The Lackadaisical Writer

Let's talk feedback, as in getting feedback on your work and just what the heck people mean by alpha, beta, and gamma readers! In this episode I go through what each of those means and what you can generally expect for each. I'll also talk a bit about how to find readers and give some general tips on handling the feedback you get.

Progress Report: For my monthly goal results, I'm a few days late, but the novel adaptation's first tome is mostly done; just need to add the final few notes from my line edits, the remaining pics, and upload for proofing. With Aisuru, though, it was an abject failure - only 1 or 2 chapters edited instead of 4. I did however meet one of my other 2014 goals!

Monthly Goals: Edit at least 4, preferably 8, chapters of Aisuru and write the first draft of new scene; write at least 8 chapters of Tome 2 of the novelization project

Randomness: "The Everything Wrong With..." YouTube channel by Cinema Sins. (http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaSins)

Our emotions can affect our writing, especially fear. Today, I talk about how my own fears of putting my work out there, rejection, failure, taking risks, and of success are affecting my writing efforts and what I'm doing to try to counteract them.

Progress Report: Writing for first part of the novelization project done and illustrations prepped. Just need to finish a quick line edit and upload for proofing.

Randomness: TaxAct.com (website - free Federal income tax filing; http://taxact.com)

After correcting my goals for January from last episode, I talk about the idea that writers "should never pay anything" to publish their works. First we look at the root of the idea - that "money should flow to the writer, not from" - in the context of traditional publishing versus vanity publishing. Then, we look at it from the perspective of the indie/self publisher and how in that context, it isn't so clear or easily split as you must do the editing, cover design, formatting, marketing, and more.

Progress Report: 1 chapter done for the novelization project, and about half way through 1 chapter edited for Aisuru (another that I ended up doing a lot of rewriting on)

Randomness: CENTS, The Movie (http://centsthemovie.com; upcoming feature film)

It's the first episode of 2014, and the first episode of season 2 of the show! After announcing a few minor format changes, this episode is all about goals, starting with how to set SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely), then I take a look at how I did on my 2013 writing goals before sharing my goals for 2014.

Progress Report: 3 more chapters done in the Novelization project while nothing done on Aisuru.

Goals: Set up new weekly schedule for the year (i.e. day for Aisuru editing, day for Novelization project, etc) by the 6th. Do at least 2 chapters of Novelization project done by the 11th. Edit at least 1 chapter of Aisuru by the 11th.

Randomness: Challenge to set your own goals, be it writing related or in other areas of your life, and to make them SMART goals.

Happy holidays! With 2013 coming to an end, I reflect a bit on the show's growth before giving the usual news and updates. For the main topic of the show, I answer the question of "how much of myself is in my writing" as well as discuss the overheard idea that someone should only tell a story from perspectives they know and I wonder about the meaning phrase "write what you know."

Progress Report: For the NaNo Project - 3 more chapters done; For Aisuru - the cover reveal

Goals: Continuing from last week

Randomness: Tasks (Android app; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.teamtasks.tasks)

Happy holidays! I open with a bit on the holidays, the usual news and updates, and do my cover reveal announcement. Then I talk about the revision struggle - the difficulties I experience in trying to revise Aisuru, including not giving it proper time and attention, my realization that I'm a planning editor not a pantster one, and trying to break the never ending cycle.

Progress Report: For the NaNo Project - 0, zip, zilch. :-( For Aisuru - reread and got back into the story, finally finished editing that infamous chapter 10.

Goals: For my NaNo project: get back to it and do at least 14 chapters by the end of winter break! For Aisuru: Finish shrine scene, edit another chapter. And of course do my cover reveal!

In this week's episode, I discuss traditional publishing versus self/indie publishing, including how the two processes differ and the pros/cons of each. I also discuss which I've chosen for myself and why, and issue a reminder to be safe regardless of which method you choose by avoiding scammers!

Progress Report: Finished NaNo with 118,000+ words and just over 34% project completion

Goals: 30 chapters of my NaNo project by the end of December; get back to Aisuru by rereading what I have so far and seeing if it still draws me - if not, try to figure out what I changed that caused this

Random Recommendation: I issued a challenge to those listeners who are also writers to look into writing conferences in their area and see if one will be a good fit for them. I also mention two in Texas that are good to look at, DFW Writers' Conference held in Dallas each May (http://dfwcon.org/) and the Writer's League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference held in Austin each June (http://www.writersleague.org/)

In my final NaNo extempore of the year, I give my usual NaNo update, then talk about about goals, being behind, the point of NaNo, Camp NaNoWriMo, and my own struggles with staying on task, lack of self-discipline, and need for encouragement/prodding.

This week, after my usual NaNo update, I talk about the cold snap in Texas, the awesomeness of fingerless gloves, a bit about why I love Scrivener, my dislike of crowds, a little bit of Aisuru news and plans, my acquisition of Self Editing for Fiction Writer and trying to focus the revisions, and upcoming episode topics.

This week's ramblings include my NaNo update and winning, why November is my unhealthy month, swimming, and Thanksgiving. Also random inserts from PussCat and jingles from the girls' tags when they kept shaking their heads.