I'm on "tour" promoting Borrowed Saints (and writing in general) this week. Yesterday, I popped in to visit Cate Gardner and wrote about what was "Behind the Door". Today, I'm visiting Belinda Frisch's blog with a post about creating conflict and suspense. Stop in and say "hi". Tomorrow, I'll be leaning on Robert Swartwood with a little post about patience. God knows I need some.
More stops to follow.
So about this WIP Wednesday...
I'm writing a vampire-esque novella. I'm brainstorming for a middle grade (holy-sh*t, MG?) sci-fi, slipstreamy adventure book. My dear wife inspired me to write it, saying: "Why don't you write something Owen can read?" Yeah, why don't I?
And then there's the sequel to Borrowed Saints. Yes, I've already started writing that...
Sheesh. I'm starting to sound like Barry Napier with all this WIPing (love you, Barry).
Speaking of my dear wife... I want to share a dream of mine. I'd love for her to be able to stop working. She has terrible nerve issues in her mouse hand and a job which requires a ridiculous amount of clicking. She has back trouble stemming from a car accident when she was twenty.
I've taken on e-book formatting and cover design on the side (www.simplekindleformatting.com) to try and supplement our income. I'm continuing to write and hopefully build an audience. I'd love to add enough to the communal pot that she could stop working, or at least cut back and only see clients part time.
That's the dream.
Now that I've written it down, I need to get to work.
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Blog: The Other Aaron (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: blog tour, WIP Wednesday, Robert Swartwood, borrowed saints, Cate Gardner, Simple Kindle Formatting, Belinda Frisch, Add a tag
Blog: The Other Aaron (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: publishing industry, Robert Swartwood, Belfire Press, Virtual Tales, thoughts on life, Add a tag
Yesterday I was amped for a rant (of sorts). Actually, it was more of an airing of my dirty laundry, past mistakes and present failures...
Once upon a time I was a writer who doubted myself too much. Note the phrase "too much". Any good writer should doubt a portion of his/her work because, let's be honest, no one does it right every time. No one writes a perfect story on the first draft. No one. (Although Harlan Ellison has come close...check out "Flop Sweat"...he wrote it in one day to be read on air that night. Chilling as today's temperature: 3 degrees Fahrenheit--I won't even convert to Celsius...yow.)
I still doubt myself. But I've moved on. Sort of.
And I'm thankful for the 21st century. I'm thankful for the ability to do certain things* for myself in the future. I'm thankful a 21st century storyteller can reach out and find an audience, even a small audience, without having to prostate himself to the whims of the big meat grinder.
I'd rather have a small, honest audience than a huge audience to which I lie so somebody else can reap the benefits. Don't know what I'm talking about? For the latest example, read: "E-Book Royalty Math: The House Always Wins" (thanks for the link to Robert Swartwood)
Look, no publisher which intends to stay in business can have only an author's best interests in mind. Publishers are in business to make money, and there are plenty of want-to-be writers lined up waiting to take an author's place if that author doesn't pay the bills. Didn't make a profit for the publisher? Next...next...next...
I've had dealings with three small presses--Belfire Press, Virtual Tales, and Aqueous Press. Jodi Lee and company at Belfire have been great. I have certain reservations about the author agreements I've signed with the other two, although Virtual Tales has been top-notch with artwork, promotion, and other "intangibles". Certain things remain to be seen with Aqueous. I'm not excited at all with recent developments (which have nothing to do with my book) because of the "guilt by association" factor involved. Again, I'll refer you to Mr. Swartwood for the scoop. One thing I appreciate about Robert is his unflinching honesty. I'm too much of a chicken-shit most of the time.
So why did I sign on? Once upon a time I was a writer who doubted myself too much. Doubt leads to fear. Fear leads to decisions founded in sand.
I've come to the conclusion that an author's best interests are handled best by that author unless you are a machine (e.g., Stephen King, John Grisham, etc.). An agent can be great in looking out for an author's interests but only as far as it serves the agent (i.e., makes the agent money). No, it's not sour grapes; it's business, and I don't fault any agent for seeking only those clients which will make him/her the most money. That is an agent's job. Many have kids to feed.** But I haven't bothered to query an agent in almost two years. It just doesn't seem like the right time for me.
So for me, small time author, it's best to do it myself. The 21st century has laid the tools in my lap.*
At least, this way, when mistakes are made, they're all mine.***
One final note: thanks to everyone who has purchased, promoted, or talked about 52 Stitches. Jamie was family, and it does m
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: LuAnn Schindler, Robert Swartwood, Hint Fiction, book review, Add a tag
Try telling a story in 25 words or below. A review of Robert Swartwood's Hint Fiction
"Sleeping Beauty never minded the spindle prick. It was the wake-up call she hated."
Val Gryphin's 14-word story Insomnia implies there's more than meets the eye with the beautiful fairy tale princess. It becomes the responsibility of the reader to fill in the missing details based on the writer's hint.
What is hint fiction?
Robert Swartwood coined the term to describe a story of 25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story. The story does not need a distinct beginning, middle and end. Rather, the story should stand by itself.
Swartwood assembled 125 gems and ended with a fantastic anthology, Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer. The collection, published by W.W. Norton & Company, is scheduled for a November 1 release.
In the introduction, Swartwood discusses the emergence of hint fiction. His first example, Ernest Hemingway's six-word story: "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." Those short words carry a lot of emotion and information, proving less is definitely more.
The compilation is divided into three categories: life and death, love and hate, and this and that. What a delightful group of stories! Each contains a hidden treasure, offering a chance for the reader to contemplate the author's intent and to develop her own theory about the implications and innuendos.
Each piece's title is of as much importance as the tale. For example, Charles Gramlich's title, In A Place Of Light and Reason, creates a whimsical feeling. The text doesn't disappoint:
- to tell a story
- be entertaining
- provoke thinking
- invoke an emotional response
It's an anthology worth savoring.
Book review by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's reviews at http://luannschindler.com.
Blog: The Other Aaron (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: facebook, Robert Swartwood, Jeremy D Brooks, Amity, Norman Partridge, Add a tag
Okay, so here are five bits and pieces I've enjoyed 'round the next this week for your weekend reading pleasure:
1. Jeremy D. Brooks ballsy manifesto and cover art for his novel, Amity. Check it out. (ready to download at Smashwords...other formats pending) Okay, so that was more than one thing. Sue me.
2. Not that I like the problem, but Robert Swartwood gives thoughtful insight to the Problem of Prolificity. Some sad truths in there, folks. Mr. Swartwood's perspective is always welcome.
3. All 70+ episodes of Axe Cop at www.axecop.com. Oh, YES.
4. Norman Partridge's thoughtful and revealing essay about the publication of his first novel, "The Care and Feeding of First Novels".
5. And finally, something to chew on: "Facebook users 'are insecure, narcissistic and have low self-esteem". Solid research? Maybe not. Thought provoking? Sure.
Blog: The Poisoned Apple (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Reading, Space and Time, Robert Swartwood, Boneshaker, Add a tag
A few weeks ago I won a copy of Space and Time when Robert Swartwood ran a competition on his blog, and it arrived this weekend. I, of course, had to place it on top of my 'to read' pile, and in fact shoved Cherie Priest's Boneshaker aside to read it.
What a fantastic magazine... And I'm left feeling guilty as I've had a copy of issue #106 (this is #109), unread, on my shelf since earlier this year, despite it containing stories by Camille Alexa and Kurt Newton. Wrists duly slapped.
My favourite stories were 'End of Our World As We Know It' by Robert Swartwood (and for those thinking well she would say that, I challenge you to pick up issue #109 and prove me wrong) and 'Small Motel' by Dennis Danvers.
Small Motel is a slice of small town science fiction with delicious characters and a sprinkling of green tea. There is an ease to Danvers tale about alien abduction, and I'll be searching out more of his stories next year. End of Our World is beautiful, brilliant, and an excellent example of how to write in second person narrative. Oh, and Robert... You might notice something missing from this post.*
*For those wishing to understand that final, cryptic note - you'll have to read End of Our World.
I think the formatting and cover design business is a great idea! You're obviously good at it and it's something a lot of people don't think about or know how to do. Good luck with it and with the many WIPs!
(I'm reading The House Eaters right now and it's creeping me out, but in a good way.)
Get back to work? Hell no. Why don't you take a few months off; you're making me look bad. :-p
Thanks, K.C. We shall see how things play out...
Tony - I'll sleep when I'm dead.
I do indeed feel the love.
And I just dropped you a line RE: simple kindle formatting.
Hope all is well with the wife. Mine also has back issues, so I know how un-fun those types of things can be.
Thanks, Barry. Time will tell.
You certainly have some skills on the design/layout front. I wish you the best with the side venture, and I hope that your efforts lead to the best result.
And as far as writing for Owen--that's too danged cool! Take a picture when you give him a copy. I'd love to see the reaction!
I want to make Ying a trophy husband ; )
I've heard that editors and agents are crying out for more MGs. You never know, this could be the one. My little cousin keeps asking if I've written anything for him yet and I have to keep shaking my head. Bad me.
Oh, and wanting to earn enough so you're wife can lessen her hours makes you extra awesome. :D
An impressive line up of work. I love that you're writing something your son can read.