I loved this! AND here's why (see what I did there?)
Goodness, the amount of questions I get when I listen to you authors is just fantastic. (Whether I share those questions with, eh, maybe 🤔😄)
You two crack me up. Listening to dad talking with his friends, there is NEVER a dull moment. Pop the popcorn and get a good seat.
Hearing other creatives (I love using that turm, hehe) talk about struggles that they have had or places they've gotten their heads stuck, it makes me feel less isolated....in my own head? If that makes sense.
I'm finding a new courage in myself to actually speak up, admit the struggles, face them, maybe even turn them into strengths. I'm ready to break out of that head space and make stuff happen! Without leaving my house and my comfy pajamas of course. It may end badly, or it could be some kind of fantastical.
I'm grateful for the encouragement your content brings.
This has been for me, a genuine win.
Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll catch you on your next podcast!
Hanging out in pj’s is the writer's uniform. So you're already halfway there. And you know… the thing about writing… you are allowed to write crap. Editing is where you make it shine. No one has to see your first draft, but you. First drafts are not supposed to be prefect. 😉 You got this!🫶
I just went to look at it. That’s so cool. I have to wait until they finish working downstairs because noise travels. But a public reading looks pretty cool. I wonder if I can link it to my Book Tube Channel?
I don't see why not. Just remember that the public one will allow anyone to use it -- first one into the readers seat is the one who can read to everyone.
If you want to schedule readings, I can do a side room, and we can set it up to open for the event.
We can talk about that, so we can provide more tools for success.
That sounds good. But we’re going through a last bit of reno here, and rather than putting up with noise and shit, it’s easier for me to wait. I was going to do my usual thing, which is do a cold reading on my pc here, and then run it through iMovies, and make it into a presentation. So I’ll have to take a look at what I really want to do. Do I change directions and give up the videos — they are a blast work on actually — or try the new venue? Ahh…First World problems of a retiree!
Love the music! Now...I'm a lurker, I guess, but I will always click the stars. As a reader-lurker, I treat comments as a place to express issues. It's like food; how often has someone said the food at such-n-such restaurant was great, to find it was just ok to you -- I fear too much emphasis is being placed on reviews & comments. What if your fan base was a million people who struggle to express themselves emotionally? If you're going to judge the quality of your work on reviews & comments, you're doomed, even though you sold a million copies. So, where's the cliff edge? I keep asking myself, did the great writers of old, care what people thought. I feel like it was sales, caring little, or not at all, for people's opinions -- at least from a commitment to their art standpoint. I'm going to write what I want to write, and how I want to write it, and if I can't put food on the table, then I'll write for myself & get a job. I will not write what other people want or like, just to be writing, there's enough of that in the market.
...and like I said in the podcast, there's an 'and' to this, because I agree with you on everything...I write my stories, the way I want to write my stories.
Do I care what other people think?
Yes,...and no. I want to know if they like the story r not, and WHY.
Knowing allows me the information to hone my skills, to sharpen my knives and create better stories, because I am more aware of how they affect people. Can they be more clear? Can I address concepts more powerfully or use tones/themes that would gather a greater readership?
I want to know those things, and ANY writer worth their salt would likely want to know also.
But the biggest reason?
Sales.
I sold tens of thousands of my first book, while I was learning how to do all this.
There was a sizable increase in sales each time I got a single interview. You could actually see that trend. The barrier to sales was thinner when I had more reviews.
So my question would be, "If I sold roughly 23,000 copies of my book with 20 reviews, how many more would I have sold if I has 200 reviews? ...or 2000 reviews??"
Understand...I guess maybe I'm connecting the art too tightly to the business, & need to mentally wear a different hat when thinking about these things. It's not hard to see why a person might prefer traditional publishing -- in hopes someone else can labor over these items. Writing is "simple", the business is a burden. Oh well...good thing I got a job for now & can afford to "only" focus on the writing, ha! Thanks for clarifying!
Thanks! False confidence? Hope not, as I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring, in Jan., with a serialized fiction. Better to start now, when I got "financial security". I appreciate you sharing your experiences with Jamie, I missed the last Cartel, & need to read through the notes. Thanks for the feedback! There's really nothing I can think I'd rather be doing during "retirement", than telling stories.
I said, "I want to know those things, and ANY writer worth their salt would likely want to know also."
...and I thought about this for a while.
I believe I'm wrong.
Yeah, I could have edited my comment, but I prefer people to see that open conversations can change minds...and I think my comment was unjust.
Those words, made a pretty huge judgement that other writers should think like me, and that simply isn't true.
What I wanted to express is that I admire your answer and that I agree with you.
I'm motivated by certain things, as are you. Both are valid, and both help us exist as who we are. I worked multiple jobs to sustain myself as I continued to write...one reason why I relate to and respect your answer.
Most of my readers are lurkers.
I'm not sure how we can, as writers, improve our craft if we don't get feedback...that was my main point.
IF you liked this debut, consider leaving a rating on iTunes or Spotify =)
I loved this! AND here's why (see what I did there?)
Goodness, the amount of questions I get when I listen to you authors is just fantastic. (Whether I share those questions with, eh, maybe 🤔😄)
You two crack me up. Listening to dad talking with his friends, there is NEVER a dull moment. Pop the popcorn and get a good seat.
Hearing other creatives (I love using that turm, hehe) talk about struggles that they have had or places they've gotten their heads stuck, it makes me feel less isolated....in my own head? If that makes sense.
I'm finding a new courage in myself to actually speak up, admit the struggles, face them, maybe even turn them into strengths. I'm ready to break out of that head space and make stuff happen! Without leaving my house and my comfy pajamas of course. It may end badly, or it could be some kind of fantastical.
I'm grateful for the encouragement your content brings.
This has been for me, a genuine win.
Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll catch you on your next podcast!
P.S. - Love you Lisa!
P.P.S - Love you Dad! 😘😁
It is fun to spend time with a bunch of writers!!!
We just need to FIND some.....🤔
Ha!
Love you back, sweetie.
That's a reason I was hopeful about building this community of writers.
...I have phenomenal friends (and family)...and you know I've preached to you children that we are meant to be catalysts for good.
We are also gatherers, Jessie Bear.
That's a fact.
So why not use those personality traits to help other authors?
Then watch the miracles happen.
....like 30 circular pieces of wood for a certain wood-burning prodigy appears!
Miracles are everywhere!
I’m usually in the mindset of “No one would want this artwork I created over the course of 2 months on this piece of wood.”
But God keeps sending me supplies to do it. So I keep trying.
And I’m low key obsessed with wood-burning. So. Much. Fun!!!
Hanging out in pj’s is the writer's uniform. So you're already halfway there. And you know… the thing about writing… you are allowed to write crap. Editing is where you make it shine. No one has to see your first draft, but you. First drafts are not supposed to be prefect. 😉 You got this!🫶
Poetry, right there.
Editing is MAGIC
Exactly! It’s the secret sauce. :)
Great kick-off to a podcast for & by fiction writers!!! I was high-fiving my phone! More, please!
Well, it should probably be stated that I wasn't willing to even START this project unless I had a solid 100 episodes to produce.
...so let's do a hundred shows, then we'll decide if it worked, okay?
😆🫣💯🥰
See what I mean about different people's ideas of success???
Told ya you're smart.
Very well done, Jamie -- and Lisa, too! A lot of insight here.
Thank you, Ben.
Appreciate your feedback, my friend.
Oh, and the public reading room is now active for you to use if you like!
You can find it here (bookmark this):
https://gobrunch.com/events/eozmjo/mqqjxn
I just went to look at it. That’s so cool. I have to wait until they finish working downstairs because noise travels. But a public reading looks pretty cool. I wonder if I can link it to my Book Tube Channel?
I don't see why not. Just remember that the public one will allow anyone to use it -- first one into the readers seat is the one who can read to everyone.
If you want to schedule readings, I can do a side room, and we can set it up to open for the event.
We can talk about that, so we can provide more tools for success.
That sounds good. But we’re going through a last bit of reno here, and rather than putting up with noise and shit, it’s easier for me to wait. I was going to do my usual thing, which is do a cold reading on my pc here, and then run it through iMovies, and make it into a presentation. So I’ll have to take a look at what I really want to do. Do I change directions and give up the videos — they are a blast work on actually — or try the new venue? Ahh…First World problems of a retiree!
HAHAHA....why do you have to choose?
I wouldn't drop the videos -- that lives on forever!
...but it may be fun, after the reno's done, to do an event for your readers and spend time with them live, that's all =)
You have plenty of time, Ben...we aren't going anywhere.
Thank you both for this! …Lisa, I have such a diverse set of friends, too—I love diversity. . . Write reviews everybody! Please.
Hahaha...THANK you, Shannon!
Need to get MORE people to spread that CTA...["Write A Review And Save An Author's Sanity..."]
Hmmmm...
...too needy?
LOL
Too TRUE.
RIGHT...EVERYONE HEAR THAT?
Lisa said it's TRUE.
...now it's law.
(smirk)
Yay, Shannon! Life is boring without lots of fun friends, especially those who make us think!
Scoot told me after our podcast today that I 'squeeze his brain'.
...I think I remembered that correctly, LOL.
Love the music! Now...I'm a lurker, I guess, but I will always click the stars. As a reader-lurker, I treat comments as a place to express issues. It's like food; how often has someone said the food at such-n-such restaurant was great, to find it was just ok to you -- I fear too much emphasis is being placed on reviews & comments. What if your fan base was a million people who struggle to express themselves emotionally? If you're going to judge the quality of your work on reviews & comments, you're doomed, even though you sold a million copies. So, where's the cliff edge? I keep asking myself, did the great writers of old, care what people thought. I feel like it was sales, caring little, or not at all, for people's opinions -- at least from a commitment to their art standpoint. I'm going to write what I want to write, and how I want to write it, and if I can't put food on the table, then I'll write for myself & get a job. I will not write what other people want or like, just to be writing, there's enough of that in the market.
Okay, Neil,...you're SPOT on here...
...and like I said in the podcast, there's an 'and' to this, because I agree with you on everything...I write my stories, the way I want to write my stories.
Do I care what other people think?
Yes,...and no. I want to know if they like the story r not, and WHY.
Knowing allows me the information to hone my skills, to sharpen my knives and create better stories, because I am more aware of how they affect people. Can they be more clear? Can I address concepts more powerfully or use tones/themes that would gather a greater readership?
I want to know those things, and ANY writer worth their salt would likely want to know also.
But the biggest reason?
Sales.
I sold tens of thousands of my first book, while I was learning how to do all this.
There was a sizable increase in sales each time I got a single interview. You could actually see that trend. The barrier to sales was thinner when I had more reviews.
So my question would be, "If I sold roughly 23,000 copies of my book with 20 reviews, how many more would I have sold if I has 200 reviews? ...or 2000 reviews??"
TRUTH: I do not know.
...but I'd like to.
Understand...I guess maybe I'm connecting the art too tightly to the business, & need to mentally wear a different hat when thinking about these things. It's not hard to see why a person might prefer traditional publishing -- in hopes someone else can labor over these items. Writing is "simple", the business is a burden. Oh well...good thing I got a job for now & can afford to "only" focus on the writing, ha! Thanks for clarifying!
And I also want to point out that you have confidence in what you are doing. Keep that! Don't let anything outside drain that away.
Thanks! False confidence? Hope not, as I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring, in Jan., with a serialized fiction. Better to start now, when I got "financial security". I appreciate you sharing your experiences with Jamie, I missed the last Cartel, & need to read through the notes. Thanks for the feedback! There's really nothing I can think I'd rather be doing during "retirement", than telling stories.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you craft, Neil.
That is, I believe, the solid foundation of this new podcast...sharing experiences and shining the spotlight on the questions, not the guests. =)
Yay for joining in and sharing serialized fiction! And I doubt that confidence is false. Sounds very reasonable to me.
I think I should openly apologize here, Neil.
I said, "I want to know those things, and ANY writer worth their salt would likely want to know also."
...and I thought about this for a while.
I believe I'm wrong.
Yeah, I could have edited my comment, but I prefer people to see that open conversations can change minds...and I think my comment was unjust.
Those words, made a pretty huge judgement that other writers should think like me, and that simply isn't true.
What I wanted to express is that I admire your answer and that I agree with you.
I'm motivated by certain things, as are you. Both are valid, and both help us exist as who we are. I worked multiple jobs to sustain myself as I continued to write...one reason why I relate to and respect your answer.
Most of my readers are lurkers.
I'm not sure how we can, as writers, improve our craft if we don't get feedback...that was my main point.
So again, you were (and are) correct.