River People, Goal People and My Three Words for 2015

by | Dec 30, 2014 | Blogging, Short Stories, Strategy

River People

For the past several years, I’ve enjoyed reading Chris Brogan’s January 1st post where he shares his three words for the new year. These are the words that will drive the focus of his goals and efforts for the coming year. I’ve decided to do the same thing for 2015, but before I share mine allow me to provide some background.

Earl Nightingale produced an audio essay years ago on Goal People and River People. In its most simple terms, he saw successful people falling into those two categories. Goal people, who pursue specific goals on their road to success, and river people, who throw themselves into a “river of interest” that can last a lifetime.

I’ve always been a goal person, but for the past two years I’ve tried to throw myself into a river of interest, writing. My success as a river person has been mixed, at least in terms of accomplishment. The river has carried me into writing classes, books on the craft of writing, writing conferences and the completion of several manuscripts and multiple short stories. But of all that work only one thing has been published. A short story titled GONE TOMORROW.

During that period, I launched two different writing-related podcasts, including my current show, The Author Biz, through which I’ve met many of my writing heroes. I learned a great deal from the guests on those shows, and from what I hear from listeners, others have as well.

I accomplished much over the past two years, but if I’d been tracking goals, I think I’d have published more, because publishing would (should) have been a primary goal.

The River of Interest has been educational and fun, but for the baseball fans among you it’s like spending two years in spring training and only playing one game.

I did finish what I was certain would be my first published novel, but both professionals and I found it lacking in several areas. This disappointment caused a period of doing anything but writing, which included the launch of The Author Biz. That took time, learning and practice as I developed a style and format for the show. But I am happy to report that it’s finding an audience more quickly than I expected.

As for the writing, I did begin again with what I’d hoped would be a short story, which turned into a short novel, featuring Reno Hart. I like Reno, but her character is still being developed through a series of short stories, that should be finished by now, but I allowed life to interrupt.

We all have issues in life that throw down obstacles between where we are now and where we want to be. Sometimes these come disguised as opportunities, sometimes as problems, and sometimes they look like relaxation. For me, the primary issue is a problem. The health of a family member took a dramatic turn for the worse last year and that dramatically altered my plans in the last quarter of 2014.

These problems aren’t going away in 2015. In fact, problems like these are likely to appear more often as friends and family age. I can’t ignore these problems, and I need to refocus on my work.

Does dealing with problems make me unique in some way? Nope. People deal with problems every day and still do amazing things. It’s what separates the accomplished from the rest of the world.

Much of my success in life has come from the ability to keep the different parts of my life separate, and to focus on the task at hand. I’ve done that by maintaining a schedule that’s been consistent for years. It’s been so consistent that I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to change it to meet my current needs. But it requires change, and the best way for me to make changes is by using goals. So I’ve decided to pull myself out of the warm, rolling waters of the River of Interest and back onto shore so I can set some goals that are meaningful and measurable in 2015.

To meet those goals, I need to be able to focus on my work when the time allows, rather than when my schedule tells me it’s time. Can I do it? Of course. You probably do this already. Mothers with small children do it every day. They work when the kids are asleep, or at a play day with friends. They work in 10 to 30-minute increments when time allows. It’s not the way I’ve worked in the past, but it’s going to have to be a component of how I work going forward.

So . . . that’s the background. Now on with my three words for 2015. The words that I’ll use to drive the focus of my goals and efforts for the coming year.

  • Simplify
  • Multiply
  • Monetize

I’ll explain what the words mean to me and how they’ll impact my 2015 goals in my next post.

 

Are Some Forms of Traditional Publishing Becoming the New Vanity Press?

by | Feb 7, 2014 | Strategy, Writing

Bookstore

Image courtesy of Kristin Nador WANA Commons

I read an interesting post from Hugh Howey this morning, titled, Submit. But Don’t Say Uncle.

His post is a response to a something he’d seen online, from a writer named Paul, who was desperate to be published, traditionally published, as a form of validation for his writing talents.  This writer, who actually did self-publish, regretted his decision.  He didn’t like being categorized as a self-published author, because he felt linked with those authors whose work was not up to his standards.

The idea of going the traditional publishing route is something that has to be considered by every author.  It’s obviously one of the primary routes to publication.  If your work is selected by one of the big five publishing houses, you’ll be able to have your picture taken, holding your book, at your local bookstore.  You may see your book in airport bookstores, and your friends will be able to see, and buy your book, in those bookstores.  That’s got to be an amazing feeling.  I’ve spoken with a number of authors who are no longer traditionally published, and that’s the thing they miss the most.

There are obvious benefits of being published by one of the big five.  But do those same benefits also accrue to those who are published by the smaller presses.  I’m curious what drives authors to the presses who won’t be able to get their books into bookstores.  The publishers who won’t offer advances that provide some real form of compensation for the work that goes into writing a novel. What’s the appeal of those publishing houses?

Is it simply being able to avoid the stigma of being self-published?  Is that why authors would take deals that can’t possibly work out well?   My favorite quote in Hugh’s post is the following:

In many ways, traditional publishing has become the new vanity press. Authors used to spend a lot of money for the ego boost of being an “author” and holding their “book.” Now they simply give up a lot of money in order to think of themselves as “real authors” who can hold their “real book.” It’s still ego and money lost. But I understand the urge. I get it. I can empathize with the need to feel good enough.

Of course, there are other reasons why an author might choose to go the small press route.  The publisher may provide services the author is unable, or unwilling to acquire on her own.  Things like professional editing, cover design, formatting,  and a myriad of other tasks that don’t involve writing the book.  The author doesn’t need to find the right people for these jobs, or to pay for these services.  The publisher will do it for her.

The publisher is willing to place a bet on the author that the author is unwilling to place on herself.

The publishers who pay for these services, and provide the advances, expect to earn that money back and more.  If not, why would they make the bet?

Everyone’s situation is different.  In some cases going the small press route may make sense.  But in many cases it doesn’t. I hear too many stories of authors signing with small presses, and regretting the decision. Sometimes before the first book is published, sometimes later.

Are there others reasons authors might go the small press route?  Please let me know in the comments.

Image courtesy of Kristin Nador WANA Commons