Ch...changes

No I haven't developed a stutter.
As I battle to complete a first novel worthy of the name I noticed two significant but opposite developments in publishing.

The first is magazine print-on-demand.
A friend in NY is artistic director of the one-year-old Constellation on-line magazine. Dissatisfied with the quality and non-tactile nature of web only publication, the editors also moved it to print-on-demand publisher Magcloud, which appears to be a Hewlett Packard based company or spin-off.
I have to say I am impressed by the high-end color print and paper quality. Turn around of my copy, delivered by US mail, was only a few days and yes it is more portable and engaging on paper.


Which brings me to the other development in portability. Amazon's new Kindle 2, a paperback sized, pencil-thin electronic screen, capable of holding 1500 paperback size books, each one available by 3G wireless download in 60 seconds from a catalog of 230,000 choices.
The thing weighs less than 10 ounces and will even read text aloud, which could be a boon in a language or reading learning environment. 1500 books - can you say library anyone?


I'll know that is ready for prime time when:

a) I have one
b) There are as many people pulling one out on the T as reading the free Metro 'newspaper'
c) My book is available as a download.

Want to write a compelling piece for critique?

One of the key pieces of advice that bubbles to the surface of my consciousness time and time again is, "to write well, you have to read well."
That means reading the chosen piece twice. Once for shear enjoyment and then a second time to analyze the authors technique and craft points.
It also means, reading what you want to write - be it technology articles, poetry, literary fiction, historical non-fiction, travel writing, short stories, or mysteries in all their glorious sub-genres.
It's a tall order and that is why sometimes, picking a genre or theme and sticking with it is so important for new writers.
Focus and practice, not every four weeks, but every day develops a flow and a rhythm and there is no better way to do this than writing a short blog on a subject that interests or entertains you.
The blog can be set to private for you alone or shared with only those you nominate, at least until you're ready to face the world or have it face you.
If anyone would like help or advice in setting up there own blog drop me a line.

In the meantime, I can recommend reading Andrew McAleer's "The 101 HABITS of highly successful novelists" available on Amazon or on 14 day loan from our very own Lincoln Library.

It's a Mystery

Why are we in this financial mess? It's a mystery, or is it?

If it's due to incompetence then the telling of the story does not meet the criteria for the mystery genre.
If it is due to a criminal act, or a criminal act is implied then it does belong to the mystery genre.

Who says so?

Well, the authors, no less, of Mystery Writing in a Nutshell, John and Andrew McAleer.

Paragraph 1.1 quotes Otto Penzler's definition of a mystery as, "Any short work of fiction in which a crime or threat of a crime is central to the theme or plot. It is a broad definition, covering detective, espionage, suspense, and crime fiction. Horror or supernatural is not included."

So there you have it, at least for the purpose of Crimestalker's Casebook.

I'm told the library has a copy of this excellent little book, used by Andrew McAleer, Professor of Crime Fiction at Boston College, to teach his course.

If you want to get into mystery writing, (and by the way, it goes way beyond - a sort of Strunk and White for fiction writers) it is also available at Amazon.com for $9.95 new or less secondhand.

That's a good question

It's strange how much in the group develops by osmosis. It's only when someone new asks questions that this becomes evident. This blog is as good a place as any to record 'the way we work' when 'rules' would be too strong a term to describe it.

Question.

I see people provide written comments at the meeting, sometimes with every page covered in annotation. Is this required and what comments are acceptable?

Answer.

The basic rule is two things that worked well, two that can be improved. Many people choose to provide more, suggesting grammar and spelling corrections that would not be appropriate or a good use of time in the face to face setting of the meeting. In general writer's appreciate comments covering all aspects of their, including words of encouragement and positive reinforcement.

Question

Should a person providing comments assume that the piece submitted is for publication and address its suitability in their comments?

Answer.

Many people write for themselves and for the pleasure it gives them.

Others seek fame and some even fortune and openly declare such intent. Either way, it is a good idea when sending out work for comment to provide some idea of the target audience, e.g. young adult, mystery readers, cooking fiends, not for publication etc. and if the writer is seeking to have the work published, the potential markets considered/targeted.

Crimebake 2008

Jeanne mentioned the Mystery Writers of America annual conference sponsored by the New England Chapter and Sisters in Crime at our last meeting.
Jeanne also mentioned the Al Blanchard Award for short story fiction set in New England or by an New England based writer.
Al was a Lincoln resident, and among many things in his life time a teacher, mystery author and President of The New England Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America.
In what I can only describe as a sad twist of a story no one could have imagined, Al Blanchard passed away in his hotel room at the Crimebake conference in, I believe, 2004.

Details of the competition for stories of 5000 words or less can be found at

http://www.crimebake.org/Al.htm

Deadline is April 30, 2008. Last year there were only 80 entries, so the odds are better than those of winning the lottery. The prize is publication, a free dinner and attendance at Crimebake.

It's too early to register for Crimebak but I have added a link to under useful links on the left hand side.

It would be fun to attend with fellow Write Stuff members - it is after all where I met Jeanne, who told me about this particular group.

Writing with purpose – or not.

Often, when I sit down and begin tapping away at the keyboard, I don't know where my initial thoughts will lead me. This approach, likened to throat clearing before making a speech, is an exercise recommended in a writing course I once took.
After a while, ideas take shape and, following several re-writes, they firm up and I understand the purpose or reason for writing the piece. If they don't, well it was just an exercise and is consigned to the wastebasket.
On other occasions, I plot and plan and storyboard and outline and then write. That usually happens for longer, or more complex works of fiction or non-fiction.
Knowing the intended purpose of the piece, its market if for publication and the target audience then helps me when in the self-editing mode.
When we pick up the New Yorker or National Enquirer, we know what to expect and how to receive it.
Describing the purpose of your work, whether intended for publication or not, and presented without the benefit of hardcover or magazine masthead, helps those reviewing or critiquing it to offer comments in an appropriate context.

Any ideas or information about self-publishing?

Bill Lytle of Lincoln is looking for information on self-publising. Do you know anybody who's used XLibris, PublishAmerica or the like? Geoff, would Grub Street be able to give him any information? I suggested he Google and get opinions on the various vendors; some of the online discussions can be rather...lively. He's at 781/259-9859 and he (and I) would appreciate your calling him with your vast knowledge. Thanks. Jeanne

Researching writing markets

This looks a useful site from Mary Anne if your digging around for somewhere to publish your work.

www.duotrope.com

The theme calendar may even inspire a topic to write about.

Publish or Perish?

I was very impressed by anyone's tenacity to stick to the efforts of publishing something for ten years. Amazing. But this precedent should give us all courage.

I doubt that I would try to publish the piece I am working on. I envision it as being just for family.

Thanks for this information.

Mary Ann

Publisher for you family history or memoir?

Checkout the December 2007 copy of The Writer - (I'm not sure if the library subscribes).
Page 14 has a breakthrough story about Betty Grant Henshaw, who wrote an account of growing up in the Oklahoma Hills during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression era.
At 60 years of age she decided to try her hand at writing, took writing classes, joined a writing group and wrote stories about her life.
Then, recognizing that they did not hang together, she drew up an outline (something she said that she should have done at the beginning) and created a book length novel. She spent the next 10 years attending writing conferences, talking to agents and sending out samples of her work, only to receive rejections.
The breakthrough came when a writer friend recognized that her work told the history of the era and suggested she submit it to a university press.

Texas Tech University presses jumped at the chance to publish her memoir and provided editing support and cover design. The book 'Children of the Dust: An Okie Family Story' is a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award.
Publication through a university press could apply to any one of several works read in our group.

In a similar vain, page 30 has a six-page step-by-step article by Moira Allen on "How to Write a Family History", which includes interesting sidebars on the 'crazy-quilt memoir' (an alternative to the usual chronological approach), and using birthday letters and tales from the family newsletter as source material.