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How do you prepare for an interview about your book?
Until five minutes ago, I hadn't pondered the question. But now, I'm convinced that it is one of the most useful questions a newly-published writer can ask themselves.
As a journalist who has interviewed countless writers, I love it when a writer and I understand each other going into the interview. This bit of wisdom from Publicity Hound is priceless:
"If you don’t know the reporter personally, Google their name and see what you find. If the reporter blogs, read the blog!"
How do you prepare for an interview about your book?
Until five minutes ago, I hadn't pondered the question. But now, I'm convinced that it is one of the most useful questions a newly-published writer can ask themselves.
As a journalist who has interviewed countless writers, I love it when a writer and I understand each other going into the interview. This bit of wisdom from Publicity Hound is priceless:
"If you don’t know the reporter personally, Google their name and see what you find. If the reporter blogs, read the blog!"
How do you prepare for an interview about your book?
Until five minutes ago, I hadn't pondered the question. But now, I'm convinced that it is one of the most useful questions a newly-published writer can ask themselves.
As a journalist who has interviewed countless writers, I love it when a writer and I understand each other going into the interview. This bit of wisdom from Publicity Hound is priceless:
"If you don’t know the reporter personally, Google their name and see what you find. If the reporter blogs, read the blog!"
Conversational Reading spotted that faux-trailer for a soap opera about stuffy academics. Check out the comments section, it's hilarious to see how many people want to see this show for real.
Finally, for all the aspiring novelists out there, Guide to Literary Agents has ten tips that will clean up your pitch letters. Here's a highlight, some clean, clear advice:
"Single-space your query letter, and keep it to one page. Double-space your manuscript and synopsis ... If you lack a good opening for your query letter, just give the facts. A simple yet effective opening line would be, 'I am seeking literary representation for my 75,000-word completed thriller, titled Dead Cat Bounce.'"
Conversational Reading spotted that faux-trailer for a soap opera about stuffy academics. Check out the comments section, it's hilarious to see how many people want to see this show for real.
Finally, for all the aspiring novelists out there, Guide to Literary Agents has ten tips that will clean up your pitch letters. Here's a highlight, some clean, clear advice:
"Single-space your query letter, and keep it to one page. Double-space your manuscript and synopsis ... If you lack a good opening for your query letter, just give the facts. A simple yet effective opening line would be, 'I am seeking literary representation for my 75,000-word completed thriller, titled Dead Cat Bounce.'"
Conversational Reading spotted that faux-trailer for a soap opera about stuffy academics. Check out the comments section, it's hilarious to see how many people want to see this show for real.
Finally, for all the aspiring novelists out there, Guide to Literary Agents has ten tips that will clean up your pitch letters. Here's a highlight, some clean, clear advice:
"Single-space your query letter, and keep it to one page. Double-space your manuscript and synopsis ... If you lack a good opening for your query letter, just give the facts. A simple yet effective opening line would be, 'I am seeking literary representation for my 75,000-word completed thriller, titled Dead Cat Bounce.'"
Do you want to read books with movies built into the story?
Literary blogger Sarah Weinman unpacked a Variety story about how CSI creator Anthony Zuiker just landed an expensive book deal with Dutton, as the article explains, to create "a publishing hybrid that broadens traditional book reading into a multiplatform experience that includes filmed components and an interactive social networking site."
Myself, I'm excited to see what happens when digital book readers, web video, and writers finally collide. While this might not be the project that succeeds, eventually, somebody will figure it out. Weinman's readers were mixed, to say the least.
Crime writer Bill Crider sarcastically noted the lazy beauty of the book deal: "And think of it: seven figures for three books, for which Mr. CSI has only to write 60-page outlines."
Novelist Karen Olson worried about what this novel means for books: "Do we want kids to grow up not able to read a 250 page book without some sort of video stimulation? That's really sad."
One poster added a prediction: "I bet my life that in 12 years, the traditional publishing industry (as we know it) is a ghost - there will be event books, and there will be goofs who self-publish, and everything else will be some techno hybrid."
Do you want to read books with movies built into the story?
Literary blogger Sarah Weinman unpacked a Variety story about how CSI creator Anthony Zuiker just landed an expensive book deal with Dutton, as the article explains, to create "a publishing hybrid that broadens traditional book reading into a multiplatform experience that includes filmed components and an interactive social networking site."
Myself, I'm excited to see what happens when digital book readers, web video, and writers finally collide. While this might not be the project that succeeds, eventually, somebody will figure it out. Weinman's readers were mixed, to say the least.
Crime writer Bill Crider sarcastically noted the lazy beauty of the book deal: "And think of it: seven figures for three books, for which Mr. CSI has only to write 60-page outlines."
Novelist Karen Olson worried about what this novel means for books: "Do we want kids to grow up not able to read a 250 page book without some sort of video stimulation? That's really sad."
One poster added a prediction: "I bet my life that in 12 years, the traditional publishing industry (as we know it) is a ghost - there will be event books, and there will be goofs who self-publish, and everything else will be some techno hybrid."
Do you want to read books with movies built into the story?
Literary blogger Sarah Weinman unpacked a Variety story about how CSI creator Anthony Zuiker just landed an expensive book deal with Dutton, as the article explains, to create "a publishing hybrid that broadens traditional book reading into a multiplatform experience that includes filmed components and an interactive social networking site."
Myself, I'm excited to see what happens when digital book readers, web video, and writers finally collide. While this might not be the project that succeeds, eventually, somebody will figure it out. Weinman's readers were mixed, to say the least.
Crime writer Bill Crider sarcastically noted the lazy beauty of the book deal: "And think of it: seven figures for three books, for which Mr. CSI has only to write 60-page outlines."
Novelist Karen Olson worried about what this novel means for books: "Do we want kids to grow up not able to read a 250 page book without some sort of video stimulation? That's really sad."
One poster added a prediction: "I bet my life that in 12 years, the traditional publishing industry (as we know it) is a ghost - there will be event books, and there will be goofs who self-publish, and everything else will be some techno hybrid."
Over at the Poet's Market blog, they have a fake author biography contest running until September. Check it out:"since we just recently released the 2009 Poet's Market, I can offer that up as a prize to whoever writes the best fake bio. You can make your bio funny, outrageous, horrible, seriously intense, etc. Just keep it under 100 words (hey, most publications cap it off at 50 words)." (via Practicing Writer)
How much should a great book cost? Edward Champion has some good reporting on the subject, along with breaking news about an upcoming William T. Vollmann book.
Look out for Justin Theroux.Besides starring in two of my favorite mind-bending films -- Inland Empire and Mulholland Drive -- he's also a budding scriptwriter. The Script Reader blog has a breathless feature about the man who could singlehandedly kill the skinny-neurotic-loser-screenwriter stereotype. Dig it:
"If you haven’t been following actor Justin Theroux’s bourgeoning screenwriting career, he co-wrote Tropic Thunder and recently signed up to write the Iron Man sequel. While this is good news for Justin Theroux, I think it’s even better news for screenwriters ... I smell an opportunity…to re-brand." (image viaWireImage.com)
Over at the Poet's Market blog, they have a fake author biography contest running until September. Check it out:"since we just recently released the 2009 Poet's Market, I can offer that up as a prize to whoever writes the best fake bio. You can make your bio funny, outrageous, horrible, seriously intense, etc. Just keep it under 100 words (hey, most publications cap it off at 50 words)." (via Practicing Writer)
How much should a great book cost? Edward Champion has some good reporting on the subject, along with breaking news about an upcoming William T. Vollmann book.
Look out for Justin Theroux.Besides starring in two of my favorite mind-bending films -- Inland Empire and Mulholland Drive -- he's also a budding scriptwriter. The Script Reader blog has a breathless feature about the man who could singlehandedly kill the skinny-neurotic-loser-screenwriter stereotype. Dig it:
"If you haven’t been following actor Justin Theroux’s bourgeoning screenwriting career, he co-wrote Tropic Thunder and recently signed up to write the Iron Man sequel. While this is good news for Justin Theroux, I think it’s even better news for screenwriters ... I smell an opportunity…to re-brand." (image viaWireImage.com)
Over at the Poet's Market blog, they have a fake author biography contest running until September. Check it out:"since we just recently released the 2009 Poet's Market, I can offer that up as a prize to whoever writes the best fake bio. You can make your bio funny, outrageous, horrible, seriously intense, etc. Just keep it under 100 words (hey, most publications cap it off at 50 words)." (via Practicing Writer)
How much should a great book cost? Edward Champion has some good reporting on the subject, along with breaking news about an upcoming William T. Vollmann book.
Look out for Justin Theroux.Besides starring in two of my favorite mind-bending films -- Inland Empire and Mulholland Drive -- he's also a budding scriptwriter. The Script Reader blog has a breathless feature about the man who could singlehandedly kill the skinny-neurotic-loser-screenwriter stereotype. Dig it:
"If you haven’t been following actor Justin Theroux’s bourgeoning screenwriting career, he co-wrote Tropic Thunder and recently signed up to write the Iron Man sequel. While this is good news for Justin Theroux, I think it’s even better news for screenwriters ... I smell an opportunity…to re-brand." (image viaWireImage.com)
Ever wonder who writes all those novels based on movies or television shows?
At the L.A. Times this weekend, Tod Goldberg wrote an ode to the fine art of tie-in writing. Check it out:"My brother had long regaled me with the sales numbers he'd racked up with his "Diagnosis Murder" and "Monk" books -- each selling roughly what all of my books have sold, combined -- and how his tie-ins had dragged along his other books too." (Link via Ron Hogan)
Ever wonder who writes all those novels based on movies or television shows?
At the L.A. Times this weekend, Tod Goldberg wrote an ode to the fine art of tie-in writing. Check it out:"My brother had long regaled me with the sales numbers he'd racked up with his "Diagnosis Murder" and "Monk" books -- each selling roughly what all of my books have sold, combined -- and how his tie-ins had dragged along his other books too." (Link via Ron Hogan)
Ever wonder who writes all those novels based on movies or television shows?
At the L.A. Times this weekend, Tod Goldberg wrote an ode to the fine art of tie-in writing. Check it out:"My brother had long regaled me with the sales numbers he'd racked up with his "Diagnosis Murder" and "Monk" books -- each selling roughly what all of my books have sold, combined -- and how his tie-ins had dragged along his other books too." (Link via Ron Hogan)
Can you finish that tagline? Why not let a computer do it for you?
The excellent Script Reader blogger this essay about the awful glut of science fiction scripts they read on a regular basis. Inspired by the mediocrity, one reader created an Aliens or Predator computerized science fiction script pitch letter generator. Read it and weep:
"the entity shows itself to be a terrifying alien shaped like a huge, grotesque version of a vagina with a acid-filled mouth."
If you are inspired by those laughable taglines, you simply must enter the Worst Storyline Ever contest at brilliant Guide to Literary Agents blog. You only have a few more days to enter, but how can you not write something beautifully bad like this:
"After the death of his goldfish, a priest renounces his faith and gets a job at the local White Castle, where he becomes addicted to special sauce and tries to dance his way to getting respect on the streets."
Most importantly, laugh at all these lines, but use these clichés and jokes and baaad writing examples to purge the nonsense out of your own agent pitches. To that end, read Chris Webb's book proposal advice. Happy reading...
Can you finish that tagline? Why not let a computer do it for you?
The excellent Script Reader blogger this essay about the awful glut of science fiction scripts they read on a regular basis. Inspired by the mediocrity, one reader created an Aliens or Predator computerized science fiction script pitch letter generator. Read it and weep:
"the entity shows itself to be a terrifying alien shaped like a huge, grotesque version of a vagina with a acid-filled mouth."
If you are inspired by those laughable taglines, you simply must enter the Worst Storyline Ever contest at brilliant Guide to Literary Agents blog. You only have a few more days to enter, but how can you not write something beautifully bad like this:
"After the death of his goldfish, a priest renounces his faith and gets a job at the local White Castle, where he becomes addicted to special sauce and tries to dance his way to getting respect on the streets."
Most importantly, laugh at all these lines, but use these clichés and jokes and baaad writing examples to purge the nonsense out of your own agent pitches. To that end, read Chris Webb's book proposal advice. Happy reading...
Can you finish that tagline? Why not let a computer do it for you?
The excellent Script Reader blogger this essay about the awful glut of science fiction scripts they read on a regular basis. Inspired by the mediocrity, one reader created an Aliens or Predator computerized science fiction script pitch letter generator. Read it and weep:
"the entity shows itself to be a terrifying alien shaped like a huge, grotesque version of a vagina with a acid-filled mouth."
If you are inspired by those laughable taglines, you simply must enter the Worst Storyline Ever contest at brilliant Guide to Literary Agents blog. You only have a few more days to enter, but how can you not write something beautifully bad like this:
"After the death of his goldfish, a priest renounces his faith and gets a job at the local White Castle, where he becomes addicted to special sauce and tries to dance his way to getting respect on the streets."
Most importantly, laugh at all these lines, but use these clichés and jokes and baaad writing examples to purge the nonsense out of your own agent pitches. To that end, read Chris Webb's book proposal advice. Happy reading...
Sooooooooo. I'm swamped with work at The Day Job this week, so I'm going to leave you with some educational and edifying weekend reading.
The Write To Done website is inviting practicing writers to actually interact with commenters in a sort of Comment Section Writing Workshop. It's a great idea, and I hope it works.
Here are a couple comments from some brave writers who stepped up to the plate. Read the whole article here.
First of all, Writer Dad weighs in with a problem that affects my own writing sometimes: "My writing can be a bit too enthusiastic. I get giddy with the words, and sometimes don’t allow ideas to breathe."
Dave Navarro is looking for some guidance on his eBook, looking for advice for "first-time self-improvement authors."
Welcome to Dueling Comments, where I print my favorite comments that I've spotted in publishing blogs. There are some smart people lurking in the comments sections of blogs, so I'm scrounging around the Internets to find the crazy, the useful, and the crazy-useful wisdom that they leave behind.
Sooooooooo. I'm swamped with work at The Day Job this week, so I'm going to leave you with some educational and edifying weekend reading.
The Write To Done website is inviting practicing writers to actually interact with commenters in a sort of Comment Section Writing Workshop. It's a great idea, and I hope it works.
Here are a couple comments from some brave writers who stepped up to the plate. Read the whole article here.
First of all, Writer Dad weighs in with a problem that affects my own writing sometimes: "My writing can be a bit too enthusiastic. I get giddy with the words, and sometimes don’t allow ideas to breathe."
Dave Navarro is looking for some guidance on his eBook, looking for advice for "first-time self-improvement authors."
Welcome to Dueling Comments, where I print my favorite comments that I've spotted in publishing blogs. There are some smart people lurking in the comments sections of blogs, so I'm scrounging around the Internets to find the crazy, the useful, and the crazy-useful wisdom that they leave behind.
Sooooooooo. I'm swamped with work at The Day Job this week, so I'm going to leave you with some educational and edifying weekend reading.
The Write To Done website is inviting practicing writers to actually interact with commenters in a sort of Comment Section Writing Workshop. It's a great idea, and I hope it works.
Here are a couple comments from some brave writers who stepped up to the plate. Read the whole article here.
First of all, Writer Dad weighs in with a problem that affects my own writing sometimes: "My writing can be a bit too enthusiastic. I get giddy with the words, and sometimes don’t allow ideas to breathe."
Dave Navarro is looking for some guidance on his eBook, looking for advice for "first-time self-improvement authors."
Welcome to Dueling Comments, where I print my favorite comments that I've spotted in publishing blogs. There are some smart people lurking in the comments sections of blogs, so I'm scrounging around the Internets to find the crazy, the useful, and the crazy-useful wisdom that they leave behind.
Like I said yesterday, I'm guest-blogging over at the music site Gimme Tinnitus, and I'd love to include some of your favorite songs. Drop me a line about your favorite writing music.
In the meantime, check out these music themed writing goodies: Up top, I included a web video I made of Peacock's Penny Arcade, a rock band staffed by writers, playing at the PEN World Voices Festival this year.
And then, last year, I interviewed Willy Vlautin (lead singer of Richmond Fontaine), who is also the author of the dark road novel, The Motel Life. You can see my interview with him at this link.
On a completely unrelated, but equally important note, Edward Champion just interviewed novelist Paul Auster on The Bat Segundo Show #231. Paul Auster!
Like I said yesterday, I'm guest-blogging over at the music site Gimme Tinnitus, and I'd love to include some of your favorite songs. Drop me a line about your favorite writing music.
In the meantime, check out these music themed writing goodies: Up top, I included a web video I made of Peacock's Penny Arcade, a rock band staffed by writers, playing at the PEN World Voices Festival this year.
And then, last year, I interviewed Willy Vlautin (lead singer of Richmond Fontaine), who is also the author of the dark road novel, The Motel Life. You can see my interview with him at this link.
On a completely unrelated, but equally important note, Edward Champion just interviewed novelist Paul Auster on The Bat Segundo Show #231. Paul Auster!
Like I said yesterday, I'm guest-blogging over at the music site Gimme Tinnitus, and I'd love to include some of your favorite songs. Drop me a line about your favorite writing music.
In the meantime, check out these music themed writing goodies: Up top, I included a web video I made of Peacock's Penny Arcade, a rock band staffed by writers, playing at the PEN World Voices Festival this year.
And then, last year, I interviewed Willy Vlautin (lead singer of Richmond Fontaine), who is also the author of the dark road novel, The Motel Life. You can see my interview with him at this link.
On a completely unrelated, but equally important note, Edward Champion just interviewed novelist Paul Auster on The Bat Segundo Show #231. Paul Auster!
I've been guest blogging at my buddy Bob's music blog (Gimme Tinnitus) all week. So, I've got writing and music on the brain. Here's a taste...
Have you ever read John Berryman's poetry? Half of the indie rock songwriters in the world have been reading his stuff, and you should too. Berryman wrote ragged, emotional poetry, breaking rhyme scheme and rhythm rules in the most amazing ways.
Of course, The Hold Steady needed to talk about Berryman too. Here's a live version of "stuck between the stations," punctuated by the amazing line: "There was that night that we thought that John Berryman could fly. / But he didn't so he died" (track via Captain's Dead)
Finally, here's Okkervil River riffing off the Beach Boys and singing about John Berryman's last days. It's called John Allen Smith Sails, and was one of my favorite songs last year. Go to the band's website for much, much more. (track via Mixtape 4 Melfi).
I'm not the only person who thought about this. Brandon Stosuy wrote an essay about The Hold Steady and Berryman, called, excellently enough, How a Resurrection Really Feels.
How do you prepare for an interview about your book? 
Do you want to read books with movies built into the story?
Unhappy with your life? Write a new one!
Ever wonder who writes all those novels based on movies or television shows?
Can you finish that tagline? Why not let a computer do it for you?
I've been guest blogging at my buddy Bob's music blog (