I've really been meaning to write about the man I am going to call K.
He's gotta be the strangest person I've ever met. He showed up after I'd been here for six months looking for an apartment. Right away I could tell something was off with him, but I couldn't tell what. (Because of my sister, I think I'm a bit sensitive to these things sometimes at least subconsciously even if not overtly. This doesn't mean I'm always right about it, mind you.)
He was very talkative. Plus he's the sort of person who couldn't pick up on cues that indicated the conversation was ending. I'd end up having to tell him a flat out good bye before he'd go and then it would be very abrupt and I'd wonder if he was mad at me for being so blunt.
But he wasn't. He never got mad about my being blunt. In fact, that's what he liked. He left and ended up coming back and applying for an apartment. Well I was just thrilled at the time. He was trouble all the way. Not only did he talk too much, and he brought along his 80 year old mother (he was almost 60), but he couldn't fill out his own application and so I had to do it for him as he gave me the answers one afternoon in my office.
Why would I put up with this? Would anyone else have bothered? I dunno, but I'd been taught by my old boss that sometimes you have to go out of your way to make a sale, and that's basically what I was doing. (I attack renting apartments like I'm making sales which from what I've seen is a very different tactic from the normal way apartments are rented, so let that be a reminder to me that it's okay to do things different from what's probably the standard procedure.)
Well he got it based on his own merits. That's a very simple sentence. What I mean is HE GOT IN. Well crap, that brought on a whole bunch of new issues. He hadn't moved in years, and he was freaking out (in a manly way I'll add, though I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse). Plus, once he was in, I'd have to put up with visits from him that lasted forever unless I asked him to go. (Seriously, he was in my office once for over an hour mostly talking.)
The strange part though is that in listening and learning about him, I actually found myself softening a little. Whereas before I thought he was weird, the things I learned about him sort of helped me explain his behaviors.
He comes across to me as a very blunt and honest guy, so I don't think he's lying when he tells me the things he tells me. According to him, he's been a jockey, a musician, a military man, a carnie running carnival games, a house painter, and a sanitarium worker. He goes into detail about each of these jobs and what he learned about people and other strange factoids about his life.
Is he lying? Honestly, I do have my suspicions. But he is very earnest about it and very honest and blunt about it. Plus he's simply entertaining. So I could sit there and question him about it, doubting him all the way, or I could just take what he's telling me for the most interesting story I've heard come out of someone's mouth.
At some point, I decided that the truth of it didn't matter to me. I actually do enjoy our talks (in short doses). And whether or not it's real, it's interesting.
But perhaps one of the most important things I've learned from him is to just keep at it. He manages to win over a lot of people. He talks a lot and he talks to a lot of different people about a lot of different things, and he will listen if you speak up. I'm sure there are plenty of people who doubt him, but for those people who do there are those other people he's won over who do accept and believe him and most importantly trust him.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
My Marketing Plan
It's very simple and it involves a lot of begging.
I'm not good at advertising. This is a fact. But I do have other strengths that I can play up. I do this all the time when I go to sell things (like apartments) and it's worked pretty well for me so far.
I'm blunt and honest. Those are my strengths. How can I make those work for me?
Well, I already have Ruin up, I've got readers. Some comment but many don't. If my google web stats are right, I have about 40 subscribers (and 30 followers, but these all cross over plus this only counts google subs). I get about 70 page visits on Fridays when I'm supposed to update whether I update or not (we can knock that down to around 50 page visits just to kick out those people who probably stop back to check comments).
And that is all word of mouth really. I only post on VSS, so I haven't really tried very hard to get word out.
So my first plan is to finish the current story on Ruin. (We're so close-- I think.) Then admit that I'd like to make a book version and open up a discussion for it. Find out how many would actually be willing to go for that and support me. (For those who don't comment, I'd be willing to put a poll on the side.)
How that goes will determine a lot of things. It's sort of scary, but like I said, honestly and bluntness is my strength.
The next part is when I finish. Smashwords allows you to generate coupons. So once the book is complete and priced, I'd generate a coupon to make it free and post it on the blog because the readers are king.
Here is the part where I'd beg. Beg for them to pass word on, pass on the coupon (you can set how long the coupon will work so if you want it free for the first month, you can do that), and write reviews.
That's the main part to my plan really. Otherwise, I've started my site, got a separate twitter, started my Smashwords account. I'm a little embarrassed about it at the moment because I haven't put much thought into any of those, I just wanted to have them so I can start thinking about them and learning how to use Wordpress. I've gathered some helpful links and have a couple of blogs that I read and comment at using that info.
It's sort of awkward because I was thinking about how I hide behind my user name. I really do. So now I'm supposed to put my name out there and meet new people. And that's what I'm most uncomfortable about-- learning to stand behind my own name. That's why it's just my first two initials at the moment. I just honestly couldn't use my first full name.
So that's what I've got at the moment. I'm still in the process of experimenting and reminding myself that this is all an experiment.
I'm not good at advertising. This is a fact. But I do have other strengths that I can play up. I do this all the time when I go to sell things (like apartments) and it's worked pretty well for me so far.
I'm blunt and honest. Those are my strengths. How can I make those work for me?
Well, I already have Ruin up, I've got readers. Some comment but many don't. If my google web stats are right, I have about 40 subscribers (and 30 followers, but these all cross over plus this only counts google subs). I get about 70 page visits on Fridays when I'm supposed to update whether I update or not (we can knock that down to around 50 page visits just to kick out those people who probably stop back to check comments).
And that is all word of mouth really. I only post on VSS, so I haven't really tried very hard to get word out.
So my first plan is to finish the current story on Ruin. (We're so close-- I think.) Then admit that I'd like to make a book version and open up a discussion for it. Find out how many would actually be willing to go for that and support me. (For those who don't comment, I'd be willing to put a poll on the side.)
How that goes will determine a lot of things. It's sort of scary, but like I said, honestly and bluntness is my strength.
The next part is when I finish. Smashwords allows you to generate coupons. So once the book is complete and priced, I'd generate a coupon to make it free and post it on the blog because the readers are king.
Here is the part where I'd beg. Beg for them to pass word on, pass on the coupon (you can set how long the coupon will work so if you want it free for the first month, you can do that), and write reviews.
That's the main part to my plan really. Otherwise, I've started my site, got a separate twitter, started my Smashwords account. I'm a little embarrassed about it at the moment because I haven't put much thought into any of those, I just wanted to have them so I can start thinking about them and learning how to use Wordpress. I've gathered some helpful links and have a couple of blogs that I read and comment at using that info.
It's sort of awkward because I was thinking about how I hide behind my user name. I really do. So now I'm supposed to put my name out there and meet new people. And that's what I'm most uncomfortable about-- learning to stand behind my own name. That's why it's just my first two initials at the moment. I just honestly couldn't use my first full name.
So that's what I've got at the moment. I'm still in the process of experimenting and reminding myself that this is all an experiment.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Minor Freak Out
So I keep having minor freak outs. I think yesterday's was the worse. I'll just be writing and fine, and then I catch myself thinking about the fact that I intend to share this once it's done, to maybe hopefully sell it to people. Well then that gets me a little worked up and nervous. I can't help wondering who would buy it and feeling like I'm running a scam that no one is going to go for.
I guess it's because money is involved. I never have issues sharing on the blog whatever pops into my head because I know whatever pops into my head is good enough for online sharing. People want to be entertained, and I think I can do that for a couple of minutes every week. The best feedback is from those who spend time away from the blog thinking about the story.
So then why in the world am I having a freak out? Because ultimately I don't believe that I'll ever be good enough. That's the ultimate and simple truth of it. I'm not bothering to analyze that, I just realize that it's there and present enough to mess with me from time to time.
Which means that I need a plan when it happens. Last night, I made myself feel better by re-printing out all the things I had worked on. It was something I had let lapse. (Fear of being wasteful?) Anyway, it helps being able to physically clutch what I'm working on.
For the full length story, there are extra elements and layers that I left out of the shortened version because of time. Well, now I'm working with them, trying to balance them but not push them, trying to figure out what's too light and what's enough. Oh and am I repeating myself? I think along the way I just lost focus probably from that oncoming tide of doubt, so I hope to regain some focus today though probably after a proper nap. It is like 6am here now.
I guess it's because money is involved. I never have issues sharing on the blog whatever pops into my head because I know whatever pops into my head is good enough for online sharing. People want to be entertained, and I think I can do that for a couple of minutes every week. The best feedback is from those who spend time away from the blog thinking about the story.
So then why in the world am I having a freak out? Because ultimately I don't believe that I'll ever be good enough. That's the ultimate and simple truth of it. I'm not bothering to analyze that, I just realize that it's there and present enough to mess with me from time to time.
Which means that I need a plan when it happens. Last night, I made myself feel better by re-printing out all the things I had worked on. It was something I had let lapse. (Fear of being wasteful?) Anyway, it helps being able to physically clutch what I'm working on.
For the full length story, there are extra elements and layers that I left out of the shortened version because of time. Well, now I'm working with them, trying to balance them but not push them, trying to figure out what's too light and what's enough. Oh and am I repeating myself? I think along the way I just lost focus probably from that oncoming tide of doubt, so I hope to regain some focus today though probably after a proper nap. It is like 6am here now.
Friday, January 7, 2011
I am going to make money
Maybe not much, but I will use my writing to try and support myself. This is a huge step for me. This is complete arrogance on my part that I am going to carry with me even on those days where I'm completely part of the real world and my practical side is screaming at me.
But I will try it. I am determined.
And if this somehow makes my work less, so be it. If it stops becoming art because I'm not a visual artist and I want to sell my words that I've poured my soul into, that's fine. I never set out to do art anyway. I identify more with pulp novels and comic books, and those were definitely created to make money.
I'd like to think there is something more to my work, but I am not the one who will decide that. People who read it will tell me. I'm just going to continue doing what I want to do and what I like to do. Because frankly, I am tired of being at the mercy of others when it comes to my shelter and food. Bosses who can cut hours, lay me off, replace me. Jobs where you get treated like shit because they know you need the job more than you need your pride. Even now I have this most awesome job, but what happens if my boss can't do it anymore? Will he sell? Will his family take over? How will they treat me? There are too many variables in control of my life.
But I have this one talent that I trust, and I'm convinced that I can do something with it. Now is the time to try and make it. Because who knows what will happen. Maybe absolutely nothing, but at least I'll have tried.
But I will try it. I am determined.
And if this somehow makes my work less, so be it. If it stops becoming art because I'm not a visual artist and I want to sell my words that I've poured my soul into, that's fine. I never set out to do art anyway. I identify more with pulp novels and comic books, and those were definitely created to make money.
I'd like to think there is something more to my work, but I am not the one who will decide that. People who read it will tell me. I'm just going to continue doing what I want to do and what I like to do. Because frankly, I am tired of being at the mercy of others when it comes to my shelter and food. Bosses who can cut hours, lay me off, replace me. Jobs where you get treated like shit because they know you need the job more than you need your pride. Even now I have this most awesome job, but what happens if my boss can't do it anymore? Will he sell? Will his family take over? How will they treat me? There are too many variables in control of my life.
But I have this one talent that I trust, and I'm convinced that I can do something with it. Now is the time to try and make it. Because who knows what will happen. Maybe absolutely nothing, but at least I'll have tried.