Showing posts with label meta-post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meta-post. Show all posts
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Bad Bad Bel.
Yes, I know I have been veryvery bad about updating this. Things went crazy - a trip to Australia, two new jobs, and thesis panic. But I am trying hard to get everything back up and running again, and this comes first. So, very shortly after I post this I will be posting the next episode of Pandora. Many, many apologies for the ball dropping. :(
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Metapost
Hi there faithful readers. ;)
As you know, if you read the very first post, this blog is something of an experiment in cyber-funded creativity. Me trying to see if I can make some kind of money out of putting my stories out in the world. If you are reading this, you get to be my experimental audience, on whom I try to see if I can make this work.
Several of you have helped enormously already by getting the word out. You've linked to me on your own blogs. I believe some of you have been plugging me on facebook. And I thank you for spreading the word, because without readers this will never work. Those of you who came here via one of those people, yay! Thanks for coming! Please feel very free to tell your friends. *grin*
However, Belgatherial's Hearth has been in existence for over two weeks now, and I have yet to make a cent on donations. I have had a fair number of "wow, this is awesome"s (even from complete strangers! (Hi, thanks for popping round. Please keep coming back - oh, and tell all your friends. ;P)), which suggest that the writing is pretty decent, and I am getting more hits than I thought I would, so people are reading, they just aren't donating. So, I have been toying with a number of ideas for trying to encourage the donation thing to happen.
So, if you were on the verge of donating, which of these things would push you over to pressing the button? This is a purely hypothetical, and there are no obligations at all. I'm just looking for a little feedback. :)
Some of the things I have thought of doing:
* Not starting the second story until I get a certain amount in donations. Yay! Bribery. Of course the evil side effect is no-one ever donates and the whole project slides into disuse.... Which would suck, since the next story is ready and waiting to go. Of course, I do have various odds and ends I could throw your way until we hit the target, and I would make it a fairly managable target. How about NZ$50? What if I posted something tid-bitty, like a poem, or flash fic, each time anyone donates anything, even $1, and once we hit $50, I'll start on Pandora?
* Offering some kind of perk for donors. I'm not entirely sure what though - any suggestions? One of the things I thought of is a bonus epilogue. I'd write an epilogue to Eternity Touch which only donors get.
* Offering some kind of extra. Like printing and binding each story all pretty like at the end and sending it by mail to those who want it. Problem is, this would be pretty expensive to do, since I'd inevitably be sending internationally, and would have to charge accordingly. I am fairly crafty though, so I could make it look really good. If there's any interest I'll do some actual research into how much it would cost to do and send. Would any of you be interested in something like that, and if so, how much would you be willing to pay for it?
* Other forms of donation? (I'm really unsure this would work at all, but it crossed my mind, so I'll put it here). I have a wishlist for the books I need and want to write my thesis. Allowing people to donate by sending a book instead? The thing about this is it would probably be more expensive than if they just donated, and they clearly aren't doing that, so I dunno.
* Allowing donors to pick the next myth with which I deal. If you donate, you are able to tell me what to write about. Pick a myth for the next story I do (On a first come, first served basis). Multiple sponsors for the same myth would get equal bragging rights. ;)
* Creating a Donors' Link section on the sidebar, where I would acknowledge your contribution, and link to whatever website you choose. (Your own, or something you wish to support)
* For those of you on LJ, 'Song suggested it may help to be on LJ. In other words, as of the next story, I would double post to there as well, so you wouldn't have to follow a link, the story would just pop up on your friendslist.
So. Which of these do you, as the readers, think would be most effective?
As you know, if you read the very first post, this blog is something of an experiment in cyber-funded creativity. Me trying to see if I can make some kind of money out of putting my stories out in the world. If you are reading this, you get to be my experimental audience, on whom I try to see if I can make this work.
Several of you have helped enormously already by getting the word out. You've linked to me on your own blogs. I believe some of you have been plugging me on facebook. And I thank you for spreading the word, because without readers this will never work. Those of you who came here via one of those people, yay! Thanks for coming! Please feel very free to tell your friends. *grin*
However, Belgatherial's Hearth has been in existence for over two weeks now, and I have yet to make a cent on donations. I have had a fair number of "wow, this is awesome"s (even from complete strangers! (Hi, thanks for popping round. Please keep coming back - oh, and tell all your friends. ;P)), which suggest that the writing is pretty decent, and I am getting more hits than I thought I would, so people are reading, they just aren't donating. So, I have been toying with a number of ideas for trying to encourage the donation thing to happen.
So, if you were on the verge of donating, which of these things would push you over to pressing the button? This is a purely hypothetical, and there are no obligations at all. I'm just looking for a little feedback. :)
Some of the things I have thought of doing:
* Not starting the second story until I get a certain amount in donations. Yay! Bribery. Of course the evil side effect is no-one ever donates and the whole project slides into disuse.... Which would suck, since the next story is ready and waiting to go. Of course, I do have various odds and ends I could throw your way until we hit the target, and I would make it a fairly managable target. How about NZ$50? What if I posted something tid-bitty, like a poem, or flash fic, each time anyone donates anything, even $1, and once we hit $50, I'll start on Pandora?
* Offering some kind of perk for donors. I'm not entirely sure what though - any suggestions? One of the things I thought of is a bonus epilogue. I'd write an epilogue to Eternity Touch which only donors get.
* Offering some kind of extra. Like printing and binding each story all pretty like at the end and sending it by mail to those who want it. Problem is, this would be pretty expensive to do, since I'd inevitably be sending internationally, and would have to charge accordingly. I am fairly crafty though, so I could make it look really good. If there's any interest I'll do some actual research into how much it would cost to do and send. Would any of you be interested in something like that, and if so, how much would you be willing to pay for it?
* Other forms of donation? (I'm really unsure this would work at all, but it crossed my mind, so I'll put it here). I have a wishlist for the books I need and want to write my thesis. Allowing people to donate by sending a book instead? The thing about this is it would probably be more expensive than if they just donated, and they clearly aren't doing that, so I dunno.
* Allowing donors to pick the next myth with which I deal. If you donate, you are able to tell me what to write about. Pick a myth for the next story I do (On a first come, first served basis). Multiple sponsors for the same myth would get equal bragging rights. ;)
* Creating a Donors' Link section on the sidebar, where I would acknowledge your contribution, and link to whatever website you choose. (Your own, or something you wish to support)
* For those of you on LJ, 'Song suggested it may help to be on LJ. In other words, as of the next story, I would double post to there as well, so you wouldn't have to follow a link, the story would just pop up on your friendslist.
So. Which of these do you, as the readers, think would be most effective?
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Welcome to my hearth.
Hi there.
Presumably if you are reading this, you already know me. You will have come here because you got an email from me, or from a link on my livejournal. I am starting this blog for my creative writings. Stories which I have hidden from the world for years. Stuff that's bubbling in my brain. Possibly even some poetry here and there.
My first major project started years ago with a story called Eternity Touch, which I will post after this. Eternity Touch was written for an anthology that never happened. The idea behind it was that various people would write stories based on myths. Mine was based on one of my all-time favourite myths: Persephone's abduction into hell, and the subsequent creation of the seasons. To the best of my knowledge, no-one else came through with a story. Certainly, the anthology never happened. But I did get one of my best stories out of it. So, my proposal is to fulfill the original dream. To create a series of stories based on myths. I'm not going to try and stick to the Greek, because other mythologies also have such lovely stuff to work from.
At the end of each story there will be a 'donate' button. You are not obliged to donate, but it would be most appreciated, and if all goes well, it may eventually turn into an actual book. If that happens, everyone who donated will be acknowledged in that book. I have seen this work for other people ( M.C.A. Hogarth's wonderful The Aphorism's of Kerishdar happened out of a similar project on her livejournal, and are very much well worth reading, because they are gorgeous. And check it out - now she's on Amazon!). This kind of cyber-funded creativity is starting to happen, and while I don't for one second put myself in the same category as people like M.C.A Hogarth or 'Song with her brilliant Wind Tunnel Dreams and Shayara, I do think I write some pretty nifty stuff, and it would rock to make some cash out of it. Especially since, at the moment, things are very, very tight. The small donations add up, so don't feel that if you can't donate a lot it's a problem. Small donations are also very very welcome, and you will be acknowledged if I manage to make a book out of this. However, if you really can't do it, please still keep reading. Readers are important.
Also, if you feel the need or inclination to plug this, please do so. The more people going, "hey, where's the next one?", the more inclined I will feel to write. I may throw in a couple of other, unconnected pieces here and there, just to keep things interesting. You help me by spreading the word. Please do.
I have said elsewhere that fiction is hardest for me. Travel I can do. Easily. Writing about cooking comes as naturally as breathing. I can even tell you how to live your life with minimum shame. But fiction scares the bejesus out of me. I freeze up. The stories in my head laugh at me and swirl around so I can't get them down. I may end up doing the various stories episodically as a result of this. Eternity Touch took me ages to write, and I want to keep you interested. All and any encouragement is very welcome. Help me make something beautiful. Donate if you can, and please, please, bring your friends.
Welcome to my hearth. It's story time.
Presumably if you are reading this, you already know me. You will have come here because you got an email from me, or from a link on my livejournal. I am starting this blog for my creative writings. Stories which I have hidden from the world for years. Stuff that's bubbling in my brain. Possibly even some poetry here and there.
My first major project started years ago with a story called Eternity Touch, which I will post after this. Eternity Touch was written for an anthology that never happened. The idea behind it was that various people would write stories based on myths. Mine was based on one of my all-time favourite myths: Persephone's abduction into hell, and the subsequent creation of the seasons. To the best of my knowledge, no-one else came through with a story. Certainly, the anthology never happened. But I did get one of my best stories out of it. So, my proposal is to fulfill the original dream. To create a series of stories based on myths. I'm not going to try and stick to the Greek, because other mythologies also have such lovely stuff to work from.
At the end of each story there will be a 'donate' button. You are not obliged to donate, but it would be most appreciated, and if all goes well, it may eventually turn into an actual book. If that happens, everyone who donated will be acknowledged in that book. I have seen this work for other people ( M.C.A. Hogarth's wonderful The Aphorism's of Kerishdar happened out of a similar project on her livejournal, and are very much well worth reading, because they are gorgeous. And check it out - now she's on Amazon!). This kind of cyber-funded creativity is starting to happen, and while I don't for one second put myself in the same category as people like M.C.A Hogarth or 'Song with her brilliant Wind Tunnel Dreams and Shayara, I do think I write some pretty nifty stuff, and it would rock to make some cash out of it. Especially since, at the moment, things are very, very tight. The small donations add up, so don't feel that if you can't donate a lot it's a problem. Small donations are also very very welcome, and you will be acknowledged if I manage to make a book out of this. However, if you really can't do it, please still keep reading. Readers are important.
Also, if you feel the need or inclination to plug this, please do so. The more people going, "hey, where's the next one?", the more inclined I will feel to write. I may throw in a couple of other, unconnected pieces here and there, just to keep things interesting. You help me by spreading the word. Please do.
I have said elsewhere that fiction is hardest for me. Travel I can do. Easily. Writing about cooking comes as naturally as breathing. I can even tell you how to live your life with minimum shame. But fiction scares the bejesus out of me. I freeze up. The stories in my head laugh at me and swirl around so I can't get them down. I may end up doing the various stories episodically as a result of this. Eternity Touch took me ages to write, and I want to keep you interested. All and any encouragement is very welcome. Help me make something beautiful. Donate if you can, and please, please, bring your friends.
Welcome to my hearth. It's story time.
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