Self-Publish: An Argument Realized

At a seminar on the business of writing, held by the local and talented Erik Wecks, we went over the traditional model of publishing and self-publishing. Erik touched on the timeline for each method and the benefits. I wanted to pick his brain a little more, like the hungry little zombie I am, but time was short. In all, it was a fun discourse, and I recommend anyone in the Portland area to check out any future seminars by Mr. Wecks. I know I plan to.

Self-pub in mind, I picked up the ole historical binoculars and spied backward to 2011 and my original post about self-publishing Hammerblood.

(Amusing tidbit: I mentioned publishing a book in 2014—what a coincidence!)

The 4 Aspects of Engaging Characters - A Writing Excuses Dissection

Do you listen to Writing Excuses? If you do, good. If you don't: For Shame! That's right, I'm giving you the evil eye.

Writing Excuses is a great resource for writers, lovers of genre fiction and for many others of refined taste that only have 15 minutes and a busy schedule. I've listened to every episode of their nine seasons and recently Brandon and the team threw down a great tool for character development.

The basic premise is this: Your character not working? Do you and your readers not feel engaged with the character. Disinterested? Well, perhaps we need to look at how the character is structured and how they interact within the confines of the story.

Brandon suggests there are 3 aspects, or prongs (as he calls them) to creating an engaging character:
Sympathy - Are they a good person? Can you relate to the character, or sympathize? Frodo doesn't want to take on the burden of the ring, he feels inadequate for the task, and yet he does it anyway. We feel the impact of that decision and it pulls us into the story. (It also plays on Proactivity, but I think we mostly sympathize with this undertaking.)

A Clifton Primer on Titles of Address and Rank

Have you ever wondered when you should capitalize titles or rank? I have. In fact, I’ve practically lost sleep over it.

In my story I have generals and lieutenants, a captain-protector, a guard-captain and made up titles to boot. While steeped in the writing flurry I passed them by with nary a wink. But, as I came to final, these little demons began to claw and howl.

And because you really need my opinion on this matter, I'm going to share my conclusion. This is not fact, it is my opinion, and entirely subjective based on you, your genre and your style.

I’ve seen contradicting advice online for when to capitalize and when not. (I know. Weird, right?) In general it seemed fairly consistent to leave them lowercase when not attached to a name and when not in direct address. “Hello, Lieutenant, have you seen Commander Poopypants? Looks like sarge is up to it again.” But then I got some mixed advice and went astray.

The Beta Runs Before the Wind

Yes, I had to tinker and
make a beta cover. 

I submitted Veil of a Warrior to a few beta readers in 2010. Though I liked the response, I realized eventually that there was more to do and the story was not ready. Back to the drawing board and four years later its off to beta one more time.

The book is ready to fly and in my excitement to finally publish, I had to hit the brakes. None of this round of beta readers uses an e-reader, so I had to look into my print options.

I don’t own a laser printer and quickly found that printing a 692 page behemoth on an inkjet to be a really bad idea. So,

Newsletter Fondness of the Fantastical

The book is coming.

Say it with me: The book is coming.

Did you feel a shiver? Me too, or maybe that was a nervous shake from fatigue.

Either way, Hammerblood is almost here, and as I have looked at its release, I lament one thing: That there is only one book. Yes, it will be part of a series of four (a tetralogy), but those books will be down the line. No cliffhangers. I swear. (My wife would give me the evil eye if there were.)

Anywho, it got me thinking, this lack of multiple books. It seemed so lonely. Should I not have something else? Something to kindle the fire of your Hammerblood-hunger? And then inspiration sparked!

And what about my Newsletter? What perks can I offer to the dedicated few? Ah...even better. A plan forms.

Make Love, Not Semicolon Carnage

It's funny how life can smack you upside the head and change your perspective faster than a raging barbarian with a bad-hair day.

I was dead-set on eliminating semicolons, chopping them off at the period, throttling their little dangling comma and tossing the whole lot into the wind. They were evil things that did not belong in my holy epic fantasy prose, and had to be exorcised.

But you know what? As I neared the finish of my current edit, the sunset brilliant and touching, I ran into places where they were the only sort of punctuation that worked.

Not An Announcement

Announcements are declarations. They are definitive. And this is not one.

However, in an effort to update my blog with something (so the bleeping spammers will leave my blog alone for a couple more weeks), I give you something that is not quite an announcement:

I will release Hammerblood, Book 1: Veil of a Warrior around May. Maybe...

My hope was for sooner, but I'm running a couple weeks behind on a last pass copyedit/trimming the fat. In the next week or two, I will need some beta readers. If you and I have conversed in the past and you have some time, let me know—I need your eyes.

Hammerblood is epic fantasy, perhaps a little sword & sorcery, there is magic, there is mystery and I want the characters to pop with their own stories and passions.

Smash Semicolon, Bash Semicolon...

In my pursuit of finishing my personal behemoth, I’m getting close to the copyedit phase. As I near this unfamiliar territory, I have to face one of my greatest fears: THE SEMICOLON!!

Learning proper grammar and punctuation was never a keen interest. As I continue to write, my attitude changes, but the availability of time for research does not seem to coordinate.

Strange.

Yet, I have read a lot in my years and I am aware that the semicolon is a red-headed step-child of the genre fiction world. I was surprised to see it prominently in The Book of Three, by Lloyd Alexander (a recent read), though this was published fifty years ago.

Perhaps this is new to you? Then, let me share in brief: There are different styles of punctuation and grammar for different types of writing. Journalism adheres to AP style, genre fiction—like Fantasy and Science Fiction—mostly go with The Chicago Manual of Style, though each publishing house can have their own variations.

I am Alive

And working...

But aren't we all?

I wish I could tell you (and show you) the finished product of years of writing and revision, of growth and correction, of deep insight, dramatic tension and great adventure...

But I can't, not yet.

Hammerblood is coming. It's going to be 2014. I want the book to be done, I want to move on to another project and I want to get back to work on book 2.

I've lived inside of my head for too long. Soon you will see.

I'm excited, anxious and a little scared out of my mind.

Start With Something Small

You have a grand sweeping epic of a story idea. Good vs. Bad in a world where it is not always evident who is who. An intricate magic system where your magical power is funneled from hypiverian grapefruit, guarded by evil warrior monkeys (I like it!). There are dramatical swoops of the heart and pangs of the soul, that tell an epic that will wrench and uplift. It is a story that will be talked about for decades to come.

And you’ve almost gotten through your first draft. It’s massive. It’s amazing.

And it’s your first story.

WAIT!