Episode 56: Your Friends & Family Are Not Your Fans (Nor Should You Plan for That)

Nope, no special guests. This time, you’re stuck with us. Fair warning about that — we may be a touch slaphappy, too….

00:00 —  Introduction

• Pip doesn’t want to wait for the dip in the music to start talking.
• We got to crank out this show as Pip wants to get to Game of Thrones and Penny Dreadful…
• So what have been up to? Simply put—The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.
• Killing two birds with one stone…
• NO, WE ARE NOT GETTING THE EBOOK OUT TOMORROW!!!
• The importance of a proof. Always get a proof before going to press!

04:55 — Killing Your Darlings

• The inspiration behind this episode: A quaint (interpret that as a HEALTHY SIZED but WORTHWHILE) read from Virtual Wayfarer
• Special note to Nobilis — The levels were off on account of me.
• This platform has a lot of tie backs to the Podcasting Community and the platform of Giving It Away for Free
• Even Wil Wheaton deals with the Free Model of the Interwebz.
• Asking Piper J “Do you get the impression that authors cross promote other authors as they once did?”
• Looking at that line between Fans and Friends
• Keep your expectations low for your friends and family
• Tee pulls up a memory of a bad book signing.
• The Pity Buy — like the Pity Shag, just avoid it!
• Your audience shouldn’t be your friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter. They should be outside those circles.
• When Tee came to grips with looking at his social media platform more realistically.
• You want to read books from authors you respect? Yeah, good luck with that…
• As we mentioned on Geektitude, we have to be selective about when we consume content.
• Giving negative feedback? No, we disagree.
• Reach outside those bubbles.
• Statistics? There are pluses and minuses there, too.
• And social media is not what it once was.

24:28 — Seriously? Seriously.

• Hey, a con invited us to attend…sorta….
• This event is a BIG event. HUGE. MEGA-SIZED even…
• Wait…when’s the event?
• Hold on…you waited a month before your event, I can’t make it, and now you want me to what?
• A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
• Aaaaaaand here — we — go……..
• THE RETURN OF PIP RAGE!
• Hey there, Idiot P.R. Firm, meet our friend Chuck Wendig…

33:30 — Listener Mail!

• No voicemail, but email! Cool!
• Michael Spence asks us about formatting of Cover Letters, as mentioned in our previous show.
  • Now, agents and editors are working digitally.
  • Tee looks back on the Morevi presentation.
  • Keep it professional. Short and sweet.
  • What matters above all else — following the agent’s or editor’s submission guidelines.
• Brian Webber wonders about the value and the publication of fanfic.
  • What is your goal — friends online or publication?
  • The value of Fan Fiction
  • Filing off the serial numbers of your fan fic and getting it published—pros, cons, and challenges.
  • Fandoms are hungry for new stories.
  • Kindle Worlds — a viable option for semi-pro fiction. Tee’s done it. Twice.

43:42 — Wrapping up

• Did what we say make sense?
• Got thoughts or comments on this show?
  • We have voicemail — 703.791.1701
  • I have email — tee@teemorris.com
  • Pip’s got email — pip@pjballantine.com
• What’s coming up for us?
  • 13-15 May — The 2016 Steampunk World’s Fair
    • Pip believes that Tee’s met K.W. Jeter. He hasn’t.
    • And Tee gets a little surprise on what’s coming up for the weekend…
    • A special preview of The Ghost Rebellion will be ready as well!
  • 22-24 July, Motor City Steam Con in Detroit
  • Throughout the Summer, Steampunk U in Hershey, PA
  • Sadly….no Balticon. :^(
• And now, off to the Tower of Joy….

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Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
on Tee, or the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences on Periscope
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.

Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.