Making the rounds of the indie publishing world lately has been this HuffPo piece from Laurie Gough about the scourge that is self-published books, and how those books are “an insult to the written word.” It’s, shall we say, harsh toward indie authors. It’s also typical HuffPo click bait. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all wrong. [Read more…] about Behold, as I Insult the Written Word
books
Radio Didn’t Kill the Book Star
In case you didn’t see my social media teases leading up to Saturday afternoon, I was on an online radio/podcast show Saturday afternoon called “Tag Team 2*4*5,” in conjunction with the Rave Reviews Book Club. The numbers refer to two hosts, four authors, and five minutes each, just to solve that baffling mystery for you. [Read more…] about Radio Didn’t Kill the Book Star
The Best Books I Read in 2016
This is the first full year I’ve spent constantly reading a book in close to 20 years, and it was great. Truly awesome. If nothing else came from this whole “I’m gonna be a writer!” thing other than I started reading books again, it’d be worth it. I’ve loved getting to know these authors, and diving into all these new stories I never would have explored otherwise. [Read more…] about The Best Books I Read in 2016
Tomorrow’s News Today … is Out Today
Yes, the rumors are true. I’ve got a second book out on the Amazon stage. It’s been a different journey on this one than with the first. I knew a bit more about the publishing game this time around. I knew a bit more about my own writing, and how to get this whole thing to work. I’m still trying different things, and I’m a long way from having any secret formula, but I’m hoping I’ll keep learning as I go.
This one’s called “Tomorrow’s News Today,” and it’s hugely influenced by the hours upon hours of Hitchcock and Twilight Zone I’ve spent watching over the past 30+ years. [Read more…] about Tomorrow’s News Today … is Out Today
Flipping Tropes on their Heads
Walking out of the movie “War Dogs” last weekend — It’s an entertaining film, for what it’s worth — I kept thinking about how tired I am of the “Concerned wife/girlfriend who exists only to nag her busy, adventurous husband about how dangerous his job is, and to cry about getting lied to” character tropes. You’ve all seen the movie/read the book.
He’s the protagonist. He does all kinds of interesting things, driving the action. She’s sitting at home, probably taking care of the kid. He lies “to protect her.” Eventually, she realizes it and walks about, typically taking the kid to her mom’s house. He begs and pleads. She considers changing her mind, but she leaves. [Read more…] about Flipping Tropes on their Heads
What’s the Hardest Part of Writing a Novel?
Not much of this whole “writing a book” thing is easy. That’s particularly true if you’re looking to get it published. And sell the damn thing. And even more so if nobody knows who the hell you are, except for your mom, and even she’s not sure all the time. Talk about a mountain to climb, from the first tiny, uncertain steps of just coming up with the kernel of an idea to outlining, storyboarding, deciding on a structure, figuring out who the characters are, writing the first chapter, driving through the parts you think suck, finally finishing a draft, then realizing your work has only barely begun. The hardest part is tough to nail down.
There are plenty of points at which your average person drops out of this particular climb. Lots of opportunities to say “Screw this” and turn on Netflix. I have no doubt that the vast majority of people who talk about writing a novel never start, just as the vast majority of people who start a novel never finish, and most of those who finish a novel don’t sell enough to even make up for their costs, much less make anything approaching a “living.” [Read more…] about What’s the Hardest Part of Writing a Novel?