NEW UNPUBLISHEDNOTDEAD (with Little “R” Renee) December 12, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Just a little background before you hit this link. You all know Renne’s she’s more than a guest host these days, she’s the kind of guest that doesn’t have to knock on the door, comes in and pours herself a glass of wine before you even realize she’s there. Her first podcast was a bit choppy, but it was good … and since then they’ve all be good. This one, however, is GREAT. She’s really getting more comfortable in front of the mic, and at one point she spills a glass of water and leaves the whole thing in … unedited, and it just moves forward. She talks about publishing her novel herself, and she comes to these conclusions at the end … well just listen. I dug it.
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I bookmarked this site a couple months ago, and I have been pretty unhappy with the content (the lack there of), but I had plenty of past material to look over and read, so I didn’t say too much. Renee’ I think I’ve said it in the past, but I do relate to you so much. I think I like Little “R” Renee, and don’t worry I don’t think you need to talk about your husband and kids, I wouldn’t either. I think you can have privacy and still be honest. The part where you spilled your drink made you so much more human to me (does that make sense at all? Because it’s so stupid, but it was just so great how you just had a couple gulps of your drink and kept talking, it was so different from your scripted podcasts of yore). I loved your insight on self publishing, because your fears (which were all so well thought out), are my three fears as well about self publishing, and LOVED your sound effects. Those crickets are my biggest fear as well. Well I’ve listened, and now I have a month’s wait until the next one. I loved Eric’s introduction of you, that’s how I picture you, the girl who doesn’t knock!
I usually don’t like Renee’s podcasts, but this one was okay. Critics are stupid, I agreed with you about the internet and that’s how I get my info about books. I might pick up your novel (it’s in my wish list on Amazon, maybe my mom will get it for me, she likes your podcasts too so she’ll probably read it, by the way, she thinks Kael is a freak). I guess I thought this was okay since I listened to the whole thing, but there’s nothing else to do tonight. I remember Y2K, by the way, I’m 18 at the end of this month. hey how come this podcast isn’t on Itunes? It’s ugly out tonight, I’m in Idaho and we’re getting slammed. I think you’re right about Kael’s blog, and why I keep reading it, it makes me think. I’m not gay like him, but he’s made me rethink my stand on gay guys, and how much it changes their lives, and how different things would be if it didn’t matter. I’m not sure what book it was, but Barrack talks about how being black HAD to change his life; there was no avoiding it. I know what the road looks like for me, it’s a clear path to where ever I want to go, but for Kael, and guys like him it’s filled with speed bumps and dead animals to avoid. Just thinking out loud. Jake
So much to say, I wish I had taken notes. I’m not sure what this little r thing is about, but I did like this podcast, it was “edgier.” Not quite as edgy as I usually hear or read on this blog, but it was different. I think you touched on the one issue that every artist stresses over, “how do you outdo yourself?” If you’re Kael, then you just keep getting more and more controversial, but if you’re Renee’, how do you do it? I suppose I’ll have to keep listening to find out. I’m just in the mindset of going to a conference, but after reading Kael’s last post, and listening to your podcast I’m apprehensive. I know you’re not trying to discourage, but your podcasts tend to. I’m not sure why anyone thought you drinking a glass of water or spilling it made your podcast better, but I suppose it’s just a generational thing. It’s hard to get your own medicine, but remember if you can dish it out, then taking it shouldn’t cause you any tears. I wish I had taken notes, because you had so much information that I would like to comment on it all. You did mention something about how Kael’s blog is engaging, and I agree with that. I think it’s well written, and engages me, which is why I read it, and I enjoy that it’s not only his voice, and his opinions, he welcomes everyone to the table. I almost feel if I had sent him a podcast he’d put it up as well. It must be wonderful to have that kind of support. Maybe I’ll meet someone like him at a conference or someone like you, Renee, and make it will make it all worth it.
I put a picture up on my blog of the Christmas tree and the towel soaking up the spilled water, if any of you’d like a visual. :o) http://reneewrite.blogspot.com/ And the link to the Anne Lamott article about her son that I mention, is there too.
Eric- Nope. I don’t knock any more. Glad that’s not a problem. Thanks for letting me barge in.
Jessie- Thanks! Do you have a blog? Or writing you can point us to? I’d love to see some!
Jake- Glad you liked this one more than the others. And I’m glad your perspective on gay people is changing. I hope that road ahead of you stays clear and easy. Again, I think it’s great that your mom listens/reads here too. As the mom of an 8 year old son, (I can look at him and see how you might have been 10 years ago during the Y2K scare), it encourages me to see that you guys are able to share stuff like this. But Eric is not a freak!
Abby- Go to a conference! The one Eric and I went to was great! It’s just now, looking back, that it discourages me somewhat. At the time, I loved it! And I’ve been to others that were less critical and more encouraging–since they didn’t have that workshop component. Each time I’ve been to a conference I’ve found it very exciting and refreshing to connect with other writers. Are you near B.C. at all? The Surrey International Writing Conference is incredible! That was the first on I went to and I loved it too.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by R.E. Chambliss, R.E. Chambliss. R.E. Chambliss said: Guest-hosted a podcast at Unpublishednotdead: http://bit.ly/4HnVPX I've very conflicted feelings on self-publishing and promotion. [...]
Renee’ (and I address this to you because I LOVE that you react to comments, it makes things much more real to me), this is my first podcast that I’ve listened with you, and I have to add my voice to the masses, I think you’re great. I am pondering at this very minute self-publishing, and all the things you were talking about in this podcast, and the fear of out doing myself, and being crappy or hearing crickets. You just hit this right on! I also second the go to a conference advice that you just gave. I have been to many, although Squaw is a dream (running a google search on Squaw found me this blog, by the way), and in the end they have all been positive experiences. I do think one thing you should think about when being self published, is that you’re in it for the long haul. If you have friends who teach JC or college, you should ask them to use your book as an example of self publishing, since the future holds so much of that in store for them. Publishers are just not going to take chances anymore. If you know anyone, or make contact with someone who teaches marketing, give them a copy of your book and ask them to make it an assignment for their class to market your book. (much better to know someone, and I think that teachers are always willing to help people who are well spoken as yourself). I think you need to think of your first novel as a loss leader, and almost give it away in order to gain a following. Oh, by the way, all this advice means you MUST outdo yourself! so you can get rid of all those other fears and focus on the one! don’t write a sequel at first, write something completely different, it’ll keep everyone guessing.
Wow! Thank you, Bernie! I really appreciate your suggestions. I’d never thought about approaching a marketing class. What a great idea!
As for the next book, I am working on two. One is a sequel, but I’m also doing something very different.
There are lots of resources out there about self-publishing. Have you been to http://www.publetariat.com? Tons of great information there!
Great podcast as usual, and I’ll second the idea that this is your best so far, in my opinion. Let me try to explain the spilling water thing to whoever said it wasn’t professional, or whatever was said - it gave the listener a glimpse of the real you. Off the cuff, no notes, and as someone who’s listened to all of your podcast, it was welcomed to hear your “real” voice. No one has mentioned your intro for your book. It was well done, and made me want to buy it, even though I don’t like the genre you write in (usually). I too like that you respond. Eric/Kael seems to let his work stand by itself, maybe that’s a good tool, but as for me, I like that you react to your comments, it makes me want to say something. Is there ANY chance of you guys doing an Unpublishednotdead podcast together someday? I think it would be great if you guys could make it happen.
I’m new to this site, and hadn’t heard a Renee’ podcast before tonight … VERY DIFFERENT! I enjoyed the content, and I’m sure neither of you really compare each other to the other’s podcast (because they are so different), but it’s the only thing I can comment on. Not to disrespect Renee’, but Kael seems to have a relationship with the listener, I’d like him to polish up a bit more (like Renee’s podcasts). I’d actually like to hear Joanna do a podcast on her own, it would be interesting to hear what she’d come up with.
Okay … I actually do read all the comments, and totally dig them. It trips me out still a little that people hit this site, and do so much thinking about the content. First, I have written and done about three podcast since my last one, but they all sucked so I ditched them. I’m working on one now but Renee’ beat me to the punch, and I dug hers so much that now I wanna do another, completely different one than the one I was working on. Jake, MY mom thinks I’m a freak, don’t stress about it. Someone said something about my conference experience being so awful … far from it, it was very positive … would have gone the next year, but I just couldn’t get off work, and plus I hadn’t been writing as much so I decided to put it off. Thanks for the comments, and BUY RENEE’S BOOK!
Theo- Thanks! I’m glad the concept of the book appeals to you. I don’t think it’s typical for the genre–actually, it doesn’t fit very well into any genre, which is one of the reasons I gave up going the traditional publishing route. I think there’s a very good chance that Kael and I will do a podcast together. The question is when… Thanks again!
Mike- You are so right. Kael’s connection with the listener is one of the main reasons his podcasts are so good. I don’t try to compete, b/c I know I can’t!
Administration- (I forgot about this one. You have a third name!) I’m glad to hear you say your experience at the conference was positive. Going to that particular one is a big commitment, because it lasts a full week. I don’t know that I’ll do it again, for that reason. But it was great!