From the outside, the process of organizing a collection of work should seem the same no matter the project. While it’s true that the steps remain similar, each time a book comes to life, the experience is different.
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Anna Karenina. Hamlet. Pride and Prejudice. These texts are part of a well-established cannon; not reading them (or liking them) feels akin to committing a literary misdemeanor. But I’ll admit it: Hamlet… doesn’t really do it for me. Ophelia doesn’t get enough time on stage and the plot thickens to tapioca-pudding levels in later acts. That’s why I love adaptations. When the original story feels inaccessible, a good modern adaptation brings the central themes and conflicts into twenty-first century life.
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I’ve always been a voracious reader, but now that I’m about to have a debut novel published, I see books as an author’s creation rather than just a story I consume, and enjoy, and feel things about. I know more about the work and hardship that most likely happened for the book to be in my hands. For me to have even heard of it in the first place now feels like a small miracle because so many good books aren’t widely known, and thus aren’t read.
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In the early 1970s my brother-in-law, Mark, published a pornographic novel. No one I knew had read it, except my sister. She said that Mark’s book contained graphic sex every few pages because an agent told him that sex sells. It didn’t for Mark. At a family gathering shortly after the publication, a small group of us surrounded the proud new author. My devoutly religious mother was curious about Mark’s creative process.
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There’s a cat lady in my novella, Great Expectations. She conforms to many aspects of the stereotype: she’s a misanthrope who lives alone with several felines. But Amanda Carey is so much more than a cat-lady. She’s smart and more sensitive than she seems; she is aware of the ridiculousness of her cat-situation (and has been known to curse at her cats and even handle them un-gently); and, unfortunately, she’s still reeling from some acutely painful past experiences. She’s a survivor and a fighter. Part of her embrace of cats (and her estrangement from other humans) is a response to trauma.
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Imagine this scenario: You’re walking down the street on a warm spring day, enjoying the shop windows full of artfully displayed wares. People smile and nod. Some wave. Some pause to admire you as you pass them by. One or two even whistle in appreciation.
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If you want to be an aspiring writer, you need to learn about the advantages of extensive reading. Strong reading habits allow us to write exciting blog posts, interesting stories, and so on. Active readers know that the attributes such as syntax control, correct word choice, and creative writing strategies can be obtained through reading. While doing so, you will also incorporate the new skills into your writing ability.
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For as long as I can remember, I have thought of myself as a collector. This became most true while working on Pages Penned in Pandemic: A Collective during the end of 2020 and into this new year. And while my best friend and co-editor, Justin Maher, couldn’t wait to begin assembling the work within this book, I must admit the task felt daunting.
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The rise of self-publishing and the prevalence of the ebook means that readers can access more books whenever, wherever. And with all this choice at their fingertips, a trustworthy review that helps readers navigate the ever-growing maze of books is more valuable than ever!
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Someone bought a banana duct-taped to a wall for $120k.
Allow me to repeat that: someone bought a banana duct-taped to a wall for $120k.
Imagine if there were a tool you could implement that caused you to discover an unknown part of yourself. Imagine if this tool already existed inside of you and made your writing fresh, insightful and mind-blowing. Imagine if this tool was free and rendered you empowered, at peace and energetic all at once.
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Did you know that 90% of people want to write a book? It’s true. Unfortunately, most people never even write the first word. Of those brave enough to begin, less than half actually finish. Then comes the scariest part: Submitting the manuscript to agents and publishers. Not only is it a painful process that makes you feel like a total and utter fraud, but your odds of landing a contract are about as good as you winning the lottery. And, if by some miracle you actually get your book published, you’re unlikely to sell more than a handful of copies.
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It’s a given in writing, of course. Everyone—even the most famous among us—has had their brilliant work rejected by agents and publishers. J.K. Rowling suffered 12 rejections of her first Harry Potter book. Stephen King’s Carrie? 30 times. Even beloved Dr. Seuss: 27 rejections.
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Feeling stuck and unmotivated? Instead of trying to force yourself, try getting a fresh perspective. Take a look at these inspirational and informational writing blogs and newsletters:
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When I started writing, I understood the writing process. I knew the importance of learning as much as possible about the craft as well as the publishing industry. But it took me a while to learn the importance of feedback from other writers.
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My standby playtime routine as a child of the ‘80s, when Disney VHS tapes were watched until you could only see tracking lines, was acting out Maid Marian being rescued by Robin Hood. I would swing from my bed, sometimes hanging off the stuffed animal clip chain attached to my ceiling (until it was no longer attached to the ceiling), in a flowing red polka dot dress properly adorned with a blanket veil and a long, twisting string of faux pearls.
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There’s this scene in Love Actually that I really hate. Colin Firth plays a famous author working on a new book at his Italian villa overlooking a scenic lake. It always makes me cringe. Not the part where the wind blows his precious manuscript into the lake or the part where he dives into the freezing water to save it. What bugs me is the idea that somewhere in the world there are writers with lakeside villas.
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You’re probably familiar with Sarah Foil’s series where she posts five reasons why she was distracted from writing that week. I love how she points out that the only thing writers love more than writing is avoiding writing. Like Sarah, I am certainly no exception. So, when Sarah invited me to write a guest blog, I decided to share my five reasons for why I am writing during the pandemic. When stay-at-home directives were issued, I knew what I wanted to do: pick up a children’s middle-grade novel that I started in 2018 and finish it. Here’s who/what has kept me writing—literally every day—since the first weeks of March.
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As writers, we know that the first draft of our work won’t be…the best. Characters aren’t fleshed out. Plot hole are large and in charge. Spelling and grammar have taken the day off. But as an impatient, perfectionist picture book writer, I wanted everything I wrote to be publication-worthy on my first try. Since that’s impossible, I found myself putting off first drafts for as long as possible.
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