Tag: You’re Not Dead

Art & Freaking Out

I have been losing my mind, as of late. Back in February, I submitted my latest book to a publisher. They made it very clear that they will not even have the slightest feedback for at least six months. So, why am I freaking out this badly? Do I need a publisher for artistic expression?

Let’s start with the last question I posed. I love writing. I love the narratives that I come up with. As much as I enjoy an audience, I have and would continue to write for me. I kind of know the ways to do independent release, and I have connections to make things work mildly in that world.

This is the paragraph where I talk about the “BUT” in as great of detail as I can. I have been doing the independent artist thing for almost 15 years. I am not, and never was, good at it. I know this, and I am okay with the fact that I am horrible at social media/marketing.

EXAMPLE: did you, as someone who is reading this, know that I have a donation account? Hell: at $10/m, I’ll give your product or company a shoutout in my next vlog. I have probably mentioned part (if not all) of this endeavour before, or maybe I haven’t? (more info here)

Do you see why I know I am terrible at self-promotion?!

I was trying to explain to someone how writing is so different from art or music. The thing that I came up with is with art, people have opinions after a moment. Music, opinions can be instantaneous and accidental (came to see a different band, heard your song in a friends car, you posted a link to your latest whatever…). Even drama has the benefit of being engaging and exciting for a crowed (one hopes) and response is immediate. Opinions are given right away, longest one has to wait is an hour.

Writing, on the other hand, can take hours. I have waited a week or longer for an opinion on something. If I am stuck and asking for notes, it can take even longer. There have been several moments where I don’t receive any feedback at all.

Part of that longing for feedback is insecurity, I am well aware. After I released You’re Not Dead, I spent weeks combing over search results on Google, looking for reviews or mention from anything I was not expecting. It was like a drug that I needed, but I was never sure why that was the case.

I was not going to write anything about the submission because I am trying to keep expectations tamed, like anyone actually cares. I have been working away on another new book to keep my mind at ease, and I have so many plans and I am very excited about how it is turning out.

Yes: I am aware that was a run on sentence.

life

I am probably going to make a vlog about this in the near future, but I have successfully stretched myself too thin creatively. I am writing a new book, I have one submitted to a new publisher who promises to reply by the end of the summer, and and I keep coming up with vlog ideas instead of blog ideas, if that makes sense.

No, I am not scrapping this site. To be as utilitarian as possible, I use it for advertising and notice of publication and tangents about literally nothing but what is going on in my mind.

Yes, this is a hint that updates will be slower than you may be expecting.

I ask for your ongoing patients and love for the next few months. I will be dipping in and out with nuggets of text and I will always link my latest videos here, as well as flooding my socials with them.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I have a BuyMeACoffee account. Great way to financially support me and my stupid artistic endeavours. As I mentioned, new book news I hope available soon. New book being written, and NO YOU CANNOT READ IT.

If you haven’t yet, pick up a copy of You’re Not Dead. Or, at the very least, let someone know that it exists. It would be really cool if you gave it a rating, but even knowing that you have read it tickles me to my core.

Still hiding…

I am breaking my silence to ask if anyone has connections for book reviewers?

I have a PDF copy of my book, if anyone is interested. On the outset, I can promise promotion on this site, as well as a link on my book page.

If you are interested, or want more information or requests, please get hold of me in the comment section below. Or, leave me a DM on my FaceBook page.

More consistent updates coming on March 17th. The significance of that date will be restated at that time.

In the meantime, remember that I love you.

Unnamed Podcast 40

I recorded this because I got thinking about how we put too much pressure on ourselves to be the best at things we claim to love. We seem to forget that we love something because we love it. If you love something, there should not be a goal, unless what you love is the goal. There is nothing wrong with getting better, but your attachment should not be based on skill.

Also, another link to buy my book! It makes a great addition to a Christmas gift!

Unnamed Podcast 39

Why yes, I did stop numbering these!

There is a great playlist of all of them at the end of each video, so numbering feels unnecessary. Let me know if I am wrong, or if you disagree! I probably won’t listen, but I would appreciate the insight!

Also, I said “new album” instead of “new book”. It was a mistake at time of recording, but I kept it in the final product because the assumed upset was far too exciting for me to ignore. I assumed too high, but that’s okay.

I have started actually scripting a commercial for You’re Not Dead. I hope that it will be all prepared in the next couple of weeks, as it heavily circles the Christmas season.

If you have a quote you would like me to use in the commercial, get hold of me somehow and let me know!

Thanks, Rob!

The irony of this post is that recently, Rob made reference to Ouroboros in one of his podcasts. The idea of talking about blogging/podcast/vlogs while you’re doing one is clunky and awkward. I feel it is okay in this context, however. He gave my book some very nice words, and I never expected it!

That, coupled with the fact that this is one of the funniest, yet not pretentious, things I have heard: I thought I would share the majesty.

Publisher?

This is a strange post, so you have to read it with an open mind.

I came to the realization recently that I have accidentally stumbled into a publisher.

I can hear the confusion already. “This is the third pressing of your book. What do you mean you JUST realized that you have publishers?”

I should note at this point that I am happy with my short stint with Friessen. They were fantastic, and very cognizant of the fact that I had little idea of what I was doing.

Olympia is different.

They told me that, as soon as the book was pressed, it is hands off from me until they need me for unforeseen events. They want me to sit back and work on my next book, and not worry actively about additional distribution. They claimed that they will look for publicity in the forms of interviews and reviews, and they have already contacted several stores, both online and off, about carrying my book.

For the sake of comparison, at this point, Friessen had pressed my book. By their metrics, their mission was done. I do not fault them: I had signed that contract for production, and they were a temporary storage facility for distributors to collect copies of the book when time needs.

A simpler way to explain it: Friessen was a producer, Olympia is a partener.

Some, if not most readers of this blog, are screaming “NO SHIT” at their screens. I do not think that it is unreasonable to feel that way.

Counterpoint: I was not aware what I was in for. I am far from offended, and I am trying my best to be prepared. I do have my next book over 70% done. It’s just strange to think that this is actually kind of happening! I am more that certain that someone will feel as if I am wrong on parts of my mindset.

Hell: I will probably come across this post in a few months and think “…you fucking pleb…” and then resist an urge to delete it to pretend that there is no record of my ignorance.

To be completely blunt: I am kind of writing this post BECAUSE I am in such disbelief right now. As I stated, I made this realization rather suddenly just the other day. I am still kind of reeling.

No, this is not a thinly veiled brag. Honestly, this is me coming to terms with what is going on.

Seriously: it would mean the world if you looked into my book. If you have a copy, there is no obligation to get a new copy. I mean, the cover is beautiful, and the grammar and spelling is cleaned up. It’s a bit more streamlined, and some of the ideas are given greater weight. If you have the old version, either old version, thank you. If you want to see what has changed, get yours today!

OH! I should mention that I am looking for “sponsors” on my vlog! I have started a “Buy Me a Coffee” and a small donation of $10 is enough for 1 min of ad read! The only other stipulation is you have to give me an ad to read. I am happy to say that I am working with a friend of mine, once he gets me a script.

HEAR THAT, CORY? I NEED THAT FUCKING SCRIPT!

it’s HERE!!!

I finally have my copies of the You’re Not Dead re-release! It’s beautiful! I am ecstatic!

…ahem…

I will be posting a more comprehensive list of places to buy it soon, but in the meantime: I will post a link to the Olympia store here. I know that it will be available on Amazon.co.uk, and I know of a couple others by name, but the Olympia store is the best and most immediate way*.

I hope to have more information by next week, but the announcement of this will hold you over, I hope.

SUCH A BETTER COVER!!!

*If I am wrong, in anyway, I am sorry.

Soon

In 10 days, my latest publication of You’re Not Dead gets released through Olympia publishers! I am beyond excited. I have paired it down so it’s just the tale of hospital life, I was given over 300 new edits that needed to be made, and I signed a contract that my next book has to be pitched with them!

Okay, the last point was more of a humble brag, but I am very excited!

The book has a new cover, as well! I will not spoil it until I get my copy, mostly because that does not seem fair to me, but I can assure you that it looks pretty! Probably because I didn’t make it this time in 20 min while I waited for water to boil for my fifth cup of coffee.

Anyway, as soon as I get more information, I will be sure to pass it along. Keep your eyes peeled to this site, as I will be posting the new cover once I get the final proofs and whatnot!

Just a reminder that I scrapped my Patreon, and am now using Buy Me a Coffee. It seems like exploitative to ask for donations when I actually produce something as opposed to demanding a kind of subscription. I am prone to go silent for weeks at a time; and, for that, I am incredibly sorry!