Today's blog post is sponsored by a writer's afternoon of procrastinating. For your reading pleasure here are some awesome and informative blog posts:
Sarah E Olson offers some short story advice from a slush reader's POV.
Deanna Knippling's post is about guest blogs. Very appropriate given that my last post was a plea for people to allow me to spread my intellect (okay silliness) on their blogs in January. And to everyone who invited me along I offer a major thank you. I expected dust to mount on the post rather than to have filled every slot and gained a few more within an hour. Now I just have to make sure I don't dent your reputations.
...and Chuck Wendig writes about the seduction of self publishing and why he's glad he didn't have the option five years ago. This isn't a 'don't self publish' post, rather an 'if these are your reasons for self publishing then they may be the wrong reasons' from someone who has self published. He makes some good points.
Personally I'm glad my unpublished novels (of which there are a few and some) are hidden from public view. In fact I almost shredded the earliest manuscripts a couple of months ago - only I'm far too lazy to spend all that time shredding. I hid them away instead. Does that mean I'm anti self-publishing? God no.I read stories that catch my interest whatever their provenance. I'm just anti my self-publishing because I know what a mess those books are in and I like someone to hold my hand. Actually, I might be swerving off topic there (muahaha)... As to my later novels, I like to think they're valuable lessons that I learned something from (with the help of beta readers) - I'd go mad otherwise. And so...
...today I began (finally) making notes for my Cobweb Strings story which has been sitting on my memo board for so long the character pictures are beginning to curl. I'm surprised to find I had far less notes for this story than I thought I had, but decided that's all for the good. I can start afresh. I like starting afresh. Only, I guess that means in 6 or so months I'll be back on the agent/publisher hunting gravy train which I've managed to avoid all year (bad me).
Unless Cobweb Strings turns out to be a novella-length story. Shush! Don't tell the person downstairs, who keeps telling me I need to get back to work on a novel.
11 comments:
Hey - if that was a hint, I would love to have you guest post for me in January :)
Ha! It wasn't but thank you (and I may take you up on that)
Count me in too Cate :D
Definitely agree you shouldn't self-publish until you are ready to be published (in any manner).
I think if you write short stories you have an advantage here - if you start to get a few stories published in magazines etc. at least you've got some objective reason to believe some people like what you do...
(Pssst... Write that novel.)
What Mr Polson said.
And don't worry about harming my good name when you post on my blog. I'd have to have one in the first place... 3:)
Thanks, Sarah
Yeah, I thought he made some valid points, James :D
Ha, thanks, Aaron
But what if I float over with fairies and demand you dress your blog in pink, Simon ;)
Hey, if it gets more people reading my blog, I'll take it... I have 31 followers, you have 126. One of us is doing something right... :)
Since I'm trying to get back into the writing/blogging game, let me know what would be a good date to guest post. I have at least two readers, so no pressure, lol.
Thanks, Lyn
Yeah, god knows I love me some self-published work.
But god knows I also need my hand held, personally. I cannot be trusted >.<
Yay for a new novel! (Or whatever length it decides to be. Not like we have a choice, there :D)
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