My fellow Odyssey Books author, Carmel Bendon, reviewed IRON LIGHTS for me on Goodreads. Here’s what she said: Iron Lights is the third book in Felicity Banks’ The Antipodean Queen trilogy and the next in the adventures of the series’ heroine, Emmeline Muchamore. Iron Lights, however, stands alone as a cohesive read and there isContinue reading “IRON LIGHTS review”
Category Archives: Articles by others
Monsters
Spoilers for The Shape of Water. (And highly unrelated pictures, because I’m hazy on copyright law for movie stills.) Last night, I saw The Shape of Water, which recently won an Oscar and (more importantly in my world) has been talked up by The Mary Sue. I walked into the movie saying to Chris, “I have noContinue reading “Monsters”
Introduction to Interactive Fiction
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”
Weak Words
I haven’t posted any writing advice in a while, possibly because a lot of my work is out there now and anything I say is likely to be hypocritical and I’m scared of people pointing that out. But here is a great, simple, well-explained infographic on words that should be dragged out and shot. TakeContinue reading “Weak Words”
The changing face of publishing
Here is quite a long and thorough article on how publishing is changing. I picked the bits I found most interesting about the present. . . Indeed, the problem for readers is that regardless of which side you agree with in theory, in practice you probably love the idea of buying books for under $5.00Continue reading “The changing face of publishing”
Should I work for free?
Writing is something that looks super easy from the outside, so a LOT of people give it a try. Many of them get to a certain point and realise they need outside help. That is when they approach professionals in the biz and ask, “Would you mind just. . . . looking at my firstContinue reading “Should I work for free?”
Handy International Resource
This site has a LOT of publishers, and is searchable by genre. It’s somewhat skewed towards the USA and UK, but us antipodeans often publish overseas (for the moolah) anyway.
Facebook and regional cultures
[I’m posting this somewhat early due to the fact that my ceiling is being replaced on real-Monday. Just pretend I posted it then, okay?] Here is an article about facebook photos from different parts of the world. Can you guess the results before you read it? I’m sure there’s an article on the culturalContinue reading “Facebook and regional cultures”
You’re Not Special
You ARE special, actually, but those long-held dreams of becoming a *gasp* published author? That is not not not unique. In fact it’s common as dirt. I can say this clearer than most, because I’m not actually in the editing/agenting/publishing biz myself, and I therefore have the leeway to be more honest. I am, in short,Continue reading “You’re Not Special”
Writing and Money
Here is an article on royalties, advances, and making money as a writer. I haven’t actually read it (too tired), but it sounds like useful stuff. My advice? Always get a good advance – it’s often all you ever get.
If you’re pregnant and you know it, clap your hands
According to this Huffington Post article, 1 in 450 women don’t know they’re pregnant until after twenty weeks have passed – that’s halfway through the pregnancy. Since I was about twelve, the familiar joke of “You must be pregnant” in response to every known symptom of physical illness has cropped up over and over again.Continue reading “If you’re pregnant and you know it, clap your hands”
How to exist
. . . as a creative person. Here is a semi-pictorial article on how to succeed as an artist (according to a successful artist). Free sample: #3 Write the book you want to read. #8 Be nice (the world is a small town). And here is your cat pic of the week (she might look highContinue reading “How to exist”
The myth of self-publishing success
Hollywood and the media feed us a lot of rubbish. Every school classroom (particularly in a rough area) is full of world-class singers/dancers who simply don’t realise how amazing they are until a teacher inspires them to follow their dreams. Every socially awkward girl is actually stunningly beautiful after a haircut and some contact lenses.Continue reading “The myth of self-publishing success”
A writing scam? For ME?!?!
A few days ago, I received my first ever personalised writing scam via email. Here is the full text of that email: Dear Ms Curtis, I am writing on behalf of a new international publishing house, JustFiction! Edition. In the course of a web-research I came across a reference of your manuscript Worse Things HappenContinue reading “A writing scam? For ME?!?!”
Flow chart of speculative fiction
This is a rather beautiful map of book recommendations in the fantasy and scifi fields, based on personal preferences. It’s such a good idea I plan to make one just for steampunk – make your recommendations now or forever hold your peace 🙂
Versatile Blogger Award
I am, according to General Happenings in my House, hereby awarded a Versatile Blogger award! Thank you 🙂 My duties, upon receiving this much-coveted honour, are as follows: 1) Thank the awarder by linking back to their blog; 2) Pass on this award to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know I have done so; 3)Continue reading “Versatile Blogger Award”
Make me care
A story needs two things: An interesting character, and a serious problem. “Interesting” and “serious” are where it gets more complicated. Here is an article on how to make your reader care about your characters (by giving them a reason to care before the action explodes on the page). If they don’t care, they won’tContinue reading “Make me care”
Are writing courses worthwhile?
This Huffington Post article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-joseph-davis/mfa-programs-_b_929183.html – links aren’t working today) argues that they are. In my opinion, the most important pieces of information writers should get from such courses are: Spelling and grammar (don’t laugh; it’s necessary) The ability to follow submission instructions (so, so necessary) Industry manners – eg don’t ever reply to a rejectionContinue reading “Are writing courses worthwhile?”
It’s not about the money. . . or is it?
I’ve said about a million times that if you don’t enjoy writing for the sake of writing – don’t write. Crime pays more often than writing does, and I’m willing to bet there are more millionaire fraudsters than there are millionaire writers. On the other hand. . . If you want to get published, you needContinue reading “It’s not about the money. . . or is it?”
The dreaded semicolon. . . of DOOOOOOOM!!!
The semicolon has been known to divide loving families into shouting melees, and to send careers down in flames. It is the most contentious and passion-inducing piece of punctuation – and the most addictive. How NOT to use a semicolon: 1. Frequently. I once had an editor add more than a dozen semicolons to aContinue reading “The dreaded semicolon. . . of DOOOOOOOM!!!”