An Ode To Id

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Thu, 2005-06-02 19:13

An Ode To Id

I just published a book of my work, "An Ode To Id" through the highly prestigous PublishAmerica. I'm fairly happy with the result. They took forever but they did a good job with the graphic design, sent me two copies(the actual manufacturing is average for a paperback,) and the book is available on Amazon. My guess is that PublishAmerica is not too selective about what they print; their business strategy depends on their authors selling to family and friends. But, amusingly enough, every yuppie and his mother is impressed when I say that I didn't pay my publisher a cent. Honestly, I don't give a rat's rear end; I have nothing in this world except my ideas and I'm going to get them out there, by hook or crook.
Let me share some of my other misadventures in publishing. Allright, poetry.com is forbidden by law to discrimminate against those who don't actually buy their "collections." So I've been published thousands of times in books like "Eternal Contemplations." I've never bought a thing.
Then there's this erotic story site, literotica.com, which has a section for non-erotic writing. My guess is they do this out of some sort of minor Puritan guilt. I'm always looking for exposure, so I started posting there. You wouldn't believe the sheer number of reads I get there; I average something like a thousand a post.
And then, over the years, I've gotten five pieces published in university literary journals; 2 of them are the same short story. I'm not talking simultaneous submissions; I'm talking simultaneous publications. Somebody stop me!

Fri, 2005-06-03 17:15

david floyd

Sean, I'm not sure about: "poetry.com is forbidden by law to discrimminate against those who don't actually buy their "collections."" Forbidden by law? What law would that be? What they're not allowed to do is say that publication isn't dependent on buying a copy of the book if, in reality, it is. It's not illegal (or even necessarily a bad thing) for a publisher to ask for a writer to put some of their own money into a book containing their work. "Somebody stop me!" I think what you're really trying to say is 'someone be interested'. Your key problem at the moment is that your obsession with your writing and your feverish attempts to promote it are currently considerably more interesting than the writing itself. I suggest reading more books by people who don't used banned substances, using less banned substances yourself and conducting a two-year moratorium on the question of whether or not you are a genius. These three actions could transform your writing career. Good luck! David

Sat, 2005-06-04 02:42

seannelson

For one, David, unless you're one of the most erudite people in America, I've read a heck of a lot more authors, and that's not even counting ones like Shakespeare who used drugs. Secondly, being a product of our capitalistic society, I am a marketing fanatic. As for poetry.com, I don't know or care if their policy's driven by law or the practicalities of swindling wannabe writers out of their money. And I have generated some interest in my writing but not nearly as much as I would like. But I guarantee you, by the end of this decade, I'll be rich, famous, and will have changed this world for the better. I will also probably be dead; but what's life for, anyway? You, with any luck, will have opened your eyes to the incredible world outside your pseudo-intellectual residence.

Sun, 2005-06-05 03:39

Jasper

Hmmmm...an ode to id...cool title, Sean! I suppose the difference between myself and most, is that I like arrogant people....especially artists! I mean, self promotion is inspirational because it doesn't rely on either pity or denial to actualise itself like 99.9% of the stupid human race does! And why let dickhead publishers decide what hot and what's not....f**k em...they're ignorant old bum wipes anyway! The beauty of American literature is it's sheer market size and cultural diversity. The British however, are stuck inside a stupid little jam tin full of conventional banality. And here in OZ, the aristocratic luddite's are just as intellectually necrotised also....so typical of the Colony! Good luck, Sean....keep control your own destiny.....very cool!

Sun, 2005-06-05 08:12

seannelson

Thanks, Jasper.

Sun, 2005-06-12 21:30

mississippi

iot.

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