Saturday Evening Post

What a week! So many things getting back to normal around here, I hardly know where to begin. I suppose the best place is the aversion of the power outage. Grab a cuppa and snuggle into a rocker. I have already stoked the fire.

Last Saturday, I was open about the possibility M3 could go dark. I was having a hard time holding onto things around here between fixing the things which I knew were completely shattered and trying to reassemble the missing portion of the crew we once had to add fuel to our discussions and lively banter.

Humble

To say the messages you sent me were uplifting is an epic fail of the English language. They went far above being merely supportive and endorsing. They were inspiring. Thank you for such wonderful support.

All of them pretty much blew my prevailing theory everything I write is merely to get it out of my head. You amaze me with some of the things you take away from the series. No, I am not talking about in a Friday Follies kind of way.

It helped me decide to stop chasing the wayward and let them find their way here, or not. If you are one who is here tonight, but only got here by accident, let me know in the comments so we can fix your subscription.

In the Blind

If you never had cause to know what goes into building and running a website, you need to hug the next programmer or webmaster you meet. Not shake hands. Hug. Air kisses probably are not ill-advised.

I am just around half-way through redirecting, fixing and updating the posts which migrated here. It has forced me to admit something beyond my Mediterranean fruit fly sized attention span and my abhorrence for code:

I happen to hate doing things in the order someone else chose.” 

Yes, I want to shoot a spitball at Caesar. Chronological order sounds like a fabulous way to make sure you do not miss anything…but it is…

BORING

For all of the thoughts on time and scheduling and getting things done without feeling like your brain has been sucked through a sieve, I am not a fan of doing anything in a prescribed order. Yes, this even applies to putting things together. I am the one who makes the rosettes for the cake before I ice it.

There is logic in that. I promise.

However…

It has led me to one conclusion. Honestly, more than one, but one in particular I want to share. We covered some amazing things. You made some of the most enlightening comments. From them both, there will be at least one book.

When I started on this blogging expedition, I really never had much of a plan. (See whole mind dump theory.) This is partly due to my complete lack of interest in anything once I have eaten it. (There is much deep symbolism in that statement if you think about it.) It is also due to my proclamation above about doing things via someone else’s plan. Niche writing be damned, even if I like waffles.

I did know bits and pieces from the encyclopedia were, when coupled with other bits, not entirely excruciating. Something happened, though.

You supplied a few bridges, asked a few (dozen) questions and used the sounding board. Music was born. And not just the psychotic kind Mantra orchestrates. You even nudged her toward a different end of the musical spectrum…sometimes.

Decisions

1. Much fewer hours playing video games. While this will stifle my creativity a bit, I know it is something I need to do.

2. More hours writing away from M3. This means I have to finish the retrofitting before I head home for my daughter’s wedding.

3. Less concern over 1,000,000. If you have been watching the crawl toward a million words, you will notice it has screeched nearly to a halt. I do not get credit for the code. I also do not get credit for the words I write elsewhere.

4. Plan a large party for books. This goes hand-in-hand with…

5. Finish research on opening book store.

The Book Maker

When I told Bear what I want to name the book store, he nearly dropped the telephone laughing. In and of itself, that maniacal laughter let me know I had chosen well. My research is also including what it will take to be a micro-publisher. I want to be putting books into print for others whilst I am publishing my own creations.

I am listening.

I ask everyone I meet who has a book, published traditionally or self-published, one question: Do you think the traditional publishing industry looks down on self-published material as inferior? The answer is the same, but always with different caveats.

  • because indies are not doing enough editing.
  • because indies rush to get to press without beta readers.
  • because there are too many unresolved references in the story.
  • because there is no real cover art.
  • because there are too many typos.
  • because they want to see their names on a book, any book.
  • because it is.

Part of my decision to publish other people’s work is not wanting to be an editor on more projects than I have now, but wanting to see more indies get their good work in the hands of an audience. All of this deciding has added a new section to my book store idea.

Your Turn

You know, or at least you should know, I value your opinions. So, let’s hear your answers to these questions:

  1. Do you think the idea of opening a book store is stepping into the last century?
  2. What do you think the biggest help for an indie author is?
  3. If you were looking for a book just for fun, what would be the first one you would pick up?
  4. Would you shop a digital section of a traditional book store, either in the store or online?

I hope your weekend is off to a wonderful and relaxing start. Until next time, see you in the comments.
Red Signature


© Red Dwyer 2012
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36 Comments

  1. I think that opening a book store sounds pretty good as so many people enjoy the actual reading and holding of a book, okay to some this may seem prehistoric but technology takes away the authenticity of reading and so this idea of opening a book store is certainly appealing.

    I wonder if a mobile book store would work? Lower overheads and only fuel costs and a decent van to house the books in I guess, though the outlay will obviously differ on whether or not the enterprise is on a large or small scale, of course I like books to be honest and so this notion sounds good to me.

    As for the digital idea within a book store, well why not? I mean this offers both the traditional and the modern all in one environment, so if one idea is doing better than the other then it is a simple case of choosing which sells the most books 🙂

    I don’t think that self publishing is a good idea, as Vanity Presses tend to offer high yields but in reality it all sounds just a little too good to be true don’t you agree? Besides self publishing isn’t always recognised by book shops and so selling one’s manuscript after self publishing in the sense of making lots of money would be almost impossible…

    Have a fun evening Red 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • And this comment is from someone who can’t even add his own name properly, hmm… Best to avoid all notions me thinks? 🙁 lol

      Androgoth XXx

      Reply
    • Red

       /  March 25, 2012

      Bear is with you on the idea of a mobile store. He was working out body styles and interiors in his head this afternoon.

      My experience with Vanity Press has always been the too good to be true model. As of yet, I have not heard from an author with a truly good vanity experience story. Many books stores do not honor self-published material. It is part of the reason I am considering micro-publishing. Still chewing on this part, as there is still a little gristle left to ferret out of the meat.

      I am working on it, but the day has grown weary, and I have much left to accomplish. I shall try, though.
      Red.

      Reply
  2. Yes I agree with Bear, offering a mobile library will suit so many people and also give the elderly a chance to enjoy their reading, being that some older persons cannot even get to a library these days and with technology being a little too scary to some of them, they unfortunately lose out on the whole reading experience 🙁

    Have fun now 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Red

       /  March 25, 2012

      My first thought was of elderly. I suggested some modifications to the conveyance to better accommodate those who may otherwise have difficulty entering the likes of a school bus (the preferred choice), although I had considered the option of a tow-behind RV camper, modified of course from the campy sort to a library. The run of the unit at regular intervals is always the best choice. He will be pleased for the endorsement.

      Red.

      Reply
  3. Oh boy! A list! I’m always far to excited about a list!
    1. Yes. In a good way. While technology is amazing I think people are looking for (and will be more and more) for the tradition / experience of the tangible.
    2. As you can tell, I’m not much of a writer. That would be a perfect question for my wife, though, who is much, much better with ‘the words’ than I am.
    3. ART SECTION!
    4. I’m still too old fashioned to even look into the whole e-book thing. Hmm… this might disqualify my first answer.
    🙂
    spilledinkguy recently posted..The New FivesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  March 26, 2012

      You are in the majority with your first answer. Ironically, when posed on the Internet, more people admit to reading real books than those in person. I really need to move.

      As to art…I am a firm believer in selling local art when the opportunity presents. Likewise, I have always sold the art of friends. Hmm….more food for thought and research.

      Reply
  4. 1. Love old fashioned book stores. There are some amazing holes in the wall sprinkled all over the UK in small towns, even in out of the way parts of London that I found. I spent hours wandering them. The greatest part of a couple of them was they had ‘used’ and ‘old’ book sections. I found some out of print books and a William Shakespeare Sonnets from 1906 in nearly perfect condition with a love note on the inside! Several of them were attached to small coffee/tea shops so you could sit and read (loved that).

    2. Don’t know that I have the answer, other than editors who don’t treat them like mindless children or charge them an arm and leg. I like your idea of a co-op.

    3. Depends on my mood that day in all honesty. Poli-Si, Social Sciences, Religion, Vampires, Si-Fi

    4. I might if the store had a coffee shop

    Reply
    • Red

       /  March 27, 2012

      3. In your eclectic nature, I have no doubt we are sisters. 4. Of course it will. 😉

      Reply
  5. Loving book stores. I feel empowered and smart when I walk into them. I have no idea why.

    I think digital is great because you can’t shy away from what the times are turning into. I personally would be slow to use it because I’m a dinosaur, but I would get there.
    lorrelee1970 recently posted..Don’t Read This BlogMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  March 30, 2012

      The more I roll the digital idea ball around, the more people are sticking to it. There is a giant guarantee it will be the only one here.

      Reply

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