Joining the Rebel Alliance

The Force is Strongish With This One

The only force here is the force of knowledge. Having allowed my membership to lapse, I've just rejoined the Alliance for Independent Authors. If you're self-publishing—like me when I stop surfing crime videos—starting out as a poet or author, or a seasoned pro looking for a little love, then the Alliance can help. Free info on writing, marketing, agents and contracts. 

I receive nary a cent for my advocacy, but I wish I did.

There are different levels of membership. Give it a look.

Promotions and Reviews and Book Sales, Oh, Goodness Me!!

 Coming Soon! You Have Been Warned!

Amazon

It's only fair. With the release of my book on perseverance, acceptance, and running a lot, the early launch of the paperback edition, and a busy August, the next two weeks will be a blizzard of promotional back-scratching, self back-patting, and old-fashioned look-at-me-ism. 

Deals are lined up and in the pipeline on a variety of fronts. I am obliged to promote; promote loudly. Then I will fade quietly away until its time to hawk the next book. That's why the stinking things don't sell very well. I reward myself with little vacations that stretch into considerable time blocks. 

In any case, the levee has been breached. The marketing flood waters surge. You will know of this book.

Animanicast and Author John P. McCann

Or JP Mac as if says on the books. The good keepers of ancient knowledge over at Animanicast interviewed me about a Pinky and the Brain episode I wrote called "Spellbound," as well as inquiring about my upcoming book on loss, acceptance, and running a long way: How to Run a Marathon in 13 Years. Give a listen. 

Discounted for pre-launch; live Thu. September 9.

Publishing Blues

CoolClips.com

September 9 is the day and I'm really behind with the print book. I sit down in front of the computer in the morning and arose myself sometime in the late afternoon or evening. Most of the challenges involve formatting. Lately, my laptop goes with me into the living room where I turn on the TV and concentrate on the laptop.

Very weary of all this self-publishing business. The next book goes out to publishers. I can write another one while the first is being rejected. 

How to Run a Marathon in 13 Years Races to Publication

NewsPostInsider

I'd like to show the fine cover, but won't until I set up an email service and fix my Squarespace website. The first email service I tried—Mailer Lite—was a bust that wouldn't allow me to complete the sign-in process. I'm learning toward Mail Chimp or Adwebber. More on that soon.

As for my JP Mac author website, it's an unfinished hash. Lots of great opportunities for SEO and I squander them. I'm thinking of hiring someone on Fivrr to tidy it up.  It shouldn't take that long. I want everything appearing fresh and professional before I launch the next book in September.

Funny how a website with the name Write Enough! is mostly comprised of short comedy videos. Another mystery in this great life. 

Longest Run Since the Marathon

pixelstalk.net

How Long Exactly?

Seven miles, to be precise. I employed a 4x1 run/walk ratio and finished the last mile in 10:38. I passed a runner more elderly than I as we both enjoyed good running weather—around 70 degrees with a light breeze. 

My book is parked between drafts two and three. Many tasks require my attention including setting up a new email site, redesigning my author website, and creating a lead magnet for people signing up for said website.

There's also lining up editorial reviewers, regular reader reviewers, a proof reader and copy editor, designing a back cover for the softcover version and researching audio books. 

Everything takes longer than you think and costs a bit more than your budget. But that's the yoke of self-publishing. 

According to research, non-fiction books don't sell as well in summertime. Since I won't be ready by June, I'm aiming for a Labor Day release. Friday, September 2 is the tenative release date. 

I love the cover design and am excited about putting out the book. More soon.

Fiction Writing Update and The Social Dilemma

trainerbubble.com

Trapped once more

 I used to update my writing more often. Ah, well. I'll start by reporting that the allure of social media/YouTube is just as addictive as intended. Among other spots, I've described the cloying allure of the Web back in 2017,  in a book revue and in a post complaining about Facebook. Just the morning I woke up late and started zipping around news sites and watching old Soprano videos instead of working. I have a twelve minute grace period. After that, I vanish into the online time-suck. 

And fiction writing? 

One helpful method is to reduce the time I write. Less seems to be more. This will increase in subsequent drafts, but for now my second volume of Hallow Mass inches forward two hours at a time. Depending on the amount of dialogue, that produces between one and four pages. I finish refreshed and less tempted during difficult periods to bolt intoWeb surfing. More updates soon.

BTW:

As mentioned earlier this year, take a look at The Social Dilemma. They really nail the built-in addictive nature of social media, smart phones, etc. 

Also 2018's The Creepy Line. 

Comparing a Proofread to a Copy Edit

Amazon

My eyes ache from this task. I published Hallow Mass in 2016. Having since excised around 4K words, I commissioned a new proofread and a copyedit. Typos were still found. Hopefully, this tidy version with hot new cover art will set the stage for Volume 2. I hope to promo soon and release mid-summer. Other than that, life fortunately continues. I'm grateful.

Self-Publishing, Magical Realism, and the Slippery Slope

crownofcompassion

I wanted so little: a new cover for my horror novel, Hallow Mass. But then I needed a page count for the cover artist. That led me to glance over the manuscript and notice several errors. This led to a brief rewrite which, in turn, led to a longer rewrite, which resulted in my cutting over 4k words. 

This, then, led to my sending the manuscript out to a proofreader. In the meantime, I've acquired the new ebook cover from the artist who is holding onto the paperback cover until I present a final page count. In the meantime, I attemptted to format the paperback interior myself. Several days were eaten up as one step forward often led to three steps backwards and one hop to the side.

Great work by the proofreader, but my production manager—also my wife—rarely sees a free moment these days from her technical writing job. Unable to do the task herself, she suggested a copywriter to supply the manuscript with a high-gloss finish. 

So I offered the job on Reedsy to five of their curated editors. So far, one passed and another wanted twice as much as I could afford. Meanwhile, I've contacted a company in Australia for the formatting. Great price, but I need the copywriting completed first, as well as adding ISBNs, before I can receive the final pdfs. 

Bowker, which handles American ISBNs, presents one with an unforgiving interface. I checked a box by mistake, couldn't undo it, and must now call Bowker and seek their help.

My to-do list now looks like a rough draft for the Peace of Westphalia. And all I desired was a new cover.

Next time, I'll desire differently.