Category Archives: feature films- narratives

Shelf Sitting

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“Keep constantly in mind how many things you yourself have witnessed change.” ~ Marcus Aurelius 

Interesting! Lately I have been hearing more and more about something that I have suspected for a long time.  Bookstores are not the best places to sell books! I dislike even making this statement, because bookstores are my “safe haven.” A place to go when I want to relax, spend some quiet time and browse the vast selection of books until my heart is content. Almost all of us would say it is fulfilling to step into a bookstore. It is unadulterated bliss, as far as I am concerned. Rarely do I come out empty handed. It is hard to control my impulses in a bookstore.  

But, in terms of authors selling books, there are other ways. More specifically, by selling individual orders through e-commerce, and at other places besides the bookstore. Eliminated is the scenario of not knowing whether books, films and other media will be sold by a bookstore or they will be returned as unsold. 

The trend of internet buying is here to stay. If you are a writer who has not yet explored the possibilities of selling your book on line, what is stopping you? If you are not mired in contractual agreements with a publisher who has you locked into the traditional way of bookstore bookselling only, it may pay to look into a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers. Don’t sit there not knowing how to move your books from basement, garages and attics into the marketplace. Be pro-active! http://bit.ly/bFnEGZ.

 

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Novel Writing Challenge

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“The most beautiful things are those that madness prompts and reason writes.  ~André Gide,

Heads up, novelists! November is National Novel Writing Month. Do you have what it takes to beat the challenge and fulfill the goals of  “thirty days and thirty nights of literary abandon?” 50,000 words (175 pages) in 30 days is the goal and NaNoWriMo will have novelists all over the world participating in this fun literary challenge. 

Do not procrastinate, do not stall, write your heart out and win, above all!

 What’s this I read?

  • Worry, not about content, only quantity?
  • Allow your work to be unedited?
  • Write wrecklessly? Scary!
  • No writing experience needed?
  • Kids can participate in their own challenge! 

Join in this on-line writing challenge! For more information, please visit: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

A Fulfilling, Worthwhile Trek

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“I know the price of success: dedication, hardwork and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”~ Frank Lloyd Wright  

Saturday morning at 5:30 am, I began  the long trek over snowy Rabbit Ears pass from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to Denver, CO, three hours away, to attend the monthly Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com gathering. Snow covered mountain passes were not going to stop me from fulfilling my need for more knowledge about the subject of  independent publishing vs. traditional publishing. Eric Boss, bookseller for the Penguin Group, would be an informative speaker, I was sure. 

As a person who has been involved in bookselling for many, many years, Eric had much to say about what books sell and what do not. He also addressed the issue of “what it takes to be successful” in the traditional publishing industry.  

So, what did I learn? From all that I heard, the chances of “making it” in independent publishing and traditional publishing are one in the same. It helps to have good business acumen, defer to professionals for assistance (especially important if you want to first and foremost be a writer) and be dedicated to the project at hand. 

Tomorrow, I will share some things Eric Boss, professional bookseller, had to say to the crowd about what books sell and what do not. I think you will be surprised!

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Fabulous Forces

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“One of our greatest gifts is our intuition. It is a sixth sense we all have – we just need to learn to tap into and trust it.”                             ~ Donna Karan 

On this blogsite, we often mention using and sharing all our God-given gifts and talents. Yesterday morning, Reverend Tim, of the Steamboat United Methodist Church http://bit.ly/c0d5H1   shared once again with those in the congregation, his deep understanding of the world around him. His ability to communicate directly, succinctly and briefly from the pulpit, is unlike any church leader I have ever been witness to before. Refreshing, bright and inspiring!

 We watched and listened as a very short segment of the  1970’s blockbuster film “Star Wars” was played. Reverend Tim related how the theme of the movie, applies to our lives, in his sermon “May the Force be With You.” 

Preceding the Doxology, was a beautiful composition that the choir sang called “I Can Do All Things.” In the bulletin, the only name given for the composer for the arrangement was Courtney. Later, I need to use the world wide web to find out the last name of the song writer.  

There is a lot more that could be said about Reverend Tim’s creative messages. Every Sunday morning, I regret not having pencil and paper in hand to record the most vital points of his sermons.  It would help me to accurately remember, and later ponder some of the things that interest me the most.

I have just broken a promise that I made on Saturday! I forgot to share the details of the  Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com gathering I attended on Saturday. Tomorrow and possibly the next day too, I will do as I vowed. 

Would you agree that  sometimes it is hard to decide what comes first in our lives?

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Harvest Home and Heart

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“All freezes again – among the pines, winds whispering a prayer” ~ Rieki, 18th Century Japanese Poet

Last  night I had a strong reminder that winter is not too far away. As I stepped into the chill of the evening air, I was all but overcome by the pungent smells of autumn – rotting leaves and woodstove smoke.  Our sense of smell is heightened in the darkness of the night.

At this time of year, with every drop of precipitation, I say a prayer that the gorgeous guest of winter will decide not to arrive too early and stay too long.  I appreciate her presence when she first appears. She is white, pristine and new. But as she over stays her welcome every spring, she turns brown, dingy and old. I grow tiresome! As I age, the gap between fall and spring seems to be extended and the glamourous guest of winter, snow, does not quite fulfill me the way it used to. Rather than bemoan the fact that winter will have her way with me again this year, I think I will savor the sublime provisions of autumn and have a grateful heart that remembers the gift of life in all seasons.

Mysteries, such as the routine changing of the seasons, are profound. Thirteenth century mystic,  Dame Julian of Norwich, must have been thinking of nature as he declared “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all matter of things shall be well.”

During this autumn season, be thankful for all matters of the heart, health, home and harvest.

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Pondering Power

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“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if no one is watching.” ~ Unknown 

Several weeks ago, I received a communication from a group of people who were interested in having me join in with them. I listened and I considered what it was I was being asked to do. I was intrigued, for sure, and flirted with the chance to join this group. But something was amiss. For reasons that at first I could not grasp, I could not quite commit. A visible, impressive name was attached to the group, which made it ever so tempting, but after deep consideration, cogitating, pondering, thought and prayer, I decided the opportunity would not be personally fulfilling to me. By being involved with this group, I felt there would possibly be things that did not mesh with the inner fiber of my being. 

I spent several sleepless nights trying to make my decision and I even searched the internet in my quest for trying to decide which path to follow. Guess what I found? I found a radio show called the Things that Matter the Most! http://www.thethingsthatmattermost.org. Just reading the title of the radio show brought me to my senses and rattled me from going in a direction that may be meant for others but not for me. 

I declined the invitation and decided I would not look back. My decision sits well within my soul and goes along with what matters most to me. In the end, I decided I would rather be personally fulfilled than to try to be and act in ways that are contrary to my beliefs. 

Have you ever been tempted by situation such as this? What did you do? I would like to hear from you.

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Right Here, Right Now!

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“Many fine things can be done in a day, if you don’t always make that day tomorrow” ~ Unknown 

Last week, perhaps I didn’t need to remind all independent publishers that the end of the year is approaching and the selling season will soon be upon us. That reminder was as much for me, as it was for you! I needed to fulfill my duties and tend to those nagging details of owning a business. On Friday, I decided that not one more day would pass without getting caught up on all those details that had piled up. I was going to balance that checkbook, write the letters I had been meaning to write, file those papers way and step by step, clean up my desk. A load has been lifted off my shoulders! Boy, do I feel good! Procrastination is an ugly word, and I am not prone to it. 

If you are an independent publisher, I bet you have been busy over the past year, too. Those that remember writing is a business have the best results for publishing success. Focusing only on writing the manuscript, can lead to a crucial part of the publishing process being overlooked. Failure to have a solid marketing plan of action can lead to struggle down the line, far after the book has been published.  

There are lots of details when it comes to independent publishing. Hopefully, long before you started your manuscript, you mapped out a plan for marketing it. If not, sooner is always much better than later! Remember, sales are a function of your marketing efforts, so do not leave that detail until the end. It is never too early to begin connecting with communities of people who may be interested in your publication.  

Having others evaluate your book and it’s marketing possibilities can be very valuable. If you are going to sell through e-commerce (over the internet), your plan, as an independent publisher, should include internet marketing because that is where your potential buyers will be searching for you. Make sure you are visible on the world wide web!

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Weekend Indie Filmmaker News!

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There is a great opportunity coming up the last weekend of October for all of you independent filmmakers! The Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA will be the site of the Film Independents 2010 Filmmaker Forum on October 29 -31, 2010. This worthy event will help fulfill your need for information regarding how to become successful in the industry of  independent filmmaking. To give a brief overview of  just some of the weekend events:

  • Keynote Address – Joe Drake, Co-Chief Operating Director of Lionsgate Film Production Company
  • Workshop- Evaluating your film for the marketplace
  • Workshop-  Finding funding for your documentary project
  • Workshop – Realizing your vision on a budget
  • Workshop – Distribution strategies, tools and business models
  • Workshop – Packaging and financial and legal issues

“Film Independent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry.”

For the full story on this forum brought to you. by a non-profit dedicated to independent filmmakers, including ticket information, schedule, sponsors and more, please visit http://empower.filmindependent.org.

Seasonal Fulfillment

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“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” ~ Stanley Horowitz

Have you ever noticed that with seasonal changes, what is personally fulfilling to us takes a turn about, too? As summer fades into fall, I no longer thirst for frozen fruit smoothies, potato salad and all things grilled. A diet of chili, stews and soups that has been non-existent all summer long begins to creep back into my repertoire of evening menu fare. Basking in the mid-day sun becomes sitting by the warmth of the fireplace on nippy mornings. 

Our color choices of clothes we wear are a reflection of our moods and they can affect the way we feel. In fall, we often substitute brightly colored, summer clothes with a wardrobe of more earthy colors – golds, greens, tans, grey-blues. When I need to feel a burst of energy or want a zip in my step, I’ll return to wearing fuschia or bright, periwinkle blue whether it clashes with mother nature’s colors or not! There is no need to always submit to the color choices of autumn herself.

Each season has its own charm, and how we fulfill our idle time is different from season to season, too. In fall, out come the knitting needles and in come the piles of books to read and movies to watch. 

If you are an independent publisher, try to wrap up those projects and keep your eye on the calendar! Christmas is a mere few months away – a prime time for selling! Don’t miss out.  

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Pain Free Writing?

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“..sometimes I wonder all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage …” ~ Graham Greene

CNN news recently took a survey and technical writing ended up #28 on the top 50 list for best paying jobs with best growth potential in the coming years. It also ranked as #5 for lowest stress (quality of life) jobs. My interpretation of these statistics is that if you have the technical knowledge in any field, and can write, it is a fulfilling way to make a living. Interested in seeing how other careers rank on this survey? Go to http://bit.ly/3L5eRk. 

However, I do question whether technical writing is low stress. Perhaps to the reader it is – if the writer has done a commendable job of researching then communicating his points and data to the audience. For a writer who is focused on excellence,  writing is rarely low stress. Editing, tweaking, rewriting to get the words to flow just right, so that the reader can easily follow the writing, is no easy task! 

Some of the basic things it takes to become a technical writer is addressed in a new article, Tips on How to Become an Independent Technical Writer.  Please visit http://bit.ly/aIo1L6. 

Are you someone who has technical or educational information to share? Consider sharing your knowledge through independent publishing! Technical writing is applicable in so many fields – cooking, science, coaching, how to paint, draw or sketch, how to play a musical instrument, computer science, medicine and much more! Wherever your field of expertise lies, there are always communities of like minded people who will search and find and buy your book through the internet, the big wide web of information!

 

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