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Demon By Day - from Mojocastle Press
Heat Flash - a Podcast of Erotic Flash Fiction
Cream: The Best
of the Erotica Readers and Writers Association
Ripe Fruit: Erotica
for Well-Seasoned Lovers
Alienated - ERWA Treasure Chest
Garden of the
Perverse: Fairy Tales for Twisted Adults
Aphrodite
Overboard: The Erotic Memoirs of a Victorian Lady
Vertigo
Guide To Getting It
On!, 5th Edition
Playing For Keeps
Mur Lafferty, author
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Setting the Auto-Pilot To Get Work Done
My husband is out of town and I'm on my own with both kids. Today was just about work free due to our schedule - swimming lesson, story time at the library, a play date, hair cuts and karate lesson. I got work done only because of two reasons.
First, we had an hour of down time between hair cuts and karate. I made damn sure to use it.
Second, I set my auto-pilot the night before so I could get my lazy ass out of bed at 5AM.
Auto-pilot is about the only reason I can get work done with the kids in the house, especially given my current work load. I'm swamped with the podcast, novel writing, novel editing, graphic commissions, etc. I'm working my way through all this stuff and have said no to any further projects for the time being, but still, working during my youngest daughter's naptime each afternoon isn't going to cut it. I need an extra hour at least, and that's where the auto-pilot comes in.
The night before, I pull out my clothes for the day, pack my gym bag, and set up any snacks I'm going to need for the kids. I also lay out any other items I might need - permission slips, blanket for preschool, letters to mail - some place I can easily find them (and where my youngest can't get them). It's all set out for the next day. Then I make sure the alarm is set for 5AM and I hit the sack. When the alarm goes off in the morning, I crawl out of bed and trudge to the bathroom, where I have the following argument with my evil self.
"Go back to bed. It's fucking 5AM!"
"No. I need to work. I have a podcast to produce."
"You can do that later. Right now, you should be asleep."
"No, if I do the podcast later, then I won't have time to work on that e-book cover. I have to stay up and do it now."
"But you're so tired, and your eyes are all droopy."
"I'm taking a shower. A shower will wake me up."
"But the bed is soooooooo soooooooooft... And waaaaaaarm..."
"Fuck you, I have to work."
"The bed is calling to you... Can't you hear it?"
"No, I can't! Now fuck off!"
And I start the shower. Actually it's the shower that wins the argument, because I tell my evil self that I will go back to bed, but first I must have a shower. Then once I have it, I'm awake. Once I'm awake, I tell myself that I'll go downstairs to work, but as soon as I'm done, I'm going back to bed. Once I get downstairs and start working though, I usually keep at it until 6:30AM, and by then, it's too late to go back to bed, because I have to get my oldest up for preschool.
At which point my evil self laughs manically at how tired I am. But hey, the work got done, right?Labels: Write-At-Home Mom, Writing tips |
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Post Marscon Thoughts
It took me a week to recover from the Marscon science fiction convention. I had a great time last weekend, but was very exhausted and I had a mountain of work waiting for me when it was over.
For Marscon, EPIC VA got together and paid for a dealers' room table where we sold books and CDs. We also did three panels, two on erotica and one on e-publishing. In addition to that, I participated in two other panels, one on BDSM and one on digital art. Looking back, here are a few of my thoughts on the weekend.
1) Selling in the Dealers' Room
a. Motor mouths sell more stuff. Pam Kinney and I manned the dealers table on Friday evening and Sunday all day. That's when EPIC VA sold the most stuff. Pam and I are both motor mouths, but hopefully in a good way. We had no problems starting up conversations with anybody who passed by our table. The folks who manned it on Saturday told us they were more laid back, and thought sales went better when someone talkative was at the table. I know for a fact Pam and I talk more than the rest of EPIC VA combined. Fortunately, we did not talk so much that we scared people off (I think).
b. Know what you're selling. I had no problems selling the CDs I made of my podcast. I knew what the product was and how to pitch it. Same goes for Pam. She knew her stuff, and she talked enough about it that I knew her stuff too by the end of the weekend, so I sold a few of her things as well. We had a harder time pushing the other folks stuff though. I could give general descriptions, but I would have liked to have had a list of blurbs for each book or CD on the table, a sort of cheat sheet if you will. It would have helped me direct people to the right thing and maybe sold more stuff.
c. Be able to SEE what you're selling. We set up a small set of shelves on our table to give us more space, which was great because we had a ton of books, but the table was really small, and once folks sat behind it, we couldn't see around the shelves to point things out. Again, made it harder to direct people to look at certain books.
2) The Panels
a. Give everybody in the group a chance to participate. I made certain that everyone who contributed to the table had a chance to sit in on a panel. Some of these guys traveled quite a distance through some nasty weather to be at the con. They came to sell books, sure, but they also came to GET THEIR NAME OUT. The panels were a great way to do that.
b. Always double check the convention schedule and post changes immediately. A few of the panels I put together had the panelists double-booked with other panels at the same time. I didn't find out until Thursday night, which gave the con time to change the schedule, but not to reprint the copies they were handing out. If I had been smarter, I would have immediately made up signs for the first schedule change and posted them where everyone could see them. As it was, the digital art panel had smaller audience than I think it otherwise would have had, and the book collecting panel it was switched with to fix the double-booking. We fixed that problem for the erotica panels on Saturday night by posting big fluorescent yellow signs around the con.
c. Let your audience talk, but don't let one person take over the entire panel. I was moderator on five panels, and part of my job was to make sure the audience had a chance to comment and ask questions throughout the panel. But the panelists need to talk too. That's why they're there. For four of the panels, it wasn't a problem. But for one panel, one guy just had to be the never-ending voice of wisdom. Fortunately, I have no problem cutting people off when I need to, and neither did the other panelists.
3) Handling the Money for Sales
a. Get organized! I should have printed out a spread sheet to track who brought in how much money for change in the cash box. I also should have tallied the sales at the end of each night. AND I should have waited until after I got home to disperse the payments back. That would have ensured that the money was tracked and kept in one place until I had time to sit someplace really quiet with my computer and figure out how to divide up the money. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The good news is, we ended up with an extra $40 in the cash box rather then ending up short. The bad news is, I have no idea whose money that extra $40 is.
Final thoughts - the con went very well. We didn't make a ton of money, and did not come close to breaking even, but we did have standing room only in all the BDSM and erotica panels, and we had people say they'd like to see more of that next year. Plus, we did sell some stuff, even if it wasn't much. I got to learn how to handle a dealers' table and I learned what I need to do for next year. AND I was asked to work on programming for Marscon next year. It's not a big position -- I'll just be helping out with putting together ideas for panels -- but it's nice to know they thought highly enough of what I did for last weekend to ask me to help out in any capacity at all.
Next stop on the tour to world domination - Ravencon. I can't get a table for the con, but I did sign up to volunteer. I figure I'll get my foot in the door, learn more about the con, and have a great time to boot.Labels: Conventions And Appearances |
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Very Tired Now...
I got back from Marscon late this afternoon. I think the con was a success for EPIC VA, but I'm gonna let the other members weigh in before I say "Yippee hurray!" We sold a few things and had great attendance at all four panels we did. A lot of people were interested in talking to us and told us they were looking forward to seeing us again next year. The con staff also seemed happy with how things went.
This week I'll be sorting through the sales records for the weekend and putting together a detailed summary of what happened this weekend for the group to discuss. There are some things we would like to do differently next year, things that I think will boost our sales and help get out the names of all our members for even more sales after the con.
For right now though, I'm going to bed. I'm very tired.Labels: Conventions And Appearances |
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I'm At Marscon!
This is really, really weird. I'm at the convention. I have internet access. I have the hotel room to myself. I've been up since 5AM Friday morning and it's now 2AM Saturday morning. Holy cow! I'm a stay at home mom who's been let loose upon an unsuspecting populace!
Actually, things have been going very well so far. The dealers table for EPIC VA is up and running. We filled our little 3ft x 6ft table to the overflowing with books, magazines, and CDs. I spent the evening with Pamela Kinney, a.k.a. Sapphire Phelan, manning the table and chatting up prospective customers. I'm pimping the podcast this con, selling CDs of the first 16 episodes for $1. I just want to cover the cost of the CDs and the labels, really, plus spread the word about the podcast. Pam is selling "Haunted Richmond," which is doing very well right now. We've also got books from Changeling Press, Asylett Press, and Phaze Books. Lots of goodies to sell!
We did the first of the adults-only panels this evening - BDSM, what it is and what it isn't. The room was packed, and we had plenty of audience participation. A lot of people said they'll be attending tomorrow night's panels as well.
The best part of this con so far is that I'm getting to spend it with people I haven't seen in years. A lot of folks I went to college with are here, and a lot of them are involved in either erotica or BDSM or some other kink or fetish. So we still have a lot in common besides our slowly graying hair.
One thing has changed though. I really can't stay up till 2AM without paying the consequences. I've got to crash now or I'll be wasted tomorrow. Night.Labels: Conventions And Appearances |
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Today's Work
I've spent the last couple of days putting together CDs of my podcast to sell at the con. Each CD includes the first 16 episodes of Heat Flash. I made up labels to stick on the CDs once their burned and I've got slip covers to put the final product in. Now I just have to burn and label 100 CDs. I've burned about 75 I think, but haven't labeled any yet. So you know what I'm doing tomorrow.
I've also been doing some last minute coordination, making sure everyone from EPIC Virginia who is attending knows what to bring and when to be there. We've got all the shifts covered for the dealer's table now, and we have all our panelists lined up for the erotica and e-publishing panels. I know I've mentioned it already, but the panels are:
Friday, 11PM - 12AM
BDSM - What it is, What it isn't
Saturday, 10AM - 11AM
Should I E-Publish or Not?
Saturday, Noon - 1PM
Is Digital Art "Real" Art Yet?
Saturday, 10PM - 11PM
Intro to Sci Fi Erotica
Saturday, 11PM - 12PM
BDSM - Fantasy vs. Reality
Again, we'll be at Marscon, 18-20 January (next weekend).
Who all is coming from our group? Kathryn Lively with Phaze Books; Sandra Dugas of Asylett Press; Shelby Morgen/Margaret Riley of Changeling Press; Elayne S. Venton; and of course, yours truly.
What else have I done? More work on the podcast. Always the podcast. I've got the next episode ready to go, just need to put together the show notes and post it on Friday. Also, two stories that I've written for upcoming episodes will be published in the ERWA galleries next month. One is going in the theme gallery and one in the story time gallery.
Now I really need to go to bed. Good night!Labels: Conventions And Appearances, Podcast, Published, Today's Work |
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Should I Be Writing?
I recently subscribed to a podcast called I Should Be Writing by Mur Lafferty. In the latest episode she talks about whether or not people actually should be writing. Not because some people may suck at writing (she stated that everyone is allowed to suck at times, and I agree), but because folks might see writing as more of a chore than as a passion. If you dread writing more than you enjoy it, it's okay not to write. Just move on to something else instead.
What got me is that she talked about how many writers hate getting into the chair to sit and write. They have to force themselves to sit down. They loathe facing the blank page (or screen). I think maybe I used to feel that way, but not these days. I want to write. I know I want it. I feel like a junky who's missed her fix when I miss a day of writing. So yeah, I should be writing.
How about you?Labels: Writing tips |
This Weekend's Work
Busy, busy, busy. I keep meaning to post before I go to bed, but between handling e-mail for Marscon and trying to get the kids to sleep, I just haven't had time. Or rather, I would have the time if I stayed up, but I am trying to get to bed by 9PM so I can wake up at 5AM the next morning and not feel like a zombie. 'Cause if I feel like a zombie, I ain't getting up.
So what have I done since Friday?
More Marscon e-mails, although that has slowed down a bit now that I have everyone's bios and I know who's on what panels. I still need to find out who's available to man the dealer's table throughout the weekend. I'll work on that tomorrow.
I went shopping, in preparation for the con. We need all sorts of stuff for the dealer's table - a cash box, price stickers, receipt book, pens, etc. The coolest find of my expedition was not Marscon related though. I managed to pick up a bunch of composition notebooks for $1.26 a piece. I use those suckers to keep track of all my ideas, especially for the podcast. Without the Mead composition notebook, there would not even be a Heat Flash podcast! Everything else I bought was for the con. Everyone is bringing their own cash box, so I picked up some index cards and a file box. I figure we can write down the title, author, publisher and price of each book being sold and keep account of how many were sold through out the day. Hmmm... we still have not addressed how to handle purchases of multiple books from multiple authors or publishers. How will we divide that up? Sounds like another e-mail.
I also bought blank CDs, labels, and slip covers. My plan is to make 100 CDs of my podcast Heat Flash and sell each CD for $1. Each CD will contain MP3s of the first three months of the podcast, 16 episodes total (if I can fit that many on a CD). The price is low, but enough to offset the cost of the supplies. I'm more concerned with getting out the word about the podcast than I am about making money at this point, so I'm hoping this works.
Writing - I wrote another story for the podcast. This one was about 650 words long. February's theme is "Fetish." I write the stories a month out, and record a week out. I also did some work for Inside The Erotic Mind (ITEM) over at ERWA, going through discussion threads from one of the e-mail lists, looking for topics to use for an article. I think I found one, also on fetishes. Can't seem to get away from the topic right now.
Podcast - I already mentioned writing a new story. I also recorded next Friday's episode this morning, and did a little clean up work on the audio. And I edited the story for the week after that. I want all my stories to be 1000 words or below, but this one is running a little long no matter what I do, and since I'm on a tight deadline, I'm not fighting with it any longer. Since I'll be at Marscon all next weekend, I need to record the next episode either tomorrow or Tuesday, rather than wait until next weekend.
And I think that's about all I did this weekend. Seems like a lot looking back at it. Not bad for three days work.Labels: Conventions And Appearances, Podcast, Today's Work |
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Today's Work
Another day, another tired writer. Here's today's work:
Podcast - recorded a quick plug for a writing friend of mine to include in the podcast, plus I recorded a blurb on the upcoming Marscon stuff. Everything is assembled and uploaded for tomorrow's episode. I just have to push the publish button tomorrow morning.
Marscon - more e-mails to coordinate with the other writers and publishers of EPIC VA. We're getting our stuff together for the dealer's table and preparing for the panels we'll be doing. Panels include:
Friday, 11PM - 12AM
BDSM - What it is, What it isn't
Saturday, 10AM - 11AM
Should I E-Publish or Not?
Saturday, Noon - 1PM
Is Digital Art "Real" Art Yet?
Saturday, 10PM - 11PM
Intro to Sci Fi Erotica
Saturday, 11PM - 12PM
BDSM - Fantasy vs. Reality
I've also booked a room for the convention, seeing as how I will be at the con until the wee hours of the morning anyway...
Business cards - I thought I had the artwork done, but then the conversion from RGB to CMYK went all screwy on me, so I'll have to redo it tomorrow and hope I get the stuff in on time.
In addition to all this, I'm still struggling to catch up with laundry from the holidays and I've been cranky in general. I just chewed out some poor telemarketing schmuck for calling my house after 9PM. I think I need to go to bed now.Labels: Conventions And Appearances, Today's Work |
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Today's Work
I was about to go to bed, but then I remembered I promised I would start posting a short list of what I accomplish each day, writing-wise. So here goes.
Podcast - edited and cleaned up the recording for Friday's episode. Assembled Friday's episode in Acid Music Studio. Still need to record a quick plug for a friend's e-book.
Marscon preparation - e-mailed several people to coordinate for the EPIC VA dealers room table; also contacted people for various panels in the adults-only program track and for the digital art panel. Also made lists of things I need to get prior to the con. This actually took up most of my day.
Worked on artwork for business cards - one card for my editor position at ERWA, one for my podcast Heat Flash, and one for this website.
Searched for 3D models to use in cover artwork that I'm doing. I need an old fashioned gas pump and a dachshund (for two different covers).
Did absolutely no writing, and I don't expect to until next week at the earliest. Maybe not even until after the convention.Labels: Today's Work |
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Not Dead Yet
Although you'd think I was dead given how often I've managed to post late. I am recovering from the holidays. Ugh. Talk about beat. My husband and children were home for two weeks straight. I still cannot find my living room floor.
I got a lot of work done over the holidays. I produced five more episodes of my podcast Heat Flash, and began writing for February's episodes. One of these episodes is going to be way long, so I'll probably run it as the bonus episode for Valentine's Day. The story is called "To Birdman With Luv." It's a kinky super-hero parody, so if you're into that sort of thing, tune in on Valentine's Day.
On the publishing front, I've seen the final cover art for my novel, Demon By Day. The galley should be in my hands soon for final checking.
I heard back on a couple of short stories I submitted. One, Rapacious Mrs. Horner, was rejected (but very nicely) for an anthology, but the other, When the Angels Fall, has been accepted for Coming Together With Pride. Even though it's a non-paying market, it's a big huzzah in my book. The Coming Together series of anthologies donates all proceeds from book sales to charity. Sales for Coming Together With Pride will go to AVERT.
In other news, I'll be appearing at Marscon in two weeks (18-20 January). I'm one of their writing guests, which means I'll be on a couple of panels (namely the adults-only erotica track we've put together) and I'll also be in the dealers room with other members of EPIC VA, selling books and stuff. I'll probably only have CDs of my podcast to offer up, but hey, I'll be there! Stop on by and say hi.
What else? Oh yeah, New Year's Resolutions (so what if I'm late with this -- I'm RECOVERING from the holidays, okay?). I resolve to post at least once a week on this blog. In fact, I'm even thinking of a daily post, just something very short where I list what work I accomplished that day. I also resolve to write at least 3000 words a week. I have a novel I'd like to finish off by the end of February, so hopefully I'll do more than 3000, but we'll see. Right now, I just want to get back to writing every day.
And that's that. I've got to wrap up and pick up my daughter from preschool. I'll be spending all the next two weeks getting ready for Marscon, but hopefully you'll hear from me at least once between now and then. Later.Labels: Conventions And Appearances, Current Work, Heat Flash, Published |
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