DB takes a break from their haphazard investigations into the plight of North Sea oil to happily joins in with the toasting.
– Congratulations @Wraith11B! Here’s to you.
– Congratulations @Wraith11B! Here’s to you.
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"A toast! For @Wraith11B ! For the future!"
Nikolai pauses.
"I guess an MA is a master's degree. But what is an MS? Foreign grades confuse me."
He shrugs.
"In any case, a mighty acconplishment! Huzzah!"
Nikolai pauses.
"I guess an MA is a master's degree. But what is an MS? Foreign grades confuse me."
He shrugs.
"In any case, a mighty acconplishment! Huzzah!"
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Nikolai laughs.
"Ah, you differentiate between those?"
He grins.
"Nerds."
"Ah, you differentiate between those?"
He grins.
"Nerds."
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Nikolai laughs.
"Ah, you differentiate between those?"
He grins.
"Nerds."
Of course. <proud of being a nerd>
You realize there are more, right?
MBA
MFA
MPh
etc
etc
etc
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In Norway you have grunnfag (1 year), bachelor (3 years), master (5 years), doctor (8 years, IIRC).
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Jak had left the bAAR after the congratulations and discussions had died down. Now when he reentered, the space was quiet.
He had an announcement to make.
"So some of you may remember I was writing a book. I've finally finished writing the first draft!"
After looking around he grabs a drink and sits in one of the armchairs. "There's still lots of work to do. Editing, publishing, a cover. But I'm glad at least the story itself is done."
He had an announcement to make.
"So some of you may remember I was writing a book. I've finally finished writing the first draft!"
After looking around he grabs a drink and sits in one of the armchairs. "There's still lots of work to do. Editing, publishing, a cover. But I'm glad at least the story itself is done."
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"That's awesome! Congratulations! Let me know if you need a beta reader."
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"Thanks, @Cora Giantkiller! I would be honored if you or anyone else wants to take a look at it."
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Mr. SGE teleports to the baar.
"Congratulations!"
Mr. SGE teleports away.
"Congratulations!"
Mr. SGE teleports away.
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Jak smiles, eager to answer. He gets up and starts offering drinks to those gathering.
"It's a fantasy book. The protagonist, Danson, is a knight from a human kingdom, however he's been away on an adventure for a long time (a few decades). When he finally returns home, stuff has changed. There are bandits, instability, political infighting, etc. Danson comes into conflict with the powers-that-be and has to gather unlikely allies to try and fix the mess. Some of those allies include a group of magic-users which Danson's country has been warring/raiding with for as long as anyone can remember. So Danson has to learn to put aside his prejudices for the sake of teamwork."
"Thanks, both of you," Jak adds as Mr. SGE teleports in and out in a blink.
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Again, the ancient one was roused from his slumbers in the comfy leather wingback chair near the fireplace in the more stately section of the bAAR. Open in his lap, he held large tomes of CK2 and CK3 AARs. His hand was resting on a chapter of The Sword of Virtanen from March.
"What's this? I heard in a dream that @jak7139 had finished a draft of his book," he sputtered, trying to get a handle on his consciousness (always an issue in the bAAR). "If this is so, that is a major milestone! I wish there was a real bartender to serve drinks all around. Huzzah!" At that, the ancient one raised his glass that still had a bit of mezcal at the bottom. After a pause, he drained what was left but then put his eye to the glass to see it was indeed empty after a barely a sip had landed on his tongue.
He stood and made his way to the main barroom and then behind the counter to access his favorite bottle which was also getting alarming low on spirits. He poured what was left into his glass.
"I like the premise. I too would gladly volunteer to do some reading although I am about to get into some time consuming summer projects. That's the test of a good book though: can it distract from work that must be done," Chac noted.
He walked back to his comfy chair, taking a careful series of sips along the way. Once settled back in near the fire, he held forth a bit more.
"This reminds me of recent chats in various places in AARland by some of the top authors regarding publishing," Chac continued. "Some may remember @Cora Giantkiller discussing working on a new book although unrelated to her AAR. Then there was @Revan86 talking about turning his AAR into a book. I tried to spark more of that discussion in the SolAARium, although I think that conversation stalled out even after @Rensslaer and @Lord Durham added bits from their expertise.
"So the question to you, Jak, is what route are you taking? Self-publishing with Amazon or another self-publishing source? Working with an established publishing house and maybe an agent? Publishing on electronic platforms in search of a publisher? Some combination of those? As someone who has published non-fiction, I wonder what is the best path these days for fiction. I am having similar thoughts. Would love to publish some fiction, if I find a path that will lead me to some readers. So maybe we can celebrate Jak and hear his thoughts on the next steps to publishing? Well, it's a thought."
"What's this? I heard in a dream that @jak7139 had finished a draft of his book," he sputtered, trying to get a handle on his consciousness (always an issue in the bAAR). "If this is so, that is a major milestone! I wish there was a real bartender to serve drinks all around. Huzzah!" At that, the ancient one raised his glass that still had a bit of mezcal at the bottom. After a pause, he drained what was left but then put his eye to the glass to see it was indeed empty after a barely a sip had landed on his tongue.
He stood and made his way to the main barroom and then behind the counter to access his favorite bottle which was also getting alarming low on spirits. He poured what was left into his glass.
"I like the premise. I too would gladly volunteer to do some reading although I am about to get into some time consuming summer projects. That's the test of a good book though: can it distract from work that must be done," Chac noted.
He walked back to his comfy chair, taking a careful series of sips along the way. Once settled back in near the fire, he held forth a bit more.
"This reminds me of recent chats in various places in AARland by some of the top authors regarding publishing," Chac continued. "Some may remember @Cora Giantkiller discussing working on a new book although unrelated to her AAR. Then there was @Revan86 talking about turning his AAR into a book. I tried to spark more of that discussion in the SolAARium, although I think that conversation stalled out even after @Rensslaer and @Lord Durham added bits from their expertise.
"So the question to you, Jak, is what route are you taking? Self-publishing with Amazon or another self-publishing source? Working with an established publishing house and maybe an agent? Publishing on electronic platforms in search of a publisher? Some combination of those? As someone who has published non-fiction, I wonder what is the best path these days for fiction. I am having similar thoughts. Would love to publish some fiction, if I find a path that will lead me to some readers. So maybe we can celebrate Jak and hear his thoughts on the next steps to publishing? Well, it's a thought."
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"I hope your sleep was restful," Jak says, seeing @Chac1 roused. He also notes the Ancient One's dejected look inside the bottom of his empty glass and towards the bare shelves by the counter. "Perhaps we need an errand run?"
Jak thinks back to what @filcat brought from their trip to the store. "No drinks from that trip, I believe. But maybe the best stuff is hidden in the back?"
Turning from that line of thought for now, Jak addressed the elderly Mesoamerican. He felt the bAAR would always provide spirits, rest, and sustenance for whoever needed it, in its own special way, regardless of whether the shelves were stocked or not.
Chac then asked about publishing. Jak thought on it a while. Eventually, he said:
"The thing is I still don't really know. This is all completely new to me. I've looked a bit into self-publishing in general, and it is looking more and more like an attractive option. From what I've heard, it is extremely difficult to get a traditional publisher to accept new works if you aren't established or have a contact in the industry. I think in the end self-publishing would give me the most freedom, and there are less obligations. I feel it would suit me well. Last summer I did find out one of my dad's cousins has done some publishing work, though so far we haven't talked much."
Taking a large gulp, Jak figured he should conclude. "Publishing, I suspect, is still far in the future anyway. I still need feedback and to edit what I've already got. But it is of course helpful to start thinking on these things. I know @Rensslaer has self published. I wonder what the time table was for his book to go from first draft to first professional copy to being put online?"
Jak thinks back to what @filcat brought from their trip to the store. "No drinks from that trip, I believe. But maybe the best stuff is hidden in the back?"
Turning from that line of thought for now, Jak addressed the elderly Mesoamerican. He felt the bAAR would always provide spirits, rest, and sustenance for whoever needed it, in its own special way, regardless of whether the shelves were stocked or not.
"Don't feel pressured to read! That's the last thing I want. Whatever feedback you or others can provide," he looks around the room, "whenever you can, is most welcome."
Chac then asked about publishing. Jak thought on it a while. Eventually, he said:
"The thing is I still don't really know. This is all completely new to me. I've looked a bit into self-publishing in general, and it is looking more and more like an attractive option. From what I've heard, it is extremely difficult to get a traditional publisher to accept new works if you aren't established or have a contact in the industry. I think in the end self-publishing would give me the most freedom, and there are less obligations. I feel it would suit me well. Last summer I did find out one of my dad's cousins has done some publishing work, though so far we haven't talked much."
Taking a large gulp, Jak figured he should conclude. "Publishing, I suspect, is still far in the future anyway. I still need feedback and to edit what I've already got. But it is of course helpful to start thinking on these things. I know @Rensslaer has self published. I wonder what the time table was for his book to go from first draft to first professional copy to being put online?"
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The ancient one gave @jak7139 a wide smile. "No chore or duty involved. Genuinely interested," Chac responded. "Look, I loved Machinations of the Medici. If the writing is of that caliber, it isn't work or a chore, it is welcome entertainment. Sign me up."
Then he took a large gulp of mezcal and thought about what Jak had said regarding replenishing supplies.
Then he took a large gulp of mezcal and thought about what Jak had said regarding replenishing supplies.
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The elderly white-haired prince sipped on a glass of brandy. "I heard @jak7139 ask something about the timeline for the book I published."
He sat carefully in a plush chair and set the drink on the side table. "Indeed, I had some aspirations to write for 3 months and be done with it, but I realized at the end of that time I had written something, but I was not happy with it. It took me, instead, a full 9 months, from beginning of writing to the final publication."
"I was quite fortunate to be able to do the editing and formatting myself, as I had done other some publications of more instructional sort. So that saved me some money. I paid a young artist about $150 to do the initial cover art, and then later when I republished I paid an artist on Fiverr about $200 for something better."
"I do say, @jak7139 I would be happy to beta-read also. Can't promise timeline for a full response, but I can give you impressions in stages if that's okay. Just PM me and we'll set something up!"
He sat carefully in a plush chair and set the drink on the side table. "Indeed, I had some aspirations to write for 3 months and be done with it, but I realized at the end of that time I had written something, but I was not happy with it. It took me, instead, a full 9 months, from beginning of writing to the final publication."
"I was quite fortunate to be able to do the editing and formatting myself, as I had done other some publications of more instructional sort. So that saved me some money. I paid a young artist about $150 to do the initial cover art, and then later when I republished I paid an artist on Fiverr about $200 for something better."
"I do say, @jak7139 I would be happy to beta-read also. Can't promise timeline for a full response, but I can give you impressions in stages if that's okay. Just PM me and we'll set something up!"
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"A conundrum: How might there be a shortage of a fictional substance? Surely we might just imagine that we have more?" Cora holds her open palm in front of her, and stares at it intently for perhaps a minute or two. By the end, her brow is furrowed considerably. Eventually, she sighs and shrugs her shoulders. "Damn, I really thought that would work."
After a moment, she recalls with some chagrin that she is not alone in the bar. "Finding readers is the hard part, no? Heaven knows, I have very little idea how to go about doing that, outside of what it involves to find readers here."
After a moment, she recalls with some chagrin that she is not alone in the bar. "Finding readers is the hard part, no? Heaven knows, I have very little idea how to go about doing that, outside of what it involves to find readers here."
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The elderly prince takes another sip before motioning with the glass toward @Cora Giantkiller. "I would make the same offer to you, as well. I must limit how much I commit to, but I would be glad to read and comment, and provide suggestions."
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"Perhaps," Chac offered "our secondary discussion about the lack of substances... drinks... what have you... could be taken as a metaphor for the search for readers and how sometimes there don't seem to be as many around. But perhaps that is only in the perspective of the author."
P.S.: Yes, a DM is fine to begin the process of beta reading and then we can take it from there for those who may be interested.
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