
The news broke across the web this morning (July 13th). James died in his home at 69 – which isn’t nearly old enough. The cause of death is still undetermined. I hope they discover the cause soon, for the peace of mind of his family. And I, for one, will miss him. I have known him off and on for most of this decade. I often recommend, Thrice Upon a Lifetime on any convention panel that discusses time travel.
What really gets to me. I mean REALLY gets to me to the point of choosing to not socializing with a person and removing them from the social networks – is when others are ugly about someone in death. Why do some people think a death announcement is the perfect opportunity to trash someone in public? I saw it two years ago when Robert Aspirin was suddenly taken from us, and I’m seeing it here.
It’s okay to not like someone’s views, work, research, politics, or religion. There are probably those out there who have problems with me, and that’s okay. I’m a big girl. I can take. It’s not okay to rejoice, joke, or make rude comments about those problems out on a recently deceased guy when their family and friends are dealing with this kind of shock and loss. Everyone has someone who loves them, respects them, or is effected by the. Remember the Church of DBAA, and Wheaton’s Law - Don’t be A Jerk. If you have to let it out – do it in private. And, guess what, the INTERNET IS NOT PRIVATE. Family and friends looking for news will find your jerkiness, and it will make their pain greater because you had to get your shot in. Not Cool.
James Hogan was never anything but lovely to me – and occasionally a bit flirty – since I met him in the early 2000s at a convention in Missouri. I was new to my convention life. He made it fun, and that never changed in the years following when we ran across each other at various conventions. I liked him. I liked several of his books. In recent years, he seems to have held some different views on a lot of things and did a lot of research – but who among the SF community hasn’t? But many out there have focused on key words, and have taken that to mock the man in death. NOT COOL. See above.
If I sound like I’m taking this a bit personally, I am. I liked Jim. I feel for his family dealing with a sudden, irrevocable loss. I will miss him. And even though I rarely drink, he once tried to get me to drink with him. I did let him talk me into ONE Lager and Lime – it was a “lady’s drink” he said. I might have to have one in his memory. And for those who took the opportunity to trash him today, I hope your families and friends don’t have to go through what you put Jim’s through today.
To Jim’s family, you’re in my thoughts and prayers. I am so very sorry for your loss. Jim was a nice man. I’m going to miss him, too. Thank you for sharing him and his talents with the rest of us. I hope you all find peace. I think I still have the paper flower he made me from a Star Wars napkin at that first convention.
