Technology has changed a lot of things, and the world of publishing is no exception. Holly, the author of A BLUE SO DARK and PLAYING HURT, has gotten very good very quickly at navigating this new world.
Right before I got my undergraduate degree, I remember a girl in one of my lit classes asking the prof, “How do you know what new stuff is good to read? Where do you start?”
What she was saying was that she’d been buried in her classroom reading so long—so inundated with thick classics—that she was completely out of the loop, as far as contemporary lit was concerned.
She got snickered at, though—because at that time, in my hometown of Springfield, MO, she had plenty of bookstores where she could browse and become reacquainted with contemporary writers.
Now, though? My hometown has no independent bookstores. Not one. Recently, my favorite used store closed. The Borders Express in the mall shut down around the holidays, and the larger Borders is in the process of shutting its doors, too.
The loss means the art of bookstore browsing is dying—and not just in my hometown. Walking aisles and pulling spines is no longer something you can do on lunch hours or Saturdays…it’s something, quite frankly, you do online.
And nothing—NOTHING has helped introduce readers to new authors quite like book bloggers. Instead of having a bookseller who can recommend titles, we now have bloggers.
Bloggers have been instrumental in connecting my books with the right readers. They’ve been incredible to me, shouting my praises from Twitter, using their own money to pass along copies of my books in tours.
I know exactly how much work bloggers have put into helping to promote my books—and I’m eternally, eternally grateful…
Holly
Showing posts with label Block party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Block party. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Block Party: A Story to Tell
Hey all! Hope you're having a wonderful day in sunny where-ever-ville.
Part of a great Block Party is spreading the news about wonderfully awesome things and we have a great one for you! Tahereh Mafi is a 23-year-old author represented by Jodi Reamer of Writer's House. Her debut novel, SHATTER ME, is set to release November 15th of this year! We have the great pleasure of sharing a post she published on her blog (go here!) just a few days ago.
so this is a story.
it's a story about all the things you've ever wanted and all the things you didn't know you even had it in you to want and you sit there. you watch the windows and you wait for the mail and you jump up, alert, ready for even the smallest bit of news, something to change, something different coming your way, something to tell you your time has come. maybe now maybe in just a moment maybe even tomorrow.
you wait for it.
you open the doors and look outside and walk up and down the driveway. you check your watch and peek into the neighbor's yard and wonder why they never open their blinds anymore. you sit on the sidewalk. you smile at the strangers who stroll past, leashes laced into fingers clenched, concentrated on keeping the dogs at bay. don't step out of line, little quadruped. don't bark too loudly and don't jump too high and make sure, they tell you, they say make sure you sign on the dotted line and don't forget to file your taxes on time. wear your shiniest shoes just to stand in lines and fidget just enough, smile just a little, nod at nothing in particular and shove your hands in your pockets and pretend you're unable to make eye contact with anything but that spot, that little mark on the wall 50 feet from where you're standing. pretend you're just a number.
tap your left foot. shift your weight. tug at your collar and bite your bottom lip and take a deep breath. look around a little. check your wrist for the time you've lost and beg a stranger for a cigarette.
flip the channels on your television and watch the colors flicker and fade. pay your bills and play with the kids, touch the aging walls, run your hands through your hair and ignore whatever it is in your throat that you just can't seem to swallow. close the windows in your home and open the windows on your desk, forget all about outer space and lose yourself in cyberspace and click away the moments, the conversations you're not interested in having.
open that word document and stare at it.
wait for the moment. stare at the cursor blinking back at you and study it, try to ignore the bleats of your heart as you check your phone for no missed calls, no new messages, no news worth staining your screen. try to stop your fingers from running a marathon down your thigh.
tell the moment to jump off a cliff.
stack the dishes in the sink and shove the papers off your desk and cut the cord on your internet connection. lose the pleats in your pants. pick up your fingers and put them to work. catch the clock on the wall and put it in your pocket. chain it to your wrist. don't let it go.
don't wait for someone else's moment. write the book ripping a hole in your chest and seize the hours slipping through your fingers because it's now, the moment is now, it's right now it's always been right in front of you.
don't apologize for having a story to tell.
apologize for not telling it.
<3
Thanks Tahereh for letting us post it! Go here to visit her in her own domain. (You won't regret it!)
Part of a great Block Party is spreading the news about wonderfully awesome things and we have a great one for you! Tahereh Mafi is a 23-year-old author represented by Jodi Reamer of Writer's House. Her debut novel, SHATTER ME, is set to release November 15th of this year! We have the great pleasure of sharing a post she published on her blog (go here!) just a few days ago.
READ ON! READ ON!
so this is a story.
it's a story about all the things you've ever wanted and all the things you didn't know you even had it in you to want and you sit there. you watch the windows and you wait for the mail and you jump up, alert, ready for even the smallest bit of news, something to change, something different coming your way, something to tell you your time has come. maybe now maybe in just a moment maybe even tomorrow.
you wait for it.
you open the doors and look outside and walk up and down the driveway. you check your watch and peek into the neighbor's yard and wonder why they never open their blinds anymore. you sit on the sidewalk. you smile at the strangers who stroll past, leashes laced into fingers clenched, concentrated on keeping the dogs at bay. don't step out of line, little quadruped. don't bark too loudly and don't jump too high and make sure, they tell you, they say make sure you sign on the dotted line and don't forget to file your taxes on time. wear your shiniest shoes just to stand in lines and fidget just enough, smile just a little, nod at nothing in particular and shove your hands in your pockets and pretend you're unable to make eye contact with anything but that spot, that little mark on the wall 50 feet from where you're standing. pretend you're just a number.
tap your left foot. shift your weight. tug at your collar and bite your bottom lip and take a deep breath. look around a little. check your wrist for the time you've lost and beg a stranger for a cigarette.
flip the channels on your television and watch the colors flicker and fade. pay your bills and play with the kids, touch the aging walls, run your hands through your hair and ignore whatever it is in your throat that you just can't seem to swallow. close the windows in your home and open the windows on your desk, forget all about outer space and lose yourself in cyberspace and click away the moments, the conversations you're not interested in having.
open that word document and stare at it.
wait for the moment. stare at the cursor blinking back at you and study it, try to ignore the bleats of your heart as you check your phone for no missed calls, no new messages, no news worth staining your screen. try to stop your fingers from running a marathon down your thigh.
tell the moment to jump off a cliff.
stack the dishes in the sink and shove the papers off your desk and cut the cord on your internet connection. lose the pleats in your pants. pick up your fingers and put them to work. catch the clock on the wall and put it in your pocket. chain it to your wrist. don't let it go.
don't wait for someone else's moment. write the book ripping a hole in your chest and seize the hours slipping through your fingers because it's now, the moment is now, it's right now it's always been right in front of you.
don't apologize for having a story to tell.
apologize for not telling it.
<3
Thanks Tahereh for letting us post it! Go here to visit her in her own domain. (You won't regret it!)
So, what did you think? Inspired? Fired up?
What story do you have to tell? And better yet, are you telling it?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Block Party: Make it Work
I hear many aspiring writers cite lack of time as their biggest obstacle. Ghenet of Ghenet Writes is a master of time management and has some great tips to share. Thanks Ghenet, for sharing your writerly wisdom! -Emery
When Emery asked me to do a guest post on time management in writing, I was happy to oblige. You see, when I was in an MFA program I was one of the few people in my class working full-time. Balancing a 40-hour workweek with my MFA classes, required events, assignments and actually writing was hard. Then I got engaged and added wedding planning to the mix! I had to quickly adapt to my hectic schedule and figure out how to get everything done while maintaining my sanity.
Even if your life isn't as busy as mine was (I wouldn't wish that upon anyone!) you might relate to feeling overwhelmed with everything you have to do. It's hard to be a writer when it's not your only job. I'm channeling Tim Gunn by giving you five ways to make it work.
~ Ghenet
When Emery asked me to do a guest post on time management in writing, I was happy to oblige. You see, when I was in an MFA program I was one of the few people in my class working full-time. Balancing a 40-hour workweek with my MFA classes, required events, assignments and actually writing was hard. Then I got engaged and added wedding planning to the mix! I had to quickly adapt to my hectic schedule and figure out how to get everything done while maintaining my sanity.
Even if your life isn't as busy as mine was (I wouldn't wish that upon anyone!) you might relate to feeling overwhelmed with everything you have to do. It's hard to be a writer when it's not your only job. I'm channeling Tim Gunn by giving you five ways to make it work.
- Create a schedule and stick to it. If you figure out exactly when you have time to write every week, you'll feel less overwhelmed. Write it down in your planner (or use Google Calendar like me) and hold yourself accountable.
- Carry a Notebook. If you have a notebook with you at all times, you'll always have a place to write when inspiration strikes. You should make use of every free minute you have. Write bits of your WIP during your commute (if you use public transportation), your lunch hour or when your kids are napping.
- When you aren't writing, think about your book. If you need to brainstorm for your story, multitask. Work out problems with your plot while you run errands or do chores. If you think of something worthwhile, you can jot it down in your notebook. Then when you sit down to write, you can get straight to work instead of spending time outlining or plotting.
- Stay focused. You don't have the luxury to procrastinate. When it's time to write, avoid checking your email, Twitter, and Facebook. Make the most of your time and get to writing!
- Be patient. Writing a book isn't easy, and if it can take a while if you don't have a ton of time. That's okay! There's no reason to feel rushed. What's more important than writing quickly is writing happily. You have to love the process.
~ Ghenet
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Block Party: Once Upon a Time in TV Land...
We're hosting a Block Party this week in an effort to get to know our blogger neighbors. First up is Lisa (aka The Blonde Blogette), a TV producer and reality television guru (and my good friend since approximately 1999). Thanks Lisa!
Who watched 30 Rock this week? The correct answer is, “I did!” (I will also accept, “It’s sitting on my DVR and I’m going to watch it as soon as possible,” or, “I’m watching it on Hulu right after I finish reading this.”)
Here’s why I love 30 Rock: it’s about Liz Lemon, the head writer of a TV show. And since Tina Fey created the show, writes for it, and stars as Liz Lemon, the series is mostly told from a writer’s perspective. And I love that! (Plus, it’s really funny.)
Because the show focuses on a TV writer’s world, it often addresses Liz Lemon’s fear of being out of a job as reality shows become more and more popular. This theme has popped up several times throughout the series, but last week’s episode took the idea to a new level, suggesting that writers may actually be going the way of the travel agent. As The Social Network and West Wing screenwriter Aaron Sorkin puts it to Liz in his cameo on the episode, “Our craft is dying while people are playing Angry Birds and poking each other on Facebook. What is poking, anyway, and why won’t anyone do it to me? I’m cool!”
There’s a lot of truth to Sorkin’s statement. And I can’t help but feel that this trend is being blamed on my generation and those to follow because we’ve made reality TV, celebrity news, and American Idol a part of our culture. Additionally, social networking has allowed us to immediately voice our opinions, judgment, and commentary on the shows and movies we watch. It seems unfair for a writer to sweat and slave over an original idea only to see it ripped to shreds by 17-year-old online commenters while some drunk, unscripted crazy-fest on TV gets another season for pulling in more ratings and revenue.
But scripted TV is evolving in that its creators understand pop culture itself is a language my generation speaks. It’s one of the reasons NBC’s Community is a hit; it constantly references other TV shows and movies, or even just popular genres of entertainment. Glee is such a pop culture phenomenon that in its second season, it makes references to itself. Both of these shows, along with 30 Rock, use a sort of meta-story format that allows the fictional characters to somehow live in the same world as the viewers. It gives the show a new level of relevance for my generation. These shows form a social community, which is what the next wave of entertainment is all about.
What do you think? Is a story more fun and entertaining when it’s relevant to your world as an audience? What about science fiction and fantasy? Let me know in the comments section!
Thanks to the fabulous Ink Slingers for inviting me to guest post on their blog!
Lisa ;)
Who watched 30 Rock this week? The correct answer is, “I did!” (I will also accept, “It’s sitting on my DVR and I’m going to watch it as soon as possible,” or, “I’m watching it on Hulu right after I finish reading this.”)
Here’s why I love 30 Rock: it’s about Liz Lemon, the head writer of a TV show. And since Tina Fey created the show, writes for it, and stars as Liz Lemon, the series is mostly told from a writer’s perspective. And I love that! (Plus, it’s really funny.)
Because the show focuses on a TV writer’s world, it often addresses Liz Lemon’s fear of being out of a job as reality shows become more and more popular. This theme has popped up several times throughout the series, but last week’s episode took the idea to a new level, suggesting that writers may actually be going the way of the travel agent. As The Social Network and West Wing screenwriter Aaron Sorkin puts it to Liz in his cameo on the episode, “Our craft is dying while people are playing Angry Birds and poking each other on Facebook. What is poking, anyway, and why won’t anyone do it to me? I’m cool!”
There’s a lot of truth to Sorkin’s statement. And I can’t help but feel that this trend is being blamed on my generation and those to follow because we’ve made reality TV, celebrity news, and American Idol a part of our culture. Additionally, social networking has allowed us to immediately voice our opinions, judgment, and commentary on the shows and movies we watch. It seems unfair for a writer to sweat and slave over an original idea only to see it ripped to shreds by 17-year-old online commenters while some drunk, unscripted crazy-fest on TV gets another season for pulling in more ratings and revenue.
But scripted TV is evolving in that its creators understand pop culture itself is a language my generation speaks. It’s one of the reasons NBC’s Community is a hit; it constantly references other TV shows and movies, or even just popular genres of entertainment. Glee is such a pop culture phenomenon that in its second season, it makes references to itself. Both of these shows, along with 30 Rock, use a sort of meta-story format that allows the fictional characters to somehow live in the same world as the viewers. It gives the show a new level of relevance for my generation. These shows form a social community, which is what the next wave of entertainment is all about.
What do you think? Is a story more fun and entertaining when it’s relevant to your world as an audience? What about science fiction and fantasy? Let me know in the comments section!
Thanks to the fabulous Ink Slingers for inviting me to guest post on their blog!
Lisa ;)
Spring Block Party
Ink Slingers are inviting all of our friends and that means you! YES YOU! To our first annual Spring Block Party!
Bring your friends, your family, your fellow writers! It's fun for all!
The best part is we've lined up some fantastical guest bloggers. Check some them out!
Bring your friends, your family, your fellow writers! It's fun for all!
The best part is we've lined up some fantastical guest bloggers. Check some them out!
SUNDAY: Lisa (aka The Blonde Blogette) - http://the-blonde-blogette.blogspot.com/. She's a pop-culture/reality TV kinda guru. ~B. Robison
MONDAY: YA writer Ghenet, of www.GhenetWrites.blogspot.com. Her blog is a must-read for me, and I'm so glad she'll be regaling us with her insights about time management in writing. As someone who continued to write during a period where she was working full-time, planning her wedding AND receiving an MFA, she's an inspiration to us all! ~Emery
TUESDAY: Surprise guest blogger!
WEDNESDAY: YA and MG writer Holly of www.hollyschindler.blogspot.com. In addition to being the author of the fantastic books A Blue So Dark andPlaying Hurt Holly was the first author whose blog tour Ella and I participated in. Her insights about using blogs to promote newly published books were a real eye opener for me. ~Aaron
THURSDAY: YA and MG author K.M. Walton of http://skateorbate.blogspot.com/.
FRIDAY: Surprise guest blogger!
So, what about it? Are you going to be at the cyber world's largest BLOCK PARTY!?
- Aaron and Ella
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