I met Ben Talbot when he somehow found me online, and asked me to edit a short story he had written. I read the short story, and it was, well, you know, my kinda fiction. It was funny, sly, and odd in the best possible way. It took me by surprise, and, as a person who has read thousands of books and probably hundreds of manuscripts, it is hard to write something that presents to me as fresh. Ben’s story did all of that.
Ben writes a blog.
When an author works with me I give advice on the whole “I’m an author” thing, and my advice is always that each author needs a website (the author’s personal shelf in the bookstore that is the WWW, where readers can find him/her/they), and then to communicate, even if it feels like whispering into the void, so people know about you, have a chance to get to know you, as an author and a human. Most folks don’t take my advice, and even I have trouble with my own advice, as I just don’t get the time I need to attend to my own blog, but Ben took my advice and is blogging… daily.
Ben already had a website with a blog, but he has started making blogging a very regular part of his life, and that takes some stamina and commitment to one’s writing career. Ben has both.
Ben is also a person with a unique way of seeing the world in general, and I think that is his literary “blessing,” if you will, that makes his fiction so compelling when you read it. You can get a taste for it in his blog. If you wonder what the elusive thing called “talent” is, I guess I would say, loosely, it is the ability to do what other people can do (right? Like even I can play a little piano…) but to do it in an either especially skilled way, or with a unique interpretation, or a different way of “playing the instrument” that results in surprising and new ways of…. seeing, hearing, etc.
Ben is releasing his first book in 2025, a collection of short stories that function as a novel, much like the classic, WINESBURG, OHIO, by Sherwood Anderson, that is actually labeled as a short story cycle. Ben’s collection is called Periscope City: Where the Lonely Go to Live Alone. Reading Ben’s blog will give you an idea of his style, and keep you up to date on when his book releases. It’s under construction with us now, and I’ll be certain to post when the pre-order is available.
I especially like today’s post by Ben. I left a comment on it that it’s like poetry, of a sort. It’s not so much what Ben has to say, as it is the way in which he says it.
Over two million books get released each year. The first step to being read, which the blogging has an opportunity to help with, is having people know that your book even exists. The second step is, once you get them reading, keep them hooked. And that’s where Ben’s writing shines, at least is does for me, a reader who has been bored way more often than hooked, by books sent my way to edit.
So take a look at today’s blog entry from Ben, and see if you see what I see in his style that I find so intriguing.
And if you’re working on your own book, ask yourself if you are willing to out yourself out there, over and over, whispering into the void, to try to find your readers.
I cannot believe how long it has been since I last did one of these posts.
Well, I’m back baby. 🙂
Once upon a time I had a fairly large vinyl collection. And then I started moving often. I took the whole collection with me to the dorms my first year of college, and when I flunked out that first year and my mother kicked me out of the house, I took the whole collection (and my rickety record player)
And here it is (thank you eBay!):
From there I went, eventually, back to my parents’ house, which was the worts place for me, and for which I blame Ronald Reagan (there were no jobs). After I got my degree, and then a few jobs, I moved myself and my record collection to my boyfriend’s house. But that lasted about 3 years because I am a bad picker, and so I eventually decied to move out so his new girlfriend could move in, even though he would have been happy to have me stay on, oddly enough.
My record collection and I went from the suburbs to Philly. I had an awesome, if rodent-infested, apartment in West Philly for about three years, until I managed to buy a small twin in Roxborough. I lived there for one of the longer periods of staying-put, just about seven years, and then, having both gotten sick of the parking situation (trashcans in the street anyone?) and swept David off his feet, I moved to CA, and sold or donated most of my collection (and, luckily, my sister showed up at the donation place right after I left, and she rescued a few of them, (inlcuding my Wings Over America, which she very kindly returned to me last month! It still has all the skips in it I remember. Delicious!) Of course the record player, the double of which is now selling on eBay, had long since died, so there was not anything to play the vinyl on anyway. And have you attempted to travel with vinyl? It slips and slides and weighs a literal ton. But, it is still my favorite way to listen to music.
Just to get us up to date: I spent 4 years in Venice Beach, and 4 years in Canoga Park, and then we went back to the East Coast, reluctantly for me. There was a year back in my mother’s house (my father was gone), which, was, again, the worst place for me, and then we landed in teeny tiny Milton. Whicle we were there my sister, who was living n Brooklyn, found a record player in the trash which she gave to me, and I started lisstening to my little stash once again. I had mostly saved the family Christmas albums that my mother had tried to sell at a garage sale once in my presence (the Philistine!), my small jazz collection, my smaller bluegrass and cajun collection, and a few rock albums. We then spent (I believe) exactly 7 years in Milton (about 3 too many), and then we came back to CA, and we spent 1.5 years in Montclair, and now we’ve settled in Monrovia. We’ve been here almost 9 months, and I could see myself not leaving, actually. We’re renting, which is not ideal (it’s been 16 years since I last had a rental), but we’re one-block from a street full of restaurants, which I love, and we turn the corner from our rental and see the mountains, and we’re all very happy. It’s like we found our way back home, to some extent. And so I have started collecting vinyl again, and we have just a wonderful front porch, and David recently surprised me with a second record player, very small, for the front porch. The past couple of weeks I’ve been lugging the laptop out to the porch (and the precious coffee), and working out there, and now I have music too, which is very distracting, but I do love it.
And this is about one of the most recent albums I bought, which I used to have on CD, lord do I hate cds! But that’s what we used to have for the car. In any case, I got myself BY THE WAY by one of my top 5 favorite rock bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, on vinyl. It’s a two record set, and disc 2 side 2 has four songs on it that I wish, each one of them, would never end.
I think I first got into the Chili Peppers when they put out “Breaking the Girl,” which is on BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK (which Dave got me on vinyl to go with the record player!). And that song is a really well known one, and a really good example of why I love them. First of all… funk. I love funk, and, in my view, they are funk. Second, they have a vibe, a thing that goes on in their music which I can only describe as cacophony. It sounds like someone is tapping a glass, and someone else is banging pot lids, and someone else is clapping, or there are street sounds, just… a lot of sound. Their songs are really layered and tend to, in general, really improve my mood any time I hear them. They make me want to move around.
Disc 2 side 2 is one of their more mellow outings, but it still has the layers of musics and noise, and it makes me want to move and sing, and I get it gloriously stuck in my head. I expect I will wear out the album, but it will be this side I destroy first, in the same way you might destroy your favorite teddy bear from sleeping with it so hard.
The first track is “On Mercury.” It has a Mexican/mariachi sound to it. I’m a big Herb Alpert fan, and it is reminicsent of that sound I think. It reminds me a bit of “The Lonely Bull.” It’s fast and upbeat, and it repeats the chorus, and I love the idea of “lemon trees on Mercury,” because I am certain that if trees on Mercury were possible, the would be lemon yellow, almost as if being so close to the sun burned them yellow, rather than buring them black.
“I change the key from C to D; you see to me it’s just a minor thing; he knows everything.” The second track on thsi side is “Minor Thing,” and even though minor keys are associated with being down, or sinister sounding, this song is very upbeat. The guitar that anchors this song sounds like vintage U2, and I would be willing to bet there’s a flute or recorder being played though it. It’s a fast song, and a little bit rap, and I just feel like it’s clever.
Then the tempo slows and Kiedis sings, “Shiver for me girl…,” and goes on to sing, “….swim for your smile in a blue rock quarry,” and ends with the words, “…settle for love.” It’s got an orchestra playing along with the band, and I think it’s very romantic (and it helps that I’ve always found the whole band to be easy on the eyes). It’s called “Warm Tape,” and I find myself going through my day repeating the “shiver for me girl” part over and over, though I confess I don’t “get” the title.
The last song on disc two side two is “Venice Queen..”
SatoriTree has this to say about it on Reddit:
If it’s true, it makes it even better. It’s not a slow song, but the vibe is very mellow, and it begins sounding almost mystical. Flea does great harmonies on this one, and he and Anthony sound to me like they could be family because their voices meld so well. I like to sing Flea’s part when I sing along, but I often like to sing the harmony. I think I would have made a fantastic back-up singer, can hold a harmony well, and I’m not really looking to be a front man.
LOL, in some ways, maybe that is why I am so passionate about publishing people. I’m not a front man, really, but I’m a helluva back-up singer.
While I have been picking away at the keys trying to write this post, being interrupted by my daughter, and my dog, multiple times over, I have listened to this on repeat, disc two side two, about 4 times, and when I finish typing this, I’m going to start it again.
“I see you standing bby the sea; the waves you made will always be; a kiss goodbye before you leave, G*L*O*R*I*A is love…. my friend, my friend, my friend….
I think anyone who dismisses the RHCP out of hand as just noise, or whatever, needs to really take a listen. This band has very complicted music, and gorgeous lyrics, and they just may be hiding them from people who judge them by their looks. And, as I alluded to above, I like their looks just as much as their music. But, really, this is a complex and talented band, and every time they make new music, I’m in.
bsolutely delighted to extend a warm invitation to join us for a Current Words One-And-Done Session—an exclusive and enjoyable opportunity designed specifically for fiction and memoir writers to refine their skills in a highly supportive environment. And guess what? It comes at no cost to you!
Picture this: a virtual gathering hosted by Di and Dave (D&D), happening from 9-11 AM Pacific time on select Saturdays, and limited to just five participants. In an intimate Zoom setting, you’ll exclusively share your work with D&D along with the other participants. D&D will come prepared for a deep dive into your work, seeking out your distinctive patterns, challenges, and talents as an author.
Here’s the rundown on how to secure your spot: shoot us an email with a 450-550 word snippet of your writing at workshops@currentwords.com. Don’t forget to include your full name and the genre you’re working on (whether it’s short stories, long-form fiction, or memoir). Once you snag a spot, expect an email with exclusive instructions and the meeting URL. Prepare to join our small-group discussion via Zoom, where we’ll give your work the thoughtful attention it truly deserves.
Wondering why you should participate? Every writer has unique qualities—some that add zest to their writing, others that might slow it down. Have you ever pondered the role of an editor or what it’s like to be edited? Find answers to these questions, connect with a small group of fellow authors, and get a boost to your enthusiasm—all in a brief Saturday morning session.
Few things boost a writer’s productivity more than mingling with other authors. We’re eager to dive into your creative world, share in this enriching experience, and connect with our fellow wordsmiths.
Remember, this is completely free of charge! D&D have been extending a helping hand to fellow authors since their bi-monthly free workshop started at their home in 2017. We genuinely enjoy the company of other authors and can’t wait to explore your words, embarking on this exciting writing journey together.
To secure your spot, simply shoot an email to workshops@currentwords.com with 450-550 words of writing for our review.
We’ll then send you the first available date, followed by a Zoom link if you’re able to attend. Looking forward to seeing you at the virtual gathering!
Aside from doing my own writing, and teaching and tutoring, I’m in the publishing biz. And, during my six years doing that I have really been delving into this topic over and over, not even for myself, in all honesty, but for the truly very talented authors I have helped to publish who I think should be making a living from their writing, because most authors are not making a living from their writing.
And, the ones that are, are probably working their social-media butts off, and probably not fully making a living. They probably have gainfully employed spouses, with health benefits, and are making a contributing amount as an author, but not a rent-paying amount. That is my guess, for the “in general” group. There are always outliers. But, there are not very many of those.
So I offer you two articles to read which I find helpful as an author for keeping me grounded:
THIS ONE:
AND THIS ONE:
May you write a good novel and finish it, and may it find its readers.
Thanks to Aunt Lee& Nathan, Sophie and Mouse, and I are spending the weekend in Idyllwild.
This means we eat what we want!
Brunch at The Red Kettle. Mom: chili, peach pie, coffee. A real Agent Cooper kinda-lunch, and they make a damn fine cup of coffee. Sophie & Mouse: Chicken strips with fries, and beaucoup gravy, and apple juice.
Then we go shopping and buy dumb stuff: shaved ice candy necklaces salt water taffy small felted rabbit crazy expensive bath bombs and earrings (for Sophie) and adding to Mom’s huge, and Sophie’s non-existent button collection:
While we were shopping we went into one store that had all these beautiful blown glass items, quite large, in a case under the counter. “Those are so pretty!” said Sophie. “What are they?”
“Those are bongs,” I said, “you use them to smoke weed and get high.”
“Oh my gosh,” said the woman behind the counter (about my age, store owner I surmise), “I love that. So matter-of-fact, and no judgement.”
I also bought a pro-choice button (which is already affixed to the hoodie I wore to the 2016/17 Women’s march on Washington (the hoodie that is signed by all the people who were on the bus with me…. always have a Sharpie about your person, okay?), so the shopkeep and I had a good long talk about legislators legislating weed, and trans folks, and women’s bodies, when there’s MAGA and mass shootings, and anti-semitism, and all the things that are sooooooo wrong with USA right now, so we got along really well. And I bought Sophie her first bong. (Nope, just kidding on that last part…. Have you ever used a bong? I never have, though I have seen a few in action.
Then stop at the little grocery in town (there are two) and rustle up the perfect dinner. Sophie declared it was better than Thanksgiving!
Sophie… by request: Pillsbury crescent rolls, Spam, peas, mashed and gobs of gravy. For Mom, fruit, olive bread smeared with labne, grilled halloumi, Q ginger beer.
Then we played Trash Pandas, and M.A.S.H. Sophie won Trash Pandas, but lost at MASH as she is going to live in a shack with her friend from school, drive a murder van, and make $0.003/year as an origami instructor. I am going to marry Eddy from Two-Set Violin (I like Eddy, but I was hoping to get 1970 Paul McCartney), have one child, and make a million dollars a year as a singer (funny that “successful novelist” is not in my future.). Oh! And I get to drive Vera’s Land Rover (see the British TV show VERA).
Interrupting the weekend for a little bit tomorrow to have a Devil’s Party Press author marketing meeting. Trying to build a community among the authors and Dave and me so that we can all foster each other’s success. Men work from sun to sun, but a publisher’s work is never done.
If you get a chance to visit Idyllwild, it’s fun. I even like the round and round drive up the mountain (Sophie takes motion sickness pills and puts a blanket over her head…. so experiences may vary. You do you.)
Dianne Pearce Writes 