I think taking so much time off writing has given me a fresh perspective. I'm not saying I was in a rut, but I was definitely tunnel-visioned on each project as I went along.
Mostly, I see even more clearly that I can write whatever I want. The world is my oyster.
Not to say I can succeed at everything I write. In hindsight it's clear that not every premise pans out. In some cases, I just don't have the skill or experience to pull it off. In other cases, there just isn't enough new in the premise to interest people. And finally, there are premises that I think are great, but even before I start to write them, I realize other people probably won't be as interested.
On the other hand, some premises come out even better than I expected.
When I started back up, I gave myself permission to write everything that occurred to me. I don't think this was the wrong approach, and I certainly finished a bunch of books. I learned with each book. But there is limited time, and I need to probably start to narrow it down.
I still want to write my big EPIC TRILOGY--each book a few hundred thousand words long. Put my stake down. That doesn't mean anyone will notice, but they really won't notice if I don't try.
Meanwhile, I'm also giving myself permission to write shorter books. The Eden trilogy will probably all be smaller books.
The biggest thing that has happened is that I've relaxed into the process. That is, I'm not second guessing myself as much. If it feels right, then that's the way I do it. There is no right or wrong way. There is no objective critic who can subjectively judge what I'm doing on a quality scale or vice versa.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Masks are losing.
I haven't been talking about the store because I haven't wanted to jinx it. But things have been going extraordinarily well. Basically, our expenses are down and our sales are up, even though we're only open four hours a day. Pretty much the perfect set-up.
(Of course we're missing revenue from 8 weeks, plus the rather large lump of money spent on flooring. But we could be out all that plus having slow return business, so...I'm grateful.)
I keep reminding myself that in return we are taking chances. The thing that decided me was that I don't think the odds are going to be any better in a month, or two months, or three months...and there is only so long we can go without income. We're trying to take precautions, but...
It's obvious that masks are losing.
Sabrina and I are wearing masks, and using hand sanitizer, and trying to keep our distance, but a good half or more of the people coming in seem to be taking no precautions whatsoever.
Again, I have to measure the risk reward ratio. Deschutes County has had relatively few cases, and no deaths so far. I think everyone has decided that we're going to be living with this danger for a long time.
We'll keep track of what's going on, continue to overtly thank everyone who wears a mask, and try very hard to keep our distance. But I believe--no matter what you think of this situation--that people aren't going to stay cloistered much longer.
(Of course we're missing revenue from 8 weeks, plus the rather large lump of money spent on flooring. But we could be out all that plus having slow return business, so...I'm grateful.)
I keep reminding myself that in return we are taking chances. The thing that decided me was that I don't think the odds are going to be any better in a month, or two months, or three months...and there is only so long we can go without income. We're trying to take precautions, but...
It's obvious that masks are losing.
Sabrina and I are wearing masks, and using hand sanitizer, and trying to keep our distance, but a good half or more of the people coming in seem to be taking no precautions whatsoever.
Again, I have to measure the risk reward ratio. Deschutes County has had relatively few cases, and no deaths so far. I think everyone has decided that we're going to be living with this danger for a long time.
We'll keep track of what's going on, continue to overtly thank everyone who wears a mask, and try very hard to keep our distance. But I believe--no matter what you think of this situation--that people aren't going to stay cloistered much longer.
I'm listening to the audio of "Eden's Return."
It's very professional sounding. I've been lucky in my audio books. I experimented with my own version for a short time and realized I had no idea what I was doing. I catch the narrators stumbling a little about once a chapter, but I couldn't make it through half a page. (Not that most people would notice the stumbling...)
Anyway, the story sound pretty good. It's a different kind of book. I think that up to now I've been very focused on action packed storylines. This book has a bit of contemplation as well. I think the contrast between the contemplation and the action is very effective. I don't know. I was feeling my way to a new way of writing, and it works surprisingly well.
Of course, as always, I tend to see how I could have phrased things differently, how I could have expanded some elements, shrunk others. I see all the faults, but mostly it flows really well. Compared to my first two books from 40 years ago (FORTY YEARS?!) which was full of what I considered awkward phrasing and story problems. (Not that most readers seem to notice.)
I guess I'm in the experimental phase of my writing. I'm trying to broaden my approach. It doesn't always work, but it's the only way to get better at this. With 30 books under my belt, I still feel like a beginner.
On the other hand, I can definitely see the maturity that has developed in the 40 years between Star Axe and Eden's Return. (Though, ironically, in hindsight, I still consider "Led to the Slaughter" as probably my most accomplished book, maybe because it was the first book to really come together and I put a great deal of time and effort into it.)
It's very professional sounding. I've been lucky in my audio books. I experimented with my own version for a short time and realized I had no idea what I was doing. I catch the narrators stumbling a little about once a chapter, but I couldn't make it through half a page. (Not that most people would notice the stumbling...)
Anyway, the story sound pretty good. It's a different kind of book. I think that up to now I've been very focused on action packed storylines. This book has a bit of contemplation as well. I think the contrast between the contemplation and the action is very effective. I don't know. I was feeling my way to a new way of writing, and it works surprisingly well.
Of course, as always, I tend to see how I could have phrased things differently, how I could have expanded some elements, shrunk others. I see all the faults, but mostly it flows really well. Compared to my first two books from 40 years ago (FORTY YEARS?!) which was full of what I considered awkward phrasing and story problems. (Not that most readers seem to notice.)
I guess I'm in the experimental phase of my writing. I'm trying to broaden my approach. It doesn't always work, but it's the only way to get better at this. With 30 books under my belt, I still feel like a beginner.
On the other hand, I can definitely see the maturity that has developed in the 40 years between Star Axe and Eden's Return. (Though, ironically, in hindsight, I still consider "Led to the Slaughter" as probably my most accomplished book, maybe because it was the first book to really come together and I put a great deal of time and effort into it.)
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Sales over the first five days were good enough that I felt I could order all the books we needed. I told Sabrina to do regular graphic novel orders and to go ahead and do a game order. I just hope this level of sales continues. The limited hours don't seem to be hurting much.
We don't seem to be having any problems. Probably half the customers are wearing masks, the others are pretty good about keeping social distance, so neither Sabrina or I have felt overly threatened. No one has made any comments.
I went to the doctor yesterday and all my labs were perfect, right down the line. Probably the first time that's happened--that I wasn't a little "off" somewhere. If it wasn't for that little incident 15 months ago, I'd think I was in perfect health.
Tried doing a jigsaw puzzle reorder through my book distributor and they are completely sold out. I may have to go direct with some puzzle distributor another.
I've decided to create a "Duncan's Shelf." These would be the books I've read lately, at used prices. Just one shelf worth of "used" books for the entire store. I suppose I could trade them in, but the used bookstores have become so selective, it's hardly worth the trouble.
The new flooring is great. For some reason the store feels more open even though it's pretty much the same design. Moving a few inches here and there can make a difference. It's also much clearer how much dirt gets tracked into the store. We can immediately sweep it up, but it goes to show how much dirt was ground into the carpet on a regular basis.
We don't seem to be having any problems. Probably half the customers are wearing masks, the others are pretty good about keeping social distance, so neither Sabrina or I have felt overly threatened. No one has made any comments.
I went to the doctor yesterday and all my labs were perfect, right down the line. Probably the first time that's happened--that I wasn't a little "off" somewhere. If it wasn't for that little incident 15 months ago, I'd think I was in perfect health.
Tried doing a jigsaw puzzle reorder through my book distributor and they are completely sold out. I may have to go direct with some puzzle distributor another.
I've decided to create a "Duncan's Shelf." These would be the books I've read lately, at used prices. Just one shelf worth of "used" books for the entire store. I suppose I could trade them in, but the used bookstores have become so selective, it's hardly worth the trouble.
The new flooring is great. For some reason the store feels more open even though it's pretty much the same design. Moving a few inches here and there can make a difference. It's also much clearer how much dirt gets tracked into the store. We can immediately sweep it up, but it goes to show how much dirt was ground into the carpet on a regular basis.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Intuition versus logic.
The ever present battle. I'm a great believer in both, even when they contradict each other. My intuition is that people are going to come back. My logic says otherwise. So now I wait for evidence. I plan for the worse, and hope for the best.
About the best I can do and still have a decent store is plan for a 50% drop.
First three days of business were good. I think today will tell the tale.
About 65% of customers wore masks in the first half of the day, about 35% in the second half of the day. I think 50% is probably better than I expected.
I thanked each person who was wearing a mask.
I also realized that I could hand sanitize after every transaction, so that made me feel better about serving my people. So the real danger is to Sabrina and me from people not wearing masks. (I offered to work the first couple of weeks myself--but then, I'm not sure it will be any different in two weeks.)
I try to keep my distance.
The four hours doesn't seem to be a problem. In fact, I have a feeling that we could do that longterm without much damage. But then, in the end, it would look like we aren't serious. Nor would four hours be enough for Sabrina to survive on. So we'll get back to regular hours in June.
This is going to be an interesting ride.
About the best I can do and still have a decent store is plan for a 50% drop.
First three days of business were good. I think today will tell the tale.
About 65% of customers wore masks in the first half of the day, about 35% in the second half of the day. I think 50% is probably better than I expected.
I thanked each person who was wearing a mask.
I also realized that I could hand sanitize after every transaction, so that made me feel better about serving my people. So the real danger is to Sabrina and me from people not wearing masks. (I offered to work the first couple of weeks myself--but then, I'm not sure it will be any different in two weeks.)
I try to keep my distance.
The four hours doesn't seem to be a problem. In fact, I have a feeling that we could do that longterm without much damage. But then, in the end, it would look like we aren't serious. Nor would four hours be enough for Sabrina to survive on. So we'll get back to regular hours in June.
This is going to be an interesting ride.
Friday, May 15, 2020
"Don't do that!:
Setting aside for the moment the risk/reward ratio of opening up, it
feels really good. Even after 40 years of this, I’m excited. We are at
peak Pegasus!!
I think Gov. Brown has it exactly right--we are trying to measure the boundary between safety and the need to be open for business. This was never going to be an easy equation. But part of my thinking is that it won't get any easier in two weeks or a month. In fact, it might be better to be open now than in two weeks or a month!
I'd say about 70% of the people I saw downtown today were without masks. But then, they are a pretty self-selecting group; the people who are willing to go out shopping in the first place.
The question is--if that equation holds up, then waiting a week or a month to open isn't going to help. But waiting more than another month or two becomes nonviable as a business. I could wish people would be more careful. Hell, it isn't just the masks, but also the social distance.
I was inside a store this morning. The clerk wasn't wearing a mask; I stood 8 feet away in my mask while talking to her. A couple of friends come in and they start hugging each other.
"Don't do that!" I shout, and leave. I mean, I said it in a joking way--but...
I think Gov. Brown has it exactly right--we are trying to measure the boundary between safety and the need to be open for business. This was never going to be an easy equation. But part of my thinking is that it won't get any easier in two weeks or a month. In fact, it might be better to be open now than in two weeks or a month!
I'd say about 70% of the people I saw downtown today were without masks. But then, they are a pretty self-selecting group; the people who are willing to go out shopping in the first place.
The question is--if that equation holds up, then waiting a week or a month to open isn't going to help. But waiting more than another month or two becomes nonviable as a business. I could wish people would be more careful. Hell, it isn't just the masks, but also the social distance.
I was inside a store this morning. The clerk wasn't wearing a mask; I stood 8 feet away in my mask while talking to her. A couple of friends come in and they start hugging each other.
"Don't do that!" I shout, and leave. I mean, I said it in a joking way--but...
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Tomorrow we open.
Tomorrow we open. We are going to start with limited hours during May--12:00 to 4:00.
As we neared the finish line of reassembling the store, I ran out of juice. Just couldn't motivate myself to do another thing. I mean, it's all but done. Just a few things here and there that can be finished during store hours.
One thing I'm really hoping is that we can keep the dust down. That filthy old rug was half dust and I think every footstep probably raised a small cloud.
It's hard for me to see the changes. I have to assume they are there. Sabrina's wife, Ashley, said it was a huge transformation. "I didn't think a flooring could make that much difference, but before when I came into the store, it seemed like a typical nerdy place. Now it's..."
"Professional?" I offer.
She nods. "Professional."
(Great...so we were a typical nerdy place. I always preferred the term, "funky.")
We keep missing the UPS guy. Or he keeps missing us. I'm going in early tomorrow to make sure we take delivery.
So we're off and running. I hope we can do even half as much as normal--which would at least pay for most of the overhead if not for new material.
I'm half wondering if, instead of spending money, I should have asked for it--a Go Fund Me kind of thing, like what Paulina Springs Bookstore is doing. But I really can't ask for money if I don't desperately need it.
But anything you can buy would be appreciated.
It will be fun to be open again.
As we neared the finish line of reassembling the store, I ran out of juice. Just couldn't motivate myself to do another thing. I mean, it's all but done. Just a few things here and there that can be finished during store hours.
One thing I'm really hoping is that we can keep the dust down. That filthy old rug was half dust and I think every footstep probably raised a small cloud.
It's hard for me to see the changes. I have to assume they are there. Sabrina's wife, Ashley, said it was a huge transformation. "I didn't think a flooring could make that much difference, but before when I came into the store, it seemed like a typical nerdy place. Now it's..."
"Professional?" I offer.
She nods. "Professional."
(Great...so we were a typical nerdy place. I always preferred the term, "funky.")
We keep missing the UPS guy. Or he keeps missing us. I'm going in early tomorrow to make sure we take delivery.
So we're off and running. I hope we can do even half as much as normal--which would at least pay for most of the overhead if not for new material.
I'm half wondering if, instead of spending money, I should have asked for it--a Go Fund Me kind of thing, like what Paulina Springs Bookstore is doing. But I really can't ask for money if I don't desperately need it.
But anything you can buy would be appreciated.
It will be fun to be open again.
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