Falling vs Failing

First, let me say, I can't overstate how strongly I feel about this subject. It's just another one of those things they don't teach you in school. You know, one of those important things to help you deal with life -- to help you become successful. Nope, algebra, the theory of general relativity and every important date before, during, and after WWII are more important. My gripes with today's "education" system aside, what I am about to write is important for anyone who wants to make a success of themselves, whether it be as an author, a parent or anything.

Recently, a writer on one of the closed Facebook groups I follow mentioned how they couldn't get their rights back from a publisher who was not doing their work justice. It went a little something like this:

Author's Post

"To let everyone know, I failed. Epically.

I mentioned a couple months ago that [a certain publishing company] was refusing to give my rights back to the books they don't care about or market, but had dropped to $.99, and the only thing I could think to do was stop promotion on ALL of my books.

I lasted 6 weeks. Now they've got the first [book series] book set to free, so I give up. It almost physically hurts not to market these books, when I love them so much. So instead of trying to out-stubborn [a certain publishing company], I'm going to just concentrate on new worlds and new characters, and figure out what to do with [book series] another day.

Now...where's the best place to market a free book that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I'm about to do something stupid and spend this month's marketing budget on premade covers for a series I haven't written yet.

(Totally not a pity party post, I love these books and it just feels wrong not to market them at all.)"

My Reply

"You didn't fail. You fell. Falling is a natural step on the road to success. If you don't fall there's a problem. Most importantly, you've picked yourself up and dusted yourself down. Those are the next steps. What you've done doesn't sound like giving up to me. Fair play. Now, time to kick ass. Check out the SPF podcast about twitter for info on one way to market your book on a budget."

Moral of the Story

Life is a long series of falls. You can have all the money in the world or you can have none. No matter who, or what you are, one thing in life is certain: You will fall.

Falling isn't a bad thing. It isn't even important. But, what you do after you fall IS. There are two options. 

1) Do nothing. This is failing. 

2) Get up and try again. This is living.

We have been conditioned to believe that falling is a bad thing; that falling is the same as failing. Hell, the two are almost spelled identically.

Falling is necessary. Without it we do not grow in strength, in intelligence, and in character. Without falling we do not learn to adapt.

You can fall any damn way you want, a fall is a fall. Falling forward is great, but if you fall back, so what! Get up and carry on, and remember each fall is an investment in you, your future and your success.

Cheers,

Killian

Avoid Scams - Trust Your Sixth Sense

I don't know if it's just me, but there appears to have been a sharp upturn in a certain variety of "business" people using free webinars as hooks to promote expensive courses that will help you "become a millionaire!"

The hook isn't always that "you can be a millionaire" per say, but whether it be to make you successful, drive HUGE traffic to your site - or whatever - the premise is always the same; to make you rich. In the past, the most questionable "opportunities" were fairly easy to spot.

These haven't gone away. How many phishing emails have you received from scammers in the guise of a well-known company, even recently? How many ads do you still see where someone wants to help you get rich quick or get rich working from home. That rich foreign woman looking for a husband, that vanity press promising to sell a million copies of your book and that Nigerian prince offering you a cut of his fortune in exchange for your bank details, all have one thing in common. They are clear cut, obvious scams. Most of us have simply gotten really good at filtering them out - at least I hope most of us have. There can't be that many gullible people in the world, can there?

This brings us to the next stage. A number of components, including developments in technology, social networking and a shift in the population's social paradigm, have allowed "others" to come in on a whole other level. Most of the "opportunities" I've seen in the past six months have been presented by successful, well presented and seemingly knowledgeable young people. Some even offer value or hook you with information that is in fact useful. Once hooked, however, the next step is parting with your hard earned cash in exchange for something that is below par, or something you can get for free online with a bit of effort. Instead of "get rich quick" they say, "if you are looking to get rich quick, this is not for you because what I'm about to show you requires effort." The nature of both approaches is the same. They may look different, but both are designed to prompt the same psychological response and appeal to your desire for success, for a better life, for freedom. They don't promise the path will be fast, or even easy, but they still give the illusion that it will be easier than it is in reality. In other words, you can throw silver glitter on a turd, or you can throw gold glitter on a turd, but at the end of the day it's still a turd.

I don't need to name the proponents of these schemes. You've seen them on Facebook, YouTube, and various networks. You know who they are. I'm not saying that these people don't have anything of value to offer. But you need to ask yourself, "do I really need to spend all that money to get it?"

So, let's address the elephant in the room. Are these "opportunities" scams? Well, that depends on how you define the word scam. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a scam as, "an illegal plan for making money, especially one that involves tricking people."

The internet has created its own subset of complications in litigation when it comes to the real world vs the world wide web. Just think of all the tax scandals surrounding large online corporations. The same complications create confusion when it comes to what is, and is not, lawful. If we wanted to discuss the merits of an "illegal plan" here we'd end up writing a book, or a volume of books. But when all is said and done, just because something is lawful it doesn't mean it isn't awful. Just because something is legal, it doesn't mean it is moral or trustworthy. The internet casts an extra layer of gray over the world and everything in it.

Your definition of scam may be, "something that takes advantage of people and tricks them out of money."

Though, it is true many obvious scams fall under that umbrella, by the same logic the following would also be considered scams: get fit quick programs, bottled water, house mortgages, car insurance, paying for anything through installments, etc. In fact, it could be argued that many legitimate products and services are in fact scams, as many of these "trick" people out of their money. That's why online marketing is the huge machine that it is today. Advertising walks a hair-thin line through dark places where persuasion, coercion, and trickery converge.

Regardless of how you interpret the word scam, it is just that; an interpretation. But, none of this really matters. What DOES matter is that you recognize that you already have something to help you decide between opportunities and "opportunities". I call it your sixth sense. Some prefer to call it your BS sense. It's that tiny voice in the back of your head that yells, "it's too good to be true, don't do it!" Please, for the love of all that is good in the world, listen to that little voice. He/She knows what he/she is talking about. If something seems too good to be true, 99% of the time, it truly is. This really sucks when it comes to that 1%, which is easily overlooked as a result.

When I noticed this surge of new "opportunities" it made me wonder; if these successful people are so successful then why the hell do they want my money? I figured if they are as successful as they claim to be then my subscription is naught but peanuts. I found the answer in one of MJ DeMarco's books. These people make big bucks $$$ ka-ching. They obviously do well for themselves, so kudos to them. But, they also have a terrible relationship with money and live beyond their means. If you make 2 million dollars a year and you squander 3 million dollars on a lavish lifestyle, are you rich? Hell no, you have a million dollar deficit. In other words, you are poorer than most poor people. That makes you a serious financial liability. Even though that is an extreme example, it serves as a point. These proponents of the golden "opportunity" need more money, and who best to squeeze than the swathes of drooling sheeple sitting in front of their devices, glazy-eyed, with their hands extended and their wallets/purses wide open.

I'll admit, I watch these webinars from time to time, but I do so with no intention of buying into them. I find that some of these webinars contain little gems. Of course they do. Those gems are bait for their hooks. But, these webinars alone should set off alarms, especially the "live" webinars. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can tell you when a webinar is not live, even one that is designed to appear live. I've got news for you. When someone says something is one thing but it turns out to be the opposite, that is called a LIE. So, when that same person sells you his amazing "opportunity" and makes all sorts of promises, why on earth would you believe he is telling the TRUTH? The mind boggles.

Sometimes the proponent comes from a credible background, but then they blow it by pushing one of these so-called opportunities. This is a real shame since a good standing is worth more than all the money in the world.

Do you want to know what makes the whole vulture-like "opportunity" culture particularly annoying? There are people out there offering AMAZING courses that are full of EXTREMELY valuable content and are worth so much more than their price. Mark Dawson's SPF 101 and Advertising For Authors courses are perfect examples. Unfortunately, as is always the case with human beings, all the good stuff gets buried under "one big pile of shit." Think Jeff Goldblum in that dinosaur movie. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise for those who are willing to dig deepest, but that's another subject for another day.

If you only take one thing away from this post, take this: When your BS sense is tingling, always – and I mean ALWAYS – run for the hills. Don't be a sheeple.

Sometimes our BS sense needs calibrating. These people are called "opportunity" or scam artists for a reason. They are always coming up with new and creative ways to hook you. How do you stay ahead of them? Keep educating yourself. Keep doing your research. Check out websites like avertscams.com. Check google. There are plenty of sites that offer great advice on spotting scams and "opportunities" alike. Learn from other people's experiences so you don't have to learn from your own. Learning through mistakes is the hard way. Why chose the hard way when you don't have to? If, for whatever reason, you do choose the hard way, make sure you only chose it once.

Or, you could let me teach you how to REALLY tell the difference between legitimate opportunities and scams disguised as opportunities.

I have 20 years of experience doing just that and have the success to show for it too. I live an incredible life, have an amazing family and own a business that is currently skyrocketing. Happiness comes from learning how to chose between what will make you happy and what will take your happiness away. Let me teach you my 5 secrets to happiness. But first... I'll need your credit card details.

Take care out there,

Killian

P.S. Bellow is an example of the difference between real success and what various opportunists promise.

The Majority of People Want the Steps to Success to Be
Success.

Get Rich Quick (Obvious Scam) Steps to Success
Buy my product.
Success.

"Opportunities" (Well Disguised Scams?) Steps to Success
Buy my product.
Learn.
Adjust.
Success.

The Exact Steps For Entrepreneurial Success!
Read books and find mentors.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Fail.
Learn.
Adjust.
Act.
Success!

Progress, Shorts and Instafreebie

How my head doesn't explode with so much happening inside it, I do not know. I've been making plenty of progress with The Fury and The Star (possibly being renamed to Furious Star). I have to admit, I was really struggling with it since the holidays, but things have been running a lot smoother now that I've adopted some great outlining practices. 

I had the cover booked with a design company for March but decided not to go ahead with it in the end. Don't worry, I'm not going to make my own cover. I wouldn't dream of it because it would only turn into a nightmare. The good news is my wife has agreed to give it a shot. She's an awesome photographer and has a BA in design, plus she is simply downright awesome when it comes to creative things like book covers, so I'm in the safest hands. I should have some proofs by March.

I've also decided to plow ahead with the short story collection. My short story "Into Infinity" wasn't accepted by the quarterly science fiction magazine, Shoreline of Infinity. If you don't already read it. but enjoy SciFi, you should check it out. Every issue is full of fantastic little gems. If I said I wasn't disappointed by the rejection, I'd be telling a big fat lie, which is funny seeing as I'd forgotten about it with everything else that's been going on. But, the rejection actually works in my favor, as it means I can now include it in the short story collection - as seen on this site's home page. The great news is, this collection - Into Infinity and Other Short Stories - will be published in the next two weeks. One of the publishing groups I work with are organizing a SciFi instaFreebie campaign, so I'm getting ready for that. I'll send out a newsletter with the details closer to the time, of course. The collection will contain nine stories (one more than originally planned), and it will run into the 20K word count region. I'm super excited about this as it will open opportunities in the run up to my first novel launch in April/May.

On that note, did I mention I now have an awesome developmental editor? Her name is Kendra Olson and her work is outstanding. She's penciled me in for March, 20th. René Meijer will then line edit before my street team takes care of proofreading. René is an amazing guy I used to work within the IT industry. He's been editing on the side for years. I still haven't built my street team, but the email will be sent soon so keep a look out.

My schedule for Furious Star is a quite tight and looks a little something like this:

March 20th: Submit to developmental editor

April 10th: Rewrite

April 14th: Submit to line editor

April 21st: Rewrite

April 23rd: Submit to street team

April 27th: Rewrite

April 30th: Publish

Of course, other things will be happening in between such as cover design, marketing, formatting, etc. And while it's with the editor I'll be outlining the second novel in the series (title to be released later in spring). Furious Star began as a one book show, but the ideas just kept coming and the characters just kept on growing, and it has developed into a trilogy. The books will come under the umbrella of The Lost Starchive Series. And who knows? There could me more than three.

That's probably enough for one post. It's the early hours of Monday as I finish this. Have a good week folks, and stay classy.

Killian C. Carter

How to Write Faster

Writing is hard work. "You are sitting at a desk typing. How can that be tiring?" I hear you say. But anyone who writes will tell you what a mental drain it can be. Creating things from nothing requires energy.

Often, the greatest challenge isn't writing too much, but rather, writing ANYTHING. For many writers, getting started can often be a serious hurdle. As they say in Gaeilge "tús maith leath na h'oibre", or "a good start is half the work." I personally find starting really hard because I'm the world's worst procrastinator. I decided something had to be done. So, I set aside a few days to read and research as much as I could about the writing process. This has set me on the path to building good, healthy writing habits. I'm still near the beginning of my journey. It hasn't been easy, but its a start and I can tell you Chris Fox has been an immense help. In fact, he has been the BIGGEST help, when it comes to writing itself. And I don't say that lightly.

Chris is the author of the famous Void Wraith science fiction series. He has also written non-fiction titles that help self-publishing authors to improve their writing output and marketing techniques. I'll write a little more about the techniques he teaches in a dedicated post. In the meantime, check out his website: www.chrisfoxwrites.com

The book I've found most helpful recently is 5,000 WORDS PER HOUR, WRITE FASTER, WRITE SMARTER. It has truly revolutionized my writing process. If you struggle with your output, I highly recommend that you read it.

5,000 word per hour is an ambitious goal for any writer, and most of us won't hit that kind of output at the outset, but it IS an achievable goal if you start building good habits, bit by bit, as Chris suggests. After only a month of reading this book, I'm hitting approximately 3000 words per hour. Since I currently only have one hour in the day to write, it is essential that I get as much out of those sixty minutes as is possible. Just think about that for a second! If I write for one hour a day - yes just ONE hour - from Monday to Saturday, I will have 72,000 words in 4 weeks. Folks, that is an entire first draft in a month. With that work ethic, you could be as prolific as you want to be.

Needless to say, I'm delighted with what I've learned in this book, and I know my hourly word count will continue to increase as I gain traction. I'm already writing faster than I've ever dreamed of.

If you check out Chris's website you'll see he's posted a number of videos. These are also immensely helpful, especially his series on motivation for writers. The video on outlining is another gem. you'll notice his videos are concise and full of actionable advice. It's not hard to find five or seven minutes to invest. This is refreshing considering that "fluff overload" has become the hallmark of the "how to" video. If you struggle to write, WATCH THEM! I promise you, you won't turn back.

Anyway, I started this post with the intention of talking about the struggles of writing in general. As you can see, it's turned into a bit of a Christ Fox worship session. But credit where credit is due, my friends. Chris fox rocks! (Chris, if you ever read this, that should be your slogan). Seriously, though, the guy is awesome. He has an ocean worth of highly valuable, low friction content. Just dive right in. Watch his videos and buy his books. If you struggle like me you'd be a fool not to. Reading Chris Fox = prolific writing. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

Here's to writing 5,000 PER HOUR! 

Killian C. Carter

Welcome to 2017

The end of 2016 was one crazy roller coaster ride. Between writing, setting up the business side of things--since I'm self-publishing--and my wife having our second little girl, things have been hectic, to say the least. So, you can imagine it's been challenging to get much writing done. But it's now 2017, and the show must go on. So, below I have outlined some updates on where I am at with my writing.

Writing News

As mentioned, the end of 2016 has been a whirlwind. Working to become an indie author while having a full-time job and a young family is no small task.

Even still, I've managed some steady progress. The first draft will be finished and sent off to the editor in March. I'm still in the process of selecting an editor and I think I've found one I like. She will be sending me an example of her work using the first few pages of THE FURY AND THE STAR. I look forward to hearing back from her.

I'll also send out applications for my street team in early 2017. The team will receive the second draft and can offer feedback if they wish. This will give folks a chance to affect the final product. 

I've been submitting short stories to various competitions over the past few months. Hopefully, I'll have more news on that front soon.

I've also been working on keeping the ball rolling on Facebook. 

As some of you already know, I ran a competition in the lead up to the holidays. This gave me a great opportunity to run some Facebook ads. I learned an awful lot doing this and will share my findings in a separate post. While on that note:

Competition

I'm excited about my book, THE FURY AND THE STAR (working title) launching in April 2017 and I want to run a few competitions in the run-up. Some of you probably came to my list via my Facebook competition. Anyone who subscribed to my mailing list - via my website or Facebook ad - had their names put in the hat. Anyone who liked my Facebook page or shared my competition post were also added, so there were a few chances to get your name in more than once. 

For the first competition, an Amazon Kindle was up for grabs for one lucky winner, and two paperback copies of Andy Weir's "The Martian" for runners up.

The winners are as follows:

Rob McAuley - Amazon Kindle
Jennifer McCarrel - The Martian (paperback)
Jodie Collier - The Martian (paperback)

Congratulations to the winners!!! Keep an eye on your inboxes for details on how to claim your prizes. For those who didn't win this time, I will be running another soon, so watch this space. 

That's the updates for now. There is plenty of work to be done in January but I will try getting another post or two out by the end of the month. Starting in February I plan on getting a post out every Sunday. 

As one pig used to say "d d d d dat's all folks."

Killian C. Carter

Science Fiction - How Big?

How big is science fiction, really?

I found myself asking this while dabbling in various genres, before finally resting on sci-fi for my first published work (mainly because most of my ideas were sci-fi oriented and THE FURY AND THE STAR was just bursting to be written).

I'm not sure if there is some universal stick by which genres are measured, especially those whose essences spills into many forms of media - and if one genre does that it is science fiction. Therefore, it becomes a bit of a calculated guess based on current trends and personal experience rather than something more tangible like the scientific method. The irony!

Still, questions need to be asked. Questions like; is science fiction the biggest genre, the best or even the most prolific? It's hard to say for sure, especially when terms like "biggest", "best" and "most" are relative to a number of factors such as taste, revenue, quality vs quantity, category, etc. But, one thing I AM definite about it this: Science fiction, as a whole, is HUGE!

One only has to pick at the many franchises that rise to the brain juice surface first. In my case, the choice is overwhelming. Alien, Star Wars, Star Trek, Star Gate, and Terminator are just a few.

Science fiction's popularity has fluctuated over the decades. I remember being spoilt for choice in the nineties with shows like The X-Files, Earth Final Conflict, and movies like The Matrix, Men in Black, Independence Day, The Fifth Element (my favorite - said in the voice of Gary Oldman), and some of the titles mentioned in the previously. Maybe it's just my imagination, but in the noughties there seemed to be a lull in the science fiction universe. It was like it had shrunk from a planetary nebula to a white dwarf. That's not to say there wasn't excellent sci-fi during the first decade of the 21st century. Those years produced some gems (I feel compelled to mention Firefly). There just didn't seem to be as much of it. I could be wrong, but from where I stood, it looked like the genres of fantasy and paranormal were stealing a little bit of science fiction's luster.

We now approach the twenties and it has changed yet again. That white dwarf has exploded into a vast supernova, with exciting new titles and those already mentioned seeing massive resurgences. And that's without even touching the Marvel vs D.C. war. Yes, it could be argued that comic books are completely separate from science fiction. But one thing you can't argue is that, at the very least, both mediums share similar themes and audiences.  

Which brings me back to the popularity of science fiction today. I do wonder if, in a world seeing a decline in manufacturing and growth in science and technology, the recent rise of popularity in science fiction will level off on a higher plane. That's not to say there is a direct correlation between an increase in science-based industry and the popularity of science fiction.  But, it can't be denied that the age of information has encouraged the population to widen their horizons and knowledge, especially where technology is concerned. We are told that knowledge is power, after all. And, true science fiction has knowledge based entertainment at its core. This is, of course, driven by the massive cultural shift towards the population using technologies that were once considered science fiction. Commercial space flight, flying cars, printed organs, mobile devices, a network connecting the entire planet (North Korea aside), robots with advanced AI... Need I go on? It all adds up.

I haven't really addressed science fiction literature but that's because I don't really know how. It's a bit of a gray area and it is difficult to gauge a single component of the vast science fiction universe. This is unfortunate because it is the literature that started it all. As has already been mentioned, there may not be a direct correlation between world science and science fiction. I would be surprised, however, if science fiction literature didn't enjoy some of the limelight cast upon other forms of the genre's media.

It's too early to say, but I think I've noticed an upwards shift on Amazon, if not in the local libraries. Those still favor fantasy on the shelves of fiction. Maybe that's because physical libraries are slower on the uptake in today's digital world. Or, it could be the people of this lovely Isle just aren't as hooked on science fiction as the rest of us.

Either way, it's definitely a competitive genre, especially for a first time self-publishing author. But that won't stop me from diving in head first and enjoying every last minute of it. As a wise space ranger once said, "to infinity and beyond!"

Stay young, live long, or die trying.

Cheers,

Killian C. Carter

Writer's Block vs Opportunity

Writer's block! Every writer's worst nightmare!!! Or is it? 

Traditionally writer's block has been that single ethereal entity most feared by writers. And rightly so, for what can a writer do when she cannot perform her magic; forming words from nothing, stringing them into sentences, then spinning those strands of literary silk into the fabric of a story. It is a delicate type of magic, that is, one whose flow is easily interrupted. So what can you do when you hit that big, bad, magic dispelling wall?

Well, the answer is; quite a lot. I did say "traditionally" writer's block has been feared. But we no longer live in a world dominated by traditional publishing. In the space of five years, independent publishing has gone from being considered an "abhorrent" thing, to one of the most lucrative markets in the industry.

Therefore, I postulate that writer's block should be embraced and not feared - by self-publishing authors anyway. Why? For one simple reason: Authors of the self-publishing variety are not only writers. They are marketers, advertisers, networkers, visual artists, administrators, phone operators, readers, business owners, masters of their own destinies, among other things.

So, instead of banging your head against your desk when the magic doesn't flow so freely, why not answer a few emails, review those cover proofs, analyze your Facebook ads, or any one of the numerous other tasks on your ever growing list. That is not to say that one should be easily distracted by the business side of self-publishing. But when writer's block truly hits and the stubborn words just won't leave the warmth and safety of your mind, there are other productive things you can be doing until those frightened little words are read to come and outside and play.

Yes, writer's block is not an obstacle, but an opportunity. Unlike traditional authors - who can only stare at the wall until it drives them insane since every other step in the process is handled by someone else - indies can go off and take care of another task. The very act of giving those reluctant words some space often all they need to be enticed out. On returning to your writing, the wall is suddenly so small you can step over it, back into that wonderful magical field of freedom, no climbing or sledge-hammering required.

When the words stop coming. Don't get frustrated, or pull out your hair (assuming you have hair), and certainly don't give up. Simply go do something else, come back later, and everything will be okay.

As always folks; stay young, live long or die trying.

Yours truly,

Killian C. Carter

Welcome to MY STORY

Welcome to my website. Thanks for stopping by. Sign up to my newsletter and I will keep you posted with exciting updates on my upcoming science fiction novel. I will also be making it free for the first few days of release so don't miss out!

I'm a new writer and am very excited to announce my first contribution to the science fiction genre, THE FURY AND THE STAR. It's a story about a troubled outlaw seeking revenge for the murder of his family. It also features a kick-ass marshal who is forced to reconsider her beliefs about justice in a system riddled with corruption. She learns a lot while chasing the outlaw and one lesson, in particular, will change her life and the star system forever. It is a science fiction story at heart but it also explores a number of themes and issues we see in the world today.

Follow the blog and sign up for my newsletter if you would like to be kept up to date with the latest developments.

Over the coming few months I'll be releasing information such as the blurb, concept cover art, a sneak peak at the first chapter, and I may even throw in something special the month before the final release which, by the way, currently stands at April 2017 (subject to scheduling).

I will also be running competitions early in the new ear with some really exciting giveaways including some best-selling titles and a sci-fi mega-fan pack built by yours truly.

Until next time, stay young, live long or die trying.

Yours truly,

Killian