|
Post by bill on Sept 21, 2018 0:24:42 GMT
Good grief! That was it. I'm sure I hadn't read anything about stripe, except I remember now that you mentioned it. I signed up and now my stories are eligible.
Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 21, 2018 1:36:17 GMT
Okay. getting set up on Medium was tricky. I have my account set up with Paypal but Medium uses Stripe. Open up the Medium Partner Program and look at their FAQ. It should explain how everything works. I think I had to set up a Stripe account so payment could be made to my business account. If you still have problems after looking at the FAQ page, let me know and I'll try to remember how I did everything.
|
|
|
Post by bill on Sept 24, 2018 1:33:33 GMT
A World Amongst - I've worked my way through the first two sections, cleaning it up, deleting unneeded notes, etc. My goal this week is to do the same for section three and get a clear draft. Then I'll move on to the other two sections and hopefully have a readable draft for beta readers by the end of October.
Marketing - With your help I figured out Medium so I can now give it a good try. I need to add a couple of posts this week and do some reading of others - get myself familiar with it and determine a strategy to gain followers.
Rex - Flipper, book five. I plan to write the rough draft during Nano in November. Either this week or next I'll get with Blake and start brainstorming ideas. I want to have a good picture in my mind and a strong outline going into Nov 1.
Work - I started work for the newspaper this week. I think overall I'm going to like it. I'm sure I will learn a lot.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 24, 2018 2:53:14 GMT
I got a few articles posted. Joshua had a bad reaction to the vaccinations so I had a rough week taking care of him. The good news is Hank has agreed to live in Kansas. I need to make sure he doesn't change his mind. I'm just going to pursue it as a done deal. No houses for sale in the area we want but I'll talk to a realtor with I'm home in a couple of weeks and get as much information as I can. I found a house I liked in the wrong location plus it was above my top budget but not by much. Could probably get them down a bit. but its right by the interstate and I'm pretty sure the traffic noise would drive me crazy. I'm not used to any noise except nature and maybe the National Guard firing weapons.
I'm drawing out 3 new paintings. I have to bring two of them home next month so I have to finish them in about one week. I can do it if life cooperates. And Joshua stops throwing up.
I'm glad you got Medium figured out. I think you can do good over there.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 1, 2018 6:12:19 GMT
Joshua is feeling better and back working on the tobii. I have a realtor friend coming tomorrow to give me tips and suggestions about the house. We want to sell it in the spring. I'll be home on the 11th and head back here on the 17th. class reunion on Friday and Saturday. I'll go Friday and see how it works. I might blow off Saturday if I'm bored on Friday. Have to play it by ear.
Artwork going well. I'm keeping up with Patreon and Medium but numbers are still really low. I don't know how to build a following. I get incredibly depressed when I get followers on Medium then have one or two drop off. If I had hundreds it wouldn't matter but I was up to 16 and excited, now I'm back to 15. I can't figure out how I lose views unless numbers drop off the bottom. Maybe they only show so many weeks and then it scrolls off. Whatever the reason, I much prefer seeing the numbers go up, not down.
Knock Knock is getting ignored. I wish I knew why I'm so resistant to working on it. Maybe its because the compiling of the chapters is drudge work and I have a low tolerance for boredom.
I'm excited to be looking at real estate. Hank told me I might be making a lot of trips home this year. Okay with me as long as the weather cooperates.
I'm interested to hear how the new job is going. Was hoping to see a post here this evening. You must be busy.
|
|
|
Post by bill on Oct 5, 2018 2:16:24 GMT
Goodness! I just realized I hadn't posted last week. It's been busy and for some reason I completely forgot. Oh yeah, I remember why. I vendored at the Renaissance Fair all weekend and got home late on Sunday. I sold one book on Saturday and left quite depressed. I sold two books Sunday then noticed I sold four more e-books online. So that helped. I know that group isn't my target audience, and I think that's part of my problem with books signings, because I don't have many audiences of primarily middle schoolers. I'll have to think about that.
The job is going well. I do enjoy it (and a ton more than my last job). I'm making less than half of what I did before so we'll have to adjust, but I think it's worth that change (at least most days). The real test is if it helps me become a better writer and move forward on my career. That will take time to determine, I suppose. I'm hopeful.
Revising my ghost story is taking longer than I hoped. I don't think I'll get it done before Nano, which I really wanted. Especially if I do the prepping I want to do for Nano. I do have some extra time with the new job, so maybe if I can use my time efficiently I can make it. But Blake is in his busiest time of the year, so there's that too.
|
|
|
Post by bill on Oct 7, 2018 19:31:02 GMT
I just found out I got second place in the Kansas Authors Club poetry contest!
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2018 0:21:52 GMT
That is good news. Love the energy coming from you right now. I thought you'd enjoy working at the paper. It's really good training. And gives you some serious credentials.
I gained a new patron, bringing me up to four. Patreon transferred 17.04 cents to Paypal. So far, on Medium, I've earned something every week. And the older posts are still bringing in a few cents here, and a few cents there. I can see the income growing as the body of work grows. I'm still trying to figure out readers and what generates the most interest. Seems like I'll never get a handle on it.
I have read some really good articles on Medium. And I follow all the ones I read. I'm jumping between 15 and 16 followers right now. I get to 16 then I lose one. Can't seem to get past that number. But it's growing faster than Patreon is. Although, the work I'm doing on Patreon is some of the best I've done. At least, it seems so to me. I don't have as many filters on there. Its more 'me' if that makes any sense.
I almost finished with two paintings. Ruined one of them and need to figure out how to save it. Not sure yet but I'll come up with something. Can't win em all, I guess.
I'm struggling with a headache tonight. Must be the weather system I'll be in Kansas on Thursday.
|
|
|
Post by bill on Oct 8, 2018 1:43:56 GMT
That's right, next weekend is your class reunion. I know it's a quick trip for you so I don't know if I'll get to see you. Are you coming back in November at all?
Job - I hope writing every day helps me get better and better. And I hope you're right, that it helps when I get serious about querying agents. I need to get a couple of polished drafts first.
A World Amongst - I'm working hard on it and the story gets better every day. It's just taking longer than I planned. I think all I can do is keep plugging away. I may have to wait until after nano to finish. Having a break isn't the worst thing. I had just hoped to send it to a beta reader during November. Oh well.
Rex - This is book five in the Vetrix series, and my novel for nano. Blake is in his busiest time of the year this month. I have some notes from earlier discussions but I still need to get him to sit down with me to brainstorm. I want a decent outline before Nov. Even if I don't get the outline I'm going for it. I've won nano five years in a row, and it's now been a long time since I wrote a lot of new stuff. I need it.
Marketing - I haven't spent much time with Medium. I need to get a couple more things out there, and take time to read others. But it's a matter of priorities and I haven't made it a conscious effort so it isn't getting done. I'm still adjusting to my new schedule and need to figure out new routines. I will eventually.
I'm glad you're making a little money, and most excited that you're consistently getting product written. Even if there's no payoff now, there will be eventually. Keep producing!
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2018 2:30:07 GMT
Looks like the reply I posted earlier vanished. It's been a pretty good week. I'm looking forward to Kansas. Have a lot line up to accomplish in one week. But I'll also be happy to get home and start working on getting this house ready. It will take me all winter, I think. I just pray that the right location and the right house will show up for us without me having to jump through too many hoops.
|
|
|
Post by bill on Oct 21, 2018 22:05:01 GMT
I'm writing at a snail's pace. When I accepted that I couldn't finish A World Amongst before Nano, I slowed. Still progressing, but I've lost the urgency. I think it's also because I now enjoy what I'm doing so I don't feet desperate to escape. I hope that doing Nano will re-energize and re-focus me. I want to get more accomplished.
That being said, It's been a nice, emotional break to relax and enjoy my days/weeks. Part of my lack of writing is also that this is Blake's busiest time of the year, which means it's one of my busiest too. I've enjoyed it, but I also need to experience the feeling of accomplishment. Surely winning at Nano will do that.
I'll spend the rest of the month making notes and an outline for my Nano book. I'm writing the fifth book in the Vetrix series. I have a few scenes I need to add to A World Amongst, so if it works out I may sprinkle those in November too.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 22, 2018 2:35:05 GMT
You've so outpaced me in productivity. As I typed that I realized that I've done a lot, just not all of it writing. The art side of me has grown a lot. And I've packed a lot of book learning into my head this year. The streams of income are proof of that. I'm beginning to understand how to monetize my work. I just need to keep growing it. and I do need to publish.
I came home from Kansas exhausted. I've done nothing but sleep and rest. No energy at all. I'm a little bit disappointed that I didn't find anything that will fit our needs but I narrowed down the area. And the timing isn't really right yet, anyway. I don't want to move in the winter so finding something right now would seriously mess up my timeline.
I got through the 50 year class reunion. It was something I needed to do. Get a piece of myself back. Each time I face something I don't want to face, I come away stronger.
I need to get caught up on my posting and Jody reminded me that I need to get Knock Knock out the door. I've put it off until it's becoming something huge looming over me. I need to just get it done. Period. I think I have a lot of little nit-picky things to do to get it published and I put it off because the nit-picky things are things I don't want to deal with. Life figuring out how to get to my ISBN #'s . I can do it. Its just annoying.
I can't even fathom doing Nano. I give you a lot of credit.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 29, 2018 3:39:11 GMT
strange week for me. I got a couple of new articles posted on Medium but I've lost momentum and don't quite know how to regain it. Although, I'm up to 31 followers so that's good. Patreon I gained a new patron and that makes me happy. plus some feedback from a couple of people and that helps. I like the way the story line is developing. And realize that in a few months, I should have the Journals of Luciana close enough to finished to send to editor. and be at a point in Josh's memoirs to start compiling artwork. He will need to help with the pictures. I'm hoping he can start to add his own comments to them. we'll see how that goes.
Dixie is back in class and doing good. She likes tricks. she's scheduled for surgery on the 9th. Once she gets her stitches out from that, I'll pop back to Emporia for five or six days and follow up on some real estate leads, as well as look at wardcraft homes. I also want to stop in at the Morton place and see if I can get some information on shop/homes. I have a ton of cleaning to do here at home over the next couple of months and I'm letting the tutor, and the bath nurse go for the winter. As of Dec. 1st. I'll be on my own for a few months. More work, but I won't have to bounce so many people's schedules around and can just work at my own pace. Less stress.
I need to get some artwork ready to go. I might work on that tomorrow morning. I'm tired tonight. so heading to bed early, I think.
|
|
|
Post by bill on Nov 4, 2018 0:26:53 GMT
I'm struggling. Last week I forgot to post because Dad was here. I've posted a couple of items on Medium and did the blog hop, but did not do near as much as planned to prepare for Nano. I've had all day and gotten less than 1,000 words so far. I can't stay focused and have no motivation. This is the first year I've doubted whether I'll win Nano.
I realize I'll snap out of my funk at some point, and then turn it on. These depression streaks don't typically last terribly long. I just don't know what to do during them. I try to get things done, but it's like walking in quicksand. I want to hibernate until I feel better, but a person can only sleep so much.
Anyhow, knew this was a safe place to vent. Even if I knew how to channel my funk into writing - story, poem, whatever. But I can't seem to come up with anything.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 4, 2018 2:46:30 GMT
All I know is that the down time is necessary. the human brain can only function at full capacity for a certain amount of time and then it needs the time off. I'm wondering if depression is a natural response from mental, or emotional, overload. I'll have to ponder that.
Life happens. Enjoy the time with your father because it won't always be there. I work with Dixie because it makes me happy and I need the happy to counter the sad. I'm not looking forward to the amount of work required to pack up 45 years of living and relocate but I will be so happy when its done. I'll be home in a few weeks to do some more hunting and talk to realtors and builders.
Hank and I are discussing what we need from a home. Joshua has his needs too. It's very exciting but also daunting and a bit scary. If the Illinois politics go the wrong way, our property value could plummet which would make relocating and building a lot more problematic.
I'm happy with the work I'm doing. Just not happy with the amount. It's hard to hit a balance.
I've never done Nano because I have trouble staying focused. I cannot force numbers. It shuts me down rather than motivates me. I admire the mindset that lets you focus on a project and crank out numbers. My muse would go into full out rebellion. Actually, that's not true. the muse would be fine. It's Victoria, the logical left brain that would have the tantrum. She is the laziest brat I've ever been around. I can't believe I created her. I should have done a better job but she is what she is.
I missed you last week but figured the new job means figuring out new routine. Its hard to change what you juggle. It often means dropping them and then slowly putting them all back in motion.
I'm always here. and feel free to vent. I care. Love you very much and can't wait to get close enough to feed you home-cooked food that we grew up on. Sometimes, you just need a meal that takes you back to childhood and wraps you in love and memories and comfort.
|
|