Category: Notebook
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Watch out, that writer’s taking an info-dump!
This is another entry in my ongoing series identifying common problems in self-published novels. As a writer, you’ve got a terrific idea for an alien planet, a fantasy world or a dystopian future. You’ve worked out all the details, and you just know that no other writer has come up with something this creative or…
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A note to writers: Maybe you aren’t ready…
One benefit of traditional publishing, which is lost when writers choose to self-publish, is that publishers can tell writers that their books just aren’t ready for publication. Publishers don’t usually say this in so many words. Often the message comes in the form of a standard rejection letter or, even worse, silence. But the message…
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For writers who want to self-publish…
I’ve been reading a lot of self-published books lately for a freelance gig reviewing independently published books. I am not opposed to self-publishing. I think it’s terrific that technology is allowing more writers to get their work out there and have the opportunity to be read. BUT… (you knew that was coming, right?) A lot…
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When male writers show what they really think of women…
I’ve just finished two books that could not be more different, and yet they had one important thing in common. Both books, written by men, present an across-the-board indictment of women–all women. Granted, Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon is a schlocky horror novel published in the 1970s. However, the fear of women expressed in the novel, and…
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Wow, Ursula K. Le Guin gave a great speech at the National Book Awards…
Here’s just an excerpt from Le Guin’s speech at the National Book Awards, but you should really go read the whole thing–it’s short and completely inspiring: “I think hard times are coming when we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now and can see through our…
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Rule number 1 for self-publishers: Proofread!
In the last few years, services like Kindle Direct Publishing and Lulu have made it incredibly easy for writers to self-publish, which I think is mostly a good thing for writers and readers. Self-publishing enables writers to build and audience and demonstrate their talents, and it puts more voices out there than ever before. Some terrific…
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Hitchcock’s Marnie…
I watched Marnie last night for the first time. I thought it was a good movie, although probably not destined to become one of my favorites. The acting was impeccable, Sean Connery was incredibly easy on the eyes, and I enjoyed the self-conscious artificiality of the world Hitchcock created, especially his use of color. I have…
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Mansplaining, “not all men,” “yes all women”…
Language, memes, all the ways we attempt to tell our own stories–these things fascinate me. Recently, I’ve been reading a lot about feminism and social justice issues, and engaging in discussions about them. The language that is used is often a heated aspect of the discussion. Here is some reading I’ve been doing on memes…
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Life as a Monopoly game…
We’d like to believe we live in a meritocracy. This is part of the American myth we tell ourselves, that only the person with the best qualifications should be admitted to the college, get the job, etc. However, we don’t start out on a level playing field. The circumstances of your birth gives you distinct…
Shannon Turlington 