The Journal: Licensing and Everything Else

In today’s Journal

* Quote of the Day
* Topic: Licensing and Everything Else
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quote of the Day

“I’m thankful there are people out there who read what I write and who like what I make. I’m very lucky, and I know it.” Neil Gaiman

Topic: Licensing and Everything Else

DWS has said many times that licensing is a process, one that takes time. It has occurred to me that how long it takes from concept to actual production seems even longer when compared to the ability of today’s writers to write what they want and make it available to the world almost immediately.

Neil Gaiman put up another blog post today. You’ll see it in “Of Interest.”

In Neil’s post, he outlines the time it took for one of his books to be licensed and made into a stage play. Three years. Which is an incredibly short amount of time in licensing. (And believe me, I haven’t given away much in this post.)

Congratulations to Neil. I can only hope that he will also license the video rights to someone to film the play and put it up so those who can’t afford the air fare to view a live performance and see it later in another venue.

Neil’s post both slowed me down (calmed me) and enthused me.

But this post isn’t about Neil Gaiman or Stephen King or Dean or me or other successful writers. This post is about You.

In this new world of publishing, literally anyone can write an original story, design a striking cover, format the story for e-book production, write great sales copy for the cover, and make their story available to the reading public with a few clicks of the mouse.

So what’s stopping you?

If “gatekeepers” and “rejection” are stopping you, I suggest you stop using the excuse of “needing” to be traditionally published. In the real world now, that’s just silly. Get over your need for outside validation. Gatekeepers exist only if you want them to exist.

If expense is stopping you, again, stop using it as an excuse. You can do everything yourself. There are free resources available to teach you everything you need to know.

Back in the day, anytime I or one of my siblings uttered the word “can’t,” my momma would say “Can’t never did anything.” With a scowl on her face.

You can…

Read blogs like mine and Dean’s and JA Konrath’s et al to learn all about

* writing techniques, including

* grounding the reader
* flow and pacing
* characters and character voice
* setting
* major and minor scenes

* cover design,
* sales copy
* publishing,
* motivation, and now even
* licensing.

You can download (free) my book The Essentials of Digital Publishing, which lays out step by step instructions for formatting a book for publication.

Not familiar enough with Microsoft Word? You can read (free) my series on Microsoft Word for Writers.

Not familiar enough with all the ins and outs of publishing? You can read (free) Dean’s posts on Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing.

You can download from me (free) a host of other resources HERE and HERE.

You can read Story to absorb story structure. You might argue that books cost money, but I’ll give anyone who asks a free copy in any digital format of any novel or novella I’ve ever written. You have only to browse the categories and email me.

And if my stories aren’t your cup of tea, you can easily check out any books you want from any public library that will admit you as a member.

So again, what’s stopping you?

If you do have funds available, there are tons of paid resources. Dean offers excellent lectures and workshops at https://wmg-publishing-workshops-and-lectures.teachable.com.

To the best of my knowledge, Dean is still taking on mentoring students. You only have to email him and ask. I personally have room for one more mentoring student. You can read about what I offer at https://harveystanbrough.com/pro-writers/mentoring/. If you’re interested, email me.

And you can get special, patron-only content by visiting Patreon and searching for Kristine Kathryn Rush or by visiting https://harveystanbrough.com/be-a-patron/.

So go free or go paid (or both), but get on with it. Because the most valuable asset you have is time.

Today I’m in the middle of another reset of my own schedule. I might be absent from your inboxes for awhile. When I am, don’t be concerned. My own WIP is threatening to run longer than I expected. So I’ll be writing, publishing and working on licensing opportunities.

I will talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “An Ocean of Story” at http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2019/11/an-ocean-of-story.html.

See “Why? Why Are You A Writer?” at https://prowriterswriting.com/why-why-are-you-a-writer.

The Numbers

Fiction words yesterday…………………… 0
Nonfiction words today…………… 750 (Journal)

Writing of Blackwell Ops 7: Philip Dunstan
(Brought forward…… 25849)

Day 16…… 1700 words. Total words to date…… 27549
Day 17…… 1018 words. Total words to date…… 28567
Day 18…… 1687 words. Total words to date…… 30254
Day 19…… 1586 words. Total words to date…… 31840

Total fiction words for the month……… 12472
Total fiction words for the year………… 397565
Total nonfiction words for the month… 22180
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 303260
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 700825

Calendar Year 2019 Novels to Date…………………… 7
Calendar Year 2019 Novellas to Date……………… 1
Calendar Year 2019 Short Stories to Date… 4
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 43
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 197
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31

4 thoughts on “The Journal: Licensing and Everything Else”

  1. Regarding “can’t,” there’s an old Southern saying: “Can’t died in the house of trying.”

    Here’s the chorus from a song about it:

    Can’t died in the house of trying
    No excuses and no more crying
    That’s the truth, buddy, I ain’t lying
    Can’t died in the house of trying

  2. Thanks for the warning about maybe not getting my Journal fix for a few days.
    And if this one doesn’t get people up and moving, they’re probably dead (or as well as).
    No excuses. There are no excuses. Hallelujah!

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