For a long time, the ideal of Being A Full-Time Writer shone in my head with a gem-like flame. And honestly, it still does to some extent. I dream of publishing more frequently, fear that my readers will forget me between books, lust for the writing time I think would suddenly stretch out before me [...]
Writing
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So many people have written so well about querying agents that instead of saying “Have a wheel, I just invented it,” (h/t Nisi Shawl) I’m gonna make this one a linky post of linkness. Holly Lisle‘s How to query an agent is straightforward and clear. She reminds the querent to always keep in mind that You [...]
(Parts one and two, in case you missed them.) Convening, considered as an ing on the way to publishing, means attending conferences & conventions for those involved with books and writing in assorted capacities. Some examples with their primary audiences in parentheses: SCBWI (writers and illustrators for kids & teens), ALA (librarians), NCTE (teachers), KidLitCon [...]
(Here’s part one if you missed it.) Wait, you might be thinking. Doesn’t researching start way earlier, like, before finishing? Yes, if you mean research that informs your story. In this case, though, I’m talking about market research. And as I type, it occurs to me that in my first post I neglected to mention [...]
From the mailbag: “I was wondering if you could give me a few hints on how to put myself out there to get published. I feel like I’m bumbling around in the dark trying to figure out the next step to take, and any advice is greatly appreciated.” There are many ings involved along the way to publishing. [...]
I’ve turned in my revisions to the Bad Houses script. This may or may not be the last round of changes. I’m waiting to hear. I’m waiting as I write for Tamora Pierce’s flight to arrive. I always like to be early; knowing that I’m where I’m supposed to be. (Portlanders, do you have tickets [...]
Hey folks — So I know that “on hiatus” means less when your blog does not have an actual regular publishing schedule. Nevertheless, this is the entry in which I am telling you that I am not going to write another entry until I am done revising Bad Houses. Because, despite the empathy I demonstrated [...]
I get it. You’re mad that I didn’t meet my ambitious goal for the revision work I was gonna get done while folks were away at ComiCon. That was the whole point of not going! God! Slacker. Well, I did manage to get in four yoga classes, several miles of bicycling, a chunk of time [...]
So I am currently revising the script for Bad Houses, my forthcoming graphic novel for DC Vertigo that will (yay!) have art by the amazing Carla Speed McNeil. Ways in which it is like revising a prose novel: – I spend a lot of time staring into the middle distance, trying to figure out if [...]
The last pages of the most excellent 1951 Writing to Sell brochure, from Writer’s Digest via the archive of my dad. (Earlier installments: one, two, three, four.) First up: student testimonials! An adorable critic, armed with pencil, cigarette, and star-shaped ashtray. “The good ones are pie.” My favorite from the Questions and Answers below: Q. [...]
