...or maybe I have too much Rain Man playing in my head. (Three of my classes watched the first half today...a little comparison/contrast thing I do with Of Mice and Men).
Today at JA Konrath's blog, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, he interviews Karen McQuestion, a self-pubbed Kindle author with some serious sales numbers. Go ahead. Read the article. Be wowed.
I am. I tossed up The Bottom Feeders and Other Stories a few weeks ago, knowing short story collections are a hard sell in the real world, let alone via ebook. Thanks to you lovely blog-reader people, I've sold a few copies. Nothing to write home about.
It was an experiment. Still is.
And now I'm prepping another one. There are so many ways to fail as a writer, I might as well try them all, eh? With The House Eaters forthcoming from Virtual Tales and Loathsome, Dark, and Deep on sub with a publisher with whom I'd really like to work, I still have one decent novel floating around in a drawer. One I haven't really worked to hard too sell. (we won't mention the unmentionable books hiding in the darkest reaches of a hard drive)
Stay tuned...or not.
Showing posts with label JA Konrath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JA Konrath. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
When I Pay for Advice...
...it means I have some serious respect for the author(s)/editor(s).
Which brings me to this guy. Have I read anything by Mr. Parnell? Um, hell-no (except for his b.s. laden website). Bestselling? Right.
The word "easy" doesn't belong to any book about writing (or becoming rich, for that matter). Nothing about writing is "easy", except maybe taking money from poor schmucks who want like anything to be published--those who want it so bad, they'll make the mistake of coughing up dough to a charlatan.
Makes me sick.
So here are my suggestions for free resources and a few proven "how to write" books. If you've been around my blog, you'll have seen most of these before. (Remember, I'm just some schmo with a few short fiction sales and plenty of rejection slips, but I'm honest):
1. Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight
Can't afford Clarion? (I know I can't.) Knight was a co-founder and the book is one of the few out there about crafting short fiction. I've mentioned this book before and return to it frequently.
2. J.A. Konrath has a great blog titled A Newbie's Guide to Publishing filled with fantastic advice and insights, including a wealth of marketing tips.
3. Alexandra Sokoloff shares piles of plotting, character, editing, etc. ideas and insight at her blog. Granted, the subtitle is "screenwriting tricks for writers", but the content could really help anyone in any fictional endeavor.
4. On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the HWA edited by Mort Castle
This book is more of a compilation of essays, and as such, is a little hit and miss. But with names like Joyce Carol Oates, Ramsey Campbell, Michael A. Arnzen, Jack Ketchum, Tom Piccirilli, and a host of others writing the essays, there are plenty of helpful gems.
5. Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School (Gotham Writers' Workshop)
Once upon a time, I had more "literary" ambitions. This book is dense and helpful, especially if you have the want to write but none of the how.
6. Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style by Arthur Plotnik
I'll admit, everyone needs a good style guide. Be bold. Throttle your writing until it suffocates and rises as something interesting. I don't utilize this book enough.
7. The internet (yep, the whole thing). Not too much though. Let it be your friend, but not your only friend. And know when to shut down and write.
I've bought books that didn't deliver. In the interest of keeping this positive, I'll save that list for a later date.
I'm sure I've missed tons of great resources, but I use these most. What else is out there? How can we help newbies avoid the snares of "Easy" guides that promise $$$?
Well-paid authors work hard. So do most of us just starting out.
Which brings me to this guy. Have I read anything by Mr. Parnell? Um, hell-no (except for his b.s. laden website). Bestselling? Right.
The word "easy" doesn't belong to any book about writing (or becoming rich, for that matter). Nothing about writing is "easy", except maybe taking money from poor schmucks who want like anything to be published--those who want it so bad, they'll make the mistake of coughing up dough to a charlatan.
Makes me sick.
So here are my suggestions for free resources and a few proven "how to write" books. If you've been around my blog, you'll have seen most of these before. (Remember, I'm just some schmo with a few short fiction sales and plenty of rejection slips, but I'm honest):
1. Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight
Can't afford Clarion? (I know I can't.) Knight was a co-founder and the book is one of the few out there about crafting short fiction. I've mentioned this book before and return to it frequently.
2. J.A. Konrath has a great blog titled A Newbie's Guide to Publishing filled with fantastic advice and insights, including a wealth of marketing tips.
3. Alexandra Sokoloff shares piles of plotting, character, editing, etc. ideas and insight at her blog. Granted, the subtitle is "screenwriting tricks for writers", but the content could really help anyone in any fictional endeavor.
4. On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the HWA edited by Mort Castle
This book is more of a compilation of essays, and as such, is a little hit and miss. But with names like Joyce Carol Oates, Ramsey Campbell, Michael A. Arnzen, Jack Ketchum, Tom Piccirilli, and a host of others writing the essays, there are plenty of helpful gems.
5. Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School (Gotham Writers' Workshop)
Once upon a time, I had more "literary" ambitions. This book is dense and helpful, especially if you have the want to write but none of the how.
6. Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style by Arthur Plotnik
I'll admit, everyone needs a good style guide. Be bold. Throttle your writing until it suffocates and rises as something interesting. I don't utilize this book enough.
7. The internet (yep, the whole thing). Not too much though. Let it be your friend, but not your only friend. And know when to shut down and write.
I've bought books that didn't deliver. In the interest of keeping this positive, I'll save that list for a later date.
I'm sure I've missed tons of great resources, but I use these most. What else is out there? How can we help newbies avoid the snares of "Easy" guides that promise $$$?
Well-paid authors work hard. So do most of us just starting out.
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