by Darke Conteur
In honour of Friday the thirteenth, I thought I'd take a look at the one commodity all writers think they need—LUCK. One definition of the word is as follows: Success or failure apparently brought on by chance rather than through one's own actions.
Those are some pretty harsh words. Basically, it's saying that people would rather sit and dream about what could happen, instead of going out and making it happen.
I am one of the most superstitious people you will ever meet, but I have to wonder if we blame luck for our own shortcomings as writers, and hail it when we receive the reward for a job well done. Don't get me wrong, I believe in luck, but I also believe that you have to meet it halfway. Maybe that query was rejected because the author didn't follow the submission guidelines, or it was poorly written. Maybe the author got the agent of his/her dreams because they spent years learning and honing their craft. In either case, the outcome fell solely on the talent (or lack thereof) of the writer. It had nothing to do with luck and everything to do with knowledge and determination.
Relying on ourselves can sometimes put us in unfamiliar or uncomfortable positions. Self-doubt will always be with us, hiding within the small corners of our mind. My advice, never brush it away. Embrace it. Allow yourself to understand why you have this doubt about your work, but don't let it guide your actions. Remember, nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, and in the end, when things start to go in your favour, you'll know that it was more you and your hard work that helped you to accomplish your goal, than some mysterious force.
Darke Conteur is the author of stories from the darker side of life. Blogs here, Tweets here & plays Facebook games here.
Showing posts with label Darke Conteur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darke Conteur. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
You Wrote a Book? Great! Now What?
by Darke Conteur
I recently spent a couple weeks doing book review requests with book bloggers. If there's one thing that brings all writers together, it's the fear of self-promotion. Nothing feels more uncomfortable then knocking on someone's door and asking them to read your book. Yet whether you're SP, Indie, or TP, eventually we all have to suck it up and go forth, but before you wade out into these waters, I want to pass on some knowledge I've acquired. Might save you some embarrassment in the long run.
I did come across one site which required you to sign up to their mailing list in order for your book to be reviewed. I didn't submit to that one.
Now, what to do in case they aren't doing reviews?
As I stated above, I kept a list of those who weren't taking book requests at this time. Doesn't mean they won't be doing so in the future, they're just bogged down and need to catch up. Go back and visit these sites once a month, or even twice a month, but DON'T send them emails asking if they're open to submission. If they are, they'll put it on their website.
Many bloggers offer to let you do a guest blog in place of a review. Sure they're not talking about your book, but it's exposure and in the end, that's what you're looking for. The guest blogs I've done have posted my cover art and links to my books, so no matter what, doing a guest post is a win/win situation.
Most importantly, have fun. Yes, promoting your work is a serious business, but try to have some fun too. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to promote yourself.
Good luck!
Darke Conteur is the author of stories from the darker side of life. Blogs here, Tweets here & plays Facebook games here.
I recently spent a couple weeks doing book review requests with book bloggers. If there's one thing that brings all writers together, it's the fear of self-promotion. Nothing feels more uncomfortable then knocking on someone's door and asking them to read your book. Yet whether you're SP, Indie, or TP, eventually we all have to suck it up and go forth, but before you wade out into these waters, I want to pass on some knowledge I've acquired. Might save you some embarrassment in the long run.
- Be prepared for the "no-replies." I thought I was done with that when I stopped querying agents. Apparently not. Out of the thirty or so book blogger sites I sent emails to, only eight have replied so far. Mind you, out of that eight only one turned me down. So not that bad of odds.
- Like querying agents, know who you're dealing with first. If you write urban fantasy and they say they review fantasy, check out the books they've read. Fantasy has a very wide range of sub-genres and some reviewers might not care for urban fantasy.
- If you've been through the query process, you already know how confusing sending out multiple emails can be. Who did you send requests to? Who replied? Who didn't? Who's not taking any more subs until later? Mind boggling. Keep yourself organized. I have three folders: one for all the requests sent, one for those who reply, and a folder for the ones who are temporarily shut down. Yes, keep an eye on the ones that are currently closed. I'll discuss more about that below.
- Read over their Review Policy ON THEIR WEBPAGE. While I was looking over the list of sites, some stated they accepted self-published novels, but their Review Policy page stated otherwise. Remember, this is like querying. There are rules and you must follow them. You are not the exception to the rule. Not following their instructions will get your email request deleted.
I did come across one site which required you to sign up to their mailing list in order for your book to be reviewed. I didn't submit to that one.
Now, what to do in case they aren't doing reviews?
As I stated above, I kept a list of those who weren't taking book requests at this time. Doesn't mean they won't be doing so in the future, they're just bogged down and need to catch up. Go back and visit these sites once a month, or even twice a month, but DON'T send them emails asking if they're open to submission. If they are, they'll put it on their website.
Many bloggers offer to let you do a guest blog in place of a review. Sure they're not talking about your book, but it's exposure and in the end, that's what you're looking for. The guest blogs I've done have posted my cover art and links to my books, so no matter what, doing a guest post is a win/win situation.
Most importantly, have fun. Yes, promoting your work is a serious business, but try to have some fun too. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to promote yourself.
Good luck!
Darke Conteur is the author of stories from the darker side of life. Blogs here, Tweets here & plays Facebook games here.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Shortchanging Yourself and Your eBook
by Darke Conteur
The other day, I found a novel I wanted to read. I found the author through an online article, and even though it wasn’t in a genre I normally read, the blurb really got my attention. This author had a few novels self-published through Amazon, and when I did a check to see where else she might have published, I couldn’t find any. Needless to say, I was more than disappointed. I have the Kindle app on my laptop, but I was given a Kobo for Christmas. I haven’t used my Kindle app since.
It made me wonder about this new lending library thing Amazon is doing and whether it’s a good thing or not. Personally, I think it’s detrimental to a self-published author’s career to publish their book with only one company. One of the keys to sales is word of mouth, and it’s hard to get the word out if you’re only on a few sites. Even if those sites represent a large portion of the eBook-buying industry.
I know a few writers who published on two sites only—Amazon and Smashwords. Smashwords creates several files, many that support the more popular readers, but if I purchase an e-file, I have to transfer the file to an SD card, then to my reader. It would be easier if I could download the novel from the Kobo website library to my reader, and isn’t one of the big selling points of digital books that it's easy for the reader to get them?
I thought about my little book. I have it on Amazon and Smashwords. Smashwords will distribute your eBook to Kobo, iBookstore, B&N, and several others IF your formatting and everything qualifies you for their Premium Catalogue. There are a couple more stringent hoops to jump through with the format, but that's part of why Smashwords is so popular, because it allows you to get into those stores with one stop. The biggest drawback for me is formatting. It's a lot of work, but in the end, isn't it worth it to have your book in as many different outlets as possible?
Thanks to R.C. for the information on Smashwords. :)
Darke Conteur: author of stories from the dark side. Blogs Here, Twitters Here, & plays Facebook games Here.
The other day, I found a novel I wanted to read. I found the author through an online article, and even though it wasn’t in a genre I normally read, the blurb really got my attention. This author had a few novels self-published through Amazon, and when I did a check to see where else she might have published, I couldn’t find any. Needless to say, I was more than disappointed. I have the Kindle app on my laptop, but I was given a Kobo for Christmas. I haven’t used my Kindle app since.
It made me wonder about this new lending library thing Amazon is doing and whether it’s a good thing or not. Personally, I think it’s detrimental to a self-published author’s career to publish their book with only one company. One of the keys to sales is word of mouth, and it’s hard to get the word out if you’re only on a few sites. Even if those sites represent a large portion of the eBook-buying industry.
I know a few writers who published on two sites only—Amazon and Smashwords. Smashwords creates several files, many that support the more popular readers, but if I purchase an e-file, I have to transfer the file to an SD card, then to my reader. It would be easier if I could download the novel from the Kobo website library to my reader, and isn’t one of the big selling points of digital books that it's easy for the reader to get them?
I thought about my little book. I have it on Amazon and Smashwords. Smashwords will distribute your eBook to Kobo, iBookstore, B&N, and several others IF your formatting and everything qualifies you for their Premium Catalogue. There are a couple more stringent hoops to jump through with the format, but that's part of why Smashwords is so popular, because it allows you to get into those stores with one stop. The biggest drawback for me is formatting. It's a lot of work, but in the end, isn't it worth it to have your book in as many different outlets as possible?
Thanks to R.C. for the information on Smashwords. :)
Darke Conteur: author of stories from the dark side. Blogs Here, Twitters Here, & plays Facebook games Here.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Negativity Hurts All Of Us
by Darke Conteur
Please excuse me if this sounds like a rant, but it's something that's been bothering me.
I don't know if it was the time of year, or all that pent up frustration of dealing with a publishing industry that, at first glance, didn't seem to want to embrace the digital media, but there was a growing negative atmosphere tainting the writing community in 2011, and it spread like wildfire.
For years, publishers and agents held the 'Golden Key' to a writing career, and if you wanted one, you had to go through them. Now that there are viable options and the words 'self-published' don't have the same stigma they did five years ago, more and more authors are choosing to follow a different route, and that's fine, but each writer's career path is different and no one has a free pass to crap all over the either system, old or new. Be warned, the internet has a very long memory. Just because you delete your harsh comment doesn't mean it's gone forever.
The most disturbing comments I hear are people waiting—wishing for the Big Six to go under, and take those 'blood-sucking agents' with them. Okay I may be exaggerating on the whole 'blood-sucking agents' part, but I can't believe that people would honestly want to see other people out of work, especially in this economy. Sure, if one of the Big Six went under those at the top would probably survive, but all those UNDER them, would be out of work also. You shut down a workplace, and everyone from the mailroom people to assistants, interns (even though interns aren't paid), lose their jobs too. If Traditional Publishing is on its last legs as everyone claims, who will hire all those underlings? What about the authors? Especially those who just got a contract with said publisher? They're left in limbo or worse—a book published 'dead'. What if that was you? How would you feel? You've just had your dreams realized, only to be crushed. Would you really wish that on someone else?
Don’t think traditionally published authors aren't part of this negativity either. They're not as vocal, but I've heard a few new writers upset over nasty comments aimed their way because they self-published. Sometimes they're called lazy, or their books are called crap. Sure, maybe they need to hone their craft, but we should be helping each other, not cutting one another down.
My wish for 2012 is for all the bickering to stop. We're all in this together, negativity only pulls us apart.
Please excuse me if this sounds like a rant, but it's something that's been bothering me.
I don't know if it was the time of year, or all that pent up frustration of dealing with a publishing industry that, at first glance, didn't seem to want to embrace the digital media, but there was a growing negative atmosphere tainting the writing community in 2011, and it spread like wildfire.
For years, publishers and agents held the 'Golden Key' to a writing career, and if you wanted one, you had to go through them. Now that there are viable options and the words 'self-published' don't have the same stigma they did five years ago, more and more authors are choosing to follow a different route, and that's fine, but each writer's career path is different and no one has a free pass to crap all over the either system, old or new. Be warned, the internet has a very long memory. Just because you delete your harsh comment doesn't mean it's gone forever.
The most disturbing comments I hear are people waiting—wishing for the Big Six to go under, and take those 'blood-sucking agents' with them. Okay I may be exaggerating on the whole 'blood-sucking agents' part, but I can't believe that people would honestly want to see other people out of work, especially in this economy. Sure, if one of the Big Six went under those at the top would probably survive, but all those UNDER them, would be out of work also. You shut down a workplace, and everyone from the mailroom people to assistants, interns (even though interns aren't paid), lose their jobs too. If Traditional Publishing is on its last legs as everyone claims, who will hire all those underlings? What about the authors? Especially those who just got a contract with said publisher? They're left in limbo or worse—a book published 'dead'. What if that was you? How would you feel? You've just had your dreams realized, only to be crushed. Would you really wish that on someone else?
Don’t think traditionally published authors aren't part of this negativity either. They're not as vocal, but I've heard a few new writers upset over nasty comments aimed their way because they self-published. Sometimes they're called lazy, or their books are called crap. Sure, maybe they need to hone their craft, but we should be helping each other, not cutting one another down.
My wish for 2012 is for all the bickering to stop. We're all in this together, negativity only pulls us apart.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Writing Predators
by Darke Conteur
I recently joined what I thought would be a forum where I could connect with other writers. It looked promising—nice name and everything, and my first request for friendship came later that day from a small press. I thought, "Wow, great! Making friends already!" A small press publishing house wanted to be friends, so I checked them out.
Now I understand the desire to become a published author, and how easy it would be to jump at the first good offer, but please, fellow writers, take care and research any small press if they come knocking. With the swell of self-publishing, small press publishers are popping up all over the web, and while many are earnest, there are those who will ask for several hundred dollars to do the same thing you can do or pay someone to do for you. Here are a few of the hurdles new writers fear:
1. Formatting for eBooks.
Believe it or not, (and despite what I've blogged about in the past) this is relatively simple. Smashwords has a wonderful Style Guide that helps a novice put out an eBook that is comparable to any press. I'm noticing some places will try to fancy up the wording and call it 'Custom Interior Formatting'. Honestly, what the heck does that mean? If you don't want to do it yourself, fine, there are people out there who would gladly do it for you. Look around as their prices per word vary.
2. Getting your book into Major Markets.
Some places will offer to get your book listing On Kindle Direct or Barnes and Noble. I can do that myself. Wanna know how? Upload to Kindle direct and to Barnes and Noble. Done. They will make it sound like they can get you a premium spot where your book will be on display to the entire world. Be very careful. They're playing into a new writer's fear of their book becoming lost in a sea of new books.
3. Marketing. Press Releases. I'm sorry, what now? Every time I hear this phrase, I think of teletype machines going off in newsrooms all over the world, announcing the latest celebrity scandal. Unless you're a big time author, this will do nothing to help you sell your book. Don't buy into it.
4. Cover art. Again, like formatting, this is something that you can do yourself if you choose, but there are wonderful people out there who do excellent jobs at cover art. I'm not an artist and I have no problem paying someone to create a spectacular cover for me. I mean, have you seen the cover art for my book THE WATCHTOWER? *pokes Calista Taylor*
5. Content and proof editing. I can't stress enough how incredibly important this is for self-published authors. This is the key to keep you from looking like an amateur. Normally, a good beta will do the trick, but you may want to invest in a copyeditor.
When in doubt and things sound too good to be true, follow one of their authors. Check them out online. What does their cover art look like? Can you read a sample of their work? How does the editing stand up? Better yet, check out if they have a Goodreads profile or if the book has been reviewed there. I checked out two authors of the small press that contacted me, and I was not impressed. For the amount of work and publicity they offered, both authors should have had incredible feedback on their Amazon book sites, and you know what, neither did.
I recently joined what I thought would be a forum where I could connect with other writers. It looked promising—nice name and everything, and my first request for friendship came later that day from a small press. I thought, "Wow, great! Making friends already!" A small press publishing house wanted to be friends, so I checked them out.
Now I understand the desire to become a published author, and how easy it would be to jump at the first good offer, but please, fellow writers, take care and research any small press if they come knocking. With the swell of self-publishing, small press publishers are popping up all over the web, and while many are earnest, there are those who will ask for several hundred dollars to do the same thing you can do or pay someone to do for you. Here are a few of the hurdles new writers fear:
1. Formatting for eBooks.
Believe it or not, (and despite what I've blogged about in the past) this is relatively simple. Smashwords has a wonderful Style Guide that helps a novice put out an eBook that is comparable to any press. I'm noticing some places will try to fancy up the wording and call it 'Custom Interior Formatting'. Honestly, what the heck does that mean? If you don't want to do it yourself, fine, there are people out there who would gladly do it for you. Look around as their prices per word vary.
2. Getting your book into Major Markets.
Some places will offer to get your book listing On Kindle Direct or Barnes and Noble. I can do that myself. Wanna know how? Upload to Kindle direct and to Barnes and Noble. Done. They will make it sound like they can get you a premium spot where your book will be on display to the entire world. Be very careful. They're playing into a new writer's fear of their book becoming lost in a sea of new books.
3. Marketing. Press Releases. I'm sorry, what now? Every time I hear this phrase, I think of teletype machines going off in newsrooms all over the world, announcing the latest celebrity scandal. Unless you're a big time author, this will do nothing to help you sell your book. Don't buy into it.
4. Cover art. Again, like formatting, this is something that you can do yourself if you choose, but there are wonderful people out there who do excellent jobs at cover art. I'm not an artist and I have no problem paying someone to create a spectacular cover for me. I mean, have you seen the cover art for my book THE WATCHTOWER? *pokes Calista Taylor*
5. Content and proof editing. I can't stress enough how incredibly important this is for self-published authors. This is the key to keep you from looking like an amateur. Normally, a good beta will do the trick, but you may want to invest in a copyeditor.
When in doubt and things sound too good to be true, follow one of their authors. Check them out online. What does their cover art look like? Can you read a sample of their work? How does the editing stand up? Better yet, check out if they have a Goodreads profile or if the book has been reviewed there. I checked out two authors of the small press that contacted me, and I was not impressed. For the amount of work and publicity they offered, both authors should have had incredible feedback on their Amazon book sites, and you know what, neither did.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Blog Tours
by Darke Conteur
There is a pile of new authors coming out of the woodwork on a daily basism, all clawing and scratching to get your attention. Some of their self-promotion is good, and some, well, let's just say it isn't and leave it at that. Granted, what works for one person doesn't always work for another, and if you don't feel comfortable doing something others say worked for them, then fine! That's them, not you.
I can think of one good idea to promote oneself—a blog tour.
When I first started talking about it, I had a lot of people ask me what it was. Seems it's a new thing, but I'm seeing more and more authors doing it. Think of it as a virtual book tour, and I think they're great. Here are a few things I learned as I was planning mine.
1. What kind of tour do you want to do?
There are a number of ways you can go about this: author interviews, character interviews, post about what your book is about, or the genre, or a mixture of all three. I'm doing a character interview tour, but because Ebook Endeavours is about marketing, Lindsay asked me to do a post along that line. Be prepared for sudden changes in the lineup. Not everyone may want an in-depth analysis of your genre.
2. How many 'stops' should you make?
I've seen some authors talk about doing thirty to fifty posts on one tour. That's a lot! Might I suggest a number a little more manageable, say ten to twenty? Especially if this is your first tour. My only concern with doing high-number tours is that after a while you may run out of things to talk about. It's always good to have a fresh post for each blog. It entices the reader to keep an eye out for your next post, and in the end, isn't that what the tour is about? Gathering interest in our work?
3. Who should I ask?
This is completely up to you. Right now, there aren't that many people other than authors/writers who would host a blog tour. This is still a new marketing tool, but I'm sure as it gains more in popularity, more options will become available.
4. Offer to return the favour.
Karma, my friends, is a good thing. With each blog tour stop you make, you're exposing your work to new and potential followers, but this isn't just a one-way street. Offering to host blog tours will bring in more potential followers, and if they like what they see, they may stick around.
5. Keep up with comments.
If you're hosting a blog tour, might I suggest that you inform the guest blogger of any comments on their post. This will allow the guest blogger to reply in a timely fashion.
Alas, my time has come to an end. Have you done a blog tour? How did you like it? Did it work for you? I'm always looking for ways to improve and if you have a suggestion, we'd love to hear it!
There is a pile of new authors coming out of the woodwork on a daily basism, all clawing and scratching to get your attention. Some of their self-promotion is good, and some, well, let's just say it isn't and leave it at that. Granted, what works for one person doesn't always work for another, and if you don't feel comfortable doing something others say worked for them, then fine! That's them, not you.
I can think of one good idea to promote oneself—a blog tour.
When I first started talking about it, I had a lot of people ask me what it was. Seems it's a new thing, but I'm seeing more and more authors doing it. Think of it as a virtual book tour, and I think they're great. Here are a few things I learned as I was planning mine.
1. What kind of tour do you want to do?
There are a number of ways you can go about this: author interviews, character interviews, post about what your book is about, or the genre, or a mixture of all three. I'm doing a character interview tour, but because Ebook Endeavours is about marketing, Lindsay asked me to do a post along that line. Be prepared for sudden changes in the lineup. Not everyone may want an in-depth analysis of your genre.
2. How many 'stops' should you make?
I've seen some authors talk about doing thirty to fifty posts on one tour. That's a lot! Might I suggest a number a little more manageable, say ten to twenty? Especially if this is your first tour. My only concern with doing high-number tours is that after a while you may run out of things to talk about. It's always good to have a fresh post for each blog. It entices the reader to keep an eye out for your next post, and in the end, isn't that what the tour is about? Gathering interest in our work?
3. Who should I ask?
This is completely up to you. Right now, there aren't that many people other than authors/writers who would host a blog tour. This is still a new marketing tool, but I'm sure as it gains more in popularity, more options will become available.
4. Offer to return the favour.
Karma, my friends, is a good thing. With each blog tour stop you make, you're exposing your work to new and potential followers, but this isn't just a one-way street. Offering to host blog tours will bring in more potential followers, and if they like what they see, they may stick around.
5. Keep up with comments.
If you're hosting a blog tour, might I suggest that you inform the guest blogger of any comments on their post. This will allow the guest blogger to reply in a timely fashion.
Alas, my time has come to an end. Have you done a blog tour? How did you like it? Did it work for you? I'm always looking for ways to improve and if you have a suggestion, we'd love to hear it!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
By Darke Conteur
Ever had that dream where you're late for your exam and you jump out of bed, run to school, only to arrive within the last few minutes? Then the bell goes off and everyone looks back at you. It's then, you look down and realize you forgot to get dressed and you're butt naked?
Yeah, we've all had that dream. It alerts us to something in our lives that we're stressing on. Most of the time it's something small, but even the smallest of problems can feel like a great weight on our shoulders.
Writing comes with its fair share of anxiety. From the moment we decide to write that novel, we're bombarded with self-doubt about or skill, the story, or how it will be received. Sometimes before we've written the first word! It's human nature to have these doubts, but it's how we deal with them that's the real test. Every writer has had moments when they feel their world has crashed down around them. Something's gone wrong, and it feels like your career has ended before it's begun. Before you throw in the towel and declare you passion dead, take a deep breath. It may not be as bad as you think.
We strive so hard to put out a perfect product, and when we see a flaw in our work—no matter how small—we take it as a black mark on our accomplishments, but is it really? Some problems can be fixed, so swallow your embarrassment and fix them. Having a 'do-over' is nothing to be ashamed about. People will not think any less of you. Just the opposite. Seeing the mistakes and correcting them means you take pride in your work, and there's nothing wrong with that. Other things may be out of your control, leaving you to do nothing more but chalk them up as a life-lesson and move on. You've done your best and that's what matters.
Sweating the small stuff only causes embarrassing underarm stains and wrinkles.
Ever had that dream where you're late for your exam and you jump out of bed, run to school, only to arrive within the last few minutes? Then the bell goes off and everyone looks back at you. It's then, you look down and realize you forgot to get dressed and you're butt naked?
Yeah, we've all had that dream. It alerts us to something in our lives that we're stressing on. Most of the time it's something small, but even the smallest of problems can feel like a great weight on our shoulders.
Writing comes with its fair share of anxiety. From the moment we decide to write that novel, we're bombarded with self-doubt about or skill, the story, or how it will be received. Sometimes before we've written the first word! It's human nature to have these doubts, but it's how we deal with them that's the real test. Every writer has had moments when they feel their world has crashed down around them. Something's gone wrong, and it feels like your career has ended before it's begun. Before you throw in the towel and declare you passion dead, take a deep breath. It may not be as bad as you think.
We strive so hard to put out a perfect product, and when we see a flaw in our work—no matter how small—we take it as a black mark on our accomplishments, but is it really? Some problems can be fixed, so swallow your embarrassment and fix them. Having a 'do-over' is nothing to be ashamed about. People will not think any less of you. Just the opposite. Seeing the mistakes and correcting them means you take pride in your work, and there's nothing wrong with that. Other things may be out of your control, leaving you to do nothing more but chalk them up as a life-lesson and move on. You've done your best and that's what matters.
Sweating the small stuff only causes embarrassing underarm stains and wrinkles.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
Halloween. No day can evoke more tingles and shivers than October 31st. For a change, a few of us at FTWA thought we would share a story that scared the crap out of us. Most are movies, but movies are stories, right? So here we go…
Robert Lewis
There always seems to be that ONE movie that scared the crap out you as a kid. Maybe it was The Legend of Boggy Creek, maybe The Omen, or maybe The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. For me, however, it will always be Herk Harvey's 1962 "Carnival of Souls" starring Candace Hilligoss. Not only is it eerie and scary as hell, it also has one of the creepiest-looking dudes ever seen on film:
See what I mean?
The story is about Mary Henry (Hilligoss) who is out one day driving with friends. They're challenged to a drag race and during the race her car careens off a bridge and into a river. She's the only survivor. A church organist, she moves to a new town, new job, so she can start over.
But then she starts to ... see things, including the man above. Strange events begin to happen to her, like one moment she's in a busy department store and then it's suddenly empty. The only people she sees in these strange, surreal moments are zombie-like, staring at her as she passes by. I can't tell you more, as I don't want to spoil the film, but needless to say, it's a VERY effective horror flick. I can still remember watching it one Sunday afternoon on Channel 5 KTLA in Los Angeles, and how I had nightmares all that night and rest of the week. There were nights where I would wake up, the San Fernando Valley winds howling, the trees outside my window scratching and clacking on the glass, seeing that man's face in the corner of my room, watching me.
Carnival of Souls. If you've never seen it, get ye to The Netflix!
Darke Conteur
I have always been drawn to stories that frighten me. It's like an addiction; I can't get enough even though I know I'll get very little sleep afterward. Most movies I watched as a child were the old, campy B movies; Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, something I watched on television to kill a Saturday afternoon. It wasn't until I saw the movie CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1973) that I was truly scared.
Actors led by Alan Ormsby go to graveyard on remote island to act out necromantic ritual. The ritual works, and soon the dead are walking about and chowing down on human flesh.
Part of the flesh-eating zombie trope that exploded in the early '70s, by today's standards it's campy and stupid, but for a ten year old, it gave me nightmares for three months. I learned to jump from the doorway to my bed in one leap and I am proud to say that I can sleep with the covers over my head and not suffocate! It should be a part of any ghoul's zombie collection!
Cat Woods
Movies don't scare me. Not in the Friday the Thirteenth and Nightmare on Elm Street-murderer-on-the-rampage-for-no-reason sense. These are child's play. Fiction at its finest, yet fiction none-the-less. Actors can shake their hockey sticks all they want and I remain unfazed.
The movies that strike terror into my heart are psychological thrillers.
When a movie could be reality? That's when the goosebumps pop and I literally shiver from the inside out. Only one honest-to-God-teeth-chattering movie stands out in my mind. Cape Fear.
Childhood fears: One Halloween when I was about six, my sister and I had to visit our biological father. After dinner, he watched a double header of B-rated horror flicks.
Terrifying shadow creatures lived in the basement and drug people down the stairs to brutally torture and kill them in the first movie. With no place else to go, my sis and I cowered behind the couch and listened to the screams of the dying victims. That night we had to sleep in the glass-walled library with the door closed off to the rest of the house. My sister never recovered, and to this day she cannot go down into a basement without every single light on.
The second movie was about scientists injecting liquid into people's brains, turning them into mindless killing machines. Something about the glazed expression in their eyes and the personality flips caused by the drug scared me far more than the basement creatures ever did.
I guess that night killed all hope of Freddie Krueger terrorizing me. However, it left the door wide open to the darkness residing in the depths of the human mind.
Matt Sinclair
Like many people, when I think of scary stories, my first thoughts tend toward movies, where the images are so evident. There was a movie whose name I quickly forgot, but its opening scenes have remained with me ever since. Picture this: I’m a small boy, age 7 or 8, getting his last few minutes of television in before summer vacation. My family owned a home toward the eastern end of Long Island, where the TV reception was awful (or my parents knew that television and summer vacations were a bad mix.
It didn’t matter what I watched, as long as it was TV. I turned it on and found the beginning of a movie. A young woman receives an unexpected package. She opens it and finds a set of binoculars. For reasons lost to the young boy I was, the woman was excited and immediately went to look through the binoculars. The she let out a blood-curdling scream as her eyes were impaled.
Just then, my father rallied the troops and I turned off the TV, but that confusing moment of horror remains.
In a sense, I hope some reader here knows the name of the film so I can view it as an adult and possibly understand that it wasn’t what I thought it was. Perhaps it was acid around the rims of the eyepieces. That would be much easier for me to handle.
How about you? Any super-scary stories to share?
* * * * *
Robert Lewis
There always seems to be that ONE movie that scared the crap out you as a kid. Maybe it was The Legend of Boggy Creek, maybe The Omen, or maybe The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. For me, however, it will always be Herk Harvey's 1962 "Carnival of Souls" starring Candace Hilligoss. Not only is it eerie and scary as hell, it also has one of the creepiest-looking dudes ever seen on film:
The story is about Mary Henry (Hilligoss) who is out one day driving with friends. They're challenged to a drag race and during the race her car careens off a bridge and into a river. She's the only survivor. A church organist, she moves to a new town, new job, so she can start over.
But then she starts to ... see things, including the man above. Strange events begin to happen to her, like one moment she's in a busy department store and then it's suddenly empty. The only people she sees in these strange, surreal moments are zombie-like, staring at her as she passes by. I can't tell you more, as I don't want to spoil the film, but needless to say, it's a VERY effective horror flick. I can still remember watching it one Sunday afternoon on Channel 5 KTLA in Los Angeles, and how I had nightmares all that night and rest of the week. There were nights where I would wake up, the San Fernando Valley winds howling, the trees outside my window scratching and clacking on the glass, seeing that man's face in the corner of my room, watching me.
Carnival of Souls. If you've never seen it, get ye to The Netflix!
* * * * *
Darke Conteur
I have always been drawn to stories that frighten me. It's like an addiction; I can't get enough even though I know I'll get very little sleep afterward. Most movies I watched as a child were the old, campy B movies; Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, something I watched on television to kill a Saturday afternoon. It wasn't until I saw the movie CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1973) that I was truly scared.
Part of the flesh-eating zombie trope that exploded in the early '70s, by today's standards it's campy and stupid, but for a ten year old, it gave me nightmares for three months. I learned to jump from the doorway to my bed in one leap and I am proud to say that I can sleep with the covers over my head and not suffocate! It should be a part of any ghoul's zombie collection!
* * * * *
Cat Woods
Movies don't scare me. Not in the Friday the Thirteenth and Nightmare on Elm Street-murderer-on-the-rampage-for-no-reason sense. These are child's play. Fiction at its finest, yet fiction none-the-less. Actors can shake their hockey sticks all they want and I remain unfazed.
The movies that strike terror into my heart are psychological thrillers.
When a movie could be reality? That's when the goosebumps pop and I literally shiver from the inside out. Only one honest-to-God-teeth-chattering movie stands out in my mind. Cape Fear.
Childhood fears: One Halloween when I was about six, my sister and I had to visit our biological father. After dinner, he watched a double header of B-rated horror flicks.
Terrifying shadow creatures lived in the basement and drug people down the stairs to brutally torture and kill them in the first movie. With no place else to go, my sis and I cowered behind the couch and listened to the screams of the dying victims. That night we had to sleep in the glass-walled library with the door closed off to the rest of the house. My sister never recovered, and to this day she cannot go down into a basement without every single light on.
The second movie was about scientists injecting liquid into people's brains, turning them into mindless killing machines. Something about the glazed expression in their eyes and the personality flips caused by the drug scared me far more than the basement creatures ever did.
I guess that night killed all hope of Freddie Krueger terrorizing me. However, it left the door wide open to the darkness residing in the depths of the human mind.
* * * * *
Matt Sinclair
Like many people, when I think of scary stories, my first thoughts tend toward movies, where the images are so evident. There was a movie whose name I quickly forgot, but its opening scenes have remained with me ever since. Picture this: I’m a small boy, age 7 or 8, getting his last few minutes of television in before summer vacation. My family owned a home toward the eastern end of Long Island, where the TV reception was awful (or my parents knew that television and summer vacations were a bad mix.
It didn’t matter what I watched, as long as it was TV. I turned it on and found the beginning of a movie. A young woman receives an unexpected package. She opens it and finds a set of binoculars. For reasons lost to the young boy I was, the woman was excited and immediately went to look through the binoculars. The she let out a blood-curdling scream as her eyes were impaled.
Just then, my father rallied the troops and I turned off the TV, but that confusing moment of horror remains.
In a sense, I hope some reader here knows the name of the film so I can view it as an adult and possibly understand that it wasn’t what I thought it was. Perhaps it was acid around the rims of the eyepieces. That would be much easier for me to handle.
* * * * *
How about you? Any super-scary stories to share?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Writer Burn-Out
by Darke Conteur
It's something writers don't talk about. That deep, depressing hole of miserable that feels worse than any writer's block. You look at the blank screen in front of you, and nothing comes to mind. No words or ideas. Not one thought. It isn't that you can't write, but more that you don't want to. You have no energy, no inspiration, and no amount of excitement creeps into your life when you open a Word file. This isn't just in your mind, but for some, it's a physical condition as well.
For whatever reason, many writers have battled a case of Burn-Out. For some, it can last a few days, others, a lot longer. I know of two writers in the last few years who developed a bad case of Burn-Out. One decided she would retire from the writing world for good, perhaps unsatisfied with her accomplishments and not wanting to continue spending energy on what she saw as a fruitless task. I was sad to see her leave. Reading her blog entries was an exciting look into her world. She blogged about the good and bad about the conferences she'd attended and been a part of, and it sounded like she was here to stay. The announcement of her departure was right out of left field.
The other writer, after announcing his writing retirement, started a new creative project, but not in writing. It was still connected to what he loved to do, he just wasn't writing. It took a few months of him putting his energy into this other project before his itch to write returned. When it did, he was more excited than ever about his work.
Writer Burn-Out is nothing to be ashamed of. It isn't a sign that you're weak or don't have what it takes. Generally, I find it's just the opposite. It can be overwhelming to learn all that is needed to become a writer. The stress from wanting to get it right can be debilitating, especially if the words aren’t coming and you keep reading about other writers having incredible writing days. The important thing to remember is, you're not alone. You're not the first to experience this, and you won't be the last. No one is going to think any less of you if you drop everything and walk away. Sometimes that's what's needed. Do what YOU need to do to get yourself through this. Don't worry, your story will always be there, and the writing community will always be here to welcome you back.
It's something writers don't talk about. That deep, depressing hole of miserable that feels worse than any writer's block. You look at the blank screen in front of you, and nothing comes to mind. No words or ideas. Not one thought. It isn't that you can't write, but more that you don't want to. You have no energy, no inspiration, and no amount of excitement creeps into your life when you open a Word file. This isn't just in your mind, but for some, it's a physical condition as well.
For whatever reason, many writers have battled a case of Burn-Out. For some, it can last a few days, others, a lot longer. I know of two writers in the last few years who developed a bad case of Burn-Out. One decided she would retire from the writing world for good, perhaps unsatisfied with her accomplishments and not wanting to continue spending energy on what she saw as a fruitless task. I was sad to see her leave. Reading her blog entries was an exciting look into her world. She blogged about the good and bad about the conferences she'd attended and been a part of, and it sounded like she was here to stay. The announcement of her departure was right out of left field.
The other writer, after announcing his writing retirement, started a new creative project, but not in writing. It was still connected to what he loved to do, he just wasn't writing. It took a few months of him putting his energy into this other project before his itch to write returned. When it did, he was more excited than ever about his work.
Writer Burn-Out is nothing to be ashamed of. It isn't a sign that you're weak or don't have what it takes. Generally, I find it's just the opposite. It can be overwhelming to learn all that is needed to become a writer. The stress from wanting to get it right can be debilitating, especially if the words aren’t coming and you keep reading about other writers having incredible writing days. The important thing to remember is, you're not alone. You're not the first to experience this, and you won't be the last. No one is going to think any less of you if you drop everything and walk away. Sometimes that's what's needed. Do what YOU need to do to get yourself through this. Don't worry, your story will always be there, and the writing community will always be here to welcome you back.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Self-Publishing: The New Query Letter?
by Darke Conteur
Sounds weird, doesn't it? Self-publishing helping you to reach your goal of having a book published traditionally?
In the last few years, (generally due to the surprising popularity of the Kindle and other eReaders), the self-publishing route has become less and less of a stigma, and more of a freedom to create. Amazon and Smashwords made it easy for writers to get their works to the public, and with good results. Novels that were once ignored or passed over because the demand for the genre was too small, are now finding their audience and doing so with relatively good success. With high rates of achievement, I'm hearing stories of publishing houses (quite possibly small indie press—I doubt you'll have Random House knocking on your door) patrolling writing forums, looking for self-published writers who have strong numbers in e-book sales, and are offering contracts to these same authors. I suppose their reasoning is, if they do good on Amazon, they'd do great in traditional outlets as well.
Granted, it's a small number that are approached, but I can't help but wonder if this will increase as the popularity of e-books increases. Can you imagine? Instead of having to spend months perfecting a query letter, synopsis, and the endless rejection from agents, all you have to do is upload a few books you've written, market like hell (because in the end, it's the numbers that count) and sit back and wait for the offers of publication to roll in! Great, right? It's a win-win situation!
Or is it?
Don't get me wrong, I have NOTHING against traditional publishing, and you will never hear me bad mouth either side of this argument, but I can't help but be concerned at the fact I'm hearing horror stories about authors locked into contracts that are so Draconian in their terms, it makes you wonder how these 'publishing' houses get away with it. Don't believe me? Check out this blog post by Debra L. Martin and David W. Small. It's just frightening, and if that doesn't open your eyes, maybe these other blog posts will:
Writing Like It's 1999 (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
Writers Are Losing the Fight Again (Dean Wesley Smith)
Authors are taking more control over their careers when it comes to publishing, and if you don't have an agent, you need to take a good look at anyone who offers you a publishing contract. Do. Your. Homework. Research the publisher. If you are offered a contract then either hire an entertainment attorney or an agent to go over it. That's easy money for them and a good safety for you. Read the fine print on the contract and if there's something you don’t understand or seems odd to you, ask around. If they ask for money up front—it's vanity publishing.
No matter how much they try to sweet talk you, remember MONEY FLOWS TO THE AUTHOR, not the other way around. Don't sign away your entire career because you were so enthralled at the fact you were 'discovered'.
Sounds weird, doesn't it? Self-publishing helping you to reach your goal of having a book published traditionally?
In the last few years, (generally due to the surprising popularity of the Kindle and other eReaders), the self-publishing route has become less and less of a stigma, and more of a freedom to create. Amazon and Smashwords made it easy for writers to get their works to the public, and with good results. Novels that were once ignored or passed over because the demand for the genre was too small, are now finding their audience and doing so with relatively good success. With high rates of achievement, I'm hearing stories of publishing houses (quite possibly small indie press—I doubt you'll have Random House knocking on your door) patrolling writing forums, looking for self-published writers who have strong numbers in e-book sales, and are offering contracts to these same authors. I suppose their reasoning is, if they do good on Amazon, they'd do great in traditional outlets as well.
Granted, it's a small number that are approached, but I can't help but wonder if this will increase as the popularity of e-books increases. Can you imagine? Instead of having to spend months perfecting a query letter, synopsis, and the endless rejection from agents, all you have to do is upload a few books you've written, market like hell (because in the end, it's the numbers that count) and sit back and wait for the offers of publication to roll in! Great, right? It's a win-win situation!
Or is it?
Don't get me wrong, I have NOTHING against traditional publishing, and you will never hear me bad mouth either side of this argument, but I can't help but be concerned at the fact I'm hearing horror stories about authors locked into contracts that are so Draconian in their terms, it makes you wonder how these 'publishing' houses get away with it. Don't believe me? Check out this blog post by Debra L. Martin and David W. Small. It's just frightening, and if that doesn't open your eyes, maybe these other blog posts will:
Writing Like It's 1999 (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
Writers Are Losing the Fight Again (Dean Wesley Smith)
Authors are taking more control over their careers when it comes to publishing, and if you don't have an agent, you need to take a good look at anyone who offers you a publishing contract. Do. Your. Homework. Research the publisher. If you are offered a contract then either hire an entertainment attorney or an agent to go over it. That's easy money for them and a good safety for you. Read the fine print on the contract and if there's something you don’t understand or seems odd to you, ask around. If they ask for money up front—it's vanity publishing.
No matter how much they try to sweet talk you, remember MONEY FLOWS TO THE AUTHOR, not the other way around. Don't sign away your entire career because you were so enthralled at the fact you were 'discovered'.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Non-Fiction World
by Darke Conteur
Most of the posts on this blog deal with genre fiction, but I wanted to take a moment and talk about non-fiction.
Memoirs, self-help, academic, there are so many types of non-fiction; it’s as varied as genre fiction, but unlike genre fiction, the main thing you need to sell your book is a platform. Some kind of credentials that says you know—or are qualified—to write this particular book. This is most evident with self-help or any academic novels. Here are several key things I found very interesting.
Platform is EVERYTHING in non-fiction. That notion was driven home at a recent writing seminar I attended, and the main thing they suggested for new authors to use to build their platform? Self-publishing. According to the speakers, the best way for non-fiction publishers to sign you on is to have a certain number of books already sold. If the number is high, they see it as testament that your book is good, and they are willing to RE-PRINT that book and distribute it to a wider audience. Yeah, floored me too.
Now, memoirs are a different read. While they still follow the same path as self-help and academic, you better have one Hell of a story to tell. Sorry, just surviving a horrible disease doesn’t cut it anymore, but surviving a horrible disease by administrating your own biopsy skills while living on a frozen tundra where the next shipment of supplies aren’t due for another six months, is gold. (HINT: Think researcher in Antarctica).
Children’s books are another big seller, but I was astonished to learn that they suggested you market your story to the PARENTS, and not the child. After all, it’s the parents who are buying and reading the story, not the children.
One thing that genre fiction has over non-fiction is numbers in the digital market. From what I could gather, non-fiction is slower than Big Publishing to delve into eBooks. Perhaps that’s because genre fiction is written by more people, I don’t know, even the speakers couldn’t explain that one, but they are gathering more interest.
With the digital tsunami rolling through the publishing industry it will certainly be interesting to see what the future holds for this branch of the publishing world.
Most of the posts on this blog deal with genre fiction, but I wanted to take a moment and talk about non-fiction.
Memoirs, self-help, academic, there are so many types of non-fiction; it’s as varied as genre fiction, but unlike genre fiction, the main thing you need to sell your book is a platform. Some kind of credentials that says you know—or are qualified—to write this particular book. This is most evident with self-help or any academic novels. Here are several key things I found very interesting.
Platform is EVERYTHING in non-fiction. That notion was driven home at a recent writing seminar I attended, and the main thing they suggested for new authors to use to build their platform? Self-publishing. According to the speakers, the best way for non-fiction publishers to sign you on is to have a certain number of books already sold. If the number is high, they see it as testament that your book is good, and they are willing to RE-PRINT that book and distribute it to a wider audience. Yeah, floored me too.
Now, memoirs are a different read. While they still follow the same path as self-help and academic, you better have one Hell of a story to tell. Sorry, just surviving a horrible disease doesn’t cut it anymore, but surviving a horrible disease by administrating your own biopsy skills while living on a frozen tundra where the next shipment of supplies aren’t due for another six months, is gold. (HINT: Think researcher in Antarctica).
Children’s books are another big seller, but I was astonished to learn that they suggested you market your story to the PARENTS, and not the child. After all, it’s the parents who are buying and reading the story, not the children.
One thing that genre fiction has over non-fiction is numbers in the digital market. From what I could gather, non-fiction is slower than Big Publishing to delve into eBooks. Perhaps that’s because genre fiction is written by more people, I don’t know, even the speakers couldn’t explain that one, but they are gathering more interest.
With the digital tsunami rolling through the publishing industry it will certainly be interesting to see what the future holds for this branch of the publishing world.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Dark Fantasy
by Darke Conteur
I don’t think there is a genre as diverse or as fascinating, as Dark Fantasy.
I believe people read science fiction to escape into the future, and historical fiction to escape into the past, but what is it about the darker side of fiction that draws us to it? Is it the hidden desire to be immortal? To possess supernatural powers? Do we read and write this genre secretly hoping that what we’ve written is true, and that perhaps, we are the privileged few who are allowed access into a world others dismiss?
Who would want to venture into a world full of demons and vampires? Why would anyone want to live in a world full of zombies? People die in these worlds, either physically, or their humanity dies, and yet there is a growing number of people who can’t get enough.
Is it because Dark Fantasy allow us to secretly travel to places society deems inappropriate? Perhaps, like Erotica, it allows us to delve into parts of our own personality that we may feel is too embarrassing or private to reveal, or is there something deeper to our attraction?
From our earliest childhood memories, fantasy stories were told to us as a means of moral guidance. The character-singing, fluffy fairy tales that our children hold so dear, are a pale comparison to the original brutal tales of death our ancestors told. Their stories were a constant reminder that the world was a dangerous place, and if one strayed off the path, your fate was sealed.
Perhaps this is the attraction. We long to tread away from the safety of society, to live in danger, to feel the blood course through our veins. Perhaps life has become too safe, and we need the diversion, that spark, that can only come in the way of a good Dark Fantasy novel.
Whatever the reason, Dark Fantasy will continue to be popular, if only to fill that empty need in our everyday lives.
I don’t think there is a genre as diverse or as fascinating, as Dark Fantasy.
I believe people read science fiction to escape into the future, and historical fiction to escape into the past, but what is it about the darker side of fiction that draws us to it? Is it the hidden desire to be immortal? To possess supernatural powers? Do we read and write this genre secretly hoping that what we’ve written is true, and that perhaps, we are the privileged few who are allowed access into a world others dismiss?
Who would want to venture into a world full of demons and vampires? Why would anyone want to live in a world full of zombies? People die in these worlds, either physically, or their humanity dies, and yet there is a growing number of people who can’t get enough.
Is it because Dark Fantasy allow us to secretly travel to places society deems inappropriate? Perhaps, like Erotica, it allows us to delve into parts of our own personality that we may feel is too embarrassing or private to reveal, or is there something deeper to our attraction?
From our earliest childhood memories, fantasy stories were told to us as a means of moral guidance. The character-singing, fluffy fairy tales that our children hold so dear, are a pale comparison to the original brutal tales of death our ancestors told. Their stories were a constant reminder that the world was a dangerous place, and if one strayed off the path, your fate was sealed.
Perhaps this is the attraction. We long to tread away from the safety of society, to live in danger, to feel the blood course through our veins. Perhaps life has become too safe, and we need the diversion, that spark, that can only come in the way of a good Dark Fantasy novel.
Whatever the reason, Dark Fantasy will continue to be popular, if only to fill that empty need in our everyday lives.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Are You Entitled To That Title?
by Darke Conteur
A while back, someone on AQC posted a question about the title of their novel and if there were any specific rules. It was a big surprise to them when a fellow member (Litgal, I’m looking at you) basically said that it didn’t matter what the title was, there was a good chance it wouldn’t be the one the publishers went with, if and when the novel was published.
Get that? The title of your novel (as it is now), might not be what’s on the cover. For those of you who didn’t know this, I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor.
This didn’t surprise me. I’ve heard stories about this for some time. My own dealings with a copyeditor for my editorials were an interesting lesson. I never titled them, was told not to by the newspaper editor, as the copyeditor only had so many characters to work with to fit the whole thing in the column. That was fine by me, but the titles he gave them—and what I had in mind, were always two different things. I wasn’t even allowed to suggest anything. Imagine that, not being able to suggest a title for your own work!
How does this bode for your novel? Would a title change enhance or ruin your story? I don’t think so. Remember, this is part of the marketing side of publishing. Why would the editor purposely re-name your book to something that wasn’t appropriate? Besides, I’m pretty sure you’ll have a say in the final naming of the project.
Some titles are changed because they’re too long, or might sound like another book, which is why I suggest you do a search on your chosen title. You’d be surprised at what you’d find, but don’t fret over naming your story. Sometimes they don’t come to us at the beginning and that’s fine. What’s important is the idea. Work on the story, and let the title take care of itself.
A while back, someone on AQC posted a question about the title of their novel and if there were any specific rules. It was a big surprise to them when a fellow member (Litgal, I’m looking at you) basically said that it didn’t matter what the title was, there was a good chance it wouldn’t be the one the publishers went with, if and when the novel was published.
Get that? The title of your novel (as it is now), might not be what’s on the cover. For those of you who didn’t know this, I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor.
This didn’t surprise me. I’ve heard stories about this for some time. My own dealings with a copyeditor for my editorials were an interesting lesson. I never titled them, was told not to by the newspaper editor, as the copyeditor only had so many characters to work with to fit the whole thing in the column. That was fine by me, but the titles he gave them—and what I had in mind, were always two different things. I wasn’t even allowed to suggest anything. Imagine that, not being able to suggest a title for your own work!
How does this bode for your novel? Would a title change enhance or ruin your story? I don’t think so. Remember, this is part of the marketing side of publishing. Why would the editor purposely re-name your book to something that wasn’t appropriate? Besides, I’m pretty sure you’ll have a say in the final naming of the project.
Some titles are changed because they’re too long, or might sound like another book, which is why I suggest you do a search on your chosen title. You’d be surprised at what you’d find, but don’t fret over naming your story. Sometimes they don’t come to us at the beginning and that’s fine. What’s important is the idea. Work on the story, and let the title take care of itself.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sometimes, Things Don't Go As Planned
by Darke Conteur
Ah, the life of a writer. Nothing is more rewarding then seeing a creative part of your soul in print, and being able to say, “Why yes, I did write that!” Yet before you can utter those six little words, you must have something published. Not an easy task, but if you work at it, take your writing seriously, an opportunity will present itself, as it did for me along the line of an opening on the Community Editorial Board.
I saw the ad in the newspaper and thought this will be a good way to enhance my writing skills. I began that night and wrote, in longhand, the essay I was sure would win them over. The idea came to mind immediately: an amusing story of a minor event in my life. It was personal and fresh, just what they were looking for. I transferred it to my computer and began the task of scrutinizing every paragraph, every word, until I felt I’d achieved perfection. I sent it off to a beta reader—that person who loves what you write, and is willing to strain their personal or professional relationship with you to help you achieve your goals.
As I glanced over the polished article, a feeling of pride set in at the thought that this could be the start of something wonderful. I hit the ‘SEND’ button on my email, whispered a farewell prayer hoping it reached its destination safely—only to realize I typed the email address wrong and the damn thing bounced back to me!
Email address corrected, I once again sent out my work, safe in the knowledge that nothing could stop me now. Yet, as I re-read the ad in the paper, I was horrified to learn I forgot to include who I was and why I wanted to be on the board!
There is nothing more humbling than looking unprofessional among professionals, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I learned I could send a second email with the omitted information. A feeling of accomplishment washed over me when days later, I opened my email and learned I’d been chosen. It acknowledged what I was secretly hoping—that I could write, and now someone else thought that too. It gave me a burst of confidence that carried me through the embarrassment of forgetting to leave my telephone number on the Editor’s voice mail, when I called with a question about the scheduled meeting.
I knew it could only get better from there.
Ah, the life of a writer. Nothing is more rewarding then seeing a creative part of your soul in print, and being able to say, “Why yes, I did write that!” Yet before you can utter those six little words, you must have something published. Not an easy task, but if you work at it, take your writing seriously, an opportunity will present itself, as it did for me along the line of an opening on the Community Editorial Board.
I saw the ad in the newspaper and thought this will be a good way to enhance my writing skills. I began that night and wrote, in longhand, the essay I was sure would win them over. The idea came to mind immediately: an amusing story of a minor event in my life. It was personal and fresh, just what they were looking for. I transferred it to my computer and began the task of scrutinizing every paragraph, every word, until I felt I’d achieved perfection. I sent it off to a beta reader—that person who loves what you write, and is willing to strain their personal or professional relationship with you to help you achieve your goals.
As I glanced over the polished article, a feeling of pride set in at the thought that this could be the start of something wonderful. I hit the ‘SEND’ button on my email, whispered a farewell prayer hoping it reached its destination safely—only to realize I typed the email address wrong and the damn thing bounced back to me!
Email address corrected, I once again sent out my work, safe in the knowledge that nothing could stop me now. Yet, as I re-read the ad in the paper, I was horrified to learn I forgot to include who I was and why I wanted to be on the board!
There is nothing more humbling than looking unprofessional among professionals, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I learned I could send a second email with the omitted information. A feeling of accomplishment washed over me when days later, I opened my email and learned I’d been chosen. It acknowledged what I was secretly hoping—that I could write, and now someone else thought that too. It gave me a burst of confidence that carried me through the embarrassment of forgetting to leave my telephone number on the Editor’s voice mail, when I called with a question about the scheduled meeting.
I knew it could only get better from there.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Negativity Hurts Us All
I don't know if it was the time of year, or all that pent up frustration of dealing with a publishing industry that, at first glance, didn't seem to want to embrace the digital media, but there was a growing negative atmosphere tainting the writing community in 2011, and it spread like wildfire.
For years, publishers and agents held the 'Golden Key' to a writing career, and if you wanted one, you had to go through them. Now that there are viable options and the words 'self-published' don't have the same stigma they did five years ago, more and more authors are choosing to follow a different route, and that's fine, but each writers career path is different and no one has a free pass to crap all over the either system, old or new. Be warned, the internet has a very long memory. Just because you delete your harsh comment doesn't mean it's gone forever.
The most disturbing comments I hear are people waiting--wishing for the Big Six to go under, and take those 'blood-sucking agents' with them. Okay I may be exaggerating on the whole 'blood-sucking agents' part, but I can't believe that people would honestly want to see other people out of work, especially in this economy. Sure, if one of the Big Six went under those at the top would probably survive, but all those UNDER them, would be out of work also. You shut down a workplace, and everyone from the mailroom people to assistants, interns (even though interns aren't paid), lose their jobs too. If Traditional Publishing is on its last legs and everyone claims, who will hire all those underlings? What about the authors? Especially those who just got a contract with said publisher? They're left in limbo or worse – a book published 'dead'. What if that was you? How would you feel? You've just had your dreams realized, only to be crushed. Would you really wish that on someone else?
Don’t think traditionally published authors aren't part of this negativity either. They're not as vocal, but I've heard a few new writers upset over nasty comments aimed their way because they self-published. Sometimes they're called lazy, or their books are called crap. Sure, maybe they need to hone their craft, but we should be helping each other, not cutting one another down.
My wish for 2012 is for all the bickering to stop. We're all in this together, negativity only pulls us apart.
For years, publishers and agents held the 'Golden Key' to a writing career, and if you wanted one, you had to go through them. Now that there are viable options and the words 'self-published' don't have the same stigma they did five years ago, more and more authors are choosing to follow a different route, and that's fine, but each writers career path is different and no one has a free pass to crap all over the either system, old or new. Be warned, the internet has a very long memory. Just because you delete your harsh comment doesn't mean it's gone forever.
The most disturbing comments I hear are people waiting--wishing for the Big Six to go under, and take those 'blood-sucking agents' with them. Okay I may be exaggerating on the whole 'blood-sucking agents' part, but I can't believe that people would honestly want to see other people out of work, especially in this economy. Sure, if one of the Big Six went under those at the top would probably survive, but all those UNDER them, would be out of work also. You shut down a workplace, and everyone from the mailroom people to assistants, interns (even though interns aren't paid), lose their jobs too. If Traditional Publishing is on its last legs and everyone claims, who will hire all those underlings? What about the authors? Especially those who just got a contract with said publisher? They're left in limbo or worse – a book published 'dead'. What if that was you? How would you feel? You've just had your dreams realized, only to be crushed. Would you really wish that on someone else?
Don’t think traditionally published authors aren't part of this negativity either. They're not as vocal, but I've heard a few new writers upset over nasty comments aimed their way because they self-published. Sometimes they're called lazy, or their books are called crap. Sure, maybe they need to hone their craft, but we should be helping each other, not cutting one another down.
My wish for 2012 is for all the bickering to stop. We're all in this together, negativity only pulls us apart.
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