Happy Friday! Here is a list of various links that have crossed my inbox.
Want to write the next Dark Crystal novel? (Galleycat): http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/win-a-contract-to-write-a-dark-crystal-novel_b72556
A "traditionally published" author denies that self-pub is "destroying literature" as some would claim. (Laura Resnick): http://lauraresnickauthor.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/self-publishing-is-destroying-the-world-oh-nooooooo/
How to avoid comma splices. (Grammar Girl): http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/common-comma-error.aspx
We're marketers, not soldiers. (co.Create): http://www.fastcocreate.com/1682406/we-re-marketers-not-soldiers-how-combative-competition-is-killing-creativity
The three NEVERs of Social Media. (Kristen Lamb): http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/19/the-three-nevers-of-social-media/
Friday, June 21, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Writer Beware: Crimson Romance
Reports are starting to filter in about problems at Crimson Romance. Do your research before you sign ANY contracts.
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2013/06/authors-concerns-at-crimson-romance.html
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Tuesday Topics
Here are a few good articles that crossed my inbox over the past few days. Enjoy! :)
Using unreliable narrators in your story (Writer Unboxed): http://writerunboxed.com/2013/06/18/who-you-gonna-trust/
Plot dissection of other books to fix your own hot mess (Writer Unboxed): http://writerunboxed.com/2013/06/17/plot-dissection/
Building rhino skin to deal with reviews (Romance University): http://romanceuniversity.org/2013/06/17/building-your-thick-outer-skin-with-nicole-flockton/
Handling criticism (Kristen Lamb): http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/handling-criticism/
OED has added "Tweet" and others (Galleycat): http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/oxford-english-dictionary-adds-tweet-crowdsourcing_b72384
Facing your fears about change as a writer (Kristen Lamb): http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/change-resistance-is-futile/
Making the ordinary menacing in your novel (Writer's Digest): http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/5-ways-to-make-the-ordinary-menacing-in-your-suspense-novel
Seamlessly adding backstory (Writer's Digest): http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-weave-backstory-seamlessly-into-your-novel
Friday, June 14, 2013
Don't be a slave to the structure.
This post crossed my inbox yesterday from Writer Unboxed. I'm no silent fan of mythic structure (let's face it, it works) but I also know it's not EVERYTHING there is to a book. It's just one component.
Why the hero's journey is a tourist trap.
Why the hero's journey is a tourist trap.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Editors: They're not your maid, or your mommy.
I've heard this so many times from newbie authors that I decided to blog about it.
When you submit a manuscript to a publisher, guess what? You need to submit your POLISHED work.
"But...but...but...isn't that what they pay editors for?"
Well, sort of. An editor's job is to catch nitpicky typos, like misplaced/missing/extraneous commas, the odd mix-up of their/they're/there or something, catch misused words, and to guide a writer through story issues that might need to be addressed and changed.
However. If you can't be bothered to fix your dialog tags, or you can't be bothered to learn why you don't use apostrophes for plural forms, and you have multiple errors in every paragraph, then guess what?
That's NOT an editor's job to fix. That's when you need to hire an editor BEFORE you submit your work so they can correct things. Meaning you'll have to PAY them. Because you didn't bother learning how to do your job before you submitted something.
And guess what else? You need to LEARN from every edit.
As of this writing, I've got over forty-five books to my credit, and believe me, I STILL learn from every edit. Any author who says their writing is perfect and doesn't need editing is either 1) insane, 2) an asshole, 3) lying, or 4) an insane, lying asshole. Because any author worth their salt knows they never stop learning.
And if you think your work shouldn't be touched because it's your "art," then you're deluding yourself. Take your meds, you're overdue.
It is YOUR responsibility as the writer to learn your craft. Seriously. You wouldn't want to be sitting there on the operating table before they put you under just to hear your doctor say, "Oh, hey, I'm not real sure how this goes, but don't worry, my nurse will do clean-up for me." (Nothing against nurses, because believe me, I've known my fair share frequently more capable than the average doctor. LOL) But would you want your doctor saying that to you?
Then why on earth do you think it's okay to submit less than your best work to a publisher?
Why do you think the editor is supposed to do YOUR work for you?
YOU are the author. YOU are the one who should be working and learning and DOING this!
"Oh, but that's HARD WORK!"
Um, YEAH. Guess what? Writing isn't as easy as it looks! And if you are facing rejection after rejection after rejection, maybe, JUST maybe, you need to invest in an EDITOR to show you what you are doing wrong!
Yeah, that will cost you money. Because if you haven't done the work to learn the craft, you're going to have to pony up money in lieu of experience. Just like a DIYer will have to either pay a plumber to put the new kitchen faucet in, or they'll have to get off their lazy ass and learn how to do it themselves.
If you can't afford an editor, there are PLENTY of free critique groups out there. The best one is the Internet Writing Workshop: http://internetwritingworkshop.org BUT, here's the caveat: they have a participation requirement. You'll have to critique other writers' works.
And guess what? In the process, as you do that, as you see how others critique you, as you see how others approach the same writing you're critiquing, you can LEARN. Because if you think you don't have anything to learn as a writer? Well...
*SNORT!* Then keep doing what you're doing, because it means you won't be selling much, if anything.
When you submit a manuscript to a publisher, guess what? You need to submit your POLISHED work.
"But...but...but...isn't that what they pay editors for?"
Well, sort of. An editor's job is to catch nitpicky typos, like misplaced/missing/extraneous commas, the odd mix-up of their/they're/there or something, catch misused words, and to guide a writer through story issues that might need to be addressed and changed.
However. If you can't be bothered to fix your dialog tags, or you can't be bothered to learn why you don't use apostrophes for plural forms, and you have multiple errors in every paragraph, then guess what?
That's NOT an editor's job to fix. That's when you need to hire an editor BEFORE you submit your work so they can correct things. Meaning you'll have to PAY them. Because you didn't bother learning how to do your job before you submitted something.
And guess what else? You need to LEARN from every edit.
As of this writing, I've got over forty-five books to my credit, and believe me, I STILL learn from every edit. Any author who says their writing is perfect and doesn't need editing is either 1) insane, 2) an asshole, 3) lying, or 4) an insane, lying asshole. Because any author worth their salt knows they never stop learning.
And if you think your work shouldn't be touched because it's your "art," then you're deluding yourself. Take your meds, you're overdue.
It is YOUR responsibility as the writer to learn your craft. Seriously. You wouldn't want to be sitting there on the operating table before they put you under just to hear your doctor say, "Oh, hey, I'm not real sure how this goes, but don't worry, my nurse will do clean-up for me." (Nothing against nurses, because believe me, I've known my fair share frequently more capable than the average doctor. LOL) But would you want your doctor saying that to you?
Then why on earth do you think it's okay to submit less than your best work to a publisher?
Why do you think the editor is supposed to do YOUR work for you?
YOU are the author. YOU are the one who should be working and learning and DOING this!
"Oh, but that's HARD WORK!"
Um, YEAH. Guess what? Writing isn't as easy as it looks! And if you are facing rejection after rejection after rejection, maybe, JUST maybe, you need to invest in an EDITOR to show you what you are doing wrong!
Yeah, that will cost you money. Because if you haven't done the work to learn the craft, you're going to have to pony up money in lieu of experience. Just like a DIYer will have to either pay a plumber to put the new kitchen faucet in, or they'll have to get off their lazy ass and learn how to do it themselves.
If you can't afford an editor, there are PLENTY of free critique groups out there. The best one is the Internet Writing Workshop: http://internetwritingworkshop.org BUT, here's the caveat: they have a participation requirement. You'll have to critique other writers' works.
And guess what? In the process, as you do that, as you see how others critique you, as you see how others approach the same writing you're critiquing, you can LEARN. Because if you think you don't have anything to learn as a writer? Well...
*SNORT!* Then keep doing what you're doing, because it means you won't be selling much, if anything.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
One more time...do NOT argue with reviewers.
I had to learn this lesson myself as a newbie author. In my case, content of the book in question was lied about. So this is presented as, once again, a lesson in WHY YOU NEVER EVER EVER ARGUE WITH REVIEWERS!!!
But this...
Break out the popcorn, because this will be one spectacular train wreck unless the author stops what they're doing.
This is simply beyond the pale. And the fact that the author is totally arrogant as they confront the reviewers is a total face/palm. Kudos to the reviewers for screen-capping the stuff the author tried to delete as they tried to cover their path.
Check out the comments on the critical reviews left for this (esp. the 1- and 2-star reviews) and see how the author argues with the reviewers. The book in question is currently a freebie titled "Baby" by J.K. Accinni. http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Species-Intervention-6609-ebook/dp/B0092PLG16/
This part is too long for screencaps. It just has to be read to be believed: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TBGGNFXS9BMJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0092PLG16
Here are a few screen caps of the author arguing with reviewers:
For the love of all that's holy, J.K. Accinni, SHUT THE FRAK UP and just deal with a few bad reviews.
But this...
Break out the popcorn, because this will be one spectacular train wreck unless the author stops what they're doing.
This is simply beyond the pale. And the fact that the author is totally arrogant as they confront the reviewers is a total face/palm. Kudos to the reviewers for screen-capping the stuff the author tried to delete as they tried to cover their path.
Check out the comments on the critical reviews left for this (esp. the 1- and 2-star reviews) and see how the author argues with the reviewers. The book in question is currently a freebie titled "Baby" by J.K. Accinni. http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Species-Intervention-6609-ebook/dp/B0092PLG16/
This part is too long for screencaps. It just has to be read to be believed: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TBGGNFXS9BMJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0092PLG16
Here are a few screen caps of the author arguing with reviewers:
I don't care what excuse you use: ARGUING WITH REVIEWERS NEVER ENDS WELL! So cut it right the hell out. Not only does it make you look like an idiot, it attracts even more trolls who want to pile on.
*shaking my damn head*
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