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In Sacramento one December we had 30 days of no sun. The low was 38 degrees; the high was 40 degrees. We could barely make out the house across the street. By noon the fog would rise to about the rooftop and by 4 p.m. it'd be down again.
While our fog here is nothing that bad, it's still dismal. I'm so ready for some blue sky and the snow crocuses to break through.
Second Meandering ...
Have any of you read this post about there only being 40 self-published authors who are successful?
I've got a headache right now (I blame the air pressure), and it irritates me no end when people make what I consider to be outrageous claims.
First off, define success. I can almost guarantee you that my definition won't necessarily be the same as Alex Cavanaugh's or Pat Hatt's or Dezzie over at Hollywood Spy or any of you.
The thing that bother's me is that there are probably struggling artists who could read an article like that and give up their dreams. But why should another person's arbitrary definition of success define it for anyone but themselves? Grrr
Yes, I'm irritated. I said I have a headache. lol
Third Meandering ...
We saw Kung Fu Panda 3 this weekend. Loved it. Loved the message.
Fourth Meandering ...
This whole downsizing thing could be the death of me. We're settling on the floor plan for the twin homes, and my sister-in-law is busy looking through window designs and stuff.
Um.
I hate that kind of stuff. Just give me some simple choices, and I'm good.
It's a holiday here in the US today. Presidents Day.
Do you have the day off? Did you do anything fun this weekend?
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Despite all the hubub over the Polar Vortex two years ago, last winter was actually colder for longer. It was also sunny quite a bit during the day, which makes quite a difference in attitude. I hope the sun comes out soon for you out there.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the claims about self-publishers--I'll have to read the blog. Generally speaking, I think "success" is to be determined by the individual. I can't tell you whether you're successful in certain things. I'll also note, however, that there are some self-published authors (the big ones; you know who they are) who might be guilty of selling authors on dreams that are every bit as unrealistic as "I'll sell to Viking and be as big as Stephen King!"
Enjoy your day!
And I feel compelled to add that I'm not against self-publishing at all. It's not my path, but it could be yours, and that's totally cool with me.
DeleteI think you're right about the sales pitch aspect. But, to be honest, I think traditional publishing does the same thing. How many traditionally published authors get to quit their day jobs? And that's with the money, power, and connection of the big publishers behind them.
DeleteI was traditionally published in the beginning.
DeleteI don't disagree with you at all on that point. My guess? Very few.
DeleteExactly. :)
DeleteWe're having a pretty mild winter for Michigan. Looking forward to warmer weather--high 30's and maybe close to 50 this week. Yay! And that is crazy saying there are so few successful self-published authors.
ReplyDeleteI think that author's idea of "success" is pretty big.
DeleteActually, now that I've read the post you linked to, I object even more to her contention that the novel is dead: "people don’t read books, they go to the movies, they binge on TV series, they play video-games." While people do all of this, they also read books. I think she's way off base.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of a ridiculous assumption because how many movies of late have been based on BOOKS?
DeleteI prefer simple choices, too. Spring will be here in no time.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's definition of success is different. Even "successful" authors have day jobs. Most of us go into the business knowing it doesn't make us a lot of money. Having my books read (by a big or small audience), having fans, and having an online following are satisfying for me.
And you just defined "success" for you. And me. :D
Deletehaha if I thought about what that article said too much I'd have a headache too. Pffft success is different to each. I do it to get the ideas out of my head. I already knew you have the same odds as being "rich" from books as you do of winning some lotteries. And as far as what they said at the end, hahaha, you have even lower odds of breaking into movies, waaaaay lower odds. How many people go to Hollywood to break into movies only to end up busing tables for life?
ReplyDeleteWe've had very mild winter where we are. What we could use is rain, as always. This morning we had fog... probably should use that word in your presence. :) As for success, there's certainly more to it than $$.
ReplyDeleteThat is some creepy fog. In WV, we have our fair share of grey days, but usually the fog burns off by mid-morning. How do you drive in that? Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat article. The mark was set at what? A million sales? Heck, I'll take a cheeseburger. I just enjoy writing. If people quit because it's hard, well, their heart probably wasn't in it.
Well it could be foggy and you have this cough that lasts until the Wasatch Front slips into Salt Lake. That's what I've got sans fog.
ReplyDeleteI was up at Scout camp once and we had fog so thick you couldn't see your feet. Which is dangerous if you're trying not to kill yourself by falling off a cliff. Especially for we waterless louts of the place of hot and warm running sand.
Speaking of green places (we were speaking of Ireland the other day) I'm going in the end of April beginning of May. You should totally go too.
As for success, I think lots of those sorts of naysayer people are trying to clear away the competition. Although if you use the vanity publisher I used, it would be pretty accurate. Beware those dudes. They're in business to gull unsuspecting authors, not to sell books. At least that publisher is. All they want is to sell you expensive marketing sca...er...plans.
ReplyDeleteJust got back from Disneyland with the kids, and it was in the 80s there (I suggest a trip, hint hint). :) As for "success" for an author, my only definition is that I write something my wife enjoys. If she likes it, I'm a success, and everything else is just icing on the cake:)
ReplyDelete