3. The Results Of 2014 & The Biggest Time Waste Of Them All

It’s coming to that time in the year where we get reflective and sad and stuff. 

We think about all of the opportunities we’ve missed and the few that we went for. 

At the start of the year I wrote a to-do list for the year - things I wanted to do. 

Here’s how it went:

1. Write A Book Of Short Stories.

DONE.

Will be out on the 15th ;). 

When I look back at the hard work I put into this book it scares me, because now I’ve set a bar for myself that I’m going to need to reach with everything I do.

I'm so dam proud of the stories in this book. It's almost like a gateway into my soul. With every story you get a glimpse into my history, my thought processes, my worries, my dreams. 

It's fucking terrifying actually. 

I can’t wait for you to read it.

2. Write & Direct A Short Film.

DONE. 

With the guys at Enigmatic Productions we made Macho Dan. We made it for a 24hour film competition and we came first. WE WON DAMMIT!!! It’s a crazy little film with a terrifying elbow drop. I hope you like it.

3. Finish My Animated Short Film.

NOT DONE. 

This is an animated film project that I'm working on. It's based on one of the short stories in Underdog Stories. The animation is 90% complete. I need about an extra £1000 to finish it all off - to record the narration, to pay for the audio track, for the grading, etc, and to enter the film into festivals.

I haven’t got that kind of money to feed into this project yet so I feel like I'm going to have to put it on the back burner for a while. 

I might look at crowdfunding this at some point in the new year.

4. Get Love & Other Chairs seen.

DONE. 

We got our film Love & Other Chairs into several festivals, even won the Grand Prix award at the In Short Film Festival in London. The film poster is now rammed with laurels. Just the way it should be.

I’d say we nailed this goal.

5. Start A Podcast.

DONE. 

To say I love podcasts would be an understatement. I adore them. I’d be scared to find out how many hours of podcast I’ve stuffed into my ears. I’ve wanted to start my own for a long time, and I did.

The Storyteller's Podcast. 

I got to talk to 10 of my favourite storytellers about my favourite subject.

In 2015, it's due for a relaunch - new format, new artwork, new microphone ;), and even a new co-host. 

We’re currently in the planning stages, but here’s what we’re thinking. Three shows a week. Discussions, interviews, etc, with storytellers of all varieties. It's going to be bigger, better, and more frequent.

6. Move To London.

DONE. 

This wasn’t just a goal of 2014 for me. It was goal for my life. It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a tiny toddler. I don’t know why, but I’ve always had he urge to be in London. 

I’ve only been here for a couple of months, but it’s already been one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

Before, in Derby, I felt trapped by circumstance, but here, I’m in awe at the opportunity. 

-1. The Biggest Waste Of My Time In 2014. 

Applying To Funding Schemes.

Wow, what a time-suck. 

I'm done with them. 

I can't tell you how many application packages I've put together, how much time I've spent agonising over the perfect logline, or the most appealing director's statement in 250 words or less, etc.

And it's based on the availability bias — the belief that IT COULD BE YOU (when it really probably won’t be).

This is the same reason people buy lottery tickets. They overlook the odds and think 'what if?'. 

It's much better to focus your time on making stuff. 

Rather than spending all your time on the what-if. Do something certain: write a book, make a film, start a business, etc. 

I guess I better start thinking about what's next ...

I Finished My Book!

It's a funny feeling finishing a book. 

One part satisfaction and three parts 'thank fuck that's over'. 

Because Arting is hard. Like Stephen King said, sometimes it feels like "all you're managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.”

Occasionally ... and I mean very occasionally, it pours out like the first pee of the day - full of colour and character.

The Underdog Stories has been something I've worked on and off with for two years. Some of the stories came out in one gushing word-storm and others took six months plus. Those are the ones that you have to let ruminate in your brain. You have to let them age a little. You can't just whop them out at any dinner party, you have to save them for that special anniversary birthday christmas.

I feel like this book represents my learning curve as a writer. I've grown so much. I can't wait for you to read it. 

The book itself will be out this christmas, but you can pre-order it now here.

ORRRRR ....

if you'd rather wait and have the Paperback or the Audiobook, they should both be available at the end of January next year. Sign up to the mailing list and I'll let you know when they're ready.

The Indie Author Movement 2014

It feels like a movement.

Doesn't it?

It feels like somethings happening.

It feels like self-publishing has taken a step up. The editing is tighter. The books are bigger. The covers are prettier. 

It feels like we're at level 2, or 3. I don't know what level we're on, but we're heading in the right direction.

The Sterling & Stone guys, Johnny, Sean, & Dave, are building a readership so loyal they'd sell their kidneys or even their kid's knees to get a hold of the latest releases.

David Gaughran, the techno-wizard he is, is busy tinkering away with the Amazon algorithms working out the magicks. He's popping out algorithm alchemy left right and centre.

Joanna Penn, the business person of self-publishing is giving it to us straight with her lessons learned from her previous life as a business IT consultant.

Hugh Howey is wool, and by that I mean he's kicking ass. He's also giving us the numbers we all needed at AuthorEarnings.com.

Chuck Wendig is showing how a hybrid author (half man half beard) can pull together a tribe through the sheer power of having an authentic voice, albeit one full of naughty words. 

Releasing An eBook

The other day I dipped my toes into the self-publishing world.

It was nice and wasn't in the least bit demeaning.

I released my short story 'His Dirty Little Portal' as on Amazon. 

In the first few hours I was a little scared, but as the download numbers rose and I got my first good review, I relaxed. 

With the love and support of my friends and family we managed to push the book to number 6 in the Free Short Stories category of the Kindle Charts. 

I wasn't expecting much, so I'd call that a success. 

The thing I'm most happy about though, is how many of my friends got the story. How many of them messaged me after reading it with sincere questions regarding the 'screaming' web designer.

--

I was inspired by the guys at Dead Ink. 

They're a digital only publisher who have a strong sense of aesthetic value -- They create beautiful looking eBooks. 

They seem to know what they're doing. 

Here's to the next one.

Death & Criticism

“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.”

— Oscar Wilde

I'm only scared of two things.

Well actually, I'm scared by a lot of things.

But two things scare me more then most.

Death and criticism.

And at least if you die, you're not forced to survive.

People are brave to put themselves out there in the world.

When a young kid stands outside in the cold, busking his little heart out, with a ten pound guitar, and his catalogue of Kings of Leon and Oasis covers, it takes guts.

Well, guts, or he hasn't experienced criticism yet.

And he will. I sincerely hope he'll never have to, but unfortunately the general populace isn't that understanding when it comes to people practicing their craft.

Someone out there is about to throw a verbal tomato at the kid, and he might put that guitar down for the rest of his life.

Oh the shame.

Shame that the guy was never given his chance to work on his craft and shame that people are so quick to criticise.

I've had my fair share of criticism. It hurts.

I received a horrible review from an Edinburgh Fringe show I did a couple of years back. It was a vicious one.

My defence? I'd been living off of 10p noodles for a month, and I was about to have an asthma attack.

Seriously, I went to the hospital the next day.

That and the material could've been better.

The point is, I believe that 95% of criticism isn't constructive. I've had good reviews too, but due to this I now choose not to read any reviews of my work - good or bad.

In fact I choose not to read reviews of pretty much anything. Criticism is an art form in itself, but who criticises the critics? Who keeps them in check to make sure they're adding to the world, and not simply sitting behind their computers seething at much of their time we've wasted.

Somewhere the balance is all wrong to me. The pressure should be applied a little more on the critics.

Unless of course you're Roger Ebert, or Film Critic Hulk. 

...and yes, this is me whining about critics who whine.