Writing as Business

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We have a long list of deep topics to discuss here, but rarely have more than a few minutes at a time these days (we blame this thing called “work”, and would gladly quit eating if we weren’t addicted to food). Thus we must confine our industry rants to our minds. We assure you each topic is thoroughly and brilliantly discussed as we drive to our next destination. However, we believe that any author who doesn’t take the time and effort to learn the business is a foolish author, indeed. Luckily, there are kind souls willing to share their expertise […]

Square Pegs, Tools and Craft

Did You Hear the One About the Bathroom Stall?

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We love catching up with The Business of Being a Writer because Zarina Docken (pen name, real name?) is delightfully realistic yet optimistic. Sort of like us, but not as lazy. This week, she chronicles the good, the bad, and the cringe-inducing at the Writer’s Digest Conference. We do love conferences, even if we can’t quite figure out why we bother to attend the workshops. Hmm, maybe that’s not entirely fair — we’ve been to a few good sessions in our day. We love the interaction with agents and editors, and we really love talking to our fellow authors. They

Square Pegs

We (Almost) Qualify

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We do so love writing contests — they provide opportunity for complete strangers to question our obvious brilliance (we also had some head scratchers over punctuation, but that’s another issue). Naturally, when we encounter a new contest for the first time, we scour the rules for obvious tricks. With one notable exception, our chances in the new Man Booker International Prize (brought to you, obviously, by the same Man Booker folk responsible for that other award) seem excellent. We are, after all, living (and presume we will be so when the award is awarded). Our English, though questionable, remains our

Square Pegs

They’re Called Mountains

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What is it that separates New York from Hollywood? We like to think it’s the fact that we can barbecue year round. And our furrowed brows when sweaters are rolled out in August (what, we wonder every year, are we supposed to do with them?). So many differences, so few ways to bridge the gap. Or were we being defeatist until now? It turns out one soul, by the name of Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, has taken on the task of selling children’s books to Hollywood. Yes, it’s true, there is a way to bring our nation together. As always, we’d love

Agents

When We Speculate

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We get the concept of science fiction romance. We understand speculative fiction. We think raising awareness is a neat idea. We even followed along as the rules were outlined (hey, there’s a new contest for authors of short speculative romances, deadline 8/31/2004, see website for details). What we don’t get is the rather confusing use of the Internet as evidenced on the contest page. Something about a press release and going live when a newsletter is released. All very confusing to us. The Zircon Awards

Square Pegs

So There’s This Guy In A Bar

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Just as your parents had lives before you came long, so did your favorite authors (though we can’t imagine Edith Wharton doing anything but spending her days anticipating our eventual joy at her cleverness). Author Rachel Cohen, in A Chance Meeting, has taken the liberty of reimagining famous literary encounters. Like any good writer, she takes a dash of reality and enhances. We find ourselves intrigued by the concept almost as much as ashamed that our rather fuzzy notion of history made our jaw drop when we realized that Mark Twain and Ulysses S. Grant were contemporaries. We are pathetic;

Books/Mags/Blogs

You Will Not Be Tested

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To the shock and horror of high school students everywhere, history is hot (wait, didn’t someone else say this recently? Ah yes, we see our memory is not yet failing. Much.). Never fear, it’s not that dry dates and places stuff — the good kind of history…yes, that history which is fiction. Not that you won’t get your dose of accuracy and sense of place (and, if the author’s good, scents of place as well). The new historical novel is exciting, thrilling, all the things a any textbook worthy of the name lacks. After all, the beauty of fiction is

Books/Mags/Blogs

More Agency Scoop

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Authors are greedy little souls, always seeking more than they receive. Perhaps that’s why we love the MediaBistro “Pitching” series so much. Unlike the brochure-like approach most literary agency websites take, MedisBistro gets close to the agents. We find many of the responses to be candid and useful (in other words, a step beyond the standard “we’re looking for a well-written story told in a fresh way” answer). The latest installment features the Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency. By the way, they have a website. Scovil, et al, we salute you! Pitching an Agent: Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency (AvantGuild

Agents

AKA Sophomore Slump

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Weren’t we taught that one is the lonliest number (oh grand, now we’re stuck with the song in our head)? Yet it’s two that makes us want to throw ourselves off a cliff. Okay, not really — we don’t believe pain is ever an answer, no matter what the question. There are all sort of reasons why your second novel hurts so much (including the very helpful notion that every novel after the first is your second novel…gee, that makes us want to write!), but the bottom line is, hmmm, there is no bottom line. However, we wouldn’t be us

Square Pegs

We Found It

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There is a sense of Eureka is this week’s publishing news. For proof, one need look no further than the “black women read, too” article about chick lit from the New York Times. Or the breaking story that Christian romance novels sell like…well, romance does outsell every other genre. We honestly don’t know what surprises us more: learning that Christians are sexy and passionate or learning this is a surprise to some people. Publishers finds profits in Christian romance novels Where One Plus One Is A Rough Equation

Books/Mags/Blogs
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