Maggie Shayne, who has been published for over 20 years, is re-releasing her book originally titled "Out of this World Marriage" as "Dr. Duffy's Close Encounter". And, MONDAY ONLY, it's $1 off. If you're looking for something good to read, check it out:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007NOLF8M/maggieshaye
Louisa May Alcott
An American writer
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Contests and entries and finaling--oh, my!
Writing contests run year-'round, but this time of year is when the finalists in Romance Writers of America's (RWA's) Golden Heart Contest are announced. I just read a pretty interesting blog discussing what finaling in this contest can do for you, and I think, in a lot of ways, it's a lot like anything else in the writing biz. If you work hard, have a little luck, and position yourself to take advantage of opportunities that come your way, you can get published.
However, the Golden Heart gives little to no feedback, and while I appreciate that the contest is now considered "prestigious", I think it's good to keep a bit of reality in the back of our heads. Outside of RWA, very few people have even heard of the thing. Finaling or even winning the contest is no guarantee of publication, of getting agented, or even of having someone agree to read your manuscript.
I've finaled twice and seen people achieve their dreams with the help of this contest, and seen dreams dashed, as well. I think contests--especially the Golden Heart--are tools, and maybe by looking at them that way, instead of looking at them like some magical Golden Ticket, we can keep ourselves grounded enough to realize that one contest is unlikely to bring about fantastic changes.
Does it give you an opportunity? Yes. But exactly what opportunity it provides and what you do with that opportunity will remain to be seen. After finaling twice I decided to go back to school, so that finalist status pretty much wasted away. I'm a better writer now, both for the contest experience and the school experience, but in the end, being a GH finalist really hasn't changed my life. Nor do I think it should have.
What do you all think of writing contests? And am I being too harsh on the GH? What people, contests, or events have had the most impact on your writing career, whether you're published or not?
However, the Golden Heart gives little to no feedback, and while I appreciate that the contest is now considered "prestigious", I think it's good to keep a bit of reality in the back of our heads. Outside of RWA, very few people have even heard of the thing. Finaling or even winning the contest is no guarantee of publication, of getting agented, or even of having someone agree to read your manuscript.
I've finaled twice and seen people achieve their dreams with the help of this contest, and seen dreams dashed, as well. I think contests--especially the Golden Heart--are tools, and maybe by looking at them that way, instead of looking at them like some magical Golden Ticket, we can keep ourselves grounded enough to realize that one contest is unlikely to bring about fantastic changes.
Does it give you an opportunity? Yes. But exactly what opportunity it provides and what you do with that opportunity will remain to be seen. After finaling twice I decided to go back to school, so that finalist status pretty much wasted away. I'm a better writer now, both for the contest experience and the school experience, but in the end, being a GH finalist really hasn't changed my life. Nor do I think it should have.
What do you all think of writing contests? And am I being too harsh on the GH? What people, contests, or events have had the most impact on your writing career, whether you're published or not?
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Blogging Meaningful Content
Stumbled across this blog post by Jonathan C. Gillespie regarding blog content. My writing chapter has been discussing promotional efforts and which ones work and which ones don't, so this caught my attention right away.
All writers know that content is subjective. There are some books I don't read because the subject matter doesn't interest me. A fiction book where the main character is restoring a car, for example, would probably have to have someone I trust recommend it to me, and even then I'd probably read a few pages to see if I'd buy it. Some people ONLY read specific content--Regency romances, for example. I'm a pretty broad reader, but WWII battle descriptions or someone's trek to the North Pole isn't probably going to be high on my reading list. Don't know why, but it's not.
I'm pretty sure the same thing applies to blogs. A blog readership will hopefully be interested in what the blogger has to say, but I'd venture a guess that few bloggers just ramble on about any old thing. That's what Facebook is for. A blog has an audience just like a book has an audience, and if the blogger wants to maintain that audience, he or she will address subjects that the audience wants to read.
Gillespie's post is a good start, but he never defines "meaningful content". I agree with him that status updates don't count--no one cares about all your submissions, because anyone can submit a manuscript and have it rejected. But that one submission that results in a sale--now THAT is one that others will care about.
Which brings me back to that unique perspective. I think it's that new twist on something, or a new way to look at something, or a new interpretation that catches readers' interest.
What types of content do you like in a blog? In a book? What draws you in? What keeps you there?
All writers know that content is subjective. There are some books I don't read because the subject matter doesn't interest me. A fiction book where the main character is restoring a car, for example, would probably have to have someone I trust recommend it to me, and even then I'd probably read a few pages to see if I'd buy it. Some people ONLY read specific content--Regency romances, for example. I'm a pretty broad reader, but WWII battle descriptions or someone's trek to the North Pole isn't probably going to be high on my reading list. Don't know why, but it's not.
I'm pretty sure the same thing applies to blogs. A blog readership will hopefully be interested in what the blogger has to say, but I'd venture a guess that few bloggers just ramble on about any old thing. That's what Facebook is for. A blog has an audience just like a book has an audience, and if the blogger wants to maintain that audience, he or she will address subjects that the audience wants to read.
Gillespie's post is a good start, but he never defines "meaningful content". I agree with him that status updates don't count--no one cares about all your submissions, because anyone can submit a manuscript and have it rejected. But that one submission that results in a sale--now THAT is one that others will care about.
Which brings me back to that unique perspective. I think it's that new twist on something, or a new way to look at something, or a new interpretation that catches readers' interest.
What types of content do you like in a blog? In a book? What draws you in? What keeps you there?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Plagiarism
Since this has been in the news a bit lately, I thought it would be a good subject to explore. First off, I want to say that I just can't wrap my head around WHY someone would want to do this. Yes, writing is hard work and frustrating sometimes, but geez, the rush when things are going well. . . I can't imagine giving that up. Plus, you're going to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, wondering when someone's going to notice that your words sound just like Big Name Author's. And when someone DOES notice (and they will, eventually), then you're embarrassed at a minimum and open to litigation as well.
But what I can't figure out is why the publishers who published some of these people (and they weren't no-name publishers) didn't use Copyscape or a similar program to check the work. I freelanced via Guru.com for a while, and almost all the employers on there say right up front that they're going to check your work. Doesn't bother me, but it must have an effect on some people since they obviously feel compelled to say that.
I want to look at something I created and know it was MY original work. Besides, aren't you doing just about as much work going through someone else's book and changing names and details and dates and locations. . . . ?
Someone 'splain this to me. Please.
For reference, here's an issue from 2008.
And one from 2011.
And, of course, the 1997 brouhaha between Janet Daily and Nora Roberts.
I've heard rumors of others, as well, that may be in the works. Whether they become news or not will depend on the authors involved (actually, the term would only apply to one of the parties, wouldn't it?), but this is clearly an issue that is going to need some attention in the digital age.
But what I can't figure out is why the publishers who published some of these people (and they weren't no-name publishers) didn't use Copyscape or a similar program to check the work. I freelanced via Guru.com for a while, and almost all the employers on there say right up front that they're going to check your work. Doesn't bother me, but it must have an effect on some people since they obviously feel compelled to say that.
I want to look at something I created and know it was MY original work. Besides, aren't you doing just about as much work going through someone else's book and changing names and details and dates and locations. . . . ?
Someone 'splain this to me. Please.
For reference, here's an issue from 2008.
And one from 2011.
And, of course, the 1997 brouhaha between Janet Daily and Nora Roberts.
I've heard rumors of others, as well, that may be in the works. Whether they become news or not will depend on the authors involved (actually, the term would only apply to one of the parties, wouldn't it?), but this is clearly an issue that is going to need some attention in the digital age.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sprinting
I'd like to take credit for this ingenious idea, but someone else in the Olympia RWA Chapter came up with it. We tried this at our Manresa Castle retreat last month (January), and it worked like a charm. I have to admit, I had my doubts. But wow, the results are truly amazing!
Here's the gig: You set a specific period during which you will write. Or revise, if you're in revision mode. We started with 20 minutes, but for some reason that didn't work all that well. On our second attempt (we were doing this as a group during the retreat) we set the timer for 30 minutes. As soon as the timer went off, you put your head down and write. You don't worry about whether or not the stuff you're writing is 'good enough', whether the dialog is stilted, or whether you've just introduced a spaceship into your Colonial romance. You just write. No self-editing or talk. No Solitaire. No answering questions. No interruptions.
It was amazing! After 30 minutes we were all in the thick of writing (or editing, as the case may be) and over the course of several Sprints much headway was made. We generally paused for 10 minutes between Sprints to compare notes, talk, get something to drink, check plotting notes, or whatever. Then, set the timer again and off we went.
That's my very first writing tip ever for this blog, but this worked so well for me that I had to share.
Yes, it's more difficult to do this at home, when you don't have the supportive bubble created by a writer's retreat. But take your laptop somewhere away from the hubub of the house--go sit in the back seat of your car if you have to--and just WRITE for 30 minutes. Go buy some crime scene tape if you think that'll help give you the uninterrupted time and space.
Think of a sprint as a small investment that will pay off big time--with the added benefit that you won't be out of breath at the end--unless, of course, you're writing a love scene!
Here's the gig: You set a specific period during which you will write. Or revise, if you're in revision mode. We started with 20 minutes, but for some reason that didn't work all that well. On our second attempt (we were doing this as a group during the retreat) we set the timer for 30 minutes. As soon as the timer went off, you put your head down and write. You don't worry about whether or not the stuff you're writing is 'good enough', whether the dialog is stilted, or whether you've just introduced a spaceship into your Colonial romance. You just write. No self-editing or talk. No Solitaire. No answering questions. No interruptions.
It was amazing! After 30 minutes we were all in the thick of writing (or editing, as the case may be) and over the course of several Sprints much headway was made. We generally paused for 10 minutes between Sprints to compare notes, talk, get something to drink, check plotting notes, or whatever. Then, set the timer again and off we went.
That's my very first writing tip ever for this blog, but this worked so well for me that I had to share.
Yes, it's more difficult to do this at home, when you don't have the supportive bubble created by a writer's retreat. But take your laptop somewhere away from the hubub of the house--go sit in the back seat of your car if you have to--and just WRITE for 30 minutes. Go buy some crime scene tape if you think that'll help give you the uninterrupted time and space.
Think of a sprint as a small investment that will pay off big time--with the added benefit that you won't be out of breath at the end--unless, of course, you're writing a love scene!
Friday, February 17, 2012
It's off!
After way more time than originally planned editing the ms, it's finally headed back to the editor. It started at 103,000 words and ended up at 76,000 words, so much red ink was spilled.
I miss the characters already. Am I mad? I guess when you've watched them do everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--it can be hard to let go.
I worry about the book: will it sell; will readers like the setting of southern Spain, which I consider very romantic but is considered an 'unusual' setting; will I be able to re-focus on the current book without too much difficulty. . . .
But for now, I'm going to celebrate the fact that my 'baby' is as good as I can make it right now and hope and pray that the editor will like the revisions.
What do you do to distract yourself while waiting for an editor's reply?
I miss the characters already. Am I mad? I guess when you've watched them do everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--it can be hard to let go.
I worry about the book: will it sell; will readers like the setting of southern Spain, which I consider very romantic but is considered an 'unusual' setting; will I be able to re-focus on the current book without too much difficulty. . . .
But for now, I'm going to celebrate the fact that my 'baby' is as good as I can make it right now and hope and pray that the editor will like the revisions.
What do you do to distract yourself while waiting for an editor's reply?
Monday, February 13, 2012
Final polishing
I'm in the final polishing stage, examining each word, each phrase, each paragraph. This is where the self-doubt creeps in for me. Should I change it or not? What if I change it and the publisher wants something different? What's the point of it all? What's the meaning of life?
Ugh. Just need to muscle through this and make sure the conflict shines in each scene.
How do you make that final (hopefully) pass through your manuscripts? What are your techniques?
Ugh. Just need to muscle through this and make sure the conflict shines in each scene.
How do you make that final (hopefully) pass through your manuscripts? What are your techniques?
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