Almost a month has passed since my last post. The sequel to Silence of Souls is nearing completion, and (if things go well this week) I am still on schedule to release it sometime between Christmas and New Year's.
The novel is better than the first, or at least I think so. It's much deeper, more emotional, and far different than any other zombie novel I've read so far. Hopefully, it'll gain a lot of readers, though I'm sure there will be people who hate it because of a certain event that takes place in the novel. This one is definitely NOT for children, and I think parents should be aware of what happens before letting their teenagers read it or not. Once it's released, I will put up a fair warning (while trying my best not to give away any important plot points) on the page so that people know it has mature content.
Thanksgiving was a fantastic long weekend. I spent the long weekend camping with family and friends and didn't get on the computer at all. I didn't force myself to think about work at all either. It was a good idea, because I came home with a clear head and an imagination yearning to get to work. As my mind cleared up, new ideas came rushing to me for the rest of Resurgence as well as for my next two novels.
The next novel is a vast expansion of The Secret Room and is going to be an epic battle between good and evil. It's going to have a lot of supernatural elements in it, and my ideas keep expanding and growing, and I'm loving where this is leading to. In all likelihood, this will be another series, which I am okay with. (Don't worry, zombie fans: The Silence of Souls series will continue!) As soon as Resurgence is finished, I'm getting to work on The Secret Room novel (though it won't be called "The Secret Room"; I don't yet have a title for it, though).
Part of me is considering taking on a challenge I've never done before- writing two novels at once. One will be The Secret Room novel, and the other will be the memoir I've been considering writing for a few years now (and more and more encouragement has come from friends and family to write it). Discipline will have to be a top priority if writing two at the same time, though one being fiction and the other non-fiction might make it a little easier. We'll see how things go after Resurgence is released. :)
Showing posts with label believe in your dreams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believe in your dreams. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Book Signing
Over the weekend, I had my first book signing event. It was at the local library, and they were also doing a book sale. (I got a box full of books for just $2- what a deal!) The library is only a couple years old, so it's a gorgeous building and very spacious.
I sold every copy that I had, and had to take orders for more. It was so much fun, and the feeling of having people come and ask for my novel and autograph was surreal. There were several people who made the trip special just to see and support me, and I am grateful to each and every one of those people.
It was also very cool to have people I didn't know asking for my novel and autograph. I'd tell them the basic gist of the story, and some people got very intrigued.
Proceeds from sales were donated to the Friends of Acton-Agua Dulce Library (they do all sorts of awesome reading, writing, and educational activities for the community), Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, so it all went to good places. Even though I didn't make any money off the sale, it was a very profitable weekend- I met some great people, made some new contacts, and may have opened the door to two more book signings in other communities, which is very exciting!
Halloween is tomorrow, and I think the whole "scary season" is really getting to me, in a good way. I've been getting so many ideas for different paranormal stories lately, and some of them really intrigue me. A few dreams and old memories have washed up on the shores of my mind and are taking up root in my imagination.
I sold every copy that I had, and had to take orders for more. It was so much fun, and the feeling of having people come and ask for my novel and autograph was surreal. There were several people who made the trip special just to see and support me, and I am grateful to each and every one of those people.
It was also very cool to have people I didn't know asking for my novel and autograph. I'd tell them the basic gist of the story, and some people got very intrigued.
Proceeds from sales were donated to the Friends of Acton-Agua Dulce Library (they do all sorts of awesome reading, writing, and educational activities for the community), Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, so it all went to good places. Even though I didn't make any money off the sale, it was a very profitable weekend- I met some great people, made some new contacts, and may have opened the door to two more book signings in other communities, which is very exciting!
Halloween is tomorrow, and I think the whole "scary season" is really getting to me, in a good way. I've been getting so many ideas for different paranormal stories lately, and some of them really intrigue me. A few dreams and old memories have washed up on the shores of my mind and are taking up root in my imagination.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
What do you really want to be?
The other night, I was thinking about something- what do I really want to do? Why do I want to be a writer?
The obvious answer is that I love to tell stories. I love being able to create worlds, characters, and situations and blend them all together to create a story. It's a deep passion that I've had as long as I can remember.
But there's a deeper reason why I want to be a writer- I want to be a positive influence on the world.
I want to write stories, inspire people (including myself), gain a voice, and help create a better future for our world.
My morals are (in no particular order):
• equality for all
-not being judged based on your gender, ethnicity, orientation, religion, political beliefs, etc.
• freedom for all
-to achieve your dreams
-to do what you love
-to be who you are
-to have opportunities
• love
-for each other
-for animals
-for our planet and environment
-for children and the future they have
• education
-for all; smart people make smart choices, so good education would solve lots of the world's problems
-creating a passion for learning in our children
-self-learning and betterment
-self-evolution and continuing to strive for understanding of the human experience
• working together
-understanding each other
-helping those in need when we have no obligation to
By no means am I anywhere near perfect, but I want to continually make myself a better person. The person I want to be is one that doesn't think about giving, just gives; doesn't worry about possessions, but about people; doesn't care about impressing those more fortunate than her, but helping those who are less fortunate; doesn't judge or criticize others, just loves them for who they are.
Who do you really want to be? Are you on your way to becoming that person?
p.s.- don't forget that all month long, proceeds from book sales will be going to Susan G. Komen and St. Jude's Children's Hospital to help fight cancer: The list of books and stories that will help cancer research and treatment is here.
The obvious answer is that I love to tell stories. I love being able to create worlds, characters, and situations and blend them all together to create a story. It's a deep passion that I've had as long as I can remember.
But there's a deeper reason why I want to be a writer- I want to be a positive influence on the world.
I want to write stories, inspire people (including myself), gain a voice, and help create a better future for our world.
My morals are (in no particular order):
• equality for all
-not being judged based on your gender, ethnicity, orientation, religion, political beliefs, etc.
• freedom for all
-to achieve your dreams
-to do what you love
-to be who you are
-to have opportunities
• love
-for each other
-for animals
-for our planet and environment
-for children and the future they have
• education
-for all; smart people make smart choices, so good education would solve lots of the world's problems
-creating a passion for learning in our children
-self-learning and betterment
-self-evolution and continuing to strive for understanding of the human experience
• working together
-understanding each other
-helping those in need when we have no obligation to
By no means am I anywhere near perfect, but I want to continually make myself a better person. The person I want to be is one that doesn't think about giving, just gives; doesn't worry about possessions, but about people; doesn't care about impressing those more fortunate than her, but helping those who are less fortunate; doesn't judge or criticize others, just loves them for who they are.
Who do you really want to be? Are you on your way to becoming that person?
p.s.- don't forget that all month long, proceeds from book sales will be going to Susan G. Komen and St. Jude's Children's Hospital to help fight cancer: The list of books and stories that will help cancer research and treatment is here.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Big things are happening!
Even though I was sick, this weekend turned out to be pretty awesome.
Friday morning, I went down to the local library where they were having a meet-and-greet with the new librarian (her name is Valerie, and she happens to be a friend and a wonderful woman). It was nice- Val talked about herself, her love of books, her experiences, and what she planned to do for the library.
After the introduction, there was mingling and some refreshments. The head of the Friends of the Acton Library committee was there, and she approached me and started talking about upcoming events. Long story short, she asked me to do a book signing at the end of October! I was thrilled.
Then, on Saturday, I had some major story revelations for Resurgence that I am pretty excited about.
Sunday was awesome, too. I discovered someone had posted a glowing review of my novel on a popular zombie-forum website! Here's a screenshot:
Also on Sunday, I found out that Silence of Souls has been nominated for book of the month over on a Goodreads group! Here's the screenshot of that:
It's very exciting, and I'm thrilled that Silence of Souls and Resurgence are gaining buzz!
One last thing- the Goodreads giveaway for autographed copies of both the novels is up and running. Be sure to enter and tell your friends about it!
Enter to win
Friday morning, I went down to the local library where they were having a meet-and-greet with the new librarian (her name is Valerie, and she happens to be a friend and a wonderful woman). It was nice- Val talked about herself, her love of books, her experiences, and what she planned to do for the library.
After the introduction, there was mingling and some refreshments. The head of the Friends of the Acton Library committee was there, and she approached me and started talking about upcoming events. Long story short, she asked me to do a book signing at the end of October! I was thrilled.
Then, on Saturday, I had some major story revelations for Resurgence that I am pretty excited about.
Sunday was awesome, too. I discovered someone had posted a glowing review of my novel on a popular zombie-forum website! Here's a screenshot:
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Also on Sunday, I found out that Silence of Souls has been nominated for book of the month over on a Goodreads group! Here's the screenshot of that:
 |
| Click to enlarge |
It's very exciting, and I'm thrilled that Silence of Souls and Resurgence are gaining buzz!
One last thing- the Goodreads giveaway for autographed copies of both the novels is up and running. Be sure to enter and tell your friends about it!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Silence of Souls
by Stefanie Oberhansley
Giveaway ends December 19, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Fictitious dreams that influence the future.
Last night, I had a dream about one of my characters from the Silence of Souls series.
First, an announcement: I've decided on a title for the sequel. It's going to be Resurgence.
I'm working on the sequel, and it's going to be so much more intense and emotional than the first. The first, in hindsight, was really just setting the stage for the series. In the sequel, there is a deplorable, absolutely horrible thing that happens to one of my characters. I debated for a long time, and spoke to several people about it, before I decided to actually do this thing in the novel.
Back to the dream... last night, I dreamt about this character whom something terrible happens to. This character was very sad, very hurt, and couldn't understand why this terrible thing had to happen. I held this character in my arms and comforted them as they sobbed. I told them they would be alright, and that times may seem hard right now, but they would get better in the future.
I promised my character that life would go on for them, and that it would, eventually, be great. I think, inadvertently, that I have (unofficially) committed to continuing the series for as long as the story keeps going. It may end after three books, it may end after twelve. We'll see. All I know right now is that my character is having a hard time understanding why this terrible thing had to happen to them, so I must continue on with the story until things get better for that character. It could take a while- there's a lot more hell they'll have to go to before they start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The story must go on.
I'm doing a giveaway, so pass along the word. You could win autographed copies of Silence of Souls AND Resurgence!
Enter to win
First, an announcement: I've decided on a title for the sequel. It's going to be Resurgence.
I'm working on the sequel, and it's going to be so much more intense and emotional than the first. The first, in hindsight, was really just setting the stage for the series. In the sequel, there is a deplorable, absolutely horrible thing that happens to one of my characters. I debated for a long time, and spoke to several people about it, before I decided to actually do this thing in the novel.
Back to the dream... last night, I dreamt about this character whom something terrible happens to. This character was very sad, very hurt, and couldn't understand why this terrible thing had to happen. I held this character in my arms and comforted them as they sobbed. I told them they would be alright, and that times may seem hard right now, but they would get better in the future.
I promised my character that life would go on for them, and that it would, eventually, be great. I think, inadvertently, that I have (unofficially) committed to continuing the series for as long as the story keeps going. It may end after three books, it may end after twelve. We'll see. All I know right now is that my character is having a hard time understanding why this terrible thing had to happen to them, so I must continue on with the story until things get better for that character. It could take a while- there's a lot more hell they'll have to go to before they start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The story must go on.
I'm doing a giveaway, so pass along the word. You could win autographed copies of Silence of Souls AND Resurgence!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Silence of Souls
by Stefanie Oberhansley
Giveaway ends December 19, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Monday, August 27, 2012
I am who I am; you are who you are; it's beautiful. :)
Since the release of Silence of Souls earlier this month, I've been having a few absolutely incredible experiences. I can't believe these things are happening to me, especially this quick- I would have thought it would take years before experiencing anything like this: I feel like a "celebrity."
Obviously, not to the scale (or anything even remotely close to it) that Brad Pitt or Ellen DeGeneres feel like celebrities, but there have been a few occasions where I felt like I was somebody. I have "fans," and it's incredible. There's been four people who have contacted me, praising my work, and telling me how inspiring I am to them. I've gotten to know a couple of them, and they're amazing people.
Twice there's been instances in real life that were totally surreal.
The first one was when I went to a party about a month ago, and there was this girl there I had never met. I introduced myself to her, and she said "Oh, I know who you are! You wrote 'Surprise Party!' That was a fantastic play, and it's so nice to meet you!"
The second one was when I met this caretaker that comes to visit my grandpa once a week. She asked me if I was the "writing granddaughter he always talks about" and I said yes. She then asked me to write down my name and the title of my book so she can look it up, so I did. When I handed her the piece of paper, she read it and then said "Oh, this sounds really familiar. I think I've heard of you!"
It's completely flattering, humbling, and unbelievable that these things would happen. I'm not sure I've really done anything to deserve such recognition, but I'll admit that I am really enjoying this incredible ride.
One of my friends, whom I have known for years, has been following along the whole time with my publishing, writing, et al. He gave me a piece of advice: "Now that you're starting to gain a rapidly-growing following, you should be mindful of who you are and create the image you want to be. You should stop posting political stuff and speaking your mind so much. If you're more bland to the public, more people will like you."
While I appreciate his advice and understand what he's saying, I don't agree with it- I respect his opinion, and if he feels that is what he wants to do when he starts gaining a following, then that is fine with me. But that's not the right choice for myself.
I am who I am, and I would rather have 100 fans who like the real me instead of 1,000,000 fans who like a bland, fragmented version of who I really am. I have strong beliefs, I have opinions, and I have a personality. I'm not going to hide who I am just for the possibility of gaining fans.
It took me years, but I finally like who I am- why would I want to oppress that now?
Undoubtedly, there will be people out there who don't like me for me. There will be people who dislike that I am pro-equality. There will be people out there who won't read my work because I believe in an afterlife. There will be people out there who assume that just because I am on the left side of politics that I am also very supportive of stricter gun laws (not so, but that's a story for another time).
I am who I am, and I like me. I hope you like who you are, too. Over the years, I've grown emotionally, expanded my mind, experienced things that have shaped who I am, and have formed opinions based on facts and what makes sense to me. It wasn't an easy journey to become who I am, so why should I try to hide it? It's impossible to be universally loved, so why be something I'm not when I can't please everyone anyway?
Be who you are, there's no one else like you. We are all so different- each with a unique set of experiences, beliefs, reasons, motivations, understandings, and so on. It's so much more interesting when we let the "real" us out instead of hiding behind what society expects us to be. At least, that's what I believe. ;-)
Obviously, not to the scale (or anything even remotely close to it) that Brad Pitt or Ellen DeGeneres feel like celebrities, but there have been a few occasions where I felt like I was somebody. I have "fans," and it's incredible. There's been four people who have contacted me, praising my work, and telling me how inspiring I am to them. I've gotten to know a couple of them, and they're amazing people.
Twice there's been instances in real life that were totally surreal.
The first one was when I went to a party about a month ago, and there was this girl there I had never met. I introduced myself to her, and she said "Oh, I know who you are! You wrote 'Surprise Party!' That was a fantastic play, and it's so nice to meet you!"
The second one was when I met this caretaker that comes to visit my grandpa once a week. She asked me if I was the "writing granddaughter he always talks about" and I said yes. She then asked me to write down my name and the title of my book so she can look it up, so I did. When I handed her the piece of paper, she read it and then said "Oh, this sounds really familiar. I think I've heard of you!"
It's completely flattering, humbling, and unbelievable that these things would happen. I'm not sure I've really done anything to deserve such recognition, but I'll admit that I am really enjoying this incredible ride.
One of my friends, whom I have known for years, has been following along the whole time with my publishing, writing, et al. He gave me a piece of advice: "Now that you're starting to gain a rapidly-growing following, you should be mindful of who you are and create the image you want to be. You should stop posting political stuff and speaking your mind so much. If you're more bland to the public, more people will like you."
While I appreciate his advice and understand what he's saying, I don't agree with it- I respect his opinion, and if he feels that is what he wants to do when he starts gaining a following, then that is fine with me. But that's not the right choice for myself.
I am who I am, and I would rather have 100 fans who like the real me instead of 1,000,000 fans who like a bland, fragmented version of who I really am. I have strong beliefs, I have opinions, and I have a personality. I'm not going to hide who I am just for the possibility of gaining fans.
It took me years, but I finally like who I am- why would I want to oppress that now?
Undoubtedly, there will be people out there who don't like me for me. There will be people who dislike that I am pro-equality. There will be people out there who won't read my work because I believe in an afterlife. There will be people out there who assume that just because I am on the left side of politics that I am also very supportive of stricter gun laws (not so, but that's a story for another time).
I am who I am, and I like me. I hope you like who you are, too. Over the years, I've grown emotionally, expanded my mind, experienced things that have shaped who I am, and have formed opinions based on facts and what makes sense to me. It wasn't an easy journey to become who I am, so why should I try to hide it? It's impossible to be universally loved, so why be something I'm not when I can't please everyone anyway?
Be who you are, there's no one else like you. We are all so different- each with a unique set of experiences, beliefs, reasons, motivations, understandings, and so on. It's so much more interesting when we let the "real" us out instead of hiding behind what society expects us to be. At least, that's what I believe. ;-)
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Great stories.
Over the weekend, we saw ParaNorman. It was fantastic! I loved the story, the twists, the humor, the characters, and the score. Most of the time, it's fun going to a theater full of kids because you get to hear some of those incredible, totally innocent reactions to the movie.
That's also the same reason I love going to the theater to see horror movies with a packed house- you get some crazy reactions, and sometimes they're hysterical.
Both situations involve a good story and interesting characters. That's how people get drawn in. If it was boring and uninteresting, then the kids would lose interest at the animated movie showings and the adults would feel bored at the horror movie showings.
I love it when you watch a movie or read a book and become so engulfed in what's going on that you completely forget that it's a movie or a book. That moment when you fall in love with or come to completely loathe a character. When you feel intense emotions one way or another toward a character, then you feel like you are living vicariously through them. When you indulge in great books and movies, you live a thousand lives.
The beginning of Silence of Souls 2 is underway, and I'm thrilled about it. I've received so much positive feedback about the first novel, and I'm very excited about working on the second one. The story outline is nearly complete- I just need to add some more meat to it. The second installment of the series is going to be even more intense than the first; at least, I think so. ;-) I'm working on developing the characters even further, creating some interesting conflicts, and putting out a unique story.
I have a real rough idea for a third installment, but I'm not going to force it if it doesn't want to happen. The second one is a definite thing, though! I'm hoping to release it around March or April, but I'll adjust the release date as the novel comes along. ;-)
That's also the same reason I love going to the theater to see horror movies with a packed house- you get some crazy reactions, and sometimes they're hysterical.
Both situations involve a good story and interesting characters. That's how people get drawn in. If it was boring and uninteresting, then the kids would lose interest at the animated movie showings and the adults would feel bored at the horror movie showings.
I love it when you watch a movie or read a book and become so engulfed in what's going on that you completely forget that it's a movie or a book. That moment when you fall in love with or come to completely loathe a character. When you feel intense emotions one way or another toward a character, then you feel like you are living vicariously through them. When you indulge in great books and movies, you live a thousand lives.
The beginning of Silence of Souls 2 is underway, and I'm thrilled about it. I've received so much positive feedback about the first novel, and I'm very excited about working on the second one. The story outline is nearly complete- I just need to add some more meat to it. The second installment of the series is going to be even more intense than the first; at least, I think so. ;-) I'm working on developing the characters even further, creating some interesting conflicts, and putting out a unique story.
I have a real rough idea for a third installment, but I'm not going to force it if it doesn't want to happen. The second one is a definite thing, though! I'm hoping to release it around March or April, but I'll adjust the release date as the novel comes along. ;-)
Friday, August 3, 2012
Onward!
Today I started working on my newest project. It's an idea I came up with about a year and a half ago- even before I came up with the idea for Silence of Souls. It'll be a short story, though I'm not sure exactly what I think the length will end up being. I'm venturing out on a new branch in writing- it's a comedic short story, unlike my previous works which have all been horror, thriller, and/or paranormal.
We'll see how it goes. I want to stretch my legs a little as a writer and see how I do with other genres. Initially, I would have expected myself to write drama, not paranormal, and I've done well so far. Because of that, I have high hopes. If it's absolutely terrible, I won't publish it.
When I turned on my computer this morning, I was surprised to find that Silence of Souls already has a review, and it's an incredible review! Apparently, I am a "talented and seriously disturbed author." I love it! I'm taking the "seriously disturbed" bit as a compliment to my work. Either that, or I'll use it as motivation to sell enough books to pay for therapy...
Anyway, I'm going to get back to writing now. I've got a number of projects planned, so onward to writing!
We'll see how it goes. I want to stretch my legs a little as a writer and see how I do with other genres. Initially, I would have expected myself to write drama, not paranormal, and I've done well so far. Because of that, I have high hopes. If it's absolutely terrible, I won't publish it.
When I turned on my computer this morning, I was surprised to find that Silence of Souls already has a review, and it's an incredible review! Apparently, I am a "talented and seriously disturbed author." I love it! I'm taking the "seriously disturbed" bit as a compliment to my work. Either that, or I'll use it as motivation to sell enough books to pay for therapy...
Anyway, I'm going to get back to writing now. I've got a number of projects planned, so onward to writing!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
"Silence of Souls" Official Release!
Today's the day, it's finally here! I'm so very excited!
Be one of the first people to read it- click to get Silence of Souls!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway when you get your copy of Silence of Souls- click here for details!
Plus, check out Kindle Author. Silence of Souls is featured in the bargain book section on the left-hand side of the page! (The price is under $5, so it's considered a bargain! Less than $5 for 95,000+ words? Quite a deal, hehe! That's pretty close to the length of The Hunger Games, but half the price!)
Be one of the first people to read it- click to get Silence of Souls!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway when you get your copy of Silence of Souls- click here for details!
Plus, check out Kindle Author. Silence of Souls is featured in the bargain book section on the left-hand side of the page! (The price is under $5, so it's considered a bargain! Less than $5 for 95,000+ words? Quite a deal, hehe! That's pretty close to the length of The Hunger Games, but half the price!)
Friday, July 27, 2012
Gift Card Giveaway! Zombies are almost HERE!
If all goes according to plan, I'll be hitting the "Submit for Publication" button tomorrow at 7pm for Silence of Souls! If I'm estimating Amazon's review process correctly, it should be available on August 1st! I'm so excited.
As promised, I'm going to give away prizes to readers. If I sell 500 copies in the first 30 days (August 1st, 12:00am PST to September 1st, 11:59pm PST), I am going to give FIVE readers each a $20 Amazon gift card!
So here's how it's going to work:
1) Take a screenshot of the "Thank you for your purchase of Silence of Souls" page, like this one (or the mobile version, whichever you use):
OR
If you don't know how to take a screenshot, forward the email with the purchase receipt.
2) Include your name (at least first name, please) and how you heard about Silence of Souls.
3) If you "Gift" a copy of Silence of Souls to someone, you can enter that entry into the contest as well. Just be sure to send the screenshot or receipt of any purchase of Silence of Souls to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com.
Send the entry to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com
On September 2nd, I'll use a random generator to pick five winners. The winners will be announced (first name only) on my blog and will receive an email notification that they have won! (Your email address and all other personal information will not be shared! I will ONLY post your first name!)
If you want your name entered into the drawing more than once, there's a couple of bonus ways you can enter (each one will be one additional entry into the drawing; complete them between August 1st 12:00am PST and September 1st 11:59pm PST)):
1) Tweet about Silence of Souls using the hashtag #silenceofsouls.
2) Share Silence of Souls on Facebook and send a link to the post or a screenshot of it to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com.
3) This one will be worth TWO additional entires to the drawing: create a cast list! Pretend Silence of Souls is being made into a feature film, and YOU are the Casting Director! Pick the actor or actress you want to see in each role. Cast five or more roles and email your list to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com.
4) This one will be worth TWO additional entries to the drawing: draw/paint/create a picture of one of the characters from Silence of Souls. Email the photo to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com or post it here!
5) This one will be worth FIVE additional entries into the drawing: post a video of you acting like one of the characters in Silence of Souls! It can be anyone you want, get creative! Email the link to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com or post a link to the video in the comments section on this post.
I'd love to share some of the stuff you send, so please let me know in your email if I have permission to post your cast list, pictures, and/or video on my blog, Facebook, and/or Twitter.
Thank you everyone, and best of luck!!
As promised, I'm going to give away prizes to readers. If I sell 500 copies in the first 30 days (August 1st, 12:00am PST to September 1st, 11:59pm PST), I am going to give FIVE readers each a $20 Amazon gift card!
So here's how it's going to work:
1) Take a screenshot of the "Thank you for your purchase of Silence of Souls" page, like this one (or the mobile version, whichever you use):
OR
If you don't know how to take a screenshot, forward the email with the purchase receipt.
2) Include your name (at least first name, please) and how you heard about Silence of Souls.
3) If you "Gift" a copy of Silence of Souls to someone, you can enter that entry into the contest as well. Just be sure to send the screenshot or receipt of any purchase of Silence of Souls to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com.
Send the entry to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com
On September 2nd, I'll use a random generator to pick five winners. The winners will be announced (first name only) on my blog and will receive an email notification that they have won! (Your email address and all other personal information will not be shared! I will ONLY post your first name!)
**BONUS ENTRIES**
If you want your name entered into the drawing more than once, there's a couple of bonus ways you can enter (each one will be one additional entry into the drawing; complete them between August 1st 12:00am PST and September 1st 11:59pm PST)):
1) Tweet about Silence of Souls using the hashtag #silenceofsouls.
2) Share Silence of Souls on Facebook and send a link to the post or a screenshot of it to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com.
3) This one will be worth TWO additional entires to the drawing: create a cast list! Pretend Silence of Souls is being made into a feature film, and YOU are the Casting Director! Pick the actor or actress you want to see in each role. Cast five or more roles and email your list to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com.
4) This one will be worth TWO additional entries to the drawing: draw/paint/create a picture of one of the characters from Silence of Souls. Email the photo to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com or post it here!
5) This one will be worth FIVE additional entries into the drawing: post a video of you acting like one of the characters in Silence of Souls! It can be anyone you want, get creative! Email the link to silencegiveaway@yahoo.com or post a link to the video in the comments section on this post.
I'd love to share some of the stuff you send, so please let me know in your email if I have permission to post your cast list, pictures, and/or video on my blog, Facebook, and/or Twitter.
Thank you everyone, and best of luck!!
 |
Monday, June 25, 2012
Goodbye, Ken. You'll be greatly missed.
There is really no black-and-white to life. There's no hard and fast rules that are universally followed. There's no determining the reason things happen sometimes.
Two weeks ago, a friend of mine passed away. He was young (only 43) and had a lot of life still ahead of him.
I never met Ken in real life, but I had come to know him on Twitter over the last few years. He had a knack for making people laugh, getting people motivated, and just enjoying his space in the Twitterverse. Everyone who knew him on Twitter counted him as a friend; that's just how he was. We friended each other on FaceBook and emailed about acting from time to time. He was always there to offer some advice, encouragement, or make a quick joke to liven the mood. Even though I had never shook his hand, I would often forget that I had only ever met him electronically.
It's interesting how you can come to know people without meeting them face-to-face. I've got a few friends I've known via the Internet that I've never met face-to-face, and they're still dear friends to me.
What's strange is how out-of-nowhere this appears to be. Ken was very healthy; often he would Tweet about going to the gym, improving his workout, and staying active. So why is it we lost him at such at young age? There's no way to tell the reasons, or even if there really is one. Sometimes we just have to be okay with not knowing the answers.
It really makes you think of taking a hold of your destiny. Who knows why some people smoke, drink, are jerks and live to be 98 years old while others who take good care of themselves and are greatly compassionate live to only 21 years old. Where's the reason? Where's the fairness? That's one of the things that makes life exciting and beautiful- it's completely unpredictable, and we're here to enjoy the ride to the fullest and spread love and joy to others as best we can.
We don't have a choice of how old we will live to be. We can prolong our lives by taking care of our health, but that doesn't prevent accidents and other things from happening. (Not that I'm saying we should disregard our health- being healthy is the best way to enjoy life!) What we can control is what we do with our life, what we make of ourselves, how we treat others, and how happy we are.
Happiness isn't in the circumstances; it's in the heart. It's a conscious choice, and one that many ignore when they constantly want more or look at the negative side of life. I forget what it was I was watching, but there was a man who had been in a serious accident and lost his leg below the knee. He said "I can look at this one of two ways: I can be bitter because I almost died and lost my leg, or I can be grateful because I survived and only lost a leg."
There's a boldness is not adhering to what is expected of you and taking the easy route in life. So many people just fall into what they think they're supposed to do and float through life instead of taking risks and going for their dreams. Why? There is no do-overs, no second chances; you only get to live this life once. There's an audacity in saying "You know what? I don't want to have this steady job where I work 9 to 5 in an office and get a paycheck every week from something mundane and boring. I'm passionate about painting and sculpting- I'm going to do that, and I'm going to make a living doing it!"
When I realized I wanted to be a writer and an actress, it didn't take long to realize I had fallen in love with two of the hardest professions there are to be successful at. Millions and millions of people want to be writers; millions and millions of people want to be actors; few actually get to make one or the other their life's work, and here I am trying to do BOTH in the long run. Wanting two careers that are so difficult and with such slim odds of success is probably the scariest thing I've ever done (and I've been skydiving)! Maybe I'm a fool, but at least I get a sense of fulfillment every day. When my time comes, I want to look back and saw how awesome my life was, how much fun I had, and that I took every chance I got to share love with others.
We spend so much time worrying about things that we forget to do what makes us happy. Ken always seemed so happy, so positive, so excited about everything, and so willing to spread those feelings. People like him, who radiate genuine positivity, are hard to come by.
What do you love to do? Are you doing it, or pursuing routes to be able to do it? If not, why? If not now, then when?
Life is beautiful, and your time is a limited edition. Spend it wisely!
Two weeks ago, a friend of mine passed away. He was young (only 43) and had a lot of life still ahead of him.
I never met Ken in real life, but I had come to know him on Twitter over the last few years. He had a knack for making people laugh, getting people motivated, and just enjoying his space in the Twitterverse. Everyone who knew him on Twitter counted him as a friend; that's just how he was. We friended each other on FaceBook and emailed about acting from time to time. He was always there to offer some advice, encouragement, or make a quick joke to liven the mood. Even though I had never shook his hand, I would often forget that I had only ever met him electronically.
It's interesting how you can come to know people without meeting them face-to-face. I've got a few friends I've known via the Internet that I've never met face-to-face, and they're still dear friends to me.
What's strange is how out-of-nowhere this appears to be. Ken was very healthy; often he would Tweet about going to the gym, improving his workout, and staying active. So why is it we lost him at such at young age? There's no way to tell the reasons, or even if there really is one. Sometimes we just have to be okay with not knowing the answers.
It really makes you think of taking a hold of your destiny. Who knows why some people smoke, drink, are jerks and live to be 98 years old while others who take good care of themselves and are greatly compassionate live to only 21 years old. Where's the reason? Where's the fairness? That's one of the things that makes life exciting and beautiful- it's completely unpredictable, and we're here to enjoy the ride to the fullest and spread love and joy to others as best we can.
We don't have a choice of how old we will live to be. We can prolong our lives by taking care of our health, but that doesn't prevent accidents and other things from happening. (Not that I'm saying we should disregard our health- being healthy is the best way to enjoy life!) What we can control is what we do with our life, what we make of ourselves, how we treat others, and how happy we are.
Happiness isn't in the circumstances; it's in the heart. It's a conscious choice, and one that many ignore when they constantly want more or look at the negative side of life. I forget what it was I was watching, but there was a man who had been in a serious accident and lost his leg below the knee. He said "I can look at this one of two ways: I can be bitter because I almost died and lost my leg, or I can be grateful because I survived and only lost a leg."
There's a boldness is not adhering to what is expected of you and taking the easy route in life. So many people just fall into what they think they're supposed to do and float through life instead of taking risks and going for their dreams. Why? There is no do-overs, no second chances; you only get to live this life once. There's an audacity in saying "You know what? I don't want to have this steady job where I work 9 to 5 in an office and get a paycheck every week from something mundane and boring. I'm passionate about painting and sculpting- I'm going to do that, and I'm going to make a living doing it!"
When I realized I wanted to be a writer and an actress, it didn't take long to realize I had fallen in love with two of the hardest professions there are to be successful at. Millions and millions of people want to be writers; millions and millions of people want to be actors; few actually get to make one or the other their life's work, and here I am trying to do BOTH in the long run. Wanting two careers that are so difficult and with such slim odds of success is probably the scariest thing I've ever done (and I've been skydiving)! Maybe I'm a fool, but at least I get a sense of fulfillment every day. When my time comes, I want to look back and saw how awesome my life was, how much fun I had, and that I took every chance I got to share love with others.
We spend so much time worrying about things that we forget to do what makes us happy. Ken always seemed so happy, so positive, so excited about everything, and so willing to spread those feelings. People like him, who radiate genuine positivity, are hard to come by.
What do you love to do? Are you doing it, or pursuing routes to be able to do it? If not, why? If not now, then when?
Life is beautiful, and your time is a limited edition. Spend it wisely!
"It's not the years in your life that count; it's the life in your years."
-Abraham Lincoln
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
"Silence of Souls" Special Preview
Hello everyone! I'm back from Texas and am getting so close to finishing the novel. As a special treat, I'm giving you all a preview of Silence of Souls. Below the cut, you'll be the first to see the cover and read an excerpt from Chapter 1! I hope you'll like it.
Be aware, you're getting the raw, unedited version here. You might find some typos or errors that need to be fixed, and I assure you I'm working on it to give you the best product I possibly can. This is for your enjoyment, to get a little taste of what's coming soon. This is copyright Stefanie Oberhansley, so please respect my work and don't copy it without giving credit. (Otherwise I won't be able to do special previews like this in the future. However, please DO share the link to the page and invite your friends to come check out this special preview.
The book will be released early August 2012.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Zombies! Zombie apocalypse!
Lately, I've been spending more time on my computer than anywhere else. The good news is that I've been getting a lot of work done in preparation for the release of Silence of Souls. The bad news is that my eyes have been redder and dryer than ever before.
I can't stop working, it seems. I'll work during the day, then I'll get back on my computer after dinner for "just one quick thing" and it turns in to working until I go to bed. Yesterday, I got up at 5am and drove from Albuquerque, NM to Sachse, TX and was exhausted. I spent the evening with my in-laws and grandparents, playing a game and visiting. Around 11pm, I headed up to go to bed, but when I got in the bedroom I picked up my phone and thought of one quick email I wanted to send before going to sleep, so I laid in bed and started typing. One quick email turned in to checking out a zombie website, doing a little research, and a few other things. I ended up working for two and a half hours before I finally went to sleep a little before 2am.
Then, I dreamed about zombies. For the last week and a half or so, I've had nothing but zombie dreams. It's been horrifying (and in a couple of dreams, pretty funny).
I'm on the last leg of my book. It's coming along so fantastically, but I've been overworking myself to the point of confusion.
The zinger is that I don't want to stop. I'm tired, worn, confused, frustrated, and I love it. I feel like it's really coming together and that my goals are going to be hit.
In five weeks is our annual Beach Blast- a week at the beach with lots of great friends/family/friends-who-are-like-family, too much food and too much booze. It's a lot of fun. My goal right now is to finish and publish before the Beach Blast so I can actually take the week off and recover from writing my novel.
I can't stop working, it seems. I'll work during the day, then I'll get back on my computer after dinner for "just one quick thing" and it turns in to working until I go to bed. Yesterday, I got up at 5am and drove from Albuquerque, NM to Sachse, TX and was exhausted. I spent the evening with my in-laws and grandparents, playing a game and visiting. Around 11pm, I headed up to go to bed, but when I got in the bedroom I picked up my phone and thought of one quick email I wanted to send before going to sleep, so I laid in bed and started typing. One quick email turned in to checking out a zombie website, doing a little research, and a few other things. I ended up working for two and a half hours before I finally went to sleep a little before 2am.
Then, I dreamed about zombies. For the last week and a half or so, I've had nothing but zombie dreams. It's been horrifying (and in a couple of dreams, pretty funny).
I'm on the last leg of my book. It's coming along so fantastically, but I've been overworking myself to the point of confusion.
The zinger is that I don't want to stop. I'm tired, worn, confused, frustrated, and I love it. I feel like it's really coming together and that my goals are going to be hit.
In five weeks is our annual Beach Blast- a week at the beach with lots of great friends/family/friends-who-are-like-family, too much food and too much booze. It's a lot of fun. My goal right now is to finish and publish before the Beach Blast so I can actually take the week off and recover from writing my novel.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
My Blood Approves of the Paranormal Activity that was witnessed by Amanda Palmer & Grand Theft Orchestra
The Internet is so full of potential,but I never thought of it as a two-way thing as much as I do right now. I've always known the power the Internet has for the individual as a receiver of information, but it wasn't until this week that I really began to realize how much reach the individual can have as a giver.
All you readers out there have probably heard of Amanda Hocking, the indie writer from Minnesota who sold a million copies of her work when she self-published on Amazon after years of rejection from publishing companies.
You have probably seen at least one of the films in the Paranormal Activity trilogy, or at least heard of them- they're those "found footage"movies by previously unknown director/writer Oren Peli that beat out records previously held by The Blair Witch Project.
In the last couple of weeks, you may have heard of Amanda Fucking Palmer & Grand Theft Orchestra, who shattered all expectations and goals when their album and tour became the first Kickstarter funded project to receive more than $1million.
So what does Amanda Hocking's books, Oren Peli's movies, and Amanda Palmer's music all have in common? The Internet! All of them used the web to reach out, find fans, and get their work noticed. In past posts on Hocking's blog, you can read about her putting in hours and hours of marketing when she released her books. Peli and his team did a ton of internet marketing in order to get people to demand Paranormal Activity be shown in theaters near them. Palmer and her band spent loads of time Tweeting, blogging, and spreading the word about their album and tour.
Artists of all types- be they writers, film makers, or musicians- have this amazing resource at the tips of their fingers (quite literally), and many are finally starting to harness its power. We can no reach our precise audience, thousands of miles around the globe, at any time of the day or night. You can find a web forum on any topic, from something as broad as "Pet Lovers" to something as specific as "People Who Want To Visit Planet Vulcan for the Sole Purpose of Taking An Elective Class On Historical Technologies of Wild Frog-Bears and How They Were Used To Win The Amphibious Civil War of 2361" and you'll find hundreds of people in them.
But there's another thing all three of them have in common- quality. They put a lot of work and dedication in to creating something they believed in; something that other people would want to read/see/hear.
Do you want to reach an endless amount of people and share your work? There's never been a better time to do so. Before the Internet, artists (writers, film makers, musicians, et al) were limited to who they could connect to via snail mail, having to wait months to hear back, if ever, and more often than not it would be a rejection that came back. The outlook was pretty bleak- send in your work, hope it didn't get lost under the mountains of others who were hoping to be discovered just like you, and hope that the person who could do something about it (producer, publisher, etc) would be willing to take a chance on it. More often than not, it would pass through an intern first, and you'd have to hope they liked it enough to pass along to their boss. Once it got that far, you'd have to hope that the company would be willing to front the money for printing, publishing, production, and marketing. If your project was lucky enough to actually get made, you then had to hope that the right people would walk in to the right stores and go to the right section, see your work, and be intrigued enough to pick it up and buy it. A long shot, for sure. (Did you know that the majority of traditionally published authors make $300 a year? A YEAR!)
With the Internet, it's MUCH easier to get noticed. That is, if you work for it. You need a quality product, something you can be proud of, to put out there. The cost of getting it out there yourself is virtually eliminated because of the Internet. For example, publishing on Amazon does not cost the author a cent, which makes it possible for authors who would never have been discovered to become a best-seller. The downside to this is that it is completely YOUR responsibility to get yourself and your work known because you don't have a marketing team doing it for you. None of the three previously mentioned artists just sat back and *hoped* people would happen to Google the right terms to find their work- they went out and let people know about it! So go, get out there, make something incredible, and let people know about it. And please tell me about it, too- I love indie stuff!
P.S.- If you're looking for some great indie music, check out Hey Geronimo. They have a new song out called "Carbon Affair," and it's free to download. They have a great sound!
All you readers out there have probably heard of Amanda Hocking, the indie writer from Minnesota who sold a million copies of her work when she self-published on Amazon after years of rejection from publishing companies.
You have probably seen at least one of the films in the Paranormal Activity trilogy, or at least heard of them- they're those "found footage"movies by previously unknown director/writer Oren Peli that beat out records previously held by The Blair Witch Project.
In the last couple of weeks, you may have heard of Amanda Fucking Palmer & Grand Theft Orchestra, who shattered all expectations and goals when their album and tour became the first Kickstarter funded project to receive more than $1million.
So what does Amanda Hocking's books, Oren Peli's movies, and Amanda Palmer's music all have in common? The Internet! All of them used the web to reach out, find fans, and get their work noticed. In past posts on Hocking's blog, you can read about her putting in hours and hours of marketing when she released her books. Peli and his team did a ton of internet marketing in order to get people to demand Paranormal Activity be shown in theaters near them. Palmer and her band spent loads of time Tweeting, blogging, and spreading the word about their album and tour.
 |
| "I must tell everyone about my romance novel, Secretary Spread!" |
Artists of all types- be they writers, film makers, or musicians- have this amazing resource at the tips of their fingers (quite literally), and many are finally starting to harness its power. We can no reach our precise audience, thousands of miles around the globe, at any time of the day or night. You can find a web forum on any topic, from something as broad as "Pet Lovers" to something as specific as "People Who Want To Visit Planet Vulcan for the Sole Purpose of Taking An Elective Class On Historical Technologies of Wild Frog-Bears and How They Were Used To Win The Amphibious Civil War of 2361" and you'll find hundreds of people in them.
But there's another thing all three of them have in common- quality. They put a lot of work and dedication in to creating something they believed in; something that other people would want to read/see/hear.
Do you want to reach an endless amount of people and share your work? There's never been a better time to do so. Before the Internet, artists (writers, film makers, musicians, et al) were limited to who they could connect to via snail mail, having to wait months to hear back, if ever, and more often than not it would be a rejection that came back. The outlook was pretty bleak- send in your work, hope it didn't get lost under the mountains of others who were hoping to be discovered just like you, and hope that the person who could do something about it (producer, publisher, etc) would be willing to take a chance on it. More often than not, it would pass through an intern first, and you'd have to hope they liked it enough to pass along to their boss. Once it got that far, you'd have to hope that the company would be willing to front the money for printing, publishing, production, and marketing. If your project was lucky enough to actually get made, you then had to hope that the right people would walk in to the right stores and go to the right section, see your work, and be intrigued enough to pick it up and buy it. A long shot, for sure. (Did you know that the majority of traditionally published authors make $300 a year? A YEAR!)
With the Internet, it's MUCH easier to get noticed. That is, if you work for it. You need a quality product, something you can be proud of, to put out there. The cost of getting it out there yourself is virtually eliminated because of the Internet. For example, publishing on Amazon does not cost the author a cent, which makes it possible for authors who would never have been discovered to become a best-seller. The downside to this is that it is completely YOUR responsibility to get yourself and your work known because you don't have a marketing team doing it for you. None of the three previously mentioned artists just sat back and *hoped* people would happen to Google the right terms to find their work- they went out and let people know about it! So go, get out there, make something incredible, and let people know about it. And please tell me about it, too- I love indie stuff!
P.S.- If you're looking for some great indie music, check out Hey Geronimo. They have a new song out called "Carbon Affair," and it's free to download. They have a great sound!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Don't Be A Lazy Writer
Last night I could barely sleep, and for three reasons:
1. It was far too hot.
2. I had zombies on my brain (pun totally intended) and every little noise was making me jump.
3. Ideas for my next novel were flooding in and couldn't be stopped! (Not that I'd want them to be stopped, of course.)
When ideas rush to me, I have to write them down before they escape into thin air. I can't tell you how many times I used to say "I'll remember this in the morning" and then wake up the next morning and not be able to recall what it was. Usually, I'd remember that I had an earth-shattering idea that would alternate reality as we know it, but couldn't remember for the life of me what that idea was. I could've ended hunger, demolished the obesity epidemic, cured cancer, wiped away the national debt, and so much more if only I had written down those lost ideas! Seriously! (Okay, maybe I exaggerate here, but I've lost a lot of story ideas because of not writing them down.)
I'm totally in love with this idea. So much so that I already have ten (10!) pages of notes on it, including character backgrounds and an underlying plot. The best part is, after searching all around, I can't find any book out there yet even remotely similar to this idea! (I've been waiting for an idea to come to me that is completely new and fresh and has nothing similar to it out there.) It combines two (maybe three) of the most popular genres but does not seem to have been done yet, which makes me very happy. I don't think the idea is too "out there" to be completely rejected by the reading community, especially people who enjoy these two major genres.
Seriously, I can't wait to start writing this story. It's becoming so clear to me that I have to actually try to take the notes and then mute it so I can focus on my current project.
But what excites me so much about this idea isn't the thought of when it'll be done, published, and read by others (well, that thought does excite me, too), it's the thought of being able to explore this idea and see where it goes, to be able to dive into this world and become the characters.
The thing I've loved so much about writing my zombie novel is the fact that I'm there experiencing it all as it happens. Each character is a part of me, and when I write I become them (I call it "method writing," but I'm not sure if there's actually a term for it or not), one at a time. I know everything there is to know about every single one of them, even things they don't know about themselves.
So here's a big tip for all of you writers out there: don't be lazy! Write an idea down when it comes to you! You'll be thankful you did. There has been dozens of times when I look back over notes to find part of an idea that I completely forgot about and then incorporate it right in to my story, and it makes the story so much stronger. My whole zombie novel is based on a series of dreams, and most of the notes I have were written at 2am, 3am, or 4am after having seen something in a dream (so keep a notepad next to your bed, or do what I do: use a "Notes" app on your phone or text it to yourself).
Keep writing, and keep taking notes!
1. It was far too hot.
2. I had zombies on my brain (pun totally intended) and every little noise was making me jump.
3. Ideas for my next novel were flooding in and couldn't be stopped! (Not that I'd want them to be stopped, of course.)
 |
| "I just want a hug. That's all." |
When ideas rush to me, I have to write them down before they escape into thin air. I can't tell you how many times I used to say "I'll remember this in the morning" and then wake up the next morning and not be able to recall what it was. Usually, I'd remember that I had an earth-shattering idea that would alternate reality as we know it, but couldn't remember for the life of me what that idea was. I could've ended hunger, demolished the obesity epidemic, cured cancer, wiped away the national debt, and so much more if only I had written down those lost ideas! Seriously! (Okay, maybe I exaggerate here, but I've lost a lot of story ideas because of not writing them down.)
I'm totally in love with this idea. So much so that I already have ten (10!) pages of notes on it, including character backgrounds and an underlying plot. The best part is, after searching all around, I can't find any book out there yet even remotely similar to this idea! (I've been waiting for an idea to come to me that is completely new and fresh and has nothing similar to it out there.) It combines two (maybe three) of the most popular genres but does not seem to have been done yet, which makes me very happy. I don't think the idea is too "out there" to be completely rejected by the reading community, especially people who enjoy these two major genres.
Seriously, I can't wait to start writing this story. It's becoming so clear to me that I have to actually try to take the notes and then mute it so I can focus on my current project.
But what excites me so much about this idea isn't the thought of when it'll be done, published, and read by others (well, that thought does excite me, too), it's the thought of being able to explore this idea and see where it goes, to be able to dive into this world and become the characters.
The thing I've loved so much about writing my zombie novel is the fact that I'm there experiencing it all as it happens. Each character is a part of me, and when I write I become them (I call it "method writing," but I'm not sure if there's actually a term for it or not), one at a time. I know everything there is to know about every single one of them, even things they don't know about themselves.
So here's a big tip for all of you writers out there: don't be lazy! Write an idea down when it comes to you! You'll be thankful you did. There has been dozens of times when I look back over notes to find part of an idea that I completely forgot about and then incorporate it right in to my story, and it makes the story so much stronger. My whole zombie novel is based on a series of dreams, and most of the notes I have were written at 2am, 3am, or 4am after having seen something in a dream (so keep a notepad next to your bed, or do what I do: use a "Notes" app on your phone or text it to yourself).
Keep writing, and keep taking notes!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Knowing Your Place
Everyone always says that if you want to get well-known you need to have an angle, a niche, and a brand. In the acting word, they talk a lot about "type" and finding roles based on that particular character or personality.
Writing is the same, it seems. People find one genre or a set of similar genres that they fall into and can write about and build a following around that.
Some say once you find your place and build a foundation on it, then you can branch out to different subjects and new types to make yourself versatile.
I've never been sure on whether or not I wanted to go that route. It seems like a lot of people who create a place for themselves have a difficult time breaking out of it. For example, Adam Sandler is known for his over-the-top-often-annoyingly-loud characters and sometimes crude and off the wall humor. When he did Punch Drunk Love, it flopped. People hated it. They weren't used to seeing Adam Sandler in a drama, and because of the expectations they had of him being funny, they had a hard time seeing in a serious role. Robin Williams is similar- people have grown to love him for his comedy, so when he does a serious role people don't like it as much, even though he has a tremendous talent for drama. But if he hadn't become known for his comedies, he probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to do the dramas.
Could you imagine if Stephen King suddenly decided to write romance books similar to the works of Nicholas Sparks? I don't think his readers would know what to do.
If you're looking for fame, I think you need to almost always find a "type" and use that to create a fandom for yourself. Frankly, some people are just looking to get famous in any way they possibly can- they don't care about what it is they're doing, they just want the following. That's fine; to each his own, but that's not for me- I don't want to be famous just to be famous: I want to have something I'mgood great at, something I can pass down to future generations and inspire them to create something even better.
Realizing that all my best ideas are in a genre I would have never consciously picked for myself made me question where I think I'm going with this. Do I want to be a horror/thriller writer? How hard will it be for me to break out of it in the future? I'm not sure, really. I don't want to always write horror- I've got adventure, fantasy, romance, and sci-fi ideas that I would love to develop into fruition.
It's also had me asking myself what I want in the long run- do I want fame? The honest answer is that I have no clue whether or not I want to be famous. The upside to fame would be having an influence and being able to bring awareness of important issues to fans, but the downside would be losing some privacy, having the pressure to live up to what's expected of you on a much grander scale than most, and being open to criticism (often not constructive) from so many more people. I'm just not sure I'd want that, really.
What I would like, ultimately, is to be able to write stories that entertain and inspire people. I want to make people think about themselves and the world around them, ask themselves about who they are and what they would do in certain situations, and create places for people to escape to when they need a break from reality. And I'd love to make a living doing it, so I could do it all the time.
I admire Johnny Depp- he is entirely devoted to his craft and his family, but never wanted fame. Often he seems to detest his celebrity. It wasn't something he ever wanted, and because of his devotion to acting, it just happened. Some people are like that, and I've met a few of them. Those are the people who are so good at what they do that you know they're going to be famous whether they plan to or not.
So what's my type? Where's my niche? Right now, it seems to be horror/thriller. After that, who knows. My goal is to create great characters with depth, interesting conflicts, and the best story I can. I don't care if I get famous or rich or neither because of it; I just want to be the best me I can.
P.S.- My Amazon Author Page has been updated.
Writing is the same, it seems. People find one genre or a set of similar genres that they fall into and can write about and build a following around that.
Some say once you find your place and build a foundation on it, then you can branch out to different subjects and new types to make yourself versatile.
I've never been sure on whether or not I wanted to go that route. It seems like a lot of people who create a place for themselves have a difficult time breaking out of it. For example, Adam Sandler is known for his over-the-top-often-annoyingly-loud characters and sometimes crude and off the wall humor. When he did Punch Drunk Love, it flopped. People hated it. They weren't used to seeing Adam Sandler in a drama, and because of the expectations they had of him being funny, they had a hard time seeing in a serious role. Robin Williams is similar- people have grown to love him for his comedy, so when he does a serious role people don't like it as much, even though he has a tremendous talent for drama. But if he hadn't become known for his comedies, he probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to do the dramas.
Could you imagine if Stephen King suddenly decided to write romance books similar to the works of Nicholas Sparks? I don't think his readers would know what to do.
If you're looking for fame, I think you need to almost always find a "type" and use that to create a fandom for yourself. Frankly, some people are just looking to get famous in any way they possibly can- they don't care about what it is they're doing, they just want the following. That's fine; to each his own, but that's not for me- I don't want to be famous just to be famous: I want to have something I'm
Realizing that all my best ideas are in a genre I would have never consciously picked for myself made me question where I think I'm going with this. Do I want to be a horror/thriller writer? How hard will it be for me to break out of it in the future? I'm not sure, really. I don't want to always write horror- I've got adventure, fantasy, romance, and sci-fi ideas that I would love to develop into fruition.
It's also had me asking myself what I want in the long run- do I want fame? The honest answer is that I have no clue whether or not I want to be famous. The upside to fame would be having an influence and being able to bring awareness of important issues to fans, but the downside would be losing some privacy, having the pressure to live up to what's expected of you on a much grander scale than most, and being open to criticism (often not constructive) from so many more people. I'm just not sure I'd want that, really.
What I would like, ultimately, is to be able to write stories that entertain and inspire people. I want to make people think about themselves and the world around them, ask themselves about who they are and what they would do in certain situations, and create places for people to escape to when they need a break from reality. And I'd love to make a living doing it, so I could do it all the time.
I admire Johnny Depp- he is entirely devoted to his craft and his family, but never wanted fame. Often he seems to detest his celebrity. It wasn't something he ever wanted, and because of his devotion to acting, it just happened. Some people are like that, and I've met a few of them. Those are the people who are so good at what they do that you know they're going to be famous whether they plan to or not.
So what's my type? Where's my niche? Right now, it seems to be horror/thriller. After that, who knows. My goal is to create great characters with depth, interesting conflicts, and the best story I can. I don't care if I get famous or rich or neither because of it; I just want to be the best me I can.
P.S.- My Amazon Author Page has been updated.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Always A Work In Progress
I don't know why, but lately I've been very reflective. Frequently, I find myself attempting to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the human experience. (I've been like this as long as I can remember, and I think it's been very beneficial.) Maybe it's a mental Spring-Cleaning of sorts, or maybe it's just the fact that there's been so much going on lately, but whatever it is, I'm craving knowledge and enlightenment on a deeper level than I have in a while.
But no matter how long I live, I will never know everything there is to know, do everything there is to do, see everything there is to see, taste everything there is to taste, read everything there is to read, or meet everyone there is to meet, even if I were to (somehow) live to be 500 years old. It may sound kind of sad and limited, but it's actually quite the opposite- there is always going to be something new for me to do, see, read, experience, etc. We will never run out of things that we haven't experienced yet, no matter how much we fit in to each day or how many days we're alive on this earth.
That is why it is okay to not know something, and it took me a while to realize that. I don't have to have the answer to every question, I don't have to know about everything (and no one ever will know everything in this life), and I don't have to have done everything. It takes a lot of pressure off when you realize that you don't have to always be right and always know. If we ever did get to the point where we had done, learned, completed, experienced, and saw absolutely everything, it would mean this earth is a lot more simple than we thought, and it is very much not. Besides, if we were able to get to that point, I think we'd eventually just say "Well, I've done and seen and learned it all. Nothing left for me to do with the rest of my life but sit here and twiddle my thumbs." BORING!
Life is so incredible, and so endlessly beautiful and astounding. Maybe I believe that to a naive degree, but it keeps me positive and happy and always open to new ideas, knowledge, and experiences. I've have gone through tragedy, heartbreak, judgment, hardships, and have seen things that I hope other people are never forced to see, and yet I always come out of it a little wiser and more appreciative of what I do have. Those things, sorrowful as they can be, are a part of the richness and vastness of human existence. At some point or another, we will all experience the positive and negative aspects of life.
Whether they're big or little, life experiences make us who we are. We are a work in progress up until the last breath we take, and maybe even after that. We all have infinite amounts of growth potential, no matter how smart, experienced, wise, kind, or compassionate we already are. There is always room for improvement, and even though some people see it as a burden, the fact that we always have the capacity for growth is an incredible blessing.
But no matter how long I live, I will never know everything there is to know, do everything there is to do, see everything there is to see, taste everything there is to taste, read everything there is to read, or meet everyone there is to meet, even if I were to (somehow) live to be 500 years old. It may sound kind of sad and limited, but it's actually quite the opposite- there is always going to be something new for me to do, see, read, experience, etc. We will never run out of things that we haven't experienced yet, no matter how much we fit in to each day or how many days we're alive on this earth.
That is why it is okay to not know something, and it took me a while to realize that. I don't have to have the answer to every question, I don't have to know about everything (and no one ever will know everything in this life), and I don't have to have done everything. It takes a lot of pressure off when you realize that you don't have to always be right and always know. If we ever did get to the point where we had done, learned, completed, experienced, and saw absolutely everything, it would mean this earth is a lot more simple than we thought, and it is very much not. Besides, if we were able to get to that point, I think we'd eventually just say "Well, I've done and seen and learned it all. Nothing left for me to do with the rest of my life but sit here and twiddle my thumbs." BORING!
Life is so incredible, and so endlessly beautiful and astounding. Maybe I believe that to a naive degree, but it keeps me positive and happy and always open to new ideas, knowledge, and experiences. I've have gone through tragedy, heartbreak, judgment, hardships, and have seen things that I hope other people are never forced to see, and yet I always come out of it a little wiser and more appreciative of what I do have. Those things, sorrowful as they can be, are a part of the richness and vastness of human existence. At some point or another, we will all experience the positive and negative aspects of life.
Whether they're big or little, life experiences make us who we are. We are a work in progress up until the last breath we take, and maybe even after that. We all have infinite amounts of growth potential, no matter how smart, experienced, wise, kind, or compassionate we already are. There is always room for improvement, and even though some people see it as a burden, the fact that we always have the capacity for growth is an incredible blessing.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
EPIPHANY!!
Sometimes when I'm driving and go on auto-pilot I get completely lost in my thoughts. That's one thing I love about driving- I'm not distracted by my phone, the Internet, or text messages- it's just me and the road, some good music, and my thoughts to keep me company.
While I was driving the other day, I had a totally epiphany about an aspect of myself and how I handle the relationships in my life. This epiphany, which had to do with how I conduct my relationships (friendships, spouse, family, etc), made me realize the reason why I feel so drained when it comes to relationships and why I'm not close with some people I would love to be closer with.
After realizing my flaw, I saw that I could really consciously do something about it to improve my relationships and make myself and the other people in said relationships a lot more fulfilled and happy. It was pretty satisfying to have this realization in itself, let alone be able to put it in play. I've already seen an improvement in some of my relationships, which is incredible.
No matter how long we live, I think we'll always discover new things about us. Sometimes it seems like the one person it is hardest for us to get to know is the one person we can never get away from: ourselves.
But I think it's not so much a matter of finding ourselves as it is a matter of defining ourselves. What do we think is right? What do we think is wrong? What are we willing to do? What are we not willing to do?
I love learning about myself and creating who I am. It's an incredible feeling to be so happy with the person I am and know that I still have so much more learning and growing to do. In my opinion, the people who think they know it all and have nothing more to gain from life are seriously missing out (unless, of course, they're old and have lived their lives, but still- my grandpa used to tell me that the first day you shouldn't learn something new should be the day after you die). Closed minds don't get the benefit and joy that open minds do. Closed minds seem to have trouble connecting to other people, to understanding things outside of their preexisting beliefs, and don't seem to gain as much joy from learning new things.
I also think that we can reduce so much stress, improve our relationships, and find a higher state of happiness when we give up the unquenchable desire to always be right. No one knows everything, and we can learn something from every single person. When we act like we know it all, we lose a lot of important parts of being human. First off, we lose a lot of credibility with others if they see that we spew a lot of B.S. because then they have no idea when we say something that's actually accurate. Second, we stop asking questions, and when we stop asking questions, our minds stop exploring. There's nothing wrong with not knowing everything. I mean, I think I know quite a bit about a lot of things, but what I know is barely even a frozen drop of water in the tip of the iceberg that is the knowledge of the universe.
Open minds also seem to be the most creative minds; probably because they're always searching and asking and trying to see things in a new way. Like Danny- he loves his job, and has probably one of the most amazing and insightful minds I know. He's been working on so many incredible projects, and I love hearing about them. Sometimes I feel a little jealous that he gets to work in such a creative environment at the studio, because he comes home every day and talks about what he did with such enthusiasm. He listens to everyone, and is never afraid to ask questions. I aim to be more like him; he's my inspiration to improve who I am.
While I was driving the other day, I had a totally epiphany about an aspect of myself and how I handle the relationships in my life. This epiphany, which had to do with how I conduct my relationships (friendships, spouse, family, etc), made me realize the reason why I feel so drained when it comes to relationships and why I'm not close with some people I would love to be closer with.
After realizing my flaw, I saw that I could really consciously do something about it to improve my relationships and make myself and the other people in said relationships a lot more fulfilled and happy. It was pretty satisfying to have this realization in itself, let alone be able to put it in play. I've already seen an improvement in some of my relationships, which is incredible.
No matter how long we live, I think we'll always discover new things about us. Sometimes it seems like the one person it is hardest for us to get to know is the one person we can never get away from: ourselves.
But I think it's not so much a matter of finding ourselves as it is a matter of defining ourselves. What do we think is right? What do we think is wrong? What are we willing to do? What are we not willing to do?
I love learning about myself and creating who I am. It's an incredible feeling to be so happy with the person I am and know that I still have so much more learning and growing to do. In my opinion, the people who think they know it all and have nothing more to gain from life are seriously missing out (unless, of course, they're old and have lived their lives, but still- my grandpa used to tell me that the first day you shouldn't learn something new should be the day after you die). Closed minds don't get the benefit and joy that open minds do. Closed minds seem to have trouble connecting to other people, to understanding things outside of their preexisting beliefs, and don't seem to gain as much joy from learning new things.
I also think that we can reduce so much stress, improve our relationships, and find a higher state of happiness when we give up the unquenchable desire to always be right. No one knows everything, and we can learn something from every single person. When we act like we know it all, we lose a lot of important parts of being human. First off, we lose a lot of credibility with others if they see that we spew a lot of B.S. because then they have no idea when we say something that's actually accurate. Second, we stop asking questions, and when we stop asking questions, our minds stop exploring. There's nothing wrong with not knowing everything. I mean, I think I know quite a bit about a lot of things, but what I know is barely even a frozen drop of water in the tip of the iceberg that is the knowledge of the universe.
Open minds also seem to be the most creative minds; probably because they're always searching and asking and trying to see things in a new way. Like Danny- he loves his job, and has probably one of the most amazing and insightful minds I know. He's been working on so many incredible projects, and I love hearing about them. Sometimes I feel a little jealous that he gets to work in such a creative environment at the studio, because he comes home every day and talks about what he did with such enthusiasm. He listens to everyone, and is never afraid to ask questions. I aim to be more like him; he's my inspiration to improve who I am.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Working for Yourself
The last few days, I've been thinking a lot about who I try to please. I find that, sadly, I tend to get so bent on impressing those who have put me down in one way or another that I don't always realize how many people support me. It's kind of sad.
But I'm done with that. It's so futile and pointless. For example, I wrote something a while back, got tons of positive feedback on it, but there was one person who thought it was terrible. That one person was the one opinion that rang loudest in my ears, even though I didn't have strong emotional ties to that person and they have minimal knowledge of the subject of the piece. So why did I put so much importance on one negative opinion instead of the dozens of positive opinions?
I think that most of us have this unattainable desire to please everyone. We all have a tendency to listen to the naysayers over the YAYsayers, even when the latter far outnumbers the former. I know I sometimes get distraught when I can't please everyone, but why?
Everyone is different, and there's no pleasing everyone. There is nothing that will universally please all people, period. The more people that see your work, the more fans you'll gain, but that also means you'll hear more negativity- it just comes with the territory. If you reach fifty people, you might get one that hates your work; if you reach five thousand people, you might get a hundred people who hate your work.
We shouldn't work to please the naysayers, we should do what we do to please ourselves and the yaysayers. Besides, if we try to please everyone, it'll eventually drive us crazy and burn us out.
Do what you love, and do it for yourself.
But I'm done with that. It's so futile and pointless. For example, I wrote something a while back, got tons of positive feedback on it, but there was one person who thought it was terrible. That one person was the one opinion that rang loudest in my ears, even though I didn't have strong emotional ties to that person and they have minimal knowledge of the subject of the piece. So why did I put so much importance on one negative opinion instead of the dozens of positive opinions?
I think that most of us have this unattainable desire to please everyone. We all have a tendency to listen to the naysayers over the YAYsayers, even when the latter far outnumbers the former. I know I sometimes get distraught when I can't please everyone, but why?
Everyone is different, and there's no pleasing everyone. There is nothing that will universally please all people, period. The more people that see your work, the more fans you'll gain, but that also means you'll hear more negativity- it just comes with the territory. If you reach fifty people, you might get one that hates your work; if you reach five thousand people, you might get a hundred people who hate your work.
We shouldn't work to please the naysayers, we should do what we do to please ourselves and the yaysayers. Besides, if we try to please everyone, it'll eventually drive us crazy and burn us out.
Do what you love, and do it for yourself.
Monday, April 16, 2012
According to Plan
It's almost a scary thing, but I have a plan. I know what I want, how I want to get it, and have made a plan to get there. As strange as it is, it feels really great to have a path to follow instead of just walking blindly down a road and hoping it leads to somewhere I want to be. My plan even has details, and is very much within reach!
I've never had a plan before- most of the time, I just jump into things without giving it much thought. I'm kind of the "figure it out as you go" type, and it hasn't worked out all the time. Most of my previous endeavors were unsuccessful because I just dove in without preparation and with false hopes that it would work out practically overnight, which only led to disappointment.
But this time, it's different. My plan feels very grown-up, very doable, and has a realistic timeline. I even have a back-up plan in case this plan doesn't work out (though my back-up is not incredibly hashed-out; it's more of a just-in-case safety net, but I don't think I'm going to need it).
I know that plans don't always go... well, according to plan, but I'm keeping myself flexible enough to adjust to the kinks and bumps in the road. It won't turn out perfect, and that's fine- I think it's part of the adventure to not know what is going to happen all the time.
I feel like I'm on the right path, and it feels like it's taken me a while to figure out where I wanted to go and how best to get there. Let's hope my big dreams will soon become reality.
I've never had a plan before- most of the time, I just jump into things without giving it much thought. I'm kind of the "figure it out as you go" type, and it hasn't worked out all the time. Most of my previous endeavors were unsuccessful because I just dove in without preparation and with false hopes that it would work out practically overnight, which only led to disappointment.
But this time, it's different. My plan feels very grown-up, very doable, and has a realistic timeline. I even have a back-up plan in case this plan doesn't work out (though my back-up is not incredibly hashed-out; it's more of a just-in-case safety net, but I don't think I'm going to need it).
I know that plans don't always go... well, according to plan, but I'm keeping myself flexible enough to adjust to the kinks and bumps in the road. It won't turn out perfect, and that's fine- I think it's part of the adventure to not know what is going to happen all the time.
I feel like I'm on the right path, and it feels like it's taken me a while to figure out where I wanted to go and how best to get there. Let's hope my big dreams will soon become reality.
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