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Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: Writing is Hard
This myth comes in many forms and has many faces, but let me put it as plainly as I can to start. Myth: To be Good, Writing Must Be Hard. (And it can’t be fun.) Total hogwash, of course, yet it is stunning how many new writers believe this, and how readers, when they bother to think about it, believe the myth as well. And, of course, almost everyone who teaches creative writing in a university program believes this as well, and teaches the myth. Where does this myth come from? Answer: A thousand places, actually. But I think the best place to look first is at writers themselves. Fiction…
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Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: Book as Event
I figured in the month where so many people around the world are joined in a challenge to write at least 50,000 words or so of a novel, now would be a good time to take on this myth. I love the challenge and the fact that it gets so many people writing, and writing quickly. But then when the month is over the myths kick in. Book as Event is a huge myth that stops most everyone who has done the challenge from simply mailing their books to editors and doing it again the following month. In fact, I have already heard over and over from people who are…