• On Writing,  publishing

    Pulp Speed Post Brought Back

    Pulp Speed (I wrote this post about a year ago but wanted to bring it forward because people ask me about it. Here it is again) I’ve mentioned this concept a number of times on my nightly blog and in the Topic of the Night little sections. But since Pulp Speed was almost impossible in the new traditional world, it belongs as a post in this series. Not at all sure why this idea sort of hits me right. I think because it flies in the face of all the myths. A writer has to have all myths under control to even attempt this. So this post might just make you…

  • On Writing,  publishing

    How to Write Fiction Sales Copy: Chapter Nine (Last)

    HOW TO WRITE FICTION SALES COPY CHAPTER NINE (Summary. This book is coming about because I need to write 32 story blurbs for the 32 short stories I wrote in July for a book titled Stories from July.) In the first chapter of this book, I touched on what I call “The Author Problem” and gave a basic formula that I sometimes use to give blurbs a structure. And in chapter two I laid out another formula for writing blurbs. In the third chapter I talked about a method Lee Allred uses. In the fourth chapter I talked about the idea that sometimes using first lines can help. In the fifth chapter, I…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    It’s Saturday

    It’s Saturday! THE DAY IN GENERAL As I said above. It’s Saturday. So not much to put here. I did a lot today. I’ll explain in a couple of days why. I finished the 1,700 last chapter of the Writing Sales Copy book. And got it turned in. I did a bunch of other stuff. But that’s good enough for now. 1,700 words of nonfiction. No fiction. – TOPIC OF THE NIGHT: The Nine Chapters The nine chapters of How to Write Fiction Sales Copy will remain here for free on the blog until the book comes out. Then I will take them down. Not at all sure when the book will…

  • On Writing,  publishing

    How to Write Fiction Sales Copy: Chapter Eight

    HOW TO WRITE FICTION SALES COPY CHAPTER EIGHT (Summary. This book is coming about because I need to write 32 story blurbs for the 32 short stories I wrote in July for a book titled Stories from July.) In the first chapter of this book, I touched on what I call “The Author Problem” and gave a basic formula that I sometimes use to give blurbs a structure. And in chapter two I laid out another formula for writing blurbs. In the third chapter I talked about a method Lee Allred uses. In the fourth chapter I talked about the idea that sometimes using first lines can help. In the fifth chapter, I…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Some Great Posts

    Some Great Posts On the site Women in Science Fiction, Kris is hosting and doing some great stuff, as well as having guest blogs there. Vonda N. McIntyre has the most recent guest blog there. The one before that was Judith Tarr. Worth reading and following that site, folks. And, of course, before it is gone, get the story bundle pictured above. Stunning amount of great reading for $15.00. http://storybundle.com/scifi The web site with the blogs and Kris’s writing on the topic is at: http://www.womeninsciencefiction.com/ THE DAY IN GENERAL Mostly all day I worked on workshop stuff. Then home for a short nap, dinner and news. I got in here…

  • On Writing,  publishing

    How To Write Fiction Sales Copy: Chapter Seven

    HOW TO WRITE FICTION SALES COPY CHAPTER SEVEN (Summary. This book is coming about because I need to write 32 story blurbs for the 32 short stories I wrote in July for a book titled Stories from July.) In the first chapter of this book, I touched on what I call “The Author Problem” and gave a basic formula that I sometimes use to give blurbs a structure. And in chapter two I laid out another formula for writing blurbs. In the third chapter I talked about a method Lee Allred uses. In the fourth chapter I talked about the idea that sometimes using first lines can help. In the fifth chapter, I…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Meetings and Naps and a Fantastic Post on Publishing

    A Day of Meetings and Naps First Even the meetings were fun and I don’t remember the naps. – THE DAY IN GENERAL Managed to roll out of the house around 1:30 p.m. and hit the snail mail on the way to the first meeting. Up to WMG Publishing offices then to talk with two other professional fiction writers, plus Kris came through to work in her office there and Allyson was in and around. Sometimes that office is very quiet, sometimes it is a crazy place. And fun. Today was a fun day. Great conversations. I worked on formatting Smith’s Monthly from 5 p.m. until a couple other writer friends…

  • On Writing,  publishing

    How To Write Fiction Sales Copy: Chapter Six

    HOW TO WRITE FICTION SALES COPY CHAPTER SIX (Summary. This book is coming about because I need to write 32 story blurbs for the 32 short stories I wrote in July for a book titled Stories from July.) In the first chapter of this book, I touched on what I call “The Author Problem” and gave a basic formula that I sometimes use to give blurbs a structure. And in chapter two I laid out another formula for writing blurbs. In the third chapter I talked about a method Lee Allred uses. In the fourth chapter I talked about the idea that sometimes using first lines can help. In the fifth chapter,…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Both Books Moving Forward

    Writing Two Books at Once Yeah, kind of weird when you think about it. But working on a novel and working on the How to Write Fiction Sales Copy. I have 19 of the 32 blurbs written in six chapters so far. The novel, well that’s going a little slower. – THE DAY IN GENERAL Managed to roll out of the house around 3 p.m. and did some standard running around I tend to do most days. First snail mail, then to WMG Publishing, then bank, then out to the WMG Publishing store and then back to WMG offices. I got back there around 5 p.m. and worked on formatting…

  • On Writing,  publishing

    How to Write Fiction Sales Copy: Chapter Five

    HOW TO WRITE FICTION SALES COPY CHAPTER FIVE (Summary. This book is coming about because I need to write 32 story blurbs for the 32 short stories I wrote in July for a book titled Stories from July.) In the first chapter of this book, I touched on what I call “The Author Problem” and gave a basic formula that I sometimes use to give blurbs a structure. And in chapter two I laid out another formula for writing blurbs. In the third chapter I talked about a method Lee Allred uses. In the fourth chapter I talked about the idea that sometimes using first lines can help. So now on to more…