We Write!
I've recently discovered the concept of 'try-fail cycles' in writing. Like many things, I knew this existed for a long time before I learned exactly why it's important or had the vocabulary to describe it. Okay, that last bit is debatable. I've been winging these blog posts for four- I think?- years; I'm not about... Continue Reading →
You should always very carefully read any contract you are a party to, that goes without saying. These days it applies particularly to contracts with traditional publishing. In fact, you probably should get a lawyer, because trad pub has been learning their tricks from another gentleman who also offers amazing deals and smells ever so... Continue Reading →
Sorry, everyone. I’m on the last leg of making sure Foil of the Gods for release next week. So I am leaving the floor to you guys this morning. I’ll try to come back with a post this afternoon. In the meantime, don’t make too much of a mess here. Recommendations for posts will be very welcome.... Continue Reading →
Just over twelve years ago, we were in the throes of emigrating from South Africa to this little island off the coast of Tasmania. It was a nightmarish, expensive bureaucratic process, that was actually very hard, aside from uprooting your whole life to move across the world to a little island where you knew no-one.... Continue Reading →
1. How to weed-whack. Calmer Half got an electric one that's light enough, and low-vibration enough, I can manage it even with all the old injuries. 2. That weedwhacking is a severe forearm workout. Ouch. Even splitting it over multiple days and switching hands, I still have a third of the fenceline to go before... Continue Reading →
I’m at FantaSci 2022 this weekend, reporting from Raleigh, North Carolina. Even as I speak, with only Thursday for Precon, and Friday of the con, I’m having a blast, and I have two more days of this to go. This post isn’t going to be about the con, necessarily, as I plan a full AAR... Continue Reading →
I have three items to share with you this week, one of which made me laugh out loud - but more of that later. First, Intellectual Takeout notes that "A Decline in Reading Skills Makes Geese for the Plucking". A teacher-friend of mine recently expressed sadness over the stagnation of her students. Before the pandemic... Continue Reading →
Picking Your Story-stolen from According To Hoyt June 2018 *Yes, that's right. I am now stealing content from my own blog for Blasts from the past. I've been doing a lot of thinking about story, and it occurred to me this is more important than ever, with the changing "realities" of trad pub, and what's... Continue Reading →
The last week or so has been anything but smooth sailing for traditional publishing. You could almost believe the success of Brandon Sanderson's oh so successful Kickstarter campaign kicked off a time of bad press and potentially horrible decisions by trad publishing that will have a long-lasting impact on the industry for not only editors... Continue Reading →
Alas. I had just thought of something interesting and insightful to post and I was distracted by the sight of the dog we're baby-sitting having a staring contest with an Australian magpie on the porch. My mind, ever ready to say 'oh, squirrel' got involved in the staring match... and now I can't remember what... Continue Reading →
Mad Genius Club 