Go, Gud!

Congrats on the half-way point, Gud!

I'm up to about ten responses from potential participants for my research project (the one that I hope will eventually become a book), and I've only advertised in one little specialist interest magazine so far. This is somewhat terrifying, as I don't know quite what I'm doing yet. It's a good sign, though.

Meanwhile, dissertation writing might kill me in the next 30 days, which is how long I have to complete it. I might have to hold interview-transcribing parties, or something. Otherwise it simply won't get done. You know that end-of-the-world kind of terror? Having that. (The research is still masses of fun, despite this. Qualitative coding makes me happy.)

We will lash you with wet noodles until you get it done, Seska.

Mmm. Noodles.

AP Stylebook-istas: Right now, I've got my article referencing a "28% increase in six months" Is this correct style or not? I used to have two stylebooks and now I can't find either and the AP rules about numbers have always confused me anyway. I really thought I wasn't doing reporting anymore. Please help.

Gaaaah. See Jilli suck at self-promotion. Lip Service, a world-famous gothy/alternative clothing company, is releasing a line in spring 2010 called Lolita Candy. The items in this line are ruffled Victorian-style blouses, a waist cincher, and ruffly knee-length skirts. All in black and pink striped fabric.

Many, many people have said to me, "Oh wow, they based it off of you!" They're probably not wrong. Pete and my friend the guerrilla marketing genius have informed me that I am going to write to Lip Service and tell them that they need to give me an entire set of the line, so I can wear it everywhere and be a walking billboard for them. Which sounds like a brilliant idea! Except that I have no idea what to write, and I am terrified of sounding self-aggrandizing or greedy.

Help me, oh Buffista hivemind!

Sadly, I have no idea what to write either. It sounds like a great idea though.

Chapter 23 and 24 have fallen. Chapter 24 is a tiny chapter though.

Onward to chapter 25. Revising it will be plenty of work, but it's a fun chapter.

After having looked at the rough draft, I can see that 25 will be some serious work. There is a lot of narrative summary that really sucked the life out of what should be a fun chapter.

I've decided to pick a few scenes 3-4, probably 3 to play out and do very short summaries to glue them together. I think that should greatly improve things. The problem is that I don't want to use up too many precious words. Extra words is better than excess narrative though, so maybe I'll have to find something to cut later on. There's a lull in the plot I already have in mind.

Dear Ms. Lip Service PR Person:

I am Jillian V., the author of Gothic Charm School: An Essential Guide For Goths And Those Who Love Them and the proprietress of the website Gothic CHarm School.

As a fan of the Lip Service line, who owns and wears several items from your line (I especially admire a, b, and c), I would like to propose a relationship from which we would both benefit; you, with substantial web-based and possible print-based marketing access, and myself (not only from an aesthetic viewpoint) but also from the possibility of a Lip Service tie-in for my book and/or website.

Let me familiarize you with some statistics about my audience: (Put in some stuff about website hits, books sold, print and video hits, reviews of books, self and site from well-recognized Gothy sites/mags that Lip Service advertises in) In addition, I am often interviewed and/or photgraphed; attached are an (article) (video) (interview). I know you can see the benefits of having a recognized personality from your target audience wearing and speaking positively about your line.

I would be interested in speaking with you further about this possibility. I have beeen very enthusiastic about Lip Service as a brand for years; our aesthetics are very complementary. My audience is your audience. Let's talk more about how we could work together to benefit each other.

Contact info, blah blah

Sincerely, JV Queen of the Cupcake Goths BOW DOWN

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That's a rough possibility, Jilli

Also Jilli, you could include a copy of the book?