Why the Hate?

I am working on several novels at the moment. During this time I have had nearly the same conversation with all sorts of people. 

Them: "That is great! What genre do you write?" 

Me: "Well, my first series is Urban Fantasy."

Them: "I love those books, who is publishing it?" 

Me: "I am going to self-publish, it is better for me in the long run."

Them: "Oh..." 

Suddenly they have lost interest in the conversation. The archaic ideals of the nineteen-fifties author-publisher are still here today. We accept that small no name start-ups can make the best game you ever played on your phone. We accept that YouTube musical sensations become household words without a record deal. Why is the stigma still present for authors that has fallen to the wayside in almost every other creative field. Today's publishers no longer promote books the way they did, instead relying on the authors to self-promote them. Only big names get pushed to the front of the store. That lady who has been writing the same story for thirty years with new names and varied locations. She gets front page exclusives. I include small press companies in the Self-published field, They seem to get the same responses I outlined earlier. 

Before you shrug off an author because some big name company isn't taking most of their sales, read some of it. I have found more impressive and unique stories in the small publisher/self-published sections than the rest of the store combined. Does this mean I think all publishers are evil, or useless? No, given the right circumstances they can be invaluable allies. Many of the authors in these big houses are there for a reason as well. Then there are the authors who have re-written Dracula from the perspective of a space alien working on better anal probes. 

There are garbage stories in the self-published field as well. Unless they include a heavy amount of mommy porn (the aliens are sexy and Dracula is now a vivacious but lonely housewife), they don't climb far up the best seller ladder and fade into obscurity. 

Go out and find a self-published book that sounds interesting. Worrying about classicism and big supporting names will leave you in a desert looking for an oasis while not noticing the rain forest next door.  

No Worries,

Charles Colp

create

Create

The drive to create is amazing. It can cause every emotion to flood your senses. Joy at a characters good fortune, sadness at the demise of a character you liked but was destined to reach a horrible fate. Painters, sculptors, artists of every ilk find these same things throughout history. Does that mean the artist is more emotive, or just better at putting those feelings into something. I have heard mechanics talk to a car while working on it, the same for gardeners and their plants. I think it is more a matter of medium and self-expression. If you find words your strength, then by all means put them down, even if you never show anyone. That is another topic. Paint grand cathedrals in the sky, draw a unicorns first experience with a flower, or talk to your plants as you water and care for them. Everyone has a talent, everyone can create something. Whether it is good is subjective. You will find a million trolls to the one beacon of hope on the internet. In the end only your own feelings for the creation really matter. Every other pair of eyes comes with it's own prejudices, experiences, and bias. Go, create, and in the end, if it makes you happy, good job. Do it again.

Singularity

Singularity

We have all had that moment. The entire world coalesces into a single point. Every thing in your life is dropped away and stripped down to the bareness. The point that breaks the soul. We keep pushing but the point is a singularity, devouring all of the energy we put into it. We have found the thing that makes great men or breaks them. No matter how you turn, the point is still in front of you. Do you let it suck you in? Do you fight back against odds that any mathematician would put approaching infinite. These aren't the outlier points of life. They are the points that make even those seem normal.

The light of comfort even seems pulled into the center. You realize that the singularity has changed all that you touch. It makes no moves, it doesn't have to. It is patient, it waits for the time you decide how to deal with it, because it knows what most will choose. The path doesn't fork or bend around it. It too is part of the singularity. Will you come out the other side? If you do will you still be human? The husks of those that chose this are all around. They left their heart in place of getting free. Was that the only choice? Is that the payment to come out the other side. Nothing can be unchanged once through it. Time is a fickle bitch. She may deaden the hardest edges, but even the soft ones can cut.

When you face the singularity, do you want there to be mirrors on the other side? Do you want any reminder? Some go on never looking at what the singularity did to themselves. The world changed, not them. Others curl into themselves until there is nothing left but the fetus that began this journey. Can you find the courage to untuck your arms and legs. Can you find the strength to hold up your head even when the singularity wasn't of your making. It just was. Can you still look left and right. Is there still an angel on your shoulder always showing you the way, or have they gone in the ludeness of your nudity. The bare essence of what made you great. Accepting things outside your control is a tenet of most religions. What of the things you can't control, yet have gained control over you. Zealotry of any kind can be dangerous. It allows for black and white. The gray is gone from life. Do you oppose the dying of the gray or accept it as it is. A hollow existence. The Singularity still waits while you ponder, cry, bemoan, and yell at it for being. It feels nothing, the ultimate sociopath. Will you have the courage to reach out and touch it. Will you be sure that your heart will remain unjaded. There are never assurances. A random accident could take your decision from you. Time to decide is approaching. Maybe it won't be so bad. The singularity maybe a turning point. Another universe of choices to be made. A time not filled with anger. A time when what is right, is all that is left. The world will never be fair. But it can be just.  

Something touched my soul

Something touched my soul today, I am proud to say that it is something I wrote. My character "Sprite" found herself where I would put myself if I had the opportunity. Home. I have lived all over the world and all over the United States. I have tried to make a home of so many places. Even after I had a family of my own to care for, I still dream of the one place I felt at peace. the one place that could fill me emotionally with a sound, a smell, a sight. When I have taken care of anything that being a good parent requires, I have resolved to take my beautiful wife and move back home. I know that I should do it sooner, it would probably fill my children with the same love I have for the place. Unfortunately not all decisions are mine to make right now. When they are once again I will be doing whatever it is I have to do to get my family to my home. I will be doing them a great service, seeing their father happy and content is just as important for them as it is for me. My wife is completely behind this plan. Yet another thing that makes her so wonderful. If I gave her a date she would mark it on a calendar and put an app on her phone to count down the days. In the end, you have to stay true to yourself. If you have to try making yourself happy in a place. you don't belong there. I can't wait to step on the beach again, to put on a hoodie because the breeze from the ocean is cool on an August morning. I also can't wait to inhale the tranquility, view the spectacle, and hear natures song. Hopefully soon...

Monterey Waves

It all connects

Something that I struggle with, and so do many others from meeting many writers, is diet and exercise. I never know what to eat and when I do it is usually bad for me. Like frozen burrito in the microwave bad. I am also blessed to have some pretty diverse and amazing friends that I have made over the years. One of whom is a competitive swimmer. She really knows what she is talking about and has the knowledge and experience to share with us contributors to the national waistline. Follow her new blog on food and deciphering the tons of half true information out there.

Being in better shape, means less carpal tunnel, less back pain, more comfort while writing, better sleeping habits. I am sure at least one of those applies to my writing friends.

Deciphering the mountain of misinformation in food and diet

Take the good with the good

I have heard many people use the phrase take the good with the bad. After today I am revising it to take the good with the good. I have had ten things that I am grateful for besides my usual twenty-five (my family). Will I still have bad days. Of course, but they will now be tempered by the knowledge that I have something I have always dreamed of coming true. I can't say more than that but I really wish sleep wasn't a requirement so I could work through the night on my projects.
No Worries,
Charles R. Colp

Outside cues always help

Tonight we have been deluged with rain and lightning. The power went out for several long hours of little information getting to me at home. I got out my notebook and started writing down everything I noticed about my feelings and perceptions in the complete silence. It turned into an idea for one of my future updates on my new story. I try to make lemonade as much as I can from anything life throws my way.

Why not wear a flower hat, they're cool. 

Writing what is popular versus what would happen

it is difficult to write for readers sometimes. Everyone wants a happy ending and not just any happy ending but the one they expect. Enter chaotic writer, Not all of my stories will end with a cherry milkshake. What do you think? anyone have thoughts on writing for the reader vs the story?

Writing something you don't know

       I have learned the hardest writing I have done so far is my new Hello World? series. Not due to subject matter, or characters, but trying to write descriptively for a blind main character. There is so much information we get from seeing something, whether it is body language, scenery, or impending danger. I think there will be something to level the field soon for Jared. Maybe even make him better at dealing with the danger than Jeff.

meaningful pictures

Taking Meaningful pictures for a character is a favorite of mine. I now find myself in a spot trying to get meaningful pictures for a person born blind. it is much harder than you would think.

mystery tour

I have realized that my writing is like a mystery tour. Even I don't know where the heck it is headed sometimes. No worries, it will get there in the end.

The Sixth Race

In a world ruled by five races there may be an unknown

The Sixth Race

testing other styles

Trying something you haven't done before is scary, usually. Hope I was able to do it cohesively is my main goal now.

New Site Design

The new site design is finished. For those that haven't been there yet, you should find it easy to read and simple to navigate. http://charlescolp.com/

New main site redesign

Finished most of my new site design. Can't wait to get my first new post up to see how it works out. I have added several new features to make it cleaner and easier to jump in and start reading. I have some more ideas planned and will be putting them in place once I figure out the best way to implement them. For now, it is ready for prime time. 

Charles Colp

Genre bending

For those not sure what genre I fit in, you aren't alone. I am writing as much as I can in different genres and styles to broaden myself as  writer. I will never feel I have nothing new to learn so I plan to keep writing different stuff until I die. My favorite genre though is suspense and Urban Fantasy. I don't have a preference between male or female leads and am just as comfortable with one as I am the other. Hope this clears things up as to where to put that pigeonhole to stick me in lol.

Writing and life

I took forever but finally committed to writing more regularly. I know it is something I love and have kept to myself too long. So I have been forcing myself to do something I am not used to doing. Putting out rough first drafts. I realized i was never happy enough with anything I wrote to think it was done, thus it never got published to the web or anywhere other than my notebooks. I know where this is headed but it will take a while to get where I am ready to actually publish for real. Time to get back to writing.

Home (almost) alone

I have finally joined the ranks of blogging stay at home dads, to most hard working adults this would seem like a dream situation. It is easy sheeesh, what isn't to love about it? You get to sit at home and play with your kids, do a little laundry, clean some dishes and make some meals. Oh yeah and did I say play with the kids? Well I was scared to death, Visions of my rambunctious 3 year old running with my Henkel knife collection, discovering how fun fire can be, or build a thermo-nuclear device. You know all the fun things 3 year olds do. Never mind that the knives are on top of the refrigerator, or that the only lighter in the house is in my pocket, or that my subscription to fissionable materials monthly has run out.

Why such fear of my kids and being alone with them? I remember how inquisitive I was at their ages, and how much trouble I should have been in. There was the time that I built ***************(redacted so you will not be prosecuted as an accomplice)***************, but you get the idea.

So, how has it gone today? Well I am glad to say that we have broken no international treaties, nor is there the smell of gas, and the monkey is free of any holes or puncture wounds. He has so far helped me load the dishwasher, clean the yard, and put the clothes in the washer. I can't believe I got worked up so badly but I will be better tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong, I am not, nor will I ever say being a stay at home anything is easy. I have known it is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs in the world. Oh and the pay really sucks, but I think my fear of what might happen was really getting to me. I know there will be really bad days but for now, I want to get it down that, there are good days too.

Hmmmm now I wonder if he is luring me in with good behaviour so he can pounce tomorrow. Well I guess I will be as bad tomorrow. I know he can be a handful, and then some...but I am hoping he has forgotten it. Yeah thats it, he just forgot....