Monday, September 28, 2009

Dark Horses & the Power of One

I love a good horse race. Oh, not the races where the horses snap a leg or otherwise have to be put down on the field. But those races on clear, cloudless days, and all you can hear is the thunder of hooves and smell the nectar of horse sweat and jockeys’ tears; yeah, you’re seeing something that’s life.


 


Horse racing is the sport of kings, so it’s probably hard to imagine how it relates to an average person like you and me. But all those hours of hard work, practice, and hope is melted down to those three minutes; and in the end, the winner is just as much a product of luck and skillful jockeying as it is the hard work and talent. Isn’t that any of us writing? We all have the hard work and talent, but it also takes some luck and an agent who is willing to go the distance. 


 


I read a statistic once about how many negative thoughts come through our brains every day compared to positive thoughts, and the difference was staggering. It was like 10:1 odds, or maybe 100:1 odds. Either way, Positive Thinking was the dark horse in this bet. It is therefore no surprise, if this statistic is true, to see why negativity prevails. It has more horses in the race, and with those odds, one of them is more logically going to win.


 


In this scenario, one doesn’t have a lot of power.


 


But consider this. You read 10 editor articles about publishing. Nine editors say, “Yes, it is hard and lots of revision and persistence are needed—but we’re always on the lookout for great manuscripts and compelling voices.” And one says, “Cowboy westerns are a dead horse. Nobody is buying them.” You are particularly struck. You have been told repeatedly by friends and strangers alike you have a compelling voice; your CPs have reassured you your cowboy western manuscript is fresh and well-written. What do you do?


 


If you’re me, you freak out. Nothing else matters at that point, and definitely not the other nine editors. And definitely nothing logical. Because I bet you dollars to donuts, you’re freaking out at your computer going: “Dead? The genre is dead! I am never going to be published because I wrote a book in a genre that has no market and clearly never will again!” Insert wailing and gnashing of teeth. Obsess that not only is your book in a dead genre, but it’s also too quiet or too funny or too angsty or too sexy for anyone to publish mainstream. Then cry yourself to sleep.


 


In this scenario, clearly one holds all the power.


 


Let’s return to the dark horse, shall we? The one in the first scenario. If we’re going to be silly, illogical, and crazy to follow the power of one in scenario two, with the utmost belief that that one will win out, then I think we should be gutsy enough to be silly, illogical, and crazy enough to follow the power of one in the first example. Listen to that crazy little What If voice in your head that says, What if you finished that novel and it did get published? What if you did write that series? What if you did keep at it until you won?


 


Racehorses literally run their hearts out. They don’t stand around at the start of the race and ponder the odds of them winning; they just take the bit in their teeth and go, their eyes on the finish line and not on the distracting lights and noises flashing around them. They just listen to that voice that’s whispering, “Go, go, go.” Be the dark horse and bet on yourself. You’re more likely to win if you just keep running.


 


Do you believe in the power of one? And if you do, are you more apt to be a Power of One person in scenario one or scenario two? Do you believe publishing requires a bit of luck as well as persistence and talent? Are you the kind, at horse races, to bet on the horse with good odds or the one that’s the dark horse?

73 comments:

2nd Chance said...

I believe! I believe! I believe!

In it all! In the power a' one ta make a difference and succeed. Sure, the negative is hard ta resist. It's so damned persuasive, logical, compelling. It whispers...stay safe...give up...let it go...back into the cave...

The Indigo Girls have a lyric...
Darkness has a hunger that's insatiable.
And lightness has a call that's hard to hear.
I wrapped my fears around me like a blanket.
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it.
I'm crawling on your shore...


One a' me favorites. Sort of a secondary theme song fer me, Cap'n.

Those a' us who have experienced near death know that odds don't matter. Life does.

Janga said...

I'm really working at focusing on things I can control. I can complete revisions, I can write the best query letter I know how to write, I can hit "Send."

The agents' responses are out of my hands.

I can keep writing on book 2.

Do these things qualify as the power of one? :)

Quantum said...

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

So many people see statistics as dealing with averages and an average writer does not exist! To illustrate, consider average shoe sizes. You might find that the average writer wore shoes of size 7.56789443 or similar!

More meaningful are probabilities.If a probability distribution for writers existed, then an individuals position within that distribution would be highly informative.

Close to average tends to imply 'ordinary' or 'run of the mill' so significant deviation from the mean is more interesting. If you lie in the remote tail of the distribution however, you are probably so unusual that no-one understands you and therefore you are unlikely to succeed in a mass market enterprise. In academic circles though, you might shine like a star.

To succeed at writing romance novels I think that you need to be far enough from average to be interesting but not so far that you are considered 'freakish'. The publishing forces will then be in your favour.

A dark horse can occasionally win, but you are more likely to make a profit over time if you don't deviate too far from the odds for the favourite. Luck always helps of course and is totally unpredictable.

If you have talent and determination to succeed, You will eventually make it. But if the odds are favourable you should get there more quickly. You have to be very very lucky to hit the jack pot first time.

Fascinating blog Helli .... as always! 8)

Tiffany Clare said...

Dude, have you seen (or read) the secret?

I'll say no more.

Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe said...

I started writing in 2003. Started knowing what I was doing (kind of) in 2006-2007. Got an agent in 2008. First sale in 2009. Publication in 2010. Obviously, I'm not the fastest filly on the track, but I kept going even after the race seemed over. So yes, I think it's possible to do what you set out to do, if you persevere and not pay attention to the other horses or spectators. As Janga says, a lot is out of our hands (I want to say hooves, but that would be carrying the analogy a furlong too far), and time moves like molasses at every step of the publishing journey. I also think a huge amount of luck is involved and I wake up feeling grateful every single day.

And I usually bet on the horse with the pretty colors/interesting names. Needless to say, I never win any money, LOL.

Marnee Jo said...

I try really hard not to listen to the "such and such is dead" talk. We heard vampires were dead and that stuff is still flying off the shelves. We heard the historical romance was dead a few years ago and well, last time I checked that wasn't so.

I do agree with Janga: control what we can, try not to fret about what we can't.

And as far as what horse I bet on? I always bet on the horse that took a crap right before the race. That little tidbit of advice via my father. A great gambler.

Hellion said...

2nd: I knew you'd start chanting the "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do, I do" mantra. I knew you'd appreciate the granola crunchie of today's blog.

Hellion said...

Janga: that definitely sounds like the power of one to me--you only have control over the things YOU can do and it sounds like you're doing them. I have every belief we'll see your book on shelves one day--and we'll point to it and scream, "It's JANGA'S BOOK!" Because that's the quiet, sedate person I am in public.

Hellion said...

Q: my dear, darling British man, my Math instructor in college finally gave up on me understanding probability. I *NEVER* figured it out. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but I like to think it's for the good because if I figured out about how many people submitted manuscripts every year to editors and how many of those were PROBABLY good and then yet how many of those were PROBABLY published, I would give up writing altogether in sheer defeat.

However, you do have a point about not writing so far afield that you're the John McCain of the Publishing Industry. *waving hands* "I'm a Maverick! I'm going rogue!" It'd work for one book but probably not two.

However, since I have no interest in writing Amish Christian Erotica, I think I'm safe--I think I write just conventional enough, though slightly left of scope, to be interesting but be winner. Maybe I'm delusional, but hey, I'm happy here.

haleigh said...

Awesome blog, Hellie!

I'm scenario one all the way. Major freak out moments about everything. It's amazing the things I can find to panic over - it's a skill, really. *g*

I think publishing absolutely requires luck along with perseverance and talent. There was a great article in RWR a few months back about luck -- defined as "probabilities taken personally" and about what you could do to influence those probabilities in your favor.

I know damn good and well I got lucky as hell. When I was talking to Brendan on Friday, he said he'd been looking for book exactly like this for a long time, and he thought publishers had too. That's great for me, but it's sheer luck and timing. I happened to hit the right agent in the right market at the right time. I'm thrilled, but I know that has nothing to do with my skill as a writer or my perseverance.

But I do think perseverance can turn luck. After all, if the odds are 100:1, and you're willing to run that race a hundred times, you will win. It might be that 99th try, but you will win.

Hellion said...

Tiff: You commented on my blog! I'm so glad I wrote it short enough for a change! (Don't think I've forgotten that lecture!) Yes, I've read the Secret. It's hard for an old pessimist like me to keep attempting it, but part of me does try. Not during PMS week, obviously...but on non-PMS, I do endeavor to be more Law of Attraction like.

Hellion said...

Maggie, writing for 6 years is hardly an "old horse"--I've been writing since, well, 10 years before that at least...and haven't gotten near as far. *LOL* But you are an inspiration (as are many of you Vixens and other crew)--so I'm glad you guys have hung in there and showed the rest of us how it's done!

I like picking the pretty colored ones too. I love grays.

haleigh said...

Because that’s the quiet, sedate person I am in public.
*snort*

Hellion said...

Marn: Wow, now I'm wondering if I would be more successful in my writing if I was more regular. Maybe I should eat more oatmeal.

Hellion said...

It’s amazing the things I can find to panic over - it’s a skill, really.

Me too, sister, me too.

Perserverence to stick it out for the 100th race...you so said it there, but yeah, there is some luck we need to cultivate about us. I suppose that means networking more, too, right? Which I don't enjoy. But I guess I'll learn to do so... *LOL*

Marnee Jo said...

One should never underestimate the power of a healthy colon, Hells.

Renee said...

Hellie, did you jack into my computer again? Well, I heard westerns are dead, but I'm going to write the damn thing anyway, and there won't be one piss pot in it. Leeches and stinging nettles, but no piss pots.

BUT, I probably wouldn't keep pressing on if 1. I wasn't 3/4 of the way through and 2. I wasn't enjoying writing it so much.

And I do believe in fairies, I do! I believed I was the fairiestgreen of them all at one time.

Hellion said...

Renee, I didn't. Sin did though. *shhhh*

Yeah, if you're 3/4 of the way through, you might as well finish. *LOL* The leeches and the stinging nettles are a nice touch though! I miss great Westerns. *sighs* I hope they bring them back, at least for a bit. Linda Lael Miller's is the closest I've seen to a good Western lately...and they are good and they are Western. *LOL*

Jane L said...

I usuasly lurk about on the weekdays, but I found this topic quite compelling. Plus I am LMAO, picturing Chance dance around her computer waving her wand casting an "I believe" spell on Hellie! LOL!
I believe in the dark horse, maybe in a different manner. I believe there is that ONE person out there that has some sort of influence over us, in our wanting to be better or suceed more or just be plain driven to write and be a writer. I agree with what "Q" said, you must stand out, but not be to freakish. Lucky, well yes, maybe, but most of all determination I think, never giving up or giving in.
Marnee Jo, you are right.. nothing is off limits in writing and be true to your genre and write from your heart!
Great topic Hellie! Thanks!

2nd Chance said...

Ah, a blog fer me freakish granola nature... The Cap'n do love me!

Personally, I feel there be a lot freakish folks out there and I want ta write fer them. Let yer freak flag fly! Somewhere, there be a freak editor/agent and we will find each other!

Really, Q, accordin' to the odds, I should be dead. I don't believe in odds, they don't believe in me.

Melissa said...

I love this blog. :) Positive thinking is the dark horse. And the dark horse wins by having some quality that the bookies didn't anticipate. Maybe that "quality" is simply the love of the race. The dark horse might not have the advantage of financial backing as the favorite, but against the odds, the dark horse has a chance.

For a romance writer, the backing is probably that agent or who you know. But still, without any backing, a writer has a chance.

I do see what Q is saying about stacking the odds in your favor by not deviating too far from mass market expectations. But I also think that an awareness of the market can lower your odds. Thinking about the market can slow me down to the point of standing still. It can take the heart out of just about any story idea I come up with. I'm certain if I even try to write something for everyone it will ring true with no one.

I can honestly say I don't even want to think about marketing my story. It's not just that I HATE that side of things (I do), but more because of this desire to keep forward momentum. For the first story, I agonized over that synopsis and countless query letters LONG before I was finished. I will have to, of course. But not now. For now, I think there's something to be said for putting the blinders on.

Hellion said...

I’m certain if I even try to write something for everyone it will ring true with no one.

Amen, sister.

And I totally hear you about Forward Momentum. For the first time in a long time I have momentum in my writing and I don't want to lose that. *sighs* I'd rather just be the dark horse.

terrio said...

You know my "THINK POSITIVE" heart is loving this blog. And this is even better than you explained it in email.

Positive thinking turned my life around. I'm a staunch believer. And I've only recently dug the roots of believing I can sell a book. Really believing.

Hal - Your perseverence did have something to do with it. And so did your talent. If you'd have given up before now, the timing wouldn't have mattered. And if the book sucked rotten eggs, nothing else would have mattered. It's a combination of all three, don't sell any part of the combination short. Or yourself!

I used to go to the races at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, AR. The one bet I remember most was when I bet on a horse because of his name. How could you not bet on Goober? Really? And it was so fun to cheer for him through the final stretch. LOL! He didn't win, but we didn't really care. It was a $2 bet after all.

Marn - I've heard that strategy before too. But what do you do if more than one does the number two? LOL! Is there some kind of tie breaker there?

Hellion said...

Jane! How delightful of you to delurk! I'm so flattered! 2nd can cast whatever spells she likes so long as she's not hugging on me.

And I agree with you about Marn, about writing from the heart. :) I think that's very true.

Hellion said...

2nd: I don't think your granola nature is freakish. In fact my student worker is very granola-y. This is our typical conversation:

Student: "This is why I love you! I totally need someone like you to teach me how to cook!"
Me: "Right. What do you normally eat?"
Student: "I don't know. It doesn't matter. Sandwiches, I guess."
Me: "You like yogurt, don't you?"
Student: I LOVE yogurt!
Me: Of course you do, you little granola crunchie.

terrio said...

My kiddo loves yogurt. If she didn't look just like me, I'd have them check those hospital records.

Hellion said...

Terri, I know I didn't sell this idea very well in our emails. *LOL* I cut more than I wrote actually. This should go down as one of my shortest blogs. *LOL* As well as perkiest blogs.

I agree: Hal's talent and perseverence had as much to do as anything else! :) Go Hal!

Whoever took the biggest crap is the one you go with, I think. They're lighter and can run faster. *LOL*

Tiffany Clare said...

Marnee! That is hilarious! I used to go to the horse races with my grams all the time. I always bet on the one with the coolest name! LOL

Hellion, I don't lecture that often. More like rant on the same topic over and over LOL! This was a great blog. And totally gave me the opportunity to whip out the ... dude, watch the secret! LOL


PMS week is fine.. .remember w/the law of attraction, that gives you three weeks of positve, which goes farther than the one week of bugger off already and die... :)

Renee said...

PMS week? Oh good lord! LOL I read something recently during my research of an herb that was so great at healing wounds that it was actually used to try and heal hymen, supposedly it could make a woman a virgin all over again.

Renee said...

Chance, I want to fly a freak flag. The agents that tend to be freaks like me don't represent my chosen genre. So sad. Because I get them in a weird sort of way, but they'd never get me, I'm sure of it.

terrio said...

I heard or read that fly your freak flag saying the other day and tried to figure out how to write a blog about that. Looks like Chance beat me to it. LOL!

terrio said...

I was raised by cynical, negative people. I basically needed an intervention and luckily got one. Thankfully, it was accompanied by great sex. I think that's why it worked. :)

Melissa said...

Darn, posted before I was ready, obviously! lol Now I have to finish! That will teach me...just meant it doesn't come entirely natural to be positive when we aren't having the best of luck ourselves sometimes. :) But it's that karma thing, what goes around comes around.

Melissa said...

Yes, family background wasn't necessarily positive. Not outright negative, but didn't see the need for positive reinforcement. It was a mystery. Can't you just know? Like, why do I have to tell you? LOL

terrio said...

Melissa - That's the secret of looking on the bright side. I think you're right in that it's not really our natural tendency to do that. Like, in early 2008, the transmission went on my truck. $2500 expense!

Now, I could have been like my parents and moped around about how bad things always happen and I just can't catch a break. But, I chose not to do that. Instead, I focused on the fact that, at the time, I had the money. Didn't have it 6 mos before, didn't have it 6 mos after, don't have it now. But I had it then. So it all worked out.

Sometimes you have to dig, but that silver lining is there somewhere. LOL!

Hellion said...

I basically needed an intervention and luckily got one. Thankfully, it was accompanied by great sex. I think that’s why it worked.

I'm CERTAIN that's why it worked. *LOL* Nothing like positive reinforcement to make it stick.

Melissa said...

An intervention of great sex...okay, that sounds like it should work. :) Worth trying anyway. LOL

Hellion said...

Tiff: you're right. Being positive 3 weeks a month is better than never being positive. Sorta like going to the gym. Better than NEVER going.

Renee: Fly that freak flag baby!

Terri: I first heard the freak flag saying in The Family Stone. Twisting your situation to find the positive is humorous. Sometimes it feels like a real stretch--like when you total your car that you just drove off the lot and going, "Well, at least I survived the crash." Technically speaking, sure, that's great...but looking at that totalled car, you kinda wish you hadn't.

Melissa said...

Yes, a lot of the trick of positive thinking is realizing it could be worse! But never, never say out loud "how could this day get any worse?" LOL

Hellion said...

Yeah, never SAY that. It's bad enough to think it...even thinking it can get you in trouble. Maybe you should do the Secret thing and phrase it: "How can my day get better? Let me count the ways."

Melissa said...

When I can say "how can my day get better? Let me count the ways" after, say totaling my car, then I think I'm ready to try and win a nobel peace prize or something. LOL

Can I at least swear first?

terrio said...

You can throw the curse into the positive statement.

"How much fucking better could this day get?"

Unless the Universe recognizes sarcasm...

Melissa said...

Funny. That's almost exactly what my ghost said when he realized he was a ghost. LOL

Hellion said...

*LOL*

I don't think the Universe recognizes sarcasm. I think you could get away with it. Good brainstorming, guys, I think we're thinking of great ways to implement positive thinking into our lives without stretching crediblity or having our loved ones look into the nearest mental health facility to check prices.

Melissa said...

I meant by ghost in my story...I don't personally have a ghost. :)

terrio said...

We all have ghosts, Melissa. LOL! Let that freak flag fly.

Marnee Jo said...

I think I agree with Hellion about which horse to pick if both go. The one with the larger pile of manure.

I also agree with Ter that Hal's talent and perseverance matter here as well. :)

terrio said...

I'd rather refrain from betting if I have to analyze the size and weight of the pile. :)

But I get the thinking behind it. Can you imagine if the same went for marathon runners? I would not want to be at that starting line.

Melissa said...

What a coincidence. I left at the comment on checking prices at mental health facilities and I'm working on a scene of breaking my heroine out of the sanitarium. :) I'm blaming or crediting my non-linear writing and which scene to work on to you guys.

Yes, perseverence without talent in the agent search is useless. Hal got a contract for talent. If that hadn't been there, the only thing her perseverence would have gotten her would have been a restraining order? LOL

Marnee Jo said...

LOL! If I were a betting woman--a serious betting woman--I wouldn't be standing at the marathon starting line. I'd be in the locker room, using the old sniffer.

(Good images I know. You're all welcome.)

Renee said...

Melissa, you're a hoot. But I totally agree.

terrio said...

Marn - You've reached a new level of wrong right there.

Melissa - We'll gladly take the blame or credit. Whichever way it falls.

Hellion said...

What's amazing about this blog is that no one will remember the role of positive thinking...it's that they'll remember how they should choose horses to bet on at the races.

hal said...

and how to bet on marathon runners.

:)

terrio said...

Think positive, you've raised horse shit to a new level.

LOL!

I'm positively happy you can't reach me to smack me for that one.

terrio said...

BTW - Did the hottie pertain to the blog or did you just feel like adding some eye candy in there?

Hellion said...

I figured this blog was boring with Positive Pollyanna BS, so I put in the eye candy to make sure people read til the end.

terrio said...

This is why you're the Captain. You're so smart.

Hellion said...

Yeah, it's the philosophy of "the lingerie should get his attention, but just in case, hide the remote."

Quantum said...

One day I'm going to tune in during the day to keep up!

Chance said: Those a’ us who have experienced near death know that odds don’t matter. Life does.
Really, Q, accordin’ to the odds, I should be dead. I don’t believe in odds, they don’t believe in me.


I'm very glad that you survived Chance! But one-off events prove nothing. Sometimes very improbable events can occur. But as Hal says, you would need about 1000 such events with each having a 10^-3 chance of success before hitting the jack pot. Would you be prepared to face those odds again if it wasn't necessary?
I hope not!


Helli said: Maybe I’m delusional, but hey, I’m happy here.

Glad to hear that Helli. As long as your life or livelihood don't depend on taking extravagant risks with the writing then you don't have to worry. Enjoying what you do is the most important factor. Anyway I've seen snippets of your work and I reckon you're pretty well placed for success.

Try thinking of agents as attractive prospective British boy friends that you need to chat up. I think that might be your optimal approach! *grin*

Jane L said: I agree with what “Q” said, you must stand out, but not be to freakish. Lucky, well yes, maybe, but most of all determination I think, never giving up or giving in

Hi Jane, Its good to hear someone talking sense around here. Perhaps Chance will listen to you! :lol:

Melissa said: Positive thinking is the dark horse. And the dark horse wins by having some quality that the bookies didn’t anticipate. Maybe that “quality” is simply the love of the race. The dark horse might not have the advantage of financial backing as the favourite, but against the odds, the dark horse has a chance.

I think that all writers have to think positively in order to finish a book. I don't sense any real competition between writers here so your race must be more analogous with an athlete racing against the clock to beat a record. Winning then has more to do with ambition to be better than anyone else, including oneself. OK I might buy that!

Terri said: I’d rather refrain from betting if I have to analyse the size and weight of the pile.
Think positive, you’ve raised horse shit to a new level. LOL!


Thats good Terri. When your up for it you should leave no stone unturned. I hope your not going to throw that stuff from a height! *grin*

Marnee said: LOL! If I were a betting woman–a serious betting woman–I wouldn’t be standing at the marathon starting line. I’d be in the locker room, using the old sniffer.

Good thinking Marn. You can also detect which one is doped that way! *grin*

2nd Chance said...

Well, I live in a very freaky place. ;) And I believe in the freak's success. Melissa, it will come! Ever read me pirate bio? Don't get much freakier wit' what I write...and I know I'll meet the right agent/editor eventually.

And if I don't? I'm givin' meself a deadline, then I publish meself. Or podcast and give away... And jus' have fun at it all!

So, Cap'n, some great sex got ya back inta the path of rightous granola crunchiness! LOL!

terrio said...

Q picks the oddest tidbits to comment on. And I aced Stats class, but he totally lost me in that bit to Chance.

Jane - Brown noser.

2nd Chance said...

Yeah, lost me, too. I still don't believe in odds, Q. I had so much stacked again me...but I still be here. I figure odds and I, we jus' ain't on the same page.

Good thing!

Jane - Go on, suck up ta the big muckity much science guy. Nerd.

Quantum said...

Terri, you did well in statistics?
And you had me thinking you were hopeless at science and maths!
Have you been hiding any more lights under a bushel?

Perhaps my notation was unclear. On average you need 1000 attempts to win if the probability of a win is 1/1000.

Chance, If the probability of dying was close to unity, then you were either extremely lucky or other unknown factors were involved. Maybe someone 'up there' is looking out for you.

I'm just saying that because you were lucky once, don't count on it in the future. We would all hate to loose you!

And don't you be nasty to my friend Jane! *grin*

2nd Chance said...

Well, Q - The circumstances a' me near death ain't likely ta reoccur. Most don't survive the first bit a' Sudden Cardiac Death. Ta guarantee I don't face it agin, I now have a portable paramedic above me left tit. It will do the restart if me heart sputters again.

I had a lot a' things workin' fer me that night. An alert husband who remembered how ta do CPR, paramedics only half a mile from the house, good people in the ER at the hospital...

And I came outta it without damage. Ta heart or head. Though I blame me lack a' memory on the DH not breathing enough fer me!

I do not push me luck wit' me heart or health. With me writin'? All the time, sweetcheeks, all the time!

Odds must a' been out fer a late night cocktail the night I 'bout died, and missed claimin' me.

Melissa said...

Chance, I did read your pirate bio (just now, I must admit - hadn't known where to find it) and did I read it right? 2.9 million words at last count of a pirate saga? :)

I'm intrigued. What I've been picking up in pieces here and there was an idea you were writing erotica and aliens. Or erotic aliens. :) Sorry, I do not mean to be flippant! (I'm very curious, btw, to know what everyone is working on!)

I'm sure you will find that agent/editor that will be a match for your work! This is me being a busy body, and I hear what you're saying about "having fun with it all" which is most important, but I have to say, don't be too quick to publish yourself or deny yourself the "call story." Yes, that's coming from someone who has done it. I'm not saying to discount the idea. I'm not saying not to. Just not to be quick to do so without considering why. And ultimately, if it makes you feel good to release it, then do it.

For me, it's done now. For good or bad. Now, if I was smart, I think the right thing to have done would have been to hold on to my first, finish the second and have TWO manuscripts to pitch. Maybe that would have tipped the odds. :) But who is patient enough for that? I'm just happy the first isn't collecting dust under the bed (or waiting for the day my hard drive crashes!). I know some one (or two, at LEAST two people, I'm sure!) will read it. LOL

I think I get that you have a series. If that's true, sounds like you have a great body of work to pitch. :)

Melissa said...

Geez, that's a lot of smiles. Trying to lessen the blow of lecturing. LOL

2nd Chance said...

Oh, Melissa, I'll give it a good long time ta happen. But if'n I near me 60th birthday and nothin' they are gonna be set free ta wander on their own. I may do some cuttin' edge marketin' afore that, tryin' ta get attention. Considerin' a youtube book pitch, fer one. Or podcastin'... Lots a' things ta try out there!

The Caribbean series be the 2.9 mill word one. But I gots lots a' other work past the first edit phase. And a few at the first edit phase.

I'm MAD! MAD! Bwah ha ha!

Melissa said...

I should have known better. Of course you aren't jumping into anything. You may be mad (wear your freak flag proudly), but you aren't crazy! LOL I guess I'm quick to jump on the self publishing cons and pros (see how I reversed that?).

Melissa said...

I guess that would be wave, not wear your freak flag. Hmm, might look nice. Being freaky is not conventional after all. hee hee

terrio said...

Maybe we're talking different stats. Stats over here is a math class. And it was the most basic class with the easiest prof ever. All contributed to the acing.

I wonder what my bio says? I'm not sure I remember what I wrote. But if you want to check out a snippet, Melissa, I have posted a couple on my personal blog. http://livingwithcrs.blogspot.com/

I really need to update that tonight.

Hellion said...

You promised to update it LAST SUNDAY! I've been looking for TWO DAYS!

terrio said...

I admit, after I sent off the chapters on Saturday, I gave myself the rest of the weekend off. Sue me (and I don't really recommend because you won't get much.)

I'll do it tonight. Pushy.