I received my first ever official rejection today.
I feel pretty good about that. Great even.
I know. It’s weird, but it makes sense really.
business of writing
I want to share a disturbing post from John Scalzi’s blog here. Please read and spread the word.
Writer Beware is a great site and has saved me from a few possibly disasterous decisions in the past, the idea that these lowlifes want to try and “muddy the waters” so they can continue to scam hopeful writers bothers me to no end. If you are a writer trying to sell and you’ve received offers that sound too good to be true, that’s the site to check out first.
We see this sort of thing everywhere now and in all walks of life. We see it in politics, we see it in education (evolution debate anyone?) and in science (global warming?).
Fight back.
Stay informed, avoid “truthiness”, stick to the facts, learn and apply critical thinking and check the source. Seems to me Victoria Strauss and Ann Crispin have the credentials, the background and the honest track record that’s earned this writer-wannabe’s trust.
“The Write Agenda”? It seems very commited to innuendo, gossip and half truths and targets the people who provide decent information to help writers avoid the predators. That all adds up to deep shade to me.
Well I’ve cracked 32K which means only 18K to go by Saturday midnight! Piece of cake! Officially, the July Camp NaNoWriMo session gives the 31st as the end date of the challenge, but again, I’m following the 50K in 30 days I’m used to. I plan to finish Saturday and rest one day before starting again for the final leg of the marathon.
Today’s the first meeting of my writing group. I’m excited! I’m hoping it will go well and does what I intend and imagine it will do. The writers coming are people who’s writing and opinions I respect as well as good friends, so no matter what, it’s all good.
I’m off to get some word count down before Anna gets up. She’s been off her normal sleep patterns last couple of days and it’s made those days rather challenging.
(Note: This opinion/rant is from an incomplete “reading”. I’m not done. You can say more accurately that I’m reviewing the first 2 chapters for now.)
I’ve come to notice that I do better in my writing when I focus my thoughts on writing. Right now I do this by listening to writing podcasts (as you know, I’m a big fan of Mur Lafferty’s ‘I should be writing’ and Writing Excuses. If you aren’t listening to them yet, go! Go listen! This post will be here when you get back.). I’ve looked around at a few more but none really do anything for me and some are downright atrocious and very monotone.
It goes to show, writers do not always make the best speakers.
I have a substantial commute (almost 2 hours daily) to listen to these podcasts, but Writing Excuses is once a week and 15 minutes long while ISBW is anywhere from 20-30 minutes to an hour and also just over once a week.
That’s a lot of dead time I fill with just music. I’ve come to notice that while I enjoy music, on those days where I don’t listen to those podcasts (or really read anything interesting that’s related to writing) I tend not to write at all.
This is not good.
So I caved and decided to give Audible.com a try
I am in the throes of a conundrum. It involves this year’s NaNoWriMo. I am starting to think about VERY early because I promised myself that I wouldn’t repeat the complete and utter failure of NaNoWriMo 2010.
It will. not. happen.
So, this means that I will hit October prepared and eager for November 1st. I will have an outline to work with and copious notes. I will work on something “original” (my definition of original in this context is a work that is NOT a sequel of something I’ve already done, isn’t another attempt at a story I’ve never completed, and isn’t fanfic). This attempt doesn’t have to be something aimed at eventual publication (option A is definitely not, option B could be).
I’m having a LOT of trouble making a decision. I have a while yet, so it’s not like I’m hearing the Jeopardy theme or anything, but still, it bothers me enough that I find it’s worth posting about.
I know I don’t have a ton of readers, but for those who DO see this, I put up a poll. I’d love it if you participate, call your friends and get them to participate. I make no guarantees to follow the outcome, but it might sway me to one side or another.
Note: The full description of each option is after the cut.
I’m mildly miffed, although I’m not sure I have a right to be and it really isn’t a big deal. It’s more of an “huh.” moment.
I was recently referred to Nathan Brandford’s great blog by the I Should Be Writing podcast and this gem caught my eye because of the subject matter in this post.
One of my biggest pet peeves about e-books is the price. I’ve always cringed at paying the same price (or worse, MORE) than the physical book. I’ve never understood why this is and frankly, I’ve always suspected that publishers are pricing e-books this way to protect their physical media markets and making the same mistakes that the music industry has been doing online for a decade now.
Nathan’s post gives a ‘behind the scenes’ look at e-book pricing that really clears things up for me. I’m still not happy about it, but I understand a lot better what’s going on now.
I still don’t like it, but for different reasons than a nebulous conspiracy theory…although I really like a good conspiracy theory.
I urge you to go over and read “Why some e-books cost more than the hardcover” over at Nathan Brandsford’s blog!
And while you’re there, check out “Social Media, there’s no such thing as too early” which is giving wannabe writers like me a reason to blog!
The Basement Office 