F. P. Dorchak

Speculative Fiction (New Weird) Author

writing

Ask Me Out…I’m Available!

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Writer's Stop
Let Me Be Your One-Stop-Writer’s Stop! (“Writer’s Stop,” photo credit: Stephh922)

I’m 52 (and look young for my age; some say even act younger than my age, like, way, waaay younger…),  5′ 10″ (lost 1.5 inches somewhere along the past 2 years…), 197 lbs. I work out, love the outdoors, have a keen sense of humor (and am even kinda funny), answer to anything from “Heeeey, youuuu…,” to “F. P.,” or “Frank,” love hikes through woods and rocky areas, love me some good Black Iced Tea, annnd…

I’m available for speaking engagements!

Yes, that’s right—do you belong to a readers’ group? Writers’ group? A library? Do you run a conference? Well, if you’re looking for an up-and-coming author-speaker-reader, I’m your guy! Get me before I get all famous and stuff, overbooked! I’m available! Just e-mail me, at fpdorchak “at” fpdorchak dot com (you know, make your standard e-mail address out of all that)! I can read passages, we can discuss them, discuss what went wrong inside my head to write those passages, that kinda thing. Or maybe we could discuss the process of writing (let’s not get into grammar, though; I’m not your guy, there, and use multiple reference books), the whole indie-versus-traditional process, or your group can read my work, then invite me to a question-and-answer gig. If you run a conference, I can speak about what I’ve learned about going indie. We could discuss the paranormal and supernatural in everyday lives; reincarnation,  synchronicity. Hey, I’m open, and quite easy to get along with (and, yes, you can end a sentence with a “with”)!

Did I mention I’m available?

Hey, and during any engagements, I’ll give away a book or three (depending on audience size). And if you think you’re too far for me to travel, then, boom!, let’s Skype! Do a phone interview! I’ve spoken at a writer group or two, presented at a writer’s conference on an Indie publishing panel, and have been on local and Internet radio (I’m told I have the perfect face for radio, the perfect voice for print). Click here to see some proof. Click here for more proof. Really, you need more proof?

Blog tour?

I’m your guy!

Arm candy at the Academy Awards?

Well, let me check my schedule….

In short (and hurry up, I seem to be getting shorter as the years go by), I’m open to most writerly gigs. Just e-mail me and let’s see what we can come up with! Let’s have some fun and talk about Indie publishing, writing, or the paranormal! Let me be your One-Stop-Writer’s Shop!

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Ask Me Out…I'm Available!

by

Writer's Stop
Let Me Be Your One-Stop-Writer’s Stop! (“Writer’s Stop,” photo credit: Stephh922)

I’m 52 (and look young for my age; some say even act younger than my age, like, way, waaay younger…),  5′ 10″ (lost 1.5 inches somewhere along the past 2 years…), 197 lbs. I work out, love the outdoors, have a keen sense of humor (and am even kinda funny), answer to anything from “Heeeey, youuuu…,” to “F. P.,” or “Frank,” love hikes through woods and rocky areas, love me some good Black Iced Tea, annnd…

I’m available for speaking engagements!

Yes, that’s right—do you belong to a readers’ group? Writers’ group? A library? Do you run a conference? Well, if you’re looking for an up-and-coming author-speaker-reader, I’m your guy! Get me before I get all famous and stuff, overbooked! I’m available! Just e-mail me, at fpdorchak “at” fpdorchak dot com (you know, make your standard e-mail address out of all that)! I can read passages, we can discuss them, discuss what went wrong inside my head to write those passages, that kinda thing. Or maybe we could discuss the process of writing (let’s not get into grammar, though; I’m not your guy, there, and use multiple reference books), the whole indie-versus-traditional process, or your group can read my work, then invite me to a question-and-answer gig. If you run a conference, I can speak about what I’ve learned about going indie. We could discuss the paranormal and supernatural in everyday lives; reincarnation,  synchronicity. Hey, I’m open, and quite easy to get along with (and, yes, you can end a sentence with a “with”)!

Did I mention I’m available?

Hey, and during any engagements, I’ll give away a book or three (depending on audience size). And if you think you’re too far for me to travel, then, boom!, let’s Skype! Do a phone interview! I’ve spoken at a writer group or two, presented at a writer’s conference on an Indie publishing panel, and have been on local and Internet radio (I’m told I have the perfect face for radio, the perfect voice for print). Click here to see some proof. Click here for more proof. Really, you need more proof?

Blog tour?

I’m your guy!

Arm candy at the Academy Awards?

Well, let me check my schedule….

In short (and hurry up, I seem to be getting shorter as the years go by), I’m open to most writerly gigs. Just e-mail me and let’s see what we can come up with! Let’s have some fun and talk about Indie publishing, writing, or the paranormal! Let me be your One-Stop-Writer’s Shop!

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The Same Old Thing….

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Indie Pub'd, The Uninvited, © F. P. Dorchak
Indie Pub’d, The Uninvited, © F. P. Dorchak

Okay, it’s been kinda busy around here. Not much writing in the “novel manuscript” sense, but writing in many other senses. It’s all good…though missing working on an actual manuscript. I’ve been trying to clean up my next book to be release, called Psychic, which is tied to Sleepwalkers and that novel’s Man With No Name (MWNN). It’s more action adventure and details the MWNN’s origins. Anyway, as I try to catch up with all the blog posts I’m supposed to be following while working weird hours, it’s interesting seeing all the points of view and feelings about indie publishing versus traditional. Not to be dismissive to the writers and their opinions, I’d read how some had gone “digital” with an “official” publisher for many reasons, one of which was that it gave them more time to write, versus doing all the “other stuff” we indie folk must do. I thought about that for a spell.

Would it really give you more time to write, going with an “official publisher”?

Hmmm.

Okay, so, you go with the traditional publisher. You still have to promote, promote, and whatnot…and won’t that still come out of your extra time, your theoretically to-be-banked “writing time”? This, along with all your proofing and approvals and various and sundry interactions with your “official publisher” staff? Your agent?

I really don’t see how doing that saves nor lends any more time for writing than what I’m doing. See, I know I can’t do everything, so I don’t even try. I’m busy with a life and a full-time job like everyone else, and since I know I can’t do everything, I just work on what I can do, and make notes for the rest. No one is forcing me to “do” social media until I bleed out my eyes. I don’t do my own cover and I don’t do my content formatting. All I do is the writing, reviews, and approvals. Sure, I no longer have an agent, but I’ve already spent time editing and dealing with those who’ve poured over my manuscript over the years. Sure, I did not pay thousands for an “official editor,” but I’ve had writing fellows read it, have actually had people who were editors, at one point or another, read some of my work, and, well, as a tech writer myself, have done much of my own heavy editing. My agent at the time didn’t have too much to cut from my work, though the most ever edited out was on ERO (dang it, just saw Amazon further discounted ERO—sorry, Blackcatpratt!, but you did get a bonus book…), a handful (20 or so) pages—which I did. My eyes, other’s eyes. You still have to review what traditional publishers do for you, and you still have to create your pitches…or have already done so, so you just expand upon them for your marketing use. Still work I’m doing.

And working with my cover folk and content editors has been anything but “time consuming.” It’s been a joy—absolute fun! A fun respite from all that writing. You can’t write forever, you’ll literally hurt yourself, you have to take some breaks. During those breaks, you do other stuff. This is that “other stuff,” but, as mentioned, you’ll be doing the exact same thing! You’ll have to review your cover, your copy. Still no savings.

The “other eyes,” thing. Already mentioned that above, I’ve had other eyes on my work, some quite brutal (Inky! ;-] )!

Okay, “professional” eyes.

Done that, been there. Still no difference.

So, since I have never been privy to all that traditional houses do, perhaps I’m still missing something? I just fail to see where going with an “official publisher” saves anyone any “extra” writing time (hey, and let’s get real, here—how much time do you goof off during your day! Be honest!). It’s just another way of doing business! And that’s just fine. More power to you! You can get publisher name recognition and their distro channels, which I don’t have—but even my indie work has distro channels, and some name recognition by going through such outlets as Smashwords and Amazon. I still have a team of people I use, just like the “official publishing” staff; maybe not as “deep,” in hierarchy, and maybe some of mine pull double duty, but, as already mentioned, I still have my cover people, content people, and those who I’ve called upon to read and comment (and I do/have paid a small stipend for their efforts). Now, sure, thing is, I can disagree with my staff and get the last word, where, usually, the traditional staff does…but I’m not married to any of my words…just in making the best damned story. So, I’m very open to other’s opinions.

So, we both have to write, review, and perform on social media, attend conferences, get our names out there.

Where’s this extra writing time coming from?

All Writing Helps All Writing

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Writing
Don’t Write Yourself Off! Write, My Friends, WRITE! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All Writing Helps All Writing

I use this in my e-mail signature block, but I also recently used it in response to a discussion on fellow blogger/writer/ex LA book reviewer Joe Ponepinto’s blog, The Saturday Morning Post. However, in my discussion of its meaning, I didn’t do a really great job in explaining it’s origin. I’d also thought I’d already written up something on it, but didn’t find it in my search of this (my) blog site. So, thought I’d go in to better depth here.

When I say this trite little phrase, though I do mean some of the obvious conclusions that many would take issue with, I actually meant on a Zen level. There is an energy to all things, and writing is no exception. But, let’s take Life as an example. Everyone’s life has an energy to it. The driving Life Force behind all of life and the Universe. It’s that energy that powers Life, to beat that dead horse. But it’s up to each individual to wield that energy in their own, unique way. Each of us has a personality, a specific feel to it each and every individual of us out there. So, it’s up to us to wield that energy, to live our lives, as we do…but behind it all is that driving Life Force.

This is what I mean by All Writing Helps All Writing, and my response to Joe’s post that behind all the different types of writing out there, the one thing all those different types of writing has, is (anyone?)…writing.

Writing, the high concept definition unapplied to technical, long or short form, et cetera, is its own energy, and it is up to the writer to apply that energy, that driving Writing Force. Sure, there are obvious structural, mechanical, and ideological considerations to consider between the different versions of writing, but it’s all still writing, and my point was to use the driving Writing Force to our advantage by understanding this “fine line” definition concept. Just because you’re doing tech writing doesn’t mean all that time tech writing cannot still be “incorporated,” “assimilated,” or any other “-ed” word into your other forms of writing, say, as Joe did, in his novel writing. Yes, you are structuring and morphing your novel writing in a different way than straightforward tech writing, but it is the Writing itself (capital “W”) that I’m asking writers to tap into. To tap into the very essence of Writing itself, which is the energy of the scalar quantity, to the sitting down and putting fingers to keyboards, pens and pencils to paper. To engaging the mind and body into the employment of Writing in and of itself, the version of writing to be damned. It doesn’t matter, at this level, what type of writing you’re doing, it only matters (again, at this level of discussion) that you are writing…that you are engaging your being, your soul, into the very act of expression, and what a form of expression it is! You are taking a mental act and transcribing it into physical expression! Just like with any other activity that starts in the mind and finds its way into physical expression (art, construction, etc). So, in doing this, you are allowing the Act of Writing to become second nature to you…able to wield the power and mastery of Writing in all its forms in whatever form of Writing you chose to employ.

Now, you can also use the various techniques of each form/version of writing to other forms, also in my humble opinion, if you allow yourself to do so, and by this I do mean using tech writing skills in your novel writing.

To just pick a couple tech writing skills, for example, consider these: usually in business settings, tech writers are not only asked to create straightforward descriptions, they are also asked to create them yesterday, using the least amount of words, and not usually given ample amounts of time to polish said words (I find many do not give tech writers—the words—the credit they deserve; all you have to do to see what I mean is to [try to] read your manual on how to use your DVR, toaster, or what-have-you). So what I’m saying here, is to transfer those skills to all of your other writing: learn to write more efficiently! To write faster, but not so fast as to suffer the outcome. If you write faster, more efficiently, you can therefore write more, your output increases, as does (as is the intent) your overall ability. Since one has to always pick and choose their words wisely, any writing should and will improve this capability. Does it really matter what words you’re picking, whether in straightforward tech descriptions, or in creating a piece that gets a novel to think and consider the world around them? No, not at this level of discussion…all that matters is that the writer is doing this. That this particular capability is being exercised.

It’s like any repetitive exercise that is done for sports. Doing weights strengthens the body so that when the body is employed in running or throwing, or whatever, the basis of weight training is realized through the creation of the conditioned body (and mind—weight training and everything else I can think of are always mind/body) and the employed act becomes ingrained and second nature.

I hope this helps better explain my position.

All Writing Helps All Writing.

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Ooooh, No You Didn’t Just Go There—A Reply To Comment

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I had a question to my post on a PPW post, but my response is too large for the Reply section, and I’m not going to whittle it away, so I’m posting it here. I apologize in advance if doing it this way offends anyone, it’s not a blog ploy, I just need to say what I need to say, and the Reply section won’t accept anything over 4,096 characters.

Here is my reply to Chris Mandeville, of Delve Writing:

It’s a mindset, Chris. A Damaging Culture.

My beef IS partially with Jennifer, if you wanna get right down to it. Or perhaps, with what she SAID.

Here is her paragraph:

“And here’s the deal: whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, if you want to sell your book, everyone expects you to do the marketing. Yep you. Even if you get the Big NY Deal, you are still expected to do the marketing because, frankly, there is no reason to gamble on a new or mid-list writer, which means little-to-no marketing money. And who wins? The guy with the biggest motivation and perseverance. They guy who reads the field and decides how to make the plan.”

Nowhere in this para is “This is what the publishers believe” or “According to publishers and their Bean Counters….” No, it is stated as her own opinion. Coming from HER beliefs. You really want to roll up some shirt sleeves? It was stated as an object of fact and slipped under the radar because the rest of the post was not about that statement, but it had already been said, and was now unconsciously RE-INSERTED into everyone’s consciousness—except mine. I utterly and immediately rejected it. So, no, I do not agree with her statement, phrasing, or otherwise. I caught the intentional or unintentional subliminal message spread to the masses.

When someone in a “position of authority” (i.e., a blog writer, author talking about same) puts forth words about a subject, others read it and agree with it or not. But the person has put forth an IDEA, a CONCEPT, and whether or not agreed to by others, or right or wrong, the concept is further ingrained into the psychic gestalt of the weltanschauung under discussion. She perpetuated a line of thought without so much as a second thought. Spouted a line said by so many others, that I heartily disagree with, and she said it in a public forum. And, I’m sorry I have to say, was this line not questioned by reviewing eyes? If it was seen and not addressed, this is what I’m saying…it’s ingrained in everyone to be a truism, when it simply is not.

I have “nothing personal” against Jennifer in and of herself, nor in her marketing aspect of her post (yes, it was a good one otherwise), but I do take it personal when a “fellow author” continues to so tritely and dismissively put forth concepts that are frankly injurious to all writers except the Knighted Few. Believing in this line of thought comes along with root assumptions that are too numerous to get into here. But to say something like “…there is no reason to gamble on a new or mid-list writer…” without exception(s)/qualification(s), and to a wide audience as PPW/the Internet, which includes many who may be new to this wacky business, utterly stuns me! Yes, I’ll go so far as to say INFURIATES me. Does it not bother anyone else? Do all of you out there really believe this? Jennifer, do YOU really believe this? Additionally, “…And who wins? The guy with the biggest motivation and perseverance. They guy who reads the field and decides how to make the plan.” How can you say something like that (given the inference to the previous sentiment), that is utterly dismissive to the Unknighted Few? There are many out there–geesh, look at our own Beth Groundwater. She IS the Poster Girl for “motivation and perseverance”; she is THE ONE I always think about when it comes to such things, to pushing-pushing-pushing. To me, she IS the standard for what all authors should ASPIRE to, for crying out loud. Unfortunately, many of us have day jobs and simply cannot do what she has done. And (furthermore) to dump on those authors (like me) who cannot do what she’s has done by tritely saying we don’t want it enough/dedicated enough/<inserted comment>, is (IMHO) a punishable offense and deserving of jail time and real hard labor. That’s where the Big Guns should come into play, helping out the UnKnighted Few with THEIR resources (who they HIRE for this stuff, who have DEGREES/experience in doing this stuff), and not further lumping responsibility totally on our already packed and stretched thin shoulders.

To take your concern, Chris, “about the money.” It’s far more than just about whether or not huge corporations have or nave not money. It’s the damaging CULTURE, the incorrect MINDSET. Money is only a tool, an EXTENSION of one’s beliefs. They’re reluctant to spent the money because they don’t want to spend time and effort in selling something NEW. As much as execs talk the talk, they do not walk the walk. One issue rolls directly into another. I know some are stingy with money, but in the mindset of “spend money to make money” why the reluctance (let’s just use the word that really matters, here, they are UNWILLING) of funneling not just money, but RESOURCES to unknown authors? Isn’t it obvious they are the ones who truly need the resources? It’s about the perceived return. “They” don’t feel they will get “the return.” But new authors won’t get the return BECAUSE no resources are thrown their way! Vicious Cycle! If that’s the case, then don’t take on the author! It’s not a simply pat answer, they have or don’t have money. Of course they HAVE money, they’re monstrous corporations. But of course there’s “little-to-no marketing money” because bean counters and execs ARE throwing all their money on “sure bets.”

Chris (and Jennifer), can you not see what such a seemingly small, dismissive statement, really impacts? Most may not think that one liner through, or give it another thought, may take it at face value, and it will continue to perpetuate the injurious culture that is already out here…but that IS changing. I do not mean to be insulting to Jennifer nor her beliefs, but sometimes there just isn’t a nice, fluffy way to address an issue. If we all SAY we want change, then we have to ACTIVELY (key word, here) combat for that change. We have to change the way we look and ACCEPT a status quo that is clearly not working [for authors]. You want change, change your mindset, the words you choose, the words you write, the “knowing acceptance” you nod your heads to. Give yourselves some credit! Do not blindly accept something just because I—or anyone else—says something in a public forum. You see something you don’t agree with, to the best of your POWER take issue with it (hopefully, respectfully, as I hope I am also doing). I don’t know if Jennifer actively believes what she said, or simply said it because it’s WHAT SHE’S BEEN TOLD.

But that’s my point.

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Ooooh, No You Didn’t Just Go There….

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English: Depiction of frustration
No…No, No, No, No…. (Photo credit: Frustration, Wikipedia)

Okay, I have to admit, I kinda got pissed when I read a blog post about marketing your work, and, yes, I did kinda take it personal, because it continues to perpetuate a train of thought, a mindset that so many seem so eager to promulgate and promote, and which can be (well, I feel it actually already is…) very damaging to writers. I have nothing personal against the author of the post, but I simply cannot allow certain things to be said and let the masses rally around behind without another point of view given. I love writing and the publishing world—to an extent. I, do, however, heartily disagree and take issue with certain points of view and feel I have to counter certain issues that always arise, however, and this is one of them.

And, I must say, I am saddened by those who continue to buy into them…though understand how this can happen.

So, here is the comment I posted:

Jennifer, sorry, but I really must take issue with the following: “…there is no reason to gamble on a new or mid-list writer, which means little-to-no marketing money.”

If there’s one thing I’ve found in my 52 years of life, and almost as many years writing and observing this and other industries is that anyone can sell anything if they put enough resources into the effort. If “resources” means money, so be it, if “resources” mean thought, so be it. I know all about how mid-list writers fulfill an important part in the overall book world, but–it seems to me–the bottom line should be if publishers don’t want to put any resources behind something they take on, then they shouldn’t have taken on the work to begin with. It does so much–sometimes irreparable–damage to a writer and their career, if they don’t sell through on their first book. Gee, it used to be their first two or three books. Now it’s down to one. Why is that, I rhetorically inquire?

There’s “little-to-no marketing money” because bean counters and execs are throwing all their money on “sure bets” (and I used “bets” intentionally, over “things”). Come on, does a King, Rowling, or Patterson really  need all the resources they actually get, once it’s announced a new work [from them] is available? Can some of those resources be better spent on others who don’t yet have the market recognition, but are every bit as good? I’m sorry but saying something like that (again, IMHO) is picking low-hanging fruit. The problem involved in today’s book industry (as is elsewhere evident) is in the mindset of those running “the shows.” It’s not that there’s no money. If there really was “no money” then no one would be getting any of the millions being dumped into promotion of the Big Dogs. If it’s “so easy” and “low cost” for the Nobody Writer to do social media, etc., then why don’t the Big Five partake in it? Hire unpaid interns (if this is still the practice; low-paid, otherwise) to create these campaigns for the works these companies take on? Or, hey, here’s a thought, maybe take on less authors?…only those authors whose work publishers really do believe in, and are willing to actually devote some resources (including real thought) to in the first place, instead of throwing their works again public walls like so much partially cooked spaghetti?

ANYTHING can be sold.

Anything.

And, no, we all know but perhaps don’t readily admit to ourselves, no, the product doesn’t even have to be good! Do we really need $4 coffee? Bigger screen TVs? Do we really N.E.E.D. these things?

People buy what’s put in front of them. If they have choices eliminated from them, intentionally not put in front of them, how can they even consider them?

So, with all due respect to you, Jennifer, and all the others out there who feel the same as you, and will heartily disagree with me and my kind, and try to rip me a new one with “stats, and facts, and whatever” (stats and facts and whatever can all be manipulated; I used to work with them, and know firsthand how they can, indeed, be manipulated), there are reasons, very good ones, to gamble on new writers, because there is good, undiscovered writing out there…writing that is not formulaic and is every bit as powerful as the “sure bets.” Writing that is profound and thoughtful and funny as hell. This industry loves—thrives—on blaming the writer (their work isn’t “ready,” the writer isn’t “big enough,” the writer doesn’t have a “platform,” etc.), but sometimes it’s not the writer…it’s the Gatekeepers. Yes, all kinds of “holes” can be poked in my position, it’s all been said before, but it’s not about whether or not holes can be poked into my argument. There is another way of doing business…it’s just intentionally being overlooked.