Tin Universe #4: Dhaka 2.0 and Tin Universe #5: School For The Blind 2.0

     Todays blog post has me re-releasing two projects from the past to my Smashwords store with new covers. The new covers they now have were always meant to with them but when first released LuLu rejected them. Hope you enjoy. These two stories were originally released as cut chapter promotional items for my second book The Past Forward; so if you enjoy them then check out the book, it's a good jumping on point for the Tin Universe if you don't wish to go back and read all the past releases. Plus with The Past Forward you get a whole book for only $1.00, I'd say that's a pretty good deal.
     Also remember you can gift stuff to others when shopping at Smashwords.

Tin Universe #4: Dhaka 2.0

$0.99usd

12/14/2012

and

Tin Universe #5: School For The Blind 2.0

$0.99usd

12/14/2012

     I'd also like to use this months blogger entries to point you towards some other talents where you can pick up maybe a gift for yourself or a friend from.

     This entry will direct you to Moon Frieght 3 which just recently finished its run and was one of my favorite webcomics for a long time. This series by Luke Foster gets better and better as it goes. Don't forget to check out the sites store also for a chance to buy paper collections of the series. Moon Frieght 3 reminds me a lot of Red Dwarf; so if you like that classic Sci-Fi series check this webcomic out.

     And a little bit of rant to end things.

     The stupid people who tell me, "But what if the world does end, what then?" when Mayan or any other end of the world bullshit comes up are just as stupid as the ones who ask me, "But what if your mom had aborted you, how would you feel then?" when discussing choice rights.

Tin Universe #4: Dhaka 2.0 and Tin Universe #5: School For The Blind 2.0

Where I talk about Marvel Now, Smashwords, a Kickstarter project, and lots and lots of cool links and one rant.

     So I was going to write about Marvels new NEWS OF THE DECADE! Marvel's doing a relaunch/reboot/rethink but are they making the same mistakes DC made? In a word. Yes. But this one incoherent grouping of words pretty much says all I have to say on the subject. Though I'll probably rant on it later when a lot of the trades start coming out in hardcovers.


      Also my mind changed to me wishing to write about something that came up yesterday in a conversation with a reader of my stuffs. That person of conversation wasn't the first one to bring this subject up, I get a lot of emails from people when I release a free project to my Smashwords store saying they do't like that they have to create a account with Smashwords, which is free, to download said free projects.
     Let me talk for a bit  here and hopefully I can address this subject.
     The whole having to create an account thing happens because I'm not releasing as free per say but as a You Set The Price! method of payment; which can be free or however much you wish to pay. You can always read the thing for free first and then if you liked and want to pay something by download again and this time pay. A lot of people choice to do it this way and many for the second download were they pay they choose to send that copy as a gift to a friend which you can do now on Smaswords.
     The reason this whole thing is better for a writer to do is it gives the creator information on downloads/sales. I need this to know what people like and might like more of from me or others I work with. Raw numbers are still a very valuable tool because so many people don't comment or send emails or anything outside of the download/purchase.
     This is especially important when doing ongoing series. Lets say I'm writing two series, which I've been doing, with one I get a lot of responses from readers and the other nothing. You would think the one I get responses for would be the most popular? Not always the case. Take for example Chaos Read and Tin Universe, my two ongoing story series. Tin Universe gets way more emails than Chaos Read which gets hardly any but Chaos Read is downloaded three times more. Now you also have to factor in that one is You Set The Price! and the other is $0.99usd but you get the point in that example which I admit isn't very adapt at all.
     Moving on.
     The point I'm trying to make is that I factor in all of these things when deciding if people would like to see more of one character or groups of characters or types of stories over another. The best thing to happen would be for every reader to email or leave a comment or post a review but that's not going to happen. Some people might hate it so much they don't even want to talk about it but there are also others who just don't do the whole comment or email thing. I view tons of web shows daily but have only commented twice but I make sure to Like, Tweet, Share, or Dislike things.... though to be honest I never dislike something. If I don't like it I just don't hit Like or anything after viewing.
     I know signing up for yet another site sucks. I know if you're purchasing something that means giving another site your credit card information and that sucks, but all of these things help the artists. The process and information gathered through the process is something all independent artist need to learn and use.
     With that said I also know this can drive away readers. I know this was a big issue when I left LuLu and I'm still trying to built back that readership.
     Things like Smashwords, Kickstarter, LuLu and such are attempts to put more control and money in the hands of the artists who do the work. These systems are nowhere near perfect but they are building to something truly special if we all keep working hard to get it there.
     I thought I should mention this since it's come up quite a bit lately. I know when I left LuLu I lost readers but that was a choice because Smashwords offered more to creators in many ways. It's my home right now and I'm working to build that catalog into something that is worth setting up a new account there for.

Check Out my Smashwords store here.

COOL LINKS TO CHECK OUT:
     Found this the other day on the sidebar watching John Green videos. "I Just Need A Mate" a Ballad to Doctor Who The artist had other songs I liked also. Hope to see more from her in the future. I love the internet. Put your work out there. The internet is a reason why we should never forget to be awesome. DFTBA
     Speaking of someone who never forgets to be awesome. Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Want It Back (Uncensored)
     Ivy's Journal has been one of my favorite blogs to follow for years. Check it out.

     Check out the below Kickstarter. I'm a big fan of Moon Freight 3. One of my favorite webcomics.

     This Maureen Johnson shirt needs to be in my closet. This is like her official logo in my brain and you would know what I mean if you have meet her in person. That lady looks like she has so much energy inside her it might explode from her eyes at any moment.
     Today is Nikola Tesla's 156th Birthday. Celebrate by sharing this song for him by 8in8 (Ben Folds, Neil Gaiman, Damian Kulash, and Amanda Palmer)
     Probably the worst thing that could happen for one team and totally be awesome to the other. Google Autofill - Can I...?: The Miracle of Swindon Town #139
     Who are you sir or madam? Chordates - CrashCourse Biology #24
     


RANTS AND SCREAMS:
     Florida ignores reality and reasoning when it comes to most things. Reasoning, intelligence, and independent thought are sure to be illegal here soon. They are already hardly used in the state so people probably wont miss them much. Florida Ignores FBI Database When Granting Gun Carry Permits
     Only one rant today but if you check out my Facebook there might be more but I need to get off the computer now. I hear the thunders outside.

Where I talk about Marvel Now, Smashwords, a Kickstarter project, and lots and lots of cool links and one rant.

Where I talk about comments John Green made about the future of publishing and also stuffs.

While I watched storm winds try to destroy our balcony garden yesterday I was also watching some Hank Games Without Hank with John Green starting with The Future of Publishing: The Miracle of Swindon Town #136
     I love watching these John Green videos as he plays FIFA not only for the game play but also because he always ends up talking about some very interesting things as he plays the game. I have a great deal of respects for John Green and love all of his web content and currently listening to a couple of his books while exercising. It's slow going, not because the books aren't good, but because I'm a lazy sod.
     I also don't want people to think I'm trying to take on points that John Green talks about because one, I'm not that smart and two, it's not true, I'm more or less using what he discussed as a springboard for me to talk about things I enjoy to discuss and want to address my own views on these issues. This was me free form thinking while watching the videos.
     I don't necessarily disagree with what John says in the first video about publishing but I just have a couple things. One is if an editor is as much of an influence on a lot of books as John says shouldn't they be listed as co-writers of a work or at least be listed on the covers. I know the cover thing is a marketing issue but if a editor had a beyond normal influence on my books I want to credit them properly. I have a big issue with work load getting proper work load credit. A example is recently I was working with an artist on a graphic novel project and it went from me being the writer and him artist in the agreed credits to me telling him after about six pages that he needed to be listed as co-writer because that's what I felt was the right thing.
     Another thing to something John mentioned about how the publisher model being the best is how I think modern publishing has failed in many degrees because of its lack of creative forward thinking and by also producing just as much crap as any self-publishing model has done. You can't rip self-publishing for quality issues alone because my friends read a lot and see crap and I read a lot and if I'm spotting mistakes in your work then that says a lot about how the state of quality publishing in general needs to be addressed whether we are talking big publisher or self-publisher. This is not an excuse for self-publishers to put out materials not ready for release but at least they aren't spending thousands of dollars on what sometimes is the same levels of quality checks.
     Notice I said sometimes.
     Sometimes.
     I think people have lost confidence in the major publishers to publish, show, and shine a light on the best that's out there.
     The Future of Publishing, Part 2: The Miracle of Swindon Town #137 I think writers can reach readers in so many more creatives ways in this day and age. Big publishers are still falling farther behind in trying to tap into the new media methods. They are spending more money and time but failing in any creative or long lasting way.
     I agree with him on some of the differences between the film and music industry and the publishing industry but I've worked in both in very low levels and I will tell you they both do a lot of nothing with a lot of money, that's something they very much have in common. They aren't the same but that's easy to see with a little study.
     I think publishing is going towards the Hollywood model, and I agree with John That's Not A Good Thing, in ways such as trying to hit trends even if with a little research they could discover that trend is already tired, dead, and over. They trying to appeal to the masses with brainless approaches and less risk taking is the result. That's why I think people are finding more comfort in finding books by writers websites, blogs, Twitter, and the like. That can cause issues if you settle into a little area or community on the internet and stop exploring for new and different things. Writers who already have a web following or self-published writers who are taking the risks sometimes that big publishers are scared of are the leaders of the industry.
     That's my opinion.
     But I think I'm right.
     About my opinion.
     Like I said before for a lot of readers the big publishers have just lost their way in their methods of showing you great stories. If they ever really had a grasp on that method as their main focal point. Readers are going on their own journey and happily doing so to find books they want to read. I also love when people talk about loving literature being about a broad surface of books but then anything outside of the big publisher market doesn't fit that?
     John mentioned how a lot of bookstores are closing. The decline of bookstores is also hurt sometimes by bad stores. Since I was able to read I've always bugged everyone I'm with wherever I go to check out any used bookstores I see and to be honest most suck. People hate to say that but its just true. I think the good ones have and will survive unless the economic situation in a given area is just really bad because they are creative and forward thinking. The digital/print sales issues when it comes to brick and dirt stores can be worked out with clear creative thinking. I with everything I have believe this. I think when it comes to the issue of the closure of those stores hurting people getting books that brings up the issue of the digital divide and I've ranted on that in the past but hate that this is almost never addressed in these types of discussions.
     For anyone who thinks I'm just ranting for self-publishing because I self-publish I will tell you I'm ranting because publishers have put the industry into the fuck wrecks its currently in  and that a still young and full of problems option(self-publishing) maybe a better option in the long run. Just as media content industries failed when it came to evolving to new technologies, creating this huge black market pirating industry, they also failed in providing readers with new, original, and ground breaking content. I whole heartily believe the self-publishing industry is in its infinticey but I also think it will have to grow or the whole of publishing will suffer because the big companies are not learning any lessons from their failures.
     Anyone want to argue that they are?
     Again as I'm said over and over. Any self-publisher that can afford it should hire an editor. Any self-publisher who can afford it should hire a cover artist. But not every writer can do that and I don't think they should be shoved into the publishing is about perfection delusion, because prose is the only art form that has to be that way, which is stupid, I see lots of shit by big publishers. As I've stated if you can take the ax hacking of readers on your not finished book I believe the sushi writing mood of crowd surfed editing can work. 
     Just have your shields up.
     And don't check you stats that much.
     .... and maybe a couple beers in hand when you hit upload.


CHECK OUT THESE COOL LINKS:
   I love when Wil Wheaton updates his podcast Radio Free Burrito. Episode 33
   Pretty
   Bill & Ted & Who - Brain-Confetti
   If you're reading the Game Of Thorns books check out this review on Geektress.
   Love the last line of this Moon Freight 3
   Nova Ren Suma is one of my favorite writers right now and I can't wait to read her next book. 17 & GONE Cover and Plot Summary Revealed!
   A podcast I haven't tried before. Comic Book Club: Amanda Palmer & Kurt Braunohler


RANTS AND SCREAMS:
   How about all of us in Florida march on the local police stations and demand Rick Scott be arrested for his actions? Why that's never going to happen in a lot of people in Florida are so stupid they love what he's doing. Gov. Scott Has Secret List Of 180,000 ‘Ineligible’ Voters
   James Cameron making more movies that all the sheep will praise feeding his already large ego. He's right there with Oliver Stone and Christopher Nolan as directors that leave me thinking, "Good movies but I don't get the hype." All three also seems to think they are "Film makers!" with their own noses and tongues up their own asses. James Cameron Plans to Shoot Three Avatar Sequels at Same Time
   I've torn with this. I love that its raising awareness but I'm also not the biggest fan of the Komen group because of how much of a bunch of assholes they tend to be with people. Marvel is teaming with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to observer Breast Cancer Awareness 

Where I talk about comments John Green made about the future of publishing and also stuffs.

Where I rere-release a old poetry collection, cool links, and for some reason no rants?

Presents:

     

     I haven't released anything in a while so I thought I'd rerelease one of my old LuLu poetry collections on my new projects home at Smashwords. Hope you enjoy NEW EPISODE. Oh, did I mention it's free. Yes, free unless you want to pay for it. You know tip the jar so to speak. Below is one of the poems within the collection.

BOMB

Bombing for Christ,

Bombing for hate,

Bombing to push back the wait,

Bombing for joy,

Bombing for pain,

Bombing to drawn out the rain,

Bombing for war,

Now there is growth,

Bombing is just the truth,

Bombing to cut,

Bombing to kill,

Murder in a military dressed up drill,

Bombing is fun,

Bomb out the sun,

See the darkness,

Who won?

(c)brian c. williams

SYSTEM*PUBLISHING

     And if your want to check out all my poetry releases and any poetry news about future collections and the like check out the Bloodwaste Books blog. I'm going to post poems there from times to time. It will be the home of all my poetry related projects.

Check out some cool links:

     Can John Green's team continue their EPL undefeated streak? Where Should You Go to College?: The Miracle of Swindon Town #135
     I really need to get back into reading the webcomics I love and checking out more. I haven't so I'll try and share some of what I like today:  Dork Tower is one of my favorite webcomics even if as I've said before sometimes I just don't get the game references. This one deals with the whole mess of how women characters are portrayed in fiction and a good simple way to test how you should approach ideas. Moon Freight 3 is a favorite. Gronk A Monster's Story takes a look at internet comments.
     I'm really looking forward to the new Judge Dredd movie. Love the character and it has people in it I like a lot.
     I don't know if I like this because it would probably mean an end to Iron Man: Armored Adventures. I like that show. A thousand times better CGI animated show than Green Lantern. Disney Mulling Iron Man Cartoon

Where I rere-release a old poetry collection, cool links, and for some reason no rants?

Where I Give a couple cheap and quick top five lists. Otherwise known as blog laziness.

*not really top five lists, more like just three lists of five things I like. Just check out these things because if I start writing too much here there wouldn't be any point of doing a cheat blog entry to begin with.

5 Podcasts:
Geektress
Stacey's Pop Culture Parlour
Nerdist
Radio Rashy
Pod Crash

5 Webcomics:
Unshelved
Girls With Slingshots
The Garlicks
xkcd
Moon Freight 3

Web Shows:
The Guild
Hank Games
The Flog
Husbands
The Legend Of Neil

Where I Give a couple cheap and quick top five lists. Otherwise known as blog laziness.