I thought I’d better write an entry today in case someone is a-googling after hearing my interactive fiction interview on 666 ABC Canberra at 7:25am this morning (wheeee!) Hello and welcome. I write both novels and interactive novels. Other people find interactive fiction via the gaming community, so there are usually elements of game playContinue reading “Introduction to Interactive Fiction”
Category Archives: Articles by other bloggers
Mummy (and Daddy) blogs
Last week, Mediawatch* talked about “mummy bloggers” – women who’ve had children and blog about it. Technically I am one. Unsurprisingly, as I cut down on writing and spend way more time with bodily fluids, my list of blogs that I read is switching from predominantly literary blogs to predominantly parenting blogs. Here are fourContinue reading “Mummy (and Daddy) blogs”
Less and More
From next week, I’ll be reducing this blog to two days a week – Miscellaneous Mondays (anything from a rant on equal rights to a picture of a cat) and Louisette Wednesdays. I’m hoping this will result in an increase in quality. Either way, I’ve been blogging faithfully for many years as I wait forContinue reading “Less and More”
The long, long road
I know better than most how long it takes for publishers to make a decision on a book that is reasonably well-written and therefore difficult to reject. Right now I have books at two of Australia’s big publishers. One has been there for almost a year; the other has been there for literally years. EvenContinue reading “The long, long road”
Don’t be an idiot (warning: some swearing)
The real title here is: Don’t be a shit. If you want to be a professional writer, be polite. No matter what. This article by Chuck Wendig (who has a potty mouth with occasional vivid sexual references – but he sure is worth listening to) is worth reading and obeying. Here’s a bit: Editors andContinue reading “Don’t be an idiot (warning: some swearing)”
Ebooks
Ebooks are a huge deal, it’s true, but in my opinion the appeal of the “Hah! Take THAT, traditional publishing!” story leads to misinformation and exaggeration. Here’s a collection of articles on ebooks. http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/01/importance-of-context-part-1.html – ebook reality vs hype AND http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2010/12/will-you-ever-buy-mostly-e-books.html AND http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/11/top-10-myths-about-e-books.html AND (which I think is an example of some of the extremely rareContinue reading “Ebooks”
The Imaginary Self
Here‘s an article by John Scalzi about the odd experience of being famous. Any published writer is, a little bit, public property (ditto any parent of a baby). “I think she’s essentially correct when she notes that the fictional version people have of you in their heads in more about them than it is aboutContinue reading “The Imaginary Self”
Self-Publishing
I’m toying with the idea of self-publishing one of my books online, and I’d welcome your thoughts. It needs to be one that is good, but has been rejected by at least six publishers (sadly, that still gives me a choice of book). Realistically, self-publishing is just a new kind of slushpile, with an evenContinue reading “Self-Publishing”
Are you almost there?
A lot of writers laugh indulgently at the pile of rambling grammatical errors that is their first book, and try hard not to think too hard about whether or not their current work in progress will be just as eye-rollingly embarrassing a little while down the track. For those who’ve been around the traps forContinue reading “Are you almost there?”
That First Chapter
Chuck Wendig at his blog says: . . . the first chapter serves as an emblem of the whole. It’s got to have a bit of everything. It needs to be representative of the story you’re telling — other chapters deeper in the fat layers and muscle tissue of the story may stray from this,Continue reading “That First Chapter”
Small Press: Hero or Villain?
I’m linking you to Lynn Price at The Behler Blog yet again, because she just keeps making so much sense. This time she discusses how, in the migration of definitions, you can figure out whether your “publisher” deserves the quote marks or not. This section alone is why the world needs more blogs like thisContinue reading “Small Press: Hero or Villain?”
Cook your novel
This is one of my favourite blogs, and it’s Australian. This post on how many points a fiction submission gets – or loses – made me laugh several times, but sadly every single point made in the article needs to be said. But most of all, dear reader, pay attention to Agent Sydney’s final pleaContinue reading “Cook your novel”
When they come to you, ask yourself why
PS This is several hours early because CJ and Louisette and I will be travelling to Hong Kong tomorrow, and our housesitters have enough menial tasks to do without posting my blog for me. ———————————————————————————————— Here is an article from an extremely helpful website, Writer Beware. It’s solid advice, because it is all too easyContinue reading “When they come to you, ask yourself why”
Too funny
This article by the foul-mouthed Chuck Wendig isn’t so much writing advice as an example of what awesome writing looks like. Ah, who am I kidding? I’m linking to it because it’s about a baby and it’s utterly hilarious. The man has quite a gift for the original metaphor. This is a fairly polite entry,Continue reading “Too funny”
Cross-training
I really liked the idea from here, that writers should practise their artliness like athletes (eg a swimmer will run once a week): using a variety of seemingly unrelated skills. I’d never heard it before, and that impressed and intrigued me.
Crappy First Drafts
Speaking as someone who once wrote a 50,000 first draft in three days, I’m a big fan of the “just get it on paper and fix it later” strategy of writing. So is Lynn Price, as she writes here. When my students have to write a short story for school, I’m constantly telling them, “StopContinue reading “Crappy First Drafts”
Hook and Line
It says plenty that I’m still following this blog. Here is a great article on hook and title. She says that your hook is the answer to the question, “What makes your book viable and unique?” And remember that controversial is good. If you’re like me, your hook is what makes your book interesting toContinue reading “Hook and Line”
A time to write
Every so often I meet a moron. Here’s how it goes: Them: You’re a writer? me too! Me: Oh, what do you write? Them: Oh, anything really. Me: What are you working on at the moment? Them: Wellllll. . . . at the moment I’m studying/working/waiting for inspiration. To which I say (silently): Bah! AndContinue reading “A time to write”
The Steampunk Scholar
The Steampunk Scholar is a brilliant in-depth resource on all things steampunk fiction. He’s doing a PhD, so the “scholar” part is not just for the alliteration. This is his post on the best of 2011, and this is the best part (I’ve unlinked things, so you’ll have to click through to the postContinue reading “The Steampunk Scholar”
All about agents (PG swearing)
I had to link to this article, because one of the blogs I follow was recommended by another blog I follow. Chuck Wendig is a naughty, naughty man and his language and metaphors can be M/MA at times. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The man has a wicked way with words. Here’s some snippets from aContinue reading “All about agents (PG swearing)”