Posts Tagged ‘nanowrimo’

11
Jan

Networking For The Win!

   Posted by: Michell    in Irreverent Muse, Networking and Marketing

I’ve preached the networking mantra for quite some time now talking about how important it is for writers (well, anyone actually) to go forth and meet other people through whatever means possible. In the past few months I have seen just how fantastic good networking can be. Let me give you a brief rundown of some networking successes I’ve had lately:

  • Twitter – I have met a huge number of very cool people on Twitter. Those contacts have resulted in friendships, interview guests for Get Published, collaboration projects, publishing opportunities.
  • World Fantasy Convention – I met lots of great new people that meant more interview guests, publishing opportunities and yes, more and better friendships with previously virtual friends.
  • Facebook – renewed old acquaintances and made several new ones.
  • Goodreads – as above.

Now, those sound great and all, but where’s the details? Well, from a collaboration perspective, JRMurdock and I now have a book to begin finding a home for and we are already planning the next in the series. JAHite and I are co-editing an anthology/handbook for Mad Scientists (http://madscientistanthology.wordpress.com) and you will soon see the new ActionPack Podcast out featuring JRMurdock, Spiritualtramp (Scott Roche) and myself doing a monthly serialized set of stories that I know is going to be fantastic.

Looking at the publishing opportunities, my networking through the various mediums has meant four short stories in print with various e-publishers like http://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/ and http://flyingislandpress.com not to mention my book deal with Five Rivers Publishing. I’ve also got some interest in GalaxyBillies and a few of my other projects.

Then there is Get Published. I just celebrated my third anniversary with episode 74 and I’ve got to say how great doing the podcast has been. I’ve been able to talk to so many fantastic people that, without networking, I would never have known. And trust me when I say, there are lots more awesome interviews to come along with the useful information each guest has to impart.

Is networking and getting yourself out there easy? Not by a long shot. It is work just like many other activities, but my life, writing and otherwise, have been enriched by the effort.

So, what ways do I personally network? Well, here’s my list:

  • Face-to-face whenever possible. That could be at book stores, conventions or just on the street
  • Writing Groups
  • NaNoWriMo
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Goodreads
  • LinkedIn
  • My blog and website
  • My podcasts
  • Email
  • Skype.

I know there are other places to meet, but I either haven’t discovered them personally or haven’t had the time to properly use them. If you have suggestions for some that might be important, please let me know.

The opportunities are out there if you look. Sometimes, as is the case with a couple of my projects, they find you. But that will only happen if you are out there to be found.

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19
Oct

Lots Going On

   Posted by: Michell    in Irreverent Muse

There are a lot of times that I think I’m my own worst enemy. I get myself going on multiple projects, then, just for good measure, I throw a few more things into the mix.

For example, I’ve got a couple writing projects, a book being revised, two anthology ideas developing and I’m going to World Fantasy Convention on October 27th. That should really be enough, but I’ve also decided to do NaNoWriMo again. Oh yeah, and those are only my writing commitments. I’ve also got family, work, Scouts, my Get Published podcast and a couple other things.

Yup, I’m definitely my own worst enemy.

Oddly enough, there are times when I have to sit back and take a deep breath; it all just feels like too much.

Yesterday was one of those “overwhelmed” days. I was on day two of being sick. Not seriously sick, mind you. It was just a cold. But I was sick enough my work colleagues didn’t want me in the office. So I stayed home and worked there. The problem is, I need to get out of the house to work. The alternative is, I am reminded throughout the entire day of all that I have to do.

So, I spent the day, not feeling 100%, trying to get my work done and thinking about all the deadlines I have.

Not fun.

The upside is, I’ve got World Fantasy Convention to look forward to. I’m leaving Calgary at about 6 AM next Thursday for San Diego. Mr. JR Murdock will be picking me up at the airport and we will make our way over to the convention hotel. I’m pretty sure I won’t be getting much sleep because I’ll be meeting a number of online friends for the first time. I’ll also be working directly with JR to put our Steampunk novel to bed. Then there are the parties, the sessions and all the networking I hope to do.

It will be awesome, but exhausting.

My hope and fear is that I will also come home with a number of new projects.

The only hope I have is that I can start to finish a few of these projects off. Otherwise, how am I going to fit all the new ones in?

If you’re going to be at WFC, please look me up. I’ll be the guy with the big bags under his eyes. :)

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17
Dec

Holy Carp!

   Posted by: Michell    in Irreverent Muse

I’ve been suffering from low energy and motivation levels for the past couple weeks, but I never thought it was this bad. How bad is it? Well, it’s obviously bad enough that I FORGOT to post last Wednesday. That’s only the second time since this site was started more than two years ago.

What the hell? And to make matters worse, I only just realized it.

All I can say is… well there really isn’t anything I can say, is there? So here is my Wednesday post a couple days late.

I’ve actually been going to bed early the last three days. Part of that is because, as I’m driving home, I’m having trouble staying awake. Never a good thing in rush hour traffice. I haven’t been writing or reading either.

Time to pull myself out of this skid. Holidays won’t be coming any too soon, let me tell you.

I guess I need to set a few goals for myself for the next couple weeks so here goes:

  1. Finish reading Geist and do my audio and text reviews of it. Put them everywhere.
  2. Finish reading Cinco de Mayo and put review up for Edge’s “Christmas is Coming” effort. I was asked to do this only a couple days ago.
  3. Finish preparing “GalaxyBillies” for Podiobooks and get the end-of-story show ready. This is going to take a bit of effort, not to mention recording with a few people, so it could run into the new year.
  4. Write a short story for 20Spec. I have the idea in my head already and have given it considerable thought so it should flow reasonably well.
  5. Get back into writing my NaNoNovel (AKA Top Secret Project).

That’s enough goals for the next two weeks, I think. What are you planning to do in that time?

Personal Update

Fingers are crossed that my pirate story for VG Ford is accepted. If it isn’t I have a secondary market in mind but I would love to be part of her anthology “Spells and Swashbucklers”. We will see if it fits or not.

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