publishing

Was Dr. Johnson right?

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So here’s the thing. No one but a blockhead ever wrote except for money-Samuel Johnson. Is that true? Or do people write because their creativity is driving them, or because it’s a convenient hobby, or to exorcise their demons?

So I’m writing. Currently, the third book in a series about a doctor/genealogist who keeps finding corpses. Waiting patiently for me to return to it, is another, with a different protagonist. They’re on my mind, walking around with me, intruding on whatever else I want to do.

And I’m blogging, and a few people are reading.

And I’m trying to learn marketing in this electronic age – Facebook, and Twitter and finding groups to join and other writers to talk to.

When I started I just wanted to see if I could. Next,  I wanted to see if anyone would publish what I’d written. And now, well, I don’t think I’m a blockhead but so far very little money.

I’m still writing, so either I am a blockhead, or  it fills some other need, or answers some other call. I don’t know yet, but I still have stories to tell, so writing it will have to be, money or no. Oh,and yes, I want readers. No point in putting down in words except to communicate.

Another silver lining for the Icelandic Volcano problem

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BBC News – Transport firms hoping to turn ash into cash.

Yet another group which has seen its fortunes improve as a result of the volcano. Ferries in several European ports are reporting increased usage from travellers, who, forced into this alternative transport by the ash, are now discovering the superior service and comfort compared to budget airlines.

My book, Murderous Roots, is now available as  print on demand from the publisher, Write Words Inc.  http://www.writewordsinc.com Very exciting to hold the hard copy in my hand. Murderous Roots is also available as a kindle edition at Amazon.com and at the publisher.

However, I’m also trying out the Kobo ebook reader, which just arrived. So far – light, easy to use, not as options as I would like, but  I’m enjoying the experience.

The Internet Review of Books

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Bob Sanchez reviewed my novel, Murderous Roots, today for the Internet Review of Books.
The Internet Review of Books is a great source for information about both fiction and non-fiction. Check it out before making your next run to the bookstore, or the download site. Murderous Roots is my first novel, and I’m grateful for the review.
My short story, Freddie’s Athabaska, was published today in The Other Herald, an arts broadsheet from Northern New York state.
I’ve finished editing the galley proofs for the print-on-demand version of Murderous Roots, coming soon to Write Words Inc.
Amazon has been granted the right to a “bricks and mortar” facility in Ontario. This is a warehouse they will use for their Canadian customers. As I live in a small town, I’ve used Amazon frequently(except during the period when our son owned a bookstore). I can appreciate the problems of the small bookseller who faces the competition from giants like Amazon and Chapters. When you buy the book from these guys, remember that they have used their vast buying power to bully the publisher into a 40% discount, while your neighbourhood bookseller is paying the full wholesale price.
The publisher and the author pay for your convenience.
All that being said, the publishing trade is in a state of flux, with the fastest growing segment that of electronic books. Does this mean the days of books in paper are coming to an end? I hope not, at least for the small format paperback that is the easiest to read in bed! I read for many reasons: to be entertained; to be informed; to learn my writing craft; to pursue an interest in the arts. Most of these are better served by a book on paper, I think now. I’m going to have a look at a friend’s ipad today, and perhaps my view will change.

That First Page

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A commentator on this blog suggested Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel to help with revision on my new novel. As always, Amazon suggested another, Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages. I started with that one, because it didn’t come with a workbook, as Maass’ does.
Ha! The work comes at the end of each chapter, when he assigns exercises to be completed before venturing on to the next. First, remove all adjectives and adverbs, he says. Secondly, make a list of all the nouns and verbs, checking for the tired, or cliche. Then revise. Does he know how long that takes? Three hours on Sunday morning, and that was on the first page , which had all ready been revised countless times.
But it’s a much better first page now. Removing words from context showed me where I had duplications or commonplace words.
I long to drop this novel now, moving on to the revision of the one just written, which lies dormant in my computer, waiting for me to work on it’s first page. I won’t though, because this one is a sequel to my first published novel, and I want it to be the better book.
I’ve started Maass’ book as well, curious to discover if a breakout novel is something I can aspire to, and how to improve my writing to achieve it.
I started late at this craft of writing. I’m grateful to Donald Maass and Noah Lukeman, and others for helping me learn it.

Revision

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The revision of a novel can take years, as it did for my first one, or fewer years, as it has for the one under review now. Somehow, I’ve managed to have one published, one being revised, and one sitting in my computer, percolating.
Revision is mainly rewriting, in my hands anyway. The worst is deleting a big chunk of prose, as I did this morning, because I felt it was telling, not showing. I replaced it with a much shorter piece of dialogue. If I keep cutting, i’m going to end up with a novella!

This proroguing of Parliament has irritated me more than almost anything Harper has done, and he has done a lot that I objected to. I think he has shown a contempt for the people that is astounding. And I’m not the only one. True blue conservatives, of the non-Reform Party variety, are also taken aback by this abuse of power. There was no real need, after all, except that he didn’t want to answer the questions in the House. Or maybe he and his minions just wanted a long winter vacation. The rest of us are at work, and want to see the M.P.s at it as well. Besides that, we want him to answer the questions, about Afghanistan and the budget, and whatever else comes up, and answer them in the House, where the people we elected to ask him questions, can do so.
Oh, and don’t tell me he needs the time to consult about the budget. I don’t believe for one minute that anything the people say affects him one whit. Again, that’s what we pay the opposition M.P.s for.

More Spain

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The new year has arrived, very quietly for us. It will be memorable, though for several reasons, starting with our retirement in March, going on to our fortieth anniversary in May, and then our trip to Spain.
The trip arrangements are going well. I found a terrific website called Inns of Spain, and booked hotels in Madrid and Seville. Nick, at Inns of Spain has offered to help if I can’t sort out the trains!
We also booked a villa at Ronda, where a nice lady called Caro will cook us our dinner the first night. Looking at the hotels on Google Earth, especially the street level views, is a lot of fun.
My story, Clarice is up at Gumshoe Review http://www.gumshoereview.com/. It’s a great site and I am very pleased to have Clarice accepted there.
Last year’s writing goal was to get something published, and I have been very happy to have reached it. Looking forward to 2010!

publishing

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My short story, Clarice, will be published at the Gumshoe Review, on January 1. This is my first short story accepted by a paying market!
When I started this year, I wanted to submit something every month at least, hoping that would lead to publishing success, and it has. My new goal is to find a print market for my books, while there still are books in paper. To hold in my hand a book that I have written, would be the best.

Christmas Preparations.

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List-making, shopping, baking, more lists. It goes on for days and the party is over in a few hours. And then there are the decorations and the tree, and the presents, and the drop-over-for-a-drinks. But our children will be home and our friends are coming, and we’ll all have a good time. Or so we hope.

Good news for me this week. My story, Jack’s Luck, has taken second place in the Wynterblue Publishing contest for November, and will be in Confabulation3 next spring.

There was bad news as well. The publishing house found that one of the contestants, who has been submitting for some time, was plagiarizing. This has resulted in many contestants pulling out all together, as well as several judges. It is disconcerting because now the firm is considering legal action, and has not publicized the name of the individual concerned. All I know for sure is that it wasn’t any of the people on November’s short list. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of writing within the parameters of the contest.

Plagiarism steals the thoughts and writing of others, and in this case also robs other writers of their chance for success.