@smulawyer I'll probably say a lot of things you know, so I apologize in advance for not really being helpful, but maybe I can corroborate a few experiences you've already had. I'll just talk about the experience of myself and friends/colleagues. Obviously it depends on the nature of your work and your ambitions.

My own experience comes from the world of academic and small regional presses, which given your profession, I'm sure you are familiar with. As you know, traditionally, you deal directly with a representative of the publisher. There aren't as many of these as there used to be, since the libraries and bookstores they counted on for regular purchases aren't buying as much any much anymore. However, those that remain have diverse points of emphasis, from regional interests, specialized fiction/non-fiction, and also on-line only publication, so they might be a possible option if you find the right series--definitely worth researching and writing emails of inquiry, to see if its even worth sending your manuscript. (as, again, you probably already have)

For the larger presses, my colleagues have had the best experience using an agent, and of course if you want to be published by any of the big commercial publishers, an agent is a prerequisite. As you say, acquiring an agent is itself a difficult process, since you need to submit your manuscript to them as well, and they decide whether its worth their time to market it. But once you are over that hurdle, they do the pitch work, and that certainly saves a lot of trouble. It also, I think, is the only way to make any amount of money from your book.

I have two friends who have self-published several books . They had a couple of terrible experiences, where they spent thousands of dollars with very little return and not even very many copies of their books. (this was more than a few years ago--but self-publishing hardcopy you spend $3000-5000 for basically the ego experience of your book on a shelf. It might be worth it for friends and family though.)

They have since moved to Amazon kindle, which is nominally free, to upload your work to their marketplace. I say nominally, because of course any expenses for formatting, editing, proof-reading, marketing you have to pay yourself and then Amazon takes up to 70% of the royalties, depending on sales and pricing.

BUT both of my friends are part of writers groups (poetry and mystery respectively) so they are publishing as part of this community. They set prices low, members of their communities buy each others books, no one makes any money, but they all enjoy the sharing of their work. In that way, its a lot like Dramabeans!

Anyway, good luck and you should already be feeling pretty good about yourself about the accomplishment of completing a manuscript!

The only actual published beanie author I know is @cloggie. She has done a few theme of the month writings. She does detective -mystery genre, has a publisher, and has been absent from DB for some time because she’s writing. One of my best friends just published her first book. She went to a couple writers conferences to network and get people to read her manuscript, joined Twitter and followed people and a publisher picked it up! Her debut was actually May 31st! Do you have people on your circle you could talk to? I think just querying your idea to people is important. Is it something they’d like to read? Something a publisher would like to publish? Some publishers have a niche that they want to stay in and others need a book that fills a particular reading population. So even if it’s rejected, you may not have found the right publisher, not necessarily because it’s bad. Self publishing is easier, but not typically very lucrative. But your book is on Amazon and if you have a lot of buzz, it may be popular—but that’s a big maybe. Having a publisher behind it gives it more clout and they have more money to advertise and publicize it as well. @leetennant has stories online that are very good, but not sure if she’s planning on publishing them anytime soon. She may have some advice though.Good luck!

@jorobertson also published at least one book as far as I know.

While Happiness and All of Us Are Dead were pretty much about the pandemic, and Vincenzo had a scene where the bus of enforcers was recalled because of a positive test, it is pretty interesting that more realistic kdramas, such as Our Blues, didn't have a pandemic themed episode. I could imagine a scene where Eun-Hee, after being led on by her former crush for money, and then being briefly alienated from her close friend, had to deal with her business being disrupted, or a relative dying of Covid, resolving in a realization of just how rich her life really has been. It would have made for a nice trifecta of personal crises.

Of course the necessity of masking in any gathering place creates a real problem for the appreciation of male/female beauty which is a significant part of kdrama appeal. In fact, I've always assumed that was the main issue, and not just escapism, but maybe that just shows how shallow I am in my drama viewing.

I don’t watch that much tv outside of kdramas at the moment, but it feels like most places have largely avoided mentioning the pandemic (assuming show is set in modern times and isn’t a long running hospital soap that gets an Outbreak! kind of storyline) - I don’t know if that’s true or not but it’s my impression. Maybe because if you’re paying actors you want to see their faces, maybe for escapism, maybe because people didn’t know how covid would play out so they didn’t know how to write about it 🤷‍♀️ I’m interested to see what happens in the next few years - if people pretend it never happened or what.

I agree with you. MLN is a consistent nicotine crave I haven't experienced in a very long time with kdramas, a 8-week back to back craving☺️. I really don't know what I'm going to use in continuing the feeling so it can just rest naturally instead of abruptly. I'm thinking about rewatching You Are My Spring.

I'm having the same problem post-MLN. I'm torn between trying to find something on the dark side that's equally absorbing or watching/rewatching something light and completely different - with different actors - to break the mood. I haven't seen My Ahjussi yet, but I feel like it might be too similar in mood for the moment. I binged Extra-ordinary You and kept up wtih Sh**ting Stars during the wait for new MLN episodes and those were a good upbeat break.

Confession? Lost? On the Way to the Airport? Recommendations welcome!

Two strategies:
1. Ask him, in a genuinely interested, not a suckup way, for advice-- based on how he dealt with the issue of (working/health crisis/family troubles). If he says "I just worked hard" or some such nonsense like that, say yes, but how were you able to prioritize or balance these things? You might not get the extension, or a regrading, but at least you'll be regarded as more than a complainer for your next assignment, and he might cut you a break.

2. Second strategy--harder to pull off, because tone is key. Ask him, in a nice, NOT sarcastic way, if he feels as if the pandemic hasn't put added pressure on students, in a whole number of ways, that are different from his good old days. If he is honest and not a pompous ass, he will have to say yes. But again, you don't want to challenge him in a way that he gets really defensive.

I know from long experience that professors can be jerks, but many who are genuinely well intentioned feel that "fairness" demands a strict adherence to one policy for all. They forget that they at times benefited from the flexibility of others!

And I know they had to have that ending for political reasons, with the whole restrictions on what stories can and can't be broadcasted in China, but unless I missed it, they essentially bulldozed all the side character development?!?! I feel cheated.

I don't think one can truly be liberated. Things like existential crisis, depression, anxiety or even something like developing a deep sense of morality, once you become familiar with them they can never be strange again. They have their moments when they are hogging your mind, heart, body etc. and they burning their brightest (quite a positive choice of words for these heavy emotions, i know) and then you learn to live with that knowledge, and awareness.
They answer this question in MLN as well.

So I haven’t seen MLN so I don’t know if this really fits, but the feeling of liberation….when I was at university I studied under a bonded scholarship with the intention of working in a particular field when I graduated. Turned out, I hated that field so very much but i had several thousand dollars of scholarship to pay back if I didn’t take that job. I spent two and a half years angsting about it before I just bit the bullet and said I would pay the money. The feeling of having made that decision was such a weight off my shoulders (when the money was eventually paid back was nice too, but having the decision made just meant I could get on with my life instead of dithering indecisively).

Honestly , my two great liberations were once when my company closed very abruptly and second, when I was fired. I was in two miserable job situations and didn’t know how to get myself out. Both were very painful and costly but probably saved me to enjoy a future of kdrama with all of you 🥰

Therapy greatly helps with the liberation journey. Reading existential literature also does.

My peers like to go on silent retreats, ayahuascha trips, acid trips, and what not. Not sure how well it's worked out for them, but those are popular hacks I see people using.

Mine would be letting go a person from my mind without grudges. Before the drama, just thinking of her soaked up all the good vibe. Now, I am learning to let go of a person who doesn't want to stay with me. Any bad emotions I felt only hurt me and the drama helped me to get on the right track. Baby steps but I am optimistic and already feeling lighter than before.

Definitely better to spend time with people in real life. Lap top time will always be waiting but there are no guarantees that people will be able to align their schedules so meet up when you can. Sounds like a lovely time was had by all and much needed.

Sounds wonderful, Turtle, and I'm so happy that you had so much quality time with your loved ones. I should think of you as my role model! I need to decrease my laptop time and spend more time with people in real life.

You're doing so very well. 👌

What a wonderful story! I congratulate you on time very well spent 👏🏼

Five Children and/ Once Again are my go-to recs.

Be My Dream Family
My Husband Got A Family
Reply 88
Homemade Love Story
Five Children

I loved Father is Strange! another of my favourites is Family's Honour. I'm even considering a rewatch of it!
The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop was good too.

What Happens to My Family.

Ojakgyo Brothers ♥️

Oh gosh, I am so sorry to hear how tough things are for you now. It sounds like it’s time to build a village to provide the different types of support you need now. There are four main types of support we all need: practical, advice, emotional and information.

Decision making in times of stress is not easy. But if you can start to list who or what can go in those four areas it may be easier to work out how to decide on the next steps re your meds, family situation and work.

The church sisters being of an age may be an advantage as they will have years of experience of life on planet earth. Who knows what work they used to do which could be useful in times like these. They hopefully can be part of a prayer circle too.

Isa. You will be fine. Your job will go well once you start it and you will ace it. Forget about your previous workplace because it was toxic and your decision to leave was the best. Is there any other walking trail you can go to? Because you surely need a walk in the nature if depression is kicking in. And obviously your meds. Regarding your dad, unfortunately some children only see their effort and not of the other children. Maybe things are hard for your brother right now and the least you can do is tell him to wait till you start your work so at least you can look after your dad well. Also just don't let all of this pile up, good that you're writing it here but also keep writing it down in a dairy or notepad in your phone to let it off your system.

Welcome to Beaniedom!

Welcome to the Beanie community it is a great place to be. Looking forward to joining in the discussions with you.

Welcome aboard.

Welcome 🙂

Oh, welcome welcome! 💖 Glad you enjoyed My Liberation Notes!

Welcome to DB!!!