Sandra Gulland's Blog, page 9
August 10, 2015
Sundae Sundries: links of interest to readers, writers, historians & other romantics
DH and I are visiting our daughter and her family at their beautiful new home on Amherst Island. (The photo above was taken on the ferryboat over and tweaked with the SnapSeed app.)
As well, inspired by the James Patterson MasterClass linked to below, I’ve (finally!) tackled my WIP outline again.
Here is my week in delectable links ….
Links for writers …
• I gobbled up this MasterClass course on writing by James Patterson. It was worth the price of admission. I’m not likely ever to be a reader of James Patterson novels, but I came away with a great deal of respect for him and his work.
• Here is literary writer Joyce Maynard’s account of taking James Patterson’s class: An Accomplished Writer Takes a ‘MasterClass’ from a Gargantuan Selling Writer. I agree!
• Readers of this blog will no doubt notice some of my ADHD tendencies. I know I’m not alone! The ADHD Guide to Writing.
• Because of said “tendencies,” no doubt, I am inspired by this image of the working desk of Robert Olen Butler (the author of one of the best books on writing, From Where You Dream).
For both writers and readers …
• A great Paris Review interview with feisty writer Ursula K. Le Guin.
• Also on Ursula K. Le Guin: On ‘Starting Late’ as a writer. On this theme (am I feeling my age?): You’re never too old to write your first novel—especially at 40.
Links for flâneurs through history …
• Jane Austen’s reading list. Charmed to see Conduct Literature for Women on this list.
Link for Napoleonistas …
• Napoleon, Josephine and a giant bill for Cologne.
Have a great week!
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August 2, 2015
Sundae Sundries: links of interest to readers, writers, historians & other romantics
This week was especially speedy! I gave a reading at the Bonnechere Author’s Festival on Wednesday night, and on Friday the “children” and grandchildren arrived and a long weekend of festivities began!
Here is my week in delectable links ….
Links for writers …
• I got sidetracked—as I do—looking into scriptwriting software, and bought Final Draft on sale. I doubt that I will ever write a script, but this software offers interesting structure techniques that intrigue me.
• Exploring script templates, I found one on creating character that I like very much. I especially like considering your character’s “humanizing trait.”
• 7 Ways Writing a Screenplay is Different That Writing a Novel.
• How To Write a Screenplay: The 5 Step Process.
• The Heartfelt, Unpublishable, Captivating, Shallow, Sound, Abandoned, Reclaimed, Worthless, Most Excellent Potential Novel, by Tom Bentley. I related to this account in a rather painful way! :-(
For both writers and readers …
• The line-up for the 2016 San Miguel Writers’ Conference looks awesome! It’s from February 10-16, the perfect time of year to get a break from winter in sunny Mexico. Go for it! You will not regret it.
Links for flâneurs through history …
• Medieval Urine Wheels. Just what you always wanted.
• Inspired by a Two Nerdy History Girls blog post on Etiquette for the Victorian Gentleman, I read The Gentlemen’s Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness.
• The ‘Natural Beauty’ Ideal of the Regency.
Link for Napoleonistas …
• Napoleon, Josephine and a giant bill for Cologne. Not everything in this article is accurate, in my opinion, but there are interesting details I like quite a lot.
Have a great week!
View of the lake at our cabin :-)
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July 26, 2015
Sundae Sundries: links of interest to readers, writers, historians & other romantics
Another lovely week. Summer is flying by.
Here is my week in delectable links ….
Links for writers …
• Writing workflow—an infographic
• Another writer/artist (I’m keeping track!): Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Original Watercolors for The Little Prince.
• J. K. Rowling’s Spreadsheet Shows How She Wrote Harry Potter.
Links for flâneurs through history …
• The Experience of Growing Up in Medieval Society.
• Medical recipes in the 18th century.
• The New & Complete Newgate Calendar, or Villainy Displayed in all its Branches. Irresistible.
Link for Napoleonistas …
• What Napoleon’s hat tells us about the power of branding.
My news …
• I’m stoked about this rave review of The Shadow Queen!
• I’m also proud to have been included in the Raynes Illumination exhibit, which includes photographs of 50 Canadian writers.
• I’m giving a talk this Wednesday for the Bonnechere Authors Festival. If you’re close-by, come!
Have a great week!
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July 19, 2015
Sundae Sundries: links of interest to readers, writers, publishers, historians & other romantics
Ah, a week gone by already? Such a lovely week it was. I hope you enjoy these links as much as I did.
Links for writers …
Revision is tough! I take strength seeing the messy revised pages of the greats. Here is a page from Jane Austen’s Persuasion:
• It’s interesting to read a transcript of the edits she made.
Balzac’s astonishing output is discouraging! Forty novels? I forget. He was fuelled by coffee, debt and a compulsive need for luxury goods. So interesting!
• Habits of Highly Effective Writers: Balzac
• Did Balzac Really Drink 50 Cups of Coffee a Day?
• The Coffee Pot That Fueled Honoré de Balzac’s Coffee Addiction
As readers of my blog know, I’ve begun to dabble in art—which was, in fact, my first love. I’m starting to notice writers who also paint or draw.
Links for flâneurs through history …
I needed an 18th century desert to play a role in the WIP. Internet to the rescue! Here are some delightful links for those of you with a sweet tooth (i.e. everyone):
• Conceits, Comfits, & Creams: More on 18th Century Desserts
• The free e-book of The Complete Confectioner: Or, The Whole Art of Confectionary Made Easy, published in 1807. Delightful and delectable!
I also fell down the rabbit hole of research into quills, and paper, and ink. I do love this stuff!
• Letter Writing in Jane Austen’s Time: Quills and Correspondence. Fascinating.
A links for romantics …
• Emblems of Love, in Four Languages: Dedicated to the Ladys (1683). This is a wonderful website.
Have a great week!
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July 13, 2015
The XYZ of listening to Podcasts
I love to listen to a podcast while exercising, doing chores or driving. I’ve become an enthusiast of a number. (See the ones I recommend below.) A friend who is new to the technology asked me how to go about subscribing to one. For those of you who are also new to it, here goes:
Podcasts are like radio broadcasts that you can listen to any time you wish.
Most podcasts are free. Think of them as the new radio. You can listen to them on any device that has apps (i.e. a smart phone or tablet) or on your computer.
To listen on your computer:
Download the iTunes application and go to the iTunes store.
Google “podcasts”—a number of sites will come up.
To listen on your cell phone or tablet:
First, get the Podcasts app:
Go to the App Store app.
Click “Explore” at the bottom.
Type “Podcasts” in the search box (upper right).
Download.
Open the Podcasts app and search (upper right) for the podcast you are looking for.
Click on it.
Click “Subscribe.”
And that’s it. Once subscribed, when you go to the Podcasts app, click on “My Podcasts” bottom left, and there you go.
I highly recommend:
WTF Edgy, X-rated. Marc Maron is a no-holds-bar comedian, often interviewing comedians in his garage. Fun! Be sure to check out episode #613, his interview of Barack Obama (which is not X-rated). Another great one is the #604 interview of NPR interviewer Terry Gross.
BOOK REVIEW (THE NEW YORK TIMES) Fantastic interviews with authors and reviewers. It’s a wonderful way to keep up-to-date on new publications.
WRITERS & COMPANY (CBC RADIO) Eleanor Wachtel is an amazing interviewer of literary authors from around the world.
THIS AMERICAN LIFE Great journalism, both thought-provoking and entertaining.
SERIAL Investigative journalism which took the world by storm. So compelling! Be sure to start at the beginning.
Are you already a podcast subscriber? Which ones do you enjoy?
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July 12, 2015
Sundae Sundries: links of interest to readers, writers, publishers, historians & other procrastinators
Summer has turn glorious and I procrastinate from working on Draft 5 by ducking out to the garden. I’m reading Wayson Choy’s Not Yet; a Memoir of Living and Almost Dying: so very good! I heard him speak this week: mystical.
Links for writers …
• On Writing & Publishing, & Everything In-Between. My very own Flipboard magazine. A popular article this week was:
• How Publishers Make Decisions About What to Publish: The Book P&L. This article is by Jane Friedman, who knows the business inside and out.
Links for flâneurs through history …
• Medical Advice About Bathing in 1813
• Medical recipes in the 18th century
• The Diaries of Miss Fanny Chapman. Delicious!
Links for Napoleonistas …
• Napoleon’s escape ship found off Cape York
Links for all us Procrastinators …
• Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, And Succeed Long-Term.
Links for self-publishers …
• 4 Ways to Create an ePub eBook
• Demystifying Keywords, Categories, and Themes for Amazon Indie Authors
Have a great week!
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July 6, 2015
Your first draft … Say no more!
Brace yourself! This pie chart is surprisingly accurate with respect to a first draft.
Posted by The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards on Friday, June 19, 2015.
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July 5, 2015
Sundae Sundries: great links for readers, writers & historians
Links for writers …
• How Kazuo Ishiguro wrote the award-winning Remains of the Day in only four weeks. Depressing, isn’t it?
Links for flâneurs through history …
• The French Revolution Network. It’s always a thrill to discover discussions on topics of interest.
• These 16th century portraits of women painted by Caterina van Hemeseen are arresting.
• For delicious details on daily life in the 17th century, see this website.
Links for Napoleonistas …
• I’m reading Patrice Gueniffey’s Bonaparte 1769-1802: excellent.
Links for everyone …
• I’m late to the party, but I’m now a big fan of Mark Maron’s WTF podcast. His interview with Barack Obama is an outstanding introduction. (It’s wonderful that Obama would venture into such edgy territory.)
Have a great week!
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June 30, 2015
On giving an author reading (part 1): deciding what to wear and other matters of great import
In one month I’m to give a reading not far from where I live. It’s high time I started preparing. (Did you know that presenters of TED talks prepare for months? For fascinating links on this process: go here, and here.)
An author reading is not a reading: it’s a talk
The first thing to understand about preparing to give a reading is that it should not really be a “reading” at all — it’s best if it’s an engaging talk, with a mere sprinkling of readings thrown in.
Who is the audience?
Every author needs to be prepared for an audience of 1 or 100. For my event coming up, it’s likely to be a good-sized crowd. A number of those attending will be friends and family.
This raises the bar!
I have given a number of talks in my area over the decades. I want it to go over well, and I don’t want to repeat myself.
That bar just went up several more notches.
Review print-outs and videos of past author readings
I’ve begun preparing for the talk coming up by digging out my earlier speeches. In the process, I discovered a video of a talk I gave about seven years ago. I had just finished a US tour for Mistress of the Sun, and speaking before a crowd daily for weeks on end was great preparation. I also had the advantage of a friend/filmmaker to film this talk, so the recording is without the usual wiggles and jumps.
[image error]
Decide what to wear
This is a surprisingly important question. At an author reading, people sit and look at you for an hour. I’ve learned not to wear jewelry that can jangle against a mike. Bright is good. Comfortable is great. Fashionable and hip would be nice. Presenting in costume is guaranteed to be a hit.
I often present in historical dress. It’s fun, and everyone enjoys it. However, for me, a question is: Should I wear the same costume I wore the last time I gave a reading at this festival? I think not. A number of people attending will have been at the last one.
I could wear my Josephine gown, which would be relevant to the novel I’m writing now … but not relevant to The Shadow Queen, my latest publication.
Alas, I’m afraid that I should go simply as myself. To tell the truth, I find this somewhat intimidating. It means that content of the talk itself is going to have to be excellent.
Next up: On writing and outlining an author talk. Visuals or not? Give-aways or not?
I’ll keep you posted.
Links of interest
Weekly I’ve started posting links to things I find of interest on the Net. I’m calling it a Sundae of Sundries (posted every Sunday, of course). Let me know if there are any articles or blogs you’d like to share.
The Facts of Life (& Other Mysteries)
I continue to work and rework the WIP, which I’m now calling The Facts of Life (& Other Mysteries). What do you think of that title?
Revision is such slow work. One must be patient and have faith in the process. The work invariably feels broken at this stage.
I was heartened to see this page of revision made by Orwell for 1984. My own pages look similar.
{The photo of me and my horse was taken by Barney McCaffrey.}
The post On giving an author reading (part 1): deciding what to wear and other matters of great import appeared first on Sandra Gulland.
Preparing to give an author reading: deciding on what to wear and other matters of great import
In one month I’m to give a reading not far from where I live. It’s high time I started preparing. (Did you know that presenters of TED talks prepare for months? For fascinating links on this process: go here, and here.)
An author reading is not a reading: it’s a talk
The first thing to understand about preparing to give a reading is that it should not really be a “reading” at all — it’s best if it’s an engaging talk, with a mere sprinkling of readings thrown in.
Who is the audience?
Every author needs to be prepared for an audience of 1 or 100. For my event coming up, it’s likely to be a good-sized crowd. A number of those attending will be friends and family.
This raises the bar!
I have given a number of talks in my area over the decades. I want it to go over well, and I don’t want to repeat myself.
That bar just went up several more notches.
Review print-outs and videos of past author readings
I’ve begun preparing for the talk coming up by digging out my earlier speeches. In the process, I discovered a video of a talk I gave about seven years ago. I had just finished a US tour for Mistress of the Sun, and speaking before a crowd daily for weeks on end was great preparation. I also had the advantage of a friend/filmmaker to film this talk, so the recording is without the usual wiggles and jumps.
[image error]
Decide what to wear
This is a surprisingly important question. At an author reading, people sit and look at you for an hour. I’ve learned not to wear jewelry that can jangle against a mike. Bright is good. Comfortable is great. Fashionable and hip would be nice. Presenting in costume is guaranteed to be a hit.
I often present in historical dress. It’s fun, and everyone enjoys it. However, for me, a question is: Should I wear the same costume I wore the last time I gave a reading at this festival? I think not. A number of people attending will have been at the last one.
I could wear my Josephine gown, which would be relevant to the novel I’m writing now … but not relevant to The Shadow Queen, my latest publication.
Alas, I’m afraid that I should go simply as myself. To tell the truth, I find this somewhat intimidating. It means that content of the talk itself is going to have to be excellent.
Next up: On writing and outlining an author talk. Visuals or not? Give-aways or not?
I’ll keep you posted.
Links of interest
Weekly I’ve started posting links to things I find of interest on the Net. I’m calling it a Sundae of Sundries (posted every Sunday, of course). Let me know if there are any articles or blogs you’d like to share.
The Facts of Life (& Other Mysteries)
I continue to work and rework the WIP, which I’m now calling The Facts of Life (& Other Mysteries). What do you think of that title?
Revision is such slow work. One must be patient and have faith in the process. The work invariably feels broken at this stage.
I was heartened to see this page of revision made by Orwell for 1984. My own pages look similar.
{The photo of me and my horse was taken by Barney McCaffrey.}
The post Preparing to give an author reading: deciding on what to wear and other matters of great import appeared first on Sandra Gulland.
