Such a cool video, man. I think we underestimate the power of elimination. When you mentioned “there was no other option,” that hits the nail on the head. This year, I applied that to fitness. I became obsessed with that world, of finally taking better care of myself physically. I became singularly focused on being mindful to ONE thing, and the progress flew at light speed. It was tied to something meaningful and important to me, that I was almost just watching it unfold (similarly to your writing sprint). As I work on writing, I see that this method translates very well. When we have a really fundamental passion for something, sometimes it’s worth it to just devote the time and go for it, unrestrained. I also like putting some time pressure on myself; it encourages action. “Lose this amount of weight by this date,” or “Write this many words by this hour.” Even if we “fail” the specific number or goal, we still win, because we’re out on the field, doing the thing. Thanks for the thought provoking conversation. This channel’s definitely going places. 👊🏻 -Ethan
100% agree. I really appreciate you leaving this comment, and I’m glad the core message resonated with you. All the best with your writing endeavors, and I hope to have some more videos like this dropping soon 💪
I am up late and have some questions so I’m commenting here a bit. What is the process of self-publishing like? Have you gotten the book out to any major place like Amazon or another major website? Have you gotten to like Barnes-Noble? What have you done in this process? Is there anything that you would change if you could do it again? What has the publishing process been like?
I originally planned on 9 books for this series, with each trilogy being their own kind of standalone thing. I have written 4 books in the series so far. It could end up being 6, we will just have to see how I’m feeling when I get to that stage and if I feel like there are more stories in that universe worth telling.
Besides my horror western series, yes. I’ve got a few ideas that I’m playing with right now. I would love to do a pure high fantasy epic along with a sci fi series that would be similar to the Space Marines from Warhammer. Who knows if they will ever come to fruition, but I still enjoy brainstorming and always thinking about what’s coming next.
I had something similar to this happen back in 2020. The idea hit, I sad down and wrote the entire first chapter by hand in a night. Developed my plot outline within the week. I was so excited and needed to get all of my ideas out but eventually the writing dwindled away. I’ve barely written it since and I’ve felt stuck with it. How between initial idea and publishing? Who did you use for cover design? Can’t wait to read it.
That sounds incredible! I would definitely try and give it a go again. Don’t worry about having all of the pieces, and just try and get whatever you can on the page. Then go back through and add more and more each time you do. I came up with the initial idea in the fall of 2022. I started writing it in February of 2023, and now I just published it in June of 2024. And I appreciate you wanting to check it out!
Wow, I butchered that last message. I appreciate the motivation. I fear what I’m trying to write may just be impossible. I’ve never read anything like it before, so there must be a reason for that, and the reason why it’s so hard for me to finish it. How did formatting go for you? Or do you have a video covering that?
The best art ever created is the art that no one had ever done before. The impossible art that hadn’t been seen or done prior. So it sounds like you’ve got a gem on your hands. You can finish it, 100%. As for formatting, just so I have the question right, do you mean the formatting for the finished book? Or the formatting while I’m writing it?
@@ericbowdenbooks That makes me feel slightly better. Lol. I meant the formatting for the finished book but, I suppose you can answer both questions if you would like? Thank you!
Formatting while you write it is pretty easy if you’re using a word processor like google docs or word. As for the finished book, I did hybrid style self-publishing so I had a publisher handle my interior layout.
How did you go through the publishing process? Are you publishing yourself? Are you going through a publisher? I have heard that it is hard for a first-time author to go to a publisher with a series. How did you figure out this process?
I sent out dozens of queries to agents and couldn’t get anyone to bite. Granted, I had nothing (no accolades, recognizable name, or marketing tools) besides my manuscript, and in today’s publishing world, they want to see that you have avenues to market your book and that they would get a return on investment for your advance. That’s why you see a lot of already well known people getting book deals and less first time authors. It’s the safer bet for publishers rather than taking risks on new people. A lot of authors, including myself, choose to go down the self-publishing route in order to get our work out there in any way we can. I also focused on building up ways to market myself and my work through Instagram and TH-cam. I’m hoping my second go around with traditional publishing is more successful, but if I’m unable to secure an agent, I’ll continue to self-publish until that happens. Hope this helps!
@@ericbowdenbooksSo I am currently being very ambitious and am attempting to come up with this huge universe of multiple series, and kind of trying to get it somewhat intertwined. I am doing the outlining right now and researching all different things that I think are relevant. So when did you go like this is enough to start writing? Is it like preference?
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Such a cool video, man. I think we underestimate the power of elimination. When you mentioned “there was no other option,” that hits the nail on the head. This year, I applied that to fitness. I became obsessed with that world, of finally taking better care of myself physically. I became singularly focused on being mindful to ONE thing, and the progress flew at light speed. It was tied to something meaningful and important to me, that I was almost just watching it unfold (similarly to your writing sprint).
As I work on writing, I see that this method translates very well. When we have a really fundamental passion for something, sometimes it’s worth it to just devote the time and go for it, unrestrained. I also like putting some time pressure on myself; it encourages action. “Lose this amount of weight by this date,” or “Write this many words by this hour.”
Even if we “fail” the specific number or goal, we still win, because we’re out on the field, doing the thing.
Thanks for the thought provoking conversation. This channel’s definitely going places. 👊🏻
-Ethan
100% agree. I really appreciate you leaving this comment, and I’m glad the core message resonated with you. All the best with your writing endeavors, and I hope to have some more videos like this dropping soon 💪
I am up late and have some questions so I’m commenting here a bit.
What is the process of self-publishing like? Have you gotten the book out to any major place like Amazon or another major website? Have you gotten to like Barnes-Noble? What have you done in this process? Is there anything that you would change if you could do it again? What has the publishing process been like?
How ambitious are you in your series? Do you have an idea of how many books? Expansion books? What is the end goal towards this series?
I originally planned on 9 books for this series, with each trilogy being their own kind of standalone thing. I have written 4 books in the series so far. It could end up being 6, we will just have to see how I’m feeling when I get to that stage and if I feel like there are more stories in that universe worth telling.
@@ericbowdenbooks so these 4 books are fully written and in the editing process?
Correct, along with a fantasy, horror western that will be released early next year.
@@ericbowdenbooks Are you working or thinking of another series to do after this first one?
Besides my horror western series, yes. I’ve got a few ideas that I’m playing with right now. I would love to do a pure high fantasy epic along with a sci fi series that would be similar to the Space Marines from Warhammer. Who knows if they will ever come to fruition, but I still enjoy brainstorming and always thinking about what’s coming next.
I had something similar to this happen back in 2020. The idea hit, I sad down and wrote the entire first chapter by hand in a night. Developed my plot outline within the week. I was so excited and needed to get all of my ideas out but eventually the writing dwindled away. I’ve barely written it since and I’ve felt stuck with it. How between initial idea and publishing? Who did you use for cover design? Can’t wait to read it.
That sounds incredible! I would definitely try and give it a go again. Don’t worry about having all of the pieces, and just try and get whatever you can on the page. Then go back through and add more and more each time you do. I came up with the initial idea in the fall of 2022. I started writing it in February of 2023, and now I just published it in June of 2024. And I appreciate you wanting to check it out!
Wow, I butchered that last message. I appreciate the motivation. I fear what I’m trying to write may just be impossible. I’ve never read anything like it before, so there must be a reason for that, and the reason why it’s so hard for me to finish it. How did formatting go for you? Or do you have a video covering that?
The best art ever created is the art that no one had ever done before. The impossible art that hadn’t been seen or done prior. So it sounds like you’ve got a gem on your hands. You can finish it, 100%.
As for formatting, just so I have the question right, do you mean the formatting for the finished book? Or the formatting while I’m writing it?
@@ericbowdenbooks That makes me feel slightly better. Lol. I meant the formatting for the finished book but, I suppose you can answer both questions if you would like? Thank you!
Formatting while you write it is pretty easy if you’re using a word processor like google docs or word. As for the finished book, I did hybrid style self-publishing so I had a publisher handle my interior layout.
How did you go through the publishing process? Are you publishing yourself? Are you going through a publisher? I have heard that it is hard for a first-time author to go to a publisher with a series. How did you figure out this process?
I sent out dozens of queries to agents and couldn’t get anyone to bite. Granted, I had nothing (no accolades, recognizable name, or marketing tools) besides my manuscript, and in today’s publishing world, they want to see that you have avenues to market your book and that they would get a return on investment for your advance. That’s why you see a lot of already well known people getting book deals and less first time authors. It’s the safer bet for publishers rather than taking risks on new people.
A lot of authors, including myself, choose to go down the self-publishing route in order to get our work out there in any way we can. I also focused on building up ways to market myself and my work through Instagram and TH-cam. I’m hoping my second go around with traditional publishing is more successful, but if I’m unable to secure an agent, I’ll continue to self-publish until that happens.
Hope this helps!
@@ericbowdenbooksSo I am currently being very ambitious and am attempting to come up with this huge universe of multiple series, and kind of trying to get it somewhat intertwined. I am doing the outlining right now and researching all different things that I think are relevant.
So when did you go like this is enough to start writing? Is it like preference?