#7 - Indie Author Organization - Keeping Hard-Copy Records

Your dream of writing is daunting when you've got to start out doing everything yourself. Many indie authors work up to hiring stellar editors, book cover designers, formatters, social media coordinator, and the whole works, but in the beginning, they've got to maintain and organize everything on their own.

Until we can hire an incredible support team to streamline our works-in-progress to a polished product ready for public consumption, we've got to muddle through the mud and muck of growing solid business habits.

Learning how to do each step is a pain, but I'm dedicated. I write, read, then write some more, every day. It's an endless cycle, and my reading material consistently includes eBooks about the Indie industry, but I've got to take extra efforts to process all the topics I'm consuming.

After studying the masters of our craft and after reading the latest eBooks for Indie Authors, I work to apply my notes in a practical sense, but that means I must first get and stay organized.

I began wading through the treacherous waters of the Indie Industry by snuggling up to my Kindle and by finding fantastic writing groups. As for Kindle reading, you don't have to buy a special reading device; all you need to do is download the FREE Kindle app from your app store, then you can read from your own device.

I designate a monthly budget for eBook purchases, but I also find FREE eBooks to download by going onto Amazon and typing "Free Books" into their search box, and you'll get a huge, ever-changing list. Writers need you to read and to review their books, which I always try to do on a constructive level, and I've read some wonderful books during their brief time for free on a virtual shelf.

One thing I've noticed is... once you tap to load a free book onto Kindle, make sure to open the app afterward, then click onto the book cover to download it into your library. This is important because it's usually offered free for a very short time, and once it goes up for sale again, your chance to read it for free will disappear, unless you've tapped it to download. You can go then close it out and back to read it later, when convenient.

My Kindle app is my #1 best-friend and teacher for navigating life as an Indie Author, and it allows me to read everything I can find about writing, editing, publishing, formatting, advertising, and it makes it easy to highlight passages or bookmark pages with a fingertip, but I've got to organize useful information for future, quick reference.

I do keep electronic records, but I consistently incorporate an old-fashioned, hard-copy system, and this has proven priceless for my indie author organization.

For instance, I use a Pendaflex (green hanging folder) with a clear tab on it that says, "Marketing." Inside this hanging folder, I keep multiple manila/yellow files for each marketing route... each one is for a separate marketing endeavor, such as one file for "AMS Ads," and another one for "Facebook Ads," or "BookBub," etc. Each file has its coordinating sign-in data with account usernames and passwords written on the inside cover.

Once you set up a file, you know where to find it... fast and easy. When working on your AMS ads, you pull the file, jot down notes on a piece of paper with the dates and actions taken, then you have a comprehensive record of your work, whether or not the system crashes or you lose your electronic history.

With today's requirement of multiple accounts and sign-in's, this filing system allows me to stay organized and on track with what I'm doing by date and activity. It's a hard-copy back-up that won't crash or fail, unless the office burns down. Even then, I still have another hard-copy back-up in place... more on that in a moment.

As for my filing system, If I want to know what's going on with a particular title on Amazon, I can look inside my "AMS Ads" file and review the desired information via pages of lined paper I've headed with pertinent data. Gasp... I'm having to write neat and nice and legible.

The best part about this system is the protection it provides from losing an electronic data, but there's another benefit - the process seems to foster another layer of cerebral application from the efforts to hand-pen ink to paper, as if it etches the data deeper into my brain.

To set up this system requires Pendaflex and manila folders and a label-maker or marker, then you're ready to go. The good new is - the more bent, coffee-stained, and crumpled the files become, the more you're working and using them... all good signs. Maintaining this system takes two minutes a day, but it offers a priceless security blanket. It still works when the transformer is blown.

One other organization system I use on a regular basis is via the color-coded index file box kept on my desk. The little box has alphabetized dividers (easy to find) and a pack of lined index cards, I head each card with a title, such as "MAILCHIMP" then I log sign-up data, email used, password, payment method, important dates, and any other information I might need to find fast. This serves me well, and I take great comfort in knowing my data isn't floating around on an electronic device.

In your office, whether that's a corner in your room or a spacious dedicated suite, it's helpful to create an easy-to-reference cheat-sheet listing your accounts and sign-in info. This at-a-glance list can help you bounce around... just remember to keep this hidden from prying eyes when you have visitors or from times you snap a shot of your writing space. I keep one tacked to the wall with a cover sheet overlaying it and protecting it from prying eyes of visitors for from getting caught in a snapshot.

It's a time-saver to have a comprehensive list readily available, and you don't have to stop to dig for a password and won't have to reset a password or username, yet again.

With my system, if I change a password, I consistently notate the index card and the file's inside cover (if there is one for that account), and presto, my hard-copy back-up is updated. Going against the grain of today, my motto is, "Commit important details to paper." Well, I do have many accounts with their passwords memorized; however, with indie author and publishing activities, the layers are thickening every day, so I'd rather stay organized and focused.

Can we imagine the literary greats who sat at their desk writing classics without spellcheck or typing 110 wpm... without grammar programs or the internet to conduct research? How often did their hand cramp? How well did burning candles light their workspace as daylight faded? What's a little work with file organization compared to the dismay they felt over worn out quills and dried up inkwells?

We've no reason to complain. Get to it! Be kind to yourself by staying organized, and enjoy writing.

# 6 - "GUNS OF THE APOCALYPSE" - An Appreciation of Indie-Entrepreneurs & Independent Artists

Indies are brave souls, and I do my best to spread love for other Indie-Entrepreneurs and Independent Artists who work diligently to share their creations.

Today I made time to watch Christopher R. Mihm's film, Guns of the Apocalypse. This film was released in 2018, and is now available through Amazon Prime. You won't see superb acting on the level of Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep, but that's kind of the point with this film. While watching it, I was reminded of how adults can have incredible purpose and fun through expressing the objective of their art. For a low-budget film that cost approximately $10,000. to produce, I was impressed by Guns of the Apocalypse, which is a story of survival, a purposeful journey, and difficult decisions on behalf of mankind in a "nuclear ravaged wasteland." The film begins with a narration via the main character's first-person perspective and with exposition that gives way to active dialogue as other characters are introduced.

This is a film made possible by many people, but Christopher R. Mihm wrote the story, directed the film, and edited it... he also did a boatload of other necessary tasks indicative of an Independent Artist / Indie-Entrepreneur, and this is one of several films he's released, so he's not a newbie to the industry. Even so, I can only imagine the stress he endures while juggling multiple tasks, but I hope the process to release each new title provides priceless experiences to last a lifetime, and I think most Indie authors can respect his achievements.

With films of today overdosing on computer graphics, Hollywood churns out money-making hits aimed to please broad audiences. But, what about the imperfect and independent film-makers who take big risks with little money? They must make every red cent count with next to nothing available as a contingency.

From the start of the film, it is noticeable that there wasn't much of a budget, but it was refreshing to watch the story come together with an effective use of cool special effects and interesting mutant make-up, and wardrobe which kept me intrigued. The story begin with a punch of color before moving to crisp black and white, giving it an enjoyable old-school vibe, and the mutant-makeup and special effects didn't overwhelm the film's content, which was a pleasant bonus.

There's an applied standard that I've maintained throughout my adult life and that's a refusal to clutter my perspective with outside information or research before I've had a chance to experience it with a "virginal" perspective. If not possible to avoid influential input beforehand, I do my best to keep an open mind. I try to avoid critical-reviews until I've finished reading a book, admiring a piece of art, or watching a movie to give myself the opportunity to solidly settle into my own viewpoint. After I reach "the end," then I can digest and enjoy an outsider's musings.

Too often, we allow outsiders, whether they're a close relation or a distant professional, to dictate the direction of our opinions. Outside interpretations can skew our perspectives, and we mustn't settle for the status quo. Sometimes we've got to go with the whirlings of our own mind. I think it's sometimes a good idea to break free of the hand-holding circle and to take a chance on thoughts and opinions that belong to you. Of course, it can be great to gain the circle's insight, but there's always that fringe-element that remains independent. It's okay to agree with the status quo, but don't let them wrangle you their direction... stroll that way, by choice.

I jotted a couple of brief notes during the film, particularly noting the old-school vibe that I truly enjoyed. So, after I watched the film then read that Christopher R. Mihm purposefully sought to give his films a drive-in-theater quality similar to the standard experience of movie-goers in the 1950's, I wanted to jump for joy. I was thrilled that he successfully delivered that goal to an ordinary observer and that I caught it. Then I read about the reason he went into making these old-style films; they celebrate his childhood years as he and his father watched old films with their "wooden acting" --- his father loved them.

Mihm's father died at age 51 after a brief battle with stomach cancer, then he figured out what we often do after such pivotal experiences... he finally understood that our treasured moments in life don't have to pass away with the ones we love. So, Christopher Mihm started what I am referring to as an "Awkward Acting Revival." After watching Guns of the Apocalypse, which is the first film I've seen by Mihm, I knew I liked it. At first, I was about to turn it off, but something kept me hanging in there, telling me to stay invested, and I'm so glad I did. And now I've become a solid fan. For me, as a writer, it all became even more meaningful after discovering the artist's inspiration for creating his films. 

Of course, in this film, Guns of the Apocalypse, the main character carries a gun to shoot mutants and Death Dealers, and after one scene in particular, I'd love to ask Mihm to contact a professional who has working-knowledge and real-life experience about guns. Some of the scenes indicated the actors and film-crew lacked comfort and knowledge about guns, especially as certain camera angles revealed empty chambers during a scene where the main character's gun is pointing at direct threats, which he shoots. Yes, revolvers need something to block the holes so it appears as if bullets are actually loaded into the gun.

And another thing, if there's not time to reload, then a six-shooter can only shoot six bullets. There are no more bullets to fire until you insert more into the gun. However, those details aren't crucial to an Independent / Indie film-maker...their focus is to tell the story on a choking budget, and to let the viewer use their imagination, which prompted me to reluctantly toss aside the fact that the gun clearly lacked loaded ammunition. I get it, go with the main idea of the story instead of with prop issues.

When an Indie or Independent Artist publishes any format, I love reading their dedications, bonus material or credits because they still have enough creativity and not enough polish, so they'll say what they want or print what they want about their project. So, sit back and watch a film that doesn't have the best acting grade, but can be appreciated for its overall direction and respected for the other things it stands for, such as bravery, fun, risk, and adventure. You'll see interesting tidbits in the credits, such as when Mihm mentioned them having to partially work out of their homes. Yes, that's a determined crew.

Overall, this film should make the people who worked on it feel proud to declare that it was created from a low-budget and I find it interesting to see how far the money can go and to see what locales, settings, and music they use. By the way, some of the music for this film was secured via the public domain site of Archives.org. - further proving that this crew accomplished a great deal with minimal funds. After seeing shows such as "Game of Thrones" with their seemingly infinite budget, it is almost sporting fun to see what people can do with their rent money.

And Mr. Mihm, next time, stuff the gun's empty chambers with cotton that's sprayed with dark metallic or black spray-paint... have the actors shoot the correct number of times to match the number of bullets supposedly available to the coordinating weapon, then have them reload. There is a heart-pounding intensity that comes with having to reload while being observed by or chased by the bad guys. There's added stress that comes with knowing a certain amount of bullets is available, then after they're spent, it's time to hustle while multitasking, which adds realistic tension that transfers to an alert audience. Bullets matter, but it also matters to finish and release another film without going too hungry.

Who knows? Perhaps the mismatching of reminders of gun-ignorance is part of the film's charm. I think artistry allows for a lot of berth, but I'd still rather see filled chambers to reduce distraction. In the end, I suppose it doesn't matter all that much because Mihm tries to release one film a year, since 2006, I believe, and he's not slowing down. I've got some catching up to do since each of his films tie together in some way.

If you're also into quirky things, check out Mihm's website page that details Guns of the Apocalypse:

Visit: http://sainteuphoria.com/bio.html.

In the meantime, beware of those Death Dealers.