Make Your 5 to 9 Your 9 to 5
INDIE AUTHORS - For many of us, our writing careers aren't built in quantum leaps but rather slowly and steadily. Bring your writing dreams to fruition, ONE WORD AT A TIME with my book on writing!
Click this link below to learn more.
Books, Chocolate and Wine.
Much love and appreciation to the folks at the Scottish website; Books, Chocolate and Wine for featuring me and my work!
You can read the full segment here.
Just Before The Dawn
I’ve been in this business longer than I care to think about. If I think too much about how many years of my life I’ve been pursuing the goal of becoming a full-time writer I sometimes get depressed. Up until just a couple of years ago I didn’t even have a real plan, I was only a dreamer and the dream didn’t have teeth. It’s good to dream but that’s only one element of what it takes to get you there. Recently just such a moment of depression descended on me. My sales had hit a plateau; there were no new opportunities to speak of. It only lasted a few hours but it was a gut wrenching feeling that this was as big as my dream would ever become. I feared my fifteen minutes were over. Then I remembered that I’d felt this a few times before and usually when I did a breakthrough was on the other side of that dark night. What I’ve found is the closer I get to achieving that next burst of exponential growth in my writing career the more seems to be working against me. I’ve learned from talking to others who are trying to achieve a dream similar to mine that this experience isn’t unique.
The challenges can crop up from a variety of places…the news, envious people, and, yes, even my own mind. All these challenges need to do to be successful in derailing you is to plant that seed of doubt and it will grow into a dream killing monster. But, you know what? None of that matters once your mind is made up and my mind was made up a couple of years ago. I am a writer. I will do this for a living while traveling the world with my wife, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures.
The most effective way out and on to the next plateau begins with deciding to just focus solely on what you have control over. I know I have control over my mind. Most often I’ve learned getting out of this kind of slump requires a simple shift in mindset. Think about it, anything can seem difficult or even impossible if you’ve made your mind up that it is.
The secret is to make up your mind that your goal is attainable, not just attainable but easy to achieve. This isn’t fooling yourself, well maybe a little, but this Jedi-like mind trick fills you with such confidence and positive energy that I believe you attract opportunities and people that can help. The truth is most of us can’t do this alone and that’s okay. Build a team of helpers who are geniuses in their particular field (marketing, editing, etc.) You will be simply unstoppable with an army of experts behind you.
Whenever find yourself in a funk such as the one I just described ask yourself these three things:
1. What do I really want?
2. Why don’t I already have what I want?
3. What do I need to do to get what I want?
To answer these questions as honestly as you possibly can gives your dream teeth. In my case, my most limiting factor is always inside my own head. The mind is quite good at self-sabotage by peppering your inner dialogue with negative statements like, “This is going to be a real challenge” as well as countless other statements that begin with those two dreaded words, “I can’t…”. Negativity is pure poison and will keep you lost in delusion.
The truth is you CAN do this and if you want it badly enough YOU WILL. The other option is to find yourself right where you are in ten years from now doing the same things in the same way. Stay with me and we’ll build our dreams together. Create a strategy. When you make it through to your next day’s dawn I’ll be there to greet you. Maybe we can have a beer or a nice glass of cabernet at some quaint Parisian café and swap stories.
In just a few short days from ground zero I have renewed hope. I also have a few new and exciting irons in the fire. I can tell you from experience that what I speak of works and this sunrise, it’s such a beautiful thing.
I wish you the very best,
~Eric Vance Walton~
7 Secrets For Overcoming Writers Block
Writer’s block is one of the most frustrating afflictions that a writer can suffer from. It can cause unparalleled stress from project delays, missed deadlines, it can even cause you to second guess your talent. It is safe to say that everyone has suffered from writer’s block at some point in their lives. Studies have shown that under extreme stress the human brain shifts control from the cerebral cortex to the limbic system, which is the part of the nervous system associated with...[Read More]
Spit Shine
Old towels torn
into even strips
and a dented
tin of Kiwi, black
you turn the
silver key
and wherever you sit
becomes an
esoteric space,
an escape from
irrelevance
and servitude
keep that towel
a' snappin,
spit shine
long ago a drill sergeant
taught you the trick,
a sure way to heal
the sickness you feel
so you may pass
through the fright
of any long, dark night
keep that towel
a' snappin,
spit shine
so polish away
the grime
into a pride
you can see
your face in
you've done it
all your life
transformed
trash into treasure,
boys into men
hold high your head
defeat has taught
you to know victory
rejection has taught you love
when the world doesn't
always fit you like a glove
keep that towel
a' snappin,
spit shine.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Alarm Clock Dawn
Focus is hazed
as wing-tip
dreams come calling
softly, persistently
those starched seams of
material obsession
trite expressions
that seem to echo
so endlessly
I've left it all behind, this time,
left it all behind in my mind
the alarm clock dawn methodical
in its wringing, starving, stealing time
so stealthily that you hardly notice
until one day you wake up faded,
to a jaded, gaunt and hungry hue
I've left it all behind, this time,
left it all behind in my mind
So this is how it feels to be free?
To be set adrift like some Coltrane riff
when need's an endless song
can't tell you where I'll be tomorrow
I may be drawn back into the yawn
of the alarm clock dawn,
balance is my only hope
to end up somewhere
in the middle.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Beyond Words
Blessed beyond wordstruth is like a bird with a broken wing, it cannot fly but can surely sing
this song calls to me, the inner voice of muse speaks volumes, stitching together fractured moments of my life and giving each of them worth
these words bubble up gently from a place, cool and deep inside of us all that is immortal and wise, their warmth and their light wash over me to cleanse my soul and remind me that in a world the reeks of harshness we are never fools to be kind
all who seek solace will one day find in each day a reason to keep smiling in spite of the world and all its beguiling ways for it is true, we are blessed beyond words.
~Eric Vance Walton~
How To Achieve The Impossible in Five Simple Steps
How can I possibly make a living at my passion? This question has nagged away at me for most of my adult life. Along the way I’ve learned that discovering how to make a living at your passion is the Holy Grail for every writer, every artist, really mostly everyone on the planet. To me the idea of making a living with my writing was a goal that’s both a little too complex and vaguely defined. Maybe this is why so few of us ever reach itl. After being in this business of writing for two decades I’ve learned it’s much more effective to first take the time to contemplate and define what success actually means to you.
Step 1 – DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY
Let’s begin to break this impossibility down into more manageable pieces. The first thing I would like to ask you to do is to imagine that you’ve won the lottery, this is a daydream so dream big…you’ve won $100,000,000. Now envision that it’s exactly one year later, you’ve bought and experienced everything you’ve ever wanted, and you’ve gifted everything that you want to give away. Now, describe your perfect day. That’s it. Take a moment and write this perfect day down on paper.
A perfect day is easy for anyone to imagine and is not even that difficult to live out. Invest in yourself and use a paid time off from your day job to actually live out your perfect day. After you’ve done it commit to memory how amazing it feels. This one day is a small swatch of your future that you can now scale up to multiple days, weeks, months, etc. Also, if you discover your art is a major component of your perfect day continue to Step 2. If not, your art is a probably a hobby and, by all means, continue to enjoy it but it’s probably not something you would want to do as a career.
Step 2 – BELIEVE YOU ARE WORTHY
You must convince yourself that not only is your dream is achievable but that you are worthy of it. This takes guts. The universe will test your devotion to your art, I promise you this. Hurdles will be placed before you, people will disappoint you but remember these are only lessons to learn from. Don’t even think about starting down this path unless you’re prepared for some extremely hard work.
Step 3 – THE REALIZATION
Some people never learn the lesson that money doesn’t bring happiness (neither does poverty) until they’ve spent the best years of their life chasing it. Don’t waste that precious time. Decide how much money would you really need to earn annually at your craft to survive and add a little cushion to that figure. Mostly people are surprised by how different this number is than what they assumed. Write this figure down and then read on to Step 3.
Step 4 – ATTRACT TRUE FANS
Kevin Kelly has come up with a philosophy called, “1,000 True Fans”. This philosophy, in his own words is, “A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author – in other words, anyone producing works of art – needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living.”
Although it sounds simple enough on the surface it’s not but it is achievable with hard and honest work. 1,000 true fans don’t equate to 1,000 likes on your Facebook page, far from it. In my personal experience true fans make up a very small percentage of social media followers. For me it’s around 5% but I’m not sure if this is typical. True fans are more than customers, they are people who, through the magic of chemistry, you’ve made a lasting and meaningful connection with. It’s wonderful when it happens. These are patrons, people who enjoy your work enough to pay money for it, not once or twice but regularly.
This 1,000 True Fans philosophy is priceless because it provides a scalable target for us to aim for. I think it’s also the missing piece in a lot of creative people’s plan. Once you earn these 1,000 true fans the number will begin grow organically through the best advertising medium there is...word of mouth.
Step 5 – BE ONE WITH YOUR ART
You must live and breathe your art (whatever your art happens to be). It’s who you are, your passion and calling. It is embedded in your DNA so be one with it. Get used to the idea that you must throw your entire being into your art every single day. If you’re doing it right you feel as though you shut out the entire world and even lose yourself during those intense sessions of creating.
From the very minute you start on this path you will be on your way towards achieving what you had convinced yourself was an impossible feat. Coincidentally, and quite hysterically, as I was walking to my car typing this step out on my iPhone I suddenly noticed my hands were going numb from the cold. It was 18 degrees and I was so into writing this that I forgot to put on my gloves.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you put these 5 steps into practice with true conviction I promise you will end up closer to the life you wish to achieve. We, as creative people, are so lucky have been born in this time. It’s easier now than ever for us to live our dreams. The world is shifting and a growing number of people are consciously seeking something more than a job that pays the bills, they want a truly meaningful and fulfilling life experience. I wish you luck and blessings in reaching your goal and I thank you for having the courage to pursue it. This is how we’ll heal ourselves and the world.
INDIE AUTHORS, for many more tips such as these please read my book One Word At A Time: Finding Your Way As An Indie Author, available in paperback and eBook formats.
Eric invites you to follow his unfolding story by “liking” his Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/EricVanceWaltonAuthor for updates and promotions on his current and upcoming projects.
Just Enough
Unbroken
The world has grown up around usleaving us with our memories and the beauty of broken things, dusty relics of the time we knew
even the sky is different now but yet we cast the same shadows and these shadows still stretch as we walk away from the sun
the crowd grows younger each year but I feel a warmth that only wisdom brings to have weathered all the winds life has blown and still be able to smile...to find joy means, today, I've won. I am not broken
These years have taught me to feast on the marrow of life to wring out the glistening drops of happiness and not trouble myself with the trivial,
the day's events slither, they are shallow and fickle sometimes difficult to grasp they do not even know themselves
in the end all that matters is the sum of the words written on the pages of our book of life and their unique and personal truths.
~Eric Vance Walton~
The Life of a Writer With a Full Time Job
I fell madly in love with writing the day that I found I could move people with my words. In my younger days I was extremely quiet and shy and writing became an important emotional outlet. As early as I can remember there has been this aching inside of me, to tell a story. As the years have progressed this deep desire to tell a story has become a lifelong obsession to polish and perfect my craft. For almost two decades I’ve have been juggling a full time job while writing books, poetry and freelance articles. Although my goal has always been write full time, [continue reading]
Big Boy Pants
I was feeling depressed and stuck a few days ago. After nearly twenty years my writing career underwent a quantum leap in growth in the previous two years and then began to sputter. I started to panic. Don't get me wrong, I am totally grateful for each and every step of my journey so far but working with others can be difficult and when our personal aspirations aren't met it's easy to become impatient and frustrated.
I had a shift in attitude this morning that was triggered by a comment from one of my loyal readers. This is a precise example of why it's so valuable for creative folks to communicate with one another. This particular interchange was Zen like and forced me to think about things from just a slightly different perspective. It was a reminder that it's up to no one but me to take ownership for my own success.
What was the magic question you ask? It was a simple question but one that when deeply contemplated was absolutely transformative. It's something that I challenge all of you indie authors to answer yourselves. If it were totally up to you what would you do to promote your books? Think about it, if you had to rely on no one else and the one person on Earth responsible for you achieving your goals was you, what action would you take? The secret is this is absolutely true...ultimately we're all responsible for our own successes.
This writer's life is really a difficult path, it's one of the most difficult professions on Earth to make a living at, and it's so easy to get discouraged. The truth is the very minute you think you have to fully rely on someone else for your success you instantly diminish your power. Although literary agents, publishers and the media can play an important role in your success, your fate never has been and never will be dictated by them. Your savior is yourself. If you keep remembering that, no matter what, no one else is responsible for your success but you, your power and confidence will grow exponentially.
I've learned from the James Altucher show that podcast guest appearances are the best book promotions available today. Author after author has confirmed this. So today I'm going to begin researching and contacting the hosts of the top writer-focused podcasts to give my pitch and ask to be a guest. If nothing else this will give me some experience and help foster new connections that I can draw on. I will also begin to learn more about the industry incase I want to host my own podcast at some point in the future. It's time to put on the big boy pants. The sky is truly the limit, I'll make sure of it.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Meditation
How lucid is your soul tonightas guards are put to rest? When not one is stirring ‘round you and the sun is setting West,
your true being is emerging as facades yield one by one you long to merge with oneness and to greet the golden sun,
free from inhibitions imposed by the mind you call your own freedom from the past mistakes, these karmic seeds you've sown,
cross-legged, in the lotus you begin to clear your wearied mind wishing for a sliver of a moment to leave the struggle far behind
your pulse begins to slow as the void becomes your breath your heart begins to soothe you ever-beating in your chest,
dancing somewhere in the stillness breaking shadows far and near where a worry’s no longer a worry and a tear is not a tear,
a wave is all consuming a bright beam breaks clouds above you reach your precious goal and for a moment become Love.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Join The Indie Publishing Revolution!
We're in the middle of a publishing revolution. Publishing houses no longer hold all of the keys to success as a writer. The world is changing. Every writer has a chance to be part of the new publishing world. This book is not about publishing contracts and million dollar book deals. This book is about creating a life as a writer. One Word at a Time is a deeply personal guide to success as a writer. In this book I share my hard-won lessons about creating and sustaining the writer's life. If you want a practical and personal guide to success as a writer, this book is for you. Available now for Kindle and in paperback.
I Present to you...The Greatest of Secrets!
On Sale Now...my new poetry chapbook, The Greatest of Secrets! This beautiful chapbook contains more than twenty original poems suited for Valentine’s Day and is entirely handmade and bound.
I’m so happy with how this book turned out. I collaborated with the talented Twin Cities artist, Kristi Casey, on this project. The Greatest of Secrets is a very limited edition of 100 copies and half of them were sold in pre-sales. Each of the 50 copies left will be hand-numbered and autographed. The dimensions of the book are 5” x 6” and the interior is printed on 24lb ivory colored paper. This even smells like an old book because the artist has used vintage sheet music for the cover. Since it’s handmade, each book cover will be slightly different.
The price for this one of a kind chapbook is $15.50 per copy US domestic and $16.50 for international orders. Shipping is included. Purchase your chapbook(s) now via PayPal (https://www.paypal.com) in 4 easy steps: 1. log onto your Paypal account; 2. choose, “Pay or Send Money”; 3. click, “Send money to friends or family (or Paypal charges a fee); and 4. send the proper amount to, “ericvancewalton@gmail.com”. Please don’t forget to include the shipping address in the notes.
If you’d rather pay by check please email me at ericvancewalton@gmail.com with the number of copies you wish to purchase and your address and I’ll respond with the address to which you can send a personal check.
Own or gift a copy of my very first poetry chapbook. When they’re gone, there will be no more. This would make a very thoughtful and unique Valentine’s Day gift. Although we can’t guarantee it, we will do our very best to have these to your doorstep by Valentine’s Day. Again, the price is $15.50 per copy US domestic and $16.50 for international orders. Thanks!
Rush Hour Train
Happiness is an empty rush hour train only the scent of the past remains and stains of a crushed Cheeto on a vacant seat, a crumpled can of pop and graffiti covered shops that rush by, unbroken
Happiness is an empty rush hour train a subtle sway to hush the pain as life's maelstrom briefly slows its swirl the fringes of my soul begin an upward curl, a smile
Muse strikes, a welcome distraction from mortality pulls me back from the edge of never to maybe...just wait and see please save me from obscurity
Happiness is an empty rush hour train the pause I prayed for spared me again from being life's prey sweet Muse diffuses the illusion, and I return to the conclusion that I spell out the meaning of my existence, one word at a time.
~Eric Vance Walton~
We Are Worthy
I laughed at the comic below and then almost immediately it reminded me of how unbalanced our society is. When is the last time a song, a poem, a film, or a piece of art moved you? It happens to me almost on a weekly basis. The truth is these creative treasures have the power to impact you so deeply they can actually change you. We live in a world rich with life-altering creative treasures, many of them are accessible for free 24/7 from any mobile device. The unfortunate thing is a staggeringly small percentage of the creative geniuses who create these great gifts ever reap the benefits of their valuable service to humanity. Creatives infuse our world with beauty, positive energy, they shake us from our apathy and challenge us to think. How valuable is this? More importantly, how do you put a price on it?
This, is the hard part for us creatives. Our creative fruits...art, literature, poetry are all subjective, what truly impacts one person might seem like crap to another. To add even more complexity, you must make a reasonable name for yourself before most people are willing to spend a dime on your work. The truth is it can't be done overnight but it can be done. I am proof.
First you must give yourself permission to be an artist or writer. You must also give yourself permission to ask people to pay a reasonable price for your work. If you work hard and create a quality product that sparks an emotional connection with others you deserve to be compensated...don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Yes, you will have to give some content away for free at first but you shouldn't do this for long. Keep honing your skills, continue to build your confidence, become a marketing ninja!
By the same token, if you encounter another creative person whose work moves you and you are in the position to do so, buy it. Become a patron. This is the greatest gift you can give someone who is struggling. It's not just about the money but more about the validation of their talent. That item you buy could be the first sale they've had in a week or a month and it will give them the hope they need to keep pursuing their dreams. I know, I've been there, too many of us have. The age of the starving artist must come to an end. In reality we are all just one big creative family and it all begins with us.
Eric Vance Walton is a novelist, poet, aspiring world traveler, and tea junkie. He invites you to follow his unfolding story by "liking" his Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/EricVanceWaltonAuthor for updates and promotions on his current and upcoming projects. You can find Eric's new book One Word At A Time: Finding Your Way as an Indie Author, on Amazon in print or as an ebook.
Article © 2014 Eric Vance Walton
Freedom in Sixty-Four Bars
5:30AM wake up, shower, coffee, buttered toast, and So What flowing from the radio
its call and response, like smoke, coaxes me softly to some other kind of consciousness
a strange feeling settles at two minutes thirty-three, reality? It's just some charlatan
"you've been a harlot, son." the notes say, "You've sold your best years for a song."
By three minutes twenty-six Mr. Davis had me transfixed, I was living 2/7ths of a life
struggling through the mires of a Monday to Friday strife for such a small slice
but who am I to whine? it's taken quite a long time but...so what? I've found freedom in sixty-four bars.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Great Reviews for One Word At A Time: Finding Your Way as an Indie Author!
I couldn't be more thrilled by the reception of my new book One Word At A Time: Finding Your Way as an Indie Author! I've received so many kind words from those who've read it, I appreciate this more than you know. The book now has SEVEN Amazon reviews with an average of 4.5 stars! If you've read the book I'd like to hear what you think and, please, whether you liked it or not please write an Amazon review!
If you haven't read One Word At A Time yet and would like to Amazon has discounted the paperback (it's also available as an eBook in the Kindle store).
Thank you!