Category Thoughts on Writing

Jun 30 2013

Big Brother Fears Reignite A Classic

George Orwell may need to prep a thank you note to Edward Snowden. The author’s classic novel, 1984, about a future world with a government that too closely watches its citizens, was the most talked-about book on social media last month. Jeff Costello, v-p of CoverCake, said this was “obviously driven by the revelation that the NSA has been monitoring U.S. citizens, and the efforts to extradite Edward Snowden.” Costello also believes booksellers took a cue from the news cycle and gave 1984 “prominent placement on their stores’ home pages.” According to Nielsen BookScan, sales of 1984 rose from about 3,000 in the last week in May to about 7,000 in the week ended June 16, and the title sold 6,600 in the week ended June 23.

Neil Gaiman joined the list this month, at #6, with The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which Costello noted has been getting positive buzz: “People are really singing this book’s praises.” Also new to the list, at #8, is Rick Riordan’s fourth title in the Percy Jackson series, House of Hades, which does not come out until October. Costello said the chatter is likely thanks to the “hardcore fans” who “can’t wait for the next installment.”

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The other surprise Costello saw this month was Happy, Happy, Happy, the autobiography of Phil Robertson, star of the A&E reality show Duck Dynasty. Costello thinks the title “snuck” onto the list, at #10, thanks to fans of the TV show.

Men were more active than usual on social media in June. Happy, Happy, Happy was one of four titles that drew more comments from men than women in June; in most months men account for the most comments on one or two titles.

CoverCake’s Top 10 Books in Social Media, June 2013

Rank Title Author Scale* Male Female
1 1984 George Orwell 10 61% 39%
2 World War Z Max Brooks 9 51 49
3 Inferno Dan Brown 8 47 53
4 Joyland Stephen King 7 42 58
5 Catching Fire Suzanne Collins 5 40 60
6 The Ocean at the End of the Lane Neil Gaiman 4 41 59
7 Control Glenn Beck 3 53 47
8 House of Hades Rick Riordan 3 32 68
9 Lean In Sheryl Sandberg 2 31 69
10 Happy, Happy, Happy Phil Robertson 1 68 32

 

*How many conversations took place about the book in question for every 10 comments about book #1

Jun 30 2013

Stephen King and his compulsion to write

This is the first page of this story. There are three pages and several videos. I’m only publishing a part of the first page.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57591492/stephen-king-and-his-compulsion-to-write/

 

Bridgton, Maine, was home for writer Stephen King in the 1970s, and it inspired the fictional town of Chester’s Mill, which, in his 2009 novel, is trapped “Under the Dome.”

“When you were here did you sort of envision where the dome would come down?” Mason asked.

“Yeah, I knew exactly,” King replied — and he could show Mason the spot, on the old map still posted on Main Street.

“In the book this would be Route 119, it goes up through here, and the dome would be here,” he explained.

This Summer, King’s novel about a glassy dome descending on an unsuspecting town is being brought to life in a CBS series.

“It sort of came to me that if I could put a dome over an American town, it would be a microcosm for what’s going on in the world itself, where we have finite resources, and we really have nowhere to go,” he said.

“I like the idea of a small town, too, because people have got that ‘Waltons’ vibe, where everybody gets along, everybody knows everybody,” King continued. “And I thought, well, if you put people under pressure, what happens then?”

 

Deputy Linda Esquivel (Natalie Martinez) is separated from her fiance, firefighter Rusty Denton (Josh Carter), by a mysterious barrier in “Under the Dome,” based on the Stephen King novel.

/ cbs

 

Mason asked King if writing is a compulsion for the 65-year-old author: “Or do you need to have some story that just gets in your brain you can’t get out?”

“It’s a compulsion,” King replied. “For one thing, when I was younger, my head was like a traffic jam full of ideas, and they were all jostling, and they all wanted to get out. And I wrote a lot more than I write now. I still write every day.”

Jun 30 2013

Number One Writing Tip

writers-block

 

 

I saw a post this morning asking what was our number one writing tip. In all honesty, it’s hard to boil things down to one tip. So, here’s mine:

Get your story finished first and foremost.

Let it sit and ‘rest’ while you get the emotional connection to it out of your system.

Rewrite it completely.

Hard Copy edit: print it out on paper and read through each chapter.  I recommend doing it 2-3 times.

Make sure you print yourself one hard copy version of the completed manuscript.

When it comes to actually writing the story, my one tip is to let it grow on it’s own. I never outline my stories, I just create a first chapter through trial and error (it often times takes me 3-4 attempts to get one that makes sense and I like) and then it let it grow own it’s own.

Also remember, there will be times where you do feel like you’re shoveling sit from a sitting position. It’s when you feel this way that you need to keep pushing yourself forwards. I think you’ll be surprised at how well you’re writing really was.

Jun 29 2013

Novels vs Short Stories (upcoming)

I’m planning on putting up at least one post covering the differences between short stories and novels. It won’t be today, because I still don’t have internet access at home (Thank you, Comcast! You suck!) Once I get that back, then I’ll work on preparing it to put up here. Hopefully it’ll help folks out.

Please bear with me during this inconvenient period of time.

 

Jun 28 2013

9 Submissions in 9 Sentence

nanowrimo-1

 

From Kristen Nelson’s Blog

 

What I’ve seen in the last 2 weeks and why I passed:

4 Full Manuscripts (2 with offers of rep on the table)

1 – New Adult/wm’s fic. Recommended by a former editor we know well and like. I totally enjoyed the writing but for me, the story didn’t have a foot solidly in one genre or the other. I didn’t have the vision/passion for it so I passed.

2 – Wm’s fic/erotic leaning. Probably one of the more interesting concepts for a story that I’ve seen in a long time. What was interesting is the writing was quite literary but if I were to explain the plot, it would feel like contemporary romance. I went back and forth on that one as so intriguing. I did end up passing despite how smartly it was done.

3 – Middle Grade. Great great concept. But I had reservations that the voice didn’t quite nail the middle grade age range and although cool, a lot of the story felt too sophisticated but not exactly right for YA either.

4 – Middle Grade. Multicultural main character which I love. Great MG voice. Story line needed some work and with my current work load, I was afraid I couldn’t give the author the attention deserved.

5 Sample Pages

1 – Adult literary. Too literary for what I can be successful with. But terrific writing and a wonderful multicultural story.

2 – Young adult. Previously published author with great background. Fun paranormal. Snappy writing. I liked it but didn’t love it.

3 – Adult steampunk. Author had very cool background and the writing was nice but the opening didn’t grab me.

4 – Adult literary. Same as the other above. Too literary for what I tend to have success with. Wonderful multicultural angle though.

5 – Contemporary romance. Previously published author with great backlist and background. I liked it but didn’t love it. With a full client list, it makes a difference on what I’ll take on.

Jun 28 2013

Talk About Burying the Lead

From Kristen Nelson’s blog:

 

Today HarperCollins announced their latest digital-only mystery imprint Witness. But buried in the third paragraph was the most interesting tidbit in the story! The real news item!

Harpercollins is changing their royalty period so as to pay digital-only authors on a monthly basis. Once again Amazon took the lead (asthey announced this on March 18) and the Big 6 had to follow. What I wouldn’t give for Random House or S&S to lead the way rather than do things after the fact but that might be wishful thinking.

But here’s my question to publishers and I hope they are paying attention. You are now starting to reward authors who are doing digital-only. Great. But what about your stalwart current authors who have stood by you and continued publishing with you as the industry revolutionized around them?

Why should they get shafted just because they are doing both print and digital?

I get why print payments need to be on the slow-as-molasses-every-6-months payment schedule because publishers have to factor in returns from physical bookstores. But why should those authors have to wait for their digital royalties? Why can’t this be separate? Of if that can’t be fathomed, why can’t digital royalties be paid immediately after earn out?

There is no longer any reason for the 6-month cycle.  How about payment parity for those authors?

Jun 28 2013

Is War In Space Overdone?

Anime-Girl-Sci-Fi-Starfighter-Pilot-with-Gun (1)

 

Sometimes I think folks like to beat a dead horse. That question was asked by someone at the end of March and someone answers today? Like I said earlier, I think some people aren’t happy unless they’re arguing about something.

Now, is war in space overdone? Not in the least! If we can’t stop fighting ourselves here on Earth, then why would we stop in space? It stands to reason that we’ll continue, for several centuries as least, to have our barbaric nature . While I do believe that space is the place of our future as a species, I’m not so idealistic as to think that we’ll be utterly peaceful either. So, I think we’re stuck with it whether we like it or now.

So, the answer to the question is: NO.

Jun 27 2013

What is it with new writers and fantasy?

female-ninja-warrior_576792482

 

That’s been a post covered on one of the writing forums for the past couple days. And this determines the price of tea in China?? Fantasy is what most of the people from 18-25 grew up on. Between Harry Potter and Twilight, that’s what they’ve been exposed to, which means that’s what they’re going to write about. Is this such a complex thing to understand?

Sometimes I think people spend more time on boards complaining about something and making a mountain out of a mole hill. If the dumb asses just sat down and WROTE then they might create the next Harry Potty, Hunger Games or be the next Rowling, King or Grisham.

The moral of the story? Quit wondering about things and just write. You’ll be better off for it.

Happy writing.

 

Jun 25 2013

Author Iain Banks dies ahead of cancer-themed final novel’s release

Another voice of science fiction has left us this month.

<> on August 11, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

 

 

(CNN) — Tributes are flowing for Scottish author Iain Banks, who has died aged 59 after a short battle with cancer just days before the release of his final novel.

The prolific writer, best known for his 1984 debut “The Wasp Factory” and 1992’s “The Crow Road,” was noted as an author of darkly humorous literary and science fiction, the latter of which was published under the name Iain M. Banks.

His wife, Adele, said he died in the early hours of the morning and that “his death was calm and without pain.”

Banks released a statement in April revealing he had been diagnosed with late-stage cancer of the gall bladder, after suffering what he believed was a back strain.

Writing that it was “extremely unlikely” he would live beyond a year, he announced that he had asked his long-term partner “if she will do me the honor of becoming my widow,” adding that “we find ghoulish humor helps.”

The couple were married in the Scottish Highlands and honeymooned in Venice and Paris, before Banks was hospitalized in Scotland on their return.

Banks asked his publishers to bring forward the release of his final novel, “The Quarry,” so he could see its publication. The book, to be released June 20, details the final weeks of a 40-something protagonist, Guy, in his own fight against cancer.

RIP Iain Banks. One of the finest writers and greatest imaginations ever.
Scottish author Irvine Welsh

His publishers, Little, Brown, said the author had been presented with a finished copy of the book three weeks ago. “Banks’ ability to combine the most fertile of imaginations with his own highly distinctive brand of gothic humor made him unique,” the company said in a statement. “He is an irreplaceable part of the literary world.”

The rapid passing of the writer, known for his love of malt whisky and strong political views — he tore up his passport in 2003 in protest at the Iraq War — drew an outpouring of grief from fellow authors and fans alike.

The English writer Neil Gaiman tweeted: “I’m crying in an empty house. A good man and a friend for almost 30 years.”

Referencing the expression for death used in one of Banks’ most celebrated novels, the Scottish author Ian Rankin tweeted that his friend was “away the crow road far too soon.” He added: “Right now I’d like to kick cancer in its sniggering head, but instead I’ll take a single malt.”

Fellow Scot Irvine Welsh, the author of “Trainspotting,” called Banks “one of the finest writers and greatest imaginations ever,” and said his debut novel “was one of those books that changed my life (and) made me want to be a writer.”

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described Banks as “one of Scotland’s literary greats who always approached life with extraordinary vitality.”

In 2008, UK newspaper The Times named Banks one of “the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.”

Jun 25 2013

Richard Matheson dead at 87

The author of “I am Legend” among other novels has left this world. May he rest in peace.

richard_matheson

 

 

(CNN) — Richard Matheson, a prolific American science fiction author and screenwriter whose stories were made into movies and TV episodes, has died. He was 87.

He died at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to his son.

“As monumental as he is as a writer, he was every bit that as a husband, father, grandfather and friend,” Richard ChristianMatheson said on his Facebook page. “He was my hero and my best friend and I loved him deeply. I will miss him forever. I know we all will.”

During a career that spanned more than 60 years, the elder Matheson wrote more than 25 novels and nearly 100 short stories, plus screenplays for TV and film. Several of his novels were made into movies.

“I Am Legend,” released in 1954, inspired three films, including 2007’s movie of the same name that starred Will Smith.

His 1956 novel “The Shrinking Man” was adapted for the big screen, becoming “The Incredible Shrinking Man.”

Matheson was a major contributor to Rod Serling’s classic TV series “The Twilight Zone,” penning more than a dozen scripts from 1959 to 1964, including “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” He also wrote for “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” and was the creative force behind the classic “Star Trek” episode “The Enemy Within.”

Matheson’s death comes as he was about to be honored by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. He was to have received the organization’s Visionary Award at Wednesday’s annual Saturn Awards.

“Richard Matheson has been a singular voice in fiction, whose prolific written work is as unforgettable as the television and filmed entertainment it has inspired for more than half a century,” astatement on the academy’s website says.

Fellow writer John Shirley counted Matheson among the best at the craft.

“He was just so influential. He raised the bar for writing thrillers; he brought that high standard and sophistication to everything he did,” Shirley said on Facebook. “And his works … as books and movies, influenced me to have hope for meaning in life, and in the afterlife … he affected my point of view on life.”