I'm going to stop posting for a while. I don't see much point in it. I have a lot to learn and my luck has been nearly nonexistent so I should concentrate on writing, marketing and cobbling together a plan for doing things, since right now, I'm walking around nearly blind.
I will leave you with one piece of advice. In my writing, I have discovered that publishing a free short story can help, yes, but it can only really be helpful if you publish it at the same time as your book since people may like something but not enough to go back and check if it's out yet. Convenience is one of the best things you can provide to get your work seen by more people and have them consider buying it.
Thanks,
Cait
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Snow Sands, Back to the Drawing Board
Well, I finally got someone to read through the book and tell me what they thought. I'm aware that people have stuff to do, but it always seems to be a matter of forcing people to do stuff for me. It kinda makes me wish I were a meaner person, then I'd find it fun.
Okay, to the point. The humor is great, emphases on the great. The main character is a bit too accepting of her situation and there are a few minor formatting issues.
Good.
Now the last part of the book. It falls apart. Too much is going on, the main character falls to the wayside and it's just a muddle. Still funny, though.
Based on this information provided from a kind reviewer on Goodreads, I've come to understand exactly what I have, a pile-up of stuff. It's funny and cute and nice but it doesn't quite make it as a cohesive book.
With that in mind I've taken down the book from both Smashwords and Amazon and intend to split it into two and expand on those parts, filling in any plot holes and ensuring that everything reads smoothly and makes more sense.
The lesson for today is; You usually don't know as much as you think you do and should be willing to change things once you have new knowledge.
Yep. It's back to the beginning with Snow Sands, I read it from the start again. "Fool, fool, back to the beginning is the rule."
The Wind-Up Terrier is in better shape, (hopefully) and will be released in the next month, perhaps November 30. I'm looking forward to everyone meeting Euphemia and the girls. Even though they were around before the word spitfire was coined, they definitely fit the perimeters.
Okay, to the point. The humor is great, emphases on the great. The main character is a bit too accepting of her situation and there are a few minor formatting issues.
Good.
Now the last part of the book. It falls apart. Too much is going on, the main character falls to the wayside and it's just a muddle. Still funny, though.
Based on this information provided from a kind reviewer on Goodreads, I've come to understand exactly what I have, a pile-up of stuff. It's funny and cute and nice but it doesn't quite make it as a cohesive book.
With that in mind I've taken down the book from both Smashwords and Amazon and intend to split it into two and expand on those parts, filling in any plot holes and ensuring that everything reads smoothly and makes more sense.
The lesson for today is; You usually don't know as much as you think you do and should be willing to change things once you have new knowledge.
Yep. It's back to the beginning with Snow Sands, I read it from the start again. "Fool, fool, back to the beginning is the rule."
The Wind-Up Terrier is in better shape, (hopefully) and will be released in the next month, perhaps November 30. I'm looking forward to everyone meeting Euphemia and the girls. Even though they were around before the word spitfire was coined, they definitely fit the perimeters.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Eat Grubs, Not Pugs
Eat bugs, not mammals! All us warm blooded, milk drinkers should stick together and eat the creepy, crawlies, not each other.
That is my ruling.
Also, I think most bugs would be easier to prepare than chicken or beef. They're already in bite size pieces, for crying out loud!
It's like eating shrimp. All we need is a sheller for different insects and we're set. Or eat them with the shell on, like my mom does for shrimp. Calcium, you kenn?
Rally with me, my friends. It's the dawn of a new generation.
Grubs taste like bacon, apparently.
http://edibug.wordpress.com/list-of-edible-insects/
Also, Snails.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/escargot-zmaz93jjztak.aspx?PageId=1
Sounds good to me!
Perhaps I should look up what fire ants taste like.
That is my ruling.
Also, I think most bugs would be easier to prepare than chicken or beef. They're already in bite size pieces, for crying out loud!
It's like eating shrimp. All we need is a sheller for different insects and we're set. Or eat them with the shell on, like my mom does for shrimp. Calcium, you kenn?
Rally with me, my friends. It's the dawn of a new generation.
Grubs taste like bacon, apparently.
http://edibug.wordpress.com/list-of-edible-insects/
Also, Snails.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/escargot-zmaz93jjztak.aspx?PageId=1
Sounds good to me!
Perhaps I should look up what fire ants taste like.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
My Dog is Gone
You know Jager, the dog who inspired Bubble's Ordeal and Ode to Jager?
He passed away rather horribly on Monday. It was too early for him and we're feeling very guilty and horrible. This is just after he finished his four month heart worm treatment. He was worm free. He was also refusing to eat and losing weight. My guy had been laid off from his job, again and we hoped that getting him to eat and getting his tapeworms, which he seemed to get every single time he went outside, would be enough. It wasn't.
A little after noon on Monday, October 21 2013, Jager collapsed in the back of the SUV after he'd been carried there from the grass where he'd lain down and refused to stand. He stopped breathing immediately.
We'd been worrying so much that it's a relief. It's also quite painful. He should have lived longer. He could have lived longer if we'd chosen differently.
We are dealing with it and I have decided that for my NaNoWriMo book, I will write about the death of a dog and his bonding with a dog mecha. It sounds silly but I promise you it will be epic. Jager's picture will be in the beginning and the book will be dedicated to him and to my guy.
I will finish this one. I need to.
He passed away rather horribly on Monday. It was too early for him and we're feeling very guilty and horrible. This is just after he finished his four month heart worm treatment. He was worm free. He was also refusing to eat and losing weight. My guy had been laid off from his job, again and we hoped that getting him to eat and getting his tapeworms, which he seemed to get every single time he went outside, would be enough. It wasn't.
A little after noon on Monday, October 21 2013, Jager collapsed in the back of the SUV after he'd been carried there from the grass where he'd lain down and refused to stand. He stopped breathing immediately.
We'd been worrying so much that it's a relief. It's also quite painful. He should have lived longer. He could have lived longer if we'd chosen differently.
We are dealing with it and I have decided that for my NaNoWriMo book, I will write about the death of a dog and his bonding with a dog mecha. It sounds silly but I promise you it will be epic. Jager's picture will be in the beginning and the book will be dedicated to him and to my guy.
I will finish this one. I need to.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
What Do You See? Wordy Wednesday
Today, I want to talk about perception. It's why my mother insists that many things are green when I know they are blue and why not everybody likes the same art.Things look and feel different to different people.
That's why you can't write for everybody. You have to write for people who like certain subjects and your pacing, descriptions and characters will reflect that as much or more so than your plot.
Of course, you can have relatively flat characters and a great story. Some people like that and other people will accept that if they identify with the tale you're telling, even if your mains are little more than cardboard cutouts of standard archetypes.
My point is, there's a lot of different things that go into a story and a little bit of focus to conform to a certain interest pool is good for satisfying a group of people.
Not everybody likes exactly the same things, even in a group of like minded individuals, but if you try to please one interest, you alienate the others.
I will say though, that you have to write for yourself, if you want to enjoy your work and finish as this is overwhelmingly true for many people, humans often lacking focus for boring tasks in this day and age. But, people have done quite well writing about what they hate.
This all boils down to something I'm sure everyone has heard, though not put quite the way I have said it. You should know your audience, whether that audience includes you and you love your stories or the audience is far removed from your interests and you're just in it for cash.
I don't mind people writing for the moolah, as long as they do it well, and don't make fun of the people who read their crap, at least not too much.
Some genres are like little Debbie snack cakes. They aren't exactly the best canvas to try and paint a work of art but what everyone should understand is that just because people read something you think is dumb, doesn't mean they are defined by it. There's something that calls to them but that is not all they are. Also, good artists can paint wherever they like and create something beautiful, even if it's a cheap pastry.
We all need a little reassurance or something to put zip in our lives. Just because plots are unrealistic and characters are bland cut-outs does not mean that there isn't heart to a book and to inspire feelings of contentment, love, anger, ecstasy and excitement, that's all you need.
All sorts of books are important, not just "literature." Some people may see it differently but that's what it's all about. Opinions, perception, heart and at the base of it all, hard work.
That's why you can't write for everybody. You have to write for people who like certain subjects and your pacing, descriptions and characters will reflect that as much or more so than your plot.
Of course, you can have relatively flat characters and a great story. Some people like that and other people will accept that if they identify with the tale you're telling, even if your mains are little more than cardboard cutouts of standard archetypes.
My point is, there's a lot of different things that go into a story and a little bit of focus to conform to a certain interest pool is good for satisfying a group of people.
Not everybody likes exactly the same things, even in a group of like minded individuals, but if you try to please one interest, you alienate the others.
I will say though, that you have to write for yourself, if you want to enjoy your work and finish as this is overwhelmingly true for many people, humans often lacking focus for boring tasks in this day and age. But, people have done quite well writing about what they hate.
This all boils down to something I'm sure everyone has heard, though not put quite the way I have said it. You should know your audience, whether that audience includes you and you love your stories or the audience is far removed from your interests and you're just in it for cash.
I don't mind people writing for the moolah, as long as they do it well, and don't make fun of the people who read their crap, at least not too much.
Some genres are like little Debbie snack cakes. They aren't exactly the best canvas to try and paint a work of art but what everyone should understand is that just because people read something you think is dumb, doesn't mean they are defined by it. There's something that calls to them but that is not all they are. Also, good artists can paint wherever they like and create something beautiful, even if it's a cheap pastry.
We all need a little reassurance or something to put zip in our lives. Just because plots are unrealistic and characters are bland cut-outs does not mean that there isn't heart to a book and to inspire feelings of contentment, love, anger, ecstasy and excitement, that's all you need.
All sorts of books are important, not just "literature." Some people may see it differently but that's what it's all about. Opinions, perception, heart and at the base of it all, hard work.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Picture Day, not Wordy at all
I've gotten back into reading, and writing and drawing.
In place of a story, here's a picture I drew and then colored in with crayon.
Man, crayons are way more fun when I actually have the fine motor skills to get them in and out of the box without breaking them.
Also, ya know, to color.
I can't center. I know, I suck.
So, here we are. Rainbow Serpent, Quetzalcoatl mash-up, done in crayon, by me. Cait. It's mine and it's pretty.
In place of a story, here's a picture I drew and then colored in with crayon.
Man, crayons are way more fun when I actually have the fine motor skills to get them in and out of the box without breaking them.
Also, ya know, to color.
So, here we are. Rainbow Serpent, Quetzalcoatl mash-up, done in crayon, by me. Cait. It's mine and it's pretty.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Wordy Wednesday; Characters That Make Readers Feel Good
The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Young Wizard series by Diane Duane
Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling
Twilight
What do all of these have in common?
Characters with interesting flaws, or hobbies who come from unpleasant, though somewhat mundane situations.
That's what I've decided.
In the YA books by Rick Riordin, both the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series, (I prefer the later, probably because I identify with the characters.) there are all these kids from single parent families who mostly didn't even know who the other parent was. They were trouble makers who'd been kicked out of multiple schools. Kids diagnosed with learning disabilities, dyslexia and ADHD. But all of that is okay. It's just part of being a demigod. It's actually better senses and reflexes as well as a brain hard wired for Greek (or Latin). There's more depth to it than that. They aren't Mary Sues and, frankly, I'd have liked to slap some of the godly parents but that's sort of what the main characters get to do which causes me a squee of satisfaction and glee. They also get to go on quests, so adventure, albeit dangerous, and they get to spend their time in summer camp learning cool things, like sword fighting and making stuff like statues.
In the Wizard series by Diane Duane, kids become wizards. The younger they are, the more powerful they are. Kids who are curious and read a bunch become wizards. They do have to complete an ordeal, a sort of quest against a big baddy called the Lone Power but that's satisfying too, as well as kinda terrifying at times. Living dangerously through characters is pretty cool.
As for Harry Potter, his life sucks at the beginning and then he becomes the special boy, gets to learn cool things and gets to leave his horrible relatives far behind for a decent chunk of each year. What's not to envy?
Twilight, well, Bella's life is kinda blah. Edward certainly fixes that though even then it's a bit bleach. There's also romance and the ultimate bad boy who can't help what he is, if you're into that.
There we are. I don't think this is a great revelation but the thing that ties popular young adult fiction together is identifying with the characters and gaining a burst of emotion from living vicariously through them.
Young Wizard series by Diane Duane
Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling
Twilight
What do all of these have in common?
Characters with interesting flaws, or hobbies who come from unpleasant, though somewhat mundane situations.
That's what I've decided.
In the YA books by Rick Riordin, both the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series, (I prefer the later, probably because I identify with the characters.) there are all these kids from single parent families who mostly didn't even know who the other parent was. They were trouble makers who'd been kicked out of multiple schools. Kids diagnosed with learning disabilities, dyslexia and ADHD. But all of that is okay. It's just part of being a demigod. It's actually better senses and reflexes as well as a brain hard wired for Greek (or Latin). There's more depth to it than that. They aren't Mary Sues and, frankly, I'd have liked to slap some of the godly parents but that's sort of what the main characters get to do which causes me a squee of satisfaction and glee. They also get to go on quests, so adventure, albeit dangerous, and they get to spend their time in summer camp learning cool things, like sword fighting and making stuff like statues.
In the Wizard series by Diane Duane, kids become wizards. The younger they are, the more powerful they are. Kids who are curious and read a bunch become wizards. They do have to complete an ordeal, a sort of quest against a big baddy called the Lone Power but that's satisfying too, as well as kinda terrifying at times. Living dangerously through characters is pretty cool.
As for Harry Potter, his life sucks at the beginning and then he becomes the special boy, gets to learn cool things and gets to leave his horrible relatives far behind for a decent chunk of each year. What's not to envy?
Twilight, well, Bella's life is kinda blah. Edward certainly fixes that though even then it's a bit bleach. There's also romance and the ultimate bad boy who can't help what he is, if you're into that.
There we are. I don't think this is a great revelation but the thing that ties popular young adult fiction together is identifying with the characters and gaining a burst of emotion from living vicariously through them.
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