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?”
Category Archives: Writing Advice
How to write a sequel
Here, via John Scalzi, is one woman’s cunning plan for dealing with sequelitis. She makes a lot of sense. For example: 3. The plot deals with an entirely new problem. You can often pick detective novels up mid-series because each detective story is a self-contained plot. They start with a new question and then have toContinue reading “How to write a sequel”
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”
D.I.C.T.I.O.N.A.R.Y.
Here is a GREAT article on some common publishing terms. Some definitions vary a little from company to company, so make sure you always read and follow their specific instructions. Some of the most basic are: Full: A full manuscript. Genre: The classification of books. Examples of genre in fiction include mystery, romance, science fiction,Continue reading “D.I.C.T.I.O.N.A.R.Y.”
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)”
Self-publishing disappointment
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-your-self-publishing-service.html Writer Beware (a group that exposes those who are scamming innocent/ignorant writers) often hears from self-published authors who are convinced they’re being ripped off by their self-publishing services–but it’s more likely that their expectations were unrealistic. Kids, major publishers aren’t out to gleefully reject you – they WANT to publish good books. They’re justContinue reading “Self-publishing disappointment”
Contractions, Clients, and Concerts
I’m still having contractions. It’s been more than four days. I predicted that I’d ride the high of ,”Yay! Something is happening!” for three days, and that’s about right. Now I’m back in the zone familiar to all late-term pregnant women, where it seems that the pregnancy has lasted and will last forever and everContinue reading “Contractions, Clients, and Concerts”
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.
How good are your chances?
I’m a big fan of US agent Kristin Nelson’s blog, and one of the things I love is her transparency. If you look here and here, you can get a good idea of how many queries, samples, and full manuscripts get to the next stage at her agency. She is a successful agent with aContinue reading “How good are your chances?”
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”
Abbrevs.
Today’s article is about common abbreviations and acronymns in the writing world. So simple, so useful. Unlike Ana, who just lurks in a sinister manner.
The Foldaway Office
I’ve linked to Brass Bolts before. It always has the most gorgeous pictures. The most recent article is on the steampunk office. My personal favourite is this one, for reasons that I think are perfectly obvious:
How to get published
Rachelle Gardner is an American Christian literary agent with a great blog. She wrote a post on how to get published, which is an excellent summary of the American system. Australia is similar to the USA, except you don’t necessarily need an agent to get published (some choose to get an agent after having anContinue reading “How to get published”