Day: April 21, 2020

How to un-self-publish: can you remove a book from self-published channels if you want to do something else with it?

~ thereluctantpoet ~ 4 Comments

Nail Your Novel

I’ve had this question:

Can I free my book from Amazon CreateSpace? I want to seek a traditional deal. I published my first book a few years ago through CreateSpace. It’s a prelude to the one I’m now writing, and I am trying to find a publisher. Is there any way to free it from Amazon to match it to whoever I finally publish with? Sue

If you’re an experienced self-publisher you’ll know this is easy-peasy – so I’ll just say cheerio and see you next time. If not, read on….

Many writers might have an early book on a self-publishing platform, and now want to remove it. Perhaps to try for a traditional deal. Or to rework the material now they’re in a new phase of their writing life.

Here’s how to un-self-publish.

Do you have to ‘free your book’?

There are several aspects to this.

First: the rights…

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My idea of hell

~ thereluctantpoet ~ 2 Comments

A Faded Romantic's Notebook

I often fill my Sundays with music.

Usually a rich and eclectic mix of sounds from all over the world.

Different genres, different, times, different countries.

I long ago realised that I like music the way I like people.

Diverse in age, sex and sexuality, ethnicity, colour, language and culture.

I realised too that my idea of hell is a place entirely populated by straight white people.

Like me.

NB  Obviously the painting represents more my idea of heaven than one of hell.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Not brand new, but always true, and the way I often spend my Sundays

Art by Larry Poncho Brown

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“One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing, And you’ll spread your wings and you’ll take to the sky”

~ thereluctantpoet ~ 2 Comments

Art of Quotation

“One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing
And you’ll spread your wings and you’ll take to the sky”

— Music by George Gershwin with lyrics by Dubose Heyward / Ira Gershwin.  Summertime, 1935, aria from the opera Porgy and Bess

More

“Summertime” is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP.

The song soon became a popular and much recorded jazz standard, described as “without doubt … one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote … Gershwin’s highly evocative writing brilliantly mixes elements of jazz and the song styles of blacks in the southeast United States from the early twentieth century”.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has characterized Heyward’s lyrics…

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Where’s the PPE?

~ thereluctantpoet ~ 2 Comments

Andrew Green's Poems

We tell them that they’re heroes;

Stand outside and clap

But are they meant to die for us?

Is it enough to clap?

We praise their dedication,

Utterly selfless care

But where is that equipment?

Why is it not there?

Medics are not soldiers

They don’t sign up for war

They are not meant to die for us

Just to give us care.

We praise our gallant medics

But it’s plain for all to see

They need the right protection

Where’s the PPE?

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Waves of Change

~ thereluctantpoet ~ 2 Comments

Savvy Raj

The world is in a constant state of flux

And change is the only constant.

Change refreshes perspectives

As we see the world with a fresh pair of eyes.

Change is meant to be.

Change is the inevitable truth

For nothing can stay the same.

All is amenable to change.

But change can be most challenging

Trying and tenacious to bear

Resisting change never helps

Adaptability is the key

To Respond than react to changes

Everything is meant to flow

And evolve along in time.

Change too will outgrow itself

Keep the trust and faith

Have patience and believe

It shall soon settle or pass

Whatever it is, it moves on!

All is a matter of change!

Savvy

#Wordsofhope #thoughtsfortheday #awareness #positivethoughts #hopeful #possibilities #acceptance ##wisdomfromchallenges

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The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – April 19

~ thereluctantpoet ~ 3 Comments

Jo Hawk

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 110 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? We are living in an upside-down world. The hustle and bustle of daily commutes, the never-ending parade of constant stress, unreasonable demands, over-hyped experiences, and thrilling activities competing for your time, attention, and energy—evaporated. Self-isolation, social distancing, work from home, eLearning, family time, and dog walking, are the newest must-do exercises. No one would blame you if you are feeling directionless in your suddenly open schedule.

Abrupt changes can induce anxiety, but what if you considered this an opportunity to cultivate deep working habits? Deep work is a concept defined by Cal Newport, associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and self-help author. He defines deep…

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