Writers and JK Rowling Envy

BBC NEWS | Magazine | JK Rowling, the new Roger Bannister

If asked whether I suffer from the condition commonly known as JK Rowling Envy, I can't say no.

Like any other writer who is not JK Rowling, I can't say no because my teeth are so tightly gritted in a smile of good sportsmanship that tiny fragments of enamel are given off into the atmosphere, and if I opened my mouth any further a long howl of anguish would be released, tapering into a convulsive whimper, punctuated with deliriously mumbled statistics. 325 million copies. 65 languages. A thousand million dollars. A million billion roubles. Gazillion fantabulon megayen...

Technorati Tags: writing, writers, envy, JK Rowling,

Why Write Erotica?

Omgili - Why Write Erotica?

Why write erotica? 1) It's fun. 2) It's interesting. 3) It connects with people, sex is the 2nd strongest human drive behind survival. 4) If you can write erotica you probably have the courage to tackle any other genre or topic under the sun or moon.

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, erotic, sexual, erotica

Query Letters

How to Write a Query Letter | Writer's Resource Center

Query letters are a much-debated practice in the writing community. The majority of writers swear by them, but others feel they are a waste of time. There are many successful writers who stick to sending completed manuscripts or informal, ultra-brief queries. This practice has especially grown in the age of email, where a less formal writing style has taken root. See Bob Sassone's article The Query Trap if you want to look further into that strategy.

Technorati Tags: query letters, writing writer, writers,

NY Post Headline: Lindsay Lohan

Nanowrimo

Don't ask me. I'm just the author. - Tiisme’s blog

I'm working on my second novel right now. The first was written for National Novel Writing Month, a challenge held every November to write a novel of new material and at least 50,000 words, starting November 1st and submitting it by 11:59pm on November 30th. I managed 50,133 words in 24 days and, not surprisingly, it was a story of little depth. It was amusing and I was pleased with some of my descriptions and dialogue. It also got that first crappy novel out of the way and taught me the value of outlining, which I'd never done before. I think outlining was the key to finishing the novel, even though I had to veer off-outline several times in order to not contradict myself.

Publish America Ordered to Repay Author

Publish America Ordered to Repay Author | Writer's Resource Center

According to an article in The Frederick News-Post, Publish America, the self-proclaimed "nation's number one book publisher" was recently ordered to repay one of its author's for breach of contract. Phillip Dolan, the author of A Handsome Guy, won what he calls a "substantial settlement" through arbitration.

I've heard many complaints about Publish America. There are claims that they misrepresent themselves as a traditional publisher when in actuality they are a vanity press. There are claims that people get locked into onerous long-term contracts. There are claims that Publish America cheats authors out of their rightful royalties.

Satire by Sroka

satire-by-sroka

New satire, humor, comedy, sarcasm, weirdness and fun from the creator/writer of Digital Diarrhea, Unpublished Proceedings, the original World Famous Calendars and Short Stories, and the new crazy Berserk Briefs

Technorati Tags: satire, humor, sarcasm, comedy, sroka

Writing Credentials

Civil War Medicine (and Writing): School of the Writer - Part II - "Credentials"

Before I launch into lessons on how to get your work published in one of the many magazines targeted to Civil War enthusiasts, I wanted to discuss the subject of "Credentials." What are "credentials" and why are they important when it comes to pitching ideas to - and writing articles for - magazines?

Golden Age of Literature?

blog.myspace.com/timmyg4ever

Right now is a veritable Golden Age for the world of literature. If you like reading, being alive right now is the equivalent of liking theater and being alive in Shakespeare-era London, or liking rock and roll and being alive in the 60's, or liking to be mauled by prehistoric predators and being alive in the stone-age. Why are we, right now, at the peak of our literary prowess as a civilization? One name:



J.K. Rowling.

Travel Writer Found dead on Chinese Mountain

Travel writer's body found on Chinese mountain - Independent Online Edition > Australasia

One of Lonely Planet's most experienced travel writers, Clem Lindenmayer, has been found dead on a Chinese mountainside, three months after he was reported missing.

Mr Lindenmayer, 47, had set out to climb Mount Gongga, in a remote area of south-west China, telling his family that he expected to complete a circuit in six days. When they failed to hear from him, his relatives posted messages on travellers' websites. China's official Xinhua news agency reported yesterday that villagers had found his body last Thursday.

Technorati Tags: writer, travel, travel writer, Lonely Planet, Clem Lindenmayer

Harold Bloom's Eloquence re: Harry Potter

Harold Bloom, literary lion, loses his shit on Potter fans…again « raincoaster

Some of those New York intellectual types can be rather tightly wound. Here, the OriginalUnoriginal reports as eminence grise Harold Bloom, the king of litcrit heavyweights, Sterling Professor for the Humanities at Yale University, and Berg Professor of English and American Literature at New York University, goes apeshit on some hapless Pottermaniacs.

“It’s crap! It’s fucking crap! It’s double fucking crap!” He ranted at the assembly of overtly nerdy adults and blank-faced children – many wearing faux dark-rimmed glasses and wizard hats – who seemed more perplexed by Bloom’s sub-references than intimidated by his harangue.

Technorati Tags: writier, JK Rowling, Harry Potter, books, Harold Bloom

Steps to Better Writing

Get Anyone to Read Every Word You Write With These 7 Steps | Copyblogger

Read over your compositions, and when you meet a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out. ~Samuel Johnson

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, writing skills

Thoughts on Eharmony

Slate -> The Fray -> Ad Report Card

Several years ago I joined eHarmony for 6 months and $150. I never received ONE match. After a few months with no matches, I suspiciously asked the friend who told me about it (who happens to be a devout Christian) if it was a Christian-based site, because I had responded "atheist" to the religion query on eHarmony's questionaire. She didn't know. Now I understand the lack of matches. eHarmony should disclose its Christian roots up front so atheists such as myself won't throw our money away.

Collaboration/Creativity Tool

ThinkFold: Realtime outlining for groups

Collaborate in realtime using a structured and flexible outline format.

Create ideas, make notes, build plans, share files, agree tasks and organise everything in a single shared workspace, using just your web browser.

Technorati Tags: writing, collaboration, tool, writing tool, collaborative

Mindmapping/Creativity Tool

Welcome to Glinkr

Map and share your views of contents on the Web. See example on the right of a map of the debate "Which answer to the oil supply crisis?". Glinkr is free, simple to use and aims a broad variety of usage.

Technorati Tags: mindmapping, creativity, tool, online tools, writing, writer, writer's

The Complete Review

Complete Review - Welcome to the Complete Review

A selectively comprehensive, objectively opinionated survey of books old and new, trying to meet all your book review, preview, and information needs.

7th Harry Potter Book

Collected Miscellany

I am still slogging through the Harry Potter tomes as fast as I can - four down two to go - but I just realized that there is going to be a problem with me trying to read the seventh book as soon as I get it.

Iranian Literature

Iran’s contemporary literature must be globalized, literati say

The fourth gathering of the “Iran’s Contemporary Literature in the Global Perspective” sessions was held on Sunday at the Tehran Art and Cultural Complex.

Abbas Pejman and Fat’hollah Biniaz, who are both writers and critics, delivered lectures during the session in which they elaborated on the status of Persian literature.

Commenting on some countries’ efforts to globalize their literature, Biniaz said, “What countries like Turkey, South Korea, and China did in translating their literary works have helped introduce their literature across the globe. Even a country like China, which has monopolized Iran’s market, is interested in monopolizing Iran’s literary scene as well.

Market: 3AM Magazine

3:AM Magazine » Submissions

Submissions are the lifeblood of 3:AM. We don’t pay our writers (theirs is a spiritual reward) but we have an editorial policy designed to encourage and facilitate new writing. Our preference is for fresh, innovative and irreverent writing. With the following caveats…


1. Familiarise yourself with 3:AM and look at what kind of writing we already carry. Can you envisage your article on here?


2. Articles submitted to 3:AM should be unpublished. If you are submitting work which has already appeared in print or online, please let us know beforehand.

3. Complete articles are preferred over story pitches.

Technorati Tags: Writing Market, writer, writers, fiction, nonfiction, poetry

Online Books, Poems, Short Stories

Online Books, Poems, Short Stories - Read Print

A warm welcome to Read Print, your free online library. Our website offers thousands of free books for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast. To find the book you desire to read, start by looking through the author index. If you need help with something, feel free to drop us a line.

Technorati Tags: Books, fiction

WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT

Girl, Interrupted - washingtonpost.com

The title of Will Allison's first novel, What Yo u Have Left, is a play on words. What Wylie Greer leaves behind in 1976 is his 5-year-old daughter, Holly. And what Holly is eventually left with is her aging grandfather and an ache that no amount of rage, alcohol or video poker can satisfy. The novel takes its place on the shelf of American abandonment fiction, a subgenre that ranges from Huckleberry Finn to Housekeeping. In spare, transparent prose, Allison takes us through nearly four decades in the lives of a South Carolina family crippled by the past and unarmed for the future.

Flash Fiction - Casino Jesus

Casino Jesus

No one wears electric blue sharkskin suits anymore. His is impeccably tailored, shines like the iridescent body of a garbage fly. The suit fit glove tight. His slight frame resembles Prince with Larry King sunken shoulders. He looks weedy, sprouting up from ankle high–side zipper boots. His hair–slick–gunmetal black is Zevonian perfect. His birth name is Jesús DeCicco Dominguez. On the strip he’s known as Casino Jesus.

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, fiction, flash fiction, story, stories, literature

The ability to commit...

The ability to commit to something, to maintain concentration and see a project through, this is what you need to be able to write well and consistently. The truth is that writing is often not about the quality of what you are putting out, but is often about the quantity. quality comes from practice, you get practice by writing in quantity. You get a feel for how words work and how to express concepts and ideas by using words on a daily basis.


Technorati Tags: writing, writer, write, fiction, nonfiction

Gambia's First Internationl Literary Festival Starts Today

allAfrica.com: Gambia: Gambia's First Internationl Literary Festival Starts Today (Page 1 of 1)

The first International Literary Festival in The Gambia commences today, Friday 13 to 15 July 2007, at the Sun Beach Hotel at Cape Point. The festival is organised by SABLE "Lit Mag," an international literary magazine that features writers of African and Asian decent and other nationalities, from across the globe.

BBC Radio 4's adaptation of Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | BBC recruits Douglas Adams sleuth

The first series will consist of six 30-minute episodes

Comedian Harry Enfield is to play Dirk Gently, the eccentric detective created by late author Douglas Adams, in the character's first UK broadcast series.

BBC Radio 4's adaptation of Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency will begin in October.

The six-part drama is being directed by Dirk Maggs, who the late author chose to make a new radio version of his Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

Technorati Tags: Douglas Adams, BBC, Harry Enfield, radio

German Writer Wants to Read 'Satanic Verses' in Cologne Mosque

German Writer Wants to Read 'Satanic Verses' in Cologne Mosque

Paddy O'Reilly

Fire burns slow and bright | The Courier-Mail

IT WAS something of a surprise when Paddy O'Reilly suggested we go to Hell's Kitchen. Not living up to its name, it was a quiet place to speak.

O'Reilly is a Melbourne-based author with a growing national reputation.

A multi-award winner for screenplays and fiction, her first novel, The Factory, was voted one of the best books for 2005 by The Australian Book Review. Her latest book, The End of the World, is a fine collection of short stories.

Random Writer's Contest

BCNG Portals Page (R)

As part of the festival, writers are asked to compose a short, short story of 150 words or less for the Friday, July 20 writers’ coffee house.

Prizes will be awarded by Nina Dickins for the best entries read during the coffee house that runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sorrento OAPO Hall, adjacent to the Memorial Hall.

Bad Authors

The Chronicle: 6/29/2007: No Bad Authors

By the time I left publishing, in the mid-90s, I had decided there were no bad books, only bad authors.

That, of course, is not true. There are plenty of bad books. But after a dozen years in the industry, the whining and whingeing of authors had worn me down: The conspiracy theories about how a publisher set out to ruin an author's career by not sending his 15-year-old book to a small regional conference; the notion that a publisher sullied an author's reputation by giving her a red cover; the complaint that there were not enough ads promoting the book (there were never enough ads); the indignation that we didn't get the author reviewed in The New York Times, or booked on Oprah.

Book Reviewers Vs Bloggers

Battle of the book reviews - BOOKS & IDEAS - Los Angeles Times - calendarlive.com

"If you were an author, would you want your book reviewed in the Washington Post and the New York Review of Books, or on a web site written by someone who uses the moniker NovelGobbler or Biogafriend?" Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic, wrote in the Washington Post. "The book review section … remains the forum where new titles are taken seriously as works of art and argument, and not merely as opportunities for shallow grandstanding and overblown ranting."

The Boring Literary Novel

Essays: 'Divine comedy' by Julian Gough | Prospect Magazine May 2007 issue 134

What is wrong with the modern literary novel? Why is it so worthy and dull? Why is it so anxious? Why is it so bloody boring?

Classic Literature is Mostly Padding

Publisher makes lite work of the classics - Times Online

To howls of indignation from literary purists, a leading publishing house is slimming down some of the world’s greatest novels.

Tolstoy, Dickens and Thackeray would not have agreed with the view that 40 per cent of Anna Karenina, David Copperfield and Vanity Fair are mere “padding”, but Orion Books believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions.

prose crammed with as many infuriating phrases as possible

Telegraph newspaper online

Eager to preserve the English language against a rising tide of nonsense, we asked readers to compose a piece of prose crammed with as many infuriating phrases as possible. Christopher Howse is amazed and amused by the torrent of replies...

7 Highly Useful Tools for Writers

1. freelance networking for writers


2. U.S. Copyright Office


3. Authoratory: find an expert in any field


4. Freemind - Teaching Tool or Story Outliner?


5. Reach-a-Mail


6. Jarte - A Free Word Processor


7. Writer's Database

Paying Markets: T3A Space � Guidelines

T3A Space � Guidelines: "We publish new Science Fiction and Fantasy (Interzone), Horror (Black Static) and Crime (Crimewave) stories of up to about 10,000 words in length."

Technorati Tags: submission, guidelines, paying, market, writers, writing, freelance, fiction, story, short, short-story, writer's, literary, literature

Paying Market: G o i n g D o w n S w i n g i n g -- Literary Anthology

G o i n g D o w n S w i n g i n g -- Literary Anthology: "SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED FOR GOING DOWN SWINGING #26
Submissions of fiction, poetry, comics and spoken word tracks for issue #26
are now open until 31st July 2007."

Technorati Tags: submission, guidelines, paying, market, writers, writing, freelance, fiction, story, short, short-story, writer's, literary, literature

Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction

Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction: "Given the genre's flexibility and expansiveness, we welcome a variety of works—ranging from personal essays and memoirs to literary journalism and personal criticism. The editors invite works that are lyrical, self-interrogative, meditative, and reflective, as well as expository, analytical, exploratory, or whimsical. In short, we encourage submissions across the full spectrum of the fourth genre. The journal encourages a writer-to-reader conversation, one that explores the markers and boundaries of literary/creative nonfiction."


That's a mouthful. It sounds like the kind of mealy-mouthed academic shit people read because they have to, or because they think it will make them smarter, rather than stuff that edifies or entertains. It reminds me of the poeple who go to Barnes and Noble or the library to pose as readers. Oh, look at me, I'm carrying books!!!!!

freelance networking for writers

freelance networking for writers: "Writing is connection. I love cars, you love cars. My role as a writer is to research new models, accessories, cost of gasoline, insurance issues, new places to drive, among other things and then get that information into your hands."

Technorati Tags: writing, writers, write, publish, publisher, publishing, freelance, freelancer, freelancers

Publicist, Publisher, and Writer Team up to Help Authors

Publicist, Publisher, and Writer Team up to Help Authors - PR.com: " Last October, Yvonne Perry of Nashville, Tennessee started a podcast called Writers in the Sky as an outreach of her company Write On! Creative Writing Services. Since then, she has interviewed more than 30 authors and continues to upload a new show to her Weblog each Friday."

Technorati Tags: writing, dream, dream, talent, writers

What You Love vs. The Day Job

How exactly do you reconcile the distance between doing that you love and doing what you have to do to eat? It means a constant state of dissatisfaction with your life as it is. You are unfulfilled by your day job, so it makes you miserable. You are not successful at what you love, so you don't earn enough from it, therefore you are unsatisfied with that too. This is how dreams get crushed. At some point a voice in your head is going to say, "grow up". People usually see following dreams in adulthood as a sign of immaturity, especially if you are not immediately successful. Most people don't have dreams, or gave up on them a long time ago. Misery loves company.


Technorati Tags: writing, dream, dream, talent, writers

Movie Critic Joel Siegel Dies at Age 63 - Associated Content

Movie Critic Joel Siegel Dies at Age 63 - Associated Content: "Good Morning America film critic Joel Siegel, best known for his honest movie reviews as well
as his glasses and bushy mustache has died at age 63, according to CNN.Mr. Siegel died
Friday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends. He had been battling colon cancer for ten years."

Make money as a freelance writer

Make money as a freelance writer - course :: Freelance UK: "Freelance journalists in need of a motivational boost were yesterday invited to a masterclass in how to make money as an independent writer."

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, writers, course, how-to, freelance,

Frank Miller's Sin City Library I: Books: Frank Miller

Amazon.com: Frank Miller's Sin City Library I: Books: Frank Miller: "In this massive collection you get the first four Sin City graphic novels housed in a black slipcase with the Sin City logo in red foil. The volumes presented here are in hardcover format in a larger than normal size. Think of the DC Absolute hardcover series; these books are just slightly smaller than that format. As if the extra large presentation weren't enough, the page stock has been significantly upgraded. The pages are as thick as the typical Sin City cover stock, and ultra-glossy, which is ideally suited for Miller's dynamic black and white artwork. Each page becomes fine art. I was extremely pleased with my original Sin City hardcovers and paperbacks, but they just pale in comparison to the quality of this package. This really is the ultimate Sin City reading experience."

Technorati Tags: writing, frank, miller, daredevil, books, book, comicbook, illustration, illustrator, graphic, novel

Ronin: Books: Frank Miller

Amazon.com: Ronin: Books: Frank Miller: "This story comes across much better than the parts would suggest. It has elements of fantasy, history, and science fiction woven together. It's an eco-catastrophic world with clean, livable enclaves for the few. It has demons, heroes, and some who tried and failed. A lesser writer would have made those parts sound like a formula: 'Attach Hero (a) to Villain (b), then connect the Mysterious Source of Vast Power (c).'"

Technorati Tags: writing, frank, miller, daredevil, books, book, comicbook, illustration, illustrator, graphic, novel

Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus: Books: Frank Miller,Roger McKenzie,David Michelinie,Klaus Janson

Amazon.com: Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus: Books: Frank Miller,Roger McKenzie,David Michelinie,Klaus Janson: "As the artist for Spectacular Spider-Man, the then basically unknown Frank Miller took on the job as penciler for Daredevil; which was one of Marvel's more maligned titles at the time. Eventually he also began to write the book, and that's when the magic really started to happen. What's collected here in this Daredevil Omnibus is Miller's complete, legendary run on Daredevil in which he reinvents characters from the ground up. Adding some spice to creator Stan Lee's original vision of Daredevil's origin, Miller is also noted for the introduction of Elektra; the ninja assassin and Matt 'Daredevil' Murdock's life long love who is now his adversary. "


Technorati Tags: writing, frank, miller, daredevil, books, book, comicbook, illustration, illustrator, graphic, novel

Nuts & Bolts of Writing

Nuts & Bolts of Writing

If you need this, you probably need to find something else to do.

Inquest opens into ’spy’ billionaire’s death

Jetcity � Blog Archive � Inquest opens into ’spy’ billionaire’s death : "I have a feeling this would be my true vocation, meaning espionage. Anyway, a billionaire Mossad spy in Egypt, if that’s not cool I don’t know what is. This is the kind of idea fiction writers lust after but can’t touch. Plausible, complex and full of possibilities. Throw in some hot sex and gun play and Tom Clancy would wish I he had thought of it first. "

Taxi Driver Screenplay

TRAVIS BICKLE, age 26, lean, hard, the consummate loner. On
the surface he appears good-looking, even handsome; he has a
quiet steady look and a disarming smile which flashes from
nowhere, lighting up his whole face. But behind that smile,
around his dark eyes, in his gaunt cheeks, one can see the
ominous stains caused by a life of private fear, emptiness
and loneliness. He seems to have wandered in from a land
where it is always cold, a country where the inhabitants
seldom speak. The head moves, the expression changes, but
the eyes remain ever-fixed, unblinking, piercing empty space.

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, screenwriting, movie, fim, cinema, script

U.S. Copyright Office

U.S. Copyright Office

Zinio: Your favorite magazines... Now Digital

Zinio: Your favorite magazines... Now Digital

Authoratory: find an expert in any field

Authoratory: find an expert in any field: "Authoratory is a unique database of contact information, professional interests, social connections and funding of 289,943 leading scientists!

Academia or the private sector, whether you seek an expert witness, a sales lead, an inside connection, a job, a hire, or a reference - its all here in Authoratory!"

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, writers, written, books, expert, literature, education, teaching,

Ghost Story Writers

Ghost Story Writers: "The Cyclopaedia of Ghost Story Writers is an ever-expanding database of information (bibliographic and biographic) of authors who have written at least one published short story (generally less than 30,000 words) with the theme of haunting or another related aspect of the supernatural during the Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian period. The current definition of whether an author belongs within this period is vague but as a general rule no author born before about 1920 is included."

Why Writer's Market is a Waste of Money (if you didn't already know)

Oh sure, Writer's Market was all we had before the Internet, but now it's obsolete. Almost every magazine's writer's guidelines can be found online, and the writer's guidelines are what you want, not those little snippets Writer's Market give you. A quick Google search is of far more use to you than $50.00 worth of paper that loses value every single day from the date of purchase. By the time you get it many of the listings will be already worthless, after a year you would be better off tossing it. For you die hard fans of WM I suggest you start highlighting all the submissions the USPS bounces back to you ("No forwarding address") if you want to see what I mean.

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, writer's guidelines, writer's market, books, articles, essays, selling, publishing, publisher, magazine, mail, postal, submission, submissions

Writing a Book

Noisy Decent Graphics: "'people ask me from time to time if I’ve thought about writing a book. Well, as a matter of fact, I have… but thinking about it hasn’t magically produced a manuscript, as it turns out.'"

The 10 secrets of writing reviews that will keep readers coming back � Jonathan Deamer

The 10 secrets of writing reviews that will keep readers coming back � Jonathan Deamer: "Reviews make great blog posts: they’re not only a novel answer to the perpetual blogger’s conundrum of “what shall I write about today?”, but also a cool way to attract readers. Lots of people want to know if the new U2 record (for example) is any good, so why not write to cater for an audience that’s already there? "

Comics By Fletcher Hanks

Boing Boing: I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets! Destructo has an oxygen-destroying ray that he's going to use on every big shot in America, suffocating them all at the same time. The Destructo mob uses astounding efficiency to conceal vials of oxygen-destroying rays all over the world. They release the rays using a radio-cabin on a pine-clad mountain. The president, cabinet, and congress keel over. So do all newspaper and magazine editors, the FBI, secret service, bankers, industrial leaders, doctors, Army and Navy officers, enlisted men, police, etc. Panic sets in.

Paying Market: Intergalactic Medicine Show

Submissions - Intergalactic Medicine Show We are looking for stories of any length in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. "Science fiction" includes hard sf, sf adventure, alternate history, near-future, far-future, psi, alien, and any other kind of sf you can think of. "Fantasy" includes heroic fantasy (based on any culture's mythology), fairy tales, contemporary fantasy, and "horror" in the sense of supernatural suspense (not gory bloodfests, thanks).

Technorati Tags: markets, writing, writer, fiction

Pure Writing Balls

Neo-Nutsies bring frustration, anger -- and joy - 06/27/2007 - MiamiHerald.com ''You should be back in a damn mud and dung hut you nappy headed ho''. . .''Who's crying now, you affirmative action ape?''. . . and etcetera. The gist of this outburst: a handful of contentions, each more asinine than the last.

Children's Author to Teach on Flash Fiction

During the Namekagon Art Festival on Saturday, July 7, Redbery Books will present a writer’s workshop by Catherine Friend, entitled “Catch the Magic: the Basics (And Beyond) of Writing for Children.” The class will be held at Mooselips in downtown Seeley from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Catherine Friend is the 2007 recipient of the Loft/McKnight Award in Children’s Literature. She has published six books for children including her most recent picture book, “The Perfect Nest,” illustrated by John Manders. Friend lives on a farm in southeastern Minnesota and is the author of the memoir, “Hit by a Farm: How I Learned to Stop.” She has taught writing for 10 years at the Institute of Children’s Literature and has freelanced as an editor critiquing manuscripts.

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, flash fiction, fiction, Catherine, Friend

Why wine writers talk that way

Why wine writers talk that way. - By Mike Steinberger - Slate Magazine: "'Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine,' Fran Lebowitz once said. "

How to Become a Freelance Blog Writer

� How to Become a Freelance Blog Writer: "But the cool thing about freelance blog writing is that you can do it from any place, any time of day. So you can write late at night, during your lunch hour, or in the early morning hours. You can do it while traveling, or while sitting through a boring conference. There’s a freedom to it that’s very appealing.

So how do you go about becoming a freelance blog writer? Here are some of my best tips:"

“Do you like science fiction?”

Awkward Things I Say To Girls � Blog Archive � “Do you like science fiction?”: "“You know what I really want? A girl who likes science fiction. I want a really nerdy girl. Let’s be honest.”

Then I start to think. Why not just ask?"

TabPad

LFI.net // Programs // TabPad: "TabPad is yet another Notepad clone - except with tabs. TabPad was designed to look almost identical to Notepad, with the same features and functionability (plus more), except to also incorporate tabs. TabPad is fast, efficient and well written, and supports opening dozens (if not more) of tabs for text files. You can make it your default editor if you please, TabPad supports files being opened by Explorer, or you can simply use it standalone. Drag and drop support is also included (that includes batch drag and drop, meaning multiple files). As of Version 1.90, TabPad includes autorecovery, allowing you to salvage anything you were working on in the event of a program/system error or power outage [There is no gurantee you will not lose data]. I've also incorporated an 'ASP Tools' toolbar, allowing you to quickly access all the files an ASP page 'includes', or search through them automatically."

Technorati Tags: Tabpad, freeware, software, writer, writers, writing, tool, tools,

Words Invented by Shakespeare by joel laumans

piksels � Words Invented by Shakespeare by joel laumans: "Today while browsing the ever so beautiful interwebs, I came across something interesting about Shakespeare. Turns out that our second favourite William (after the one and only William Gates of course) invented over 1700 of the words we use commonly use, by simply turning nouns into verbs, adjectives into verbs, and so forth..

Here is a very small list of words he invented:
Accused
Addiction
Advertising
Amazement
Arouse
Assassination
Bandit
Bedroom"

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, words, Shakespeare

WellToldTales.com

WellToldTales.com: "Well Told Tales is looking for edgy fare, 2,000 to 5,000 words (give or take), in the sci-fi, horror and hardboiled (ie: crime or detective) genres. See our submissions policy for more information."

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, writers, fiction, fictional, story, stories, literature, literary, submission, markets, magazine, magazines, ezine, ezines

List of DC Comics cosmic entities - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of DC Comics cosmic entities - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "A
the A
Abaddon the Destroyer, featured in JLA, The Demon, and The Books of Magic
Abnegazar of the Demons Three, featured in JLA
Adramelech
Agony & Ecstasy, from Hellblazer
Ale
The Aleph
Alexander Luthor, Jr., of Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis
Amenadiel, from Lucifer
Amethyst, a Lord of Order
Antagonist (of the New Gods)
Anti-Matter Man
Anti-Monitor, from Crisis on Infinite Earths
Anti-Sun
Archangels, from Books of Magic
Ares, frequent adversary of Wonder Woman
Artemis
Arzaz
Ayries, from Green Lantern #43
Asmodel
Asteroth
Athena
Auron
Azmodus"

Technorati Tags: writing, writer, writers, fiction, fictional, story, stories, literature, literary, submission, markets, magazine, magazines, ezine, ezines

philipkdickfans.com - The web site devoted to science fiction visionary Philip K. Dick

philipkdickfans.com - The web site devoted to science fiction visionary Philip K. Dick: "Welcome to PhilipKDickfans.com, the ultimate online resource dedicated to the life and work of the world's greatest science fiction author. The twenty first century has seen a surge of interest in Philip K. Dick, whose stories have inspired generations of readers, film lovers and artists of all kinds. "

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LabLit.com - the culture of science in fiction & fact

LabLit.com - the culture of science in fiction & fact

Paying Market-Futurismic: Guidelines

Futurismic: Guidelines: "Futurismic seeks contemporary science fiction for publication at the website. We're looking for innovative, exciting stories that use the tools of speculative fiction to examine contemporary issues and take a look at what's just around the corner. Whether by established professionals or promising newcomers, we would like to see the very best in today's SF, with an emphasis on work that truly connects with and illuminates the fast-paced, fascinating times we live in."

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Award-Winning Erotic Fiction and Romantic Erotica Available This Summer

Award-Winning Erotic Fiction and Romantic Erotica Available This Summer: "'I believe in romance with bite, sex with enthusiasm, and a full range of emotions from cave to sky that would make 'Heathcliff' and 'Mr. Darcy' fall to their knees in full passion. I believe in romantic erotica that is exciting and invigorating for both men and women. My readers share my books with their lovers. They can't get my books back from their wives -- or husbands,' said Neale Sourna."

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Flashes On The Meridian: Dazzled by Flash Fiction

Flashes On The Meridian: Dazzled by Flash Fiction: "Lately there are brilliant flashes of fiction almost everywhere you look. You see them in print journals, magazines, anthologies, collections. You will also find dazzling examples of flash fiction on the Internet, in all its many forms, guises, and under all its many names. Is flash fiction something new? Or is this art form presently enjoying yet another period of popularity? I would answer that it is something old, something new, and even something borrowed too. It is a wedding of sorts--a wedding of styles, traditions, and genres."

Erotic poems reveal Juan Ram�n Jim�nez did more than just pray with three nuns

DollyMix: Erotic poems reveal Juan Ram�n Jim�nez did more than just pray with three nuns: "Jim�nez said the years he spent under the nuns' 'care' were the 'happiest of my life'. He about his experiences with the nuns in a series of 'lewd and erotic' poems, which he sent to a publishing company, and then retracted as he didn't want to upset his wife."

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Response Source | Press Releases - Win �500 in the LoveHoney Erotic Fiction Competition!

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Ficlets | Welcome to Ficlets!

Ficlets | Welcome to Ficlets!: "A ficlet is a short story that enables you to collaborate with the world.

Once you’ve written and shared your ficlet, any other user can pick up the narrative thread by adding a prequel or sequel. In this manner, you may know where the story begins, but you’ll never guess where (or even if!) it ends."

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Wired 14.11: Very Short Stories

Wired 14.11: Very Short Stories: "We'll be brief: Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ('For sale: baby shoes, never worn.') and is said to have called it his best work. So we asked sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from the realms of books, TV, movies, and games to take a shot themselves."

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What Is the Best Work of American Fiction of the Last 25 Years? - New York Times

What Is the Best Work of American Fiction of the Last 25 Years? - New York Times: "Early this year, the Book Review's editor, Sam Tanenhaus, sent out a short letter to a couple of hundred prominent writers, critics, editors and other literary sages, asking them to please identify 'the single best work of American fiction published in the last 25 years.' Following are the results."

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Entitlement: Choosing the Right Name for Your Story

Entitlement: Choosing the Right Name for Your Story: "So what's in a title? Is it really that important?

You bet it is. Would you rather your job resume say 'salesperson' or 'marketing representative'? 'Clerk' or 'service specialist'? 'Repairman' or 'technician'? One sounds commonplace; the other sounds impressive.

Let's go a step further. Imagine Boys' Life billed as Youth Experiences. Or Nightline as Ted's Late News Roundup. Loses a little something, right? And it's hard to picture 007 introducing himself as 'Dinkins. Arnold Dinkins.'"

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RESEARCH, TRACK, AND CONQUER How to research short fiction markets, track submissions, and ultimately get published.

RESEARCH, TRACK, AND CONQUER How to research short fiction markets, track submissions, and ultimately get published. : "As an editor of a quarterly fiction journal and a published short fiction writer, I know full well the rigors of getting a piece published. I've both written and received my share of rejection letters, and I know it is easier to give up than to press on. Having also had the privilege to write and receive a handful of acceptances, I know that it's worth the struggle. In this article I will lay out guidelines for finding the right markets and tracking your submissions."

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Paying Market: Strange Horizons Fiction Submission Guidelines

Strange Horizons Fiction Submission Guidelines: "We want good speculative fiction. If your story doesn't have a clear fantasy or science fiction element, or at least strong speculative-fiction sensibilities, it's probably not for us.

We'd like to help make the field of speculative fiction more inclusive, more welcoming to both authors and readers from traditionally underrepresented groups, so we're interested in seeing stories from diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

We want stories that have some literary depth but aren't boring; styles that are unusual yet readable; structures that balance inventiveness with traditional narrative. We like characters we can care about. We like settings and cultures that we don't see all the time in speculative fiction."

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Fantastic Fiction

Fantastic Fiction: "Bibliographies for over 10,000 authors"

Stephen King on the artistic merits of torture porn - Los Angeles Times

Stephen King on the artistic merits of torture porn - Los Angeles Times: "I go to see the films because I like them, I like to be scared anyway. And I think you have a tendency to see things come in waves. If one thing is successful others follow in its wake. And the thing is, 'Hostel 2' is actually a better picture in every way. It's very clever and Eli Roth is a tremendous talent, and has a tremendous eye as a director. The material makes a lot of people uneasy, it makes me uneasy."

Samuel L. Jackson To Replace Bruce Willis As 'Nick Fury' - Starpulse News Blog

Samuel L. Jackson To Replace Bruce Willis As 'Nick Fury' - Starpulse News Blog : "Samuel L. Jackson has replaced his Unbreakable and Pulp Fiction co-star Bruce Willis as the frontrunner to play Marvel Comics' Nick Fury, according to breaking internet reports. Jackson will be introduced as the character in the upcoming Iron Man film, before taking the lead in a blockbuster surrounding the character, according to website AintItCool.com."

Pulp Fiction Art at its Best

www.skullring.org: Pulp Fiction Art at its Best: "Now, The Incredible Pulps: A Gallery of Fiction Magazine Art, edited by Frank M. Robinson, has brought back a little taste of the past. "

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U.S. reporter's Iraq saga wins top non-fiction prize - washingtonpost.com

U.S. reporter's Iraq saga wins top non-fiction prize - washingtonpost.com: "An American reporter's account of the surreal world inside Baghdad's top security Green Zone was named on Monday as winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize, billed as the world's richest award for non-fiction."

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Behind the Scenes in Lesbian Fiction | AfterEllen.com

Behind the Scenes in Lesbian Fiction | AfterEllen.com: "Hundreds of writers, publishers, editors and fans gathered earlier this month in Atlanta, Ga., for the third annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference, which celebrates the diverse world of lesbian literature. The society was founded in 2004 when several lesbian writers and publishers realized there was no organization specifically focused on promoting lesbian-themed fiction."

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BlackNews.com - African American Erotic Fiction Gets Passionate Following By Author Zane

BlackNews.com - African American Erotic Fiction Gets Passionate Following By Author Zane: "When she started writing erotic fiction in her spare time and e-mailing it to friends and online acquaintances, it made sense to keep calling herself Zane -- after all, she couldn't be sure who was reading her work. Then she developed a following and discovered she could sell a book, and Zane was destined to stay Zane."

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Fiction lands journalists in hot water

IOL: Fiction lands journalists in hot water: "A news report about a school essay on a fictional president's refusal to admit fathering an illegitimate child has reportedly landed five Malian journalists and a teacher in prison."

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Movies: Can Hollywood do comic book movies right? | comic, books, book - TheV247.com

Movies: Can Hollywood do comic book movies right? | comic, books, book - TheV247.com: "Comic book movies equal Hollywood gold, right?

With icons like Spider-Man and Batman racking up ticket sales, and lesser-known commodities like Hellboy and Blade making their mark on the big screen, it seems like comic books and the silver screen have finally learned to work together. OK, you may have to ignore duds like 'Catwoman' and the bland 'Ghost Rider.'"

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Meet the writer who disappeared between her own dark lines - Books - smh.com.au

Meet the writer who disappeared between her own dark lines - Books - smh.com.au: "THE case of Laura Albert - professionally known as J.T. Leroy - could be read as a literary cautionary tale, the story of a writer who hid behind her assumed identity and lost herself.

Where there should have been a single life, there were, instead, a pair: J.T. Leroy, addict, androgyne and the acclaimed author of Sarah, a novel about truck-stop prostitution set among the diesel fumes of a West Virginia highway."

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allAfrica.com: Angola: African And World Problems Portrayed in Novel (Page 1 of 1)

allAfrica.com: Angola: African And World Problems Portrayed in Novel (Page 1 of 1): "Immigration matters and ties between the West and Africa are the themes highlighted in the novel 'Zebra', by Angolan writer, Reis Lu�s 'Mbwango', that will be released Friday 18h00 hours in Luanda, on the premises of the Angola Writers Union."

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Former Royal Aide Blasts Author Of Controversial Book On Diana | June 21, 2007

AHN | Former Royal Aide Blasts Author Of Controversial Book On Diana | June 21, 2007: "The author of a new biography about Britain's late Princess Diana has been blasted by a former royal aide. Dickie Arbiter, a former Buckingham Palace spokesman, has accused Tina Brown of cashing in on Diana's death with the publication of her book 'The Diana Chronicles.'

He told Britain's The Independent newspaper: 'I was called upon by Tina Brown to give a number of quotes but there really is nothing new to write.

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'Much of it is regurgitated and lifted from other books. Tina is talking to the same old suspects, including me. There are some people in the royal household who just won't talk."

Poets & Poetry

I suspect that all real writers have only contempt for poets and poetry .There is nothing of value to be gained by the attempt to be profound, the attempt to inspire with meter and rhyme and staid, pretentious constrictions on your words. There is no advantage and no substance to poetry, but it's short enough to be accessible, short enough that every asshole on the street thinks they can churn something out.

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50 Cent Lands Book Deal With 'Queen Of Bling Fiction' - Starpulse News Blog

50 Cent Lands Book Deal With 'Queen Of Bling Fiction' - Starpulse News Blog : "Rap star 50 Cent has expanded his G-Unit books brand by signing the 'queen of bling fiction' to his label. Meta Smith was released by Warner Books this year, but 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, has snapped up the Queen Of Miami author, reports allhiphop.com.

She will follow other G-Unit Books authors including Nikki Turner, Relentless Aaron and Noire."

About Omniglot - a sitemap

About Omniglot - a sitemap: "This site contains details of most alphabets and other writing systems currently in use, as well as quite a few ancient and invented ones. It also includes information about some of the languages written with those writing systems, multilingual texts, tips on learning languages, a book store, some useful phrases in many different languages, and a ever-growing collection of links to language-related resources."

Computer Hacker Claims He Has Copy Of Final "Harry Potter" Book | June 21, 2007

AHN | Computer Hacker Claims He Has Copy Of Final "Harry Potter" Book | June 21, 2007:

A computer hacker has posted what he says is the end of the final "Harry Potter" book on his website. The hacker, who goes by the name of "Gabriel," said he broke into Bloomsbury Publishing and got a copy of the book so he could post what he claims to be a number of spoilers.

According to Gabriel's post, he got ahold of "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows" by sending Bloomsbury employees an e-mail-born threat that, when opened, gave him access to the book.

tag: Writer, Writing, writers, book, short story, fiction, novel, novels, Stephen hawking

USA Today Bestseller List, Week Ending June 10, 2007

Dear Author.Com | USA Today Bestseller List, Week Ending June 10, 2007:

***

Angels Fall, Nora Roberts, (Jove), $7.99, No. 4 (Peak 1 - as a hardcover release). Paperback release. This was the number one book on Bookscan with a total week sales of 44,300. Yeah. Nora Roberts sells more in one week than most author’s print runs.
The Harlequin (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 15) by Laurell K Hamilton (Berkley) $25.95, No. 5 (deubt). Word is that this is a return to form but I’m not getting back on the train. Am not.

holy shit-peddling airhead bimbos, Batman!

tag: Writer, Writing, writers, book, short story, fiction, novel, novels, Stephen hawking

Stephen Hawking and Daughter Writing Children's Book

Strollerderby : Stephen Hawking and Daughter Writing Children's Book:

The world's most famous physicist, Steven Hawking, has written a chlidren's book, George's Secret Key to the Universe, due sometime in Fall 2007. The book was co-written by Lucy Hawking, Steven's daughter, and illustrated by Garry Parsons.

tag: Writer, Writing, writers, book, short story, fiction, novel, novels, Stephen hawking