Best wishes with the new project! Funny thing, though: when I read the title of this piece my brain originally interpreted it as "Grandpa A.I." so it took me a couple of minutes to figure out what this story was really about!
I love that you’re doing this! I’ve been half-ass pitching a “slim” volume of my already-published flash and micro CNF in tandem with some of the short essays my late mom wrote in a collaborative “MOMoir” tribute of sorts. It has yet to be picked up, but along the way, it’s now morphed into a bigger project that feels like a life calling. Possibilities abound for us all!
You nailed it, Justin! He was also a very proud grandpa and loved you guys more than you'll ever know. As for your continued writing and publishing - I really like the idea of compiling your short stories into a book, using photos and possibly illustrations to introduce each story. There are many routes you can take to get your book published, some cost more than others and some are more effective than others. You'll have to look into all possible avenues. Bottom line, get published. You're too talented to not share your writing with as many people as possible. You know you can reach out to me anytime, if you want to discuss this further.
I would be first in line for your "slender volume" of 50 word stories, Justin. ( I have purchased little books on Amazon by Substack writers Scott Ocamb, Jim Latham and Michael Estrin. They are little jewels!) Amazon does a fine, professional looking job, but as you know, marketing is not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort. If you can figure out the uploading process (!) , make books available and not have to pay up front, it is something to think about. I wish you the best of success.
Ah, the good old Medium days. Self-publishing the collection is a good idea. It is a great feeling to have a physical copy of a book you wrote. And a great way to preserve your writing. Like a photo album, in way. Of course, no one does those anymore! It is also fun when someone occasionally buys a copy. 🤣
why do you not want to try traditonal publishing or small press publishing? Or contests for that matter? Or have you tried and met with minimal paltry success?
I will write you a longer comment because I have a bunch of deadlines for vairous writing proects most of this week, but I will mention this: I am about to publish m first book of poetry ( poems from 1964 to a few days ago) with a local publisher who will "do" the book, ninety pages, for free but does not do any distribution. So in a way, Im "self" publishing, but in a profoundly economic way I am not nor am I spending a dime which is good because my budget really can't spare a dime and I dont see or hear anybudddy offering one.
But I will offer this. You send me your book, hard copy or download and will show it my publisher, Paul Richmond of Human Error Press and maybe hewill want to do it. He does a hundre to two hundred copies and then it's all up to you. TBC.
This sounds great, Justin! I'm curious why the hesitation on the longer book of your short stories. Is it more of an editorial thing, or that you don't think you have enough material?
SPEAKING OF f FORGETTING - I apologze but I cant remember about your big project. foOr is it the collection of gems youve been posting over a certain period and are thinking of self publishing ( just as you are starting a new teaching semester ( we should talk more about teaching, or not? I taught special education mixed in with some ESL my first three years of teaching in New York City in the main middle school in Chinatown. 1987-1990. I was forty two, married, with my first kid. I taught all three grades-7,8,9. The only good principal I ever worked WITH. Colleagues. More on that later. I have a 200 page short story plus onenouvella about that school and the kids and my fellow teachers and the partial hell of teaching while both the crack and Aids epidemics were running neck to neck.
With luck it will be out before the end of the year. My wife and I did a final edit of the 100pages and, seriously,it was an exhilirating experience ( after all, weve been yelling at each other for twenty years and fouryears in high school before before our 38 year breakup.
Im finishing the "acknowledgements page"- about half the poems have been published in on-line or print mags ( subquestion: if you read/ perform at an "openmike" or "poetryslam", does that count as a "publication? ( and what if it's at your grandpa's house with the entire Poughkepsie 4h Club Over 80 section of 439 members?).
Im in the process of getting blurbs from poets with whom Ive read and or worked with in the past,including some now-famous ones I've helped back in the day and some evenings. Im nervous, but I feel it has to be done.
If you send me your email, I can send you a download of whoe book, along with some of fiction, which Jimmy recently urged me to put onsubstack, but Im just so unbelievablybusyright now .
Also, what happened to your Friday prompts? Did I miss something? It's possible. Im 78 and have
crs syndrome: cant remember,uh, er, um - SQUAT ( the act of what I cant remember?NS)). i should run out right now and pick up some prunes although I feel so tired Im not sure if I can lift the box.
Best wishes with the new project! Funny thing, though: when I read the title of this piece my brain originally interpreted it as "Grandpa A.I." so it took me a couple of minutes to figure out what this story was really about!
Sounds like a great project! Years ago, I used to be a book publisher. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions on publishing.
I love that you’re doing this! I’ve been half-ass pitching a “slim” volume of my already-published flash and micro CNF in tandem with some of the short essays my late mom wrote in a collaborative “MOMoir” tribute of sorts. It has yet to be picked up, but along the way, it’s now morphed into a bigger project that feels like a life calling. Possibilities abound for us all!
You nailed it, Justin! He was also a very proud grandpa and loved you guys more than you'll ever know. As for your continued writing and publishing - I really like the idea of compiling your short stories into a book, using photos and possibly illustrations to introduce each story. There are many routes you can take to get your book published, some cost more than others and some are more effective than others. You'll have to look into all possible avenues. Bottom line, get published. You're too talented to not share your writing with as many people as possible. You know you can reach out to me anytime, if you want to discuss this further.
I would be first in line for your "slender volume" of 50 word stories, Justin. ( I have purchased little books on Amazon by Substack writers Scott Ocamb, Jim Latham and Michael Estrin. They are little jewels!) Amazon does a fine, professional looking job, but as you know, marketing is not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort. If you can figure out the uploading process (!) , make books available and not have to pay up front, it is something to think about. I wish you the best of success.
So much in just 50 words! Go for it re your project.
Ah, the good old Medium days. Self-publishing the collection is a good idea. It is a great feeling to have a physical copy of a book you wrote. And a great way to preserve your writing. Like a photo album, in way. Of course, no one does those anymore! It is also fun when someone occasionally buys a copy. 🤣
50/50 would look like you're having a bet each way.
I would go for it, sounds like a good project.
why do you not want to try traditonal publishing or small press publishing? Or contests for that matter? Or have you tried and met with minimal paltry success?
I will write you a longer comment because I have a bunch of deadlines for vairous writing proects most of this week, but I will mention this: I am about to publish m first book of poetry ( poems from 1964 to a few days ago) with a local publisher who will "do" the book, ninety pages, for free but does not do any distribution. So in a way, Im "self" publishing, but in a profoundly economic way I am not nor am I spending a dime which is good because my budget really can't spare a dime and I dont see or hear anybudddy offering one.
But I will offer this. You send me your book, hard copy or download and will show it my publisher, Paul Richmond of Human Error Press and maybe hewill want to do it. He does a hundre to two hundred copies and then it's all up to you. TBC.
best,
eb
I can picture old Grandpa Al saying "Go for it, Justin!"
This sounds great, Justin! I'm curious why the hesitation on the longer book of your short stories. Is it more of an editorial thing, or that you don't think you have enough material?
I think your project sounds grand! We are blessed to live in a time where we have tools to self-publish. 🙌🏼
I dig it ! Fifty words says so much about "Grandpa Al"
SPEAKING OF f FORGETTING - I apologze but I cant remember about your big project. foOr is it the collection of gems youve been posting over a certain period and are thinking of self publishing ( just as you are starting a new teaching semester ( we should talk more about teaching, or not? I taught special education mixed in with some ESL my first three years of teaching in New York City in the main middle school in Chinatown. 1987-1990. I was forty two, married, with my first kid. I taught all three grades-7,8,9. The only good principal I ever worked WITH. Colleagues. More on that later. I have a 200 page short story plus onenouvella about that school and the kids and my fellow teachers and the partial hell of teaching while both the crack and Aids epidemics were running neck to neck.
With luck it will be out before the end of the year. My wife and I did a final edit of the 100pages and, seriously,it was an exhilirating experience ( after all, weve been yelling at each other for twenty years and fouryears in high school before before our 38 year breakup.
Im finishing the "acknowledgements page"- about half the poems have been published in on-line or print mags ( subquestion: if you read/ perform at an "openmike" or "poetryslam", does that count as a "publication? ( and what if it's at your grandpa's house with the entire Poughkepsie 4h Club Over 80 section of 439 members?).
Im in the process of getting blurbs from poets with whom Ive read and or worked with in the past,including some now-famous ones I've helped back in the day and some evenings. Im nervous, but I feel it has to be done.
If you send me your email, I can send you a download of whoe book, along with some of fiction, which Jimmy recently urged me to put onsubstack, but Im just so unbelievablybusyright now .
My own email is erbrill69@gmail.com.
Also, what happened to your Friday prompts? Did I miss something? It's possible. Im 78 and have
crs syndrome: cant remember,uh, er, um - SQUAT ( the act of what I cant remember?NS)). i should run out right now and pick up some prunes although I feel so tired Im not sure if I can lift the box.