Category: Opinion

There’s a Personalization Problem | No Algorithms, Spotify Playlist

There’s a Personalization Problem | No Algorithms, Spotify Playlist

Hey all! Wanted to post an update here since it’s been well a few years maybe? I’ve been absorbed in a number of things, unsurprising things we all deal with. And I’m doing well is maybe the main thing for those who don’t follow my socials (or even those who do, I’ve been deeply inactive on mostly all of them).

Regardless, I’m working up my next book, I expect to see it wrapped up this year in the Fall, launch early 2027. That’s the current goal, I don’t really want to say much else about it. I am very excited to share it with the world once it’s done, and easily is panning out to be my favorite, most challenging project.

In the meantime, I wanted to find a new way to be productive. Something light, inspirational in a way that isn’t too demanding. And then, Monday morning, I saw another bland Spotify Discovery Weekly. And I was subject to more bland music recommendations. And all my YouTube recommendations led me to the same tailor-made rabbit holes they think I want to drift down. The rabbit holes manufactured for me to drift down. Well I was tired of it. I like things that aren’t made for me, or rather I like knowing they exist. A digital world tailored for no one.

I unexpectedly spurred the idea after watching the Mario Movie. My thoughts reflect Toad’s sentiment in the movie: Oh great, Yoshi’s here. And while I am certain they sold a ton of Yoshi merch to the kids, and I am also a devoted Childish Gambino fan (Donald Glover’s musical pseudonym, and voice actor for limited acting range character Yoshi). Tangents aside, the movie to me was bad. But clearly it wasn’t targeted at me. It was at the families, the parents, the children. Not the single, mid-20’s gen-z audience looking for a more well-written, riveting emotional punch from their favorite childhood plumber. Not a lot to choose from, I’m realizing. Maybe the dad from Good Luck Charlie?

Look, point is, that movie was not for me, as many movies are. And instead of not watching it, I think it’s cool TO watch these things. To not just be spoon-fed algorithmically picked-out slop to keep your attention on apps for hours on end. It’s cool to consume media that is thoughtfully picked out by a person with a perspective, with meaning that isn’t to cater to your every whim.

No Algorithms. My new Spotify playlist that I’ll be updating every other week, tailor picked by my musical interest gathered over the last decade-plus of my continued interest in learning new artists, genres and songwriting. Feel free to follow if you want to start listening to music that isn’t made for you. That isn’t personalized by some omniscient algorithm that knows far too much about you. But 1 person, hand-selecting music and trying to make a cohesive setlist for a new experience in music, to discover new artists or to find those songs that aren’t made for you.

Thank you for reading as always. I don’t know if I’ll be active on this blog beyond announcements like this. I may make a few more about this playlist, maybe a throughline I find in making on of these playlist updates. But otherwise, I hope to reconnect later this year with a new book announcement, again really can’t wait to get this one under wraps. Many years of thought have gone into planning, many different iterations on some aspects, and some I’ve been so proud and patient with that I can’t wait to release with this new

My Experience with Self-Publishing Houses

FeaturedMy Experience with Self-Publishing Houses

Self-publishing is a scary yet exciting prospect. From going straight onto Amazon’s KDP to pursuing a plan with self-publisher houses, making the right decision on your manuscript and where you want to take it can be a bit overwhelming. I wanted to share my experience with self-publishers for my upcoming collection and share with you why I made the decision I made.

For starters, I reached out to three different options, who I will not name for the fire I am about to unleash (just kidding, it’s not so bad). To find these houses, you can search on Google for “publishers of x” (in my case, poetry) and find a few databases that can determine best fits. I heard back nearly immediately from all three that I had reached out to and was quickly thrust into email chains and phone calls. It was a very rushed experience from the jump.

The three options I picked from each seemingly had a multitude of options to also narrow down. One offered 5-6 different plans and most shockingly, all offered quotes immediately. Now, one key difference between traditional publishers and self-publishing houses is the way authors are paid (or rather pay) for services. Instead of a collaboration, it’s more of an investment. Many offered 100% royalties, but upfront costs felt excessive.

The one option I was considering the most was ranged into four digits (as almost every option I received was), but even this had it’s problems. Firstly, as with the other options, all three houses “approved” of my manuscript. Personally, I’m not sure how rigorous this testing was, but I did receive answers fairly quickly, with the exception of one taking around 24-48 hours. You might be thinking approvals are a good thing, right? Well, yes and no. It means that they are willing to post your work…if your willing to pay and shoulder all the risks/losses to come.

My collection is young adult, 18+ and most detrimentally, poetry. These are all signs of an exodus from mass market appeal, and yet all three approved with only minor points (or even no points) of constructive critique at this initial stage. The offers ranged from straight up publishing on Amazon (something very possible as an independent publisher) to luxury marketing/PR offers that were exorbitant in retail (but in the case I’m referring to, discounted heavily).

The main point of advice I’d give to aspiring writers looking to publish is to be careful. Really think about how well your manuscript can appeal to mass audiences and take advantage of the resources houses like this can give. Go into it not looking to bend, but instead looking for the perfect fit or none at all. There’s no reason to push an oval into a circle; if it’s not perfect, back off.

That’s why I decided to roll with purely self-publishing through Amazon for my next book. Sure, it’s more work and time needed for promo, setup and all things needed to ensure the book is publishable to begin with. But, it’s also free or significantly cheaper than houses who have to pay for the folks they have in house, plus profit. I don’t think these houses are scammers or crooks. Far from it, and I think people may disagree with me here. But I do think they oversell their services, and I do think, unless you absolutely need services like this, to avoid them when you can’t take FULL advantage of their offerings AND think breaking-even or profit is likely.

Hope this helps those looking to publish but don’t have the pedigree for an agent to partner you up with more established and collaborative publisher structures. Feel free to reach out to me @florsjkevin on Twitter or comment below with any questions/special cases you may have.

Have a great rest of your day, and stay tuned on my new collection, coming out December 2022.