Blog Profile / Booklife
| URL : | http://booklifenow.com/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | Arts / Writing | |
| Posts on Regator: | 308 | |
| Posts / Week: | 1.8 | |
| Archived Since: | February 26, 2010 | |
Blog Post Archive
Taking Stock
As a project comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of what you want to do next. By putting aside all the technical bits of everything between you and the finish line, you can think about something just as important. Where are you...Show More Summary
Seeing the Other Side: Publishing, Kerfuffles, and Empathy
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” — The Great Gatsby Another day, another crisis in publishing. Show More Summary
(Don’t) Give ‘Em What They Want
Troy D. Smith is from Sparta, Tennessee. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and teaches U.S. and American Indian history at Tennessee Tech. In addition to history, he writes short stories of all stripes, has written for several magazines, published poetry (but not lately), and writes western and mystery novels. Show More Summary
Writing For A Cause
Troy D. Smith is from Sparta, Tennessee. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and teaches U.S. and American Indian history at Tennessee Tech. In addition to history, he writes short stories of all stripes, has written for several magazines, published poetry (but not lately), and writes western and mystery novels. Show More Summary
Artistic Responsibility and Unexamined Art
I recently read an article which took the time to compile a series of tweets between Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli, discussing the prevalence of violent and abusive lyrics in rap and hip-hop (instigated by a recent song by Rick Ross that contains a glorification of date rape). Show More Summary
Nightshade/SkyHorse Link Roundup
The SF world has been buzzing with news of a possible deal between Night Shade Books and Skyhorse Publishing/Start Publishing. Rather than writing yet another summary of the issue, we’ve collected some of the posts from agents, NSB authors and other publishing professionals. Show More Summary
Damage Control and the Anatomy of an Apology
Text lacks tone, and it’s inevitable: you’re going to piss someone off on the Internet. It’s not a question of if but a question of when. If you’re reading this right now and saying “Surely not me, I won’t piss someone off, I’m really careful,” obviously you are new here. Show More Summary
You Will Fall Off the Horse: Professionalism vs. Artistic Expression and More
Some warning for strong language It is hard to know what to say on the internet, how to balance honesty, personality and humor with respect, tact and professionalism. It’s challenging enough for most people, but creatives have an additional skill-level to maintain. Show More Summary
Do Not Skip the Panels
I could just leave it at the title, but seriously. If you go to a con, whether as an attendee or as a pro, don’t avoid panels. Programming exists for actual logical reasons. To help you connect with people making work you love. To provide you with information you might not know. Show More Summary
Nailing it: Using Pinterest as a Writer
Shanna Germain is a leximaven of the highest order, exploring her love of the written word through a multitude of formats and style. She also claims the titles of (in no particular order): girl, gamer geek, wanderluster, flower picker, tire kicker, knife licker, she-devil, vorpal blonde and Schrödinger’s brat. Show More Summary
A Newbie Writer’s Take on Random House’s Hydra Imprint
There’s been a lot of discussion lately about the new Random House eBook imprint. Scalzi outlined its awfulness, SFWA has declared Hydra not to be a qualifying market, Random house responded… the discussion is, shall we say, ongoing....Show More Summary
The Strange in Your Past
One of my earliest memories is of rolly pollies (Armadillidiidae, pill bugs, etc.), the small bugs that roll up into balls when handled. I played with them often as a young kid, but there’s a particular event that stands out—my babyShow More Summary
Predicting the Past
Lucia St. Clair Robson was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in South Florida. She has been a Peace Corps volunteer in Venezuela and a teacher in Brooklyn, New York. She has also lived in Japan, South Carolina and southern Arizona. Show More Summary
Regarding Sauron: On Ambiguous Characters
J.M. McDermott published his first novel, Last Dragon, in January, 2008 under the Wizards of the Coast Discoveries program. Last Dragon drew immediate praise from both fans and critics for its stylistic prose and unconventional narrative structure. Show More Summary
Have Pen, Will Travel
Keith Souter is a Scottish-born writer living in England within an arrow’s shot of ruins of a medieval castle. A part time doctor, he writes medical books and general non-fiction books. He also writes crime fiction under his own name and Westerns as Clay More. Show More Summary
Lines in the Genre Sand
Science fiction, fantasy, and horror are playmates in the genre sandbox, but there are clear lines that divide and define the genres, right? Spaceships=Science fiction. Magic=Fantasy. Ghosts=Horror. How would you define Ray Bradbury? Was he a science fiction writer? A horror writer? Many of his stories blur the genre lines. Show More Summary
The Search-Engine Race
We’ve been discussing the vagaries of marketing a lot lately, mostly behind the scenes. It’s something that becomes more necessary all the time. It doesn’t hurt that we’ve got a couple of publicity and marketing people on staff! On Monday, Steve spent the day in marketing seminars connected to his day job. Show More Summary
Three Days in the Belly of a Poodle
Robert V.S. Redick studied literature and Russian at the University of Virginia, tropical conservation and development at the University of Florida, and fiction writing in the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. He has worked...Show More Summary
The Time Management Triforce
It’s rare, the author who doesn’t have to pad their schedule for extra time. They do exist, and they know themselves intimately. Their health habits, productivity foibles, available time and intended schedule. Though they too can beShow More Summary
Stress, Real Life, and Professionalism
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and it’s all you can do to not strike out. And sometimes that curve ball shows up in the middle of a deadline, when you’re in the home stretch of editing your book, when everything is so close yet so far and your capacity for higher-order thinking skills are being put to the test. Show More Summary