Entries Tagged 'Writers' ↓

Independent booksellers alert: make sure you are on ZeeMaps at wikibibliotheque.

For writers looking for inspiration, here is a pdf publication of Words to Inspire Writers, a free digital release of the book edited by Gregory Victor Babic and published by F. C. Sach & Sons. It is ‘A perpetual calendar of classic writing-related quotations — on writers, writing, words, books, literature, and publishing — specifically selected to illustrate the writing process and to motivate authors every day.’

Internationally successful Allison Rushby (AKA Alli Kincaid) is joining us tonight for the Writing Race 8-9pm AEST. Join this friendly and motivated online writing community by logging into AWMonline forums (subscriptions to AWMonline start at $19.95).

Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic) has discovered a creative new application for Twitter: revenge, After a less-than-glowing review of her new book, she tweeted critic Roberta Silman’s phone number and email address, urging fans to communicate their displeasure with ’snarky critics’. Fortunately, Hoffman got the number wrong, and Silman enjoyed her weekend away uninterrupted. Neither was her inbox inundated with complaints. Hoffman has apologised, her reputation in tatters. Here’s a good article summarising the spat, with links to sites that still have some of the original tweets (Hoffman’s Twitter account is no more). It certainly gives pause to consider the issues this has raised in terms of an author’s online presence.

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The Queensland literary scene is on fire this year, with ten (and counting) debut authors launching their books across a range off genres. One of the reasons for this surge in publications has been the mentoring and fostering of new writers by established authors, and a prime mover in establishing this supportive literary community has been author Nick Earls. Today we talk with Nick , fresh from his rocking book launch at the Powerhouse last night, about Byron Bay Writers Festival.

Sp: Have you attended/appeared at BBWF before – if so, what is your favourite BBWF moment?

NE: Yes. The time I was on a panel with a major TV star who is now also a writer, and he appeared to be hungover after the night before but turned out to be still drunk. The panel was unchairable, but compelling. I’d always heard about the panels at previous festivals where someone had gone feral. Finally I was part of it.

Sp: What is it you most value or look forward to about BBWF 09?

NE: The environment is hard to beat. The audience members behave like they love to be there. And there’s a beach to run on.

Sp: Did attending writers festivals help develop your writing craft/career when you were a developing/emerging writer?

NE: Yes, I quite often learned something, and not always from the big-name novelists. Once I heard Wendy Harmer (back when she was a comedian and hadn’t written books) talk about writing comedy, and about when to be general and when to be specific, and how differently they worked. Sometimes you should say biscuit, sometimes it just has to be Tim Tam. She’s right, and what she said still has a bearing on my writing. 

Sp: What are your Top Tips for making the most of Byron Bay Writers Festival?

NE: For authors: eat and drink anything free that comes your way. Okay, eat everything, but maybe don’t drink everything. Do try to deliver when it’s your turn to speak.

For audience members: make the most of the laid-back atmosphere. If you see a writer you want to talk to, go up and talk to them. 

Sp: Can you please select a topic from your BBWF session/s, and briefly share your thoughts on it?

NE: ‘Meet Nick Earls’ – surely that topic’s irresistible. I hear sometimes he throws cash into the audience. (Okay, maybe not …)

SP: Please tell us about your current book/project.

NE: This year’s story, The True Story of Butterfish, exists as both a novel and a play. The central character, Curtis Holland, is 35 and after his band breaks up he moves back to Brisbane to reconnect with his brother and work out what’s next in his life. I realised he wanted a small world and that the best way to tell the story was with as few characters as possible. I ended up with six and, as I got to know them, they felt like a more natural fit as a play cast than any of my four novels that have been adapted for theatre. So I wrote the story as a play as well as a novel, and I alternated drafts. The novel’s out now, the play is on at the Powerhouse in Brisbane in Oct.

You can follow Nick on Twitter at twitter.com/nickearls. He’s as hilarious as he is generous.

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Also at Nick’s book launch last night was author John Birmingham, who took a break from his Spartan writing regime to enjoy the festivities. John will be joining us at AWMonline next Tuesday night to lead us on to great word counts at the Writing Race: log in around 7.45pm AEST for an hour’s dedicated writing time from 8-9pm. If John’s tweets are anything to go by, the man is a (fabulous) writing machine. Can’t wait!

Have a lovely weekend, folks, and happy writing.

At Criminal Brief (The Mystery Short Story Web Log Project), The A.D.D. Detective, Leigh Lunden, observes that

Vanity publishing is like T-ball:

Everyone gets a chance at bat, gets a hit, and takes home a trophy.

But don’t expect anyone other than your mom to applaud.

Crossfire of the Vanities is a brilliant post on the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing. When does self-publishing work, i.e. when is it an appropriate option for you to consider? And when is it simply an admission that your manuscript is "not quite ready for prime time"? Lunden scores some home-truths and home-runs on the artificially level playing field of vanity publishing.

If I had compiled a sweet social history of my family or community, if I was providing valuable trade instructions, or if I were a touring bush balladeer, then I’d be shopping around for an ethical, professional self-publishing company for sure. Otherwise, I’d bear in mind that ‘neither authors nor readers are well-served by self-published fiction’, and keep putting in the miles; editing my manuscript, attending my crit group, putting my bum on seats at writers events and festivals, and generally serving my apprentice. In honouring the craft, the patient pathway to publication is its own reward.

And, remember, avoid the vampirates at all costs!

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Speakeasy fell in lurve with Alice Pung when we read her post on Becoming a Writer at The Inc. Blot, the blog of Black Inc., independent Melbourne-based publisher of literary non-fiction, fiction and poetry. Unpolished Gem sounds a treasure indeed.

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 Have you seen Inside the Shortlist? It is a guide to the CBCA’s Shortlist Information for teachers from Prep/Kinder through to senior secondary, offering a wealth of ideas for displaying, discussing, and enjoying this year’s best Australian books for young people. Purchasing a copy of this teacher resource keeps the project viable, ensuring young people in Australia continue to have access to locally produced works of art and literature.

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Last week, AWMonline subscribers spoke with Australian YA author Michael Gerard Bauer during an online forum. The dynamics of having so many enthusiatic writers put questions to our internationally successful guest quickly created a warm and vibrant conversation. Here are some highlights from the discussion:

Kate: How conscious are you of the influence of your locality when writing?
MBG: Quite a bit. I taught at Marist Brothers in Brisbane and I based the school setting for “Don’t Call me Ishmael” on that. I felt the Ashgrove location a great deal in The Running Man and made a conscious decision to use the real suburb and street names in the story because it was based on some childhood memories of growing up there.

Robyn: Do you think having been a teacher has helped you as a writer, and if it has, what have you found most valuable about it?
MBG: Yes, definitely. I think it gave me a good understanding of the people I was writing about. I certainly couldn’t have written ishmael as well without drawing on my teaching years. During teaching I also read lots of YA books and loved them. Now when I visit schools to talk I feel very comfortable in that environment.

Samantha: What are some of the things that helped you make the trasition from full-time teacher to full-time writer, Michael?
MGB: Desperation to write the story was one thing! Having a very supportive wife who continued full time work helped a lot too. And some great good fortune.

Lynn: Do you work solely on one project at a time or do you mix it up?
MGB: I work on one project at a time but there has always been the next story in the back of my mind that starts to take over when the first one comes to an end.

Samantha: What does your writing week look like and how has your success, and associated PR obligations, impacted on your ability to write new material?
MGB: My writing week looks like a bit of a shambles most times! I’m trying to be more consistent and organised with my writing. On a good day I would have an early walk (really helps with ideas) have breakfast, write till lunch and then for a few hours after lunch. I have had to think more in the last 2 years about balancing writing and school/festival vists because sometimes I’ve been away for 5 weeks in a row interstate. You have to make space for the writing.

Kate: As a former teacher, and as a writer for young readers, what are your thoughts about encouraging creative writing in young people?
MGB: I don’t mind encouraging kids to enter comps. It gives them a structure and a focus for their writing. As long as winning or getting a prize is not the main objective but more simply a way to practice their writing.

Jim: I can understand the joy and passion of writing, but what is the most frustrating part of your successful life as an author?
MGB: I really feel blessed to have the chance to be a full time writer so I feel I’ve got nothing to complain about … but … I guess like every writer it’s when the ideas in your head end up all clunky on the page and that hard struggle to get it right. There are great rewards of course when you do it. Also wanting to write and not being able to because of other commitments.

Elaine: Do you recommend having an agent or trying to find a publisher?
MGB: I can’t say much about having an agent. I don’t have one but I know some authors who do and swear by them. I tend to do everything myself and I must admit sometimes I think it would be nice to have someone negotiate contracts etc for you. My overseas sales have all been organised by the rights people at Scholastic.

Joanne: Do you have a critique group or circle of people that you use to help you with your projects?
MGB: No, I don’t. I think I’m too self conscious to be scrutinised! But I know people who do and find them a great source of support and inspiration.

Jodi: Do you think your teaching background has led you to write YA novels? What are you working on at the moment? Do you ever think you’ll write/publish more short fiction?
MGB: Yes, I think my teaching has led me to YA novels. Although i tend to write stories that I like rather than think too much about aiming them at a particular audience. Must be my arrested development that they end up YA! At present I’m writing a shorter novel – 25000 – words where the narrator is a 11 yr old boy. he tells the story of his dog’s life but also reveals things about his family. i’m not sure who will want to read it but I have to write anyway.

Luke: I know Dinosaur Knights has only just been released, but are you working on your next project yet? Can you tell us anything about it?
MGB: I’m enjoying trying to write [my latest story] from a young narrator’s POV. It means my language has to be simple and straight forward. I want to tell a powerful story with simple language. Some people might say I use too much imagery and symbolism and exaggerated similes/metaphors in some of my previous novels!

Robyn: I’ve been reading lately that YA and kids books seem to be selling well – better than books for adults even – despite the ‘global economic crisis’ .
MGB: I think children’s books particularly in Australia are so strong and well written so maybe they are better placed to weather the storm.

Meg: Thank you to all our wonderful forum particpants – you have created a fantastic, informative discussion that shows such enthusiasm for the craft of writing. And special thanks to our guest, Michael Bauer. Your generosity in sharing your experience with our beginner and developing writers from around Australia has enriched us all, Michael. You’re a treasure!

MGB: Thanks everyone, this has been such great fun! Thank you for your wonderful questions. I hope I’ve managed to make some sense with my answers. I might have to have a lie down now though …

To help you achieve your writing goals for 2009, AWMonline is offering subscribers the opportunity to join in a regular, live, online writing race.

Our celebrity guest KIM WILKINS will be joining us for our first AWMonline writing race, tonight at 8pm AEST for one hour.

Subscribers can log in tonight at 7.45pm AEST and go to "forums" under "writing resources". Let us know you’re online, check for the correct starting time, and then get writing!

At 9pm AEST, it’s pens (keyboards) down… Let us know your word count for the night, and how you feel about your progress. You’ll be amazed at how motivated you are when racing alongside your online writing buddies!

So AWmonline subscribers, start planning for a night of productive writing. If you want to join us and become an online writing racer, it’s easy to subscribe at www.awmonline.com.au  – subscriptions start at $19.95.

     Good writing: someone takes an insurmountable writing challenge and turns it into a classic article on reviewing books you haven’t read. In the interest of fairness and balance, I will also include this link on how to review books you’ve actually read.

For those interested in theatre, check out this performing arts blog, and let them know what you think  makes good theatre.

Chris Baty started NaNoWriMo. His personal blog is a lovely surprise, and entirely true.

Lastly, terrible things happen to good writers: the outspoken Chinese writer who was stabbed is recovering in hospital.  The best part of this story is where audience members chased the perps, "snapping pictures with their cellphones as they ran". The worst part is that it really happened. Do the folks at Crikey worry about being stabbed? Chris Masters in The Write Stuff, the magazine of the Northern Rivers Writers Centre, sums up the situation in Australia well: "While limits to press freedom crowd in, there is still enormous power in our own potential – and those stories waiting to be told."

     AWMonline has run live forums with both Australian and international agents, and they have been unanimous in advising writers to read, read, and read some more. There’s no better way to know your craft, know your genre, and know your market.

The development of e-books means readers are faced with expanding choices of not only what to read, but how.

For those who still like their books on paper, here are some cool things to make reading comfy, easy, and fun – especially for those of us who have RSI from all our writing. (Excuse the product plugs – rest assured, I’m not getting any kickbacks!)

I swear by the book seat - it’s like a bean bag for your book with a strap to keep it open. It’s perfect for hands-free reading, but not very portable. For one-handed, take-anywhere reading, I want to try the thumb thing. And there are a squillion readling lights available, including these two: the flex neck for a clip-on reading light with style, and this kids reading light with digital timer – it’s designed to encourage recalacitrant readers to read for a minimum time, but I can definitely see it come in handy setting limits on my own night-time reading.

But then, I need to read more than I need to sleep.

Many readers have gone digital, notably Nathan Bransford, literary agent, and Kate Eltham, QWC CEO and writer. I guess I could live without books-on-paper (cut to scene of desperate woman standing atop a windswept cliff, 1984 edition of The Mists of Avalon clutched to her heaving breast). But what about bookshelves? Bookshelves maketh the home, and they’re not there to house dusty bric-a-brac, people. They’re meant for books.

And what about our favourite independent booksellers in Australia (gleebooks, Readings, Brisbane’s Better Bookshops…)? We are fortunate to have so many surviving and thriving when treasured ones overseas are going, going, gone. There’s still a place for independent booksellers in the world of digital publishing, but it’s a different place.

Sigh. Kindle and Sony Reader do look good. I could read whenever, wherever, no seats and things and lights required. Even, now, on my iphone.

So, writers – there’s lots of options, gadgets aplenty, and definitely no excuses. Want to be the best writer you can be? Then read, read, and read some more!

     … Speculative fiction!

Everyone is gearing up for the Aurealis Awards tomorrow night. I caught a sneak peak of the program yesterday, and it is lush. If you can’t make it down to Judy in person, get your live updates at the Aurealis Awards website, or just listen for the tweets. And best of luck to all the writers nominated – what an incredible range of talent represented at the AA this year.

Speaking of talented speculative fiction writers, a bunch of them are in Brisbane for Clarion South, as well as reading about town. Yes, it’s shaping up as a good Australia Day weekend for fans of the genre.

Lastly, more lists of novels everyone must read, but this time no one needs to glance guiltily at the high-brow section while pining for their genre faves. The Guardian’s ‘1000 novels everyone must read’ includes a fantastic (literally) selection of spec fic titles. From gothic romance to eco-thriller, from 1532 AD to the recent noughties, this comprehensive three-part list offers insight into how spec fic writers use science and fantasy to produce texts that play a crucial role in interpreting and challenging our world.

Harry Nicolaides has been sentenced to 3 years in a Thai prison for lese majeste (see Pen for where to address your letters of support, and check Facebook for the petition). Nicolaides formerly lived in Thailand, and wrote a fiction novel, self-publishing it to a handful of sales. He is now in prison for it. An extremely disturbing issue regarding self-publishing and censorship, freedom of speech, cultural autonomy, and human rights.

But most important is the urgent issue of an Australian writer’s liberty.

     There’s an opportunity until the 15th of this month to submit the first chapter of your best, completed novel as part of the Query Holiday at Firebrand Literary. These are truly folks after my own heart: their idea of a good holiday is reading upwards of 200 submissions a day (presumably while sipping exotic beverages on a banana lounge by the beach somewhere). They cover a fairly wide range of YA, non-fic, and spec-fic titles, plus children’s and illustrated titles. You can follow the adventures of one of their agents involved at www.twitter.com/nadiacornier.

Craphound has written a helpful writers’ guide to surviving and thriving amidst the technological temptations that assail us when we front up to the keyboard. Read Cory’s article for ideas to improve your writing routines. It’s great stuff, although I must admit, I sometimes break the rules and do a quick fact-check online in the middle of a writing session – if I have the luxury of a few hours to write, it can help me immerse myself in the topic of my wild imaginings.

What about you .. Any top tips to add? Does internet access help or hinder your writing?