Hello, wonderful people!
The last week or so has been full of activity - between the work and home life and THIS - and much of that activity has been mental.
Something I've always struggled with is FOCUS. I've a great brain for generating tons of ideas, but when it comes to focusing in on one project I've found myself rather challenged - yet when I do succeed in zeroing in on something, whatever that particular endeavor, it’s generally met with its own success. And so it has been with this book.
It was the prospect of the contest that helped spur me into action and pull the book out of development purgatory and get back on it. It's been this contest that has made me seriously evaluate my goals of pursuing a self-sustained career as a creator - a writer, media producer, etc - an ARTIST? Yes, I daresay.
But then I made contact with another author via Twitter - April Reign (@aprilmreign) and she was gracious enough to share a bit of her story with me in how she pursued and is now successful in self-publishing. It's an idea that has always appealed to me, but I've always been a bit nervous about. Yet, these most recent years (starting in 2012, but 2014-2015 particularly) have seen a dramatic increase in self-confidence.
Having been through the likes of NaNoWriMo and now going through this in addition to strides I'm taking at my day job, I'm seeing how self-publishing really is the way to go.
So, saying all that to say, I'm not expecting nor ever really expected to win this Inkshares contest. Also, as appealing as it is, at this point I don't want another company making decisions for me about my work. For the vast majority of my life I've been in a reactive state and I'm so over that. As I've taken steps in my personal life over the years to wrest control of the reigns of my destiny, now I am doing likewise with my professional life.
Now, I'm not going to withdraw from the contest because if there's ever anything I've learned it's the value of networking and exposure. This is but one portal into the sci-fi/fantasy community and when The Frozen Wastes inevitably is published, it'll be floating somewhere around the consciousness of everyone who's seen it featured here and hopefully they'll buy a copy.
And to the folks who have pre-ordered copies - thank you so, so much!! I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me that you all have put your money where your mouths are and not only said "Good luck," you've truly demonstrated that you believe in me, in this book. I can not thank you enough and you will be mentioned in the acknowledgements of the book when it is actually published. Your willingness to put up the cash pays out much more in spiritual dividends than dolla bills ever could – in my eyes, you’re all supa-stahs!
Again - I can't say it enough - thank you.
So, I will continue to update this site, but I will be shifting focus over to my website - thebaileyadventure.com - as I wrap up the book and move into proofreading and editing and then primary marketing.
I did promise one of you I'd have chapter two up by now, but it's due to this figuring things out that I haven't. For what it's worth, I apologize and will have more of the story up before too long.
Saying all that to say, upon reaching this resolution, I now see more than ever the need to get my narrative ship together before embarking on this voyage. I do have some outline materials, plotting out the stories of the 13-part series, and I've begun digging through my stuff to pull all that together and make sure I can keep things as cohesive as possible throughout the next few years. So it may take a minute for that to happen, but rest assured my focus, my sight is now dialed in to getting this first book DONE and out to market within the next six months.
Thank you all who have jumped onboard and I hope you continue along (and tell your friends!).
- Cliff
Hello, wonderful people!
The last week or so has been full of activity - between the work and home life and THIS - and much of that activity has been mental.
Something I've always struggled with is FOCUS. I've a great brain for generating tons of ideas, but when it comes to focusing in on one project I've found myself rather challenged - yet when I do succeed in zeroing in on something, whatever that particular endeavor, it’s generally met with its own success. And so it has been with this book.
It was the prospect of the contest that helped spur me into action and pull the book out of development purgatory and get back on it. It's been this contest that has made me seriously evaluate my goals of pursuing a self-sustained career as a creator - a writer, media producer, etc - an ARTIST? Yes, I daresay.
But then I made contact with another author via Twitter - April Reign (@aprilmreign) and she was gracious enough to share a bit of her story with me in how she pursued and is now successful in self-publishing. It's an idea that has always appealed to me, but I've always been a bit nervous about. Yet, these most recent years (starting in 2012, but 2014-2015 particularly) have seen a dramatic increase in self-confidence.
Having been through the likes of NaNoWriMo and now going through this in addition to strides I'm taking at my day job, I'm seeing how self-publishing really is the way to go.
So, saying all that to say, I'm not expecting nor ever really expected to win this Inkshares contest. Also, as appealing as it is, at this point I don't want another company making decisions for me about my work. For the vast majority of my life I've been in a reactive state and I'm so over that. As I've taken steps in my personal life over the years to wrest control of the reigns of my destiny, now I am doing likewise with my professional life.
Now, I'm not going to withdraw from the contest because if there's ever anything I've learned it's the value of networking and exposure. This is but one portal into the sci-fi/fantasy community and when The Frozen Wastes inevitably is published, it'll be floating somewhere around the consciousness of everyone who's seen it featured here and hopefully they'll buy a copy.
And to the folks who have pre-ordered copies - thank you so, so much!! I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me that you all have put your money where your mouths are and not only said "Good luck," you've truly demonstrated that you believe in me, in this book. I can not thank you enough and you will be mentioned in the acknowledgements of the book when it is actually published. Your willingness to put up the cash pays out much more in spiritual dividends than dolla bills ever could – in my eyes, you’re all supa-stahs!
Again - I can't say it enough - thank you.
So, I will continue to update this site, but I will be shifting focus over to my website - thebaileyadventure.com - as I wrap up the book and move into proofreading and editing and then primary marketing.
I did promise one of you I'd have chapter two up by now, but it's due to this figuring things out that I haven't. For what it's worth, I apologize and will have more of the story up before too long.
Saying all that to say, upon reaching this resolution, I now see more than ever the need to get my narrative ship together before embarking on this voyage. I do have some outline materials, plotting out the stories of the 13-part series, and I've begun digging through my stuff to pull all that together and make sure I can keep things as cohesive as possible throughout the next few years. So it may take a minute for that to happen, but rest assured my focus, my sight is now dialed in to getting this first book DONE and out to market within the next six months.
Thank you all who have jumped onboard and I hope you continue along (and tell your friends!).
- Cliff