tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post4626237604992649372..comments2023-10-08T03:29:16.941-05:00Comments on Aaron Polson: In the TrenchesAaron Polsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-43573737603878627692009-05-27T05:48:58.647-05:002009-05-27T05:48:58.647-05:00Natalie - Your Korean Boy Band example is excellen...Natalie - Your Korean Boy Band example is excellent. (even if I'm still a little freaked out by the Korean Boy Bands)<br /><br />K.C. - Ads are really annoying. Really cluttered websites are annoying. I'm doing the whining for May.<br /><br />Brendan - pay is good. I'm also happy to build readers right now. <br /><br />Wow, Jamie, the meatpacking example is pretty stark. But seriously, some of the "old timers" used to make a living writing short fiction. No one could do that now.<br /><br />BT - consider it trademarked.<br /><br />L.R. - my most recent issue of Cemetery Dance had ads in it that were 1 1/2 years old. Not a good business model. Rant away. <br /><br />Benjamin - I'd blame captialism, too, but it seems we are all culpable, at times.Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-84752190636922472482009-05-27T05:19:50.435-05:002009-05-27T05:19:50.435-05:00I like the idea of the internet removing a filter ...I like the idea of the internet removing a filter in a sense, so that you don't have to be approved by people with credit to be seen.<br /><br />I guess this poses more of a problem for journalism than it does for writing. So I like the fact that you don't have to read what some media big wig approves of you reading.<br /><br />But then for the writing game the question becomes how do we get paid because I am still for writers getting paid.<br /><br />...in the end I'd blame capitalism because it seems we're screwed either way but maybe we should avoid that debate :PBenjamin Solahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10657105522335752577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-1715246386082862622009-05-27T03:39:31.519-05:002009-05-27T03:39:31.519-05:00Being a tiny voice in that constant hum of white n...Being a tiny voice in that constant hum of white noise is difficult to say the least, but what other choices are there? The pro markets are few and far between and generally more geared toward sci-fi and fantasy. Cemetery Dance? Great, but what are the odds? Especially with their somewhat erratic publication schedule.<br /><br />As BT says it’s all about being selective. Research the markets; don’t settle for something that takes pretty much anything that’s subbed to them. If you do that, you may as well post all your work at your own blog or site. That’s easy, way too easy and above all pointless. <br /><br />Any online market that looks good, that’s well designed and pays something (however small) at least shows that the writing there is of some value. That’s some sort of validation that the whole process of writing is worth sticking with.<br /><br />It’s a long, long road and in many ways it’s getting easier to navigate, but in so many more it’s a lot more difficult too.<br /><br />Rant over.L.R. Bonehillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12230668510378453367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-1908549678558173472009-05-26T22:14:50.368-05:002009-05-26T22:14:50.368-05:00Good post Aaron.
'ancillary "writing" tasks' - tr...Good post Aaron.<br /><br />'ancillary "writing" tasks' - trade mark that, buddy.<br /><br />As long as we see the 'net as a tool to help us get to a better place, I can survive in the current noise. <br /><br />Be selective in the markets you submit to.<br /><br />Be realistic in your ability and constantly reassess as you improve.<br /><br />Get feedback.<br /><br />Write often.<br /><br />Rinse and repeat...BThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15170193722932454605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-75759390198006382992009-05-26T16:46:14.998-05:002009-05-26T16:46:14.998-05:00Like a lot of things, the price of labor has gone ...Like a lot of things, the price of labor has gone down as the labor pool has flooded. I remember when meat packing jobs in my area were good money (we are talking the early 1980's) It wasn't uncommon to have the packing people make upwards of 20-25 dollars an hour and good benifits. Then a flood of laborers came in and the current pay rate for the same jobs is under 10 with virtually no benifits. It doesn't seem fair but it seems to be the way things go. I do think quality will win out in this market and those that can produce the best quality work will be able to demand a price for that work. It might not be upfront like it used to be. <br /><br />Sorry to have babbled so long. It has been on my mind as well lately.Jamie Eyberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875759697016701358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-28445959146437155872009-05-26T15:23:14.585-05:002009-05-26T15:23:14.585-05:00Fascinating stuff. Reminds me that somewhere in &q...Fascinating stuff. Reminds me that somewhere in "On Writing" Stephen King remarks almost off-handedly about receiving the check from Jugs (or whichever of the many T&A mags he published in) for I think it was "The Lawnmower Man." The check was for something like $250.<br /><br />At this point, I'm less concerned about being published in a "high profile, quality publication" than being paid even half what Jugs was paying for a story.Brendan P. Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02152826197748921049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-23899921902587589402009-05-26T15:02:35.509-05:002009-05-26T15:02:35.509-05:00There is a lot of white noise and clutter out ther...There is a lot of white noise and clutter out there, not to mention pages choked with really annoying ads. I find myself visiting the same places almost daily and not venturing outside too much. I get my news/current events/pop culture from BoingBoing and Making Light, for instance, and sometimes follow links from their pages but more often don't.<br /><br />Writing's the same, I think. People will find the sites that offer frequently updated content they enjoy and will visit often. I suspect that's the real reason why writers are always told to have a web presence. The sooner you get on people's "check this page frequently" list, the better sales you'll have later. That brings it all back to what you were talking about the other day, about online venues. I keep my website updated with links to my stories, and I hope I've got at least a few people who check back frequently for new links and who like my stuff enough to buy my books when they are one day published. :)K.C. Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12467201304235217944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-89815304823782279602009-05-26T14:39:44.344-05:002009-05-26T14:39:44.344-05:00As enticing as the variety on the net is, great fi...As enticing as the variety on the net is, great fiction will survive. I remember when I discovered Korean Boy Bands (bear with me). I would be up for HOURS on Youtube watching anything I could click on. Then the rush faded and I honed in on the bands that were talented AND spoke to me: a grand total of two. <br /><br />That's the great thing about the internet. Even with all the noise, we have a much bigger net for finding readers who get us and want to read more.Fox Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05487359877190292039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-65175046177658903272009-05-26T13:52:03.192-05:002009-05-26T13:52:03.192-05:00Katey - Great Konrath post. I'm all about finding...Katey - Great Konrath post. I'm all about finding something to give away/sell too cheap. <br /><br />Alan - The price associated with submitting work used to act as a gatekeeper, and not necessarily in the right way. Cheers to the 'net for that.<br /><br />Cate - You're right, of course.Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-73528406501858025552009-05-26T13:40:29.090-05:002009-05-26T13:40:29.090-05:00What Katey says makes sense--the idea of "media Da...What Katey says makes sense--the idea of "media Darwinism" and active discernment on the part of the reader. It's only been a few months since I started looking at sites to submit my short stories...and wow, what a difference. Some publish anything from anyone; some are more discerning. It doesn't take long to tell who the high quality sites are. I know where I'll be hanging out in the future.<br /><br />The internet hasn't influenced me to write, but it has influenced me to submit my work. It is now quick and cheap to send stuff away.Alan W. Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17067022519729701245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-55090774472092774652009-05-26T13:16:27.151-05:002009-05-26T13:16:27.151-05:00Been thinking about this a bit lately myself, most...Been thinking about this a bit lately myself, mostly thanks to that last post by <A HREF="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/05/ebooks-and-free-books-and-amazon-kindle.html" REL="nofollow">Konrath</A>. I think he kind of sums up my (more sanguine) thoughts on the subject with his viral marketing ninja genius.<br /><br />What's good will always be good-- just that now it takes a little more active discernment on the part of the consumer, rather than the publisher, to get to it. I'd say that's a good thing. The good will make the new landscape theirs, like you say, and the dinosaurs will go the way of the fossil. Media Darwinism.<br /><br />But quality is the most important step to making it yours, it seems. No one can have a doubt that this is the biggest asset, and god knows you have it in your favor.Kateyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727622678452936037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-7868977862404657722009-05-26T12:27:42.041-05:002009-05-26T12:27:42.041-05:00Look into your heart - no you wouldn't.Look into your heart - no you wouldn't.Cate Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634397106201021055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-89951892983941496092009-05-26T12:26:00.959-05:002009-05-26T12:26:00.959-05:00Samantha - And I'm easily scared...
Cate - I thin...Samantha - And I'm easily scared...<br /><br />Cate - I think I would have given up on this whole "writing" thing had I started before the 'net.Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-45247948940296283992009-05-26T12:19:27.420-05:002009-05-26T12:19:27.420-05:00I both love and hate the net, and couldn't live wi...I both love and hate the net, and couldn't live without it now.<br /><br />I often wonder if the net has influenced people to write who wouldn't have done so before, I suppose it must have. There certainly seem to be a lot more writers vying for space than years ago. Or maybe, it's just that we weren't all visible before.Cate Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634397106201021055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-50188137781781590762009-05-26T11:40:07.896-05:002009-05-26T11:40:07.896-05:00And of course there's how much time all the other ...And of course there's how much time all the other venues take away from actual writing. instead of working on stories, we're checking out sites, updating our newsfeeds, adding myspace accounts. it's a strange world mr. aaron.Samanthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18189862726313948541noreply@blogger.com