I'm writing a(nother) book...

January 21, 2017

...but now comes the submissions.

I wanted to get all political about games, and I will, but with all of the turmoil, I decided instead to get down to work. I've found that's the best way to deal with things. Act, don't complain. So here I am, not complaining.

Yes Trump is a problem, and even after he's gone - in one month, one year, whatever - the underlying issue will remain. So, my response is to counter him by telling a good story.

I've not mentioned it until now, but I've actually self-published four books in the last two years. Sales? They didn't move a single volume until I dropped their prices to free. The experiment was a success, though, and now I know more about where to target my works.

Check it out if you're curious: http://www.smashwords.com/interview/hastypixels/

Oh yeah, just about 1000 copies sold in two years. Let's put it like this, I need an editor, of that I'm certain. Why I went out of my way to talk about all that is because that's how I talk to the world. I tell tales of character driven action - a worn out phrase. Usually in the form of mysteries or SF police style dramas.

So I'm back at the keyboard editing the first three chapters of a manuscript for TOR books. I've submitted to them before, and I've learned a lot since. They won't be the only ones, just the first. Like I said, instead of complaining, I remind myself "there's work to do."

It's important to think about why we play the games we choose to play, just as much as why we want to share our opinions about them with the world.

What about you? How will you make your corner of the world a better place?

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Most recent blog posts from Simon Woodington...

Everything Matters

I won't stop until I do

Bonehealing and other stuff

Most recent blog posts from Simon Woodington...
Everything Matters I won't stop until I do Bonehealing and other stuff

Feedback

honestgamer - January 21, 2017 (10:54 PM)
To the greatest extent possible, I would like for HonestGamers to continue to be a place where I can largely avoid encountering political debate.

Sometimes, politics will seep into the conversation, and that's to be expected, but my thought is that if a person's aim is to talk about games, there's no need to specifically attempt to get political at the same time.

"There's nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy discussion," someone might say. But I've learned over the years and especially in recent months that political discussion inevitably turns to outright debate in short order, and that political debate on the Internet accomplishes virtually nothing other than turning decent people who generally get along into the bitterest of adversaries.

Since I can already "enjoy" that experience on virtually every other site on the Internet, including on a variety of leading game sites and of course social media, I'm in no particular hurry to also encounter it here. After all, the primary point of the site is to celebrate video games (which, among their most exciting qualities, are a great way to escape from political wrangling that is now doing its best to take over the entirety of the Internet).

hastypixels - January 22, 2017 (11:55 AM)
Thank you. You framed that very well. I think it's a delight that we can share games we love - or are entertained by - with others and form communities around them. I like to see a diverse group of people playing different types of games.

Do I agree with everyone's opinion of why they enjoy a game? No. I fully endorse their right to share their view, provided they aren't actively shutting anyone down. I do see it as you do ... respect in expression.

I won't stop using the word "political", but I am diplomatic by nature, so it may not mean what you think it does. We don't have to agree, but if we're silent about what motivates us, we may be surprised by how little effort it takes to silence our views.

I think about why HG exists; as an outlet for opinions of purely personal bias, rather than publisher or developer influence. It may seem to odd, or perhaps too soon to ask this, but: Will we stand up for the right of this site of express its views about games?

I stand by your approach: Let us not enter into what is largely a political warfront, but let us recognize our impact on gaming itself. It is unwise to underestimate the impact of the unconstrained voice. Gamefaqs enjoys similar freedom, and has come under fire for it. By the same token, they are a valuable resource for players around the world.

I believe HonestGamers is as well.

Feedback
	honestgamer - January 21, 2017 (10:54 PM) To the greatest extent possible, I would like for HonestGamers to continue to be a place where I can largely avoid encountering political debate. Sometimes, politics will seep into the conversation, and that's to be expected, but my thought is that if a person's aim is to talk about games, there's no need to specifically attempt to get political at the same time. "There's nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy discussion," someone might say. But I've learned over the years and especially in recent months that political discussion inevitably turns to outright debate in short order, and that political debate on the Internet accomplishes virtually nothing other than turning decent people who generally get along into the bitterest of adversaries. Since I can already "enjoy" that experience on virtually every other site on the Internet, including on a variety of leading game sites and of course social media, I'm in no particular hurry to also encounter it here. After all, the primary point of the site is to celebrate video games (which, among their most exciting qualities, are a great way to escape from political wrangling that is now doing its best to take over the entirety of the Internet).
	hastypixels - January 22, 2017 (11:55 AM) Thank you. You framed that very well. I think it's a delight that we can share games we love - or are entertained by - with others and form communities around them. I like to see a diverse group of people playing different types of games. Do I agree with everyone's opinion of why they enjoy a game? No. I fully endorse their right to share their view, provided they aren't actively shutting anyone down. I do see it as you do ... respect in expression. I won't stop using the word "political", but I am diplomatic by nature, so it may not mean what you think it does. We don't have to agree, but if we're silent about what motivates us, we may be surprised by how little effort it takes to silence our views. I think about why HG exists; as an outlet for opinions of purely personal bias, rather than publisher or developer influence. It may seem to odd, or perhaps too soon to ask this, but: Will we stand up for the right of this site of express its views about games? I stand by your approach: Let us not enter into what is largely a political warfront, but let us recognize our impact on gaming itself. It is unwise to underestimate the impact of the unconstrained voice. Gamefaqs enjoys similar freedom, and has come under fire for it. By the same token, they are a valuable resource for players around the world. I believe HonestGamers is as well.

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