Success!

Every time I’ve accomplished something this week, I’ve been saying the word “Success!” This comes from the video game franchise Dragon Age. I recently replayed the first game and all the expansions as a cross-class ranger-rogue. (Cross-classers do it better!)

That particular combination of cross classes was very useful — especially since you can summon a wolf/bear/spider to fight by your side AND you can steal, pick locks, etc. AND wield dual and ranged weapons. That gives you more freedom to choose who you want to fight with, too.

Anyhoo, every time you disarm a trap or break into a chest your NPC will say “Success!” After fighting my way through dragons, darkspawn, broodmothers, and the like? This week is made out of successes!

Though… Erm… It should be said that I don’t actually pick locks or disarm traps in real life. Just finish manuscripts, hit word count goals, make progress on projects… that sort of thing.

    Mood: Go, Go Gadget Go!
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Less than usual, but more than normal.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: The Gym.
    In My Ears: Noisia
    Game Last Played: Dragon Age: Awakenings
    Movie Last Viewed: Despicable Me
    Latest Artistic Project: In progress!
    Latest Release: “The Dig” The Lovecraft eZine Issue No. 19
December 6, 2012
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Truth In Less Freak-Outs

Hellboy Avatar

I’m finally getting back in the swing of “work,” and I’m falling in love with it again. Mind you, there’s a reason for this, and I feel that that was eloquently put here:

When I shifted from my day job at Weekly World News to fulltime freelance, I was advised that 80% of my time would be spent seeking work and the remainder actually doing the work. We’re out there selling ourselves constantly – partly it’s why we blog and chat and do conventions and book signings and so on. You need to throw something like five times as many projects out there as there is time to actually write one. Salesmen chase five times the number of leads to bring in the one real sale so it’s all the same. — SOURCE: No Need For a Writer To Be Discouraged by Bob Greenberger



I find that 80/20 rule to be true, even if you have residual income coming in. The trick is finding that residual income stream (e.g. royalties or what have you) and balancing that with your non-“work” time online. That’ll give you a little more flexibility when you’re seeking out new publishing opportunities.

Of course, work/life balance is always something to be managed. Freak-outs not required. But in spite of everything? The words, like spice, must still flow.

    Mood: Soooooper-genious.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Um…
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: The Gym.
    In My Ears: The screams of my victims cats.
    Game Last Played: Dragon Age: Awakenings
    Movie Last Viewed: Despicable Me
    Latest Artistic Project: In progress!
    Latest Release: “The Dig” The Lovecraft eZine Issue No. 19
December 5, 2012
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A Small Press Shout-Out

There's a trojan on your computer

Just wanted to take a few moments and give a shout-out to anyone who works with a small press either on the writing, editing, or business side.

Found on the internet. I have no idea who took this picture but it is precisely awesome! For awesome purposes! Isn't it awesome?

Annnnnnnd that about sums it up. Hee.

    Mood: Writing, writing, writing, writing, writing.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: *coughs* I plead the fifth.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: The Gym.
    In My Ears: Nuts and honey
    Game Last Played: Dragon Age: Awakenings
    Movie Last Viewed: Despicable Me
    Latest Artistic Project: In progress!
    Latest Release: “The Dig” The Lovecraft eZine Issue No. 19
December 4, 2012
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Success! Page Proofs for “The Button”

My next Lovecraftian tale, following “The Dig,” is titled “The Button.” This is a very special tale, not only because readers voted on the type of disaster story I would write, but because I had the ability to twist the idea of nuclear holocaust into unmentionable shapes with a more traditional Lovecraftian voice.

Here’s an excerpt:

    There was something else, though, another impolite description he used
    that so unsettled my contemporary sensibilities I’m surprised I forgot his
    condescension. He had watched me, he said, and knew that I, like others of
    my weakened kind, were not strong enough to withstand curiosity’s siren
    call, just like Eve all those eons ago.

    I do not view myself to be a modern-day Eve bent on betraying Adam.
    (Though, in my case, I suppose my expertise as a nuclear physicist would
    frighten any Roman man, imagined, fish-like, or not.) Newsflash for ye olde
    fish god priest: if Eve hadn’t taken a bite out of that apple, then Adam surely
    would have, and no woman should ever feel punished for the arrangement
    of her chromosomes.

    Ah, but what do the trappings of our society matter now, when I should
    be focusing on this button? Haven’t I already bitten that luscious apple?
    Don’t I already know a way out of this predicament?

Can’t wait to share the finished version with you!

December 4, 2012
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Excuse Me While I Write My Ass Off

Fizgig Avatar

So, those closest to me know that yeah… It’s easy to whine about how hard writers work. For most of us slogs, you have to write a lot before someone will even acknowledge you exist. It’s not just getting readers, it’s finding publishers who’ll take a chance on your work, an agent who’ll also be a good business partner, sorting out the right opportunities, discovering good collaborators — and not losing your mind/going broke/isolating yourself from all humanity in the process. Which, I suppose, is why so many writers are on Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest, etc. in the first place.

Still…

Getting the words out. That is the most important thing. I’ve often said you can’t bank a career on writing one novel and for those that were successful at it — well, good for them!!! The alternative is more realistic. Words. A lot of them. And you only have so much time to write them, too.

It’s now been a few months since my last day at Steve Jackson Games. I’ve been working with Dork Storm Press and there are some… Phew… AWESOME new developments. (For example: Kobolds Ate My Baby is now available in digital!!!) Others, you’ll see next year.

But for myself? Writing was still fairly sporadic this year with respect to my original work. It was a priority in my mind; but my heart wasn’t in it. It felt impossible. A setback or two hit me, especially when I was relying on other people to come through for my project, and I felt like I was doing this on my own and there’s no one else to “help.”

And that is true. There isn’t ANYONE ELSE who can get the words out but me (or you). Respect isn’t given, it’s earned, and even if you have dozens of novels out there — you may not get it. I know that. It’s just how it is. For some, you won’t get that respect until you make a certain amount, have a set amount of readers, get a contract, have the right agent. Blah, blah, blah. And sometimes, the respect of one’s peers can matter and take its toll on your psyche. (To say that it doesn’t, well… I’m sorry but even the writers who told me they were BLUE in the face that nobody else’s opinion matters were lying.)

But sometimes, even though your bank account depends on it, you need a little push. Or a BIG push. To get you off that “I don’t want to… Shit! This is so much work!” cliff. Maybe you’ve been there before. Maybe you haven’t. Maybe I’ve been there before (I have) — and maybe I needed something to shove me out of my airplane again.

And I got that. I did. It came in the form of what I said I needed for a long, long time. Feedback. Positive, glorious, interactive feedback from multiple directions all at once on my own stories. Amazing how little it takes to get me writing like a crazy woman again. Well, I’ll take that inspiration. AND, I’ll do my best to inspire once again. Because at the end of the day, dear Reader, I don’t want to be known as the frustrated writer who whined and moaned and kevetched all the time — I’d rather be known for the stories I’ve told.

I am EXCITED about my work and I cannot tell you how good this feels. Well, maybe I can. I averaged 8K a day last week and I pledged to write 100K this month!

TIME TO DIVE BACK IN!

    Mood: Teary-eyed determination with a side of f*?! it!!!
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Not enough. It’s never enough.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: A walk and ow!
    In My Ears: FLASH! WHOA-OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
    Game Last Played: Dragon Age: Awakenings
    Movie Last Viewed: Despicable Me
    Latest Artistic Project: In progress!
    Latest Release: “The Dig” The Lovecraft eZine Issue No. 19
December 3, 2012
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