Keris Stainton's Blog, page 57

Sing it, Snoopy

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NaNoWriMo: How do you start writing a novel?

Excellent writing advice from Pamela Ribon (via Diane Shipley): Hey Pamie, "How Do You Start Writing A Novel?"

That first draft, write it for yourself. Write the book you want to read, the one that isn't next to your bed at night. Write the book that you would add to your Kindle, that you'd recommend to your book club, the one you'd tell yourself at night to go to sleep.

It's important to remember your audience. Right now your audience is only you.

UPDATED: Recalculating by Jennifer Weiner: from idea to ebook in less than a week

[image error]I know that as an author I'm not supposed to be excited about the possibilities of e-publishing, but I can't help it, I really am. So I was intrigued to hear about Jennifer Weiner's latest project: a short story (approximately 10,000 words) called Recalculating.

Jennifer had the idea for the story last Tuesday. And it was published – on iBooks, Amazon and B&N today. Yes, today. From idea to publication in less than a week. (Read Jennifer's blog post about it here.)

Now Jennifer is a professional with nine published books behind her and years of experience as a newspaper journalist. She wrote the story quickly, her agent, editor and copyeditor all read it and gave her feedback and it has a professionally designed cover – this is very much not the same as an unpublished author e-publishing their NaNoWriMo book on 1 December – but it's still a pretty exciting idea, don't you think?

Even though I don't like ghost/horror stories (because I am a massive wuss), I was intrigued enough to download Recalculating and I really enjoyed it. It was involving enough that until Joe responded to a question Dora the Explorer asked on TV, I'd forgotten he was there (I am an excellent mother…) and it absolutely didn't read like a rush job (and I only spotted one mistake – "Blue-ray" instead of "Blu-ray").

So what do you think? Is this an interesting prospect for authors or the beginning of the end? Or, you know, just a story…

UPDATED: Following a heated debate in the comments in which I was accused of being "pointlessly snide" about self-publishers, I just wanted to clarify my position. I didn't intend to be snide or negative about self-publishing at all. The point I (thought I) was making with the example of NaNo novels published on 1 December, is that, for the majority of authors, publishing anything so soon after writing it isn't a good idea. I used NaNo as an example a) because it starts tomorrow and b) because apparently agents and publishers are actually sent unedited NaNo novels at the beginning of December (which obviously is also a very bad idea!).

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Recalculating by Jennifer Weiner: from idea to ebook in less than a week

[image error]I know that as an author I'm not supposed to be excited about the possibilities of e-publishing, but I can't help it, I really am. So I was intrigued to hear about Jennifer Weiner's latest project: a short story (approximately 10,000 words) called Recalculating.

Jennifer had the idea for the story last Tuesday. And it was published – on iBooks, Amazon and B&N today. Yes, today. From idea to publication in less than a week. (Read Jennifer's blog post about it here.)

Now Jennifer is a professional with nine published books behind her and years of experience as a newspaper journalist. She wrote the story quickly, her agent, editor and copyeditor all read it and gave her feedback and it has a professionally designed cover – this is very much not the same as an unpublished author e-publishing their NaNoWriMo book on 1 December – but it's still a pretty exciting idea, don't you think?

Even though I don't like ghost/horror stories (because I am a massive wuss), I was intrigued enough to download Recalculating and I really enjoyed it. It was involving enough that until Joe responded to a question Dora the Explorer asked on TV, I'd forgotten he was there (I am an excellent mother…) and it absolutely didn't read like a rush job (and I only spotted one mistake – "Blue-ray" instead of "Blu-ray").

So what do you think? Is this an interesting prospect for authors or the beginning of the end? Or, you know, just a story…

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Let's have a drink, it's NaNoWriMo time*

[image error]It's NaNoWriMo time! Almost.

If you're doing it, how much planning have you done? I did actually intend to do a bit of planning this year, but I haven't really managed it. Plus, if all goes well, I'm going to be heading off on a research trip this month too, so I'd better try to get some extra words done each day just in case.

So who else is in?

* Sung to this tune. Obv.

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Boy quotes (Part 11)

All Harry again this week…

Picked up Harry from first day in Juniors. He said, "I don't know why but this morning I had a little bit of butterflies." *weeps*

Heard Harry in the room asking David to repeat "volvo." Then he came in to me and said, "Have you heard of a car called a lo-vov?"

Harry's made David a Spotify playlist consisting of Journey's Don't Stop Believing 40 times and a bluegrass version 10 times.

Harry's looking for one of his toys. He just asked me "Middy, do you have any idea where I last saw it?"

Harry's just said, "A little TV will calm me down from the stressness…" I've heard it all now.

From the other room: "Now I'm going to scare that cat away or my name is not Harry Stainton!"

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Friday faves

[image error]It's Halloween next week – I love this cute, printable, ghostie bunting.

Young girls' t-shirt inventory isn't looking good.

This video – of a baby thinking a magazine is an iPad – is sort of amazing and sort of frightening.

Harry and Joe love this Muller advert. And I can totally see why.

This YA Op-Ed Mad Lib is very funny (if you've been reading the really annoying anti-YA articles).

Author Sharon Gosling is asking for sponsors for NaNoWriMo (for charity, not to keep her in chocolate and coffee) (which you can totally sponsor me for, by the way). It's a great idea and I wish I'd thought of it.

A favourite book about a celebration

Day 40 of the 40 Day Book Challenge is 'a favourite book about a celebration.'

Okay, I guess I'm cheating again (sorry, Tom) because this book isn't about a specific celebration, but a) I can't think of a book that is, apart from books based around weddings and I don't think I've got a favourite one of those, and b) this book is about food as celebration… and more.

'We were a restaurant family, four generations in a six-block radius. When you opened our fridge, food fell on your feet.'

It's a memoir of a New York restaurant family, which obviously encompasses New York, the restaurant, family and food. Lots and lots of food. Volk writes about food brilliantly and I read this book with my mouth watering and vowed to hunt down some of the places she mentions and try the meals she eats.

It's also a very nostalgic book. It made me want to live in New York, but in the 1950s and '60s. It's warm and charming and completely wonderful. I actually didn't read it at first, I listened to it on audiobook, which I would HIGHLY recommend. After I'd listened to it, I bought it in book form, primarily because I wanted to see the photographs of Volk's family.

One of my all-time faves, so a fitting end to this 40 Day Challenge! I've really enjoyed it. Hope you haven't been too bored. Next: NaNoWriMo!

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There are some weird and amazing creatures in the world…

{via The Kid Should See This}

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A book I expected to hate but loved

Day 39 of the 40 Day Book Challenge is 'a book I expected to hate but loved.'

Confused. Why would I start reading a book I expected to hate? Apart from at uni, but even then, I didn't expect to hate American Psycho…

So instead – and with apologies to Tom Clempson who complained that I keep cheating – I'm going to pick a book I never would have chosen to read, but ended up loving.

David was reading this on holiday and I picked it up because I liked the cover. It doesn't look like much here, but it's really unusual and smart, and only slightly spoiled by the idiotic sticker. I mean, really.

Anyway, Mark Oliver Everett is the singer in Eels and this is his memoir of, well… "How does one young man survive the deaths of his entire family and manage to make something worthwhile of his life?"

Yeah. I know, it doesn't sound like a must read, does it? But David started reading bits out to me and it sounded interesting, so I picked it up and ended up really loving it. It is sad, of course it is, but it's also uplifting, hopeful, inspiring and funny. Really. And you don't have to be an Eels fan to read it. I only know one song (Novocaine for the Soul) but the book made me want to hear more.