Posts Tagged ‘spiritualtramp’

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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17
Oct

Get Published Episode 42 – Flying Island Press Reviews Flagship Launch

   Posted by: Michell    in Get Published (Podcast)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Now that Flying Island Press has two issues of their new e-magazine “Flagship” completed and available for purchase, I wanted to talk with Zach Ricks and Scott Roche about how things went. What worked? What didn’t? How could things be better and just how did the writing community do with their submissions? Zach and Scott share a lot of great information about the past and give us an insight into the future of Flying Island Press including the addition of two new magazines in the new year.

In the feedback section of the show, I get a question from Darcy which asks, “How do I decide what stories to write? Do I write what publishers are asking for or do I write what I want and then find a publisher. My answer may (or may not) surprise you.

Thanks for listening.

Show Notes

00:00 — Opening – Get Published Episode 42 – Flying Island Press Reviews Flagship Launch

  • Everything has to start somewhere and this is the start of “Get Published”

00:14 — Introduction – Get Published Episode 42 – Flying Island Press Reviews Flagship Launch

Welcome to the show.

00:59 – Promo – Flying Island Press, Flagship

02:10— Feedback – Get Published Episode 42 – Flying Island Press Reviews Flagship Launch (continued)

  • Mike answers Darcy’s questions about whether or not he writes with specific markets in mind
  • Email feedback at getpublishedpodcast dot com with your comments or call the voiceline at (206) 203-2031

06:12 — Promo – Dead Robot’s Society, Explorers

07:03 — Get Published Episode 42 – Flying Island Press Reviews Flagship Launch (continued)

Zach and Scott talk about what worked, what didn’t and how the submitters did.

50:37 — Promo – V for Vertigo

51:14 — Closing

Thank you for listening. Let me know what you think and definitely use the voicemail line (206.203.2031) to your heart’s content!

Websites mentioned in this episode:

Dead Robots Society http://deadrobotssociety.com/

V for Vertigo Podcast http://vforvertigo.blogspot.com/

Flying Island Press http://www.flyingislandpress.com/

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10
Feb

Why I Care About Critiques and Feedback

   Posted by: Michell    in About Writing, Irreverent Muse

A few days ago, Scott Roche, AKA SpiritualTramp on Twitter raised a question about critiques. Do we want them? How do we want them and so on. What followed was an extremely spirited (natch) discussion about the topic. One I got involved in.

Now, those of you who have read any of my posts probably know I cherish feedback. But why is that? Why do I care what other people think about my writing and podcasting?

Well, I think it all comes down to knowing that I’m creating something people want to hear/read.

But don’t I know if I’m doing a good job or not? Well, in a word, No. I am totally oblivious to whether my own work is good or not. My own biases make it too tough to judge. I’m simply too close to it.

But do I care about all feedback? Again a single word: No. There is a lot of feedback that isn’t worth the time taken to read it. I’ve gotten my fair share of that.

So what makes feedback/critiques that I care about? Well, it must be constructive. Don’t just tell me you like/hate something. Tell me why. For example, if you think something in ‘GalaxyBillies’ is funny, please tell me what you think is funny and why the joke resonated with you. If you think it sucks, say why it sucks and what you were expecting.

You can also tell me in a nice way. That is important. Flaming me will cause me to zone out. Saying something is bad in a positive way keeps me reading. It can be done, honest.

If you give me feedback or critique my work in a positive way I’ll be able to learn from it and either repeat it or fix it depending on whether you liked it or didn’t.

My goal is to be published. That is no secret. Anyone who takes the time to tell me what is and isn’t working is helping me move toward that goal and you are worth your weight in gold and I thank you for your help.

That’s why I care. Constructive feedback and critiques help me move forward.

Personal Update

My Flash Fiction story was turned down and so was my last YA novel submission. While I am disappointed about the first I am stoked about the second. Why? I got a page and a half of comments from the publisher telling me what I can do to improve the story. The publisher also told me they would welcome more of my submissions including a resubmission of the rejected book. That makes it a big WIN in my books. Now I just have to find the time to do the editing.

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