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Post by bill on Feb 26, 2018 3:15:46 GMT
I think teaching the classes is a great idea! The podcast and vlogs are way outside my knowledge base. But if you can figure out ways to create a base of income, and create exposure, then that would be awesome!
Without knowing the specifics, I would say that your inheritance is not taxable, but verify that with your CPA.
Zentron - I'm at 56% done with my revision. I didn't get much done this week and knew I wouldn't. This week will be the same (working out of town), but next weekend I should get a little more done. I should finish in the next 2-3 weeks, hopefully.
Marketing - I confirmed my participation in the Wichita Comic Con in March(24). I'm also doing a Comic con in Manhattan on the 10th. And Sydney and Blake are going with me to cosplay. Sydney ordered her outfit yesterday. Tammy was out of town this weekend so the kids hung out with me. It was fun, but they kept me up until 2 both days. I'm tired!
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Post by Admin on Feb 26, 2018 3:27:07 GMT
Oh, my goodness. I get to bed but I get woke up between 3 and 4 am. so averaging about 41/2 hours of sleep. I do catch naps but I'm so tired during the day that I don't get much done.
I've never been to anything like a Comic Con but I do want to hit an ALA with Rhonda some time. She said she could get me a visitor pass for 25. for the day. I'd get to meet a lot of librarians and authors. Don't know if it would help but face to face with industry people can't hurt.
I saw on Facebook that the Jr. High teacher that put my Cosmic books in her school library read chapter one to her class to demonstrate literary drama and now the kids are fighting over the book. That makes me happy.
I pulled the info about the Broadcasting class and will call the college tomorrow afternoon to see if I can still get in the class. It's the first part of April but I should be able to do it before I head for Kansas. If its full, then I'll know the timing isn't right.
I've read a few more chapters of Art, Inc. and found out some really helpful information on pricing artwork and a few more market ideas I hadn't thought of. I wish time would slow down, just a little bit. It's flying and I'm not getting stuff done as fast as I'd hoped. I really wish I could get Joshua back up to speed. His health worries me.
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Post by bill on Mar 5, 2018 4:23:25 GMT
Zentron - I didn't get much done. I'm 60% done with my revision. I knew it would be a bad work week. I'm still on pace to finish the revision by the end of March, but I need a good week to get a large chunk done. I don't think it will be this week though.
Marketing - Next week I got to the Little Apple Comic Con in Manhattan. I'm excited, and hope I get to meet some people and sell some books. I hope this works and I can do more of them. Part of the reason I didn't get much writing done was I had to go to the store and buy a square and tablet so I could take payments at the comic con. Then I had to learn how to install and run them. But it's done and I'm now ready for next Saturday.
Other - I had to spend some time doing my taxes this weekend, which cut into my writing time.
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Post by Admin on Mar 5, 2018 4:35:38 GMT
Joshua and I are enrolled for a class on connecting with your sixth sense. Just because its a topic that interests me. I did get in to the Broadcast Communication class. One class is at the college and the other is at the radio station. I'm still really interested in connecting with fans using audio. Either by vlogging or by podcasting.
The newspaper article was a nice one. Got me some unexpected exposure. So I feel like that was something writing related anyway. I have everything pulled out of the storage closet and the hardware for the shelves hung up. Hoping to get shelves this week and get the new shelving unit I bought at the furniture store in place. It will help a lot with organization.
The Island is perfect for holding frames and gatorboard as well as extra glass and work in progress. Mat cutter is on top, bottom shelf holds all the stuff that clutters up the house. Feels good.
I started getting the window treatment done. Won't be the final product but looks nice, makes me happy, and filters the sunlight so we can see the computer screens easier. All without losing the view.
I'll be really interested in hearing about the Comic Con. I meant to work on taxes this week. Josh being sick threw me off schedule.
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Post by Admin on Mar 12, 2018 2:43:55 GMT
I got a lot done this week but not in writing. I got the closet put together and functioning. Hank and I Put together a studio table and its in place and ready to use. The taboret is next to it. The guys are coming in the morning to do maintenance on the generator. The appraiser is coming on Tuesday to appraise the house so we can get our mortgage transferred to PNC and let the investment account make the payments. Joshua is still vomit free. That makes me happy. We see the doctor tomorrow so I can discuss further health issues. I talked to the bank last week and have a plan of action for the bank statements. I'll work on getting it implemented this week. I should get my new mattress this week. I went and bought all new bedding yesterday so once the mattress comes, I might, finally, have a bed that I can sleep on without pain and stiffness. More sleep, more energy.
I want to get back to typing in Knock Knock. I'm so irritated with myself for putting it so far down the priority list. I keep telling myself that when I get this done, I'll have time for it. The truth is, I'll never have time for it unless I move it higher on the priority list. I need to just do it. Joshua is working hard on his presentation package. He's typing every day but he only gets a few paragraphs done at a time. He needs to speed up his output. I will probably end up having to help him and I really don't want to. I'm going to change our strategy this time and be his agent. I tried hard to keep my mouth shut last year and let Kathy and Josh do their thing. I wanted JOshua to realize that he can work with someone besides me. He will, at some point in time, have a personal aide and I will have to back off. This year, I'm going to be doing my best to generate buzz and interest. His story is compelling. He has a product that is potentially important. I think he has a shot at this. No one can be more passionate about his goals than I can be. I want to spend less time in the hotel room and more time in the common areas where I can talk to people and maybe, if we're lucky, forge some business connections that will help us in the long run. That's it, I think, for this week.
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Post by bill on Mar 19, 2018 3:18:38 GMT
It's been a rough two weeks for me. I was out of town working long days this week. I didn't have much time at all to write, plus I'm in a challenging part of my story that needs a lot of revision. I'm struggling and feeling frustrated. I know I should accept that I can't do much about it (which is true), but I can't accept that. I have goals to reach and I'm in danger of getting behind. I wish I was capable of pulling myself out when I get like this, which I do every few months. I won't feel better until I am making progress and feel in control of my goals. I have too many things I want to accomplish and will not accept not succeeding. It's a blessing and a curse, as it will propel me forward, yet steal the joy out of much of the journey.
Zentron - I'm 2/3 of the way through my manuscript, and as I mentioned, I have a lot of work to finish the final 1/3. I want - no, need, for my own sanity - to finish by the end of the month, or very soon after. It's hard for me to see how that will happen. I need to free my mind as much as I can so I can focus.
Marketing - The kids and I went to the Little Apple Comic Con in Manhattan last weekend. It was a lot of fun, especially watching them cosplay and interact with the other guests. I sold four books, three of them to a library. It was a little discouraging as I was hoping to hit at least ten, maybe come close to paying for my fee. Next weekend I'll be at the ICT Comic Con. It's two days and much bigger. We'll see how it goes.
I need to find a way to make at least a little money - at least make what I'm spending to do these shows. I'd like to do more of the Comic Cons, but I can't afford not to come close to breaking even.
Book Launch - My book, I Should Have Hit the Delete Key, a compilation of my newspaper columns, will be ready in the next couple of weeks. I have a book launch party on April 7th at the newspaper office. I'm in charge of organizing it, and I don't have any idea what to do. Part of the problem is I haven't had a chance to stop and think about it, but it's all on me to plan. They are providing the facility, but I have to put it together.
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Post by Admin on Mar 19, 2018 3:50:57 GMT
I totally understand where you're at. I don't know if its because we're related and carry the same DNA or if its because we are creative thinkers and when life smacks us around a little bit we lose focus and losing focus is serious because its hard to regain it. I have fallen behind on the housework which makes everything seem harder to do. Hank has cooked more this week and that helps. Joshua isn't vomiting as much and that is a huge improvement. He's getting some work done on his book but I'm going to have to help him pull his presentation package together. There isn't time for him to do it alone so I'll have to pitch in but I had already decided that I'm going to be helping him sell his product. And right now, until we get another teacher, he's not completely independent although I think he will be. I am stopping at the doctor's office tomorrow to get prescriptions for speech therapy and a new wheelchair eval. He has an appointment for the wheelchair on the 26th. I know it won't be ready for the conference but maybe they can adjust what he's got to make it more comfortable for him. I don't know yet when speech will fall into place. It will mean driving once a week to Wheaton for as many months as the insurance will cover.
I have the online bank statement straightened out. I wasn't getting them because they had the email address wrong. They had an extra space in it. I downloaded the last four months. I'm not sure where I need to start to catch you up. I renewed Quickbooks so I'll import the statements into Quickbooks and then see if I can export them to you. If I'm lucky I might be able to set up an automatic once a month thing where it will just send them to you. I'm hoping I can figure out a way to do it. Otherwise, I'm going to have to figure out a way to give myself alerts that its time to do it. Somehow, I'll get this figured out. If nothing else, sit me down in Colorado and help me figure it out. I'll have my computer with me.
The new studio space is a dream to work in. So the artwork is going good. I had an awesome message last night from our cousin, Maria (Ginger's daughter). She lives in Maryland and works for a historical museum. She said she thought Joshua's flower prints would sell well in it. She's going to call me Tuesday afternoon and we'll see about getting some to her. It would be awesome timing if it works out. I can use that as momentum in selling Joshua's platform to an agent. What I hope to get from the conference is someone looking at our package and telling us what works, what doesn't work, and maybe some suggestions on how to beef it up. I don't expect to sell it, or get him signed, but guidance from industry people would be good. One can hope.
I'm glad you checked in this week. I missed you last week. If you hadn't, I was going to check in on you to make sure you were okay. When you go silent, I worry.
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Post by bill on Mar 21, 2018 3:32:27 GMT
I like the way you put it - focus. That's exactly what I'm struggling with.
You know, it used to annoy me that Mom worried so much. I find comfort that you worried and missed me.
I was so busy I forgot. I don't like being that busy, but it happens.
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Post by Admin on Mar 22, 2018 12:14:01 GMT
Its tax season and I didn't know if that was it, or if you just had stuff going on. I try not to intrude.
I'm trying to get tax stuff ready to send over to the accountant. every year I tell myself that I will do better and be able to lay my hands on what I need. Every year, its the medical and prescriptions that eats my time.
Josh's speech eval is on Thursday. So by the end of next week, I should know more about what my schedule going to look like. I got up this morning a 6am to clean the kitchen. And, once again, I reminded myself that I need to find someone to work for me. just 5 hours a week would make a big difference. Hitting the house and deep cleaning once a week would make the rest of the week so much smoother.
Life will smooth out. It always does but I wish I could see some distance traveled. Its all so much slower than I anticipated.
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Post by bill on Mar 26, 2018 4:29:18 GMT
Zentron - I didn't get as much revised as I needed or wanted, but more than I expected. I am at 73% complete. I don't know if I can finish by the end of next weekend but I'm going to try.
Marketing - I attended the ICT Comic Con yesterday and today. It was a fun event and I met a lot of great people. I sold one book yesterday and five today (3 Vetrix, 1 Earth, and 2 Aneeka). No where near breaking even, but not bad, I didn't think. I want to try to cosplay next time (I don't have my next one scheduled yet) and see if that helps attract people to my booth and maybe encourage purchases.
I have a book launching on April 7 for my collection of columns from the newspaper. They are hosting, but I am planning. I found someone to help with refreshments and I got an event page set up. Now I need to get a flyer made up.
In general, I'm struggling. I'm tired. I noticed how tired I was all weekend, but it isn't sleepy tired. I've been running at a fast pace for several weeks and am running myself out of gas. Dad and Delores were going to drive up tomorrow but it changed to Wednesday. I'm so glad! I won't be recharged by then, but I'll be better than tomorrow. My hope is they will visit Susan over the weekend and I can get some down time, as Sydney and Blake will be mostly busy with Tammy next weekend. I need to recharge emotionally and mentally more than physically. If it works out then maybe I can turn a corner and start focusing on PPWC.
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Post by Admin on Mar 27, 2018 2:29:55 GMT
I get the tired part. I'm beginning to set Joshua up for personal goals and its going to mean a lot of extra driving. But necessary for his quality of life.
I got my box of books. I'll bring them with me next month. I need to make sure Josh and I have an adequate supply of business cards. I know he does but I'm not sure where mine are. I'll have to hunt.
My writing goals are in the toilet but the art is chugging along. I've discovered that art relaxes me and satisfies me. I also know that I'm developing skills that will allow me to illustrate which helps Joshua's goals. I'm in one of the weird, do I have what it takes, kind of moods. I've struggled for so many years to succeed at writing. I still think I have the ability and the learning and even the want-to but the lack of momentum discourages me. So much of it isn't my fault but life spreading me out too thin. I have responsibilities that I can't ignore.
I'm looking forward to next month. Marilyn is going to ride with me so I will have her help. And it will help. I need a break from the every day stuff here. A family fix. I'm homesick for all of you.
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Post by bill on Apr 2, 2018 3:02:37 GMT
Zentron - I have 2-3 scenes to write and I'll be ready to send to the editor. I hope to have it gone by the end of the week.
Marketing - My focus has been on preparing for the book launch next weekend. Right now I only have one event for both May and June and July. I hope to add another event or two during that time.
Mystery - I printed off some notes and hope to get started polishing my first chapter (especially the first page) and query letter for PPWC. I figure I have three options for the mystery and I hope to get a sense at the conference so I can decide what to do. 1) Shop it to an agent. I would like to go this route, but at 43,000 words I'm concerned it isn't long enough to get picked up. 2) Publish myself. It won't take much to polish and publish. It's a stand alone, but I have a couple of ideas for two more stories, so it could become a series, unending like the hardy boys or Nancy Drew. Getting it out and receiving feedback could help me decide whether to write more books. 3) Write the next couple of stories so I can publish the first three books one after the other. This could help me gain some momentum and allow me to give away the first couple of stories to hook potential readers.
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Post by Admin on Apr 5, 2018 13:14:03 GMT
I got the taxes off my back. Hank took them in this morning. I'll turn my attention to getting JOshua's bank statements figured out. I got my entry into the adult art show handed in and the 4 pictures I'm entering are all done and ready. Another load off. Joshua is really busy with speech and wheelchair. That's taking a lot of my time. I need to clean house, get the new dryer switched out. Get the new mattress scheduled for delivery and take Joshua clothes shopping. I also need to put his book presentation at the top so I can get it ready for the conference. I'm running out of time.
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Post by bill on Apr 10, 2018 0:27:00 GMT
Yes, PPWC is coming up quick!
Zentron - I finished my revision. With my dad here I didn't get it sent to the editor, but I will tomorrow.
Mystery - I'm going to work on the first chapter and query letter to get them ready for PPWC. I hope to get some input to help me make a decision of what to do with them.
Maybe I Should Have Hit the Delete Key - I had my book launching yesterday. I sold five or six books. I just don't know what it takes to get people to show up or just stop by.
Todd Fahnestock is an author I spoke to at PPWC last year and attended two of his sessions. I noticed pictures of him speaking to kids in a school library, so I sent him a facebook message asking if he had any suggestions on how I could get into more schools. I hoped to get a sentence response, but instead he offered to meet me for coffee. Since I don't live in Denver he suggested we talk on the phone, so Thursday morning I have a time set to speak with him. I'm super excited, and quite surprised!
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Post by Admin on Apr 10, 2018 2:40:13 GMT
That is super nice. PPWC is known as one of the friendliest conferences in the country and ranked in the top ten conferences to attend. It's a really good one and the people have always been super nice. I have got to get Joshua's presentation package ready. It is going to the top of my priority list as soon as I get the hard copies of the bank statements to you. although, it would probably be fastest to just take them to the postoffice and send them priority. You'd have them before the end of the week.
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