Category: Work In Progress

100, Getting Published, Interview, Medium, Mental Health, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry, support your locals, Work In Progress

What’s new?

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Hey all! It’s been too long, hasn’t it? I’d love to say I have a good excuse, but of course I do not. A certain pandemic made me lazy. Let me catch you up to speed on what’s been going on (believe it or not, things have happened).

  • I did an interview with Fevers Of The Mind, an incredible supporter of the #WritingCommunity. Quick-9 Interview with Norb Aikin
  • My Twitter account was hacked in February, and I lost the entire thing. Over 5k followers, which is a magic number in the Twitterverse. And switching the link on WordPress from the old account to my new one was absolute hell, because a couple plugins here were not complying in any way. But it’s finally changed and functional now…I shaved my head to avoid tearing my hair out.
  • I’m sure I’ve done some other stuff, but my mind is still trying to un-jello itstelf at times.
  • I did submit a new manuscript, World By Design, to a few small presses. Fingers crossed it gets picked up.
  • And most recently, I joined Medium and published a poem on Put It To Rest, which I’m really proud of. It contains a few tiny Easter Eggs into my life and how anxiety has affected me during the pandemic. Stagefright

Of course, Mutants is still available in my shop and on Amazon, but you’d rather have a signed copy, right? So glad I got the PayPal option in my shop fixed. I’ve got a couple copies left before I have to replenish, and there’s also one copy of 100 remaining before it’s gone for a long, long time (make of that what you will).

So what’s new with y’all? Tell me something good. Hit me on Twitter at @aikinnorb and hashtag it with #somethinggood. I don’t know why I’m doing this, but my community engagement sensibilities are suggesting maybe I should.

Ok, since I’ve already wasted enough of your time today, let’s get to the good stuff…my favorite part of these things, the playlist. And how about a stage fright/medium themed one, just cuz that’s kinda how I roll, right?

  • The Band, “Stagefright”
  • Jimmy Eat World, “The Middle”
  • Radiohead, “Exit Music (For A Film)”
  • Modest Mouse, “Dark Center Of The Universe”
  • Bee Gees, “Man In The Middle”
  • Flickerstick, “You’re So Hollywood”
  • Arrested Development, “Mama’s Always On Stage”
  • Stealer’s Wheel, “Stuck In The Middle With You”
  • Atmosphere, “Between The Lines”
  • Steely Dan, “Parker’s Band”

Hey, thanks for your time! I know I say it every time, but I promise to not be a stranger so much anymore. Of course, that depends on whether or not I have things to talk about, and I kinda sorta did before, but I’mma try to be better and keep y’all in the loop when new stuff happens, ok? Love you guys! Peace!!

Homies, Mutants, Playlists, Poetry, support your locals, Work In Progress

So what’s up with Mutants?

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Hey friends! So here I am, again, begging forgiveness for not updating this fancy blog slice of internet cheesecake in a long time. I have good reason though, even if I’m the only one who understands it and isn’t critical of it. I’d planned on doing it once I got my author copies of Mutants, but that hasn’t happened yet. Instead, I’m left to tell you all the hows and whys. Put your shoes on and pay attention.

The e-book came out in September and you can get it here for your Kindle or other associated apps. I’m mad proud of it because it’s a short little mishmash of poems from the true 100 follow-up, Also Mutants, along with some newer items from my work in progress as well as an older poem or two. As a whole, this little book in my opinion is way better than 100, but who am I to judge?

Being the impatient bastard that I am, I bought a copy of the paperback once it hit Amazon because I couldn’t wait for author copies, and I wanted to see the finished product. I was antsy because unlike the first time I went through the publication process, there was no rush and no “You need to do this and this and this NOW!” atmosphere around it. I approved the cover wrap, but never got a chance to see the insides to make sure everything was ok. And therein lies the problems.

There are a couple pages where the title is there, but the poem is on the next page. And there are a couple poems that aren’t spaced the way I’d prefer, because of the size of the font or the book itself. I wish I’d known this before I started pimpin’ it.

So, my publisher pulled it from Amazon, obvs, since it’s not up to my specs (oh, and there’s also no Copyright disclaimer © in there!). I know Eliezer Tristan Publishing is going through some restructuring and change right now, so I’m still waiting on having the layout fixed and approved by me. Hopefully by this coming Friday I’ll have more answers.

To the people who have already ordered and paid for annotated copies, I’m really sorry for the holdup. I can assure you it’s not me, and I truly can’t wait to get this into your hands…but I also want it to be the flawless little chapbook I imagined when I was like “Hey, time for another book!”. So there’s that y’all.

In other news, I’m really excited for a couple other projects I’ve either taken part in or will be as soon as I can get my head put on in the right direction! I have a piece in the Leonard Cohen-inspired Avalanches in Poetry collection, and my name sits beside so many of my favorite indie poets who work a lot harder than I do. I’m honored to be in there along with them.

I’ve also been submitting to my friend Kristin Garth’s online collaboration, Pink Plastic House. I’m not ready to tell you what’s in there or why; all I can say is because.

So, I’m still working and still trying to be amazing, but now you know why I’m falling a little short. I’m confident things’ll turn around soon, because I can’t fathom going into Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) having not satisfied the people who matter most (those who care enough to get the limited annotated copy of Mutants, along with family and close friends).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4VyFd4B7Qq/

Whether I am or I am not a “big deal” (and believe me, I don’t think I am, or at least not so much as I think some of the others in the #WritingCommunity are), the work doesn’t end. With the Notre Dame game on in the background, let’s jam to a proper Mutants on-its-way playlist!

  • Our Lady Peace, “Waiting”
  • Deftones, “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”
  • Coldplay, “The Hardest Part”
  • Spoon, “WhisperI’lllistentohearit”
  • INXS, “The One Thing”
  • Pearl Jam, “Don’t Gimme No Lip”
  • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Far From Me”
  • Jay-Z feat. Mary J. Blige, “Can’t Knock The Hustle”
  • Blur, “Trouble In The Message Centre”
  • Green Day, “Nice Guys Finish Last”
  • Money Mark, “Information Contraband”
  • My Bloody Valentine, “I Can See It (But I Can’t Feel It)”

Alright y’all…time to leave you alone so I can do my thing. Thanks for listening. I’ve got leftover pizza in the fridge and my appetite is getting strong. Peace, I appreciate the slack given, and don’t forget to support your locals and indies! Mad love my friends…I’ll catch you back up again soon.

Eliezer Tristan Publishing, Getting Published, Mental Health, Playlists, Poetry, Work In Progress

“Politics” and More Good News!

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What’s good homies? Here’s your reminder to (if you haven’t already) get out and VOTE!! In honor of Election Day in the US I posted yesterday a brand new video reading of “Politics”, which is from the current notebook I’m drawing words into, World By Design. I hope you’ll take the minute and a half required to check it out.

Of course, the big news lately around these parts has been Barnes & Noble picking up my book! Big thanks to the homies at Eliezer Tristan Publishing for getting that hooked up!! That’s one more venue for you to purchase your copy of 100 at (and here’s how)…

Yes, it’s still crazy…and no, it hasn’t really sunk in yet that at some point I’ll be on shelves possibly all over the place. If you’re in a B&N, ask for it by name. Make them order it. If you get it from Amazon, PLEASE, review it!! And if you’ve gotten it from me or ETP, let us know! Take a pic with it so we can share it on Instagram and Twitter, yo! We’re spreadin’ the word through word of mouth, ya know? And if ya got a podcast or access to a newspaper, my laptop is open for business via interviews and whatnot. Just let me know where to send the press release, k?

One more thing I’ve been up to…I just submitted another new article to a very prominent Mental Health Advocacy site (not gonna name it yet cuz I don’t wanna jinx it). Fingers crossed…may take a month or so to find out, but #ItsOKMan (there’s your hint, I suppose).

Alright y’all…let’s kick out a little “Get Out And Vote” (and other things) playlist then!

  • The Band, “When I Paint My Masterpiece”
  • The Smiths, “Shoplifters Of The World Unite”
  • Radiohead, “Electioneering”
  • My Chemical Romance, “Disenchanted”
  • Bob Dylan, “Masters Of War”
  • Rage Against The Machine, “Voice Of The Voiceless”
  • Bruce Springsteen, “The Ghost Of Tom Joad”
  • Anthrax, “I Am The Law”
  • Pearl Jam, “Do The Evolution”
  • Saul Williams, “List Of Demands (Reparations)”
  • The Replacements, “Unsatisfied”
  • Atmosphere, “Commodities”

Ok…I guess we’re done here. Remember: VOTE MOTHERFUCKERS! And when you’re done, send Amazon/B&N reviews…it’s important from a business stance I’m told. More reviews on Amazon get you better advertising and search results, or something. And after that, take a nap or reward yourself with something nice…you’ve been a good adult today! Peace…much love to you all.