Tag Archives: publishing
On The Blue Plate Special
A bit ago, I had the great opportunity to chat with host Terri Lynn Coop on her show, the Blue Plate Special. The Blue Plate Special is a channel of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network and if you haven’t checked it out yet–you really should. Terri is a fine author in her own right, […]
Professional Envy–You have to be happy for the other guy, even if it’s your dog
Jealousy–the green monster–envy–Thou Shall not covet The warnings against envy and jealousy go back centuries and biblical scholars of every stripe include envy in the list of Seven Deadly Sins deep within all the holy texts. In more modern times, the movie Seven didn’t end too well for Gywenneth Paltrow’s character…(psst, her head’s in that […]
Story Surgery
There are times in my writing process I feel like a hired gun with a scalpel. A slice here, a nip and tuck there–gut the beast. Readers, editors, agents and publishers all shout (okay maybe not really shout–but it seem that way at times) for me to make a change in a POV, or my […]
Doing Time: My Path to Publishing
This week, Author Holly West, offered a guest blogging spot over at Do Some Damage, a crime fiction blog hosted by a really talented bunch of authors. If crime fiction is your thing, or if you’d like a look at the insides of the crime fiction game, this is a site you should check out. Thanks for […]
Do You Suffer From Revision Brain Syndrome?
Revision Brain Syndrome (RBS) RBS is destined to be added to the list of serious psychological maladies in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th edition (DSM V) as a condition plaguing millions of writers. (cue Sarah McLachlan sad puppy music here) Self-diagnosis is difficult and I’ll warn you now to stay […]
Writing And Torture
Behold the art of torture. Pain, discomfort and fear are powerful motivators. Extorting confessions and achieving compliance through coercion is a “tradition” dating back thousands of years, usually in the name of God, King, or Country. Fast forward to the present and the “Bringers of Pain” continue to wage war on innocents, but the motivation […]
Writers & Addicts
Writers are a weird bunch. For me, and I’m guessing that I’m not alone here, writing is addictive. The more you do, the more the urge to write builds, exactly like heroin. If I can’t chip a little here and there, I’ll start withdrawals, the shakes and hearing voices. Unlike heroin, there is no chemical […]
Newspaper Marketing for Your Novel
Getting new eyes on your work is what it’s about. No…not in a creepy way. It doesn’t matter if you choose to self publish, or go the traditional route through a publisher – getting attention about a book means looking at every possible marketing avenue. Much of that will fall on the author. In October, […]
The Stuff That Binds
You need something to bind your story together. No I’m not talking about adding more fiber to your literary diet. What I’m talking about is the thing that makes your story stand out in a field of similar work. There are a finite number of story lines and when you filter down to stories within […]
To Print or Not to Print – No Question
Converting an e-book to a conventional printed version is a no-brainer. Well, that’s what I thought when I decided to take Little River from the e-book only world to print. With an old-fashioned book in your hand, I find that you can reach more readers and potential readers than with the electronic version alone. I’ve […]
James L'Etoile
James L'Etoile 