S.L. Viehl's Blog, page 220

Hello

I spotted this writing analyzer widget over at Poppy Brite's LJ, and decided to give it a whirl:


I write like
Anne Rice

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

The text I used for the widget was a passage from Dreamveil that I thought best represented my writing voice. I'd have never guessed I write like Anne Rice, probably because I don't, but there you go.

I should probably try something a little more recent. Let's see, a passage from Nightshine should do it, may...

Write Noise

In my endless pursuit of practical writing advice for the working writer, I have to plow through a lot of material online, in books and in the trades. A good chunk of it seems to be written by academics with impressive credentials but little to no industry experience, near or current retirees who like to reminisce about the good old days (which, remind me, were when?) and, of course, the newbie who has it all figured out before the ink dries on their first contract.

In reality it doesn't matte...

By Any Other Name

Growing roses is one of those things you do if you're kind of a masochist, as they can be the biggest pain in the garden. But the payoffs are very nice, and if you're interested you can check into the variety names and find out a little more about them.

Some rose names don't need a lot of explanation. For example, here is my Don Juan:



When you have a lush, romantic, beautifully fragrant red rose that climbs a trellis as quickly and easily as a thief in the night, what else are you going to call...

Buying Buzz

While I was getting my monthly magazine fix last night, I noticed on the back cover of one of the latest indy trade issues a single-page ad for an online book marketing service that promises authors will "get more bzzz" with "fewer hassles."

Once I got over my dismay that the ad copywriter couldn't spell the word buzz, I considered the idea of subcontracting self-promotion. It's a relatively new approach to marketing, designed to fill the obvious need for authors who want to promote their book...

Series Separation Anxiety

It's always tough on readers when for whatever reason a writer has to wrap up an extended novel series. Because the fans have followed it for so long and/or are so emotionally invested in the story, they never want it to end. That's why the inevitable finale always seems a bit like a betrayal on the part of the writer, especially if s/he is still around and capable of writing more.

On the writers' side of the equation, investing years in a novel series is no easy commitment. You have to gather...

Photo Ops

It's strange, the number of odd things you can see in one week. I didn't know they were now making kites the size of a city bus (click on any of the images below to see larger versions):



Big, impressive, definitely an attention-grabber -- but like so many oversize, ambitious things, they couldn't get it off the ground.

I liked the smaller versions that were already soaring high overhead:



While we watched the kites, my guy and I fondly remembered the much plainer, clunkier versions we flew when ...

Don't Swat Ten

I'm home, and at the moment trying to catch up on work stuff, but I should get back on schedule soon. Meanwhile, here are:

Ten Things You Can Have for Free

Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.

20 Tips* for Writers , a free e-book from author Doug Clegg that offers some tongue-in-cheek writing advice and probably explains why we writers are so wired all the time. Don't swat the fly.

7 Sticky Notes is ...

Thanks

I appreciate everyone who has been e-mailing their thoughts and prayers; as soon as I get a chance I'll reply. My guy's brother passed away with his family around him, and now we're just coping with the loss and grief.

During times of sadness I think it's important to honor life as well as do things that lift your spirits. This is why I've decided to take a shot at the Cloth Paper Scissors mini-book challenge I mentioned last month. I know my guy's brother would approve; he loved to laugh. ...

Hiatus

I need to unplug for a bit and be with my guy; he's about to lose another brother to cancer and he needs me to be with him and help him deal with the loss and the necessities. Normally I don't mention things like this on the blog, but I know when I don't post regularly people start to worry.

Be back once life allows.

Wishing You