Hi Writers,Following up on my previous post, the Ira Glass storytelling video, there were some interesting comments on the forum. I mentioned that I really took to what Glass had to say about killing much of your work so that the best can live. And this brought up the anxiety-inducing advice that all writers...
Writing Editor Blogs
Guide to Literary Agents Blog
by Chuck Sambuchino
GLA Editor Chuck Sambuchino keeps track of all news related to literary agents and writing conferences on his blog. Common features include agent interviews, new agency listings, agency profiles, upcoming conferences of interest, contests and other publishing opportunities, valuable writing resources, submission tips and information, and a blogroll of other agent blogs. Read Chuck’s Blog
There Are No Rulesby the editors of Writer’s Digest
Get on the cutting edge of today’s publishing trends and how authors can succeed in a world of fast-paced technological change, guided by the editors of Writer’s Digest. You’ll get an inside look at the work, play, and passion of the publishing business and find practical tools for success. Read There Are No Rules
Questions & Quandariesby Brian Klems
Don’t know the difference between “who” and “whom”? Facing an ethical dilemma about accepting gifts from subjects? Let the informative (and humorous) columnist Brian A. Klems answer some of your most pressing grammatical, ethical, business and writing-related questions. Check out his advice and don’t hesitate to ask a question—your writing career will thank you. Read Brian’s Blog
Poetic Asidesby Robert Brewer
Published poet Robert Lee Brewer blogs on issues affecting poets from the poet’s perspective. As the editor of Writer’s Market, Brewer also shares insights on the publishing industry, especially as it relates to poetry and the poetry markets. He also explains poetic forms, interviews other published poets, and provides the occasional poetry prompt. Read Robert’s Blog
Writer's Conference
Hi Writers, Writer’s conferences are great places to network with other writers, get a chance to talk with editors and agents, and meet successful authors. Next week I’m headed to the 2008 Book Expo America Writer’s Digest Books Writers Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The conference is on Wednesday (May 28). It runs...
Female Poet Laureate?!?
Found these articles this week on the poet laureate situation in England: * “Call for female poet laureate,” by Gary Bills-Geddes from Ledbury Reporter * “Pressure on Burnham over female poet,” from The First Post * “Queen is asked to appoint first female Poet Laureate after 22 men in 340 years,” by Arifa Akbar...
What Are the Upfronts?
Hey, screenwriters— As many of you know, last week was television’s biggest week of the year… the New York upfronts… and I’ve gotten several emails discussing, speculating, and asking about this year’s announcements. Several people asked exactly what the upfronts are, so I wanted to take a moment and discuss… what exactly are the...
Ira Glass on Storytelling
Hi Writers,I want to share this wonderful, instructional video I came across: Ira Glass on the art of storytelling. I’m a huge NPR “This American Life” fan and I also recommend “This American Life” on Showtime, which I suppose you might call short video stories of real people. The following video was produced to...
Positioning
Hi Writers, Today I was reading a chapter on “Positioning” in a book called Write as a Verb by author and motivational speaker Bill O’Hanlon. O’Hanlon writes about how important it is for a book to “occupy a unique position in the marketplace” and that it not “appear like too many other books already...
April PAD Challenge: Awards Ceremony
It’s been 3 weeks since the end of the April PAD Challenge. I hope everyone’s continued writing regularly since the end–even if that only means a poem or two per week. After all, that’s part of the challenge, I think, is turning writing into a regular (or, at the very least, semi-regular) routine. Based...
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 003
Today’s prompt is to write a family connection poem–emphasizing the relationship between two or more family members. This can be between you and your parent(s), you and your children, you and your adopted third cousin, twice removed (whatever that means). Preferably, this is a poem between you and another family member or members; but...
Sara Diane Doyle Named Poet Laureate of Poetic Asides
Before getting into this post, I want to say that the April PAD Challenge is not about competing as far as the quality of poetry is concerned. It’s very simply a challenge to write one poem per day for the 30 days of April. If all goes well, you’ll have 30 (or more) poems...
Can You Copyright a Pseudonym?
Q: Do I need to get a copyright for a pseudonym, or will a copyright for the book under my chosen pen name be sufficient?—Al de Araujo A: The name H.G. Wells isn’t copyrighted. Neither is Michael Crichton. Why? Under U.S. law you can’t copyright a name, real or fictitious. Copyrights protect authorship, such...
Writing through Recession
Hi Writers,Well, I have to admit to feeling more than the usual post-Catholic-childhood guilt lately. Not only is there a global economic recession and I’m actually employed in a volatile industry; The Ultimate Cheapskate (below) yelled at me for my fondness for expensive, frothy espresso drinks. You could argue that there’s never really been...
The (Almost) Summer Reading List
I know, friends that it’s not yet summer. Trust me, I know. Boston has apparently decided that Mother Nature’s iPod is going to play the Make it Rain (remix) over and over, and it is forcing me to stay inside, which is making me cranky and nearly translucent. And while I’ve been sitting here...
Cool Dialogue Contest!
Fun contest online! Agent Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown, LTD is sponsoring a new contest to find the next great writer who can compose scintillating speech and dominating dialogue (not to mention awesome alliteration). It’s a dialogue contest! Being that my first love was playwriting, this contest excites me (and I may even submit). ...
My Weekend
Good morning everyone, I had a super busy weekend (more fence painting, a black belt ceremony at my Tae Kwon Do school, my wife left for Boston to attend a graphic design conference, dinner with my sister and my brother in law…). I also had a booksigning at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY...
Exclusive Interview With Poet Helene Cardona
It sometimes seems like all published poets wear many different hats in addition to their poetry cap. Helene Cardona exemplifies this as much (if not more) than any poet. When she’s not a poet, she’s an actress with credits in movies such as Chocolat and Mumford. She’s also an equestrian, dancer, dream analyst, and...
VIDEOS OF THE DAY: Take That, Bill O'Reilly!
Hey, sketch and satire writers– I’m guessing you’ve all seen the video burning up the Internet of Bill O’Reilly melting down on Inside Edition a few years ago. Well, even better are these two shorts– Stephen Colbert‘s brilliantly written “defense” of him, and Barely Political‘s “unseen footage” of O’Reilly’s off-screen producer. This is some...
READER QUESTION: How Do Recent College Graduates Break In To Hollywood?
Hey, screenwriters— Today’s mailbag question comes from Zane, a college student who writes: “Do you know of any good opportunities in Hollywood for recent graduates? I have a strong interest in the industry, but am not sure of the best method to start my career. I am considering other work options and then getting...
Maria Gets Cheap
Hi Writers,I met up with one of my favorite WD forumistas this morning at the Joseph-Beth bookstore here in Cincy—the one and only “Ultimate Cheapskate” (aka Jeff Yeager). Jeff has been pedaling his bike around the country on a book tour to spread his gospel of cheapness. You can read all about Jeff and...
Poetry Publishing Basics
Many new poets have become readers of Poetic Asides since when it began more than 10 months ago. And with close to 300 total posts, it’s not a good idea for me to expect you to dig around looking for helpful publishing information. So, I’m going to give a real quick Poetry Publishing 101. (If...
Agent Michael Stearns Interviewed on CWIM Site
Interview with Michael Stearns.
Lucienne Diver Moves to the Knight Agency
Lucienne Diver, an accomplished and experienced agent has moved from the Spectrum Agency to The Knight Agency. I got the chance to meet Lucienne when I was presenting in Florida and she was a joy to be around. I learned the news by reading the blog of Nephele Tempest, another agent at Knight. If...
Signatures
Hi Everyone, More great comments are coming in (thankyou). S Miller offered a comment on yesterday’s post about the etiquette of including her signature block in a “reply-all” email. Your signature block (a block of text with your contact info, links, etc.) is a very simple and very effective marketing tool. The great thing about them is...
Agent Advice: Bernadette Baker of Baker’s Mark Literary
This installment features Bernadette Baker of Vigliano Associates. Currently Seeking: Comics that are historical stories, biographies, fables, mythology, memoir, and urban fantasy. But she is also a great fiction lover, and would really like to see more psychological thrillers in the comic format; “I don’t think that area has been explored enough”. And more, more,...
Newspaper Blackout Poetry
Before getting into the cool news, I just wanted to let everyone know who’s been looking for the rest of the April Highlights (Days 21-30) that I am still going to post them. I’ve just been busy supremo working on the 2008 Poet’s Market, which will be going to production on June 5. Of...
Procrastination vs. Writer's Block
Hi Writers,There’s a great piece in Slate “It’s All in My Head” by Jessica Winter, that attempts to make a distinction between procrastination and writer’s block focusing on the work—and lack thereof—of famous writers of the past such as Truman Capote. Here’s an excerpt: Neurologist Alice Flaherty attempts a working distinction between procrastination and...