SharonBergAuthor 🇨🇦@orionkidder @winonakent @bookstodon Even if you feel some of your #stories have stalled, take it from someone who is 68 years, those stories can be revived at any point. My first #shortfiction collection has stories I wrote when I was 19 & stories written when I was 65 & others between. I released 3 #poetry #books between It might be you feel you've grown beyond them if you wait decades, but it doesn't have to be. Any story can be improved with a #revision . #amwriting #writing #pantser
Winona Kent, author 🇨🇦@SharonBergAuthor @orionkidder @bookstodon Totally agree - I'm 68 too :-) Though I look at some of the stories I wrote when I was in my 20's and 30's and I cringe :-) I like to think my writing's improved a lot since then 🙂
@winonakent @orionkidder @bookstodon Yes, I didn't take what I wrote at 19 & leave it alone. I worked it over greatly. But the general gist of the #story was the same, fleshed out. I think that #storytelling is an art that starts at a young age. A child notices how the parts of a story go together when they listen to their parents or grandparents, & then as they grow they improve upon both their oral & their #writing skills. I decided way early on I would be a #writer.
#amwriting #writing
#amwriting #writing
@SharonBergAuthor @orionkidder @bookstodon The same with me - I used to draw pictures before I'd actually learned how to spell, and those pictures were the stories I told to myself. I was always a storyteller - I wrote my first "novel" when I was 12 and I used to hand out copies of the chapters to my classmates at school. Never finished the novel - had a great setup with my MC kidnapped and stashed in the hold of a freighter bound for England. Never worked out what happened next LOL
@winonakent @orionkidder @bookstodon I feel there are many things like this that are common to at least a good number of #writers . You and I seem to have a lot in common, besides our age. Then again, perhaps growing up in the time that we did has molded us somewhat. We have already seen such huge changes to the world, it isn't hard to imagine a different ( #story ) world. #amwriting #writing #writingcommunity #fiction #pantser
@SharonBergAuthor @orionkidder @bookstodon So so true. When I first started writing, we were encouraged NOT to write about Canada, plus it was tough to even break into the industry back in the 1970s and early 80s. The publishing landscape has changed so much since then. True, we have self-publishing - which is easy. It's the marketing part that's the challenge now. You definitely need a little bit of money for advertising / PR. Tough when you're on a tight budget.
@winonakent @orionkidder @bookstodon I think it's marketing partnered with distribution that keeps me from #selfpublishing . I did SP one book, an interpretation of my M.Ed thesis that details the history of Wandering Spirit Survival School (in Toronto) and it proves the point. I remember a time when Canadians were encouraged to look elsewhere for publishing. However, my own experience as a #poet had me #publishing my 1st book at 25 & #magazine publishing was also easier in the late 70s.
@SharonBergAuthor @orionkidder @bookstodon It is tough doing the marketing if you're not naturally a marketer! A few of my colleagues are - they've got actual backgrounds in sales and marketing. I'm learning. And fortunately there are a few webinars out there on advertising and marketing for writers. But yes, unless you have the time set aside (and a budget) for some pretty intense marketing when you release a book, you probably won't make a lot of sales. Unless you have a great network!
Patricia Rice Author@winonakent @SharonBergAuthor @orionkidder @bookstodon the marketing part is why the publishing landscape is so tough. The big guys don't get it any better than we do
@patricia_rice @SharonBergAuthor @orionkidder @bookstodon And more and more, the authors with traditional publishers are asked to shoulder some of the marketing part themselves - and pay for launches, etc.
@winonakent @patricia_rice @orionkidder @bookstodon If you are launching a #book, it is possible to apply to local & federal #artscouncil for travel support, but they usually don't cover all of your costs. For instance, I did a BC #booktour for the #launch of 'Naming the Shadows' (2019) & applied to the #CanadaCouncil for a travel grant. I received a letter saying I had a successful application, except they ran out of money (so I received nothing). I have to tell you, it was really frustrating!