Tools and Craft

We know, we know. You’re saying, “Booksquare, what does advertising have to do with us? We are writers. We demand information.” We, in response, will stroke our chin and gaze off into space. Finally, after a long pause fraught with whatever it is that fraughts pauses, we will say, “Young Grasshopper, you have so much to learn. Let us guide you. Put your trust in our wisdom.” Then, after everyone stops laughing, we’d resume our normal routine of mainlining coffee and making stuff up. Actually, if truth be told, we’ve been waiting for months for just the right moment to […]

If you were paying attention back in 1998 (and, given the general dreariness of that year, we do not blame you for snoozing), you would have learned that the future was now (leaving you to wonder what it would be in the future) and that ebooks would be the medium of choice for all readers. No question about it. But, said the voices, what about those of us who love books? The feel, the smell, the heft, the way they disintegrate in hot water. We will not abandon our books for technology. We will not read books on our computer

We don’t believe in much, but we do believe in the collective unconscious. It fascinates us how certain themes seem to resonate through the ether, settling here, touching down there, moving on, only to reappear in another form. This week, it is the notion that you must be something to write about it. Our very first story was written from the point of view of a lamb — we were seven and making our first foray into the world of things we knew nothing about. It never occurred to us that we couldn’t be a lamb, if only for twenty-two

The latest post over at BookAngst 101 (we hear Mad Max will be appearing at a blogging panel at BEA in a costume; we are so hoping for a giant white bunny, but we’ve had dreams crushed before) is like the duck test. It looks like a rant, feels like a rant, walks like a rant, but sounds like a whine. Not that we’re going to complain as we found it fascinating reading. At the very least, we learned that sending a DVD showcasing our brilliance to publishers might not be a good career move. The author is writing for

Last night, we attended a learned lecture where the importance of subtext was discussed, at length, with examples. Also Gloria Gaynor came up, though we’re still not sure why. Today we encounter yet another discussion on that very same subject. With examples. We do so love examples. Our notes from last night are written in a manner that will require the next age’s Rosetta Stone to decipher, but we think one of the sentences says something like “care about the subtext of the movement*”, relating to the idea that physical movement should drive the story forward. Characters shouldn’t twist their

We realize it’s hard to believe, but it was a crazy weekend here at Booksquare. First, we made a rare journey from the headquarters into the public sphere (publice sphere = no pajamas). While it should go without saying, the State of California should revisit its driver’s license policy. Far too many of those on the road should not be on the road. Also, we demand that all drivers put down their cell phones. Unless they’re ordering take-out timed to coincide with the arrival home. That’s the only exception. On Saturday afternoon, we participated* in the poolside chat that concluded

We are dashing around this morning so this article on routine which we’ve been saving for a free moment is especially apt. To quote: Most artists work as the rest of us do, incrementally, day by day, according to their own habits. That most art does not rise above the level of routine has nothing necessarily to do with the value of having a ritual. As we have long suspected, our daily practice of stumbling around bleary-eyed until the coffee maker shudders to a stop and then staring blankly at our monitor until our fingers begin to move is part

Let us suggest that HelenKay Dimon is a nice person. She does stuff like warn people before she offends them. We do not pause for such niceties, meaning we’re going to leap right in to the best method for word count we’ve heard this week*. Here’s my new answer: You actually have to count each word. Every damn one. Then you have to count the punctuation and spaces, do an excel spreadsheet setting out the number of each, have it bound and attach it as an exhibit to the end of your submission. If you don’t, the editor will automatically

First, let us congratulate Mad Max on his pending promotion. Assistant Manager, Mailroom Operations is a huge leap, and we hope his new responsibilities (including alphabetizing packages) won’t cut into his blogging time. Wait, it already has — he’s padding his blog with the work of others. He’s using some fancy-schmancy title, but it all boils down to true stories from the author trenches. In the latest installment, “Keith” shares the highs and lows of a large advance. We follow Keith from book one to book five, and it’s painful. Very painful. Do not read this without a stiff vodka

Here’s the deal — Jill Monroe is supposed to step in and return this blog to a higher level of discourse (education of youth and stuff). Due to browser issues (use Firefox, refresh cache, save the world from our rants, not that we’re offering advice or anything), she’s unable to get to our reliable system. Until she does, you’re stuck with us. Ha! But we are lazy and without shame. For instance, we could discuss the issues of the pre-published. If we understood what that term meant. Monica Jackson, whom we never met but is a member of the WordPress