In today’s Journal
* Rethinking ways to rethink the future
* I’m also rethinking
* Some days are downers
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Part of the creative person’s ongoing task is to experiment, plan, rethink, and adjust.
Regrettably, I’m rethinking a couple of things today. The first is rethinking ways to rethink the future of our business.
Only yesterday, I was certain I wanted to attend the Master Business Class in Vegas next October. Today, not so much.
It would be an invaluable investment in our business. What we could learn there — if the instructors and students stay on track — would probably give us a huge leap forward.
It could shave months or even years off our learning curve. Hence my willingness to pay around a thousand dollars (tuition plus travel and our room) for the opportunity.
But a recent post by KK Rusch on Patreon reminded me, dramatically, of her politics and her biases and her willingness to share them. (That’s the regrettable part.)
And of course, she’s a principal (along with Dean Wesley Smith) at the Master Business Class.
Her post also reminded me, again, regrettably, that I’m in the minority among writers in general. I realized most of the other writers at the MBC will probably be of Rusch’s political bent.
Which is perfectly fine. I’m not making a political statement or even a value judgement here. I’m merely pointing out that those who are of Rusch’s political bent would probably be completely comfortable at the MBC no matter what happens. Certainly they won’t hear anything that annoys, taunts or upsets them.
But the thing is, the class would be of value to me personally only IF the instructors and students stay on track, meaning if the focus remains strictly on the business of writing, publishing and licensing.
But that is not the probable reality. If I attend the class, more than likely I’ll be trying to learn more about business in what amounts (for me) to a hostile environment. And frankly, I don’t need the hassle.
To avoid any arguments, I would feel compelled to leave the room, meaning my money would have been wasted.
I still have time to decide, but at the moment I’m thinking we probably won’t attend after all.
Then again, I’m still enrolled in both the year-long Licensing Transition course and in the 9-month Shared Worlds course. I trust the instructor, and I’m the only student, so….
And I’ve also already bought Dean’s Advanced Business Lectures, so that will help too. And the licensing? That will come from the course and from my own imagination.
***
I’m also rethinking my personal time.
Daily word count goals (as in every day) worked for me a few years ago when I started writing fiction seriously. All I thought about was productivity and telling stories.
I hadn’t yet heard-of, much less considered, licensing opportunities apart from publishing. I didn’t have paid mentoring students. I didn’t have a “to-do” white board on my wall with 9 items under “Writing and Publishing” and another several items under “Licensing.”
I was a writer, but not yet a business owner, at least not really.
But today all of those things and more are true. So I’m adjusting my goals a bit to reflect my new reality.
* My goal is still to write at least 2500 publishable words of fiction per day on my writing days (not every day). I just don’t have 7 days in my production week anymore. Probably 3 or 4, tops.
On writing days, I can write fiction AND do physical non-writing chores during breaks. What I can’t do is mix fiction with nonfiction writing. Never have been able to. Hence my requirement for writing days and non-writing days.
* My goal is still to write at least one short story per week (that really is an invaluable exercise) and one novel per month (or two novels every three months, depending on how the short stories go).
* My goal still is to design covers for and publish all of those as they are finished.
* And to continue the Journal, of course, and posts for PWW and HarveyStanbrough.com.
***
Some days are just real downers.
The Patreon page post hit me so hard that I literally wrote and rewrote the first section of this Journal entry several times over a six-hour period from 3:30 to 9:30 a.m. Not kidding.
I’m still too annoyed to invoke the conscious-mind activities of searching for cover art, etc. so I’ll leave that for later today or tomorrow. I need to escape into some fiction, but I don’t know that I’ll even do that.
I also have laundry and a couple of other chores to do, and I’d like very much to start at least one of the things on the white board.
Turns out I just don’t want to do anything today. I’ll post this a little early and talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See PG’s take on “Is Publishing Too Top-Heavy?” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/is-publishing-too-top-heavy/.
Via Alexander Teut (aka Rikki Mongoose) see “AUSTRALIAN PULP FICTION” at http://www.mysteryfile.com/Australian/Pulp_Fiction.html. I’m always interested in reading about prolific authors.
See “6 Tips for Securing Speaking Engagements as a Self-Published Author” at https://www.janefriedman.com/get-speaking-engagements-selfpub-author/.
See “On Writing Fears, Blue Titles, And Why 6-Figure Advances Are Bad For Your Health” at https://killzoneblog.com/2019/11/on-writing-fears-blue-titlesand-why-6-figure-advancesare-bad-for-your-health.html. I included this one just in case you might get something from it.
See “Human Soup: The Perfect Murder?” at https://www.leelofland.com/human-soup-the-perfect-murder/.
The Numbers
Fiction words today…………………… 0
Nonfiction words today…………… 900
Total fiction words for the month……… 6481
Total fiction words for the year………… 391574
Total nonfiction words for the month… 3960
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 285040
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 676614
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
The politics are the same reason keeping me away from the classes and her blog as well. In DC, the politics are on steroids, so what the rest of the country sees is not as bad (which is scary). I went to a science fiction con and was quite alarmed to see politics advertised on the front table. Worse came because I was a panelist. Two of the panels veered straight off topic and into politics. I ended up very uncomfortable sitting at the table in front of the audience–and definitely not having fun.
If you want a low cost alternative to start out for learning business, try the Personal MBA: https://personalmba.com/best-business-books/ It’s just 99 books, many of which you can get at the library. I’ve been through about half or so and was surprised at what I picked up.
Superstars also wasn’t too much of a problem with politics. It came up twice, but they didn’t linger. It has a mix of business-related and writing topics.
Moot point now. I have it on good authority Dean and Kris announce at their live events “there is to be absolutely NO discussion of politics or religion inside or outside of the classroom.” From what I understand, even one violation can get the offfender expelled. Which I’m thrilled and relieved to hear.
Thanks for the tip on the MBA books.
That’s what I’ve heard as well. I’ve never been to one of their in-person workshops (too far away for me) but I’ve heard them say several times that they have a firm “no politics” policy during those events. Exactly because it would alienate a good percentage of the authors present (one way or another – that’s beside the point).
The point of those workshops is to focus on business or craft without getting distracted, whatever your political opinions.
Thanks, Céline.
I have very strong political beliefs. If I’m pushed in a corner I will tell you about them. But I do my best not to shove my beliefs down other people’s throats. Sitting through hours of propaganda would make my blood boil, especially since I didn’t sign up for that. Good to hear that this class avoids such nonsense. I respect Dean and Kris and all that they do. I personally don’t give a darn about their politics. I just don’t want other people’s beliefs crammed down my throat.
Exactly my take, Anderson, on all counts.