Ryan Field's Blog, page 534
September 8, 2011
Irene Was Nothing Compared to Tropical Storm Lee
This is what's left of my driveway and front walkway, thanks to Tropical Storm Lee.
September 7, 2011
I'm Not Sure...Slight Rant
I have been sooooo good. I haven't ranted in a while. And this isn't a full blown rant by any means.
I was shopping for books to read a few minutes ago and found a few things that made me wonder. When I say I'm not sure, I mean it. Maybe I'm all wrong here and I'm just being too picky. It's happened before and I'll be the first to admit it.
But when I saw a sentence that read like this, "Her feet climbed the steps," I had to wonder whether or not the rest of "her" followed. Sereiously? Was this girl somehow detached from her feet? And wouldn't it have made more sense to just keep it simple and write, "She climbed the steps."
I don't know what you would call this. I honestly don't. I don't think it's overwriting, but it could be. But when I see things like this in published books, and I see publishers charging money for these books, I can't help thinking maybe the pirates aren't all that wrong about things when they say the quality of fiction isn't what it used to be.
I realize mistakes happen. That's understandable. But I read more sentences like this in the excerpt, and it wasn't much better. And I honestly don't know what to say about it.
"me and my twin brother" Judge Judy throws people out of court for grammar like this. And this wasn't part of the dialogue, which I do think works, with dialogue, if the character isn't well educated.
All I know is that if you read proven authors, like John Irving or Anne Tyler, and you get a sense of what they do and how they write, these things happen a lot less. There's a reason why Irving and Tyler are considered the best. It didn't happen with luck.
Emotion vs Erotica
It's hard to find the right balance between emotion and erotica. In a series, like The Virgin Billionaire, it gets easier because the main characters, Jase and Luis, have been together and in love for a long time. This makes the erotic scenes more emotional, and it helps the characters grow...as well as their relationship.
But it's not always that simple, especially if you're trying to keep it real at the same time. I wish all gay men were as emotional as others. But that's not always the case. Gay men, in fact, are men. Not all gay men have fag hags; not all gay men like to shop. They think like men, even when it comes to sex. And that strong emotional element isn't always there in the beginning. It takes time to nurture and develop.
And look at it this way, does anyone really think the guys in the photo above are thinking about emotion? Seriously? For all we know, they may indeed be in love. They may be about to fall in love and their lives might become filled with emotion. But I doubt that's what they are thinking about when this photo was shot. In fact, I'd bet money that's not what they were thinking about when this photo was shot. And in order to write real gay fiction, romance or not, there has to be a certain amount of believability or it's not going to work. And finding that emotional aspect isn't as simple as it looks or sounds. It has to come from the heart or it's just going to look contrived.
1,001 Blog Post
I wanted my 1000th blog post to be something a little different. But when I saw the Barry Manilow youtube last night I couldn't resist posting it. I think it shows how hard it is to promote anything these days, from music to books...for anyone.
And, frankly, I think that post might be the best way to celebrate my 1000th blog post. I usually post what I like whenever I see it, hoping it might help someone else with a problem or a question. That's what I wanted this blog to be about when I started it, and so far it has been.
I checked out what other bloggers did for their 1000th post, and found there were millions just like me who've been blogging and posting their thoughts a lot longer than I have. Some made youtube videos, others came up with hysterical posts that made me smile.
But I'd just like to thank everyone who's read this blog and commented. Even those who sent me e-mails about blog posts because they didn't want to comment in public. Discretion is a huge part of what this blog is all about, and an even bigger part of the erotic romance reading experience. I've always known this and I'd like the main focus on this blog to continue along that path. I'd like it to be a place where people who read erotic romance and erotica feel comfortable. And that includes all you pirates out there. You've taught me a lot through this blog. And while I may not agree with everything you say, you've shown me you do, indeed, have a few valid points.
Just don't get pissed off at me when I publish the occasional PG rated book that's not like my other books. I have a historical romance coming out soon, A YOUNG WIDOW'S PROMISE, set during the Civil War, and it's not as erotic as anything I've ever written in the past. It's so tame I could take out a few sentences and make it G rated. This is one of those stories that just didn't need the sex. I will make this clear in the book description and on the blog so everyone knows what they are getting. And I don't want to be guilty of one of the things I hate most about certain erotic romances that shall remain nameless: not enough sex.
September 6, 2011
Barry's 15 MINUTES And Promoting Advice
This video is worth watching...for authors as well as entertainers. Listen closely to what Barry has to say about promoting. It's interesting.
999 Post & Tumblr
This is my 999 post, and I've joined Tumblr.
Ryan Field– Hide – Always show
999 Posts, last published on Sep 6, 2011 – View Blog
For those who haven't joined Tumblr, it's not as easy as you think. It's not set up like other social networks. And if you're not a techie, it's going to take a while. I've been working on it off and on since yesterday afternoon and I'm still not getting some things. But I'm in no rush, mainly because I'm not sure WTF tumblr is all about yet.
Ryan Field– Hide – Always show
999 Posts, last published on Sep 6, 2011 – View Blog
For those who haven't joined Tumblr, it's not as easy as you think. It's not set up like other social networks. And if you're not a techie, it's going to take a while. I've been working on it off and on since yesterday afternoon and I'm still not getting some things. But I'm in no rush, mainly because I'm not sure WTF tumblr is all about yet.
Getting Too Close to Publishers...
One of the main reasons why having a good literary agent is so important is that the agent works on behalf of the author. And the agent's biggest concern is making sure the author gets a fair deal in all situations. That's as simple as it gets when it comes to this part of the agent/author relationship. And I want to keep this post simple to get my point across. There are other aspects that include editing, shopping books, and helping authors to get published. But the most important duty an agent will ever perform is making sure the author gets the best deal.
This goes for the real estate industry as well. And when it comes to the bottom line, no one can ever dispute the importance of having a professional advocate on your side...someone you can trust completely...who always has your best interests in mind.
But not all authors have the opportunity to work directly with literary agents. Some, like me, deal with publishers alone. I've mentioned before that I have a very good friend who is an agent. But he's not my agent and the best I can to is ask for basic advice every now and then. And even then I feel as though I'm infringing on our friendship. And I've never spent much time querying agents because I'm not fond of the query process. I'd love an agent. It would make life so much easier sometimes. But the query process always seemed futile at best to me.
However, when you are working with publishers and you don't have an agent, I think it's extremely important to always keep in mind that it's a business situation and you have to keep it professional at all times. Don't get me wrong. I love each and every single publisher I work with now, and almost every publisher I've worked with in the past. There's only one small publisher with whom I've had a problem, a print publisher, which goes back several years now. And from what I see and hear, I'm not the only author who had a problem with this particular publisher. But like I said, that goes back a few years, and I was objective enough to break away from that publisher without looking back, and, most important, without feeling a single ounce of remorse.
My point in this post isn't about looking back or having regrets. I'm writing this post hoping that authors will read it so they don't wind up with any regrets. If you don't have an agent to represent your best interests, you have to think and work like a business person at all times. I love all the publishers I work with now. I think if I didn't work with them we could be very good friends on a personal level. I know two in particular would be great friends...if they weren't my publishers.
But I always keep that invisible line drawn at all times, because the only one who is looking out for my best interest is me. I've seen authors cross the invisible line and become too friendly with publishers. I've seen publishers cross the invisible line and become too friendly with authors (it goes both ways). And it never works out in the end. When you become emotionally attached to anyone in a business situation where money is involved, you can't view a situation with an objective eye.
In a perfect world, all authors would have agents and they wouldn't have to worry about any of this. But the world's not perfect, and these days a lot of well known authors are working without agents...for many reasons I won't get into in this post. The most important thing to remember is that you can love your publisher, you can get along well with your publisher, but I wouldn't recommend making your publisher your new BFF. Because one day down the road, and you never know when that day might come, you're going to have to make a professional career decision as an author that works in your best interest, and the publisher is going to have to make a decision that works in their best interest. And it's so much easier...and friendlier...to keep it professional.
This goes for the real estate industry as well. And when it comes to the bottom line, no one can ever dispute the importance of having a professional advocate on your side...someone you can trust completely...who always has your best interests in mind.
But not all authors have the opportunity to work directly with literary agents. Some, like me, deal with publishers alone. I've mentioned before that I have a very good friend who is an agent. But he's not my agent and the best I can to is ask for basic advice every now and then. And even then I feel as though I'm infringing on our friendship. And I've never spent much time querying agents because I'm not fond of the query process. I'd love an agent. It would make life so much easier sometimes. But the query process always seemed futile at best to me.
However, when you are working with publishers and you don't have an agent, I think it's extremely important to always keep in mind that it's a business situation and you have to keep it professional at all times. Don't get me wrong. I love each and every single publisher I work with now, and almost every publisher I've worked with in the past. There's only one small publisher with whom I've had a problem, a print publisher, which goes back several years now. And from what I see and hear, I'm not the only author who had a problem with this particular publisher. But like I said, that goes back a few years, and I was objective enough to break away from that publisher without looking back, and, most important, without feeling a single ounce of remorse.
My point in this post isn't about looking back or having regrets. I'm writing this post hoping that authors will read it so they don't wind up with any regrets. If you don't have an agent to represent your best interests, you have to think and work like a business person at all times. I love all the publishers I work with now. I think if I didn't work with them we could be very good friends on a personal level. I know two in particular would be great friends...if they weren't my publishers.
But I always keep that invisible line drawn at all times, because the only one who is looking out for my best interest is me. I've seen authors cross the invisible line and become too friendly with publishers. I've seen publishers cross the invisible line and become too friendly with authors (it goes both ways). And it never works out in the end. When you become emotionally attached to anyone in a business situation where money is involved, you can't view a situation with an objective eye.
In a perfect world, all authors would have agents and they wouldn't have to worry about any of this. But the world's not perfect, and these days a lot of well known authors are working without agents...for many reasons I won't get into in this post. The most important thing to remember is that you can love your publisher, you can get along well with your publisher, but I wouldn't recommend making your publisher your new BFF. Because one day down the road, and you never know when that day might come, you're going to have to make a professional career decision as an author that works in your best interest, and the publisher is going to have to make a decision that works in their best interest. And it's so much easier...and friendlier...to keep it professional.
September 5, 2011
Facebook and the LGBT Community...
I've been reading a lot about what's been going on over at Facebook with the LGBT community. Gay people, including gay authors, are allegedly being kicked off facebook for no apparent reason and they are not being given any explanations from anyone at facebook. Some people are upset with facebook staffers, and are calling for Mr. Zuckerberg to do something about it. The people who are upset aren't joking around either. These people are extremely frustrated and I have a feeling they're going to continue to fight what's been happening.
I've had my own interesting situations with facebook. And none of this is alleged: it happened. I was once knocked off for no apparent reason. My account was suspended without an explanation. To this day, I still do not know why it happened and a reason was never given to me. I do not post anything obscene on facebook or on any other social network. This blog is proof of that. I've never posted anything with nudity or made a facebook status update that would be considered offensive. In fact, I never post anything political because I don't want to read about politics on facebook. And I've also been known to quietly unfriend people for posting too many political updates, especially when someone is bashing a political figure...left or right.
I use facebook, I hope, for what it was intended to be: a social network to interact with people from all over the world. I catch up with friends, we talk about books and publishing, and I've even made a few new friends thanks to facebook. And if I don't like something I see on facebook I either hide all posts from that user or I just unfriend them quietly. With facebook, it really is that easy. This is the wonderful thing about facebook. You don't have to read anything posted by anyone you don't like. If you don't like gays, you don't have to be friends with them. All you have to do is click "unfriend."
But there's been a kerfuffle in recent months and the gay community is allegedly getting tired of it. Those who don't like gay content of any kind are reporting gay people on facebook and facebook is allegedly suspending thier accounts for no given reason. I don't know how true this is, but it's what I've been reading. Evidently, all you have to do is "report" someone to facebook and their account can be suspended? But I've never reported anyone, so I don't know how this works. But if I were Mr. Zuckerberg, I'd be watching closely to see exactly what's been happening. Facebook is a wonderful tool, but there are a lot of people misusing this tool and they come from a mindset of hate and bigotry. We hear about how facebook is trying to improve our lives and our social media experience all the time when it comes to privacy. I'd like to see facebook set a few new standards when it comes to how and why they suspend facebook accounts.
At the very least, give a solid reason as to why an account is being suspended. I've started to see new LGBT social networks popping up in different places. And what a shame it would be if every single gay person in the world...because facebook is global...suspended their account and went somewhere else because of these alleged accusations.
I've had my own interesting situations with facebook. And none of this is alleged: it happened. I was once knocked off for no apparent reason. My account was suspended without an explanation. To this day, I still do not know why it happened and a reason was never given to me. I do not post anything obscene on facebook or on any other social network. This blog is proof of that. I've never posted anything with nudity or made a facebook status update that would be considered offensive. In fact, I never post anything political because I don't want to read about politics on facebook. And I've also been known to quietly unfriend people for posting too many political updates, especially when someone is bashing a political figure...left or right.
I use facebook, I hope, for what it was intended to be: a social network to interact with people from all over the world. I catch up with friends, we talk about books and publishing, and I've even made a few new friends thanks to facebook. And if I don't like something I see on facebook I either hide all posts from that user or I just unfriend them quietly. With facebook, it really is that easy. This is the wonderful thing about facebook. You don't have to read anything posted by anyone you don't like. If you don't like gays, you don't have to be friends with them. All you have to do is click "unfriend."
But there's been a kerfuffle in recent months and the gay community is allegedly getting tired of it. Those who don't like gay content of any kind are reporting gay people on facebook and facebook is allegedly suspending thier accounts for no given reason. I don't know how true this is, but it's what I've been reading. Evidently, all you have to do is "report" someone to facebook and their account can be suspended? But I've never reported anyone, so I don't know how this works. But if I were Mr. Zuckerberg, I'd be watching closely to see exactly what's been happening. Facebook is a wonderful tool, but there are a lot of people misusing this tool and they come from a mindset of hate and bigotry. We hear about how facebook is trying to improve our lives and our social media experience all the time when it comes to privacy. I'd like to see facebook set a few new standards when it comes to how and why they suspend facebook accounts.
At the very least, give a solid reason as to why an account is being suspended. I've started to see new LGBT social networks popping up in different places. And what a shame it would be if every single gay person in the world...because facebook is global...suspended their account and went somewhere else because of these alleged accusations.
Self Publishing: M Squared, by Leigh Ellwood
This is a guest post written by, Leigh Ellwood. Please take the time to read it. I've written on this topic many times. And I'm thrilled to publish this post here on my blog because I think it hits so many notes across the board. Especially the part about reviews and, nowadays, Interweb talk.
Hello. My name is Leigh Ellwood and I write erotic romance, erotic, and GLBT erotica. I'm pleased for the opportunity to blog here today with regards to self-publishing and writing in particular, and I hope you'll check me out on the Web at Erotic Romance by Leigh Ellwood. One of my latest releases, M-Squared, is an anthology of gay erotic fiction published through my private imprint, DLP Books. It is available through Kindle, All Romance, Nook, and Smashwords.
Today, I'd like to share some quotes with you. Don't worry, I'll explain the relevance soon.
"A grand and glorious film that may well be the smash hit of 1977, and certainly is the best movie of the year so far. " - TIME Magazine on Star Wars
"...there's no breather in the picture, no lyricism..." - Pauline Kael on Star Wars
"It is flawlessly crafted, intelligently constructed, strongly acted, and spellbinding...Movies like this are not merely difficult to make at all, but almost impossible to make well. The technical difficulties are so daunting that it's a wonder when the filmmakers are also able to bring the drama and history into proportion. I found myself convinced by both the story and the sad saga." - Roger Ebert onTitanic
"...the most dreadful piece of work I've ever seen in my entire life." - Robert Altman on Titanic
Words are powerful. They can draw so much emotion is so little time. When arranged in certain patterns, they evoke laughter or tears, inspire thought, and change minds. They can also cut deeper than the sharpest blade and leave behind magnificent scars.
If there is anything a writer should know about words, it's how to master them, and not allow them to consume you. This holds true especially for reviews and snark. You look at the above quotes on Titanic, and if I were to ask you what you'd see, perhaps you'd say two differing opinions by two experts. The renowned film critic loved the film, the respected director hated it. We know in which direction popular opinion swayed (It took two months of waiting before I could get a seat during the film's first run).
We see two experts telling us what they think, but at the end of the day they are just two men - two out of billions on the planet. You, as a writer, may feel the entire planet gangs up on you in the wake of a bad review or snarky comment, but it's no reason to let those words bother you to the point that you're unable to function.
So Robert Altman hated Titanic. Big deal. The film had the last laugh on him. You might think, well, certainly lots of people hated that movie - but look at the bigger picture (no pun intended). James Cameron still works, Kate Winslet still makes movies, life moves on.
You may also think, the book isn't Titanic. Perhaps not in the greater scheme of things, but isn't it Titanic to you? You put your heart and soul into your work, you should be proud to have accomplished something not many people get to do. Unlike the actual ship, you'll survive the journey if you take control and steel yourself against words designed to harm.
What does all of this have to do with self-publishing? Well, despite the news we're hearing about certain authors selling thousands of books and eventually signing traditional book deals, there is still a stigma attached to being an "indie." Look up the title of any successful self-pub author and you may see glowing reviews, but there also exist a number of complaints with regards to spelling, grammar, and style. If you plan to see your project to fruition, be prepared for the fact that not everybody is going to like your book, and that some people will not hesitate to point out the flaws. Even if you're selling the book at 99 cents, a popular price point right now, readers won't be pleased to spend that much on a faulty book.
I can speak from experience here. I have been published through small digital houses, and I have self-published...many years ago before Kindle was a glint in Jeff Bezos's eye. I've received the wide spectrum of commentary for my books, and I've learned from every experience. I've learned the importance of good cover art, critical beta readers to help you make sense of your story, and strong editing. Even if a book is blessed with all three, inevitably one reader will decide the book is just not his cup of tea. That's okay. What is important is that you continue to write for the love of writing, and eventually for your following.
If you do not write but love to read, give an "indie" a chance. You never know, you may find a new favorite.
Thank you!
Hello. My name is Leigh Ellwood and I write erotic romance, erotic, and GLBT erotica. I'm pleased for the opportunity to blog here today with regards to self-publishing and writing in particular, and I hope you'll check me out on the Web at Erotic Romance by Leigh Ellwood. One of my latest releases, M-Squared, is an anthology of gay erotic fiction published through my private imprint, DLP Books. It is available through Kindle, All Romance, Nook, and Smashwords.
Today, I'd like to share some quotes with you. Don't worry, I'll explain the relevance soon.
"A grand and glorious film that may well be the smash hit of 1977, and certainly is the best movie of the year so far. " - TIME Magazine on Star Wars
"...there's no breather in the picture, no lyricism..." - Pauline Kael on Star Wars
"It is flawlessly crafted, intelligently constructed, strongly acted, and spellbinding...Movies like this are not merely difficult to make at all, but almost impossible to make well. The technical difficulties are so daunting that it's a wonder when the filmmakers are also able to bring the drama and history into proportion. I found myself convinced by both the story and the sad saga." - Roger Ebert onTitanic
"...the most dreadful piece of work I've ever seen in my entire life." - Robert Altman on Titanic
Words are powerful. They can draw so much emotion is so little time. When arranged in certain patterns, they evoke laughter or tears, inspire thought, and change minds. They can also cut deeper than the sharpest blade and leave behind magnificent scars.
If there is anything a writer should know about words, it's how to master them, and not allow them to consume you. This holds true especially for reviews and snark. You look at the above quotes on Titanic, and if I were to ask you what you'd see, perhaps you'd say two differing opinions by two experts. The renowned film critic loved the film, the respected director hated it. We know in which direction popular opinion swayed (It took two months of waiting before I could get a seat during the film's first run).
We see two experts telling us what they think, but at the end of the day they are just two men - two out of billions on the planet. You, as a writer, may feel the entire planet gangs up on you in the wake of a bad review or snarky comment, but it's no reason to let those words bother you to the point that you're unable to function.
So Robert Altman hated Titanic. Big deal. The film had the last laugh on him. You might think, well, certainly lots of people hated that movie - but look at the bigger picture (no pun intended). James Cameron still works, Kate Winslet still makes movies, life moves on.
You may also think, the book isn't Titanic. Perhaps not in the greater scheme of things, but isn't it Titanic to you? You put your heart and soul into your work, you should be proud to have accomplished something not many people get to do. Unlike the actual ship, you'll survive the journey if you take control and steel yourself against words designed to harm.
What does all of this have to do with self-publishing? Well, despite the news we're hearing about certain authors selling thousands of books and eventually signing traditional book deals, there is still a stigma attached to being an "indie." Look up the title of any successful self-pub author and you may see glowing reviews, but there also exist a number of complaints with regards to spelling, grammar, and style. If you plan to see your project to fruition, be prepared for the fact that not everybody is going to like your book, and that some people will not hesitate to point out the flaws. Even if you're selling the book at 99 cents, a popular price point right now, readers won't be pleased to spend that much on a faulty book.
I can speak from experience here. I have been published through small digital houses, and I have self-published...many years ago before Kindle was a glint in Jeff Bezos's eye. I've received the wide spectrum of commentary for my books, and I've learned from every experience. I've learned the importance of good cover art, critical beta readers to help you make sense of your story, and strong editing. Even if a book is blessed with all three, inevitably one reader will decide the book is just not his cup of tea. That's okay. What is important is that you continue to write for the love of writing, and eventually for your following.
If you do not write but love to read, give an "indie" a chance. You never know, you may find a new favorite.
Thank you!
September 4, 2011
I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg
Excellent author interview here, especially the part about how the writing process works for her. I couldn't do this in a million years. I start at the beginning and work my way to the end of a book or story. But not this author. It's fascinating.
I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg
I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg
