Saturday, October 28
For those of you who don't yet understand why many people flinch violently at the mention of Publish America, I suggest you read this review. Actually, read it no matter what. It's damned funny.
Somewhere out there is a woman sitting and confidently waiting for the money to roll in, because she's been told that she was a "hidden talent", kept from stardom only because of the stupidity of the big publishing company. Because she's been assured that "PublishAmerica is NOT in any way a POD, vanity press, or subsidy publisher, and has nothing in common with them." Because she's been "selected" by this real publisher, one that would look her work, would even "assign an editor who will spend time going through the text" -- and (judging from other PA author's stories) told her she was just so talented, she didn't need to change a word.
And on the reader's end... well, by the simple law of averages, PA is probably putting out some good stuff. But who wants to risk getting this? Much safer to pick up something from a real publisher. It might be trite, overdone, even downright bad -- but it'll be half the price for a book twice as long, and at least it'll be literate.
Bah. Need alcohol now.
Somewhere out there is a woman sitting and confidently waiting for the money to roll in, because she's been told that she was a "hidden talent", kept from stardom only because of the stupidity of the big publishing company. Because she's been assured that "PublishAmerica is NOT in any way a POD, vanity press, or subsidy publisher, and has nothing in common with them." Because she's been "selected" by this real publisher, one that would look her work, would even "assign an editor who will spend time going through the text" -- and (judging from other PA author's stories) told her she was just so talented, she didn't need to change a word.
And on the reader's end... well, by the simple law of averages, PA is probably putting out some good stuff. But who wants to risk getting this? Much safer to pick up something from a real publisher. It might be trite, overdone, even downright bad -- but it'll be half the price for a book twice as long, and at least it'll be literate.
Bah. Need alcohol now.
Wednesday, October 04
I am sleepy and stuff, so instead of a meaningful post I'm just going to point y'all at DailyLit. This is a very cool little site that will email you a bite-sized piece of your story of choice every day. So far everything is old stuff the copyright has run out on, but I have to say it's a great way to read the classics. I'm about halfway through The Wizard of Oz and have a list of half-a-dozen other "always meaning to read, never got around to" books from the site.
This makes me happy.
And now, the boring part:
Writing Progress:
Today's Progress: 514 words.
Comments: Have just realized that some of the "lack of focus" and "forced" feeling people are picking up in crits is probably because Elliot has no stake, as such, in what happens. He is an interested observer, nothing more, for the first half of the book. Bah! Why do I keep writing books where the really interesting stuff only starts halfway through?
Fix it on the rewrite, fix it on the rewrite....
Crappy Writing Skill De Jour: My main character has gone all cool and reserved and quiet on me. Can I bite him?
Snips: Trevor and Darien ran the entirity of the lazarine operation with, as far as he'd been able to tell from the Library's records the night before, minimal supervision from Edison. They were the logical suspects. For them to greet him with delight and tea was an annoying setback to his investigation.
This makes me happy.
And now, the boring part:
Writing Progress:
Today's Progress: 514 words.
Comments: Have just realized that some of the "lack of focus" and "forced" feeling people are picking up in crits is probably because Elliot has no stake, as such, in what happens. He is an interested observer, nothing more, for the first half of the book. Bah! Why do I keep writing books where the really interesting stuff only starts halfway through?
Fix it on the rewrite, fix it on the rewrite....
Crappy Writing Skill De Jour: My main character has gone all cool and reserved and quiet on me. Can I bite him?
Snips: Trevor and Darien ran the entirity of the lazarine operation with, as far as he'd been able to tell from the Library's records the night before, minimal supervision from Edison. They were the logical suspects. For them to greet him with delight and tea was an annoying setback to his investigation.
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