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Post by bill on Jan 8, 2018 3:59:23 GMT
I'm starting out behind. I spend the whole weekend in bed, sick. I guess the fortunate things was I didn't have a book signing this weekend - that woud have been miserable! But I also didn't get anything written, which means I'll have to make it up. Nothing I could do about it though.
The one thing I did get done was to contact the Yates Center public library. I think they might be interested in doing a book signing. I hope that works out!
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Post by Admin on Jan 8, 2018 4:38:51 GMT
Everybody has sick days. I'm irked because the contractor didn't bring the trim on Saturday. I could have spent the weekend painting them and ready to put up tomorrow. I lost two days too.
On the plus side, the guys wanting to use the pasture and barn came over. We're getting a free quarter of beef, butchered and packaged for nothing. I'm tickled pink. Free meat. and they'll cut the pasture, tear down the round pen, and fix the fencing. Win/Win on my side.
No work done here either. I hope you get well fast and back on track. Hank is still dragging and its going on day 9.
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Post by bill on Jan 14, 2018 21:34:39 GMT
When the Time is Right - I don't like the name for my mystery, but I haven't thought of anything better. Anyhow, I went to the doctor on Tuesday and tested postive for Influenza A. I didn't go back to work until Thursday, but was able to get some writing done during the sick days (other than last weekend when I was laid in bed for two days). I have most of my revision done. Only a couple of major issues to address.
Earth - I received my boxes of books. Now to sell!
Marketing - I had my first book siging with Earth. It was at a bookstore in Derby. Blake was supposed to go with me but wasn't feeling well. Just as well. It was a slow day. Sold two books. I applied to be a vendor at two comic cons, one in Wichita and one in Manhattan. The vendor fee is more expensive than anything I've paid, but I thought I would give it a try. I met a couple of other authors at the one Blake and I attended last fall and they are doing several of these events. I'll have an idea after a couple whether it's something I want to continue doing.
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Post by Admin on Jan 14, 2018 23:30:48 GMT
In the early years its a case of trying different things and analyzing the results. Over time, and experience, you narrow your focus to the things that work best for you.
I haven't felt good for a few days but I don't think its flu. Just tired and discouraged. Too much anticipation and being dropped when the things I expect don't happen. I keep hearing Kathy's voice saying, "God has a plan." and I try to be patient but my sleep suffers and the chaos in my house grows. It seems so pointless to put stuff away when I know that it's not going to live there. I want to put things where they are going to live and stop shifting from place to place.
I'm struggling with photoshop. I understand how it works; I just can't get the commands right. Nothing is intuitive. If I can ever learn the commands, I'm positive I can do illustrations. And do them well. and illustrating could open up a new income stream for me. I'm nothing if not a dreamer.
I don't know about conventions. I haven't attended any so I'm really curious what you find out. It should give you lots of opportunity to network but not sure if you'll be networking with industry people or graphic novelist and comic book artists. I'm really intrigued by digital art. It could be a niche for me that I would really enjoy. The possibilities of it are limitless.
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Post by bill on Jan 21, 2018 23:58:10 GMT
My dad has been here for over a week now, so I got almost no writing done this week. I had a book signing yesterday, but didn't sign any books. I have another one at the Halstead Library next Sunday. Dad leaves for Susan's tomorrow, so I hope to get finished revising my mystery, or at least get very close, by the end of this next week.
I bought a new computer a couple of weeks ago, and he helped me get it set up and transfer files, etc. So I made progress, at least. And I almost feel back to normal. Ran for the first time in over two weeks and didn't die.
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Post by Admin on Jan 22, 2018 0:35:14 GMT
Josh and I have been fighting sinus infections all week so I sympathize. Flu would be worse. I think we've finally figured out what kind of medicine to take to allow our noses to be clear enough to get air through them. Joshua is still throwing up in the mornings. He can't blow his nose so the mucus has to go somewhere.
The studio space is done. We're going to start moving in tomorrow. I don't know how fast we can get it functional but I anticipate being able to get on a schedule before the end of the week. I have to pay IRS tomorrow. I'm not too worried about it because I think I have no income for the year. Seem like I was away from home for half the year. So many trips and so much upset. I'm still getting hit with bouts of grief and I expect I always will. The older I get the more losses I experience. Getting old is not for wimps.
Book signings are important. Even the ones that don't have a good turn out. You learn which ones to put on the circuit and which ones waste your time. The one thing I've never been able to factor in, is the luck factor. I can control my product. I can, to a certain extent, control the timing, but I can't figure out that elusive luck. I don't know what to expect this year.
The first thing Josh and I have to do is get a plan written down in black and white. Something we can see and follow. I really want OurHome Studio and CL Roth Publishing to be a viable business. Which means have a plan, follow it, and stick to it long enough to make a difference. I'll start posting concrete plan as we write it. I need accountability.
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Post by bill on Jan 29, 2018 3:40:19 GMT
Mystery - I found a beta reader on Holly's site to read through this. I want to make sure I didn't miss anything big before I start contacting agents. I have a rough draft of a query letter but it needs more work. Out of all the resources available to writers, I have yet to find help (other than blogs, etc.) with the query letter. I suppose if you edited a query letter it would be too easy to blame you if your book didn't get asked for.
Zentron - The third in the Vetrix series. I started reading through my manuscript this week to refresh myself with the story and come up with a revision plan. I'm excited to tackle this and think it will be a fun story when finished.
Marketing - I had a book signing at the Halstead library today. Five people. Not a good turnout but we had a good visit, and I got my name flashed on the kiosk in the middle of town all week. Hopefully that will be worth something some day. I send in a contract to the Little Apple Comic Expo (in Manhattan). I'm going to attend it and another comic con in Wichita. Both are in March. We'll see how they go before I decide if I'll do any others. They aren't cheap, but there'll certainly be a lot of foot traffic. We'll see.
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Post by Admin on Jan 29, 2018 5:01:52 GMT
I got a lot of furniture shifting done this week but Josh being sick and me having the sinus issues is slowing me down. I'll call the doctor's office tomorrow and see if I can get some antibiotics for us. I don't think its flu. It seems to be more sinus gunk but Joshua is running a fever so I think his may have gotten infected. I'm thinking mine is too. I have swollen glands and a really sore, scabby nose and slight swelling around the nose and into the cheek. Two weeks is long enough to be messing around with this. It's time to knock it and I think we need some medical help to do it.
I've been reading Holly's post about Patreon or whatever the site is called. I don't think I have enough of a following to get the kind of response she got but I'm determined to look at stream of income opportunities this year and I got to thinking. I'm not comfortable sharing a work in progress that I intend to publish so offering that on a site like Patreon (sp?) wouldn't work for me but I am interested in a subscription v/blog. I wouldn't mind writing a novella, or two, that is just for the subscription site. I also thought I could pull the Walk With Me blog off of the website and work it up a little bit more and offer it as an audio blog, along with some commentary on each chapter. There are 19 chapters of that one already written. It wouldn't take me long to freshen it up. I was thinking along the lines of a $1.00 a month subscription payable through Paypal.
Holly is pulling in 600+ dollars a month with hers. I don't know if I could manage that big a following but if I could $600 a month would be a nice baseline for the business account. I could pay for everything I do with that kind of income. It would cover the website fees. entry fees. some of the expenses publishing and art supplies.
I'd want to have a year's worth of writing ready before I started and then I'd have a chance of keeping ahead of the content. I'd put up fresh material once a week so I'd have to have 52 weeks of fiction and 52 weeks of non-fiction. If I did this, I wouldn't want to do much blogging anywhere else. I could keep up the facebook page. I use twitter only to funnel viewers to the websites when I have new stuff uploaded. I've been wanting to do some sort of subscription. I'd thought about creating a 20 or 30 minute audio (my mind blanked on what its called but you buy it through iTunes) It will come to me. I bought the microphone to do it.
I had thought about compiling my newspaper articles into a book but I could use them to pad the v/blog. that would give me 30+ more articles to add to the list. 19+ walk with me chapters. 30+ articles and a new novella. The novella would take some time. I have a lot of ideas and I could take one of them and work it up. I could do my scene cards and then have ten or fifteen chapters worked up and write the others to keep ahead of the v/blog.
I haven't totally decided if I'm going to do this. I'd need to check out sites to see if one fits my needs more than another. I'm not prepared to jump in yet but its definitely an income stream I could create and maintain.
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Post by bill on Feb 5, 2018 1:26:33 GMT
Zentron - I read through my rough draft this week and am formulating a revision plan. I have a lot of work to do but am excited about the story.
Mystery - I sent the first ten pages to Mindy McGinnis (never heard of her but found her through Holly's site). She gave me some constructive feedback that was overwhelming, discouraging, yet what I need to know in order to improve my writing. Now I need to do some more rewriting on the story. Later.
Marketing - I have a book signing at the Newton Public Library on Tuesday. I'm also in the process of scheduling one in Sedgwick at a coffee house and am working on another in Halstead, both in April. Right now I only have one in February, but two each in Jan, Mar, and Apr. I'm still trying to get into the Halstead Middle School, but the new principle isn't returning my e-mails or phone call. My goal is to do 1-2 events a month. Oh, I also contacted the Roswell UFO festival. I want to be a vendor at it next summer.
Maybe I Should Have Hit the Delete Key - Cat is working on the cover and Dad is proofreading. I need to add the copyright page, acknowlegements, etc. I want it ready to sell by April 1.
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Post by bill on Feb 12, 2018 2:20:16 GMT
Zentron - I'm 1/3 of the way through revising the manuscript. My dream goal is to complete it by the end of February, which means I need to be half way by Friday morning. Blake and I are leaving for Colorado Springs to go skiing next weekend, so I won't get any writing done for four days. While I'm in good shape, the second half of the manuscript will require more work and additional writing than the first half. I got a lot done this week, so I'm happy.
Earth - I finally heard from the principle of Halstead Middle School. I had to e-mail one of the teachers to get a response. He said they would hand out the books to the 4th-6th graders, but didn't mention anything about having me come speak. I'll take what I can get. Now Blake and I have to sign 175 copies of our book. NOT his favorite part - lol.
Maybe I Should Have Hit the Delete Key - I have my additional pages done, and am waiting for my dad to finish proofreading the articles. I need to have this done by next weekend so Cat will have time to complete the formatting before she leaves for Oregon for two weeks. I'm afraid if we wait until she gets back then I won't get the book published by April 1. She already has the cover done, and I love it. Also, the owner of the paper has agreed to host a launch party, so I'm in the beginning stages of planning that.
Marketing - I only had three people show up at the author talk at the library last Tuesday, but they were engaged, ask some great questions, and we had an enjoyable conversation. I'm done for February and have two set up for both March and April. I'll need to think about May soon. Wow, where has this year gone?
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Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2018 3:08:21 GMT
Your momentum is really good. I'm still struggling. Book club is Wed. and my marathon cleaning and organizing can take a back seat after that. Josh and I have one more antibiotic to take and we're done. Both of us feeling better so energy levels should start returning. We're going to put Joshua's presentation package for his picture book at the top of our priority list. Along with getting Knock Knock polished and off to the editor.
I think that's all I'm going to concentrate on at the moment. I get overwhelmed when I look at the big picture. I have a lot of goals that are whipping around in wild abandonment. I need to catch the ends of all of them and make them behave. Chaos is not what I need at this point in time. I've got our work space. Now we need to work.
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Post by Admin on Feb 19, 2018 0:24:47 GMT
This week I will: get back to a regular editing schedule. KNOCK KNOCK MUST GO TO THE EDITOR ASAP
Joshua will get back in the studio and begin editing. He also needs a log line...a book proposal...and a series proposal. We need to plan out a few illustrations but that won't get done this week. Just that it needs to be put on the agenda.
I need to start the taxes. I'm overdue to pay IRS. (my fine for being late will exceed what I owe. No sales last year.)
This week I WILL get Josh's bank statement sent directly to you. From you, I need an invoice for what we owe you for 2018. I have the funds to pay you. Just need the invoice and will pay you through paypal.
I'm working on some art for an art class. I need to make progress on the online classes that I signed up for. Any time on them is better than nothing.
Bill and Jacquie came over today to see the new studio space. Was so good to see them. I've been homesick. We all seem to be over whatever virus hit us. Weather is moderating so its not quite as bitter cold. We have a freezer full of free beef so that's good. We had a conference call with PNC Bank. Putting in place the things we need so the mortgage payment won't have to come out of our monthly budget. Plus, the credit card will get paid off and that off my back. That will free up a good chunk of cash so our income will be more comfortable. I hate bookwork but I think I'm getting most of it taken care of. I'll pull together all the information for taxes and if we have everything, get it to the accountant earlier than we normally do. It would be nice to be ahead of the deadline for once.
I think that does it for the upcoming week. Seems do-able.
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Post by bill on Feb 19, 2018 17:32:38 GMT
You have a well thought out and doable plan for the week. Go get 'em!
Thank you in advance for the bank statements! I'll get an invoice to you this week.
I'm a bit homesick for family too. Blake and I were supposed to go skiing this weekend and stay with Rhonda and Jack. He was sick all week and is still trying to recover, so we canceled. It allowed me to get a lot of writing work done, but I was excited about the trip.
Maybe I Should Have Hit the Delete Key - I sent the blurb to Cat this morning. She leaves for Oregon on Thursday and thought she would have my book ready by then. This will give me plenty of time to order and proof a copy before I publish it. I hope to schedule a launch party at the newspaper office. This will be in April.
Zentron - Since we didn't go to Colorado I got a lot of work done. This week's section was slower, as I knew it would be. More additional writing, and the rest of the book will be that way too. I did make it to the halfway point. I work out of town and will have the kids next weekend, so I won't get much done this week, but will try when I can to push forward.
Marketing - My next appearance is March 10 at the Little Apple Comin Expo in Manhattan. Sydney and Blake are talking about going with me. Sydney wants to dress up - cos play, I think it's called. I hope they go, should be fun. I looked into getting the ability to swipe a card, since I'll need to be able to, I think, to make the time and expense worth it. I really hope I'm able to sell some books. I'd like to do more of these, if they sell.
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Post by Admin on Feb 19, 2018 18:31:29 GMT
Just getting in the loop helps. I'm sorry your Colorado plans fell through. Disappointment is harder when the plans were so exciting.
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Post by Admin on Feb 25, 2018 21:07:18 GMT
Week wasn't a total bust. I got the credit card paid down to zero. I got all the information sent to our investment account so we can move our mortgage to PNC and the investment account will make our payments. None of this brings in more money but it does free up our budget so I can allocate a larger amount to savings. I got you paid which makes Joshua really happy. I have to go to Joliet in the morning and, if JOsh cooperates, I'll leave early because I have to go right past the bank on our way to Joliet. I'll stop in and see if I can get the account statement mailed directly to you. I'm going to try and get it so it comes to both of us but if I can't, I'll get it sent to you and maybe you can email me an end of year or something. Mostly, I need me to not be the go-between because I'm not reliable. I wish I was but time gets away from me and months go by without me even giving it a thought.
I still need to get Knock Knock to editor. I have to find a way to kick myself in gear. Partly its Joshua not feeling good. I get woke up at 3:30 or 4 am and then I'm up which makes me drag through the day. I need to be rested and productive. I am buying a new mattress this week. That should help me fall asleep faster and get more restful sleep. Joshua sees the doctor tomorrow. If I can't get some help on why he vomits every day, then I'll have to pursue other avenues. I want answers and help.
I survived the art class. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and i need more of that. It forced me to paint things I'm not comfortable with. I need to do more of that too. Mostly I need time in the studio to work. Again, Joshua getting healthier would help.
I've been laying out yard work. Trying to figure out what needs done and how to prioritize it. I know that I can't do it all. I'll have to do it in sections and know that it will take several years to get it done. Faster if I could earn money to hire it done. The art league is going to use our studio space for a sculpture class in June. If it works out, I might hold more classes here. A couple of ladies at the art class I just took asked me if I give a portrait class. I never have but that doesn't mean I couldn't. I may work up a couple of class ideas, run some numbers and see about doing it. If I could hold a class every three or four months, I could bring in a base income that would cover the expenses of the art supplies and possible more.
I just realized I did not get the sales tax submitted. I have less than ten dollars income but I need to fill out the forms and pay my fine for being late filing. It's stupid to be so irresponsible. I need to do better. Next week, I'll start working on taxes. See if I've got all the forms and information. It won't take more than a day or two to pull it together. Need it done. Hoping we don't get nailed for a lot. We had extra income from Marcy's estate. I don't know if inheritance is taxable. A question for the accountant, I guess.
I didn't get a lot done but when I look at what I did, it wasn't a total bust.
I'm going to finish reading Art, Inc. (if I can figure out where I laid the book) and pay particular attention to the difference between licensing vs. copyright and what it means to the income of the illustrator.
I also bought a small art journal to start jotting down my Dahlink and Dumplink cartoon strip. I'll carry it in my purse so I can have someplace to put the ideas as they pop into my head. I'd love to come up with 52 strip ideas. If I could work those up, I'd have a year of cartoons. I need to check the classes at IVCC. They were offering a class on broadcast journalism. They take the students over to the radio station. I would love seeing how that works and maybe hear what I sound like through a good microphone. I still want to podcast, or at the very least, vlog. I'm still trying to come up with half a dozen ways to open up income streams.
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