Tradition vs. Self-publishing Archives

My previous post was called Racing the Clock. For those of you wondering, the clock won. No problem. Deadlines are plentiful, aren’t they? We can always find another and another and another. Remember the song, I fought the law but the law won. That song keeps rolling through my mind. Here’s my version of it:

Writing deadline–thought it was fun.
I raced the clock but the clock won.

I raced the clock but the clock won.
I needed motivation ‘cause I had none
I raced the clock but the clock won.
I raced the clock but the clock won.

I left my story, now it feels so bad
Guess my race is run
It was the best story I think I ever had
I raced the clock but the clock won
I raced the clock but the clock won.

Sometimes I’m just a time-waster. How long do you think it took me to write that little ditty? And what was the point?

I’m over my head in online classes. I’m taking Self-Publishing taught by DebraHolland, Ph.D. Very informative with guest ‘speakers’ sharing their self-publishing journey too. Interesting thing is that no one’s self-publishing journey is the same. I guess there’s no way to truly prepare for self-publishing. We can expect anything and everything, right down to the good and bad reviews. Both will come.

I’m also taking a course called COVERING YOUR BASES: PROMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL USES FOR POD and KINDLE by Beth Daniels who currently writes as Beth Henderson and J.B. Dane. Beth has worked with editors at Berkley, Zebra, Leisure, Harlequin/Silhouette, and Simon and Schuster’s Aladdin Paperbacks. She ventured into self-publishing to keep her out-of-print backlist in print and leaped into the non-fiction book realm with WRITING STEAMPUNK. Visit her HERE.

Another course I’m taking is called In and Out: Putting Characters in Conflict, taught through RWA by Sherry Lewis. I always thought conflict was my weakness. Lately, I’ve been identifying more writing weaknesses. Makes me wonder how anyone ever comes to the conclusion that they’re good enough to self-publish. Any thoughts on that question?

Every time I sign up for online classes, I hear my friend and writing professor say (as he said so long ago), “It’s time to stop taking classes and write.” I guess I’m a perpetual student but I wonder if I’m really learning anything. How can I be if I’m still making the same mistakes over and over again? Not enough description. Too much dialogue. Talking heads. Not enough conflict. Unlikeable heroine. Unlikeable hero. Heroine too passive. Tense problems. POV problems. What’s their goal? What’s your point?

And that’s where I am today — in a What’s the Point frame of mind? Anyone have an answer?

Confession time: I miss the A to Z Challenge! I’m already thinking/dreaming/planning for April 2013. Blogging every day with hundreds and hundreds of other bloggers inspired me. I was a “member” of a very special club. And I was committed! Now my posts are sporadic and lacking … lacking what? Purpose, I think.

I’ve decided to join the Insecure Writers Support Group. You can read about it HERE. They’re a great bunch of bloggers and writers and many of them participated in the A to Z Challenge. So on the first Wednesday of each month, I’ll post about insecurities, fears, doubts and we’ll look at solving some of our problems. The scary part is that if I miss two months in a row, they kick me out of their club. Yikes! We’ll see what happens.

On another note, I don’t know if any of you follow Nathan Bransford’s blog. He is the author of Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow (Dial, May 2011), Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe (Dial, April 2012) and Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp (Dial, March 2013). He was formerly a literary agent with Curtis Brown Ltd. and is now the social media manager at CNET. He lives in San Francisco.

I find I read him more now that he isn’t agenting. Wonder why? Anyway, he’s got an interesting take on Traditional vs Self-Publishing and I like it. Take a look and tell me what you think. HERE it is.

So What’s the Point?

This and That about Blogging and Publishing