May 4, 2006
A NOVEL IDEA
I've been toying with the idea of posting portions of the forceps-induced birth of a bit of fiction I've been working on. Not to generate traffic, or to rub the populace's nose in my unseemly but formidable talents, but because if I don't, well, I have no idea if I'm on the road to Nirvana or just a tired hack with undeserved anal fissures (the result of a bout of the yellow jack).
I'm of two minds here. Now, the posting of the first part of a chapter could invigorate the olde blog, and force me to finish the damned thing. Pride, and all. Hang the hide over the line. Put up or shut up.
But then the other side of me says Don't be an idiot, you silly billy! Make them pay for the whole enchilda! Or, in my case, the haggis. Mexican food being at the moment banned in the Velocihovel until a "guest worker" looking like a young Elizabeth Pena marches in the streets of East LA with a banner declaring her desire to be naturalized by Velociman. And I mean that in the Biblical way. Sodom ain't the half of it.
It's a conundrum. Inviting feedback not only invites the positive stuff, there is the negative blowback to deal with, from the Salieris of the world. And the fact that I've given of myself for free, to an extent. For an old whore that's a pretty huge leap of faith.
Eh. Tough call. Feed you juicy tidbits, so you can leave comments that I am an overblown, over considered egojunky? Or tantalize with mere snippets that make you crave more?
I need a Dax Montana quiz here. Unfortunately, I can't find the link. Nor my underwear. Been a tough week. I've always been a fan of the show of hands concept, however. So howsummit?
Option 1: Velociman posts half a chapter, and puts his money where his mouth is, and you eagerly purchase the second half.
Option 2: Velociman posts nothing, putting your money where his mouth is, and exposing him as a fucking fraud.
Option 3: Velociman posts nothing, and lays upon his California King, flagellating hisself, wondering why you thought he had any game to begin with, because he told you up front you was had.
Just throwing ideas out there.
Real work is hard. Trust me...
Posted by: Bane at May 4, 2006 1:43 AMAh, but you'd not have a control group if you posted it here. Most of us adore you. Most.
Cut your teeth here, instead.
Posted by: Cythen at May 4, 2006 3:02 AMI agree with Cythen...post the goods where non-Vfans are likely to give feedback that's a little less biased. Enter a Red Hat Society writing contest or something. That ought to do it.
Posted by: zonker at May 4, 2006 8:31 AMOption four. Get drunk.....
Posted by: james old guy at May 4, 2006 10:20 AM"The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything."
- Walter Bagehot
This may or may not help, but I'd be interested in the first half chapter.
Posted by: bedamned at May 4, 2006 10:55 AM"...you eagerly purchase?..."
Oops, a monkey just flew right outta my ass.
Howabout, "...you Dale Carnegie a page or two just out of train wreck-induced morbid curiosity..."
More like it, sez me.
Posted by: formerly the bitterman at May 4, 2006 12:01 PMNo matter what you decide, I want pictures of the self-flagellation.
Posted by: sadie at May 4, 2006 12:13 PMMost authors have a few folks they trust as early readers and sounding boards. Pick a few folks you trust to give you honest feedback, and invite them to read. Let everyone else pay...
Posted by: Omnibus Driver at May 4, 2006 1:45 PMDude! You can't find your underwear? What's the name of the novel? Brokeback Swamp?
Don't let me read it. All I'd do is tell you how good it is and give you an over-inflated ego. We can't let that happen. I will gladly pay you for a copy, though.
Posted by: Dash at May 4, 2006 2:35 PMAs infrequent as your posts have been, I guess I'm gonna have to pay if I want more Velociwisdom. Bastard.
Posted by: David K. at May 4, 2006 2:51 PMFuck! David K. brings up a most salient point. Are you going to go to a pay service, now that we are all hooked? Watch... just like cable, at first you'll promise all velociaction, all the time. Then you'll start in with the Elisson commercials.
Posted by: Cythen at May 4, 2006 4:32 PMDo what you got to do, Make your money say hi to the honey's I told you right now I was born to boggie.
Posted by: Don Jr. at May 4, 2006 9:07 PMSend it to me I'll tell you the truth either way!
Posted by: livey at May 4, 2006 11:21 PMDean Koontz already stole "Velocity." Sorry dood....
Posted by: marcus at May 5, 2006 1:59 AMYou could just post it all here for free,,,that would be a nice touch.
Posted by: Michele at May 5, 2006 12:29 PMI'm with Dash - screw all the peek-a-boo, and just sell me a copy of what you've got, with delivery in full if/when you finish it. In the unlikely event it sucked, it wouldn't be the first such book I'd bought on speculation. In your case, I have reason to believe it would be well worth the tumble.
Posted by: Patton at May 5, 2006 5:24 PMNo problem, Marcus. I was thinking Velocicock anyway.
Posted by: Velociman at May 5, 2006 8:37 PMNovella? Short story? Paperback by RedRooster Press?
Posted by: marcus at May 6, 2006 10:33 PM