Saturday, March 25, 2017

Stuck with Stock…For Now




by
Scott D. Parker

Over the years, this Saturday column has morphed into a weekly wrap-up email. Some days, I write about things that are on my mind. Other times, I’ve focused on a movie or a television program. So far this year, I’ve been writing about my new personal training regimen of trying my hand at writing without an outline. 

But this week is different. I’ve been focused on completing my new novel which, by the time this post drops, I should have two or three days left to finish it. In January and February, I completed those respective novels on the 26th of the month, so I’d love to complete this new novel by Sunday. But I’m not going to stay up past midnight to do it. The book’ll be done when it’s done, be it Sunday or Monday. The key thing for me will be to finish it as soon as possible so I can enjoy a non-writing break before I start the fourth book next Saturday on 1 April.

Well, the more I think about it, there is one thing that I’m pondering: stock images. I’m in the process of planning the covers for the various products I’ll be releasing this year. The products are all westerns as of now. And there are a TON of images out there. 

The biggest downside of being an indie writer who isn’t proficient in illustration is that I’m stuck with stock images. I’m slowly learning how to manipulate images, but for the most part, I’m a guy who uses an image as-is. A graphic designer friend of mine opened my eyes when he mentioned layers so I can layer more than one image on top of each other, but what I’d love to be able to do is draw the covers as I see them in my head.

Someday…

Current novel: 
Lady Gunsmith #1: The Legend of Roxie Doyle by J. R. Roberts (Robert Randisi)

Current non-fiction books: 
Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs by Richard A. Lupoff 
The Metaphysics of the Novel by Don Pendleton

Current TV show: 
House of Cards, Season 2

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