A friend of mine, Emily Cross, is involved in a wonderful book review blog called The Book Bundle. Currently, they're giving away a free signed copy of 'Crossed Wires', the most recent book by Rosy Thornton. To enter, visit this post and leave a comment with your e-mail address linked before July 12th!
Good luck to everyone who enters! But, honestly, I hope I win! ;)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Publication: Indie Houses v. Fatcat Publishers
Because of a lot of things happening in May (namely my birthday and anniversary), I took the month off from everything but work. Hey, I still gotta eat. ;) But just to catch you up with my life...
No new news on the agent search.
Nothing to report on the writing front. I'm still revising.
I really need a vacation.
And that's pretty much it.
On to the reason for the post!!
It's kind of weird how many times I've heard this from people who know I'm trying to publish a book. "Well, if you don't get picked up by a major house, you could always self-publish." While this is a true statement and I have nothing against self-publishing, people tend to forget a whole third option in today's publishing world: the independent houses.
Just like self-publishing, independent houses are not for everyone, but they shouldn't be excluded as an option entirely. There are strong benefits to working with a smaller house including, but not limited to, working with people who are truly passionate about what they do.
Joshua Mohr recently wrote an article entitled A Faithful Grope in the Dark where he talks about his path to publication and how he ended up working with Two Dollar Radio, a small press that is about to release his first novel Some Things that Meant the World to Me. Listen to what he says because he makes some really good points. But, in the end, all I'm suggesting by this is that if you land an agent and they tell you there's a small "boutique house" interested in your work, consider it. It may end up being the best choice for you.
No new news on the agent search.
Nothing to report on the writing front. I'm still revising.
I really need a vacation.
And that's pretty much it.
On to the reason for the post!!
It's kind of weird how many times I've heard this from people who know I'm trying to publish a book. "Well, if you don't get picked up by a major house, you could always self-publish." While this is a true statement and I have nothing against self-publishing, people tend to forget a whole third option in today's publishing world: the independent houses.
Just like self-publishing, independent houses are not for everyone, but they shouldn't be excluded as an option entirely. There are strong benefits to working with a smaller house including, but not limited to, working with people who are truly passionate about what they do.
Joshua Mohr recently wrote an article entitled A Faithful Grope in the Dark where he talks about his path to publication and how he ended up working with Two Dollar Radio, a small press that is about to release his first novel Some Things that Meant the World to Me. Listen to what he says because he makes some really good points. But, in the end, all I'm suggesting by this is that if you land an agent and they tell you there's a small "boutique house" interested in your work, consider it. It may end up being the best choice for you.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Perseverance: For Anyone Who Has Ever Dreamed A Dream
In her most recent post, Janet Reid, Literary Agent, pointed me toward a blog post by Toni McGee Causey. This post is inspiring, beautiful, and everything that is good and magical about following your dreams.
Go read it.
Seriously.
Go read it.
Seriously.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Writing: The Advantage of Pen and Paper
With all of the gizmos, gadgets, and greatness available to us today, a lot of people have forgotten about the basics. No, I'm not talking about a Word program with no frills, I'm talking about the way Dickinson and Austen and Wollstonecraft-Shelly wrote. I'm talking about writing a first draft from beginning to end with a pen and paper.
Now I know that there are a few automatic concerns:
1) OMG THE ENVIRONMENT! - Yeah, I know. Use recycled paper and write small.
2) I MIGHT LOSE IT! - A true concern, especially for those used to saving copies on multiple hard drives, in e-mails, and on a friend's PC, just in case. But then maybe this will be good exercise for your brain! Now where did I put my pen...?
3) BUT THEN I CAN'T EDIT AS I GO! - Exactly.
I recently started working on the first draft of a new story (I've honestly lost count of how many I have going at once). When the idea came to me I was at work and, since I work in a book store, I couldn't exactly sit down on a computer or with my phone and type up the scene. So I grabbed a few pieces of scrap paper and began to write. On my break I worked on it even more, piecing together the papers and writing up the entire beginning scene. When I got home, I had two options: type it up into a word document or continue writing it by hand. Against my usual habits, I decided to write this story by hand.
The experience has been liberating.
I've heard from a hundred different people that you have to turn off your inner editor when you write your first draft. Just go with the flow and ignore the changes she suggests! I thought I had managed to do that, but now I realize I wasn't even close. I know that making changes in a written manuscript are incredibly time consuming and can get very complicated--especially when you're writing in bound notebooks instead of loose-leaf paper. Because I know this, it is so much easier to lock that editor in a cage and give her something else to keep her occupied. The comparative silence in my head is amazing.
I'm not saying that my writing has suddenly improved tenfold or anything like that, but I've come to see that writing an entire first draft by hand is an experience every writer should have. I know that a lot of things I've written down will change or disappear entirely. And that's okay! For now, I'm listening to my characters and letting the story go where they take it. They'll be plenty of time to direct them later.
Now I know that there are a few automatic concerns:
1) OMG THE ENVIRONMENT! - Yeah, I know. Use recycled paper and write small.
2) I MIGHT LOSE IT! - A true concern, especially for those used to saving copies on multiple hard drives, in e-mails, and on a friend's PC, just in case. But then maybe this will be good exercise for your brain! Now where did I put my pen...?
3) BUT THEN I CAN'T EDIT AS I GO! - Exactly.
I recently started working on the first draft of a new story (I've honestly lost count of how many I have going at once). When the idea came to me I was at work and, since I work in a book store, I couldn't exactly sit down on a computer or with my phone and type up the scene. So I grabbed a few pieces of scrap paper and began to write. On my break I worked on it even more, piecing together the papers and writing up the entire beginning scene. When I got home, I had two options: type it up into a word document or continue writing it by hand. Against my usual habits, I decided to write this story by hand.
The experience has been liberating.
I've heard from a hundred different people that you have to turn off your inner editor when you write your first draft. Just go with the flow and ignore the changes she suggests! I thought I had managed to do that, but now I realize I wasn't even close. I know that making changes in a written manuscript are incredibly time consuming and can get very complicated--especially when you're writing in bound notebooks instead of loose-leaf paper. Because I know this, it is so much easier to lock that editor in a cage and give her something else to keep her occupied. The comparative silence in my head is amazing.
I'm not saying that my writing has suddenly improved tenfold or anything like that, but I've come to see that writing an entire first draft by hand is an experience every writer should have. I know that a lot of things I've written down will change or disappear entirely. And that's okay! For now, I'm listening to my characters and letting the story go where they take it. They'll be plenty of time to direct them later.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Books: The New Wireless Platform!
My husband found this for me and OMG LOVE! Penny Arcade is so many kinds of awesome. :D
Oh, by the way, Happy St. Patrick's Day. :)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Books: Crossing the Line
Where is the line drawn between literature and fanfiction? Length? Character development? Readability? Publication? The physical presence of the author? As far as I can tell, the answer lies somewhere between the latter two.
Even though she's been dead for quite some time now, Jane Austen's books still excite quite a bit of admiration. So enamored with her characters (namely Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy) do some become that they take it upon themselves to continue the story. While this shouldn't be surprising considering the web space devoted to alterations and continuations of living authors' work (fanfiction.net, for example), it is still odd to come across a book on a shelf in a store that has somehow escaped the odious label of fanfiction.
Personally, I adore Jane Austen's work. Pride and Prejudice has an especially dear place on my bookshelf (it's one of the only books I own multiple copies of), so when I ran across multiple versions of what happened to the Darcys after their wedding, I found myself intrigued. Since that day, I've read four different versions.
Each one was unique, but overall they ranged in worth just as the online unpublished fanfictions did. Some were far more developed and intricate while others seeemed merely interested in what happened between the sheets of the Darcys' marital bed. I even found myself wondering if one of the authors had ever even picked up the actual novel or had simply watched the condensed 2005 Kiera Knightly/Matthw Macfayden version. Overt references to the movie abounded and always in instances where the book was drastically different. It amazed me that something like this could cross the line between the unpublishable and the literary. But, then again, maybe it's best to just take it as one more reminder that subjectivity rules here.
Even though she's been dead for quite some time now, Jane Austen's books still excite quite a bit of admiration. So enamored with her characters (namely Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy) do some become that they take it upon themselves to continue the story. While this shouldn't be surprising considering the web space devoted to alterations and continuations of living authors' work (fanfiction.net, for example), it is still odd to come across a book on a shelf in a store that has somehow escaped the odious label of fanfiction.
Personally, I adore Jane Austen's work. Pride and Prejudice has an especially dear place on my bookshelf (it's one of the only books I own multiple copies of), so when I ran across multiple versions of what happened to the Darcys after their wedding, I found myself intrigued. Since that day, I've read four different versions.
Each one was unique, but overall they ranged in worth just as the online unpublished fanfictions did. Some were far more developed and intricate while others seeemed merely interested in what happened between the sheets of the Darcys' marital bed. I even found myself wondering if one of the authors had ever even picked up the actual novel or had simply watched the condensed 2005 Kiera Knightly/Matthw Macfayden version. Overt references to the movie abounded and always in instances where the book was drastically different. It amazed me that something like this could cross the line between the unpublishable and the literary. But, then again, maybe it's best to just take it as one more reminder that subjectivity rules here.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Writing: Critique Groups
Some people are incredibly private when it comes to their writing. Even some of those who are on the path to publication (or have already been published) eschew showing anyone other than their paid editor their book before it is in printed, bound, saleable form. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the most common is fear. And of the most prevalent fears is the fear of a story being stolen.
I can't say I am completely immune to this particular fear. I have shied away from putting my stories up in online critique groups and writing communities in response to stories about authors suddenly seeing their stories in print under someone else's name. The problem is that no one I've spoken to can point out even one particular case of this happening. Where is the evidence?
Eventually, I got over my fears--part of that had to do with the fact that I actually joined a wonderful online critique group (Critique Circle, for anyone interested)--and recently I even created a group of my own.
But the point of this post isn't fear, it's why critique groups are incredibly awesome.
Have you ever worked on a math problem for a long time and gotten so turned around by the numbers that you can't figure out where you went wrong? But then someone comes along and points out your mistake in two seconds? Sometimes that's what a good critique can do.
You are God in your character's universe. Both omnipotent and omniscient, sometimes it's hard to realize that not everyone sees your world the way you do. By bringing in an outsider, you get a whole new set of questions you have to answer, different expectations to meet, and a different reader to satisfy. By bringing in several, you're getting a sampling of your future audience and you learn ahead of time which points of the story some readers disagree on. By bringing in a critique group instead of a paid editor, you're saving money. I know I'm totally broke. ;)
Besides, it's fantastic to have someone to talk to about the characters, what's working, and what they want to see.
So how do you go about forming a critique group? Here are some tips that may help.
I can't say I am completely immune to this particular fear. I have shied away from putting my stories up in online critique groups and writing communities in response to stories about authors suddenly seeing their stories in print under someone else's name. The problem is that no one I've spoken to can point out even one particular case of this happening. Where is the evidence?
Eventually, I got over my fears--part of that had to do with the fact that I actually joined a wonderful online critique group (Critique Circle, for anyone interested)--and recently I even created a group of my own.
But the point of this post isn't fear, it's why critique groups are incredibly awesome.
Have you ever worked on a math problem for a long time and gotten so turned around by the numbers that you can't figure out where you went wrong? But then someone comes along and points out your mistake in two seconds? Sometimes that's what a good critique can do.
You are God in your character's universe. Both omnipotent and omniscient, sometimes it's hard to realize that not everyone sees your world the way you do. By bringing in an outsider, you get a whole new set of questions you have to answer, different expectations to meet, and a different reader to satisfy. By bringing in several, you're getting a sampling of your future audience and you learn ahead of time which points of the story some readers disagree on. By bringing in a critique group instead of a paid editor, you're saving money. I know I'm totally broke. ;)
Besides, it's fantastic to have someone to talk to about the characters, what's working, and what they want to see.
So how do you go about forming a critique group? Here are some tips that may help.
- Keep it relatively small. If more than four or five writers are involved, individuals receive minimal attention.
- Find people whose work you find interesting. Critiquing a 500 page novel that you hate isn't good for anyone, honestly.
- Work with people who will be honest but constructive. Vindictive or hurtful comments are not going to help you revise, they'll just shatter your self-confidence.
- Lay out the ground rules early. How much time does each story get? How long do readers have to respond? How often will you meet? Will the meetings be in person, on the phone, or online? In what format do writers expect to receive their comments?
- Stick with it! You'll only benefit if everyone in the group is willing to put in the time to make it work.
Do you think a critique group is for you? There are plenty of ways to meet writers interested in forming one. Online forums, conferences, flyers in college English departments, local writer's clubs (check your local library), coffee shops, book stores. The possibilities are limitless. So, go! Find those who share your passion and help each other make it toward the finish line. I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Update: Facebook is suddenly evil
I have a Facebook and have for years. I've been a member since before they opened it to non-college students, before applications, before anything except the basic profile. I thought it was a great site and easy to use, but now? Now they're big and corporate and, apparently, evil.
Colleen Lindsay, an agent out of NYC, posted a warning on her blog today about Facebook's new terms of service. Basically, Facebook now owns everything you post on Facebook forever. Including things you set to update via an RSS feed.
While I have never posted anything about my writing or any of my so-called intellectual content on Facebook, I know that others do. I don't know what, if anything, can be done about this ridiculous clause in the terms of service, but I would recommend not posting anything there that you might one day regret losing.
And, for a better explanation, check out Colleen's post about it here.
Colleen Lindsay, an agent out of NYC, posted a warning on her blog today about Facebook's new terms of service. Basically, Facebook now owns everything you post on Facebook forever. Including things you set to update via an RSS feed.
You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual,
non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license
(with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish,
stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display,
transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate,
excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute
(through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post
on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the
promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings
or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share
Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness
and image for any purpose, including commercial or
advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with
the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof. You
represent and warrant that you have all rights and
permissions to grant the foregoing licenses.
While I have never posted anything about my writing or any of my so-called intellectual content on Facebook, I know that others do. I don't know what, if anything, can be done about this ridiculous clause in the terms of service, but I would recommend not posting anything there that you might one day regret losing.
And, for a better explanation, check out Colleen's post about it here.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Book Reviews: Life As We Knew It
I just finished reading a book by Susan Beth Pfeffer called Life As We Knew It. I know people consistently tell you that you shouldn't ever judge a book by its cover, but this cover was what caught me:
Marketing is key and this striking cover made me interested enough that I stopped to read the blurb on the back. So, for those of you hoping to be published one day, be kind to your art department. They could easily make or break you before you even leave the gate. But, anyway, back on topic.
The book follows fifteen-almost-sixteen year old Miranda Evans. It's a diary format book which is hit and miss in my experience, but Pfeffer really pulls it off with this one. It starts in early May and follows Miranda and her family through the following year and all the disasters that befall them. And not your average everyday disasters, either. I'm talking epic world-ending disasters.
On May 18th, a huge, dense asteroid struck the moon. While the strike was expected (as in, people saw it coming) astronomers underestimated the mass and the impact on the moon's orbit. The force of the blow knocks the moon closer to earth, and that is really the beginning of the end. Tsunamis, massive tidal changes, earthquakes, and volcanoes completely change the landscape and make every moment of every day a struggle for survival.
Life As We Knew It is reminiscent of many other doomsday books (Alas, Babylon comes to mind), but it's missing one thing those other books always carry--human guilt. This disaster and everything that spawns from it is beyond human control. The earth is not rejecting its evilest of inhabitants and aliens are not coming down from on high to punish us for our sins. What that leaves this story with is all the trappings of environmental propaganda (Cherish what we have! Be kind to the world! Be not wasteful!) without the bitter aftertaste.
I fell in love with this family despite their failings--all of which are shown clearly through the course of the book--and I rooted for them to make it through. I found the writing engaging and thoughtful, the characters honest, and the scope of the book terrifying in its probability. All in all, it made me anxious to get my hands on Pfeffer's companion novel The Dead and the Gone.
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