Egon Longshanks: Novellas

Showing posts with label Novellas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Content Creator Mk II

So, I've been feeling the itch to get back to writing. A heckin' busy schedule and a slow as all get out netbook had been hindering me for some time. While the schedule is still somewhat absurd, I am finding windows here and there. This has been helped by the fact that the aforementioned netbook died, forcing me to upgrade. I have also been making an effort to pull back at work, so as not to burn myself out mentally and physically.

Now, this won't be like the last time around. The jobs stay put. This is going to be more of a "Buzz Beer" situation as opposed to trying to go the "self employed content creator" route again. So, for all intents and purposes, I will be working three jobs as far as I'm concerned.

While content will be more consistent on both sites going forward, the plan is to ultimately move into fiction. I talked about it back when the Patreon was up and, while the means are different, the end goal does remain the same. I do still like the idea of monthly novellas. Short stories and full-on novels are also possibilities, but the novella seems like it would strike the right balance for me.

So, how does this little endeavor finance itself? Well, from where I sit, there are four main sources of revenue.

1. E-Poll

Not a huge money maker, but every little bit counts.

2. Swagbucks

You know, it's funny, as much as I feature the referral link, I haven't really used the site that much. It didn't really get along with my old computer. Now that my tech is more up to speed, I need to put this site to use to increase cash flow and boost my metrics even further. I doubt it'll be big money, but again, every bit counts.

3. Reviewstream

This one is probably the best, as it is actually tied to writing. Not only that, but I can throw the content on to either site. There is a pretty high payout threshold, so it'll take a while to get funds, but when they do come, the needle will move. On the plus side, I don't need to come up with some outlandish number in terms of articles per day to ensure my bills get paid. All that is already taken care of. I can just work at a reasonable pace and still allow myself to put some focus on bigger projects

4. Dividends

This will really be the backbone of the operation. It may not seem like it now, but as time goes on. It's going to play a bigger and bigger role.

Wait, you're using side hustles to fund a side hustle?

Yes. It's like seed money or startup capital.

The Patreon...stays down. It had its chance. Truth be told, I think I put together a good system, but it didn't go anywhere after several years, so there's no sense in wasting time and energy with it. I'm on a better path anyway. Not only is this delivering much better results, but it suits me better.

I am toying with the idea of taking certain aspects of the campaign and applying them to the dividends, namely the quasi-basic income guarantee pledge (where at $1,200/month at least 10% goes to other creators to help build their income floor) and the charity milestone (where at least another 10% goes to charity). Back when the Patreon was up, I had the latter milestone set at $4,000/month, but I am considering lowering it to $3,000. Overhead isn't the concern that it was then and getting there sooner would be better. We're still a ways away from that, but it is something to look forward to in the years to come. Better yet, at that point, I'll be able to put E-Poll and Swagbucks points towards charities to bolster things even further.

One tricky thing, though, is that dividend payouts aren't even from month to month. So, would I have to cross the threshold for all three quarter months before the perks get initiated or would I apply it to each quarter month as it hit? The latter seems like the better way to go, but it is something that will have to be ironed out. Again, I've got time on that one.

Could this phase out the current second job? Theoretically, it's a nice idea, but I don't want to get ahead of myself like I did the last time around. I'm taking great care not to make the mistakes I made in the first go around.

I'm excited for this. It'll be some time before you see anything substantial. I still have brainstorming, drafting, and quite a bit of rust to shake off; but I think getting back into this will be good. I think the setup is a lot better than the one I was trying to run on previously. It's going to be interesting to see how things play out this time around. I'm looking forward to it, though.

Click here to open an E-Trade account

Click here to open a RobinHood account

Click here to become a Swagbucks member

Click here to become an E-Poll member

Sunday, March 17, 2019

'Elevation' by Stephen King Novella Review

Contrary to what the cover of the book will tell you, this is not a novel. Many a review on Amazon have pointed this out, and it's pretty obvious when you see the book yourself, but it still seems worth noting. The book is only 150 pages and it's not even that large. This is a novella that's being billed otherwise for reasons beyond my understanding.

Having some light, fast reading material does have its perks. If you're a going on a decent length drive or flight, this will help pass the time. I think the sticking point is the price. $20 for the hardcover is pretty ridiculous. Buying a used copy or getting it via e-book or Audible helps mitigate this to a certain extent, but it is something to take into consideration.

With that said, the story itself is...OK. This was like a watered down version of "Thinner". The main character is losing mass, but there's no explanation like there was with the aforementioned work. There are some other tweaks so that it isn't a complete rehash, but it's hard to avoid the similarity.

Oddly enough, it's something of an afterthought. No explanation is ever given and the main character doesn't really take pains to address it. It undermines the tension, though it does give the book a way to stand apart from "Thinner".

The plot synopsis had me worried. I was expecting the same heavy-handed political "commentary" that weakened "Insomnia". Some reviewers have cited the book as heavy handed and preachy, but it's not nearly as bad in my opinion. There's one scene where the main character picks a fight with a straw conservative, but that's about it.

I think the biggest weakness here is the characters themselves. Scott, the main character, and his doctor are the only two who feel like real people. Dierdre is bizarrely antagonistic to the point where it doesn't seem natural. It also undercuts any sympathy I might have for her plight. Maybe her business is tanking because she's a terrible host? Just a thought. She falls into that same trap as Hogarth has in Jessica Jones' second season where the character is incredibly unlikable to the point where it's a legitimate detriment.

Even her partner, Missy, doesn't come off much better. She's a lot nicer, but her meekness gets taken to such an extreme that it doesn't feel natural.

On the flip side, the book isn't without poignancy. When grudges are settled, the story focuses on Scott basically saying his goodbyes and getting his affairs in order. It actually does manage to tug on the heartstrings rather effectively.

The ending itself may undercut this for some. You could view it as symbolic and deep or just silly. You might even see it as some weird mix of the two.

This will pass the time well enough. If you have a reading goal and you're behind schedule because you're busy as hell, this will help you close the gap. I wouldn't call this a must-read by any stretch, but if you can nab a cheap copy or find one at a library, you could do a lot worse.