Stephen Shaiken's Blog, page 16
December 18, 2018
WRITERS AND REJECTION-DON’T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN
[image error]
Dear XXXXXX:
Thank you for the opportunity to read “XXXXXX.” Unfortunately, your story isn’t quite what we’re looking for right now.
In the past, we’ve provided detailed feedback on our rejections, but I’m afraid that due to time considerations, we’re no longer able to offer that service. I appreciate your interest in XXXXX Magazine and hope that you’ll keep us in mind in the future.
Take care,
XXXXXX
Publisher/Editor
XXXXXX Magazine
Every writer knows the feeling: the e-mail curtly informing them the piece they slaved over and infused with heart and soul was rejected. Reasons are rarely given, leaving the author to speculate in the dark why their work was rejected.
Rejection is part of writing. (Some may argue it’s the most constant and consistent part). Serious and dedicated writers gather enough rejection notices to paper over the Sistine Chapel.
In pre-digital days, responses came by snail mail, and authors knew from the weight of the envelope what decision lived inside. An acceptance carried a multi-page contract, a rejection a one-paragraph letter. These days, authors open an e mail to learn the fate of their submission. Whatever the medium, the suspense and the pain of rejection are the same.
Writers react in different ways to an endless stream of “no.” Many give up, concluding they can’t be very good if they are constantly turned down. They abandon their craft, find some more remunerative way to earn a living, and keep their manuscripts hidden in drawers or on hard drives, along with their regret and disappointment.
Others try to learn from rejection, difficult but not impossible, even in the absence of any critical feedback. On rare occasions, a magazine, agent, or publisher will say what they liked and didn’t like, but most of the time, authors receive stock rejection letters or no response at all.
A silent rejection can yield some results if it motivates the author to take a second look at the piece, and try to figure out what went wrong. These problems will often be revealed upon close inspection, after the thrill of completion has faded. Mistakes, plot holes, and clumsy writing may be “discovered” in the process. I’ve started doing this, and it has made me painfully aware of factors I failed to appreciate. If a rejection triggers such a review, there is a clear benefit.
This post largely focuses on the short story submission process, but applies with equal force to novels and non-fiction work. That’s why there are references to agents and publishers, as well as magazines.
Was Your Work Ready for Submission?
Consider the possibility the rejected piece wasn’t ready for submission. This is the most likely miscalculation made by writers, especially beginners. When I take another look at earlier rejections, I am embarrassed to find typos, punctuation and tense errors, cut-and-paste mistakes, missing dialogue tags. This is normal for emerging writers; the only way to learn is by trial and error. We become better at proofreading and editing our own work the more we do it. My experience in a writers group, critiquing the work of others, and they critiquing mine, vastly improved my own editing and proofreading skills. (It’s even forced me to make some corrections to my Amazon-published novel; its ease a saving grace of e-publishing, on which there is more below).
A writer should not submit a piece unless they are certain it is error-free. One’s own proof-reading and editing is rarely sufficient, at least not when a writer starts submitting. Joining a writers group, or having a fellow writer read and correct blatant errors, will dramatically enhance the quality of any writing. At some point, an author may employ the services of a professional, but bear in mind that there is little quality control in the marketplace. My experience has been that fellow writers do a better job than anyone from Fivver or other inexpensive gig services, though the latter are n affordable source of “beat readers”, described below. If one can trade services with another writer whose skills you respect, they are one step ahead of the game. (If money is no object, one can hire top-of-the-line professionals, but few writers enjoy such luxury).
If a magazine or publisher accepts a submission, they will insist upon changes for artistic reasons, or purely market-driven motives. No one in the industry expects a submission to be ready for published as-is. But that is a far cry from submitting a piece riddled with typos, poor punctuation, confusing dialogue lacking tags, or other presentation glitches. One or two minor errors may be forgiven, but a pattern will be a death sentence for the work. Don’t send anything in until you are positive that’s not the case
Before submitting anything, have as many trusted people as possible read it; not limited to fellow-writers who helps with proofing and editing. These others are called “beta readers”, who represent the reading public, and will tell you what they think of the work. Beta readers are neither proof-readers nor editors; they are people who represent the reading public. Close friends and family are the most readily available beta readers, but the danger is that many will say what they think the author wants to hear, rather than what they really think.Fellow writers are better, but they are not representative of readers-at-large. For very low prices, you can find beta readers on Fivver and other gig apps, and there is very little risk in getting as many opinions as possible. (In fact, just the opposite; it’s one of the best ways to learn how your work is received).
Don’t be stubborn or defensive about feedback. Make changes you find improve the piece; stand your ground when persuaded you are right, but always listen and take to heart what others have to say. If one person raises an issue with which you disagree, you can disregard it, but if you hear the same from two or more, you should seriously consider it a problem to address.
A reliable self-editing tool is to read your work out loud to yourself. It’s amazing what insight an author can gain about their dialogue, pace, and descriptive passages when they hear them spoken.
At some point, an author must determine that they have done all they can to present their best possible work, and hit the send button or drop a manuscript in the mailbox. The moment is not right after the last word is written, or after the “final” rewrite. Get critical feedback first!
Was this publication right for the piece you are submitting?
When I started sending out my short stories, I looked only at what genre the magazine published, and didn’t’ take the time to read enough stories they published to see if my work was a good fit. There is a wide range within every genre: not all science fiction is the same, nor is all mystery, or all humor. There may be nothing at all “wrong” with your submission; it just wasn’t what the particular recipient was seeking. (This is the case when submitting to agents or publishers as well).
Before sending out stories, save yourself some disappointment and wasted time by making a careful study of publications you think might be interested in your work. Don’t make this decision solely by the genre that say they publish. You can compile lists of magazines from various sources, most of them free on the internet, but there is also Writer’s Marketplace, which is an annual and dense compilation of magazines, publishers and agents, categorized by name and genre. Identifying potential submittees is the first step; be certain to read their submission guidelines and several stories in recent issues. The guidelines will give you a clearer idea of what they are looking for; the stories will show you how they apply those guidelines. Should you send your work, make sure you follow those guidelines! (Read below!)
DON'T SKIRT THE RULES
Wherever you submit, they are certain to insist upon certain procedures they call guidelines, which I refer to as “rules”. You must submit in a specified manner: e mail, on-line submission service, or snail mail, and there are strict demands on formatting the document, whether on paper or electronically. (With e-filing, nearly everyone accepts Word versions, but after that, it diverges. Many will not take pdf, hardly anyone accepts Pages). Some want an e mail with an attachment, others refuse to open attachments, and want everything pasted in the body of the e mail. Some want a cover letter and a biography, and others don’t. Several require a specific tag on the e-mail subject line, some want your name and contact information on the first page of the manuscript, others insist it be omitted.
If the rules prohibit simultaneous submissions, don’t submit unless you are willing to wait to hear from them before submitting elsewhere. If the rules say not to submit a piece that was published anywhere else, even on line or on your own blog, respect their wishes. (It’s pretty easy for magazines to find out by checking the on-line submission system, or by a simple Google search). If you get a reputation as a “cheater”, it’s going to haunt you for quite some time. So play it straight, and by the rules.
Should you send simultaneous submissions, and one entity accepts your work, notify the others. They are all very busy, and will appreciate sparing them unnecessary work. (They will definitely not appreciate failing to advise them).
Whatever the publishing entity wants, make sure you give it to them. Magazines, agents and publishers are not kidding when they say failure to follow the rules will result in immediate disqualification from consideration. This may seem unreasonable, especially when dealing with artists, but that is the way of the world, and if you want them to read what you sent, follow their rules!
Don't get too bent out of shape over a rejection. Remember this: those who rejected you may not have many readers.
Many writers will say that they have followed all of the advice herein, but the rejections keep flowing like water from a broken faucet. If you’ve followed these words of wisdom, and are still being rejected, it doesn’t necessarily follow that your work isn’t good. The rejector may not know good work when they see it. This is not attempt to encourage sore-losing or insupportable rationalization, just put thing things in perspective.
If you are really submitting error-free and well-edited work, and if you are hearing positive feedback from beta readers and other writers, rejections may not mean your work is subpar or deficient. Remember, the folks who read and decide on publication are humans like the rest of us, with their own preferences, biases, myopia, and resistance to something new or different. The rejector may not have the breadth of experience or the literary eyes to know good writing when they see it. (Less likely in better-known journals, more common in smaller, less influential ones).
Take a look at what circulation the magazine claims. Rest assured, it is grossly inflated. It might be inflated to induce advertising, or submissions from well-known authors, or simply a case of the publisher’s ego. The figure provided is not the actual number of people who read the magazine; it is more likely based on the number they “distribute”, which includes copies left for free in public places, free subscriptions, and other giveaways that no one ever reads. The number of people who might actually pick up the magazine, turn to your story and read it, is a fraction of whatever number they state. (I learned this years ago, when a good friend of mine worked for a company that measured these numbers in order to advise potential advertisers; he explained how and why you can’t believe a most of what they say about circulation and readership).
I’ve been turned down by some small literary or genre magazines that claim circulations between two and five thousand. Many are published by universities, and I wonder how many of those subscriptions were compelled socially or academically. It is doubtful that the actual number of real recipients of the magazines exceed fifty percent of their claim, and we have no idea how many people actually read them, specifically, one particular piece. I am confident that many more people have read my work on my blog or other sites than would be the case if published in most of these magazines.
The truth is that writers go to an awful lot of trouble, to develop a piece they believe worthy of publication, and experience pain , suffering and disappointment upon rejection, yet there is often little to gain even if published.. If a story is published in a small magazine, where does it actually lead the author? Being published in the New Yorker (probably need an agent just to have your piece seriously considered there), Three Penny Review or Story Magazine, might carry some cachet and lead to more work being published, or even an agent, but how much mileage can be gained by publication in a magazine read by a few hundred people? That is not to dismiss the genuine feeling of gratification and pride, but it should not be made into something more than it is.
The smaller the staff, the closer the affiliation with a university, the smaller the readership, it follows that the perspective and preferences are equally narrow and unrepresentative of the world at large. This is most obvious in today’s published poetry; there seems to be a conspiracy to publish only poems that no one but the poet understands, forcing academics, critics and publishers to make believe they understand them.
In this day and age, there are many alternatives to publishing in small, unknown magazines. There are other options available to authors seeking readers and feedback. (Though sadly, the feedback is never enough!)
So keep submitting your work when it is really ready, and perform due diligence to know where to submit, but when the rejections come, see them for what they are: just one opinion. Don’t let them stop you for writing and sending more submissions! Don’t rule out other ways of getting your work read!
Now, on to some concrete suggestions for dealing with endless rejection:
Consider Self-Publishing
By self-publishing, I mean using the services of digital publishers like Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, as well as self-publishing on one’s own or someone else’s blog. If a writer creates a self-publishing-strategy and take the time necessary to properly execute it, they will gain readers and receive feedback. It may not be as extensive or detailed as when a work is marketed by a traditional publisher, but will be far superior to the meaningless form letters or radio-silence from most magazines, agents, and publishers. It is quite likely that with some effort and promotion, more people will read the work than if it were published in a slew of small magazines.
There is a lingering prejudice against self-publishing among some writers. They believe that self-publishing is a sign of defeat, an admission that one’s work is not good enough to make the final cut in the world of traditional publishing, and that self-published work, lacking the editorial and production assistance available in traditional publishing, must be inferior.
These tropes may have had some merit a few years ago, but they are not reliable guides today. Self-publishing is a major industry, one that threatens the very foundations of traditional publishing, and the old Guard is terrified of the future.
Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, and other digital publishers will not put up just any book; they scrutinize a submission for content, cover, errors, and illegalities of all sorts, such as plagiarism or promoting illegal acts. Should they miss anything, rest assured, some reader will find it and let the author-and the world-know of the transgression. (Once again, the ease of correcting errors is one of the great benefits of digital publishing).
Self-publishing allows sale of e books as well as “print-on-demand” paperbacks. An author can decide to be Amazon-exclusive, or distribute through several e publishers. Setting up print-on-demand may be a little more technically challenging than with the digital edition, but nothing that can’t be quickly learned.
These days, nearly every self-published author worth their salt employs the services of proofreaders, cover designers, editors, beta-readers, and of course, promotion and advertising services. These are readily available on Fivver and other “gig” sites; the quality is uneven, but research, references, and experience will lead to a stable of highly competent services. With experience and the right people, a self-published book will appear as professional as anything released by a traditional publisher; this is true for e-books or paperbacks.
There are many “public” blogs, where just about anyone can post their work, and readers can leave comments or ratings. This is more feedback than you will ever get from rejections or from publishing in small magazines.
Every author should host their own blog, an excellent place to post one’s stories, novel excerpts, and opinion pieces. A blog will enable an author to stay in the public eye and continually connect with existing or new readers. Anything posted on one’s own blog can be posted elsewhere, increasing visibility.
Keep in mind that publishing a work anywhere, even on one’s own blog, can result in an automatic disqualification by many magazines, agents and publishers. An author must weigh the likelihood of success with the traditional publishing model versus the ability to actually get something published and read through the digital self-publication model.
If fame and fortune are a writer’s goals, self-publishing is not likely to satisfy. Few self-published authors make huge amounts of money (though some do); it is, however, not at all impossible to earn a living as a writer if one masters the market and the marketing. Caveat: it is impossible to “write for the market”, but a writer can produce their best work in the genre where they belong. Always write what you know you were meant to write, not what works for someone writing what they were meant to write.
On the other hand, how many authors with traditional publishing contracts realize fame and fortune? What percentage wind up on the remainder table? (In self-publishing, there is no remainder table; the author can keep their book available on-line forever, or temporarily withdraw it, or revise it, change the title or cover, or do just about anything they wish).
Maintaining a blog will pressure an author to regularly write and edit. It will also build confidence needed to navigate the technical side of self-publishing, which can have a learning curve initially outside some writers’ comfort zones.
Authors can promote their work for sale on their blogs, offer free stories and novel excerpts, as well as book reviews, interviews and opinion pieces. Blog posts can be shared with other sites, increasing visibility and readers.
Digital publishing is the wave of the future; it has changed the book industry just as the Guttenberg Press did centuries ago. The technology, especially the internet, and the availability of production support-cover designers, proofreaders, beta readers, editors, digital formatters-is slowly obviating the need for agents and traditional publishers. That’s why the traditional publishing industry is so hostile and spreads falsehoods.
I heard a literary agent say that a self-published novel would not be accepted by the industry unless it had sold fifty thousand copies. think of how absurd that is. How many first-time novelists with traditional publishers sell that many books? And if one of us self-published authors sold fifty thousand all on out own, why would we need an agent or a publisher?
A few quick pointers: if you are starting a blog, and have no serious experience, you might consider using Wix instead of Word Press. Wix is fare easier to use, mostly click-and-drag, whereas Word Press can be technically challenging and confusing for quite some time. I use word Press, but with Elementor, a plug-in that comes very close to the ease of Wix and is one hundred percent compatible with Word Press. With Elementor, the blogger has the reach and resources of Word Press, with the ease and better graphics of Wix.
At the start, a blog may seem difficult, especially if the writer has never undertaken such a chore. After a few weeks, it all comes as second nature.If you are not particularly technically-proficient, work with Wix or add Elementor to Word Press, and you will shorten the learning curve and present an attractive blog.
Start blogging! I’ll be your first subscriber! (You can sign up to receive new posts on this blog, as well as for my newsletter, which notices new releases of my novels and short stories. Look in the lower left hand corner of this page, or at the end of this article. Also feel free to post any comments).
The good news:you don't have to choose between traditional and self-publishing. You can try both at the same time.
While nearly all of the traditional publishing industry will refuse to consider a work that was published on line in any form or fashion, there is no such bar to authors who have previously published on line. There is no reason why a writer cannot publish one novel or story on their blog or through self-publishing entitles like Amazon, and send other work to magazines, agents and traditional publishers. If a magazine like the piece, or the agent and publisher to whom they submit -think they can make money, they will sign the author, without regard to prior self-publication.
If an author posts their work on blogs or self-publishes, they are almost certain to receive feedback and criticism on some level, and this will make them better writers. A writer can view digital publishing on blogs or self-publishers as one form of reaching an audience, and as they become better writers, they will improve their chances of acceptance by traditional publishers. While my view is that the future is with digital and self-publishing, there is no reason to forego traditional publishing opportunities so long as they exist. Just don’t think that inability to do so is failure or a reflection on quality.
And remember, most important of all:
Note: Above image courtesy of eclipse-articles.com
“Rejection image by smalltalk.big.results
If you enjoyed reading this post or any other on the blog, please sign up for notifications of future posts, and for my e mail newsletter. Sign-up links for both are on the lower left of this page. Feel free to post any comments. Thanks for reading!
November 14, 2018
EXPOSING JORDAN PETERSON, PSEUDO-INTELLECT SUPREME OF THE FAR RIGHT AND WHITE NATIONALISTS
Ku Klux Klan Cross Burning (PBS)
President Donald J. Trump (Newsweek)
Neo-Nazi and white supremacists march with torches in Charlottesville, screraming "Jews will not replace us." (Newsweek)When the Southern Poverty Law Center says someone is playing to white nationalism and throwing out pseudo facts, I take their word. Few organizations have done as much to expose and fight racism in America. I’m a proud member and supporter of SPLC.
I haven’t given much thought to this Trump-loving Canadian intellectual, but after a friend (who has drifted far to the right) sent me one of his screeds, and did not understand why my interracial family is appalled at his use of the fake term “identity politics” to disparage people who fight for equality, I decided to post something that warns others about this very dangerous demagogue posing as a scholar. I’ve pasted the heart of the article right below this, but it’s worth reading in it’s entirety. As the British paper The Guardian reports, he’s working hand-in-hand with neo-Nazis and white nationalists, by giving them a fraudulent intellectual cover. A lot of his camp followers think it is all just an intellectual game, and I guess as mostly white males, they have the privilege of thinking that words like Peterson’s, Trump’s and Bannon’s don’t have real world consequences. Fortunately, while all of us white males may look the same, we don’t all think the same. 
IF YOU DON”T HAVE TIME TO READ THE FULL EXPOSE, AT LEAST READ THIS EXCERPT:
(Kept British spellings, of course.)
“Peterson’s constellation of beliefs attracts a heterogeneous audience that includes Christian conservatives, atheist libertarians, centrist pundits and neo-Nazis. This staunch anti-authoritarian also has a striking habit of demonising the left while downplaying dangers from the right. After the 2016 US election, Peterson described Trump as a “liberal” and a “moderate”, no more of a demagogue than Reagan. In as much as Trump voters are intolerant, Peterson claims, it is the left’s fault for sacrificing the working class on the altar of identity politics. Because his contempt for identity politics includes what he calls “the pathology of racial pride”, he does not fully endorse the far right, but he flirts with their memes and overlaps with them on many issues.
“It’s true that he’s not a white nationalist,” says David Neiwert, the Pacific Northwest correspondent for the Southern Poverty Law Center and the author of Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump. “But he’s buttressing his narrative with pseudo-facts, many of them created for the explicit purpose of promoting white nationalism, especially the whole notion of ‘cultural Marxism’. The arc of radicalisation often passes through these more ‘moderate’ ideologues.”
Click on the link below to read The Guardian article exposing Jordan Peterson:
“How Dangerous Is Jordan B. Peterson, the Rightwing Professor who ‘Hit a Hornet’s Nest’?”
If you enjoyed reading this post or anything else on this blog, please go the bottom right of this page and sign up for the blog and for my fiction writer’s e mail newsletter, announcing when I release a book or publish a short story. Thanks!
August 29, 2018
BLACK IVORY COFFEE, OFFICIAL BREW OF BANGKOK SHADOWS
The Bangkok Post has just published an article about Black Ivory Coffee. This exotic gourmet brew is favored by Glenn Murray Cohen, the expat American criminal lawyer and protagonist in my novel, Bangkok Shadows.
Click here to read the Bangkok Post article.
For an interesting photo essay about Black Ivory Coffee, and its role in my novel, check out this blog post: BLACK IVORY COFFEE AND MY NOVEL
Like my protagonist, I am a former criminal defense lawyer and a coffee aficionado. Glenn and I agree: it is the world’s finest coffee, and every lover of the bean ought to treat themselves to Black Ivory on those special occasions!
The Black Ivory website offers more information than even my post and novel. You can learn more about the coffee, and the benefits Black Ivory provides the elephants of Thailand, thanks to the generosity of Blake Dinkin, Black Ivory’s Founder.
Click here to visit Black Ivory Coffee
Thai elephants at sunset. Photo by coffy.
August 4, 2018
“Bangkok Shadows” E-Book Free on Amazon Kindle August 6-7
My novel, Bangkok Shadows, will be offered free on Amazon Kindle this coming Monday and Tuesday, August 6-7.
Click here to visit Amazon page for Bangkok Shadows
(It won’t be free until midnight PST on August 6)
Bangkok Shadows has an Amazon Five Star rating and has been in the Top 100 Bestsellers as a paid book. It tells the story of Glenn Murray Cohen, a disillusioned American defense lawyer who gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to start life over again, with some ethical twists attached. For seven years Glenn lies the life of a rich expat in Bangkok, until the CIA pressures him into a deadly task for which he is woefully unsuited. With the help of his odd friends from the mysterious NJA Club, Glenn must learn to survive in this deadly new environment, filled with corruption, intrigue and danger. The Bangkok setting creates a mood of exotic noir.
WHAT AMAZON READERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT BANGKOK SHADOWS:
A Brilliant Novel. Five Star Plus!May 9, 2018
Verified Purchase“As an expat living in Bangkok for 18 years, I can tell by the way Mr. Shaiken portrays the characters and places in Thailand, he’s done a good research and knows Thailand, Thai culture and Thai people well.” Fun StoryJuly 8, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase“This was a fun, lighthearted read with a colorful cast of characters. Having never been to Thailand, it was well described and gave the reader a sense of being there. Look forward to the next Glenn Cohen and NJA Club story/mystery.” S Shaiken gets Bangkok like only someone who has lived there can May 30, 2018Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase“S Shaiken gets Bangkok like only someone who has lived there can. Its a different world and attitudes towards the lives folks live and interact with and He has craftily and subtly caught the essence of the mystery to westerners that comes so naturally to the Thai peoples. Lets get some more!!!! Please.” What a fine book!6 May 2018
Format: Paperback“What a fine book! It’s an alarmingly good debut novel from Stephen Shaiken.
What makes it doubly special is the background. Mr. Shaiken captures the sights and smells of the City of Angels with unerring accuracy. His descriptions of Bangkok brings the city and its underworld to life. I loved the hero and hated the villains.
I await Mr. Shaiken’s second novel with eager anticipation.”
Sign up for my free Author’s Newsletter, sent when a new work of fiction is ready to be released, with excerpts and free short stories as well. The next novel featuring Glenn and the NJA Club will be released at the end of this year.
Click here to sign up for my newsletter
July 17, 2018
SIGN UP FOR MY NEW AUTHOR’S E MAIL NEWSLETTER
Courtesy of a tweet by author Morgan WrightI have just started a new Author’s E-Mail Newsletter. There is a signup form on my blog, www.stephenshaiken.com
You can also sign up at the bottom of this post. The Newsletter is free.
The Newsletter sign-up form is separate and distinct from the Blog sign-up form. The Newsletter will be sent out only a few times a year, mainly to announce new releases. It will also contain free short stories, excerpts from novels, and articles on reading, writing, and publishing fiction.
You may ask why an author needs a newsletter if they already have a blog and a social media presence. The answer is simple: a newsletter allows the author to communicate with people who have opted to receive it, and this means people who are genuinely interested in seeing what the author has to say.
If you check out the Amazon page for Bankgok Shadows, (Click here) you will see that nearly every reviewer states they would like to see more novels featuring the Bangkok adventures of Glenn Murray Cohen and his friends from the mysterious NJA Club. Every person who takes the time to write a review represents many more who feel the same way, and I’d like to reach as many interested people as possible. It’s just a lot easier to fill out a form than to write a review. The Newsletter will enable me to communicate with readers directly, knowing that they want to hear from me. They can be informed of new releases, get a peek at them before release, and receive advance notice of sales or free book days. These readers are far more likely to send feedback and comments than the world-at- large, and authors crave feedback.
Your e mail will never be disclosed to anyone. You can join or leave as you wish. There are no charges for subscribing ; if you want to buy a book that is set for release or already available, the Newsletter will direct you to its Amazon page.
I am working on a second novel featuring the same cast of characters, and it is targeted for release at the end of the year. Subscribers to the Newsletter will be given a chance to read the first chapter, and to purchase at the promotional price or wait for an Amazon free book day.
July 4, 2018
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA
Our Heritage and Gift to the World
THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Amendment I : Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of assembly and petition
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II : Right to bear arms
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III : Housing of soldiers
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment (4): Search and arrest warrants
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath oraffirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V : Rights in criminal cases
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
Amendment VI : Rights to a fair trial
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII : Rights in civil cases
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII : Bails, fines, and punishments
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX : Rights retained by the people
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X : Powers retained by the states and the people
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people
WE SHALL SURVIVE! WE ALWAYS HAVE AND WE ALWAYS WILL!
June 24, 2018
BANGKOK SHADOWS-FREE E BOOK THIS WEEK
My debut novel, Bangkok Shadows, was released ten weeks ago. I am told I’m doing better than most other independent authors. I greatly appreciate every sale, all downloads on Kindle Unlimited, each review and message.
But it’s not enough feedback for me. I wrote this novel for people to read and to find out what they think of it. (So far Glenn Murray Cohen and the NJA Club gang have been very well received, pleased to say.) I’d like to hear from more readers, as many as possible.
Bangkok Shadows will be free in e book format on Amazon Kindle from Monday, June 25, through Friday, June 29.
Click her to reach Bangkok Shadows on Amazon Kindle
WHY DOES AN AUTHOR GIVE AWAY FREE BOOKS?
Authors who agree to sell only through Amazon can promote their work for free for five days every three months. Some may think it insane to give away for free what you are trying to sell, and this rings true in most industries. Publishing is not one of them. The more readers, the more reviews, social media posts and word of mouth referrals are created, whether the reader paid for the book or got it for free.
When an author receives a five star review, or a tweet or Facebook post praises the book, it makes no difference to the author whether the reader bought the book or received it as a free promotion. Those words of praise and the joy the book brought the reader should be worth more to an author than money.
This promotion applies only to the e -book version. Obviously the economics of production prevents giving away the paperback edition.
This promotion marks the end of the “introductory” period for the novel. After the free e book promotion, both formats will be sold at more traditional prices.
Right now, pricing and sales are not the motivating factors. Readers and feedback are the focus.
There is nothing more valuable to an author than feedback from their readers.
If money were my interest, I’d still be practicing law. I’m looking for something else.
June 12, 2018
Ten Good Bits of Advice for Fiction Writers
I am not big on self-help books or article on “how to write”. I am of the school holding that “the only rule is that there are no rules.” I’m with Hemingway; if the writer is honest and the story is well-told, it will come through to the reader. Raymond Chandler is not the same as Henry James, Don DeLillo and Jane Austin couldn’t be more different; Scott Fitzgerald and Kurt Vonnegut inhabited different universes, as did JK Rowling and Julian Barnes. Yet all of them are acclaimed as magnificent writers and each of their styles are compelling and unforgettable.
That’s why trying to set down one-size-fits-all rules for writers is like herding cats. Every genre, every voice and its writer have different paths. Of course, there are some basic rules of grammar and format which facilitate reading, but even these can be changed at will to suit the work of fiction. (Think James Joyce, Robert Coover, the poetry of ee cummings.)
I have recommended Stephen King’s On Writing, but that isn’t really a guide for would-be-authors as much as a philosophical discussion of what one great author believes to be well-written fiction. For an actual writer’s guide, there is only one book I have ever encountered that was worth it’s own weight, and that is How to Write Killer Fiction, by the talented mystery writer Carolyn Wheat. (Click on the preceding red link to read my post on this helpful tome.)
I recently came across an article that on writing that is well worth a read. It simply allows ten successful authors to reveal their approaches and practices in their own words. While it is not possible to produce quality fiction by copying the methodology of another author, by listening to what these masters have to say, writers can learn to be sharper, more productive and better focused on their work.
The article is presented by Just Publishing Advice, an online outfit that sends me tweets on a daily basis, most of which I ignore. This time the article caught my eye and after reading it, decided to share it with my friends. Hope you enjoy it and get something out o it, whether you are a writer or a reader!
Click here to read the Just Publishing Advice article
Rudyard Kipling, Wikipedia
Virginia Woolf, Digital Monk, My Met
Stephen King, Paris Review
Margaret Mitchell, Awesome Stories[image error]Read the Just Publishing Advice Article
See what Rudyard Kipling, Virginia Woolf, Stephen King, Margaret Mitchell and other writers say helped them move along the creative highway.
June 10, 2018
WRITING ABOUT SUICIDE IN FICTION
America has been rocked by the sudden deaths by their own hands of two celebrities, Anthony Bourdin and Kate Spade. Neither seemed a likely candidate for suicide. All three were accomplished, talented professionals who gave the appearance of enjoying life to its fullest. These tragedies come a little less than four years after the shocking death of Robin Williams, a brilliant and infectiously humorous man seemingly at the bottom of anyone’s list of potential suicides.
We do not understand very much about the mental illness that precipitates suicide. We have fixed notions about its cause, and wealthy, successful and talented people who display no outward signs of distress fall far outside our concept of a person at risk. So obviously our beliefs are incorrect.
Most of us expect to see a seriously depressed person, sad, confused, pushed to the edge, possibly even announcing their intent to end their life. The problem is that it really doesn’t work that way.
Most of us look for a “rational” explanation for a suicide. Not necessarily something we ourselves would agree justifies ending one’s life, but some event or condition we can understand as leading to the taking of one’s own life. It could be a failed relationship, economic disaster, or an impending disgrace of some sort. Undoubtedly there are instances where people make the rational choice to take their own lives rather than be tortured or endure extreme suffering. These are not typical, and the far more likely cause is a long-standing and untreated mental or emotional illness.
I’ve often wondered how many mass murderers carrying out their crimes with easy-to-obtain assault rifles were seeking “death by cop”; it’s hard to imagine that most of these killers didn’t realize the end result of their actions.
We as a society have had a natural aversion to addressing unpleasant and disturbing subjects, preferring to sweep them under the rug and offer simplistic and unreliable explanations. Thus, we have not offered anything close to the level of services needed to reduce this epidemic of suicides in America, where the suicide rate grows each year.
We must do better.
How suicide has been treated in my writing
I have written three short stories in the past year where characters took their own lives. None of them were similar to the situations of Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade or Robin Williams. The past few days have caused me to reflect on how I an other authors handle the subject.
In Survivors, posted on this blog, a character in a post-apocalyptic world takes her own life rather than deal with loneliness and loss. This more falls in line with the conventional view that suicide can be prompted by some horrific event, that even rational and well-adjusted people may elect to end their life rather than live is what objectively anyone would call a helpless situation. Not that everyone would do the same, but it is more or less seen as a rational option. (I don’t think it is). Of course, just because a character takes an action does not signal the author’s approval.
In Life, Death and Bruce Springsteen, also featured on this blog, a character perpetually threatens suicide as a means of gaining attention. This is a humorous story, and it was well-received. In retrospect, I ask myself if I was unintentionally making light of such a serious matter and thus adding to the problem. I have decided that this is not the case. Fiction authors write about the world around them, and in that world, there are indeed manipulative people who behave as my character. The story does raise questions about how to respond to threats of suicide. But when all is said and done, to paraphrase Freud “sometimes a story is just a story”. Not all fiction is intended to deliver a message or instruct us on how to live.
Having said all that, I am certain that at this very moment I would not post the same story; the pain of losing two talented and beloved figures is too great at this time. I would wait until readers have had time to come to terms with our losses. But people cannot forego laughter, and authors cannot stop writing about the world. It is not fiction writing that is prompting this plague.
There is a third short story I wrote late last year, where suicide follows a series of tragic and compounding miscalculations. Once again, it suggests that we can really know the reason for someone taking their own life, which as I’ve stated, is rarely the case. I will eventually post that story, hoping that readers will be left wondering about the real cause of the suicide.
When I was earning my MA in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University many decades ago, one of the stories included in my thesis was about a nurse whose fiance had committed suicide and during a conversation with a cab driver she started to ponder whether her commitment to her profession had caused her to ignore his needs and the signals he may have been sending. This, from the mind of a twenty-something, took a more nuanced and scientific view of the issue than most of us take today. One of the best ways to reduce suicide is to take heed when we sense someone is troubled, and not to presume everything will be fine or that we can really understand what is going on in their psyches and help them. Persuading such people to obtain professional help is the very best thing we can do for them.
Above photos, left to right: Robin Williams (www.fwweekly.com; Kate Spade (howldo.com); Anthony Bourdain (Roger Friedman’s Showbiz 411).
So how should fiction writers handle suicide?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends upon the genre, the writer’s goals, the underlying nature of the story, the author’s voice, the writing style, and of course, the author’s creative spark.
In my opinion, the best thing an author can do is to inject into their work their own feelings and experiences about suicide. Sadly, I have known several individuals who took their own lives. Every one was painful, everyone was unjustified from any standpoint, and every one of them could have been prevented.
Authors can accomplish a great deal by just telling the story. That is true in all fiction, and there is no reason why it should be different when writing about suicide. If you are writing a story where no one saw a suicide coming, tell that story. If there were signs that were ignored, or unsuccessful attempts at intervention, write about it. Let all of the characters be who you want them to be, who you know they should be; don’t soften or harden them to suit the fact of a suicide. In other words, show it as it really is and how it really plays out in your soul, showing reactions as you intend them to be presented. There may be characters who are culpable, others who are innocent of any blame. There will be characters sincere in their grief and others just going through the motions. Tell the story as you would any other tale. If it is well-written and honest, your readers will see it all.
What Can We Do To Help?
The reality is that while we can be sympathetic listeners, and provide support and comfort to those in distress, unless one is an experienced mental health professional, this is out of their league in terms of really changing the mindset of a depressed and suicidal person.
Persuading people at risk to seek professional help is the best course of action. Don’t hesitate to give them the number of the National Suidice Prevention Hotline, and in those rare instances where you have good reason to believe suicide is a serious possibility, and they won’t call don’t hesitate to call them yourself.
The Phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255
May 27, 2018
FREEDOM AND MEMORIAL DAY, 2018
I saw a friend’s Facebook post on eating a hot dog at the ballpark, and the followed ensuing discussion on the best way to consume this iconic American delicacy. The sausage industry has weighed in on this controversial issue:
Click here toead the “experts'” advice on how to eat a hot dog.
And let us not forget to pause briefly in memory of those who gave their lives for our country, and all the freedoms we prize so dearly.
Including the right to peacefully kneel during the National anthem in protest against injustice.
(photo of colin Kaepernick by dailysnark.com)
If they can silence football players, can writers and other artists be far behind?
Drive safely, don’t eat (or drink) too much, give some thought to what freedom means. (And of course, read my novel Bangkok Shadows.)
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
