Category: Inspiration and Philosophy

Critique Groups: Be Afraid?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

Trojans. Can't live with 'em, can't burn them at the stake.It’s terrifying, sharing your art with other people for the first time. I remember one of the earliest songs I wrote for my Best Beloved, who practically worships the water I walk on, so a positive response was essentially guaranteed.

Fail. Couldn’t do it. I had to sit in a chair around the corner so I couldn’t see her while I sang. (I’d done pub gigs where I played and sang for 4 hours, so it’s not shyness, believe me.)

How on earth can you ever share your art with a critique group? You know, those people who think you want their feedback?
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Half a Conversation About Self-Publishing

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I had a lengthy conversation about publishing. My half seems to make sense even without the questions, so I’m posting it here.

If you’re ready to even talk about getting your book out of the “someday” box, well, let’s talk, eh?

image http://www.sxc.hu/photo/540700 by Kishore N C http://www.sxc.hu/profile/kishorenc

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Planning My Days Around Willpower

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

Dan Pink shared 4 lessons from Manage Your Day-to-Day in his newsletter. Number 1 has been on my radar since a recent chat with Mark McGuinness (who wrote one section of the book.)

“The single most important change you can make in your working habits is to switch to creative work first, reactive work second. This means blocking off a large chunk of time every day for creative work on your own priorities, with the phone and e-mail off.”

I posted the graphic a couple days ago. Here’s the detail:
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Yet Another Frustrating Author Belief: “I Will Get Picked or Die Trying”

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I find this attitude so very frustrating.

Do not wait to be picked.

Do not wear rejection slips like badges of honor.

Most of all, sweet merciful heavens, do not go to your grave wishing you’d been allowed to write your book.

You do not need permission. There is no gate, only an open field awaiting all those with the good sense and courage to venture into it.

Don’t let fear dictate to your dreams.

photo http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1421658 by Alfred Borchard http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Alfi007

Is Your Goal “Getting Published” or “Being an Author” ?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

photo http://www.sxc.hu/photo/656380 by belinda cumming http://www.sxc.hu/profile/belleoftheI’ve asked every question I can think of; asked everyone I can find.

The short version is that if your lifelong goal has been to “get published” then a traditional publisher is the only one who’ll fulfill your dream.

But if your goal is
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What Do Authors THINK They Want?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

Digital Book World and Writer’s Digest asked 5,000 authors what factors influenced their decisions between traditional and self-publishing. Without reading the full (expensive) report, the accompanying chart is ambiguous because it merely states what factors influenced the decision, but not which direction authors were influenced. If you and I both consider “Publisher prestige” a factor, and it causes you to pursue traditional publishing, but causes me to choose self-publishing, the factor itself has limited value without the reasoning behind it.

These are, in fact, important factors; too important to leave to the ambiguity of a simple chart. Let’s clarify, shall we? As usual, I’ll fall back on opinion. Mine, of course. Where I see shades of grey I’ll say so, but where I see black and white, expect hyperbole.

factors in deciding whether to pursue traditional or self-publishing
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