Jennifer R. Hubbard's Blog, page 142
September 16, 2009
Disturbance, change, and the Road to Tater Hill
First, some words to ponder with respect to writing:
"We fear disturbance, change, fear to bring to light and to talk about what is painful. Suffering often feels like failure, but it is actually the door into growth." --May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude
Hmm, you can't tell from today's quote that I'm working on an emotionally challenging manuscript, can you?
I'm a little behind in my launch announcements, so without further delay, here is
Edith M. Hemingway's historical novel from Delacorte, R...
"We fear disturbance, change, fear to bring to light and to talk about what is painful. Suffering often feels like failure, but it is actually the door into growth." --May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude
Hmm, you can't tell from today's quote that I'm working on an emotionally challenging manuscript, can you?
I'm a little behind in my launch announcements, so without further delay, here is
Edith M. Hemingway's historical novel from Delacorte, R...
Backtracking, dead ends, and detours
I've mentioned before that I don't use word meters. That's because, given the way I write, they don't measure my progress very well. I may pour out 3000 words in a sitting, and then spend six weeks revising those words. I may write 1000 words one day and delete half of them, or all of them, the next.
I frequently write scenes that I delete the next day. I realize the book is taking a wrong turn, so I bring it back on track. But the day I write the eventually-deleted scene is not a wasted ...
I frequently write scenes that I delete the next day. I realize the book is taking a wrong turn, so I bring it back on track. But the day I write the eventually-deleted scene is not a wasted ...
September 14, 2009
The Brilliant Fall
I'm always reluctant to let go of summer, but it's time to face the new season bearing down on us. Which I shall now do by introducing this novel:
Kate Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., in which a "12-year-old girl has until the end of the week to finish her huge 7th grade leaf project, but she faces comic catastrophes (and real drama) at every turn."
I had to do a leaf-identification project when I was in school. I still remember the thrill of discovering that the tree behind my hou...
Kate Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., in which a "12-year-old girl has until the end of the week to finish her huge 7th grade leaf project, but she faces comic catastrophes (and real drama) at every turn."
I had to do a leaf-identification project when I was in school. I still remember the thrill of discovering that the tree behind my hou...
September 13, 2009
Good news
The recession did not spare the publishing world, and it would be easy to despair over the fact that a tough field has just gotten tougher. But I’d like to point out some hopeful news, anecdotal though it is.
Recently, several people whose blogs I’ve been reading for some time have gotten agents and/or book deals. These include one of my critique partners, Colleen Rowan Kosinski; Tabitha Olson of the Writer Musings blog; Shelli Johannes of the Market My Words blog; and my agent, Nathan...
September 12, 2009
Shining a light
Brent Hartinger was interviewed on the Book Kids blog, and summed up my feelings on censorship pretty succinctly: "You disagree with me? Fine, let’s talk it out. But it’s not okay to 'ban' the idea from acceptable discourse ..." Read the rest of the interview here.
May Sarton, in Journal of a Solitude, says this about the communication that goes on between writer and reader: "From my isolation to the isolation of someone somewhere who will find my work there exists a true communion."
Both of...
May Sarton, in Journal of a Solitude, says this about the communication that goes on between writer and reader: "From my isolation to the isolation of someone somewhere who will find my work there exists a true communion."
Both of...
September 10, 2009
News of the day
I have several items to share, so I'll just list them, newsletter-style.
My New England asters are blooming again!!
It's the 10th of the month, so my regular post at AuthorsNow! is up. I report on the progress of my Summer Reading Challenge, which officially finishes on September 21. What have you read this summer?
When I posted about synopses the other day, I didn't mention a couple of other things that have occurred to me. Mostly that it should be clear from the synopsis what is different, ...
My New England asters are blooming again!!
It's the 10th of the month, so my regular post at AuthorsNow! is up. I report on the progress of my Summer Reading Challenge, which officially finishes on September 21. What have you read this summer?
When I posted about synopses the other day, I didn't mention a couple of other things that have occurred to me. Mostly that it should be clear from the synopsis what is different, ...
September 9, 2009
What lies ahead
Do you ever peek ahead to see how a book is going to end? If so, you may enjoy this take on sneaking a peek from Marina over at the Pecked by Ducks blog.
And here's a book that may be quite tempting in the peeking-ahead department:
Our latest book launch, Jessica Verday's The Hollow, described as "a romance/mystery/ghost story set in modern day Sleepy Hollow." You may remember Sleepy Hollow as--shiver--the home of the Headless Horseman.
And here's a book that may be quite tempting in the peeking-ahead department:
Our latest book launch, Jessica Verday's The Hollow, described as "a romance/mystery/ghost story set in modern day Sleepy Hollow." You may remember Sleepy Hollow as--shiver--the home of the Headless Horseman.
September 8, 2009
2 Things on a 2sday
On this Tuesday that feels like a Monday, I offer you a couple of gems:
1. This quotation from May Sarton in Plant Dreaming Deep:
"I knew that tension well. It is just the same before I begin to write a book or a poem. It is the tension of being on the brink of a major commitment, and not being quite sure whether one has it in one to carry it through--the stage where the impossible almost exactly balances the possible, and a thistledown may shift the scales one way or the other."
2. This book...
1. This quotation from May Sarton in Plant Dreaming Deep:
"I knew that tension well. It is just the same before I begin to write a book or a poem. It is the tension of being on the brink of a major commitment, and not being quite sure whether one has it in one to carry it through--the stage where the impossible almost exactly balances the possible, and a thistledown may shift the scales one way or the other."
2. This book...
Synposes Part 2
I recently posted about one-line synopses. In that post, I also referred to synopses of other lengths. Here, I'll talk about the one-paragraph version. As always, any advice here is IMHO and FWIW.
There are two kinds of one-paragraph synopses I find useful: the kind that would go in a query letter to a prospective agent or editor; and the kind that would go on a book jacket or website.
Both types summarize the main plotline and theme of the book. However, the first will usually include more...
There are two kinds of one-paragraph synopses I find useful: the kind that would go in a query letter to a prospective agent or editor; and the kind that would go on a book jacket or website.
Both types summarize the main plotline and theme of the book. However, the first will usually include more...
September 6, 2009
Getting organized
I worked today on updating some of my online profiles. I started a links list/blogroll for this blog--a sidebar of a sampling of the blogs I follow. I did all right generating a list of author-group sites, and sites that take a wide-angle view on publishing, marketing, or the craft of writing. But when it came time to choose individual writer blogs, I was overwhelmed. I read or skim hundreds of writer blogs on a weekly basis; I've seen wonderful posts all over cyberspace and engaged in li...
