I want it all.
A few weeks ago I found the series of blog posts called Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing. Imagine the Hallelujah Chorus exploding around me as I read. Yes, I learned a lot. I also had some, “Dang, I’ve been thinking that for a while and wondering if I was crazy!” moments. I recommend you study Dean Wesley Smith’s wisdom. The sections on dealing with agents alone are worth consideration if you don’t read any other posts. But my post here is about just one small portion that moved me.
Do you writers out there sometimes feel like you’re trapped on an island with challenges to survive the publishing biz? Maybe I’m alone, but I swear sometimes I think there was an unknown producer somewhere writing a script and laughing her a&$ off as I tried to navigate the crazy world of being a published [...]
There are those out there plotting against us writers. No, it’s true. I’m not talking about the usual suspects in the publishing business. No these devious schemers are out there waiting to give you an excuse not to write! I’m going to name names, so prepare to be shocked.
Call me compulsive and a plan-ahead nut job (you wouldn’t be the first, btw), but I’ve already started my list of what I’m going to do differently in 2010. I like the whole New Year’s Resolution thing actually. Gives me something to strive for, and I can put off doing the hard work for a [...]
For some time, at least the last three years or longer, I’ve been out of love with going to writers conferences. Not because I think I know it all. Getting a refresher course helps because I can easily slip back into bad old habits. No, I didn’t lose my enthusiasm for writers conferences because I’ve [...]
“I am an artist…I am here to live out loud.” Emile Zola, French Novelist
Last month I was chatting with Monica about various subjects when somehow we got on the subject of Marie Laveau. Oh wait, I remember it now- we were talking about niche audiences and how African-American readers shy away from paranormal romances. Actually we talked about their seeming aversion to all fiction with paranormal elements. [...]
Nope, I’m not talking about that old school game show What’s My Line? I’m mean what you do or have done that might help you sell books, something sexy and exciting you can put in query letters.
Query letter: those two words probably brought on a few groans from writers out there. I’m with you. [...]
“Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes
Last month I wrote about my father, uncles and other family members who shaped me into the writer I am. So many times non-writers ask, “But what makes you come up with stories and people out [...]
“Let us keep the dance of rain our fathers kept and tread our dreams beneath a jungle sky.” Arna Bontemps
