Still working through my first proof of Out in the Garage. I am taking my time with it, trying to get the language as close to perfect as possible. I have made some definite improvements. The hard part for me is to not do too much. I think that balance comes from experience, something that I will know more about after I get this done. After I go through it and make the changes to my manuscript, then I will order another proof and solely focus on eliminating typos.
This will take some time, especially as I am trying to focus more on getting prepared for school -- particularly the College Composition class that I am teaching. Now I have the texts that I will be teaching from, I can thoroughly go through them. I want to be comfortable with the material, because I know it will take a little while for me to find my rhythm as a teacher. The more prepared I am the better off I will be. My goal is to educate and make it as interesting as I can, because the hardest part won't be the teaching, it will be combating the indifference of the students.
I am also trying to focus more on my thesis: do my research and write my prospectus. While I won't get it all done by the semester starts, I want have a good start on it. My goal is to have my prospectus done by the end of the first five weeks. I will probably be doing a lot of writing over Christmas break, but I have two semesters, so I just need to pace myself and not procrastinate too much (more than I already have).
In general, I am going to start focusing more on school and my school work and my career than on my hobbies. It is the only way I am going to accomplish my goals. I don't want to keep working in wage slavery -- or, at least, if I am going to continue being poor I want to at least enjoy my job and not be as poor as I am now so that I can at least pay all of my bills, pay back my debt, and still have a little money left over. I don't need to be rich or famous or anything like that, I just don't want to feel like I am struggling. In short, I just want the simple life -- which is far more difficult to achieve than I ever imagined it could be.
Finally, I am going to re-release my short story collection, Tales from the Fringes. I have taken the time to learn how to put together a professional-looking e-book version, and I am going through and trying to eliminate typos. I put it out so quickly that I didn't take enough time to do everything I need to do, and, as the publisher, and a perfectionist, I feel that the product I have for sale isn't as high quality as I am capable of. Not that it is bad, or anything, I am just learning and am trying to hold myself to higher standards. I am also going to release the e-book through Smashwords and many other websites where it is not currently available, including the iBookstore. This will all be happening relatively soon. I have reformatted it; now I just have find the typos.
Showing posts with label indie writer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indie writer. Show all posts
Friday, August 2, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
ANNOUNCEMENT:
I have a confession... *cough cough*
Okay, here it goes.
A while ago -- now -- I realized that at some point over the last three years or so that my manuscript had become... I'm not sure. So, realizing this, I went back to the last edition that made sense, and started focusing more on the language that on changing story or plot, and, while it is definitely not what I would consider a literary masterpiece, it is much more genuine, much more, well, mine.
Not that I don't appreciate all the people over the years who have read it and give me advice, but at some point I started worrying about pleasing others too much and not myself. Well, I realized that it's my fucking manuscript and I have a right to be selfish about it, goddammit.
I am very proud of the way the now not so secret manuscript is turning out, I am still tweaking it, but it is roughly at the same point as my other manuscript.
It wasn't until last night until I finally kicked myself in the pants and pulled my head out of my ass and finally, once and for all, decided to go with this version, which is heavily based on the 2010 edition, with some vast improvements in the writing and very little change in the story itself.
My gut instinct tells me that I am making the right choice, because ultimately I am doing this for myself, and I am the one who has to live with what I put out, and I would rather be the guy who writes the absurd satire than the guy who writes the pretentious wannabe garbage. If I am self-publishing either way, then I would rather publish the version that is most what I originally intended, the version that inspired me to change to English and start down this road to being a professor.
Anyways, without further adieu, here is the description that will appear on the back of the book and Amazon and all that (although I might tweak it slightly between now and October):
"Born in the 80's, a Bastard Son but not a bastard. He's reckless and self-absorbed... Oh, and, did I mention, in a band, too? THE MILLENNIAL squeezes the heart until it's black and blue and ready to burst. It makes the reader want to fart, laugh, and orgasm, simultaneous. There's sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, and quite a healthy dose of death, too. It's every masturbating, gothic-wannabe asshole's wet dream. Did I mention sex enough times? SEX SEX SEX!!!"
"Dripping with semen," says Egbert Tripplefuss of The Jerk-Offer.
"Really did make me fart, laugh, and orgasm at the same time," proclaims Thom Schlitzman of The Pussies and Assholes Literary Review.
"No one should read this, unless you're cool, then you can do whatever," raves Todd Nelson of Nipped Blog. "Seriously though, reading THE MILLENNIAL is the best walk over hot coals I have had for a while."
Wayne Crosby of the Nodtown Gazette reports: "Never thought I would read something that would make me want to masturbate publicly, but Gabe Gott has gone and done it again!"
Okay, here it goes.
A while ago -- now -- I realized that at some point over the last three years or so that my manuscript had become... I'm not sure. So, realizing this, I went back to the last edition that made sense, and started focusing more on the language that on changing story or plot, and, while it is definitely not what I would consider a literary masterpiece, it is much more genuine, much more, well, mine.
Not that I don't appreciate all the people over the years who have read it and give me advice, but at some point I started worrying about pleasing others too much and not myself. Well, I realized that it's my fucking manuscript and I have a right to be selfish about it, goddammit.
I am very proud of the way the now not so secret manuscript is turning out, I am still tweaking it, but it is roughly at the same point as my other manuscript.
It wasn't until last night until I finally kicked myself in the pants and pulled my head out of my ass and finally, once and for all, decided to go with this version, which is heavily based on the 2010 edition, with some vast improvements in the writing and very little change in the story itself.
My gut instinct tells me that I am making the right choice, because ultimately I am doing this for myself, and I am the one who has to live with what I put out, and I would rather be the guy who writes the absurd satire than the guy who writes the pretentious wannabe garbage. If I am self-publishing either way, then I would rather publish the version that is most what I originally intended, the version that inspired me to change to English and start down this road to being a professor.
Anyways, without further adieu, here is the description that will appear on the back of the book and Amazon and all that (although I might tweak it slightly between now and October):
"Born in the 80's, a Bastard Son but not a bastard. He's reckless and self-absorbed... Oh, and, did I mention, in a band, too? THE MILLENNIAL squeezes the heart until it's black and blue and ready to burst. It makes the reader want to fart, laugh, and orgasm, simultaneous. There's sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, and quite a healthy dose of death, too. It's every masturbating, gothic-wannabe asshole's wet dream. Did I mention sex enough times? SEX SEX SEX!!!"
"Dripping with semen," says Egbert Tripplefuss of The Jerk-Offer.
"Really did make me fart, laugh, and orgasm at the same time," proclaims Thom Schlitzman of The Pussies and Assholes Literary Review.
"No one should read this, unless you're cool, then you can do whatever," raves Todd Nelson of Nipped Blog. "Seriously though, reading THE MILLENNIAL is the best walk over hot coals I have had for a while."
Wayne Crosby of the Nodtown Gazette reports: "Never thought I would read something that would make me want to masturbate publicly, but Gabe Gott has gone and done it again!"
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Zippity Dippity Doo on a Tuesday morning before work
I am hoping to order the proof of Out in the Garage by this weekend, along with some copies of my short story collection, Tales From the Fringes (which is only $6.86 at Amazon right now, by the way). While these are copies to give away to family and close friends, I am going to start keeping some on-hand to sell and use for promotional purposes. You never know who you are going to meet, or what opportunities will come your way.
And yes, I am starting on research. Right now it is mainly an online thing until I find all the relevant articles and books. I will probably start out by doing a lot of reading about American Exceptionalism before I start my historical research. The former will help to shape the latter as I make a more complete connection between the Melville the and the thing he was criticizing (which is as relevant as ever in today's 24-hour propaganda cluster-fuck).
My goal is to go through AT LEAST two chapters of Out in the Garage a day until I have gone through all 17 chapters. For the most part I am happy with everything, and I have no desire or see no need to change the story, the plot, the characters, etc. but there are some places where the language is still a little funky or inadequate and the descriptions are flat, boring, or too melodramatic.
The melodrama worked more in previous versions where everything was over-the-top. However, in the current version, it just comes across as cheesy, so I am going to tone it down a bit. I want it to be vivid, yet subtle. At least subtly over-the-top, or an implied over-the-topness -- if that is even possible.
Part of me does want to just say fuck it and publish it how it is, but I still have the time to polish it up before the release date. That is one of the nice parts about current technology, and one which I will definitely continue to take advantage of.
I feel like I can't do any new writing until I have completely exhausted all of my current projects and the upcoming projects are thorough planned out. I also need to get better at using my time wisely and dividing it more evenly between the things that are important in my life. Sometimes some things might usurp more time than others, but right now there is nothing in particular that needs that. I can be very productive if I push myself -- I just gotta be more Type-A than Type-B right now.
These blogs help with that. In a strange way they help me organize my thoughts about my work and focus on what I need to be working on. I have so many goals to accomplish, and I am not going to accomplish them by being lazy or focusing too much on one thing. I can't lose sight of the importance of school, but yet my writing is also important -- it is, after all, what influenced me to study English and finally get my bachelor's degree-- and self-publishing is a challenging and rewarding hobby.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Sweetening the deal
Anyone who buys my short story collection, if you email me proof (gabegott@gmail.com), I will email you back pdf's of the blog version of the collection and an alternative version of my upcoming novel.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
NOTE:
Updated the book description for Tales from the Fringes. I think this one is better. We'll see if it helps. Now I need to start really looking into getting reviewed by someone at least semi-legitimate. Looking into getting onto some forums where I can subversively self-promote and advertise without really doing so. Will continue posting to Facebook and Twitter. I am trying to post more writing than advertising because that certainly gets annoying quickly. The best advertising/self-promotion is the kind where it doesn't come across that way. Really just trying to get this book on people's radars.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
TALES FROM THE FRINGES is OUT!
RELEASE DATE: MAY 14-15, 2013
Create Space eStore
Amazon (coming soon!)
Kindle Store
Nook Store (coming soon!)
iBookstore (tentatively coming soon!)
6" x 9"
iBookstore (tentatively coming soon!)
6" x 9"
15 stories/162 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1482787474
ISBN-10: 1482787474
BISAC Category: Fiction/Short Story
Description:
Whether it's working at a McDonald's and playing in a band in "Greasy", mugging people to pay a violent drug dealer in "Survival", or accidentally starting the Zombie Apocalypse in "The Bananamen Prophecy", Tales from the Fringes finds people struggling through a variety of situations, with mixed results. Mainly set in the Midwest, these stories capture the essence of what it's like to live on the fringes, where money is hard to come by and people are more often than not completely invisible to the outside world.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
UPDATE
Unfortunately, Tales from the Fringes will be tomorrow before I can release the print version. There was a mix-up in the files and I send the wrong one to be reviewed. The review process takes about 24 hours (although, in my experience, it is actually only like 12), which, now that I have gone through that process for the wrong file, I must do it again for the correct one, then I can release it for sale.
Like I said before, the Kindle e-book version is already for sale for $4.99. The print version will be $7.99.
For those of you who use other formats for e-books other than Kindle, I am looking into the options and am going to release it for sale in those markets as well.
I will update again soon.
Like I said before, the Kindle e-book version is already for sale for $4.99. The print version will be $7.99.
For those of you who use other formats for e-books other than Kindle, I am looking into the options and am going to release it for sale in those markets as well.
I will update again soon.
Tales from the Fringes
The Kindle version of Tales from the Fringes is out right now: Tales from the Fringes:Amazon:Kindle Store.
The print version is delayed a bit due to a snafu with their website, but will hopefully be available later today or tomorrow at the latest.
Friday, March 22, 2013
TGIF and TGISB and DIY
IIIIIIIIITTTTT'S FRRIIIIIIIIIDAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And not just any Friday, but the Friday before Spring Break! While I will definitely be keeping myself busy over the week, I don't have class or work, so my schedule is what I make it!
Still proofreading, tweaking the format and editing. Since I have changed the spacing, indentation, and the font to make it look more professional, with the twelve stories I originally planned to published in it, I will only have about 100 pages.
So I am going to include three more previously unreleased stories, bringing the grand total up to fifteen. It will be approximately 140 pages, and I will likely lower the price when I finalize it all. I am still planning on releasing it by May.
The addition of these stories won't substantially increase the amount of work I have to do to get it publishing ready. More details to come. As I work on it and it gets better and better, both the stories, the design, and the typesetting, the more excited I get. I can't wait to release this to you all.
Also, I *think* I have figured out the formatting problems I was having with the e-book format. *fingers crossed*
While I am figuring out everything while putting together and preparing Tales from the Fringes for official publication, I have also begun formatting and typesetting my first novel, Out in the Garage, for a late-summer/early fall release.
The more I think about it, the more I work towards it, the more my DIY mentality takes over, and the more I want to lean toward self-publishing. The trick is in being able to market and sell my products on the Internet to a wide enough audience, which is the next step in the process. Either way, I feel like it suites me. I like the idea that I can do my own thing in my own way.
Especially if it is an ideology or an ethos, as long as there is people who don't want to take all the mass media corporate bullshit, the it will never die.
Some might say, "But Gabe, you are using the products of a large corporation, doesn't that make you a hypocrite?"
My reply? Not when I have complete creative control. And fuck off. If anything, I am using the corporate mass media to get my stories, ideas, philosophies out to people I don't have the means to otherwise reach. It's not like I have some dictator standing over my back telling me what to write. I am my own dictator, goddammit. Also, I am not trying to get rich, I am just trying to create the means to continue doing it.
Besides, most writers don't make a living writing. That's why I'm in school. That's why I will get a job after school and work towards paying off the debt I have incurred. I would rather do it myself on my own terms -- if the outcome is going to be the same either way.
It's time to embrace the future, because the future is now, and I am not getting any younger or smarter.
Look at the Descendents. Those guys all have like PhD.s and shit now, and they are still fucking awesome.
It's not about making money, it's about doing what I love. Self-publishing is the way to go.
And not just any Friday, but the Friday before Spring Break! While I will definitely be keeping myself busy over the week, I don't have class or work, so my schedule is what I make it!
Still proofreading, tweaking the format and editing. Since I have changed the spacing, indentation, and the font to make it look more professional, with the twelve stories I originally planned to published in it, I will only have about 100 pages.
So I am going to include three more previously unreleased stories, bringing the grand total up to fifteen. It will be approximately 140 pages, and I will likely lower the price when I finalize it all. I am still planning on releasing it by May.
The addition of these stories won't substantially increase the amount of work I have to do to get it publishing ready. More details to come. As I work on it and it gets better and better, both the stories, the design, and the typesetting, the more excited I get. I can't wait to release this to you all.
Also, I *think* I have figured out the formatting problems I was having with the e-book format. *fingers crossed*
While I am figuring out everything while putting together and preparing Tales from the Fringes for official publication, I have also begun formatting and typesetting my first novel, Out in the Garage, for a late-summer/early fall release.
The more I think about it, the more I work towards it, the more my DIY mentality takes over, and the more I want to lean toward self-publishing. The trick is in being able to market and sell my products on the Internet to a wide enough audience, which is the next step in the process. Either way, I feel like it suites me. I like the idea that I can do my own thing in my own way.
Especially if it is an ideology or an ethos, as long as there is people who don't want to take all the mass media corporate bullshit, the it will never die.
Some might say, "But Gabe, you are using the products of a large corporation, doesn't that make you a hypocrite?"
My reply? Not when I have complete creative control. And fuck off. If anything, I am using the corporate mass media to get my stories, ideas, philosophies out to people I don't have the means to otherwise reach. It's not like I have some dictator standing over my back telling me what to write. I am my own dictator, goddammit. Also, I am not trying to get rich, I am just trying to create the means to continue doing it.
Besides, most writers don't make a living writing. That's why I'm in school. That's why I will get a job after school and work towards paying off the debt I have incurred. I would rather do it myself on my own terms -- if the outcome is going to be the same either way.
It's time to embrace the future, because the future is now, and I am not getting any younger or smarter.
Look at the Descendents. Those guys all have like PhD.s and shit now, and they are still fucking awesome.
It's not about making money, it's about doing what I love. Self-publishing is the way to go.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Proofs
They came today! Very excited! Doing the last run through and then putting it out by May 1 (also in e-book format). More info to come soon.
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