2015

Trello-HeaderHere we are in the not-quite-cyberpunk future of 2015. As part of my plans for the year, I intend on getting back to more frequent blogging (yeah, yeah, I know — everybody with a blog says that. Well, I need to get back on top of productivity this year after the train wreck of 2014, and blogging is an easily-accomplished method of getting onto a structured schedule), so here we are.

I started this first full-time week of 2015 with an attempt to climb the mountain of neglected organization: I created a top-level Trello board for projects, after being convinced of its usefulness (along with the pomodoro technique), in a series of blog posts by my friend Eddy Webb. This top-level board has only 3 stages: Conceptual/Development/In Progress.

“In Progress” = Actively underway towards completion.

“Development” = brainstorming, initial drafts, research, work being done.

“Conceptual” = the basics of an idea to do, maybe an outline.

I expect to get more granular when I dig down into more month-to-month and day-to-day organization, but for right now, I’m in the HOLY CRAP THAT’S A TON OF STUFF panic stage.

First on the plate, obviously: Get the late stuff out the door. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to that.

 
 

Thankful

photoIt’s Thanksgiving here in the US, and I figured I’d take the time to… well, give thanks.

2014 has been an awful year for me in a lot of ways — worst in a while. The biggest thing, of course, was the medical crisis which pretty much derailed the first half of the year. Since then, I’ve been struggling to get Adamant Entertainment back on track — and I’m nowhere near there yet (I’m working today, in fact, trying to get FAR WEST finally out to my far-too-long-suffering backers).

But I’ve got a helluva lot to be thankful for this year, too. Beyond the obvious “not dying” thing, which was a possibility.

I’m extremely thankful for all of you — my family, friends, and supporters. This year, you’ve really made your presence felt. When I took the chance to ask for help with the massive medical bills resulting from my hospital stays, you came to my rescue. I’m still so grateful — and, honestly, stunned at the level of response.

I want to single out my in-laws, Jerry and Nancy Hanson. After I managed to get back to work in the middle of the year, the computer that I’d been using for all of my work, hours per day, every day since 2009 started to have problems, one after another. Jerry and Nancy gave me the critical help needed to secure a new machine. Thanks for this are also owed to my friend Josh Jaffe, who generously offered the use of his Apple Employee Purchase Plan (EPP). You all kept me working.

Thanks as well to my backers and pre-order customers, who have continued to demonstrate vast patience as I stumble and stagger to get back on my feet and back on track. I’ve thanked you many, many times — and I don’t think it’ll ever be enough.

Thanks to the Kansas City Art Institute and my students there — for giving me the opportunity to teach, which I’ve discovered is something I really, really enjoy.

So, yeah — even in a year which, on its face, was pretty bad, I’ve been given quite a lot to be thankful for.

Thank you all!

Insurgent Creative: The EU VAT Screw-Job

moneyrun-600January 1st, 2015.

That’s the date when the European Union fucks independent creators out of business.

Rather than just repeat the info, I’m going to direct you to this thorough and extremely important post by Tim Gray: “New EU VAT Rules Change the Game for Digital Businesses.” He’s assembled a bunch of links — you should read and bookmark all of them.

Short version — businesses (including sole proprietors) are now liable for charging Value Added Tax on EU purchases based on *where the customer lives*, not where the business is based. This is obviously insane, as it requires registering for VAT ID in each separate country (which charge different rates).

The other insanity: ebooks, PDF and music are covered under a vague category, “electronic services”, which basically includes any form of automated sales delivery. A webinar, for example, isn’t covered because it’s being done by a person. A recording of that webinar, delivered automatically to a consumer? That’s covered.

If you sell B2B, and the business sells to a consumer (for example, you sell wholesale, and somebody else sells retail), then you’re not charged, but the other business is, when they sell to the consumer. So, in other words, this decision will penalize independent creators who sell direct, but not those who use “established channels.”

Yet again, the internet being regulated by people who don’t understand how it works.

More on this as I learn more.

Insurgent Creative