Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 117

My Guest Post at SFWA: An Overview of Writing for Print vs. the Web

As a writer, I'm often asked to describe the difference between writing for a print publication and writing for the web. This month, I had the chance to write an in-depth article for SFWA.org that provides you with some insight as to why writing for an online publication is so different from writing for print.

Here's a quote from the article:

Many, if not all, online content providers know about search engine optimization and how powerful well-created content can help lift a site in the...

Guest Post: An Overview of Writing for Print vs. the Web

As a writer, I'm often asked to describe the difference between writing for a print publication and writing for the web. This month, I had the chance to write an in-depth article for SFWA.org that provides you with some insight as to why writing for an online publication is so different from writing for print.

Here's a quote from the article:

Many, if not all, online content providers know about search engine optimization and how powerful well-created content can help lift a site in the...

My Guest Post at Apex: Are You a Believer or a Skeptic?

This month for Apex Book Company I posture the question "Are You a Believer or a Skeptic?" and provide some online resources for you to explore.

Here's a quote from my article:

As a skeptic, I find myself unable to get into a science fiction story when it doesn't offer me any explanation as to why things are happening. I also have a really hard time getting into stories that are poorly retrofitted into an existing setting, because I look at continuity as being an important part of a creator's...

Guest Post: Are You a Believer or a Skeptic?

This month for Apex Book Company I posture the question "Are You a Believer or a Skeptic?" and provide some online resources for you to explore.

Here's a quote from my article:

As a skeptic, I find myself unable to get into a science fiction story when it doesn't offer me any explanation as to why things are happening. I also have a really hard time getting into stories that are poorly retrofitted into an existing setting, because I look at continuity as being an important part of a creator's...

Guest Post: Why Mixing Content is a Bad Idea

For today's post, I'd like to turn my blog over to Jonathan Bailey, a copyright and plagiarism consultant and CEO of CopyByte. Be sure to read is bio after the post below.

In the music or video world, remixing can often be a very good thing. People take short samples of music or short clips of videos and create entirely new works of incredible creativity.

However, creating a proper remix takes a great deal of talent and effort. It is more than simply a process of splicing together various...

My Thoughts on the iPad

I have never been an early adopter of new technology. In fact, I just went through the excruciating process of upgrading some of our hardware to fit the times. So, when I had the opportunity to check out my SO's new iPad to see what the fuss was all about, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. At the very least I wanted to get a feel for how this shiny toy would hold up against my netbook.

First? I can't really make a hard comparison between my netbook and an iPad, because I feel that they are t...

Emotional Connection and Writing

Last weekend at my writer's group, we were discussing how necessary it is to develop an emotional connection with the reader through your work. In fact, a strong emotional connection between the reader and the character can translate to a best-selling book that many of us might not think is all that "good." It can also translate to the proverbial nerd rage when someone doesn't like the same book, character, movie, game or comic that someone else love with all their heart.

Those common...

Do Not Be Afraid To Make a Mistake

Every day, I read headline after headline about all the things writers "should" be doing. From things you shouldn't do or say in a query letter to the various mistakes you can make when you're trying to sell your books, I can certainly see how anyone might feel overwhelmed.

Here's the thing: most people online provide advice as a way to share what they know (or in some cases, what they don't). I recently overheard a quote that proclaimed "unsolicited advice is self-serving." Yeah, that's...

On Dealing with Bloggers and the Press

Today, I'm going to put on my project manager hat and share with you some of my frustrations working for FlamesRising.com. Because I work as a professional marketer for my day job, I've been able to translate a lot of my knowledge and test the things I've learned through this website. FlamesRising.com is a horror, dark fantasy and dark science fiction webzine that offers new, reviews, interviews and other content for fans of the genre. Part of my role is to reach out to other authors, game...

VIDEO: The End of Publishing

This viral video put out by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley books has been making the rounds this week on Twitter, Facebook and several blogs. If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth your time.

I agree with the message, here, and have seen how popular culture can actually "increase" someone's desire to read or learn. In the world of music, for example, many kids are picking up instruments to play their favorite songs from video games or movies like TWILIGHT. It's a good reminder to all of ...