Sunday, January 22, 2012

Speedbump

It just so happens I rely on a laptop rather than a PC. My wife and I each own a laptop. Someday I'd love to obtain a PC and take advantage of higher speed and storage.

Yesterday, my computer decided it no longer wanted to take a charge. Which is annoying, because I rely on my laptop for updating Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, not to mention editing, updating, and formatting manuscripts.

What's especially annoying is that the state of being financially strapped means I'm going to have to wait til my new job kicks in to repair/buy new parts. And so my current works-in-progress are doomed to a state of limbo until I get my laptop up and running again.

Fortunately, I can continue updating my blog and a few other things with my phone. Thanks to the nifty Springpad app, I can even get some writing done. But Goodreads, book formatting, and other tasks will have to wait.

D'oh. Just when I was getting rolling, too.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Hard Part

If only I were two people.

One of me would do all the plotting, writing, editing, rewriting, coming up with new ideas, putting it all in a readable story format.

The other would do all the marketing.

Because goshdarnit, that marketing thing can be a royal pain in the glutes.

It's not that it's so much more work, really. It's just a lot less fun. When I'm writing I can get lost in the story and the flow of the plot and my growing sympathy with the characters. When I'm marketing I have to keep kicking myself, goading myself, telling myself this is NECESSARY AND MUST BE DONE. It's not something with a flow to which I can lose myself. It's a world of hurdles, of new lessons learned, of trial and error and error.

And yes, I said error twice.

That's why dividing the work load between two of me would be nice. The part of me that does all the writing could just work away unimpeded and unflustered by the marketing aspect, letting the other part slave and grumble and puzzle and push.

I saw a Twitter update not long ago that said aspiring writers probably would be better off getting degrees in marketing rather than English or journalism. I suspect that's accurate. It's easier (in my opinion) to teach oneself how to write than to dive headfirst into the marketing world and tread water while hoping the magnum opus you're using as a floatation device doesn't give out.

Thank God for kind folks out there who've been down this road and are willing to show a new guy some of the ropes. If one good thing comes out of my marketing dabblings, I'll have met some great people.

Onward and upward!

Friday, January 13, 2012

FREE DOWNLOAD FRIDAY!

Today, my supernatural thriller, Devil's Creek, is available for free download from Amazon. It will only be free until midnight (PST) tonight (January 13, 2012).

Devil's Creek has gotten consistent 5-star ratings on Amazon and Smashwords. Bibliobabes.ca called it a "f***in' clever story". If you're curious, and own a Kindle (or a Kindle app), check it out -- what have you got to lose? After all, it's FREE!

You can reach the ebook's Amazon page HERE

Feedback and reviews are always appreciated!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Live Like You Were Dying

Wow . . . it's 2012 already. In only a matter of months, the world as we know it is gonna turn into a cheesy John Cusack movie.

For those who might not catch sarcasm as quickly as others, no, I don't believe that the world is going to dramatically end on December 21st. However, the concept can be utilized to give a person to thought.

As an example: As a writer, what would I do with my writing if I knew for a fact that the world was on the verge of termination? Would I write something more meaningful, more philosophical, something that might help people enrich their lives before the end came crashing in? Or would I just give up, saying, "What's the point if we're all doomed to perish in a global cataclysm?"

Honestly, I don't know for certain, but it's something I've pondered on and off.

On a more personal note, what if I knew I was going to die soon (not the whole world -- just me)? In that case I know exactly what I'd do. I'd compose letters to my kids, for them to read when they got older. I'd write about things I've learned about life and the world in general, trying to pass on what I know. I wouldn't be there for them as they grew up, so I'd do the next best thing -- leave notes and letters.

If I were making a significant living writing fiction, I'd hurry to finish composing my current pieces in progress, publish them, and market like crazy. I'd probably show my wife how to market them as well. That way I would be leaving a modest income to help them get through.

But then I think about this: We never know when our time is going to come. I could slip on ice and crack my skull tomorrow. Or I could go on to beat the record as the oldest person in modern history. I like the philosophy of "live like you were dying". Live each day like it's your last, leave as much value and love and goodness behind as you possibly can.

I think writers are better equipped for this task than most. Let's use it.