Lacey Louwagie's Blog, page 33

Disappearing Ink? No Thank You.

I recently read about a book publisher that is experimenting with disappearing ink. Books published with the disappearing ink will arrive sealed in plastic. Once the book is open, the ink will begin its chemical interaction with the air, and it will begin to deteriorate. All the ink will be gone in about two months.

If you’re like me, you might be wondering — what’s the point?

The point, apparently, is to create a sense of “urgency” to read the book that other books do not carry. And it’s true — generally, books have no problem “waiting around” for you. In fact, I have over a thousand books, most of which have been waiting for years to be read and will continue to wait for many years more. Sadly, I will probably die before I’ve had a chance to read all my books. (Incidentally, that realization creates a certain “urgency” to reading for me — the ink on my books might not disappear, but perhaps I will.)

The fact that books will wait around for me is what I love about them. Knowing that a book will still be there when the time in my life that is right for it arrives is comforting. Knowing that I can return to a book to reread passages I love, or that I can pass that book on to a friend, are just a few of the reasons that I will probably always prefer books in their printed format. All of this goes away in books with disappearing ink, and frankly, an increased sense of “urgency” doesn’t make up for it. In fact, “urgent” books are annoying — it’s one of the reasons that I’m reluctant to borrow books from friends. I feel obligated to read borrowed books “first,” whereas I prefer to get to them in my own good time.

But if a sense of urgency with books is what gets you going, we’ve solved the problem of “disappearing books” ages ago. It’s called a due date. The invention of disappearing ink can never hold a candle to the invention of the library.

Red Queen Press and Retold Fairy Tales

I’ve fallen terribly behind on reading my Funds for Writers newsletters (that doesn’t change the fact that it is one of the BEST resources for writers in existence), as well as other writing-related emails I receive. But I finally got around to opening one in the wee hours of the morning (12:38 am) last Friday, and I was glad I did.

I discovered what seems to be one of the hippest indie/new presses around: Red Queen Press. It was started by a group of women based on their love of stories (I know, all presses/agents/editors/etc. say that, and all probably mean it, but something about this site makes me believe it. Maybe because I like and write the kinds of stories they like.) They previously worked at the “biggies” like Random House, which gives them points for credibility. And as if that weren’t enough, their current call for submissions is for retold fairy tales up to 10,000 words, due July 15. I don’t have anything in good enough shape to answer that call, but man, I wish I did. And, I hope you do! Send it off — I promise to read it when it’s published.

First Book Check

This is our future office. I cannot abide working in it. Ivan has a higher threshold for mess than I do, so he works in here sometimes.

Today I got my first “real” check for a book I worked on. I say “real” because this is the first time I’ve been paid directly by a publisher for a book I submitted to said publisher, although I have been paid as an editor by private clients who later went on to publish their books, and for serving as an editor for self-publishers.

Just as good as the check was the encouraging, personal letter from the publisher — a welcome change from the form rejections we writers come to know so well! I’ve been surprised at the level of warmth displayed by ACTA Publications and can say that they honestly are living and working a mission very in line with the enlightened Christian books they publish. Just a small sampling of this tone:

I want to say that I am very proud of both of you. This is a unique book in American Catholicism, where young adult Catholics have been asked to write about their experiences with no fear of being judged or censored. The contributors have responded magnificently [I absolutely agree], and I hope that many people will read this book and be inspired–both young adults and the people who love them.

I was so excited to have received the check that I mused for a bit about being reluctant to cash it. That lasted for just a few minutes — until I decided that, rather than keep the check untainted, I’d rather put it toward furthering my success as a writer. So I’m putting it into a fund that will help pay for renovating my husband’s and my shared office. The first order of business will be an egress window because I don’t like working in dim spaces. The photo on the left reveals why this is necessary:

For now, I have this hutch my great grandfather made in the living room.

And this little computer desk, at which I’m writing this post.

It’s an outdoor art installation. It’s a library. And, it’s awesome.

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Source: designboom.com via Lacey on Pinterest

Also, it’s in Brussels, Belgium, housing used books from Antwerp and Ghent. Perhaps in addition to the obsession with chocolate and breakfast foods, my penchant for books is also genetic. One more reason I’m proud to have Belgian blood flowing through these veins.

Get it Written

While I was traveling after my wedding, New Moon Girls members were chatting with Victoria Holmes, better known as Erin Hunter (or the “main” Erin Hunter, as it were, since Erin Hunter is a pen name for a team of writers), author of the popular Warriors series for middle grade and young adult readers. Although I wasn’t able to attend the chat, I read the transcript afterwards.

One of the best parts of my work with New Moon is that I get to bring authors and the girl readers of their books together about once a month — and the conversation that ensues always ends up inspiring MY writing, too. About one third of the way into the transcript, Erin insightfully asks:

How do you motivate yourself to write when you don’t feel like it? That’s where I have trouble.

You and me and probably almost every other writer on the planet, Erin! Throughout the years, I’ve come up with various tricks to keep me writing (many of them involving guilt), but I think it’s a testament to Erin’s maturity and understanding of the craft that this is the question she chose to ask. In the question is the implication that she understands something very important about writing: namely, that you MUST write to be a writer, and as such, you must learn to do it even when you don’t feel like it — because you don’t always feel like it.

Victoria Holmes’ answer to Erin is just as valuable:

I tell myself, “Don’t get it right, get it written.”

In fact, I read this at a time when I was still leaning on the crutch of the recent transition in my life to “excuse” my lack of productivity on the writing front. This reminder, so practical, standing for no excuses, was just what I needed to shake me out of it. (Mind you, I’m still writing this very blog post about two weeks behind schedule, BUT I’ve been writing again just the same. I’m finally revising that Rumplestiltskin story, meeting with my writers’ group, and making my deadlines for the Young Adult Catholics blog.) And as a reminder that productivity does invite more of the same, when I started writing again was also when I learned that SUNY Press will be publishing Unruly Catholic Women Writers, Volume II, in which I have an essay entitled, “Where I First Met God.” And the reason the essay is being published? Because back in 2008, I got myself to sit down and get it written.

Thanks for the reminder, Erin and Vicky.

 

Free the Apostrophe – Scribendi.com

An infographic about the correct usage of the apostrophe that is more fun than the text link I used the other day.

Free the Apostrophe – Scribendi.com.

Free the Apostrophe!

I have to say, I’m so glad somebody is finally organizing to put an end to apostrophe abuse.

The apostrophe I most want to rescue? The one in the sign for the chain restaurant, “Fryn’ Pan.”

Now, it’s not so much that the apostrophe is being used incorrectly. It’s not. But it ought not be asked to do that job alone — and that’s where the real abuse comes in.

One of the many (legitimate) uses of an apostrophe is to take the place of letters left out of a word. One can assume that “Fryn’ Pan” is short for “Frying Pan.” Do you see the problem here? We’re missing not one, but two letters out of “Frying.” Thus, the Fryn’ Pan sign should read: “Fry’n’ Pan.”

Too many apostrophes? To that, I would simply say, every apostrophe used improperly is too many. But an apostrophe used correctly is never an ugly sight.

(Want to make sure you aren’t guilty of apostrophe abuse? This site might help.)

It’s Story-a-Day May!

Yes, I know that we’re halfway through the month, but better late than never, right?

Did you know that May is “Story-a-Day” month? Yup, it’s another one of those writing challenges I love so much. This time, the challenge is to write one story every day. How you define story is up to you.

This is definitely the writing month challenge that intimidates me the most, which is probably why I’ve only attempted it once (and I think I only wrote 4 stories). Still, the challenge intrigues me, especially as I continue to ponder the short story form. This seems like the perfect opportunity to pound out all those half-baked short stories ideas floating around in my mind, right?

Even if you don’t participate, the StoryADay website has a great blog, and you should definitely sign up for the daily prompts. They might inspire your writing beyond the month of May … or you can do like I do, and foist them on your students or your writing group. (I use them for the Teen Writing Group I lead at the library — thanks, StoryADay May, for making my job easier!)

Back to Writing … at Last!

After the long wedding-induced haitus, I am SO GLAD to be back to writing at last. A lot has happened in my “writing life” even though very little of it was actually writing. But hey, the writing world didn’t stop spinning because I neglected my desk. Imagine that!

My favorite piece of news is that Katya Gordon’s sailing memoir, Big Waves, Small Boat, Two Kids just came out. I had the pleasure of working as an editor on this book, and it’s one of my favorite pieces that I’ve ever worked on. It’s one of those stories that I find myself thinking about, and drawing inspiration from, often. For example: when I was stressed about not having enough room in the 600-sq-foot house I now share with my husband, I thought about how Katya spent a year living in a much smaller boat with her husband and two kids, no less. And when I was in Florida for my honeymoon, I found myself wondering about the lives of the cruisers we saw docked out there. If you like memoir, or nature adventures, or stories about individuals and families figuring out just where they belong in this world, definitely consider checking out this book.
The cover for Hungering and Thirsting for Justice came in. How magical it is to have stuff “just happen” on your book without you after a couple years of squeezing work on said book in at every opportunity? I like this “it’s with the publisher” business.
I got an email from the editor of the anthology Unruly Catholic Women Writers, in which I have a piece, telling us that she has “good news” about the book … but, I haven’t heard what that is yet. Looking forward to it!

My attempt at doing NaPoWriMo was a bit of a failure. I kept it up diligently and doggedly, writing mostly very bad poems, until about three days before the wedding. Then after the wedding, rather than pick up where I left off … I totally forgot that I was supposed to be writing poetry at all. Well, there’s always next year!

My husband devotes his Fridays to working on his own business, and I’m thinking that I would like to try something similar — to dedicate that same time to my writing. Not tomorrow, though, because I have a big pile of freelance work to catch up on. I’ll be working from a desk (downgraded from an office) in the living room because the basement office isn’t finished yet. Ivan still works on his computer down there, but I cannot abide the cold concrete and dimness. One must have some standards!

It’s good to be back!

Happy National Poetry Writing Month!

It's April, National Poetry Writing Month, which means it's the one time a year when I devote myself to playing with poetry. April's challenge is typically to write a poem a day throughout the month of April. I waffled a bit about whether I'd participate this year or not. I'm getting married this month, and I've been walking around in a constant state of OverWhelm since January. Still, I start to come apart at the seams a little bit when I'm not writing, and I think I probably need to write poetry more than ever right now.

I restarted my poem-a-day subscription at poets.org, I have a handout that I made for my writing class about different poem forms, I have ambitious goals to wake up half an hour earlier than usual — I'm ready to go (to bed …)!