An Examination of My Writing Systems

So today’s not a story day, but I still would like to say something. So I thought I’d write up a little something. Especially for the other authors that may be reading this because it’s mainly for you.

I first fell in love with writing and reading as a kid, and I grew up with Piers Anthony and Robert Asprin as my principle initiators. Eventually it grew to Asimov, Bova, Eddings, Tolkien, Brooks, Adams…it’s a long list. Those first two, though, brought me something I’ll never lose. Anthony gave me a grounding in both silliness and seriousness, alternating between the two to strengthen the story and the feeling of the writing. Asprin gave me a kind of hope, both for weaving interesting tales that swept people away, but also sharing. He fashioned a world with Thieve’s World, a shared universe where he and several other writers participated.

I’d like to share my worlds with everyone, I’d like to be able to include many authors in the worlds I fashion and flesh out. I can’t describe everything and it’d be nice to have a cadre of interested parties who do want to tell stories in a world I create. It’s both a compliment and a joy to read someone else playing with my toys.

So, at least three of the worlds I’m building I’m opening up to everyone and anyone to write in so long as they follow 3 rules.

1) You ask me when you’re curious about a ‘Rule’ of the world

2) You do not change those things that define the world, including important characters (IE, you can’t kill Elminster)

3) You respect the other authors, me included, when we write a story in this universe.

I’m willing to discuss the worlds as they come to fruition, getting input from other authors who’d love to help establish the ground floor. This isn’t just mine, it’s yours too. The rules are to protect everyone so they’re writing in the same space and same systems.

The three worlds I’m going to open up stories to are Royan (a high fantasy world where science is magic and the gods have been killed, where a portal to Earth has opened and brought colonialism, the Church, and ancient dogma back to roost), Jarvis Mac Callan’s Abyss (it’s a noir pulp sci-fi universe of hermetic magic, flying temples, and hard-boiled detectives), and Terra (a steampunk alternate universe where people in grey suits keep the Time, agents tune their senses to understand the weft and weave of actions, and Queen Victoria has been kept alive undying in a casket of iron and hatred).

Anyone interested in writing in these places with me?

All Cards on the Table

So, while this is titled “a self published author’s work” I’ve not actually published anything yet. The stories I’ve posted are rough drafts, so far, that I’m prepping for an anthology of short stories that I’m going to put on e-book markets. It’s important to me not only that I’m able to share my work with the world but also that it’s good quality, it’s well organized, and that people enjoy it. That’s why I share it here first, for free, and always will. I want to hear people talk about it, I want people to ask me about it, and I want to be part of your lives in small ways as a story teller. A modern day bard that doesn’t bring news of the world but news of the mind, of the heart.

Unfortunately, this comes with certain problems. I used to work in IT, as a help desk technician. Last year I lost my job and, over the course of the year, I’ve developed bad fibromyalgia related pain in my joints. I can’t work the jobs I used to be able to and I’m hovering just under poverty now while on unemployment. So writing, as well as a business venture I’m working on, are my lifelines. The work, my involvement with people who enjoy my work, are important but what’s also important is eating and having a house over my head. Which leads me to a conundrum – how to support myself?

Part of this is a discussion I’ve followed on Techdirt for a long time. It’s the Reason To Buy + Connect With Fans formula. I’m hoping that, initially, the reason to buy will be making sure I can keep writing. The connect with fans part? That’s this, that’s my comments, and that’s the fact that I’ll answer any of your questions, any one out there, that asks. I’ll go into long, rambling conversations with you if you want. I am an open book and, for the most part, have the time to be so for right now.

Between now and then, though, I need to build momentum. I need to be able to support myself. So, as those who read my blog, those who are interested in me continuing my work, how do you feel about me monetizing my blog a bit? Asking for donations or placing ads somewhere on the page? How best do you think I can make a living out of my love?

Or do I not have what it takes?