Writing Roundup, June 25
Kindle and Nook Start Price War on E-reader Market
E-reader vendors appear to be dropping their prices to get more people interested in buying potentially high-priced content. This is certainly a valid business model, as I am reminded every time I buy refills for my Schick Silk Effects razor.
Better Readability Today Won’t Save E-readers Tomorrow
Are e-readers just a passing fad, a step on our way to the real future of books?
Agents Won’t Survive Just By Charging a Higher Commission
What will it take to ensure that we authors and our agents can continue to make a living as publishing evolves?
Fewer Editors Expect Salary Cuts in 2010
So, things aren’t getting any better, but at least they aren’t getting worse?
A Few Things the Salty Ones Taught Me
Writing lessons learned over a career.
Declaration of Rights: The Author Lays His Cards on the Table
An informative look at book contracts.
Alphabet Soup
Think everything will be rosy when you get the contract? This post by Susan Orlean might make you think twice.
Why the First Page of Your Manuscript Is So Dang Important
A reminder from moonrat that yours is not the only manuscript a prospective agent or editor is reading. In fact, it isn’t even one of 100 in most cases. So, you best make it amazing. (Remember how each college professor acted as if theirs was the only class you were taking? And how mad you got when everything was due at the same time?)
A Response to Garrison Keillor’s Position That When Everyone’s a Writer, No One Is
Do you think the rise in self-publishing hurts your credibility as a writer?
When Anyone Can Be a Published Author
Or does self-publishing hurt mainly the reader, who now has to wade through crap to find the few gems in the book world?
The 5 Stages of Querying
Querying = grief, apparently. This is a nice look at the feelings we writers can fall prey to during the query process. And if I learned one thing in my pitching practice, it is that we can’t let rejections get us down. Everyone gets rejected, and getting depressed is not going to help you write solid queries that sell your project.
Re-write Wednesday: Telling Yourself to Show
Show, don’t tell. We’ve all heard that advice, and we’ve applied it to some extent. Personally, I tell a lot during my first drafts, then revise to show. This post gives tips for making sure you revise with an eye for showing.
Tips for Backing Up Your Manuscript
You know how important I think backups are. After all, I lost my entire nonfiction manuscript and had to rewrite it from scratch. I use Google Docs and emailing copies to myself as my main backup tools, but there are tips in this post that will work for everyone. And, I will continue to wax poetic about Google Docs. They aren’t paying me, but if they wanted to….
Taking Suggestions
It can be hard to shift gears and take suggestions from our valuable critique partners/editors/agents, but this post reminds us why it can be a good idea. And, I’m trying to figure out how to better incorporate the police into my WIP, so it is an interesting and timely post.
Gaiman’s Choice: Shouldn’t Good Writing Tell a Story, Too?
How important is plot in creating a good story?
On Placing That Pesky Story Question
How far can you get into your novel before your readers know the central question? Randy Ingermanson gives his thoughts on the issue in response to a reader question.
The Background Hum: Ian McEwan’s Art of Unease
This nice profile of Ian McEwan in the New Yorker gives some insight into his creative process.
How to Strengthen Your Story with Symbolism
A nice instructive video on the use of symbolism. When I was in high school, I was of the firm belief that authors didn’t consciously use symbolism anywhere near as often as we were expected to find it in our reading. Now I know that it may be conscious, but likely not in the first draft. And sometimes it is completely intuitive.
Agent Michael Larsen Talks 12 Ways to Excite Pros about Your Novel
A short and sweet list of things to address in your query.
What Is Outsourcing, and Does It Embarrass You?
Do you take on projects as a subcontractor? Do you hire other writers as subcontractors?
How to Find Freelance Jobs Through Effective Forum Networking
A great way to get past the job boards and find freelance work.
How to Beef Up Your Freelancing Skills
As an independent contractor, you are now responsible for your own professional development. This post has a nice set of free and paid opportunities.
A Simple Blogging Formula
I know that daily blogging is important for driving search traffic and repeat visits, but I struggle to maintain a balance between blogging and my other writing work. This formula might be the key. I guess you’ll have to keep coming back to find out if I start doing the daily thing.
How to Keep Inspired When Blogging Gets Tough
A nice complement to Chris Brogan’s piece. Most of us who don’t blog daily have made that choice because of burnout.
The Internet Counts
A reminder to be careful what you post online but also to take joy in the vast marketing possibilities of the Internet.
One Reader at a Time
L.J. Sellers has a great perspective on building her platform and marketing her books. If you look at it as finding an audience, it can seem overwhelming. But, if you work to get one reader at a time, the tasks seem possible.
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Categories: Uncategorized, writing