Mark Del Franco's Blog, page 3
March 29, 2011
Why Writers Need Indifferent Beta-Readers and Thick Skins
By indifferent, I mean someone who doesn't love or like you personally unless you both can separate your personal feelings from the task at hand: understanding why your work might suck.
A short side story: I had a job where I wrote letters for my boss. I'd print out the letter, hand it to him and ask him to proofread it. Every few months, he would become impatient and snap, "I don't understand why there are typos in this. You're a writer." And I always replied, "That's why I asked you to proofread."
Every writer needs someone to look at their work--whether its one page or an entire book (especially if it's an entire book). The classic reason is that we are too close to our work. We know what we wanted to say. We thought we wrote that. We read what we wanted to say regardless of what's on the page.
There are at least two reasons why this happens: a) we've all seen that chain email that pionts out taht our barins are good at unsrcbmaling mispleled wrods, rihgt? Well, we're even better at doing it to our own words, and b) writers don't read their own work, they remember it. When we read, we don't see the words on the page. We hear the words in our head and assume those words are on the page.
So, at the least, we need proofreaders (It's a real live profession, actually).
The other reason we need indifferent beta-readers---and thick skin--is that we benefit from honest feedback, but we need to take it. It makes our work better. It is hard to hear someone say your work isn't, well, working. A good beta-reader should understand what you're trying to do, understand grammar and syntax, understand paragraph structure and book structure, and understand that they have to convey that information to a delicate ego. One person doesn't have to do all that--you can use one person for story reaction (i.e., someone who you think is in your intended audience) and someone else who knows their way around a red pen. You don't have to do everything a beta-reader says, either, but the feedback will help you justify why you did what you did.
And it's okay to be wrong. You just have to move on from it.
March 28, 2011
Another Electronic Brick in the Wall
As someone who finds it hard enough to write without getting distracted, the idea of epublishing on my own gives me anxiety. Despite claims to the contrary (by folks who have, frankly, no idea), it's a lot of work. I do want to try it at some point, but I find myself grappling with catch-22s everywhere I turn. So, it's easy to sit back, let my print publisher handle it and let the dust settle some more. Today. Tomorrow, who knows?
If you look at what Kat, Barry and Amanda actually say---you'll notice an aspect of the ebook discussion that doesn't always get a lot of play. Namely, it's a business decision for writers, which means there are going to be as many reasons to publish one way or another as there are writers. It's not just about new tech or evil gatekeepers or presumed inevitabilities.
Amanda has been successful with ebooks, but she recognizes she can reach more readers with print right now with the added bonus of less non-writing work. Barry sees a financial model that, on paper (!), looks better for him. And Kat sees benefits in working with a print team that she doesn't have to build independently (i.e., editing, marketing and a sales force). They are all making trade-offs in their careers that they hope will benefit those careers. You'll also notice none of them say they will never never change. Barry and Amanda are testing the water with new approaches. Kat (like me) is happy to let the whole mess sort itself out a little more. Whether they succeed or fail is their decision--and they're all the right decisions. For now.
As for me, I'm somewhere between Barry and Kat. I see the magic numbers, but I also like having someone else worry about and help with a lot of stuff. I'll probably dabble with an independent ebook, but right now I have a proposal out with my agent and I'll be more than happy to evaluate offers.
Because at the end of the day, as much as I love doing this writing thing, I also have to manage my time and money. Like everyone else.
March 27, 2011
Come Join Me On the Dark Side
I've put up a fan page on Facebook. Please stop by and hit the LIKE button at the top of the page so that you can get updates in your fb newsfeed.
I'm trying to consolidate my online stuff---which does NOT mean I'm abandoning Livejournal (lack of posting these past months notwithstanding). I had a lot of personal stuff going on, which is over, so with luck I'll be blogging more.
And speaking of, I will be using blogger to feed my blog here (as soon as I figure out best approach for me) and on facebook. As I said, I'm still working out my online stuff and trying to consolidate and make my updating more efficient.
As we approach the publication of UNCERTAIN ALLIES, I will be running giveaways and such---and will be sure to let everyone know the where and when.
But do Like the facebook page. I promise I won't sell your soul to advertisers and such (I keep those for my own purposes).
March 22, 2011
UNCERTAIN ALLIES Coming Soon! April 28, 2011
In other news, I have delivered Connor 6 (title tba), which has been sucking up my brain these past few months. Now that it's done I'm turning to housekeeping---new website coming, a facebook fanpage and then I have to decide whether to focus on one particular writing project or just keep playing with all of them.
I will be following up to my email post of months ago. Lots of interesting comments in there.
Stay tuned...
October 7, 2010
Good Kids Are Worse
When I blog, I usually blog about books or the lighter side of things. I’d like to take a moment, tho, and comment on the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, the gay college student who was recorded by his roommate having sex. I’m not going to discuss the dynamics of being a gay teen—others are doing that. It’s the support and defense of Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei---the two students involved in the recording—that I want to address.
When you hear about bullying in school, what image arises for you? The muscled boy known for getting into fights? The kids in that class for underachievers? The antisocial tough girl who doesn’t take crap from anyone?
Yeah, bullies are in those groups. When you are a target of bullying, those are the kids you naturally avoid. They wear their attitude on their sleeves. You know by their reputation—and likely your own personal experience—what will happen if you go near them or find yourself accidently trapped alone with them.
When one of these “usual suspects” gets accused of bullying, the victim at least has a fighting chance that something will be done about it. After all, these are “bad” kids, troublemakers, problem kids. They’ve probably had previous run-ins with adults that have nothing to do with bullying other kids. The problem with these kids is isolated and individual. They buck the system, defy authority, resist conformity. They are “other,” easily identified, easily accusable, easily punished.
They aren’t the only bullies. They’re not even the worst ones.
The worst bullies are the so-called “good kids”—the sports players, the cheerleaders, the popular cliques. The kids who have an edge with teachers and coaches and parents because they’re smart or sociable or athletically talented.
Why are they worse? Because they're excused from their behavior.
Look what’s happening with Ravi and Wei. The first thing out of the mouths of parents, friends and supportive administrators is that they are “good kids,” they didn’t mean anything. People attacking them are “unfair,” “over-reacting,” “pushing an agenda.”
Every fat kid, every nerd, every minority kid, every unattractive kid, every quiet kid, every smart kid, every “slow” kid, every gay boy, every poor kid, every lesbian girl, every nonathletic kid, have heard this story before.
The “good kids” didn’t mean it.
The “good kids” would never do that.
The “good kids” are just being kids.
The “good kids” were provoked.
The victim had a history.
The victim asked for it.
The victim had problems.
The victim should have known better.
Dharun Ravi recorded two people having sex and broadcast it on the internet to humiliate his roommate. Read that sentence again. Now compare with this sentence: “He’s a good kid.”
Molly Wei, who allegedly didn’t record anything or post messages encouraging people to watch the video, sat and watched her friend record two people having sex, upload it online and encourage other friends to watch in order to humiliate someone. Now compare with this sentence: “She’s a good kid.”
Ask a gay kid who he’s more afraid of: the school drug dealer with a reputation for fighting or the popular football player who ridicules him for being gay. As an overweight girl who she’s more afraid of: the tough girl who couldn’t care less about her existence or the popular cheerleader who takes every opportunity to tell her she’s fat.
People are upset Tyler Clementi is dead. You know what? It’s easy to have sympathy for a dead kid. What’s not easy is recognizing the living kids who are going through the same humiliations as Tyler Clementi right now at the hands of other “good kids”—and their friends, parents, administrators and, yes, religious leaders who have their backs.
After all, they’re good kids.
September 26, 2010
Ebook Readers, Wherefor Art Thou?
I don't have a Kindle or other ereader. I do think if I had one, I'd be one of those people saying "i've bought more books since I got my ereader than I have in the last five years." Mostly, it's the utility aspect--I'd probably pay whatever the asking price...
July 27, 2010
FACE OFF Release Day!
Over on the website, you can read the first chapter and find links to bookstores. Hope you enjoy!
I promise that--soon--I will do a proper blog entry with thoughts and stuff. In the meantime, you can friend me on Facebook!
January 26, 2010
UNPERFECT SOULS
January 25, 2010
UNPERFECT SOULS Almost Official!
A reminder: The First Chapter is posted on the main website as well as links to first chapters in the other books in the series and links to online purchase sites. Feedback is welcome at glowbee-TheAtThing-markdelfranco.com.
Now, if only I had a copy....a store visit is in o...
January 12, 2010
Sherlock Holmes and Homunculus (Not That There's Anything Wrong With That)
1) Create nefarious character
2) Introduce brilliant detective
3) Watch detective do things for seemingly no reason
4) Have detective explain what you just saw at the ...
