Yes – this year I’m doing NaNoWrimo in an effort to kickstart my writing-lazy brain. According to my calculator that is an average of 1666.6666666666667 words a day. I feel like I should be in training or something.
If you don’t know what NaNoWrimo is (unlikely on the blogosphere) details here – http://www.nanowrimo.org/whatisnano
…And with it, my story “Tentaculoplasty”.
Find it here – can be downloaded as a pdf.
The other fiction contributors for this issue are:
- Kristine Ong Muslim PRODIGAL
- Steven Blake THE MAN ON TOP BUNK
- Raven McAllister CRANK HARVEST
- Sam Kepfield DRIVE
- William Todd Rose THE WINTER EXPERIMENT
- Michelle Howarth CRY HOLES
- Petersen Schoonover SYNECDOCHE
- Daniel P. Coughlin ELLY’S SATIN SHEETS
I’m loving the artwork of
Arthur Wang
Books and scents may not seem like two products that could be naturally marketed together. But according to this article in the Guardian book blog, apparently they are.
The release of Madonna of the Almonds by Marina Fiorato has purposefully coincided with the release of a limited edition eau de parfum also called Madonna of the Almonds by Floris. At £75 for a 100ml bottle, the perfume costs 13 times more than the novel.
Now this is probably a book that – from reading the description – particularly lends itself to perfume co-marketing – as would, for example, Joanne Harris’ Chocolate or Susskind’s Perfume. I’m not sure it would take off for other genres though… As a principally dark fantasy/horror writer, I can’t help but worry about what type of scents would be associated with some of my recent efforts – “Liver and Onions” would seem to be a no-brainer, but “Eating for Two” or “Tentaculoplasty” are a little harder…and likely to be fairly disturbing scents. Intriguing thought though.
The first version of this post ended with a sarcastic remark about Meyer’s PR people missing a golden opportunity for more lucrative teenage catnip by not associating a perfume with the bestselling books. Then I fact-checked. Nothing gets by them. The first picture is a lavender and freesia scent based on Bella’s ’signature smell’ (you know, the one that makes Edward want to kill and drink her so badly) and the second – believe it or not – is glittery body ‘vampire’ dust. Good grief.
David Eddings, author of the Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium and Tamuli series, died two days ago on June 2nd. His wife Leigh who co-authored many of his books died two years ago after a series of strokes.
It was David Eddings who started me reading adult fantasy and SF when I was fifteen/sixteen. My friend lent me “Pawn of Prophecy” and from there I was hooked. I remember saving up to buy the books rather than borrow them from the library because I loved them so much I needed to own them. From there I moved on to Brooks, Jordan, Goodkind…but it was Eddings that started it with his beautifully realised worlds.
He remarked in an interview (thanks to Abebooks for the quote, “I am here to teach a generation or two how to read. After they’ve finished with me and I don’t challenge them any more, they can move on to somebody important like Homer or Milton.”
I moved on to others, not necessarily more important, but I still re-read Garion and Sparhawks’ adventures just for the pleasure of it. Thank you, David Eddings. RIP.
This is usually not a problem for me, because – if I do say so myself – my book collection is impressive. I re-read a lot and unless absolute drivel, I never give/throw books away.
But the internet has filled me for the first time with book envy. Just look at the covers of these books…
Images taken from Angieville(book review blog)
I’ve read other books by Kostova and Shinn before but even if I hadn’t, those lovely new glowing covers are enough to make me seriously want those books… When I was younger, I seriously considered the careers of librarian or bookshop owner for obvious reasons but rejected them because you’d actually have to give the books away. This would have been the perfect solution. Imagine having boxes of brand new books delivered to your door and it was your actual job – albeit part-time and possibly unpaid – to read and review them? Very jealous though appreciative of the reviews that have pointed me to many a good purchase.
On the writing front, I’m on annual leave so perfect opportunity to get some serious writing done – if I can ignore Twitter/blogs/my own new book delivery…
I’m just going to gloss right over excuses for the fact I haven’t uploaded a post in a month or so and get right back to it.
“Tentaculoplasty” my short about the newest innovation in cosmetic surgery has found a home at Macabre Cadaver, forthcoming for July/August 2009. I’m working on a few more shorts at the moment about hypnotists and mythological bad girls which are going slowly but well. Also, slightly scarily I’ve begun to plan out an actual book. 80,000 words is looking like an awful lot at the moment…
The Reader - Louis Comfort Tiffany
“Tell me what you read, and I will tell you who you are” Slovak proverb
“”Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are” is true enough, but I’d know you better if you told me what you reread. “ Francois Mauriac
Thanks to Jen Hayley for this book meme, it was fun to do although I now want to go and re-read old favourites instead of getting through my massive TBR pile. Also, it occurs to me that it was a lot easier to find lots of really good books when I was younger – was I less critical or is the best fiction written for children? Probably both.
What author do you own the most books by?
In terms of numbers – probably Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie or Elizabeth Peters. They are all very prolific and I love their books.
What book do you own the most copies of?
Diana Gabaldon’s Cross-Stitch series – I have three complete sets, one in England, one in Ireland, one digital. Yes, I like those books slightly. Also not strictly a book but I have three copies of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra in different mediums and I cry everytime I read it.
What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Tough one. Jamie qualifies (see above Diana Gabaldon’s series). Wesley from The Princess Bride too – I would have been so much better for him than that drip Buttercup.
What book have you read more than any other?
I re-read books a lot so its hard to know. Probably one I’ve been reading since I was a child – could be Diana Wynne Jones’ Chrestomanci series. Or the Anne of Green Gables/Emily series, or the Prairie books.
What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The Lives of Christopher Chant – words can’t describe how much I loved and love this book. Boy from wrong side of wizarding track travels the different Worlds trying not to lose all of his nine lives. Wynne-Jones has written some terrific books but this was my favourite.
What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
I’ve become increasingly intolerant of books I don’t enjoy – used to be I’d finish them right through to the end but now if I’m not gripped by third chapter or so, I give up. I got a horror book at the airport called The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom that I was quite disappointed in. Great concept, great blurb, great cover…that’s it.
What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
I’ve read loads of good books. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan was a good read. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Charlaine Harris, as always, has been excellent with her latest.
If you could tell everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
To Kill a Mockingbird – because it’s a superlative read and the one which is most likely to appeal widely. Or Alice Walker’s The Colour Purple. Or Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale. I have a problem with the concept of one book, have you noticed?
What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Anything I haven’t chosen myself but have to finish – usually for school/university – Thomas Hardy Far from the Madding Crowd or Tess of the D’Urbervilles both went on forever.
Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
For de Laclos (Dangerous Liaisons) and Dumas, the French.
Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Shakespeare, Shakespeare and Shakespeare. I do like Milton and Chaucer… but Shakespeare everytime.
Austen or Eliot?
Jane Austen. Not even a hint of a contest.
What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
The most embarassing gap is the massive stack of to be read books in the corner that I’m looking at now which includes The Book Thief by Zusak and Shadow of the Wind by Zafon.
What is your favorite novel?
I can’t say, really. There’s too many and I’d almost feel guilty committing and want to change it twenty times.
Play?
Miller’s The Crucible or Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.
Poem?
If by Rudyard Kipling or WE Henley’s Invictus.
Essay?
I don’t know… don’t have one.
Short Story?
Lost Hearts – a ghost story by M.R. James. The earliest story I can remember terrifying me.
Nonfiction?
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher or Stephen King’s On Writing.
Graphic Novel?
Don’t have a favourite graphic novel – I like the continuation of the Buffy and Angel series.
Science Fiction?
Anne McCaffrey’s Ship series.
Who is your favorite writer?
I can’t pick one, I’m sorry.
Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Don’t know if there is one – if a writer is a bestseller, s/he appeals to a large portion of the population so who am I to say they are over-rated just because I don’t like their writing?
What are you reading right now?
Ngaio Marsh’s Death in a White Tie.
Best Memoir?
Does The Diary of Anne Frank count as a memoir?
Best History?
Historical fiction or history. Historical fiction – Philippa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon.?History – I quite liked the What If? Series.
Best Mystery or Noir?
Tough one. I’m going to opt for Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. Brilliant start to a series about a psychopathic serial killer who is actually quite likable
I’m working on a blog post (maybe even a series as I’m turning up so much interesting information) on the historical origins of the literary agent. Perhaps not surprisingly, the early slushpiles seem to have driven those first agents quite frequently to alcohol excess and the lunatic asylum…
But today I just wanted to post about a resource I’ve found. I’ve been toying for ages with the idea of doing a OU course but would rather not have another pull on my time at the moment. I still get emails from them though including one about I-Tunes Open University
If you go to the Arts and Humanities section, there is a series of lectures on creative writing which you can download for free to listen to on your computer – or iPod if you have one. There’s also transcripts that you can download as well if you’d prefer to read them.
I haven’t listened to them yet but they’re on my iPod for my next long car ride or walk.
Now, I’m off to finish polishing a submission which I’m determined to send out tonight if it kills me.
I’ve finished the short story I was writing which is great. I’m very happy. Or I would be if the really hard work didn’t start now. Editing this story will take me far far longer than writing it did and will be significantly less fun. I hate editing mostly because it involves re-reading and realising how awful my first draft really was, full of plotholes and forced language. I also have a tendency to change my characters’ names half-way through the story because now, dammit, they don’t act like a ‘Bertha’!
My personal weakness during editing is adding instead of cutting – my word count generally goes up by 500-1000 words for the second draft. Then third edit is ruthlessly paring it down.
Bear with this for a second. I came across a link to harvardbusiness.org about editing emails before you send them. It’s an interesting read and most of the points are very applicable to fiction too or possibly a query email? David Silverman’s Start Up Diaries “How to Revise An Email”
Here’s his checklist – some can be taken with a pinch of salt given we’re actually talking about fiction (namely 2 and 6).
1. Delete redundancies. Say it once. That’s enough. If you’re repetitive, the reader will stop reading and start skimming. (Like you probably just did.)
2. Use numbers and specifics instead of adverbs and adjectives. “The project is currently way behind schedule on major tasks,” is not as clear as “The project is 3 weeks late delivering hamburger buns to Des Moines.” (If you don’t have numbers, still get rid of the adverbs and adjectives.)
3. Add missing context. Does your reader know that hamburger buns in Iowa are required for the company to collect $37 million? If you’re not sure, remind them.
4. Focus on the strongest argument. Should those hamburger buns get shipped because the delay is embarrassing for the company, because it’s costing children their lunch, or because it’s costing the company tens of millions of dollars? Maybe all three, but one of those reasons (and it depends on your reader) will be enough to get buns on the road.
5. Delete off-topic material. The best emails say one thing and say it clearly. One-subject emails also make it easier for the recipient to file the message once they’ve taken action, something anyone who uses Outlook to manage tasks appreciates.
6. Seek out equivocation and remove it. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” works for Dickens, not status reports.
7. Kill your favorites. Is something in your text particularly pithy, amusing, or clever? Chances are, it’s not. If it sticks out, it’s probably a tap-dancing gorilla in boxer shorts — hilarious when you thought of it, embarrassing when it gets in your manager’s inbox.
8. Delete anything written in the heat of emotion. Will this sentence show them who’s been right about the hamburger buns since the beginning? Yes? Cut it.
9. Shorten. Remember the reader struggling to digest your message on the run — a BlackBerry or an iPhone gets about 40 words per screen. What looks short on your desktop monitor is an epic epistle on their mobile device.??10. Give it a day. With time, what seemed so urgent may no longer need to be said. And one less email is something everyone will thank you for.
Personally, I try to not send a piece off on the day I’ve finished writing and editing it. I leave it until the next day or later so I can look at it with a slightly more objective head.
And along with it my short story “Caring for the Living” – an excerpt of which can be found here
I do like the illustrations.
Next story up to be published is “Liver and Onions” which will be in May’s Three Crow Press then nothing else on the horizon at the minute.
Which means today I’d better get writing. I’ve trained the labrador to sit on my legs until I’ve written at least 1000 words so there’s no choice if I ever want to walk again. And he means business.
Bye for now!