Posts Tagged "writing"

This is a point that isn’t addressed in any detail in books on writing or book promotion. That’s a shame because it puts authors in the awkward position of not knowing how to act when it comes to book reviews. Years ago, book reviews were printed only in publications read by professionals or if one was lucky in a newspaper’s book review section. When an author received a good review she might celebrate by popping the cork on a bottle of champagne or calling her mother. A bad review might lead to throwing pillows around the living room or placing a different sort of call to her mother. Times have changed. Professional review publications are still around and so (at least for the moment) are newspapers. However, the internet has multiplied the...

Last week via Twitter, I discovered this article that proclaimed the death of the resume and offered an explanation as to why creative types should have a good bio on their website. I knew my own website bio was badly in need of updating, and this was just the kick in the pants I needed. Well, okay there was much procrastinating on my part, but I did eventually sit down and re-write the website bio. Actually, for awhile I just stared at the computer screen and willed the perfect bio to write itself. Nothing happened. So, I had no choice but to throw words down and try to make something decent. I’m not bad at telling stories, but when it comes to telling my own story, I find myself suffering from a serious case of writer’s block.   For one thing, my...

A new year is here. That means it’s time to remember to write 2012 instead of 2011 at the top of your journal entries. In the old days, that also meant remembering to write 2012 on checks, but no one uses those anymore, right? I mean, that’s just so 2007. Anyway, the other thing that the new year means is New Year’s Resolutions. I’ll be honest I’ve never been much of a resolution maker or keeper, but I’m going to go ahead and make some this year. So, here are my writing related New Year’s resolutions: 1. Be a better blogger. It’s only the second week day of 2012 and this is my second blog post. Sure, yesterday’s was only a sentence long, but I’m still way ahead of my usual blogging tendencies. I...

MediaBistro has been running an ongoing Parade of Pets, and yesterday they featured one of my own furry assistants, Autumn the editor cat. Autumn also doubles as a pretty efficient paper shredder. She’s actually beyond efficient, since she shreds papers even before I want them to be shred. But, I have some other assistants lending me a paw, and I thought I would share them with you. Alcibiades, or Alci for short, is Autumn’s bestest, bestest friend in the whole world. His job is to keep my arms warm when I type. I’m not sure why he decided my arms were in need of warming, but since the day I brought him home from the shelter he has made it his job to sit on my arms, not my lap mind you, but my arms, while I type. He also has this thing about...

Around these parts, we’ve had record breaking temperatures over the past week, and so I haven’t been spending much time playing outdoors. Then again, my schedule hasn’t really allowed for it. Last Tuesday I was lucky enough to visit the Cape May County Library as a guest workshop leader for their annual teen writing workshop program. It gave me the chance to meet some talented teen writers who are working on some exciting projects, everything from high fantasy to memoir. I had a great time! On Saturday I attended the second annual Monroe County Book Expo. Last year, I attended as a writer anticipating the release of her first novel. It was nice to go back this year, with actual published books. It was also nice to meet so many talented creative...