Kelley Blue Book and the World of Publishing

"This story will knock your socks off."
"Move over Jane Austen, there's a new girl in town."
"I know you will enjoy this new coming of age...yadda, yadda, yadda."

You see it all the time over Facebook, Twitter, and in query letters.  *ahhhh query letters*  Writers touting their wares like they are the best out there. Nothing better.  And they'd be right of course. We should be the biggest cheerleaders of our own work. Having friends on board is even better. Convincing agents and publishers is....rockin'.

But ultimately it's the readers who pick up our work that decide their fate. Whether or not it continues to flourish, be purchased, or even picked up through a free download (a totally legal one of course).

The value of a story is so suggestive, that as we're writing it we may find ourselves questioning its worth. As it fails to entice agents, we question it more. But that doesn't make it worthless. It's like buying or selling a car (or getting reimbursed when a school bus crashes into your vehicle on the first day of school--but we don't have time to go into that here).

Books...they have value. Value that is going to differ depending on who is buying. We go online and see what the bottom line is.  Reviews are great, but can they be trusted? We weigh the facts, find people we trust, and ultimately make our decision and hope we were right.  Industry standard for cars uses Kelly Blue Book. They give you the bottom line facts for what the car is worth. In the publishing world  it's a little more subjective. But still, we have a few trusted sources. There's the New York Times list, Goodreads and Amazon (now...uh...one in the same?). Not exactly a perfect means by which to measure a book, but you can get a pretty good idea what you're getting. Even some spoilers if you're lucky unlucky.

So what are the best options for book shopping? Let's start by looking at the various options out there.

• Dealerships promise the buyer a perfect ride. No hiccups, bad editing or missing plot lines. They have that cool "NYT Bestseller" logo on the front that gives us all confidence that we've made the right choice and for writers makes fellow authors drool with envy. Of course that popular car will still fail to entice some. Too flashy. Too expensive. Not their style. 
• Private sellers offer a more mixed variety, offering their wares for less because they've left out the middle man, but they'll still get you to where you want to go. Some are a little wary without the dealership gaurantee, but after driving it around a while you're confident that you made the right choice. They may even ask someone else's opinion first or check the reviews via the automechanic. Yeah the new paint job may seem sort of amateur, inherently dropping its value, but inside everything works just fine. You're totally happy. 
• Even in the junkyard, where you dodge painful metaphors and may question the wisdom of your visit, some other shopper is going to leave there and tweet all about his awesome find. "I found the answers to life, the universe and the most awesome hubcap!!! Everyone needs this hubcap. Go buy this hubcap now!" (FYI: if all you do is tout your book everyday on Twitter I won't be following you. Just sayin' :))

Essentially I believe that many books have more value than people give them credit for, and that some well-touted books will never be read by me for various reasons.  But what matters most is the beauty each of us sees in the created work. Finding the joy in the journey and in the stories we read. And you know what?  That's good enough for me. That's what books are for.  Getting paid for our work?  Eh, it's a bonus.

So what frustrates you most about the publishing process? What do you love most about it? Do you ascribe to books based on public opinion alone?

Juggling Life as a Writer

I don't know how people do it. Juggling, that is.  I've spent a lifetime messing with balls, bean bags, and pieces of fruit, but usually give up after getting hit on the head. By the way, that apple should have knocked Newton out. Just sayin'.

Life as a writer is just as hard. Mostly because I'm also a Mom. And a Wife. And a Friend. And up until last year...a student. Yes, after years and years of online, summertime, and full semester classes I finally earned my degree in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing. I wrote a Senior Honors Thesis in place of a minor degree. It was hard.  Dang hard.

People asked me how I do it.

I have help of course.

It's like watching the jugglers who involve other people on stage. Sure they can do some cool tricks alone, but they can do SO many more with an extra pair of hands. Such is the case with the rest of us as well. Here how it works:

• Set a goal. I was six years old when I decided to become a writer. I never lost sight of that dream. Even when our family continued to grow. I figured I was gaining life experience to write about.
• Do a little everyday.  I didn't get my Bachelor's degree all at once. Beginning to end was about 20 years. The finished product is worth the time you put in. Work hard. Be patient.

• Give birth to really great kids. :) But seriously. Along with their chores, hugs, and complicated lives, my children also provide me a wealth of ideas, fodder, and beta readings. They rock. Totally and completely. But I also give them their due time. I'm a Mom first, a writer second. Of course the kids LOVE the candy jar I have on my desk. They get to sample some when I'm busy working. It's a reward for THEIR love and support. :)

• Friends. Get them. Online, real life, whatever. They're invaluable. Invest the time in them.

• Set a schedule.  I was never a big fan of planning out each hour of my day. Until I tried it one week.  I got SO much work done.  Giving things their due time, and then giving yourself permission to move onto something else, throws all the guilt out the window. 

• Get out of the house. Even if just for a moment.  Sometimes I'll step foot out the door and instantly be hit with an idea or a scene. A song on the radio will spark some dialogue. I've solved book plots in a ten minute drive. Warning: it was kind of hard to drive through all my tears of joy.  :)

• Have fun.  If you're not enjoying it, then ask yourself why you're doing it.  Yes, some writing is work and not very fun, *editing-cough cough* but take a look at the story and what you're trying to do.  Even serious articles are driven by this basest emotion. If the article doesn't bring us some measure of joy (making a valid point, entertaining a group, inspiring others to be better), then it will reflect in our writing. And we'll be miserable. 

How do you keep a balance in life with a writing career? Any secrets you're willing to share?

I is for...YOU!

Today is not about me. Or you. Or those who woke up this morning and whose biggest complaint is that they didn't get enough sleep.

Today is about someone else's child who is still asleep and whose family is hopeful that he'll wake up.

On Wednesday April 3, two boys were long boarding on a path alongside State Route 18, in St. George, one of which subsequently suffered life-threatening injuries from a terrible fall.

From his father, David Farland/Wolverton, Bestselling author, writer mentor, and friend:

About Ben's accident: Ben went long-boarding with a friend up near Snow Canyon, a scenic place with lots of rolling hills. They had never been there before, and Ben's friend, Tyler, went down a steep hill and thought that it was too difficult for Ben's board. He turned around to warn Ben, but by then Ben had already been thrown from his board. 

Apparently, Ben was thrown forward and rolled head-over-heels several times. That's why he crushed his skull (down near the hind brain), and then hit his back hard enough to bruise his lungs, then broke his pelvis/crushed his vertebrae, and so on. Beyond that, he has bad "road burn" on his knees, shoulder, back, hips, and so on, and a split lip. With the concussion, his ear drum broke, and he lost a lot of blood through his left ear and again through his nose.

An ambulance reached him quickly, and stayed with him until a helicopter got there to evacuate him at about 45 minutes. It flew him to the hospital in Saint George, but they don't have the equipment/staff to handle severe head trauma cases, so they administered meds and flew him to Las Vegas.

Ben is still in a coma, but his vitals are stable. They tried feeding him some solids through a tube yesterday, and he held it down well, so they're now starting him on more food. However, he hasn't moved since about 4 hours after the accident. We'll just have to hang on and see if he wakes up. 

And on top of their pain they have been uninsurable. So now his family needs our help.

Aside of the joy David's books have brought to others, his Daily Kick in the Pants has been an inspiration to writers everywhere, his pay it forward mentality in much need of some payback. Today. :)  A book bomb is making it's way around through the social-sphere today. Nightingale and Million Dollar Outlines are the two main books being focused on. Nightingale is an award winning YA Fantasy and Million Dollar Outlines is for writers everywhere who want to improve their craft.

Consider donating. Consider purchasing a copy (or two). Consider how fortunate you are to have rolled out of bed this morning. :) David is well-deserving of your caring today, as is his son Ben.

You can follow Ben's story and find all the donation links on the website here or on just about any writer's Facebook page that has a connection to Ben or his Dad, David Farland/Wolverton.

Thank you!!

Hootsuite vs Tweetdeck

Um...both.

Seriously. I have to use both to keep up with the twittering world. On occasion, I even need the Twitter site itself.  Why?

I have a Mac.

I love my Mac, don't get me wrong. But the difference in programming can cause the user some mild frustrations. Like with Twitter. It goes something like this:

• Twitter? How fun!!! Look at all the cool people I've found!! Now how can I follow everyone easily without always logging on? Hmmmm...
• Hurray for Tweetdeck! And it works on my iPad!
• Uh...what's with the changes to the functions guys, and what happened to the app on my iPad?!
• Forget it, I'm going with Hootsuite. It works on both.
• Or not. Gah! So confusing! Hello Twitter site...uh...why can't I edit my retweets? *sigh*
• Oh, look! Tweetdeck fixed its mistakes. Let's give it another try. What, still no app for the iPad?
• Hurray! Hootsuite works on the iPad!  But...uh...not on my new Mac.  PEOPLE!!!!
• So I guess it's Tweetdeck for my Mac laptop. Hootsuite for my iPad. Hurray?? And oh, I need the Twitter site when I have to borrow hubby's computer. Or add the twitter feed to my blog. (Yup, it's down there on the right a little ways.)

This is what it boils down to for me. I need multiple apps and duplicative networking sites in order to stay in touch. But hey, I guess that's life. :) It's like having multiple children, where there's a different approach I have to take depending on which one I'm interacting with. The message is the same no matter where I go. But getting it across? Well, it's just going to take a little extra patience on my part. :)

How about you? Do you tweet?  Which program suits you best and why? Are you on Twitter? Can I stalk--I mean, can we be friends?

Genres

Sci-fi
Fantasy
Science Fiction Fantasy
Horror
Romance
Women's Fiction
Non Fiction
Children's
Adult
Contemporary
Young Adult

*breathe*

My goodness there are a lot of genres out there.  And I didn't even name them all. But I did have to think about them a lot when I started writing seriously. Asking myself, "What kind of writing was I interested in?"

As a reader, it's pretty much all of the above. Except for horror. Sorry, Mr. King. Just not interested.  Monsters under the bed and all that...

I found my preferred genre by the stories I wrote. I didn't know what or who I was writing for at first.  I merely got an idea and ran with it.  Literally.  I think A LOT when I'm running. My legs already know what to do, so it frees my mind up for brainstorming. :)

After a few stories I realized that I loved my years of being a teenager.  *gasp*  I know...I know...I'm weird.  But it wasn't all the awkwardness of being a teen that I love to remember.  It was the victories.  Coming into your own. Making decisions. Finding the courage and strength and experience to stand on your own two feet.  Because some day every teen will have to do it.

As parents, educators and concerned adults, we long to have the teens act like adults.  Only I think we often forget something important. We were like them once...maybe twice.  :)  We learn the most as teens when we made mistakes, tried to do as we were told, and mucked our way through the conflicting signals and messages we got from adults.  "Be outgoing. Stop interrupting. Speak up! Be quiet. Be more responsible. Do what I say."

It's a wonder anyone ever makes it out of the teen years alive. By all accounts my body did...but according to my writing my head's still in the game.  Maybe because I have a house full of teens right now.  Maybe because I can personally sympathize with them and the pains of growing up. Maybe because deep down inside I think we all still resemble teenagers but don't want to admit it.

Well, I'm here to admit it.  Rock on, teens!  It's a beautiful time for you right now. A fantastic life ahead of you.  The entire world is at your doorstep!!!  Make the most of it! Learn! Have fun! And yeah...try and be a little responsible so you'll live to enjoy many more years of the same.  Even if it means being called an adult. :)

Do you have a favorite genre to read or write in? Are they the same genre?