It’s out there. For free. Go get one!
Unraveling Time is free through Tuesday!
What are you waiting for?
While you’re doing that, I’m going to write up a review of the book I finished yesterday.
k
.
.
.
.
.
Posts Tagged ‘creative writing’
It’s Heeere
Posted in Books, Writing, tagged amazon, book promotion, creative writing, ebooks, free books, Kindle, novels, publishing, Unraveling Time, Writing on 05 Apr 2013| 1 Comment »
Hard-Boiled Writing
Posted in Writing, tagged blogging, books, cooking, creative writing, hard boiled egg, novel writing, perfect hard boiled egg, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 03 Apr 2013| 2 Comments »
There are some things I cannot do and will never be able to do. I will execute a perfect entrechat huit. I will never date Morena Baccarin. I will never be the conductor of a world-famous symphonic orchestra. I will never eat balut. The items on this list are there due to my physical limitations, my not having enough talent or time to achieve the goal, or my strong desire to not ever do such a stupid thing. (You can figure out which goes with which.)
There are other things I cannot do and should be able to do. These are things that are not beyond my physical capabilities or mental acumen. These are things I want to do but simply, at this point in time, cannot.
Like cooking the perfect hard-boiled egg. (more…)
It Was a What, Now?
Posted in Books, Fallen Cloud Saga, Writing, tagged amazon, ankylosaur, Beneath a Wounded Sky, creative writing, dinosaur, ebooks, Fallen Cloud Saga, FC:V, novel writing, novels, parasaurolophus, plesiosaur, pterosaur, self-publishing, T-Rex, Writing on 01 Apr 2013| 2 Comments »
It’s one of those things I dreaded. A reader of the Fallen Cloud Saga has asked me what species of dinosaurs I used in the series. Don’t get me wrong, it’s terrific that readers want this kind of detail and “behind the scenes” info, and I’m more than happy to provide it, but I know this will only give ammunition to Paleozoic anoraks to shoot holes in my world-building techniques. The row that ensued over my leaving Quebec under French control was epic. I can only imagine what will happen with this.
But, rather than just a cold list of species, I’ll give a little of my thinking to the scenario as well.
Closing the Loop
Posted in Books, Fallen Cloud Saga, Seattle, Writing, tagged amazon, Beneath a Wounded Sky, books, creative writing, Fallen Cloud Saga, FC:V, novel writing, novels, publishing, rain, Seattle, self-publishing, weather, Writing on 20 Mar 2013| 2 Comments »
It’s pissing down rain in Seattle. The lecherous wind tugs and young women’s skirts as they tick-tock their high-heeled way to work, and the few who bothered with umbrellas wish they’d left them at home. The sky is locked down in gunmetal grey and the sun is a dim memory, consumed by the overhead drear. It’s already been a long work-week for me, having put in three days’ worth before the end of Day Two, and I haven’t slept well for worrying about my family, still roiling from our matriarch’s recent death.
And yet, inside, I’m sunny. (more…)
What Readers Want
Posted in Writing, tagged books, creative writing, novel writing, novels, publishing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 19 Mar 2013| 2 Comments »
What do readers really want?
We’ve been discussing this topic over on some FB threads. The complaint (from writers) is about what readers do not seem to want, i.e., originality. Or at least, they don’t want too much originality.
This isn’t meant as a diss or a put-down. It’s something that’s endemic to many entertainment industries (and do not doubt that publishing is an entertainment industry). Publishers want a sure thing to put their money behind, and readers want a sure thing for their hard-earned cash. Totally understandable.
Readers want something similar to what they already know they like, but they don’t want a complete re-hash of an old story. They want their tropes, their memes, but they also want a new spin, or perhaps a new element. Some genres are extremely hide-bound (detective novels and rom-com movies, for example), while others are more open to “variations on a theme” (e.g., steampunk). (more…)
It’s Beyond My Control
Posted in Writing, tagged author control, Barb Hendee, creative writing, ebooks, editing, novel writing, publishing, self-publishing, the noble dead saga, Writing, writing tips on 18 Mar 2013| 4 Comments »
A friend of mine, Barb Hendee, is half of that incredible tag-team author-pair that has brought you The Noble Dead Saga and many other novels and series.
Well, Barb has a blog, and she often posts articles of a writerly nature. While all of her articles are good, her most recent article made me choke on my coffee and laugh out loud.
For the uninitiated, it’s as easy to suppose that all published authors are fabulously wealthy as it is to assume we have total control over the publication of our books. Hardcover or softcover? Price point? Cover art?
None of these are within an author’s control, once you sign that contract. I’ve even had the title of some books changed without either my consultation or assent. Go ahead. Try to guess which ones.
Meanwhile, go check out Barb’s article on the topic.
k
Brass Tacks
Posted in Books, Writing, tagged amazon, books, creative writing, ebooks, Kindle, novel writing, novels, publishing, self-publishing, Writing on 18 Mar 2013| 1 Comment »
My wife and I take walks around Seattle’s Green Lake. It’s one of the best parks in the city, and it’s beautiful at any time of the year. It’s a nice 3+ mile circuit, during which we’d talk about many things, quite often about my writing. My wife (my First Reader) is a great sounding-board for plot ideas, plot problems, character development ideas, etc.
When I sold my first book, our walks had a new topic: which of these lakefront houses would we buy when the money started rolling in?
It’s true. I so firmly believed in the future success of my books and my career as a writer that I was eyeing million-dollar properties. So, what the hell happened? Why didn’t Oprah’s Secret kick in? (more…)
Kurt R.A. Giambastiani 