So I've spent a year working full time in the non-writing world. To an extent, it was one of the best things that could have happened to me, to the other one of the worst. I almost recommend all writers graduating from their undergraduate degrees to take a year off -- you will learn to appreciate the time you had for writing.

In the course of my year away from college, full time office work quickly developed into a habit that smothered the life out of my writing. It was only after nine months of being at my job I realized it'd been more than two years since Taralisu's publication, and just as long since I had written or read seriously at all.

The past several months along with the months to come have been designated for me to build myself back up for my first residency in June with Pacific U. In-as-much, I have realized a few things I want to offer anyone reading this blog:

* The real world wants to pull you away from doing anything artistically fulfilling at all moments of every day. I don't care if the new Mac commercial tells you otherwise -- almost everything life, job, and society will ask of you is a means to kill your art. Truthfully, as writers, we have to convert all of that into useful content for our craft. We have to find time for it in a world that wants to fill every waking moment of it with their product or company.

* I appreciate graduate school that much more for giving me an opportunity to convert more of my life to writing. It gives reason. And, even more, it offers encouragement. The professional world and its demands do not care about your writing (unless you're working in that field, and even so, that's questionable).

* Feedback is crucial. When reviews started coming in from strangers on Taralisu I felt ecstatic. Some were positive, others negative, but I was receiving crucial opinions. Aside from the occasional royalty payment, I couldn't even tell people were reading my novel. It's hard to gauge where your writing stands, even when you reach what seemed like that magical plateau called "publication." I can't tell you how much those reviews meant to me, even the negative ones, in revitalizing my love of writing. It's the closest experience I had to a workshop since my undergraduate classes.

So as the June residency for Pacific University comes ever closer, both my poetry and prose have been undergoing a growing regiment of practice. And I urge you, as well, to reflect on where your writing has gone since your undergraduate studies. Have you remained connected with your writing?

If you haven't picked up a copy of Taralisu yet, I don't know why you're reading this blog! But, anyway, as always, the sales still go steady with it. My next novel is speeding along now. But, with Taralisu down, there's a flyer coming up! That's right. Amanda was kind enough to put forth some of her hard-earned art efforts into working on some fliers for Taralisu. The picture will be put up sometime this week or so, so keep a look out!


Taralisu is also now on Books-a-Million! Check it out! 


Cheers!


- Ryan Tullis

For those of you who didn't know (which would be most of you), I begged one of my favorite authors, Simon R. Green, to do a book review. I haven't heard back from him whether he received a copy from the publisher or not. I'm starting to wonder if he hated the book so much he didn't want to reply. If that's the case, I'm not sure how to feel on the issue. I hope he does like it. He's one of my favorite authors, and having his review certainly wouldn't hurt for the book looking good (he's a New York Times Best Selling Author).

Also, Borders and Barnes and Noble haven't shown the book yet in their databases. I need to schedule book signings (thanks to my father for that), too. All of this while trying to write a second novel. Where's my time for Street Fighter and Vampire Savior games?

So, most of these blogs, I guess, begin with the writer unpublished as a novelist. It's weird, because most books on writing don't cover the after-you've-been-published side of things. So, I guess I'm going to talk about my journey in advertising this book and hopefully showing the struggle that occurs AFTER the book is written, and in writing one's second book and so forth and so on.

After publishing my first novel, I felt pretty good. It got released just recently, and I find myself not knowing what to do. So, I've thought about some different ideas. I think I'm going to do fliers of four different scenes from the book sketched out (thanks to the lovely Amanda for that). Maybe do some banner advertisement. Also, I'm purchasing 25 copies of the book (with my discount) in order to give out to people who I think will push it and put up good reviews (indoctrinate the internet!).

Anyway, it's out. I'll write more later. But this is the first.

- Ryan Tullis