Natasha Deen's Blog, page 72

Re-Market?

Working on a synopsis and now thinking I'm marketing this all wrong. I shouldn't send it to agents/editors as a breakdown of my novel. I should send it to the pharmaceutical companies as the literary cure for insomnia.

Down in the Trenches

Man, I love this industry. It alternately lifts me up and breaks my heart, and some days, it lifts me up as it's breaking my heart.

Was chatting (okay, ranting) to a fellow author about a set of completely incomprehensible instructions from an agent/publisher.  For the life of us, we have no idea what they're actually asking for. I mean, we recognize the terminology but it's being used in ways never before imagined.

And I had to laugh and be thankful.

This really is a crazy, wonderful...

When Good Writing Goes Bad

The problem when you're not writing well and not liking what you're writing, is that you start seeing it everywhere.  Case files from a few different examples:

The FBI agent who knows a suspect is stalking her, but doesn't follow up on the detail that's supposed to watch her house…and then gets shot…and then blames her team. The police detective who's so idiotic, the amateur sleuth has to tell him to use a cloth to pick up evidence so he doesn't leave fingerprints. The other FBI agent who...

Can't Keep Up…

with these new workout trends. The latest: suspension yoga. It looks like fun (imagine doing yoga in a swing) and apparently you can get it set up in your home…uh, well, you can set it up in your home…I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of people going to hospitals with concussions!

Still Time to Register: Creativity Boot Camp

Class Description:

There's a myth that if you have talent, writing should be easy. Nothing is farther from the truth. Writing is hard work, and even the most prolific authors face writer's block and times when their creativity just doesn't want to cooperate.  Through  discussion and exercises, you will kick start your imagination and learn how to use traditional and non-traditional methods to start writing and get your story on the page. Read course outlines

Please bring a pen/pencil...

When You're Not Looking

I was at the hospital yesterday and looking for parking. Now, for anyone who's ever been to the Mis, you know the outdoor lot has limited spacing. If you're really clever you make your appointment early—especially in winter, when the snow clearing takes some of the spots. I lapped the lot a few times and lucked out by finding the last spot, which made me feel a little bad for the girl who came after me.

As I got out of the truck, I noticed that if I rearranged my vehicle, I could make a...

Read an E-Book Week

From author Ashley Dawn: My first book is free on Smashwords this week :)  Click here to get your free copy.

I Suspect

…if you succeed at everything you try, you're probably not trying enough things.

Why Stories Matter

Just got home from the Ronald McDonald Gala and was reminded again why stories matter: saw the best and worst image, ever…A mom with her newborn baby (best image because she obviously loved her daughter more than life) and worst image because at two weeks, the little one had a breathing tube in her. And I thought how frightening it must be to have this tiny life in your hands, to have loved and dreamed of your baby before she was even born, and then to feel so helpless because she's sick and ...

Must Be in the Name

My husband comes to me last night (after heartily laughing—nay, guffawing—at my printer predicament) & says, "Well, now my printer's not working." So, I got and check, clean the ink cartridges, then double check his settings. Sure enough, he'd been selecting the wrong printer.

Yeah, boi, who's laughing now?