We interrupt our scheduled program for an amazing indie film.
I really hope there is more to this little film. 15 minutes is just not enough. The way they use color to highlight certain things, and the subtle use of special effects… this could be one of my favorite youtube series.
My friends are geeky. There isn’t any getting around it, and I kind of like the fact.
I have listened, and even participated in several conversations that began “Who would win….” The answer is usually “Batman,” because even if he looses he will come back and win the second battle.
So when the question regarding world building, and specifically how two sentient species could coexist popped up I had no problem entering into this discussion. I’d already had this discussion on other occasions.
This question comes up a lot when dealing with worlds like TSR, LOTR, and others that have several species (elf, dwarf, human) that all live together. Some authors add in explanations of how they came about. Others simply make it an act of a god and leave it at that. The more scientific explanations usually come from Sci-fi sources such as Star Trek.
Star Trek 4 has to be one of the worst movies in the lot. (And I’m a major Trekkie. I still think it was pretty bad.) It did have one subject that I rather liked: humans assume we are the only intelligent race on earth, but have no common frame of reference to distinguish this as fact.
As an example, dolphins have been known to do things we recognize as intelligent or showing feeling. Whales have tried to rescue their calves. Dogs will rescue their owners. Several species of ape and birds are known to use tools. Is this intelligence? Do they feel emotion? Is it just instinct or something else? Can we really tell?
When discussing how and if two intelligent races can coexist on one planet we first have to determine what is intelligence and how do we measure it. For earth, and humans, we acknowledge humanity as intelligent because of how much we can adapt to the environment and the environment to us. We can build, create, and invent, while other species are still learning the value and use of tools.
If they did evolve, we may not even recognize their intelligence because their goals in life, their ambitions, and needs do not overlap ours enough to make it known. As an example take dolphins. They do not need homes, or jobs. They do not need money. They need fish and open waters. They do not compete for many of our resources, and likely never will since their sphere of influence is the ocean, while ours is mainly the land.
It isn’t inconceivable that these species could evolve to human like intelligence… if we let them. I think a big part of it is, evolution wise, that whichever species evolved first would have to get to a point where they did not feel threatened, and even helped the “lesser” species. If we continue to hunt apes and dolphins their evolution could end short in extinction.
In short… We really don’t know the possibilities. They are simply endless.
This was a conversation on Reddit (where I, admittedly spend my time procrastinating) on how to learn to not procrastinate. http://www.reddit.com/r/IWantToLearn/comments/zj6c9/i_want_to_learn_how_to_stop_procrastinating/c654p6g One point I realized was true… twitter, facebook, tv, etc… it’s all junk food for your brain. We use it in moderation, or we use it to stuff our heads full of useless stuff an avoid what we really should/need to think about. Read the link for techniques to battle this constant influx of information.
At 57:30, I’m Christy, the one that sent in the question. For the record my voice is pretty high pitched, even for a girl. I’ve been asked a few times if my mommy was home. Not as often now, as I am in my 30’s, but still enough that I will be having someone else do my audio books. I also found this to be a really good discussion about “buying reviews” which has been hitting the news lately. In a nutshell… it’s a bad way to do business, makes other self publishers look bad, and for actual physical goods (like toasters) it can be even worse. On the other hand, it is really beneficial for actual readers to leave comments and reviews on books. I’ve sold mine 4 times and have yet to get a review (though someone raved about it on FB which was really nice). Good reviews, honest reviews, are sometimes hard to come buy. It’s really no wonder some people turn to buying them. Its still not the highest ethical standard.
First the update.
I finished “Flight of the Griffins”. It is now being edited by the editor, and will hopefully be out soon.
It’s be a long road, and I am very glad to see this one finished. I will be ecstatic to see it out!
I just finished reading “A Perfect Blood”. In it, Rachel Morgan has to deal with a serial killer doing ritualistic slayings who’s origins look demonic.
I admit I am rather bias. I love Kim Harrison novels. The magic, the mayhem, the witches and vampires… Yes, one of my favorite series.
Times have changed. Authors can, if they choose, be very interactive with their fans. Kim Harrison answers her fans on her Facebook page often, giving insights into her books. There is a character in “A Perfect Blood” which isn’t exactly introduced. So, natural, I went to the internet to find out where this character came from. The answer was on Ms. Harrison’s Facebook page. Another fan had asked her the same question, and Ms. Harrison gave her the name, and a brief description of where the character was introduced (in a short story in a separate book) but didn’t ruin the story for anyone.
More authors are choosing to stay in closer contact with their fans. Not just about their books, either. They share things just like anyone else. Pictures, news, updates on their personal life. These authors, those who “get a little personal” seem to do very well with their books too. They’ve made a connection with their audience.
After all…. if you actually like the person who’s writing you may feel even better about throwing some money their way to read their work.
What’s the point of telling a good story? Why do it?
There have been story tellers for centuries. Sometimes called mistrals or bards, other times wise old men. They would sit in crowded, smoky bars, or on dusty streets and weave stories into tales, or song for the few coins dropped in their palm. Actors would strut and fret their way across stages. Criers would call the news out to the milling throngs.
Story telling is in our blood.
Our story tellers, in this particular century, take on many forms. News paper journalists. Bloggers. Vloggers. Book authors. Music writers. TV writers. Game designers. Movie makers. D&D players. LARPers… I’m sure I’ve left something out.
What’s the point of it all?
It’s a way of passing on our thoughts. Our hopes. Our dreams. Our reality. A way of sharing the little pocket of the universe with others around us.
Sometimes it is our way of experiencing something we could not otherwise experience, like dragons, or storming Normandy during D-day, or even flying like a bird.
But a good story… a good story will make you immortal. Like Shakespeare, or Homer. A good story will stretch over time and space and engulf everyone it touches. A truly GREAT story will be rewritten, re-imagined, reworked, and re-read for countless years to come.
We tell stories because we are creative and imaginative creatures. And we must.
Recently someone asked if it was possible to compile all of their articles together and make one ebook for sale on amazon. The biggest problem with this is that most people looking for a non-fic book are looking for something specific to one subject. The few exceptions are things like “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, but they are all “uplifting” stories, or “amazing facts” style books, and thus have a running theme.
So if you find yourself in that position here are some tips to help you make it into a single book.
First, ask yourself if you are trying to put random articles together, are they relevant to one another? Because if they are not then it is probable that you will have a better chance marketing them as individuals to magazines for reprint.
Look for themes. Health and wellness. Colonizing space. Agriculture. Uplifting stories. Children. Wedding.
You can take 4 or 5 articles with a similar subject and rewrite them into a non-fic book on that subject. Then drum up readers by having your book linked from your main page of articles.
So find a way for them to work together, a common theme, or subject, and make it into a book, not just random pieces put together.
I have been taking the last week or so to convert all of my novels to Scrivener. It’s been a learning experience.
First, let me explain something. I don’t have one file for each novel. If that were the case of things would have been so much easier.
No, the novel I was working on today had nine separate files. The nine files happened over the years as I switched from Lotus, to Word, to RTF, and between three or four different PC’s. Each file had different parts. Two of them had nearly the whole thing, but each was missing some part.
I finally figured out the fastest way to compile these into one file was to open nine subsections in Scrivener, and paste each file in a separate section. Then I compared and compiled the sections together until I had each unique section, and could separate everything into chapters.
It was time consuming, but worth it. I am sure that I missed some minor things, or basic edits that I will have to redo, but all in all the time spent doing this was worth it.
Next I will have to compile this into one file so that I have a back up. But a single backup is much easier to handle then nine.
When you pick up a book the first thing that catches your eye is the cover art, and the title. If these two things do not apeal to you then it is less likely for you to read the blurb on the back, or take a moment to read the first couple of pages.
The art should reflect, and work well with, the title.
It is incredibly easy to get actual, profesional cover art for your book that there is absolutly no excuse to use a big red box with letters on it, unless your story is about a big red box. I know you drew it yourself, but if it doesn’t give me an idea of what is in the book. I will probably pass it up for something a bit shinier on the outside.
They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” but really, most people do. The cover of your book is the very first impression anyone gets of it. They look at the cover and say ‘oh, spaceships’ or ‘a river, must be about a camping trip’, or magic, or sex. Really, your cover art sells the theme of your story.
Coverart can be aquired through the many thousands of artists that frequent Deviant Art, freelance forums, or even Reddit. There are even premade, free, covers on Deviant Art already ready for your use. Many artists only want a free e-book for their troubles. Others, the ones who actually make a living from their art, or are trying to just like you are trying to make a living from your writing, will sell you a cover. (Please remember to always contact the artist, read their rules, ask and/or let them know, BEFORE you use their art.)
The second thing people will look at is the title.
Titles are often based on something important to the story.
Pick out the things that are the most important in your story. People, places, subject. Now brainstorm around those themes. It always helps to have something that is in the same tone as your book. Scary for horror, funny for a comedic piece, futuristic for a sci-fi.
Sometimes the title seems to have absolutely nothing to do with the story, such as “A Clockwork Orange” or “To Kill a Mockingbird”. If the title is off beat enough it may draw someones attention enough to get them to read the preview, like “The Universe Doesn’t Give A Flying Fuck About You” (which is a motivational, surprisingly.)
Covers and titles are almost as important as the first page. If they look at the cover and it doesn’t grab their attention long enough to get them to pick it up and read that first paragraph (or online click the ‘see inside’ button) then it never gets out the door.
Writing is an act of creativity. Publishing is an act of tenacity, whether you are self or traditionally published.
If you think about it, nearly everyone writes. Letters, notes, forums, fan-fic and random snippets here and there. That takes creativity. And if you share your work via blogs, forums, or other sources then you also show your desire to share your thoughts with the world.
Publication takes more. It takes tenacity and perseverance.
Let me clarify. Many people have said self publishing is muddying the waters. Lots of ebooks get through with little or no editing. Some are poorly formated. Others have boring cover art.
But there are others who take all the extra steps. Good edits, formating and cover art. These few will likely have more then one book, and earn themselves many followers and fans because they are fighting the good fight. Earning their small part of the kingdom. And making something we want to see and read.
If they are trying traditional publications there are even more steps. Queries, rejections, more queries, agents, contracts, proofs, signings, and, at the end of the day, maybe a paycheck.
Anyone can write. To write well you must work hard. To publish you must work even harder. To succeed at it you have to be tenacious.
Stick with it, good writer. Fight the good figt. Persever where others will fall behind.
Author Crissy Moss 