Drew Faraday's Blog - Posts Tagged "musing"
Reframing Part 1
At times I wonder why I'm drawn to solving mental puzzles of my own design like plotlines & character arcs. Maybe it has to with spending untold hours in days gone by sprawling on the living room floor, organizing thousands of puzzle pieces into piles by patterns & shadings, then meticulously nudging them together clump by clump.
So my current self-publishing strategy feels oddly familiar—one pile of pieces having to do with whether to go with the countdown deal or free promotion days; another with alternate promos; another with advertising platforms; another with pricing.
From the very beginning of this project, I've embraced the challenges of an uphill climb, so I haven’t noticed any surprises in that respect. What did catch me off-guard a bit was the level of positive attention Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown initially received since I'm well aware it's not every reader’s cup of tea. That wasn't at all my intent—it’s just that it doesn’t fit most genres, Pearl’s narrative voice can be challenging for some, & the fictional world doesn’t exactly promote hope or redemption.
Or does it?
Anyway, stay tuned for Part 2 on how reframing comes into play in all this.
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
So my current self-publishing strategy feels oddly familiar—one pile of pieces having to do with whether to go with the countdown deal or free promotion days; another with alternate promos; another with advertising platforms; another with pricing.
From the very beginning of this project, I've embraced the challenges of an uphill climb, so I haven’t noticed any surprises in that respect. What did catch me off-guard a bit was the level of positive attention Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown initially received since I'm well aware it's not every reader’s cup of tea. That wasn't at all my intent—it’s just that it doesn’t fit most genres, Pearl’s narrative voice can be challenging for some, & the fictional world doesn’t exactly promote hope or redemption.
Or does it?
Anyway, stay tuned for Part 2 on how reframing comes into play in all this.
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Reframing Part 2
In my previous post, I made a connection between solving mental puzzles & my current venture into the world of self-publishing. I also mentioned being surprised by the overall positive response to Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown on Goodreads especially—4.0 with 11 ratings, 5 reviews—when I already knew firsthand that some readers find Pearl's narrative voice &/or the nature of the fictional world I created somewhat unsettling.
I admit to being disappointed that a disgruntled reader decided to add a low rating on Amazon in what appears to be an effort to undermine rather than critique just when it looked like some momentum might be building.
All that said, it's time for me to take a long look in the mirror & reframe my expectations with a tentative list of questions:
1. What do I actually want from this process?
2. Is the next round of promos an attempt to garner more elusive reviews or ratings that might help nudge the A9 algorithm (Amazon's program that indexes titles) or just see where it all goes?
3. Have I spent the last few days setting up a paperback version in KDP largely to see my own work in print instead of just as an ebook?
4. Do I expect this process to be practice for my next project that I recently started?
5. How many more questions will come to mind as I start into a thorough answer for each of the above questions in my journal?
Writing is one strange hobby, is it not, dear reader? (At least for me it is.)
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
I admit to being disappointed that a disgruntled reader decided to add a low rating on Amazon in what appears to be an effort to undermine rather than critique just when it looked like some momentum might be building.
All that said, it's time for me to take a long look in the mirror & reframe my expectations with a tentative list of questions:
1. What do I actually want from this process?
2. Is the next round of promos an attempt to garner more elusive reviews or ratings that might help nudge the A9 algorithm (Amazon's program that indexes titles) or just see where it all goes?
3. Have I spent the last few days setting up a paperback version in KDP largely to see my own work in print instead of just as an ebook?
4. Do I expect this process to be practice for my next project that I recently started?
5. How many more questions will come to mind as I start into a thorough answer for each of the above questions in my journal?
Writing is one strange hobby, is it not, dear reader? (At least for me it is.)
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
What's next?
As I've mentioned in previous posts—possibly once or twice too often—figuring out an endgame strategy for this phase of promoting Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown has proven to be a blend of challenges, frustrations, realizations, & laughs. (Trust me, I've been leaning heavily on my quirky sense of humor at almost every turn.)
See, just when I think I might actually have things lined out when it comes to ad campaigns or alternate promotions, something invariably throws a proverbial monkey wrench into things.
But onward I trudge through the darkness along the oddly familiar trail, constantly on the lookout for telltales signs of . . .
OK, truth be told, it's not very dramatic. Just comes down to charting a course, making a few decisions, then clicking a bunch of buttons on a screen & wishing for the best. Not like I'm holing up in a bomb shelter or huddling around a small fire desperately trying to keep warm or being forced to work in a salt mine.
But once a fiction writer, always a writer, I suppose.
"We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains, or swim the oceans—because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings." ~Maya Angelou.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
https://drewfaraday.com/2023/03/05/wh...
See, just when I think I might actually have things lined out when it comes to ad campaigns or alternate promotions, something invariably throws a proverbial monkey wrench into things.
But onward I trudge through the darkness along the oddly familiar trail, constantly on the lookout for telltales signs of . . .
OK, truth be told, it's not very dramatic. Just comes down to charting a course, making a few decisions, then clicking a bunch of buttons on a screen & wishing for the best. Not like I'm holing up in a bomb shelter or huddling around a small fire desperately trying to keep warm or being forced to work in a salt mine.
But once a fiction writer, always a writer, I suppose.
"We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains, or swim the oceans—because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings." ~Maya Angelou.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
https://drewfaraday.com/2023/03/05/wh...
Undaunted
Undaunted
I'm not really sure why getting another positive review this morning impacted me so much. It might be due to fact that Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown has so far only received a handful of reviews in total, both positive & otherwise (six on Goodreads & two on Amazon).
As I've already mentioned, I'm fully aware that my recent novel is not an easy read for some, especially since it certainly wasn't an easy write for me. Complicating the issue is the challenge of assigning genres to it—is it disaster fiction, catastrophe, dystopian, small town & rural, biographical, or what?
But of course, Pearl's voice might be the most difficult aspect of all, especially for a reader who has never been graced with the presence of a gritty survivor of truly challenging times willing to share their painful, if sometimes narrowed, recollections.
I chose to restrict the point-of-view to Pearl's alone for personal not stylistic reasons, allowing her narrative to develop along an older style of storytelling much like grandmothers & my great-grandmother relished.
From beginning to end in this whole process, the story has always been an homage to those particular three women as well as to my great-aunts & their friends I was blessed to grow up around.
I couldn't count the hours I spent soaking up their own stories of survival that were invariably laced with undaunted humor and resilience in the face of what was at times—and still can be—a hostile yet not always heartless world.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
I'm not really sure why getting another positive review this morning impacted me so much. It might be due to fact that Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown has so far only received a handful of reviews in total, both positive & otherwise (six on Goodreads & two on Amazon).
As I've already mentioned, I'm fully aware that my recent novel is not an easy read for some, especially since it certainly wasn't an easy write for me. Complicating the issue is the challenge of assigning genres to it—is it disaster fiction, catastrophe, dystopian, small town & rural, biographical, or what?
But of course, Pearl's voice might be the most difficult aspect of all, especially for a reader who has never been graced with the presence of a gritty survivor of truly challenging times willing to share their painful, if sometimes narrowed, recollections.
I chose to restrict the point-of-view to Pearl's alone for personal not stylistic reasons, allowing her narrative to develop along an older style of storytelling much like grandmothers & my great-grandmother relished.
From beginning to end in this whole process, the story has always been an homage to those particular three women as well as to my great-aunts & their friends I was blessed to grow up around.
I couldn't count the hours I spent soaking up their own stories of survival that were invariably laced with undaunted humor and resilience in the face of what was at times—and still can be—a hostile yet not always heartless world.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
A blank canvas
Writing a rough draft like I did for this post is the closest I get to understanding what a visual artist might feel starting a painting, sculpture, clay pot, tapestry, piece of furniture, or any other medium.
I almost always enjoy the sense of wonder at where the newest piece might wind up when it's all said & done (emphasis on almost always). Now that I think of it, writing might actually be closer to composing music in that a tune, rhythm, or line rattles around in a composer/songwriter's head until they transpose it.
But coming in a close second to that sense of wonder is the knowledge that my editor/proofreader has slipped offstage for what amounts to a dress rehearsal. That harsh taskmaster of mine eases into the role of supporter extraordinaire, whispering cues & encouragement to let the words flow unimpeded by mechanical or grammatical constraints & only nudging me for tactical adjustments.
It's a dance I thoroughly enjoy, especially given the fact that before long, I'll invite that trusted partner to tea for a healthy dose of wrangling.
Meanwhile, I'm ready to get back to the Rough Draft Ranch where all hell can break loose & nobody gets hurt.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
I almost always enjoy the sense of wonder at where the newest piece might wind up when it's all said & done (emphasis on almost always). Now that I think of it, writing might actually be closer to composing music in that a tune, rhythm, or line rattles around in a composer/songwriter's head until they transpose it.
But coming in a close second to that sense of wonder is the knowledge that my editor/proofreader has slipped offstage for what amounts to a dress rehearsal. That harsh taskmaster of mine eases into the role of supporter extraordinaire, whispering cues & encouragement to let the words flow unimpeded by mechanical or grammatical constraints & only nudging me for tactical adjustments.
It's a dance I thoroughly enjoy, especially given the fact that before long, I'll invite that trusted partner to tea for a healthy dose of wrangling.
Meanwhile, I'm ready to get back to the Rough Draft Ranch where all hell can break loose & nobody gets hurt.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Hero of the day
My take on the prevalence of hero worship throughout history & across many cultures usually borders on the hypercritical.
But don't be concerned, dear reader, I'm not about to launch into an ill-conceived tirade reflecting my personal beliefs on the subject.
Instead, I'll freely admit to having a new hero figure of my own—fickle as my dedication may be—who reflects so many traits I admire it's hard to know where to begin.
In case you're not familiar with Joanna Penn, to say she's a writer/entrepreneur extraordinaire is a gross understatement. It's not just that she's published 30+ books, both fiction & nonfiction, but her helpful presence throughout the social media & podcast world as well as the independent author presentation circuit is astounding. Besides all that, she's a marathon walker who just finished a book titled Pilgrimage about her various secular journeys in England & Spain.
All her accomplishments are noteworthy, of course, but what draws me to listen to her podcasts on The Creative Penn in particular is her clear understanding of complex issues relating to the self-publishing world, her complete honesty about her own struggles, and most of all her sense of humor.
Something in her laugh makes me know that in another time & place, I could hear that unmistakable giggle from across a crowded pub & be delighted to call her my friend.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
But don't be concerned, dear reader, I'm not about to launch into an ill-conceived tirade reflecting my personal beliefs on the subject.
Instead, I'll freely admit to having a new hero figure of my own—fickle as my dedication may be—who reflects so many traits I admire it's hard to know where to begin.
In case you're not familiar with Joanna Penn, to say she's a writer/entrepreneur extraordinaire is a gross understatement. It's not just that she's published 30+ books, both fiction & nonfiction, but her helpful presence throughout the social media & podcast world as well as the independent author presentation circuit is astounding. Besides all that, she's a marathon walker who just finished a book titled Pilgrimage about her various secular journeys in England & Spain.
All her accomplishments are noteworthy, of course, but what draws me to listen to her podcasts on The Creative Penn in particular is her clear understanding of complex issues relating to the self-publishing world, her complete honesty about her own struggles, and most of all her sense of humor.
Something in her laugh makes me know that in another time & place, I could hear that unmistakable giggle from across a crowded pub & be delighted to call her my friend.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Good question
The other day somebody asked me out of the blue why I write. My answer, as usual, is extremely simple—that's a damn good question.
Of course, on occasion I do challenge myself to justify spending hours hovering over pen & paper or keyboard & screen—especially on a beautiful spring morning—instead of going for a longer walk or digging in the garden. I'd like to say at some point in my life I had an epiphany & the clouds of doubt about my chosen passion dissipated, & the soft, sweet voice of my writing muse told me exactly why I'm drawn to creating fiction.
But of course, none of that happened. No surprise since my feet are too firmly planted on the ground, my eyes too focused on the task at hand & the next one on my list to wax poetic for long.
I have realized during this self-publishing journey, however, that I like being in the arena. I'm enjoying this time among "those who actually bear the brunt of the day" and "quell the storm & ride the thunder," as Theodore Roosevelt said.
So even though I'm not actively working on a new project while keeping my nose to the self-publishing grindstone, the sound of my next novel tapping its foot grows steadily louder.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Of course, on occasion I do challenge myself to justify spending hours hovering over pen & paper or keyboard & screen—especially on a beautiful spring morning—instead of going for a longer walk or digging in the garden. I'd like to say at some point in my life I had an epiphany & the clouds of doubt about my chosen passion dissipated, & the soft, sweet voice of my writing muse told me exactly why I'm drawn to creating fiction.
But of course, none of that happened. No surprise since my feet are too firmly planted on the ground, my eyes too focused on the task at hand & the next one on my list to wax poetic for long.
I have realized during this self-publishing journey, however, that I like being in the arena. I'm enjoying this time among "those who actually bear the brunt of the day" and "quell the storm & ride the thunder," as Theodore Roosevelt said.
So even though I'm not actively working on a new project while keeping my nose to the self-publishing grindstone, the sound of my next novel tapping its foot grows steadily louder.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Time for a reset
Well, nothing like reaching the end of a concentrated marketing push on my recently completed novel to make me wholeheartedly embrace my next dance with fiction writing. As I've previously mentioned, the promotion side of my independent author journey has been the most difficult for me all along, but like most challenging paths I choose, I stay the course as best I can.
And now that I'm back at base camp, so to speak, I can relax into a more familiar sense of writing. Since I already have the backstory & skeletal framework lined out for my next novel, I'm thoroughly enjoying this phase of trying out different narrative voices in search of the most comfortable fit.
At the moment, it's a matter of choosing between first person and third person. If I do go with the latter like I'm currently leaning toward, then I have to settle on where it fits along the old objective/subjective, omniscient/limited spectrum. I did give brief consideration to going with multiple POVs to lend a touch of the Rashōmon effect, but opted to pass this time around.
So now I can just take a deep breath as if I were easing into a soothing pool at my favorite hot springs.
I know from past experience that at this point allowing myself plenty of leeway to let the story & narrative voice unfold at a slower pace is the most important gift I can give myself, especially after years of working almost exclusively on Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown.
Currently I'm likening my decision process to an actor trying out a few accents for a new role or an audiobook narrator deciding which voice goes with which character.
Hmm, maybe as a constructive diversion & a little inspiration, I could write a short story about a POV coach searching for their next client.
Wait, on second thought . . .
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
And now that I'm back at base camp, so to speak, I can relax into a more familiar sense of writing. Since I already have the backstory & skeletal framework lined out for my next novel, I'm thoroughly enjoying this phase of trying out different narrative voices in search of the most comfortable fit.
At the moment, it's a matter of choosing between first person and third person. If I do go with the latter like I'm currently leaning toward, then I have to settle on where it fits along the old objective/subjective, omniscient/limited spectrum. I did give brief consideration to going with multiple POVs to lend a touch of the Rashōmon effect, but opted to pass this time around.
So now I can just take a deep breath as if I were easing into a soothing pool at my favorite hot springs.
I know from past experience that at this point allowing myself plenty of leeway to let the story & narrative voice unfold at a slower pace is the most important gift I can give myself, especially after years of working almost exclusively on Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown.
Currently I'm likening my decision process to an actor trying out a few accents for a new role or an audiobook narrator deciding which voice goes with which character.
Hmm, maybe as a constructive diversion & a little inspiration, I could write a short story about a POV coach searching for their next client.
Wait, on second thought . . .
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Episode 1
Here's an interesting question: what do the following have in common?
The Pickwick Papers
Sherlock Holmes
Henry James
Herman Melville
Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Three Musketeers
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Jules Verne
Heart of Darkness
Scheherazade
That's right—serialized storytelling.
Not that I would ever imagine tossing my hat into the prestigious ring listed above, but for some reason, I am intrigued by the idea of writing in such an age-old tradition.
Maybe it reminds me of podcasts or everyday storytelling. I mean, how many times have you started describing your day or a favorite story to a loved one or friend—or the other way around—only to be interrupted by some distraction or other? Whenever that happens to me there's an almost palpable sense of incompleteness, especially if there's a cliffhanger involved.
Of course, movies & TV series rank as the most popular form of produced episodic storytelling since so many viewers are devoted fans who've been known to binge-watch previous seasons while waiting for the next episode/season to come out.
But as you probably know, online reading in various forms has been steadily gaining steam in the serialized fiction world for some time as well, as a quick search can show.
Anyway, as you might've guessed by now, I've started wondering what it would be like to serialize a novel I've already sketched out but haven't written . . . or a new story, for that matter.
Just food for thought on an April morning.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
The Pickwick Papers
Sherlock Holmes
Henry James
Herman Melville
Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Three Musketeers
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Jules Verne
Heart of Darkness
Scheherazade
That's right—serialized storytelling.
Not that I would ever imagine tossing my hat into the prestigious ring listed above, but for some reason, I am intrigued by the idea of writing in such an age-old tradition.
Maybe it reminds me of podcasts or everyday storytelling. I mean, how many times have you started describing your day or a favorite story to a loved one or friend—or the other way around—only to be interrupted by some distraction or other? Whenever that happens to me there's an almost palpable sense of incompleteness, especially if there's a cliffhanger involved.
Of course, movies & TV series rank as the most popular form of produced episodic storytelling since so many viewers are devoted fans who've been known to binge-watch previous seasons while waiting for the next episode/season to come out.
But as you probably know, online reading in various forms has been steadily gaining steam in the serialized fiction world for some time as well, as a quick search can show.
Anyway, as you might've guessed by now, I've started wondering what it would be like to serialize a novel I've already sketched out but haven't written . . . or a new story, for that matter.
Just food for thought on an April morning.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
Taking the plunge
In my last post ("Episode 1"), I mentioned considering trying my hand at serializing a story I've already sketched out/written that as of yet hasn't seen the light of day. As the title of this post indicates, I'm actually giving it a go.
So far so good, I'm happy to report—aside from my usual stumbling through the first phase of organization. For some unknown reason, my opening move usually involves creating a Gordian knot of files & folders, all the while being thoroughly convinced I'll remember what each & every one holds even though experience has proven otherwise.
Well, I'll just attribute that whole mess . . . I mean puzzle . . . to my personal creative process & move on.
My next step was to research common practice for serialization these days, read some samples from Kindle Vella since that's the platform I'll be using, peruse the tokens routine & all that. Then I relaxed into reading a few classic serializations before moving back to contemporary times.
Gotta admit, I'm more fascinated by the whole process than I imagined at the outset. As I mentioned, there's something oddly familiar about reframing stories into episodes, so I'm leaning into that sensation.
Anyway, here's hoping that fascination carries through the rest of the rewriting/reorganizing process.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
So far so good, I'm happy to report—aside from my usual stumbling through the first phase of organization. For some unknown reason, my opening move usually involves creating a Gordian knot of files & folders, all the while being thoroughly convinced I'll remember what each & every one holds even though experience has proven otherwise.
Well, I'll just attribute that whole mess . . . I mean puzzle . . . to my personal creative process & move on.
My next step was to research common practice for serialization these days, read some samples from Kindle Vella since that's the platform I'll be using, peruse the tokens routine & all that. Then I relaxed into reading a few classic serializations before moving back to contemporary times.
Gotta admit, I'm more fascinated by the whole process than I imagined at the outset. As I mentioned, there's something oddly familiar about reframing stories into episodes, so I'm leaning into that sensation.
Anyway, here's hoping that fascination carries through the rest of the rewriting/reorganizing process.
Till next time,
Drew
Drew Faraday
Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown
