Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts

Time to Set Goals for 2011

Because the holiday season is upon us, and time is limited, I've decided to start setting the goals for 2011. And since this years goals were mostly a pain in my ass and completed at the end of this year or not at all, I'm adding them to the right column so they're in my face almost every day.

There are seven weeks left of the year and I plan on unveiling the goals every Friday as I create them. This week I've come up with two. Warning, there's A LOT of thinking out loud below.

1. Achieve 50% towards remainder of 1,000,000 words of written fiction.
This is a goal I set, in September of 2008 after listening to an early episode of Writing Excuses. Basically they mentioned that the first one or two novels you write are likely crap. I know my first two were both more personal stories I'll probably never publish. They also mentioned that it takes writing one million words to begin mastering prose. These are all professionals' opinions, and who am I to argue, right? Anyways, I set the goal back then to write a million words of fiction within a certain time frame that never happened. Actually I stopped tracking it and have since written over 120,000 new words, which really surprises me considering the writer's block I went through this year.

Well, IT'S BACK for 2011 & 2012. I started a counter in the right column, but have the rest of the year's writing, so I'm not exactly sure where the total count will be for 2011 and 2012 other than an estimated 300,000 per year which is less than the 480,000 I should be able to write if I stick to a 2000 words a day for 20 days a month.   WOW! That's 4-6 novels or who knows how many short stories a year, which could lead into another goal.

2. Finish editing The Courier #1 by the end of the ~~first~~ second quarter.
I've consistently not met this goal every time I've set it, so it will be interesting to see if I meet it this time. This novel is going into its 4th draft, and now on to the math. I've taken the first 100 pages of the novel to critique group and have another 200 to subject to weekly criticism, and at 10 pages a week gets me to 180 pages by the end of the first quarter. Well, that ain't guna work. So I guess I could up it to editing 20 pages a week and attend critique group twice a week. Gosh, can my ego take that much slamming...LOL? Sounds like I'm setting myself up for failure again. Sigh. Better make it the second quarter, because I also need to update the synopsis and will likely go through the whole query letter business to find a new agent.   More goals...

Anyone else out there thinking about or setting goals for next year yet? What do you hope to achieve?

I've Been Thinking

I was up kinda late last night, thinking about what I'd write about today. No...make that over thinking about what to write. So I didn't actually fall asleep until around midnight. After the fact, I probably should of gotten up and just wrote this damn post, but I didn't, and now it's 9:30 A.M. and I'm finally writing it. Let me warn you in advance that you might get snared in the babbling a bit.

So what did I think about. Mostly about not writing in this blog anymore. Lately I've seen a lot of posts in other blogs with advice on what to write in a blog. Number one (or maybe two :-)), don't write about yourself. I have to say I can't argue with this way of thinking. I also have to say I glance over other blogs where people rant on like I was or just talk about themselves. This includes writing about the struggles of writing. It's what I do for a career, right? So by writing about writing, I'm essentially writing about myself. Except of course if I'm writing about writing from a technical perspective, and guess what? There are lots of other people who write about writing and publishing, and I love reading their blogs, but I personally have no interest in doing it myself.

So I thought about how much time I spend blogging, yet again. If you've read my blog in the past, I've been complaining about this for awhile. And the answer is TOO MUCH TIME! I get sick to my stomach when I think about the amount of time lost on blog posts when I could be writing fiction. But, I've decided not to dwell on it. Reason? I also thought about popular writers who've written over ten books. Not many of them feel the need to blog regularly, yet here I am with three blogs. Well, technically two. The Courier's blog is the actual book. Another reason I've decided to not sweat it is because I'm a toddler when it comes to fiction writing. I'll admit I don't like to always think of myself as such a youngling because I wrote nonfiction for so many years, but they are completely different animals. So trying to portray myself as a seasoned author or give advice about fiction writing really seems absurd considering I'm not even published.

I really sorta figured it out last night while finishing up the parts of Mary Kay's book I wanted to read. These are some of the wisest words I've ever heard:

"We fail forward to success."

I'm not a professional blogger. I'm a fiction writer. I want you readers out there to read my fiction, not my life story. So, struggling every week to add content to this blog is one of my failures because I'm not producing what I want you to read. Admitting your failures is a huge step, and so now I breath a sigh of relief and give up this blog. Well kinda. The whole format will basically change/return to a home base with links to my fiction accomplishments. Sorry, but this also means the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop ends, although I'll add influential links as I find them.

So, in closing, I leave you to go do what I long to do...write fiction...

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #24

Every week I weed through over 100 blogs, looking for writing advice and new and interesting books to read. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you’d like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link from my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers

On Dance on Fire, Hitting 50 ...and more, James Garcia Jr., on his four month journey through publication.

All About Books

On Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 7 – by Ian Eliot LeWinter
On Farm Lane Books Blog, White is for Witching – Helen Oyeyemi
On Fantasy Literature's Fantasy Reviews, Who Fears Death: A book I will never forget
On Bookgasm, Strip AND Blood Guts & Whiskey
On Marissa Farrar's blog, The Strain by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

All About Writing & Publishing

FAV! On Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors, Use All 5 Senses to Bring Your Setting to Life
FAV! On Copyblogger, Charles Bukowski and the Secret to Immortal Writing
On Vamplit's Library, Artwork A Personal Story of Jekyll and Hyde
On the Wicked Writer's blog, Internet Writers Resources – free for the taking!
On Rachelle Gardner's blog, How to Become a Better Writer
On a Newbie's Guide to Publishing, The Difference Between Sales and Fans
On Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency's blog, Has Your Ship Sailed?

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Paul Magrs over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Blogging Events

July 16 - 18, Book Extravaganza
September 13 - 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group. Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links...

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #23

FYI... Bloodleggers begins today. In honor of our first release, we're holding a drawing to win a free eBook published by eBookUndead. Leave a comment and you're entered to win. Hope you'll drop by Blood Reads to read.

All About Writers

FAV! On A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, Konrath Kindle Stats
On Kiki Hamilton's blog, Inspiration, Advances and How to Write the Breakout Novel

All About Books

On the Overbury Ink, Steampunk Novel Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger
On Fantasy Literature, reviews of Killswitch: Even more exciting than the first two books!
Also on Fantasy Literature Thoughtful Thursday: Reading is not a spectator sport
By The Cajun Book Lady, Review: Firefly Island by Daniel Arenson
FAV! On Bitten by Books, 45 Plus FREE Books! FREE Friday! Woot!
Over at Something Wicked This Way comes, Marissa’s Top Ten Horror Novels AND Nicole's Top Ten Scariest Reads!

All About Writing & Publishing

On Pub Rants, One Possible Peril Of A Multi-book Deal AND Talk About the Money
In the Wicked Writer's blog, From One Medium to Another
On Fangtastic Books, The Popularity of Vampires with Tom Olbert and Unholy Alliance Giveaway
On Wordplay: Helping Writers become authors, Should Stories Be Soapboxes?
On Mysteries and Margtaritas, Mary's Rants - Take the whine out of writing
On Writers Gone Wild, Thoughts on Editing by SarannaDeWylde
Thank you Rachell Gardner for Short and Not-Always-Sweet Answers AND Really Not That Complicated
FAV! On Writing in the Crosshairs, How Can We Know talks about the buzz about agents charging for readings.

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing AND Why I Write Vague Rejection Letters
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: AUTHOR over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Blogging Events

July 16 - 18, Book Extravaganza
September 13 - 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

The Goals Thicken

Sorry everyone, but no more whining and complaining on Mondays, which means the Weekly Whine has officially retired. I have to thank Mary Martinez on Mysteries and Margaritas in her post Mary's Rants - Take the whine out of writing. Basically, complaining gets us nowhere, so I'm shifting my Monday focus to the positive.

What better place to begin that looking to the future. Now that half the year is essentially over, I've decided to focus on my goals for the remainder of 2010. I did a crappy job of following through on 'em the first half of this year and don't want a repeat for the second half. So I'm sharing with you the start of the goals I've set.

#1 - Finish releasing book #1 of The Courier by July 31st. I actually have the damn thing done, but it needs some minor editing for the first release on Twitter and the website.

#2 - Finish editing The Courier by October 31st. I'd prefer to get this done by September 30th, but added in another month just in case.

#3 - Complete Bloodlegger parts at least one month prior to its release on Blood Reads. R. J. and I made this promise together so that we don't get stressed out with each new deadline and release. FYI, the first part, written by R. J., releases in a couple days, on June 30th, and I'm pretty excited. The part I wrote release on July 14th.

#4 - Enter the 3 Day Novel Contest and write the second of The Courier novels. I know, I know, I said no more contests. This is different though. I'm doing it to get the first draft of the novel written and could care less if it places in the contest.

I've got a few others I'm still working through and will share them next week.

Oh, I'm also starting a blog hop support group for us crazy writers to help each other reach our goals. More to come tomorrow.

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #22

Spotlight

Over on Fools & Sages, a personal friend of mine struggles with her love/hate addiction to the Twilight series in They Sparkle
I also chuckled when I read The Spork Theory on Jim C. Hines blog

All About Writers

On Blood Reads, Interview with C.J. Ellisson, Author of Vampire Vacation
On Lexington Vampire Examiner, Interview with Mike Duran, Christian vampire author part 1

All About Books

I'm seeing a lot of the same books over and over again, so I don't have much to add here this week. I also need to clean out my book review feed folder. Too much paranormal romance and I'm slowly giving up on this genre.

In Vamplit's Library, a review of Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite A Review

All About Writing & Publishing

On Working Stiffs, Let's Play -- The First Five Lines
On A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, The Time Is Now
FAV! On Wordplay, Why No Writer Knows What He’s Doing
Loved R.J.'s post, Crunch Time on our Bloodlegger's blog.

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: Keri Arthur over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Join the Hop

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #21

All About Writers

On Guide to Literary Agents, 7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Holly Schindler
We've been blogging about our characters on Bloodleggers. By co-writer R.J. Robyn, Searching for Billy Knox... and by me, two part interviews with Regina Todd
On Dark Faerie Tales, Author Interview & Giveaway: 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

All About Books

On Bitten By Books, How Honest Is Too Honest In A Review?
On Book Junkie, Bookswim Book Rentals

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On Fangtastic Books, A Review of Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams
On Darkly Reading, Review of The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells
On Fantasy Literature's Fantasy Book Reviews, The Etched City: Dark and decadent
On Farm Lane Books Blog, Red April – Santiago Roncagliolo

All About Writing & Publishing

That Author Ecopy Comes With A Hefty Price Tag on Pub Rants

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing & The Rejection Letter of the Future Will Be Silence (And Why This is a Good Thing)
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: Thomas Emson over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review
On Overbury Ink, Number 38 – Part 6, by Ian Eliot LeWinter
NEW On Dark Faerie Tales, Publishing News

Blogging Events

September 13 - 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #20

WHOO HOO!

20 Blog Hops

All About Writers

On Biting Edge, Start Saving Your Pennies... mentions that James Bond's car from Goldfinger is for sale and expected to sell for over $5 million. There's also some news on a future Bond book, as well as a link to a website with pictures of some really COOL bookshelves of the non human kind.
Here's an review of Jaws, by Peter Benchley. It's always fun to run across modern day reviews of older books.
On Fangtastic Books, Welcome Guest Author Yolanda Sfetsos

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On Bitten by Books, Ouroboros by Michael Kelly and Carol Weekes
On Book Lovers, Inc., Review: Shades of Gray by Caitlin Kittredge & Jackie Kessler
On Book Whisperer, Review: Blood Song by Cat Adams & Review: Blood Song by Cat Adams
On The Cajun Book Lady, Review: The Second Coming by David H Burton

All About Writing & Publishing

On 1st Turning Point, Pointless Networking ain't so pointless when you make those accidental connections
On the Wicked Writer's blog, Long live the book… A view on the publishing industry
On Jim C. Hines blog, Reading Reviews
On The Journey is Everything, The Five Stages Of Author Booksignings

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Jaime Rush over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group.

Weekly Whine: Morning Coffee's a Must

See below for It's Monday! What are you reading?

I don't really have anything to whine about today. I'm over my latest bout of anemia as of yesterday and actually had the energy to get out of bed at 3:50 A.M. this morning. Still had to head to the Keurig brewer first thing and watched the strongest brew stream into the cup. Ahhh...the aroma of morning coffee.

I got a bunch of yard work done yesterday. I love yard work! Really gives you the time to be productive and ponder, all at the same time. My poor backyard garden was seriously neglected after being ill the last couple years, so getting it back in order really makes me happy and peppy too :-). It was pretty hot yesterday though, and I HATE the heat--there's a tiny whine. Can't wait until we move up to the mountains full time. House in the mountains looking out on Longs Peak, where you see snow for most of the year, is the definition of heaven.

I have a confession. I missed the cutoff date for the contest. I worked my ass off editing The Courier and pulling my hair out with the synopsis, and it was nothing but painful. When the anemia got bad last weekend, I gave up and used my "lack of energy" as an excuse not to finish. The deadline came and went last Tuesday, and I didn't care. In fact, I was relieved I didn't enter. What it all came down to is that I lose my enjoyment for writing when I enter contests. So, NO MORE CONTESTS!

Off to add this week's forum topic to Vamplit Writer's. This week's question is who our vampire alter ego would be from literature, movies or television. The question came to me while watching Ultraviolet for the 20th time this weekend. Another movie I loved that no one else seemed to enjoy. So it's, no contest. I'd be Violet.

Oh, another movie we watched over the weekend that I thought was awesome, even after my son warned me young people really hated it was Gamer with Gerard Butler. Michael C. Hall plays another psycho in the movie. The man sure has talent for such roles.

WOW! I may not of had a lot to whine about, but I sure had enough to natter through.

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Currently Reading: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Listening to: Blood Trail by C. J. Box

Just Finished: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher (LOVED IT!!)

Next up: Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #19

All About Writers

On Enchanted by Books, Guest Author Carolyn Crane & Giveaway! discusses the "Top 6 cool things about being a series author that I never expected"

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On Bookgasm, Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-Old Computer — and the Century-Long Search to Discover Its Secrets AND I Am Not a Serial Killer AND Tooth and Claw
NEW FAV On Book Lovers, Review: Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane +Giveaway
Looks like a pretty good list on Farm Lane's Book Blog in The Best Literary Science Fiction Books?

All About Writing & Publishing

Platform, Shmatform on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing shows you don't have to be an established author to be a top seller.
NEW BLOG On Guide to Literary Agents, 7 Tips on Book Publicity. I also watch Livia Blackburne's blog and she provides excellent advice. On her blog, How to Get (and Keep) People's Attention was a great read this week
On 1st Turning Point, Marketing Before Publication? How About Before It’s Written?
On Biting Edge, Writers and Readers...what we owe each other
Fear was a focus on Copyblogger in Is F.E.A.R. Holding You Back? AND 7 Quick-Start Techniques for Fighting the Fear to Write
On Editorial Ass, How to Throw an Awesome Book Launch
On Passion on Paper by Gina Leigh Maxwell, Terrible Twos-day: Word Count vs. Words That Count
On Wordplay, 8 Ways Longhand Writing Frees Your Muse
On Richard Dansky's blog, Seven Things You Should Always Ask A Writer. We used the question about which book you wished you'd written this week on Vamplit Writers
On Leterary Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog, Getting People to Read Your Book

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts. I also enjoyed What Makes a Great Setting
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: Keri Arthur over at Book Chick City
NEW On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review
On Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 5 by Ian Eliot LeWinter

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group.

No Whine Zone

In honor of Memorial Day, there will be no whining today. Instead, I will reflect on my own time serving our country and thanking God that since WWII my close family members who have served during wartime have all returned home safe.

In addition, I'm starting a new section, joining What Are You Reading?

Currently Reading: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Just Finished: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer & White Plague by Frank Herbert

Next up: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

What the bleep is up with The Courier?

I know, I know. On Monday I mentioned I'd talk about the new project with R.J. Robyn today. Well, we won't be ready for our official announcement until next Friday, so you'll have to wait until then. If you don't want to wait, you can peek in on us at http://bloodlegger.blogspot.com. We finished a short pitch so you can get a general idea of what the story is about.

So instead I thought I'd provide an update on The Courier. First of all it has a new website at http://thecouriernovel.blogspot.com. Why did I move it? I never could find a template I liked on Wordpress, and I'm too cheap to purchase access to the CSS. I LOVE THE NEW SITE!!

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I'm entering it in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Gold Contest, and I'll be shipping it off by Monday.

I'm still wrapping up the first novel on the new website, and there are new parts released a couple days a week while I concentrate on editing. Work has slowed on the next novel though. I got a little burned out on the story, but the new project has provided a renewed incentive to continue on.

That's about it for now. Hope you'll drop by and check out the new site.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #18

All About Writers

On Fantastic Book Review I really enjoyed the questions asked in, Sensational 7 Q & A with Jennifer Murgia!
On Enchanted by Books, Guest Author Michelle Rowen & Giveaway!
On Paul D. Brazill's blog, Guest Blogger: Author & ex -cop Johnny Russell.

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

In Damian Kane's blog, Book review: A Stir of Echoes, by Richard Matheson
On Fantasy Literature, Wolfsangel: Fine heroic fantasy
On Bookgasm, Neverland
On The Neverending Shelf, Book Review: The Line
On Taliesin Meets the Vampires, Dance on Fire – review
On Writers Gone Wild, How To Spot A Bastard By His Star Sign

All About Writing & Publishing

eBook Royalty: Another Way To Protect on Pub Rants
On Rachell Gardner's blog, What if My Agent Doesn't Like My Next Book?
There are some interesting comments over on the Wicked Writer's Blog this week on muses
On Criminal Minds, Taking a Whiz on Book Marketing . . .
On Jim C. Hines blog, Saying No to a Publisher
On WOW, Women on Writing, Metaphors Are Fun, Creative and Therapeutic
On Vamplit, Loving the Undead
On A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, DRM Free
On Haunted Dreams, Dark Destinies, Why I Write About Angels and Demons

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts, and my favorites in his blog this week are Every Writer Gets Rejected and How to Write a One Sentence Pitch
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: MD Lachlan over at Book Chick City

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group.

Weekly Whine: Approaching the Half Way Point

A rude awakening came to me last week when I read Mini Check-up: Where are you on your goals for 2010? a post on Writer's Inspired.

According to my calendar, July 1 will bring us to the 182nd day of 2010, leaving us with 183 days to complete our goals for this year.

UH OH!

After I read Mary Jo Campbell's blog post, I told myself I'd sit back this weekend and think about my own accomplishments, critically, and try to figure out a make-up plan. Well, I did yard work instead. I didn't blow off setting a plan though. Yard work provides a lot of time to think things over. So in between rose bush pricks and scrapes all over my arms, I realized I've accomplished quite a bit this year. It may not be what I'd hoped it be, but I've been no slouch.

What I did confirm is that I'm burned out on The Courier. All I've been working on is the writing, editing, outlining, and planning of five separate books and frankly, it's driving me batty. I haven't written a poem or short story in the longest time. I live and breath Barry, Nina, Margery, and the new characters.

When I worked at corporations, I never worked one project, mostly because I'd get bored like I am now. So I've starting a new project with an old co-worker, fellow writer and long time friend. Surprisingly, this new project, which we started last week, has provided impetus for The Courier as well.

I'm not going to provide any information about the new project, since we're still working on our pitch. Hopefully we'll have it done by Friday, so this week's question may be all about the new project and the new writing partner. Stay tuned!!

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #17

Every week I weed through over 100 blogs, looking for writing advice, publishing news and books to read. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you’d like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link from my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers

On Demon Vampire Horror Masters of Horror Anthology Author Interviews!

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On the Cajun Book Lady, Review: Sparrow Rock by Nate Kenyon
NEW BLOG, Paper Cut Reviews has a post on 13 to Life by Shannon Delany in Kiss and Tell Meme. Shannon won the Textnovel contest in 2008.
On Fantasy Literature, Ghosts & Echoes: This is what urban fantasy can be & Sisters Red: Hits all my favorite notes

All About Writing & Publishing

On Pub Rants, Age is Just a Number and How Enhanced Ebooks Will Cause Havoc
In Nathan Bransford's blog, The One Sentence, One Paragraph, and Two Paragraph Pitch
On Rachelle Gardner's blog, The Value of the Verbal Pitch
On Copyblogger, 10 New Ideas for Getting Inspired to Write.
On Writers Inspired, Mini Check-up: Where are you on your goals for 2010? I'll be writing about this one on Monday in the Weekly Whine.

Fiction in a Blog

Over at Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 4 by Ian Eliot LeWinter

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories are Made: Linda Wisdom over at Book Chick City

Weekly Whine: Kindle Book Prices

Last week I got half way through One for the Money by Janet Evanovich, which I picked up from the library. The book was suggested to me and I'm absolutely loving it. So, I decided I'd buy the book plus the next couple in the series for the Kindle, but only until I checked out the prices. Now, these books were published ten plus years ago, so there's a mass market format available for sale as well, but the cost of the mass market format is a dollar less than the Kindle version. I'm not paying more for a Kindle version!! Even if it is only a dollar. And since I got the Kindle, I won't buy paper anymore. For me it's a matter of the wasted resources put into producing a paper book and shipping it to my house. Sure I know it costs money to convert a book to kindle and ship it via cyberspace, but the cost to our environment is much less than the cost of recycling the paper, producing the ink, printing a book, and shipping it via ground. Doing my part for the environment is more important to me, but that doesn't mean I'll pay more for a eBook.

Wait a second, did I just contradict myself? Maybe. It's just that I've been reading a lot about the evolving publishing industry and I don't feel sorry for publishers and authors that didn't prepare for the transition. Nor do I buy into the fear factor of eBook pirating based on music pirating. Whole different market. And don't try to tell me that authors are powerless. I live with a lawyer and know better. So until they get their act together, Scribner lost out on the sale of 3+ books, and I'll continue to get the paper books from the library.

Note that most of my opinions on the changing face of publishing come from A Newbie's Guide to Publishing and my dear friend Gaynor Stenson, the new publisher at eBook Undead in the U.K.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #16

All About Writers

On Book Junkie, 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn't Know Before

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

I might start these books by reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel.
Over at Fantasy Literature Morpheus Road, The Light: Winning voice makes up for some plot issues
On JoJos Book Corner a review of Beautiful Creatures.
On Fiction Vixen, a review of Stormwalker by Allyson James
On The Book Whisperer, Review: Branded by Keary Taylor
On Book Lovers Inc, Review: The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
On Book Chick City, Book Review: A Licence To Steal by Samantha Graves

All About Writing & Publishing

Why You Shouldn’t Write for Other Writers over at Copyblogger
It Is What It Is Ism is an interesting post over at Editorial Ass on hanging in there and editing until your novel is just right.
Let it Sit over at WOW! Women on Writing Blog about being more objective while editing work that has sat for awhile.
On Rants & Ramblings, The Benefit of Hindsight Witemeyer
On Magical Words, Revisions — Dialogue and Fake It Til You Make It
On Book Lovers Inc, a question of ethics in Bookish Rants or Raves: Reader / Author Relationships - The
How to Craft a Great Voice on Nathan Bransford's blog.

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Kristine Kathryn Rusch over at Book Chick City

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #15

All About Writers

Over at the Overbury Ink, an Interview with writer Nikki Curtis of IMP Girl Graphic Novel
Guess I didn't get enough of it in last weeks subject on the Wicked Writer's blog. Author Perspective: Dealing With Rejection over on the Neverending Shelf

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

Over at All Things Urban Fantasy, 5 bats! Early Review: Hunted By The Others by Jess Haines they also posted Hot off the Press: May Urban Fantasy Releases
Locke & Key, Volume 2: Head Games over at Bookgasm got me to put the first in the series in my queue
Over on the Neverending Shelf, Book Review: The Clone Codes

All About Writing & Publishing

Some interesting facts from an agent on releasing your book to the public unpublished or published an Pub Rants in An ISBN That Could Hurt
Natan Bansford posted a great review of iPad!!
17 Easy Steps to Brilliant Blog Posts on Copyblogger.
Over at A Brain Scientist's Take on Writing, Loading the First Impression for Quick Characterization (The Hunger Games
On Pub Rants Starting A Novel In The Wrong Place
What About Market Research and Guest Blogger: Christa Allan "Keep Your Hand Moving" on Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog
On Wordplay, When Your Story Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Suzanne McLeod over at Book Chick City

Weekly Whine: Crunching the Numbers

Look at the hair on this kid. Is he adorable or what?!?! I'd be crying too on such a bad hair day...LOL!

It's another slow start Monday. But I don't care this week. It's a gorgeous day today, so I've been in and out of the house, trying to play ball with the beagles. Now beagles are not a breed known to participate in more than a chase the ball--when I feel like it. Believe it or not, I've got Charlie trained to play fetch. Our little porker, Howie, is more inclined to sit and watch the ball, figuring he gets enough exercise from moving his head. Today, they are both pooped out from weekend walks totaling about 12 miles. So I'm doing all the fetching.

Over the weekend I felt like I needed to re-prioritize yet again. This time I tracked the time I spend on each task or thing I do, kinda like I did when I was a Project Manager, and I found that at the rate I'm going, I'll complete the first courier novel in five years. YIKES! I'll end on that note and get back to editing.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #13

All About Writers & Books

It's National Library Week and The Neverending Shelf posted Libraries: Your Home Away from Home and The State of Americas Libraries, both great reads. We reposted the later on the Wicked Writer's blog.
On Fantasy Author Jim C. Hines blog this week I happened across a creative idea for those who need help reviewing books in Mad Lib Reviewing I'm still chuckling. FAV!
Just wanted to quickly mention that I love Paul D. Brazill's blog.
Author Interview ~ Nicole Hadaway at Listen to the Voices
Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:
- Over at Fiction Fixon, Review: Frost Moon by Anthony Francis and Review: Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark
- Over at Fantasy Literature, Waking the Moon: One of my Desert Island books, Under Heaven: Award-worthy, The Stones of Green Knowe: Very sad to see its end, and especially Primavera: A fascinating story
- Review: Hourglass by Claudia Gray at Book Lovers Inc.
- Ex-Heros at Bookgasm is not a favorable review, but I'm still tempted to read. And how could you not add a book like Body World when the review begins, "Imagine if David Lynch and David Cronenberg collaborated on a graphic novel."
Don't miss these weekly features:
- Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
- This week's Where Stories are Made: Marianne de Pierres over at Book Chick City

All About Writing & Publishing

Publishers + Ebooks = Epic Fail on a Newbie's Guide to Publishing really makes me want to self-publish FAV!
Nurmal Resources PUBLISH ME! Contest on the Writer's Beware blog
Daydream or Die on Wordplay
AutoCrit: A Helpful Tool for Editing Flash Fiction is about a fun tool you can try out on the Internet. I especially found the repeated word function helpful. Would love to know if anyone is paying to use this tool.
Choosing the Right Titles for Your Work (Or: Heh, You Said Titular)
James Moore on Deadlines over at Storytellers Unplugged

Other Blog Tours

Blogmania is Sweeping the Web over at Between the Pages is an opportunity to tour blogs and win prizes
Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.

All About Writers

All About Books

All About Writing & Publishing

Weekly Features

Blogging Events

Join the Hop

All About Writers

All About Books

All About Writing & Publishing

Weekly Features

Blogging Events

Join the Hop

Spotlight

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All About Writers

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WHOO HOO!

20 Blog Hops

All About Writers

Books I Want to Read

All About Writing & Publishing

Weekly Features

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It's Monday! What are You Reading?

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Books I Want to Read

All About Writing & Publishing

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Books I Want to Read

All About Writing & Publishing

Weekly Features

All About Writers

Books I Want to Read

All About Writing & Publishing

Fiction in a Blog

Weekly Features

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Books I Want to Read

All About Writing & Publishing

Weekly Features

All About Writers

Books I Want to Read

All About Writing & Publishing

Weekly Features

All About Writers & Books

All About Writing & Publishing

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About W. J. Howard