Saturday, May 25, 2013
VR McCoy (Author's Blog): Den of Thieves
VR McCoy (Author's Blog): Den of Thieves: httpwww..facebook.com/vrmccoy http://www.goodreads.com/vrmccoy I've been writing since High School. My high school English Teacher w...
Den of Thieves
httpwww..facebook.com/vrmccoy
http://www.goodreads.com/vrmccoy
I've been writing since High School. My high school English Teacher was an ex-Ivory League Professor, who no longer cared for the politics of a continuous seat as a college professor. The requirements of tenure; writing articles, books, etc... I think it was because he had a drinking problem, as well, or use to have a drinking problem. I knew the sings even at that age. He was a bit unkempt; uncombed hair, wrinkled clothing, as if he slept in them, and a bit of BO (Body Odor). If you saw him outside on the street you would think he was a tatterdemalion.
With all that said; he was still an extremely intelligent man, who taught us on a college level. I attended a College Prepatory Catholic School; Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C.. We took certain college courses that earned us credit in certain school like Catholic University and Georgetown. I was in Advance Placement Classes. I was also asked to write for the Catholic University newspaper, but neglected to do so at the time. I considered myself too cool for such an engagement during my growing stages.
I had enough problems taking classes with the nerds. It wasn't cool to be a nerd back then. Although I wasn't a nerd; me and another classmate of mine I tried to steer far away from their nucleus and the purview of nerdom as much as possible. We became life long friends and fraternity brothers to this day.
We were taught all the classics from Aristotle to Homer, Shakespeare to Emily Dickerson and Edgar Allen Poe; Dickerson and Poe were my favorites.
I received an "A" in advance placement English; partially because of his style of teaching and I understood him; who he was and what he represented. He was my earliest introduction to a literary artist and rebel. He had written several original novels and articles; explicating classical works. I was amazed t say the least.
He was a rebel who constantly bucked the system with his attire and his teaching. He definitely wasn't the 'run of the mill' teacher. He taught us the meaning of freedom to express ourselves and free thinking; he was a bit of a radical.
Even when I told him that I wanted to be a writer in high school; he explained to me how rough it was going to be and that there was no money in it. I knew then and now that he was correct, but I've had this passion to write.
I wrote poetry, unpublished short stories and songs. I wrote poems about rebellion, injustices and love. The love poetry assisted me tremendously in my earlier relationships and even as a man.
Naturally I wrote poetic rap and joined a rap group during college. We had a Demo with several songs we recorded in a studio, but it was never picked up by a label, partially due to the fact that I was in college and working at the same time.
Now I've come full circle. Writing has always been with me throughout my life. The writing comes naturally, but the abnormal, aberrant, idiosyncratic or whatever you want to call it is the selling of a novel.
I never enjoyed selling anything first of all. I've always had bad experiences with salespeople. They are analogous with some people's fear of clowns to me. So you can see my reluctance from the start; right?
Ok; so I have my novel published and marketed on all major bookstores, but now how do I get people to take a look at it and hopefully purchase it?
I began with friends. I always thought I was a very likable, personal and social person. I'm a member of several organizations, so it will be a breeze right? WRONG!!!!
It was like pulling teeth just to get people to 'Like" my bookshelf on Facebook! I never knew something so small could be so difficult!
I had several people reach out to me, but didn't commit to purchasing the book or leaving a review. I also reached out to certain established authors, but even they didn't respond!
SOS - ANY TIPS FOR A STRUGGLING ARTIST?
Nope, Nothing, No Response! Social Media is tough!
Anyway that is where I'm at today; a struggling author attempting to build an audience or any type of buzz.
If you have any tips please feel free to return with a comment. Thanks a bunch.
"Den of Thieves"
http://www.goodreads.com/vrmccoy
I've been writing since High School. My high school English Teacher was an ex-Ivory League Professor, who no longer cared for the politics of a continuous seat as a college professor. The requirements of tenure; writing articles, books, etc... I think it was because he had a drinking problem, as well, or use to have a drinking problem. I knew the sings even at that age. He was a bit unkempt; uncombed hair, wrinkled clothing, as if he slept in them, and a bit of BO (Body Odor). If you saw him outside on the street you would think he was a tatterdemalion.
With all that said; he was still an extremely intelligent man, who taught us on a college level. I attended a College Prepatory Catholic School; Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C.. We took certain college courses that earned us credit in certain school like Catholic University and Georgetown. I was in Advance Placement Classes. I was also asked to write for the Catholic University newspaper, but neglected to do so at the time. I considered myself too cool for such an engagement during my growing stages.
I had enough problems taking classes with the nerds. It wasn't cool to be a nerd back then. Although I wasn't a nerd; me and another classmate of mine I tried to steer far away from their nucleus and the purview of nerdom as much as possible. We became life long friends and fraternity brothers to this day.
We were taught all the classics from Aristotle to Homer, Shakespeare to Emily Dickerson and Edgar Allen Poe; Dickerson and Poe were my favorites.
I received an "A" in advance placement English; partially because of his style of teaching and I understood him; who he was and what he represented. He was my earliest introduction to a literary artist and rebel. He had written several original novels and articles; explicating classical works. I was amazed t say the least.
He was a rebel who constantly bucked the system with his attire and his teaching. He definitely wasn't the 'run of the mill' teacher. He taught us the meaning of freedom to express ourselves and free thinking; he was a bit of a radical.
Even when I told him that I wanted to be a writer in high school; he explained to me how rough it was going to be and that there was no money in it. I knew then and now that he was correct, but I've had this passion to write.
I wrote poetry, unpublished short stories and songs. I wrote poems about rebellion, injustices and love. The love poetry assisted me tremendously in my earlier relationships and even as a man.
Naturally I wrote poetic rap and joined a rap group during college. We had a Demo with several songs we recorded in a studio, but it was never picked up by a label, partially due to the fact that I was in college and working at the same time.
Now I've come full circle. Writing has always been with me throughout my life. The writing comes naturally, but the abnormal, aberrant, idiosyncratic or whatever you want to call it is the selling of a novel.
I never enjoyed selling anything first of all. I've always had bad experiences with salespeople. They are analogous with some people's fear of clowns to me. So you can see my reluctance from the start; right?
Ok; so I have my novel published and marketed on all major bookstores, but now how do I get people to take a look at it and hopefully purchase it?
I began with friends. I always thought I was a very likable, personal and social person. I'm a member of several organizations, so it will be a breeze right? WRONG!!!!
It was like pulling teeth just to get people to 'Like" my bookshelf on Facebook! I never knew something so small could be so difficult!
I had several people reach out to me, but didn't commit to purchasing the book or leaving a review. I also reached out to certain established authors, but even they didn't respond!
SOS - ANY TIPS FOR A STRUGGLING ARTIST?
Nope, Nothing, No Response! Social Media is tough!
Anyway that is where I'm at today; a struggling author attempting to build an audience or any type of buzz.
If you have any tips please feel free to return with a comment. Thanks a bunch.
"Den of Thieves"
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