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I've published a minizine! It's called GET OFF YOUR PHONE and GET ON YOUR COMPUTER, and is about how mobile internet and social media have made the internet less enjoyable. You can find it for pay-what-you-want on my ko-fi or a free download on my website.
How To Publish
Feb. 25th, 2023 01:26 pmThis is absolutely a matter of counting chickens before they hatch, but I have time to idly wonder as my nailpolish dries...
If I were to publish, how would I do it these days? I am not sure what I have would be a good match for traditional publication, and even if it was, the slush pile seems to be under attack by ChatGPT to the point that I'm not sure if there would be a point in trying. On the other hand, self-pub is also being overwhelmed by AI generated books. Of course the "solution" to this is generating one's own buzz, but alas, that is not something I am good at...
One thing I definitely want in the end is to be able to hold a book in my hands. I understand at this point that might involve me getting some POD copies. So would that mean a small press is out, considering a lot of those now seem to be strictly digital? I'm wondering if writing the whole thing and releasing as a serial on something like Patreon would be best? I know I just need to write it but I'm not sure my options anymore. Things have changed a lot since I poked my head out -- I haven't written much seriously since the pandemic began.
If I were to publish, how would I do it these days? I am not sure what I have would be a good match for traditional publication, and even if it was, the slush pile seems to be under attack by ChatGPT to the point that I'm not sure if there would be a point in trying. On the other hand, self-pub is also being overwhelmed by AI generated books. Of course the "solution" to this is generating one's own buzz, but alas, that is not something I am good at...
One thing I definitely want in the end is to be able to hold a book in my hands. I understand at this point that might involve me getting some POD copies. So would that mean a small press is out, considering a lot of those now seem to be strictly digital? I'm wondering if writing the whole thing and releasing as a serial on something like Patreon would be best? I know I just need to write it but I'm not sure my options anymore. Things have changed a lot since I poked my head out -- I haven't written much seriously since the pandemic began.
Don't Know, Maybe Coming Soon: Writing
Jul. 25th, 2022 10:54 pmI am definitely feeling some kind of way and am not sure why, but alas, I think that is part of the human experience.
The more I learn about traditional publishing the more I feel like it's not for me. It was a dream I had since I was a kid but the world has changed to the point that I am unsure what publishers are for. They do not publicize, which should have been their main function, as that's increasingly being outsourced to authors on social media, and they don't protect the writers from their own mistakes and the public, which seems to be an increasingly necessary part of publication that they're also outsourcing to the writers. Reaching a wide audience as a trans person... no longer feels like my goal. Moreover it does not feel safe. I have thought about locking down my twitter now that it's reached a certain number of followers that's too high for my liking. I studiously block a lot of users on sight but I know it's impossible to do so fast enough. I wish DW was a bit more active because I do appreciate its slower pace. While my Tumblr is far more curated there's still the possibility that my posts will leave their intended orbit and that's... not great.
Anyway that's depressing and I've been having more depressing thoughts but then, there's the matter of what that means, which may be good. I'd like to... actually post some of my writing online, if I don't have to jealously guard first publication rights for a traditional publisher. Maybe even... here? That would be something. Though, honestly, I have not written anything besides essays for a while. I could post about ideas I have been working on, though that's a little sparse in my head right now too. But I feel like maybe I could be more open, in this little corner, where I don't have much of an audience, even if it's technically public. Because I would like to share these things, and I've been told to just sit on them for the past fifteen years for what I've learned is no good reason... and I am tired.
I understand that probably no one will read this here, but, Hell. Maybe.
The more I learn about traditional publishing the more I feel like it's not for me. It was a dream I had since I was a kid but the world has changed to the point that I am unsure what publishers are for. They do not publicize, which should have been their main function, as that's increasingly being outsourced to authors on social media, and they don't protect the writers from their own mistakes and the public, which seems to be an increasingly necessary part of publication that they're also outsourcing to the writers. Reaching a wide audience as a trans person... no longer feels like my goal. Moreover it does not feel safe. I have thought about locking down my twitter now that it's reached a certain number of followers that's too high for my liking. I studiously block a lot of users on sight but I know it's impossible to do so fast enough. I wish DW was a bit more active because I do appreciate its slower pace. While my Tumblr is far more curated there's still the possibility that my posts will leave their intended orbit and that's... not great.
Anyway that's depressing and I've been having more depressing thoughts but then, there's the matter of what that means, which may be good. I'd like to... actually post some of my writing online, if I don't have to jealously guard first publication rights for a traditional publisher. Maybe even... here? That would be something. Though, honestly, I have not written anything besides essays for a while. I could post about ideas I have been working on, though that's a little sparse in my head right now too. But I feel like maybe I could be more open, in this little corner, where I don't have much of an audience, even if it's technically public. Because I would like to share these things, and I've been told to just sit on them for the past fifteen years for what I've learned is no good reason... and I am tired.
I understand that probably no one will read this here, but, Hell. Maybe.
