This has been a tough week because it is one where it reminds you that as much as there are good people out there who mean well and want to do the right things, sadly there are others who, are not so nice. In the writing industry, it is a very difficult to know how to deal with controversy, and not get in a bad situation. It is an industry that has many gate keepers. You need to convince an agent to buy into your story, and then they need to convince a publisher, that they should buy your story.
Now anyone in business knows there are always those who are out for themselves and sadly every day we hear stories of corporate greed. But this is very hard for writers. Writers put their hard personal effort into a piece of work and then hope someone will give them a valid shot at success. Just for someone to open a door that they can possibly walk through and work hard to get some success.
Sadly I hear that in writing, which is so hard to begin with, this type of nasty under handed behavior is very real as well. It makes me very mad to see that the writers who do all the work are the one's who get back stabbed by those in positions of gatekeeping. From agents to publishers I have seen the bad side of the behavior that is obvious. From agents who only want to be half on board and don't really care to publishers who say one thing and do the opposite.
So please if something seems wrong, or you are not sure, look, ask questions, speak to those who have experience. The idea of following your gut in business applies to writing as well. Ask and research and don't assume based on past reputations. Look and if you see a red flag, question it, before you act.
Writing is a hard business and like any others you need to focus on you, and how successful you can be, but like anywhere else, do your due diligence. If it looks wrong, question, it may well be.
Stay focused and overcome and use your instincts, don't give up, and don't let bad people win, because it's a matter of rising above and focusing on moving forward.
I believe that you can and will succeed .
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
How do they do that?
So today I was thinking about books and the difficulty of going and getting one published. I have been lucky enough to witness first hand the process on how this gets done and it is overwhelming, not easy, and at times insane. No I don't have near the talent or patience to be the good writer to write these books but I do travel in circles with many writers and have had the honor of watching my wife work on her first book.
I used to think that writing a book was hard but the process was not. Oh my heavens was I wrong. It seems that we all take for granted that these books just appear on the shelf and by some miracle we just buy them. Do we ever stop and think what goes into the process? I know growing up I didn't and the older I become the more I marvel and the strength and fortitude of those who manage to do this.
In a short version it is very subjective. Once and if you convince an agent to help you then you hope the agent is willing to work with you to sell it to a publisher. This is a very hard process often taken many years and lots of luck, hard work and persistence. If a publisher wants it then they may have numerous changes that they want done to fit in their particular style or format. Then there will be copy edits and advance reader copies. Then if you manage to push through all of that it hits the store and the hard work of pushing it to the market and the customers begins. How does this book stand out? How can you advance the sales and make it successful? Not everyone is a Stephen King that can sell on name alone and that is something earned, not handed too you.
I want you you think the next time you walk into a book store, take a minute, look around at all the books that surround you, and realize that there are people behind those books. Realize the amount of work that went into the book you are looking at and the effort and time it takes. Ask yourself a question, can I do that, or do I think it is writing fairy that comes down and fills the shelves. I promise you there is no writing fairy there is a hard work and effort and time.
So walk into the bookstore and thank those authors and appreciate the effort because it is their passion, drive and effort that is filling your store and we need to remember that.
I used to think that writing a book was hard but the process was not. Oh my heavens was I wrong. It seems that we all take for granted that these books just appear on the shelf and by some miracle we just buy them. Do we ever stop and think what goes into the process? I know growing up I didn't and the older I become the more I marvel and the strength and fortitude of those who manage to do this.
In a short version it is very subjective. Once and if you convince an agent to help you then you hope the agent is willing to work with you to sell it to a publisher. This is a very hard process often taken many years and lots of luck, hard work and persistence. If a publisher wants it then they may have numerous changes that they want done to fit in their particular style or format. Then there will be copy edits and advance reader copies. Then if you manage to push through all of that it hits the store and the hard work of pushing it to the market and the customers begins. How does this book stand out? How can you advance the sales and make it successful? Not everyone is a Stephen King that can sell on name alone and that is something earned, not handed too you.
I want you you think the next time you walk into a book store, take a minute, look around at all the books that surround you, and realize that there are people behind those books. Realize the amount of work that went into the book you are looking at and the effort and time it takes. Ask yourself a question, can I do that, or do I think it is writing fairy that comes down and fills the shelves. I promise you there is no writing fairy there is a hard work and effort and time.
So walk into the bookstore and thank those authors and appreciate the effort because it is their passion, drive and effort that is filling your store and we need to remember that.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Light Fun Usually With A Gun
Lately I have been enjoying some lighter reading. I have had a hard time focusing so I am trying to get back into reading with what they call cozy mysteries. There are so many to choose from. I am currently going between "Night of the Living Deed" by E.J. Copperman and books by Laura Morrigan such as "A Tiger's Tale". Both of these books are fun reading one dealing with ghosts who have not left a house because the mystery surrounding their death was not resolved and therefore they ask the current owner to help them resolve it, so far very funny, and a good amount of sarcasm. The Laura Morrigan series is about a woman with the gift of communicating with animals. So she has to solve mysteries with the help of the animals without really letting lots of people get on her case about this gift of communicating, which most people think is nonsense, they just can't figure her out.
Both of these are examples of lighter reading that still is interesting and have a breezy style. You can find almost any type of interest in the world of cozy mystery, from cooking to cats. I think that if you ever just need some time to unwind, away from the stress of the everyday, get lost in a book, especially a cozy mystery. There is nothing like escaping from the mundane and worldly stresses to a world where characters have their own problems and come up with some really interesting solutions. So cozy up with your book tonight, not you I-pad or computer, you may find you actually have a good time and enjoy the ride.
Both of these are examples of lighter reading that still is interesting and have a breezy style. You can find almost any type of interest in the world of cozy mystery, from cooking to cats. I think that if you ever just need some time to unwind, away from the stress of the everyday, get lost in a book, especially a cozy mystery. There is nothing like escaping from the mundane and worldly stresses to a world where characters have their own problems and come up with some really interesting solutions. So cozy up with your book tonight, not you I-pad or computer, you may find you actually have a good time and enjoy the ride.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Books What We Love and Look For
Books: I love them and want to share my favorite authors with you
1. Richard Marcinko
2. Mathew Reilly
3. Brad Thor
4. Vince Flynn
5. Tom Clancy
6. Barry Eisler
7. Robert Aspirin
8. Jim Butcher
9. Spider Robinson
10. Esther Friesner
All these books are really in two areas of interest. Action and thriller and light hearted fantasy. I know a strange combination of hard and soft, fast and slow, and silly and serious. But there is one thing all of these authors do better then most. They build the story and characters so that you actually see, feel and experience their lives and their problems. You are not outside looking in, you are part of the experience, and therefore fully engaged in the world and the character situation.
You need this to be successful. So many books are either copies of other ones on the market and don't engage with the reader. The market is full of false copy cat people who get published because they copy someone else's success. Any reader of books will tell you that they love a genre of books and they only read those types, I am open. I will read almost anything on the market but the goal is simple, engage me from the beginning, and keep me focused on the story.
How do you feel about books? Who are your favorite authors? Why do you love reading? Tell me what makes the books you read important to you, and together we can journey and share the world of books with all the people who still love reading in todays electronic world.
1. Richard Marcinko
2. Mathew Reilly
3. Brad Thor
4. Vince Flynn
5. Tom Clancy
6. Barry Eisler
7. Robert Aspirin
8. Jim Butcher
9. Spider Robinson
10. Esther Friesner
All these books are really in two areas of interest. Action and thriller and light hearted fantasy. I know a strange combination of hard and soft, fast and slow, and silly and serious. But there is one thing all of these authors do better then most. They build the story and characters so that you actually see, feel and experience their lives and their problems. You are not outside looking in, you are part of the experience, and therefore fully engaged in the world and the character situation.
You need this to be successful. So many books are either copies of other ones on the market and don't engage with the reader. The market is full of false copy cat people who get published because they copy someone else's success. Any reader of books will tell you that they love a genre of books and they only read those types, I am open. I will read almost anything on the market but the goal is simple, engage me from the beginning, and keep me focused on the story.
How do you feel about books? Who are your favorite authors? Why do you love reading? Tell me what makes the books you read important to you, and together we can journey and share the world of books with all the people who still love reading in todays electronic world.
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