Memorial Day Weekend (Update)

It's been a while since I posted a blog update so I'm just chiming in to keep you guys up to date. I've been working full time at a job that is very interesting. No it's not a full time writing job, (I'm not there yet.), but I get to carry a gun with me everywhere I go. Contractually I'm not allowed to say who or where I work, so I'll let your imagination fill in the blanks.

As far as writing, I'm still aiming to complete Self Aware 2, by Christmas of this year. I'm the type of writer that plots out everything from start to finish on paper and then goes back to fill in the rest. This acts as a guide or map for me to follow, keeping me on track. Believe it or not, the characters do the talking. I just try to keep up and get their words all down. It's funny, when you type something someone says, you automatically hear a response, or in my case, see an action or reaction in my head, so I write what the other person did.

I've been doing an experiment ~ seeing how my book sales are doing with no marketing or advertising. The answer: Not good. That's good to know, because that tells me that while I am busy with work and writing, I need to focus some time on marketing and advertising. With more and more writers publishing books, competition for you, the reader, is getting harder. Especially since there was a report the other day from microsoft saying that goldfish now have a higher attention span than humans. (You can read more on that article here)

So much data and information passes in front of our eyes, almost every second of our day. We choose this, pick that, or buy this. Our attention bounces around, multi-tasking on all kinds of things. With people not buying my books - it's not personal, or that they suck, it's just that there's so many other things competing for you attention that if I don't actively engage you or let you know "Hey, here's a great ZOMBIE book you might want to read while you're waiting for the next season of the Walking Dead." How are you to know? Someone else, who's doing the same thing will let you know they have a book. Then all kinds of factors will come into play (book cover, description, price, if you looking for another book to read, etc.) that will make you make a choice (buy or skip to the next one.)

The important thing I take away from this, is that while yes, it's important for me to continue writing the best book I can for part two of Self Aware, I still need to try to compete for your attention. I will do my best to blog and tweet more in the upcoming months, as well as continue writing. For now, I ask you do me one favor... tomorrow (or today, depending on when you're reading this), will you take a few minutes out of your busy day and give thanks/appreciation to those who gave their lives in the name of freedom & liberty.

Memorial day is just a reminder, that great men and women, straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender and from all kinds of backgrounds & nationalities, gave their lives in service of our country, going as far back as our own Civil war, to the most recent conflicts. Lets give them thanks, even silently ~ if just for a moment in our everyday, busy lives...

Thanks!

 :-)

The Good... The Bad.... and The Ugly...

First, we'll start off with the ugly and get that out of the way...

Self-Aware (A Zombie Series With A Fresh Twist!) will not be released on Halloween, or anytime this October. Bummer, I know.

It sucks, which leads to what's Bad... I was hoping to release it this month, but the polishing/editing is taking longer than expected. I rather wait and hold off, then to release this incredible book that has such potential to be a best seller.

The Good? I'm happy to say that it's polishing very nicely, meaning that there's a lot going into this book... character development, dialog, proper emotional responses, following all the steps of the Hero's Journey, and lots and lots of zombies! I've come so far in my writing over the last five years and this book is going to show the difference/contrast from when I wrote Anica Storm & The Wand of Time to now. What's changed is I've learned how to show, more than to tell in the writing.

Example, in my old book, I would say something like: 

Anica was afraid to open the door.

(This is telling... kind of a no, no. You want to have about 90% showing and about 10% telling because sometimes you just have to say it.)

Now I would write something like:

Anica reached her hand out to turn the rustic, old door knob, but noticed her hand was trembling at the thought of what might be behind the door.

What's behind the door?!? Yikes... can you feel the tension? All I threw in there was a door knob and Anica reaching for it. It makes you want to know now, doesn't it?  :-)

Well I'm happy to say that I'm very excited to release Self-Aware to the world soon. While I'm disappointed it didn't hit the target date, I rather wait and release it when it's ready, then to half-ass it. After all, so much has gone into this book... it needs to be as perfect as possible because I'm counting on your honest reviews to let the world know Hey, check out this book! You won't be disappointed!

So that's where I'm at. If I don't talk to you before next week, I hope you guys have a great Halloween and know that Self-Aware will definitely come out in either November or December, in time for the holidays so you can cozy up next to the fire with your new kindle you got for Christmas!  :-)

PS ~ In case you're wondering what's on the other side of the door, here it is...

Anica took a deep breath and slowly let it out, as she gathered the courage to turn the handle. Using the sleeve of her shirt, she wiped off the old spiderweb and then turned the knob... but it didn't turn. Suddenly the door squeaks open as Anica's eyes widen at what's opening the door. All she can see is a dark room!

:-D

I just made that up. If you do want to read more of Anica Storm & The Wand of Time, you can find my book at www.tinyurl.com/WandOfTime ~ The first part is free, so enjoy!

Steven W.