*Snort* or, yanno, NOT! I've been thinking about what to blog on this week and am having trouble coming up with anything. A ton of authors whose blogs I frequent blog about writing. (Plot, characterization, dialogue, pacing, etc.) I don't feel like I really have the right to do that because my books, although under contract, haven't been published. I can't do much blogging on the process of being published because in terms of that particular swimming pool, I'me just barely getting my toes wet. I can talk about writing a good query because--at least judging by my request rates and *coughcough* Miss Snark--I write me a good query.;) But in the end, I didn't get my agent by querying. So I guess I'm opening it up to you guys. What do you like to read about on blogs? Do you have questions for me? What would you like to see more of on this blog? If you give me some good suggestions/questions I promise not to ask again for like six months . . . and by then I should have enough exciting things happening that I won't need suggestions. (One can only hope.;))
Thanks!
Ciao!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
15 comments:
OOOH. Talk about what a "doula" is.
I feel dumb for asking, but I have no clue what that means. :)
I know exactly what you mean, although I feel even less qualified since I don't even have an agent yet, let alone a book contract. Which means that I have to be careful how I blog about writing. You're in a unique position, though. It would be interesting to hear about how you got to this point. What's it like now? How do you feel? Really, though, the other debut authors/bloggers I know intersperse their posts about writing with a generous number of posts about their daily lives, etc. (See Eileen Cook and Jess Riley's blogs for what I mean.)
I want to know how you make time to write every day when you have three kids and (I assume) other life-type responsibilities. I have five kids (ranging in age from 13 to 4), a part-time job, church involvement, cub scouts, PTA . . . I almost feel guilty about taking time to write when there is always something else that needs to be done. Not to mention finding the ENERGY and motivation to write after a long day of running like crazy. How do you do it?
I'm with David...that doula sounds like a sci fi creature
I too think it's best not to teach a writing course via blog but I think documenting the experience is way cool...
And I'm with Chris :) I'd love to learn how you find time to write while looking after children and (presumably) spending time with your husband.
Also - what is it actually like being a writer? What does a writer do all day? How much of your being-a-writer time is writing, or reading, or editing, or other stuff, and if so, what? I know a couple of writers in RL but have no idea how typical their experience is.
I think I take an opposite view -- I love to hear other writers (at all stages published or not) talk about writing. I think it's fascinating to see how other people approach things, their thought process, what they're learning, etc. Just because a book hasn't been published doesn't mean you don't know a ton about writing -- you've been immersed in the world for years.
I think the key is the distinction between talking about your own path and your own writing thoughts and telling other people what they should be doing -- one is sharing and one is preaching. I've always enjoyed the way you've shared your thoughts.
I'm also with Orion -- I enjoy reading about people's process because it's so different for everyone.
QUERY!! It doesn't matter how you got your agent, you queried someone at sometime. I've been to the sites and seen all the templates, and they all look pretty much the same. If I were an agent, frankly, I wouldn't want to read any of 'em.
What makes a query letter STAND OUT?? In your opinion, that is...
I have three kids myself (4,3 &1), work from home, church stuff, and I'm in the middle of an extensive re-write of my first novel. Any info--and I mean ANY--will help tons!
BTW, you already have a fabulous blog...
Sorry. Forgot to say THANK YOU!
I’d be interested to know about your individual writing process too.
How do you discipline yourself to keep going - is it easier to do this now you’ve got a deal? How do you cope with those inevitable bumpy bits when it feels as though every word you write is rubbish (or is it only me that goes through that?!) or you get stuck on a plot point?
I, too, would like to see your query letter, if you don't mind! I have been through three or four drafts, but have only ever gotten one request. It's so frustrating, because I hate that the life of my manuscript depends on two lame paragraphs about it.
So, tips? Ideas? Or even just posing your old query letter now that your project is sold? Thanks!
Do you know more about writing the day after you get signed by an agent than you did the day before??
Do you know more about writing the day after you get a book contract than you did the day before?
And there are plenty of people who get agents and book deals because they've networked their ass off, but they aren't very good writers.
So I say you don't need an official stamp of approval to talk about writing, or give advice.
Ah, standing.
Will I know more about Law the day I get my degree than the day before?
Is an 18-year-old more prepared to make adult decisions (smoking, sex, firearms) on their birthday than they were the day before?
You never need a stamp of approval to talk about anything. The question is not whether one should talk, but whether one should listen. And, like it or not, stamps are at least helpful in making such decisions.
But all of this is tangential to Aprilynne's post. Josephine, are you suggesting that you would like to see more posts about writing? Or did you have some other purpose in mind?
You've probably already blogged about this, in which case you could just point me to a link and I'd be good with life, but how did you get your national contract?
I have never published a novel, yet I expound on writing. I guess I use my English degree as an excuse; but, really, I write what I want to write about because it's my blog. I say you can write about whatever tickles your fancy. You do not have to have bona fides; if you make sense, you are likely helping someone, or at leasta clarifying your own insights to yourself.
I'd like to know more about your writing process.
Post a Comment