I posting a bit early today, with a day off from work, I'm doing some things a little different than my last few working days.
Anyway, I noticed I didn't post my word count the other day and I'm going to stop that for a bit. Again, the first draft of this novel is already completed. I'm adding new prose in spots, and taking it away in others. It is running long right now, though Chris' first chapter is the first one I've done a second draft on that felt close to a 'normal' chapter size.
Word count is going to be important to me moving forward, but I will post the WHY to that later on. It's a doozy. One project at a time, though. After hitting a rough patch in Seth's first chapter, I really felt back on track writing Chris POV.
Oh Yea, I guess its time to explain this Chris chapter...Angel chapter stuff...
George R R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy book series is the best prose I've ever read. Period. One of the things that causes of very complex story to flow easier is how Martin titles his chapters after is Point of View (POV) characters. He says he adapted the template from one of his favorite writers Jack Vance as I adopted it from Martin.
I'm not trying to be Martin. I will NEVER be that good. But the POV approach to storytelling works well for me in telling Where are our Children. I hope it works well for readers as well.
Barring some unforeseen setback I can see the first episode of this 9 part arc published to Smashwords late Monday. I haven't put anything through their meatgrinder in a while so I can't honestly speak to how long after that it starts to appear at retailers.
I feel good today.
I keep on moving on...
Friday, October 17, 2014
Thursday, October 16, 2014
The Price of Success
The Where are our Children Serial Novel will be priced this way: Episodes 1,2,4,5,7 and 8 will be available for free, while the remaining parts 3,6, and the finale number 9 will be priced at $.99 a piece. That's $2.99 (if I'm figuring my math correctly-- and that is a big if) for the entire story which I think more than fair.
I've given my first three works: Waiting ( A Twelve Worlds Novelette), Fumblerooski, and The Gospel According to John for free on over outlet except Amazon, which doesn't allow it, all for over a year now. It's old news that I never thought I would write again. So it didn't bother me to leave these titles that way. I wanted to be read and I have. I want to have compensation for being read. So these titles will remain at their current pricing for the foreseeable future. But it is time to grow this thing. So all titles published will be priced at least at $.99. I hope to have a lot to offer over the next few weeks, months and years.
In speaking of those older titles: All three are available in paperback editions through Amazon and Createspace and are priced at $5.99 each. Waiting and Fumblerooski should be for sale as audiobooks any day now. And I leaning towards having The Gospel According to John produced as well, even though I'm sure it won't have even an hour's running time.
Here's my current scheduled pricing template:
Short Tales of Fiction $.99
A bundle of five stories $2.99
A bundle of ten stories $3.99
Where are our Children (Novel Version) $2.99
Createpace Editons of a bundle of ten stories: TBD
Audiobook Editions of a bundle of ten stories: TBD
Where are our Children (Createspace) TBD
Where are our Children (Audiobook) TBD
I'll announce each and every release and reminder of price here, on twitter, and my Facebook page.
There is a price to pay for success.
I'm reaching for it.
I've given my first three works: Waiting ( A Twelve Worlds Novelette), Fumblerooski, and The Gospel According to John for free on over outlet except Amazon, which doesn't allow it, all for over a year now. It's old news that I never thought I would write again. So it didn't bother me to leave these titles that way. I wanted to be read and I have. I want to have compensation for being read. So these titles will remain at their current pricing for the foreseeable future. But it is time to grow this thing. So all titles published will be priced at least at $.99. I hope to have a lot to offer over the next few weeks, months and years.
In speaking of those older titles: All three are available in paperback editions through Amazon and Createspace and are priced at $5.99 each. Waiting and Fumblerooski should be for sale as audiobooks any day now. And I leaning towards having The Gospel According to John produced as well, even though I'm sure it won't have even an hour's running time.
Here's my current scheduled pricing template:
Short Tales of Fiction $.99
A bundle of five stories $2.99
A bundle of ten stories $3.99
Where are our Children (Novel Version) $2.99
Createpace Editons of a bundle of ten stories: TBD
Audiobook Editions of a bundle of ten stories: TBD
Where are our Children (Createspace) TBD
Where are our Children (Audiobook) TBD
I'll announce each and every release and reminder of price here, on twitter, and my Facebook page.
There is a price to pay for success.
I'm reaching for it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Createspace and Audiobook
Before I get to the third and final part of my "Big" announcement about what happened to me last night. I got in around 800 words which puts me over 20000 for the rewrite so far. But for the first time since I restarted my writing (remember my blog entry on the 11th) I really hit what I've come to call my Wall of Criticism. Anyone who has done anything creative knows what I mean: This is stupid, do you know how many people try and fail at his, know one is ever going to buy what you are selling.
Well, I fought through it. I still have the last have of Seth's first chapter to finish then it will be Chris' first chapter. I'm going to do some more errands, finalize some covers for the Smashwords serial edition, and hit the sack. I'll get up before work and do actual writing in the morning, with some luck in that regards.
As for the final part of the announcement, I will publish what I'm going to title: the Where are our Children Complete and Uncut on Createspace (print on demand for anybody who doesn't know) and the audiobook version which will be available through Amazon, Audible. com, and ITunes.
This final version will feature the Smashwords entry plus the epigraphs that I've created throughout the book. With the project split up during the serial they felt like they were causing a disconnect and in the Amazon version they don't fir either because that entry will reader fast the first version. The final version will present this novel as I've always intended it to be presented.
By the way, if you don't know what an epigraph is look up authors like Karen Traviss or Frank Hebertts' Dune series. Nobody in the business uses these fascinating way of sneaking information, plot and suspense in better than these two.
Fiction Words: 800
Covers Designed: 11
Well, I fought through it. I still have the last have of Seth's first chapter to finish then it will be Chris' first chapter. I'm going to do some more errands, finalize some covers for the Smashwords serial edition, and hit the sack. I'll get up before work and do actual writing in the morning, with some luck in that regards.
As for the final part of the announcement, I will publish what I'm going to title: the Where are our Children Complete and Uncut on Createspace (print on demand for anybody who doesn't know) and the audiobook version which will be available through Amazon, Audible. com, and ITunes.
This final version will feature the Smashwords entry plus the epigraphs that I've created throughout the book. With the project split up during the serial they felt like they were causing a disconnect and in the Amazon version they don't fir either because that entry will reader fast the first version. The final version will present this novel as I've always intended it to be presented.
By the way, if you don't know what an epigraph is look up authors like Karen Traviss or Frank Hebertts' Dune series. Nobody in the business uses these fascinating way of sneaking information, plot and suspense in better than these two.
Fiction Words: 800
Covers Designed: 11
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Amazon
Part 2of my announcement is that in an addition to the Serial Smashwords version, there will be an Amazon Exclusive Addition. This version will be a single, leaner version than the previous edition. I know for sure that it will start in a different place but will conclude in the same spot.
Again, it is important to ME to tell this tale initially as it came to me four years ago. There is nothing wrong with this tale told this way. The serial offers me a chance to expand it without worrying about pace. It also allows a meaty enough download for a reader to feel that he got enough for his time. The amazon version will drive the same plot in a more streamlined manner. Some of the back stories will be omitted, for the sake of pace.
One more part to this announcement tomorrow.
Fiction Words: 2400 est
Covers Made: 0
Again, it is important to ME to tell this tale initially as it came to me four years ago. There is nothing wrong with this tale told this way. The serial offers me a chance to expand it without worrying about pace. It also allows a meaty enough download for a reader to feel that he got enough for his time. The amazon version will drive the same plot in a more streamlined manner. Some of the back stories will be omitted, for the sake of pace.
One more part to this announcement tomorrow.
Fiction Words: 2400 est
Covers Made: 0
Monday, October 13, 2014
Serial novel
After I thought about it overnight, I decided the big announcement should be broken up into 3parts over three days.
BIG ANNOUCEMENT #1 I is that Where are our Children will be a Serial Novel for Smashwords and their family of retailers. It will be told in 9 parts with the first episode being published early next week.
Why you may ask?
Well, when I wrote the original first draft it clocked in at over 144,000 words. Whoa, I said. 5 chapters into the 2nd draft of this puppy and I logged over 16500 words already. If I'm doing my math right, I'm at 3300 a chapter meaning my 90 chapter book will finish somewhere underneath 300000 words.
Again, Whoa.
First, I know that won't happen because I knew these initial had a lot of set up in them. The more I look back at this thing, the more I realize it's a pretty dense plot. Yet, straight forward enough. There are no more chapters in the novel bigger than those I've already rewritten. I know this. So this average per chapter will start to fall somewhere soon.
Anyway, I promised myself that I would finish this thing. The second promise I made to myself is that I would let go. And letting it go means writing this thing as its coming to me. And I have let go...to a point.
Tune in tomorrow for the 2nd part of this big announcement. I've got more to say on this...
Rewritten Fiction: Approx 3600 words.
Covers Designed: 1
BIG ANNOUCEMENT #1 I is that Where are our Children will be a Serial Novel for Smashwords and their family of retailers. It will be told in 9 parts with the first episode being published early next week.
Why you may ask?
Well, when I wrote the original first draft it clocked in at over 144,000 words. Whoa, I said. 5 chapters into the 2nd draft of this puppy and I logged over 16500 words already. If I'm doing my math right, I'm at 3300 a chapter meaning my 90 chapter book will finish somewhere underneath 300000 words.
Again, Whoa.
First, I know that won't happen because I knew these initial had a lot of set up in them. The more I look back at this thing, the more I realize it's a pretty dense plot. Yet, straight forward enough. There are no more chapters in the novel bigger than those I've already rewritten. I know this. So this average per chapter will start to fall somewhere soon.
Anyway, I promised myself that I would finish this thing. The second promise I made to myself is that I would let go. And letting it go means writing this thing as its coming to me. And I have let go...to a point.
Tune in tomorrow for the 2nd part of this big announcement. I've got more to say on this...
Rewritten Fiction: Approx 3600 words.
Covers Designed: 1
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Serial
The "lite" version of my birthday celebration went well. What I mean by that is that my bride and I took a trip last month, our first (and hopefully) venture of the country. So with her birthday in August we kind of wrapped both of the events and expenses around that trip to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. So we just went and saw Denzel Washington's latest flick and had an inexpensive lunch and came back to the house around 4:30 pm with a smile on both our faces.
I had full intentions of doing some work: Setting up a tumblr, facebook, twitter and other social networking outlets as well as looking over the State of Florida's mandates about running a small business but never got around to it as I started writing right away. Back to that in a minute. As far as the social networking goes, I've decided that I need a presence on each platform but I'm going to spend very little time there. The idea is to blog daily here, copy and paste, and link it to the other sites. My chances at success with plan are about an average number of sales against a high volume of production. That's it. It's that simple. It's that challenging. My storytelling ability and production abilities will ultimately decide how successful this venture truly is. More specifics on this on a later date, (smile)
Like I said, I started writing at 4:30 pm and if you take a few potty and stretching breaks I'd put up 7677 words by the time a dropped into bed at 2am. I only WISH that was a typo. Again, these are not original words. This is this novel's second draft. But I've never written that much prose in a single day in my life.
The bad news is...if there is EVER bad news with that kind of production, is that I only finished Serena's first chapter, which is the novel's third chapter if you count the Prologue (which I do.) Then Thomas first chapter engulfed the remainder of that 7000 plus word count. Yikes!
When I originally wrote the first draft 4 years ago, I felt these early chapters ran long. I will say that I see very little fluff in them. This novel had a lot of plot. Whether that plot pushes the story, you the ready will have to decide.
Anyway, when I started this project up again, I promised myself I would let the chips fall where they may, or I my critical voice would interfere, I would never finish it, and I would set it aside forever. I don't want to do that.
I've been long winded again. I'm going to work on the first Angel chapter today. I don't expect 7000 words but who knows? I'm going to stop the writing aspect long enough to watch my beloved but pitiful Jaguars while setting up those social sites as I scream and yell at my TV, then back to writing as much as I can stand before I return to the Job tomorrow.
Note: A major announcement is coming tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
Fiction Words Produced: 7677
Where are our Children to date: 12874
No Covers Made
I had full intentions of doing some work: Setting up a tumblr, facebook, twitter and other social networking outlets as well as looking over the State of Florida's mandates about running a small business but never got around to it as I started writing right away. Back to that in a minute. As far as the social networking goes, I've decided that I need a presence on each platform but I'm going to spend very little time there. The idea is to blog daily here, copy and paste, and link it to the other sites. My chances at success with plan are about an average number of sales against a high volume of production. That's it. It's that simple. It's that challenging. My storytelling ability and production abilities will ultimately decide how successful this venture truly is. More specifics on this on a later date, (smile)
Like I said, I started writing at 4:30 pm and if you take a few potty and stretching breaks I'd put up 7677 words by the time a dropped into bed at 2am. I only WISH that was a typo. Again, these are not original words. This is this novel's second draft. But I've never written that much prose in a single day in my life.
The bad news is...if there is EVER bad news with that kind of production, is that I only finished Serena's first chapter, which is the novel's third chapter if you count the Prologue (which I do.) Then Thomas first chapter engulfed the remainder of that 7000 plus word count. Yikes!
When I originally wrote the first draft 4 years ago, I felt these early chapters ran long. I will say that I see very little fluff in them. This novel had a lot of plot. Whether that plot pushes the story, you the ready will have to decide.
Anyway, when I started this project up again, I promised myself I would let the chips fall where they may, or I my critical voice would interfere, I would never finish it, and I would set it aside forever. I don't want to do that.
I've been long winded again. I'm going to work on the first Angel chapter today. I don't expect 7000 words but who knows? I'm going to stop the writing aspect long enough to watch my beloved but pitiful Jaguars while setting up those social sites as I scream and yell at my TV, then back to writing as much as I can stand before I return to the Job tomorrow.
Note: A major announcement is coming tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
Fiction Words Produced: 7677
Where are our Children to date: 12874
No Covers Made
Saturday, October 11, 2014
The Rest of my life starts today
I'm back
Where do I begin? I've been away for nearly a year. Sometimes life gets in the way. Most of the time I get in my own way. Yet, today, my 45th birthday seemed like the ideal day to restart this blog. I don't want to be long winded or cover the ground I've covered here and in other spots before. I have been on again...mostly off again writing since I was 15 years ago. 30 freaking years ago. (smile) I have produced 2 shorts stories, 2 articles, and the first draft of a novel during that span. Pathetic. (smile) And I have learned a lot along the way. And I think I've finally done what is to finally do what is necessary to be more productive. I think I've found a way to conquer my fear. I think. So today...of all days, just feels right to post that I'm back. But the production just didn't start today.
The long winded part:
I've been busy with stuff over the past month. Both Waiting and Fumbleroosk: How the NCAA Dropped the Ball on the Coming Playoff will be available as audiobooks soon. Waiting was produced by Kandra Dawn Johnson and Fumblerooski was produced by Jason B Hilton. I'm more than pleased with the results. I've opted not to do the Tebow book as an audiobook as well only because I doubt it will be an hour's production.
The last part about these three tales that have been available for $.99 on Amazon and FREE in every other ebook retailer is that I have also published them as trade paperbacks on Createspace. All three are available for $5.99. I own these copies and they are nice. I'm going to use a smaller size moving forward for future works though, (smile)
Enough about the past, let's talk about the future.
The long awaited second draft of my novel, Where are our Children is in process as I type this. I am rewriting three scenes a day meaning if my math is correct, readers may have this puppy on their favorite reading device by Veteran's Day.
Quick note( In speaking of writing veterans) I have been reading Dean Wesley Smith's blog. If you aspire to become a professional author, or trying to climb back onto the writing horse as I have you'll want to read this author's blog. He is the ultimate professional. He treats writing as it truly is which is a business first. He is a truth teller. He's' helped get me going again.
So each day, I'm going to post my words written and the projects I'm working on. My calendar year (and the goals for that year) won't appear until Children is finally finished. I want to use this blog to hold myself accountable for new words of production.
I have a lot more to pass on but in can hold for at least another day. I've been long winded enough for a single day.
So...
Where are our Children? 5197 revised words. 5197 total.
0 Covers made
Where do I begin? I've been away for nearly a year. Sometimes life gets in the way. Most of the time I get in my own way. Yet, today, my 45th birthday seemed like the ideal day to restart this blog. I don't want to be long winded or cover the ground I've covered here and in other spots before. I have been on again...mostly off again writing since I was 15 years ago. 30 freaking years ago. (smile) I have produced 2 shorts stories, 2 articles, and the first draft of a novel during that span. Pathetic. (smile) And I have learned a lot along the way. And I think I've finally done what is to finally do what is necessary to be more productive. I think I've found a way to conquer my fear. I think. So today...of all days, just feels right to post that I'm back. But the production just didn't start today.
The long winded part:
I've been busy with stuff over the past month. Both Waiting and Fumbleroosk: How the NCAA Dropped the Ball on the Coming Playoff will be available as audiobooks soon. Waiting was produced by Kandra Dawn Johnson and Fumblerooski was produced by Jason B Hilton. I'm more than pleased with the results. I've opted not to do the Tebow book as an audiobook as well only because I doubt it will be an hour's production.
The last part about these three tales that have been available for $.99 on Amazon and FREE in every other ebook retailer is that I have also published them as trade paperbacks on Createspace. All three are available for $5.99. I own these copies and they are nice. I'm going to use a smaller size moving forward for future works though, (smile)
Enough about the past, let's talk about the future.
The long awaited second draft of my novel, Where are our Children is in process as I type this. I am rewriting three scenes a day meaning if my math is correct, readers may have this puppy on their favorite reading device by Veteran's Day.
Quick note( In speaking of writing veterans) I have been reading Dean Wesley Smith's blog. If you aspire to become a professional author, or trying to climb back onto the writing horse as I have you'll want to read this author's blog. He is the ultimate professional. He treats writing as it truly is which is a business first. He is a truth teller. He's' helped get me going again.
So each day, I'm going to post my words written and the projects I'm working on. My calendar year (and the goals for that year) won't appear until Children is finally finished. I want to use this blog to hold myself accountable for new words of production.
I have a lot more to pass on but in can hold for at least another day. I've been long winded enough for a single day.
So...
Where are our Children? 5197 revised words. 5197 total.
0 Covers made
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