What do you think? Did I make the right decision not to crowdfund?
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
To Crowdfund or Not to Crowdfund?
When I decided to self-publish my book I knew that I would have expenses to pay upfront. Things like paying an editor, cover art, promotional items etc. I originally considered doing a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money. But then I thought about it. If people are going to give me money, I'd rather it be because they bought my book instead of donating to help me get it published. That means I'll be paying for everything myself. And that means no more shopping for me so I can work all those expenses into my budget. Well, no more shopping until it's time for Wrestlemania. Then I'm going hog wild on merch and t-shirts that I have absolutely no use for but desperately have to have.
What do you think? Did I make the right decision not to crowdfund?
What do you think? Did I make the right decision not to crowdfund?
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
I'm Just Like Dean Ambrose
Really. I'm just like Dean Ambrose. Okay really, I'm nothing like Dean Ambrose. But I've chosen to look up to him for my career focus. (Here's where the wrestling geek part of me comes into play)
Who is Dean Ambrose? He's a professional wrestler with the WWE. He was previously known as Jon Moxley and under that ring name he worked some very tough matches on the indy wrestling circuit. Matches that involved being thrown through glass panes, bashed over the head with light bulb tubes, and tossed into barbed wire. He did all of that, wrestling in front of crowds ranging from modest to tiny, sometimes for very little pay, all with the goal of making it to the top of his profession. Right now he's well on his way. He's a featured Superstar with the biggest wrestling company in the world.
Why do I look up to him? Because I've recently accepted a job teaching here in Houston. But my ultimate goal is to be a full-time erotic romance author. I want to support myself fully from my books. I WANT TO BE A COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. But in order to get what I want, I have to sacrifice, just like Dean did. Except my sacrifice won't be nearly as bloody. All I have to do is work a 9-5 to support my writing habit until I reach my goal. Being a classroom teacher is a worthy profession, one that is necessary in order for our society to continue to grow. But it's not where I want to spend my career years. I want to be able to shut myself in a room and write books all day. I just have to work my version of the indies to reach that dream. I can do it. And when I start to feel low and tired of teaching, I'll just remind myself that if Dean could take light bulb tubes to the head in order to get where he wanted to be, I can certainly put up with grading papers and writing lesson plans.
So as I get underway at my new school I'm determined to do the best job that I can there. And whenever necessary I look at the picture of Dean Ambrose I have posted in my classroom to keep me focused.
Who is Dean Ambrose? He's a professional wrestler with the WWE. He was previously known as Jon Moxley and under that ring name he worked some very tough matches on the indy wrestling circuit. Matches that involved being thrown through glass panes, bashed over the head with light bulb tubes, and tossed into barbed wire. He did all of that, wrestling in front of crowds ranging from modest to tiny, sometimes for very little pay, all with the goal of making it to the top of his profession. Right now he's well on his way. He's a featured Superstar with the biggest wrestling company in the world.
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| Through the Thumbtack Glass |
Why do I look up to him? Because I've recently accepted a job teaching here in Houston. But my ultimate goal is to be a full-time erotic romance author. I want to support myself fully from my books. I WANT TO BE A COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. But in order to get what I want, I have to sacrifice, just like Dean did. Except my sacrifice won't be nearly as bloody. All I have to do is work a 9-5 to support my writing habit until I reach my goal. Being a classroom teacher is a worthy profession, one that is necessary in order for our society to continue to grow. But it's not where I want to spend my career years. I want to be able to shut myself in a room and write books all day. I just have to work my version of the indies to reach that dream. I can do it. And when I start to feel low and tired of teaching, I'll just remind myself that if Dean could take light bulb tubes to the head in order to get where he wanted to be, I can certainly put up with grading papers and writing lesson plans.
So as I get underway at my new school I'm determined to do the best job that I can there. And whenever necessary I look at the picture of Dean Ambrose I have posted in my classroom to keep me focused.
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