Nenia Campbell's Blog, page 62
December 28, 2012
Write or Die
This great site has taken a page out of Puff Daddy's stance on voting.
http://writeordie.com/
It "puts the prod in production." Seriously. You set it up with a time limit and a target word count, and it does various annoying things to keep you on track.
I know a lot of you are writers yourselves, so I thought I'd share it with you like my friends shared it with me. Check it out!
http://writeordie.com/
It "puts the prod in production." Seriously. You set it up with a time limit and a target word count, and it does various annoying things to keep you on track.
I know a lot of you are writers yourselves, so I thought I'd share it with you like my friends shared it with me. Check it out!
December 19, 2012
I Have a Blog!
I am now The Armchair Librarian!
So exciting!
(I figured that was pedantic enough that it would suit me.)
Since a lot of you are long-time bloggers, I was wondering... do any of you have some tips for a n00b?
xNenia
So exciting!
(I figured that was pedantic enough that it would suit me.)
Since a lot of you are long-time bloggers, I was wondering... do any of you have some tips for a n00b?
xNenia
December 17, 2012
Last Week of eBook Holiday Sales!
Hi guys! I just wanted to remind you that this is the last week of the holiday clearance sales for my books: Until December 24th Cloak and Dagger will be $1.99 and Endgame will be $0.99.
After that period, they will revert to their ordinary prices ($2.99 and $1.99, respectively)!
If you are interested, click the link of the title: they will take you to the book's page in the Amazon Kindle store!
All the holly jolliest,
xNenia
After that period, they will revert to their ordinary prices ($2.99 and $1.99, respectively)!
If you are interested, click the link of the title: they will take you to the book's page in the Amazon Kindle store!
All the holly jolliest,
xNenia
December 16, 2012
Nenia Campbell and the Case of the Special Snowflake
SS: Hello! My name is Special! Special Snowflake!
Me: Oh God. Not you again.
SS: I'm not like other girls.
Me: Yes. You are. You're EXACTLY like other girls.
SS: Nuh-uh!
Me: You. Are not. Special.
SS: Oh yeah? Then why don't people understand me? Huh? Why not?
Me: They do. They just don't like you.
SS: Because they're jealous whores who want to steal away my one true soulmate?
Me: No. Because you're a slut-shaming insecurity complex wrapped up in wishful thinking and tied with a bow that doesn't know it's pretty.
SS: But I'm not pretty! My Aryian good looks make me a freak of nature! Who could ever love a girl with white skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair? I'm hideous!
Me: ...also, you have the emotional depth of a mirror.
SS: That's not true! Bitch! *cries* I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. You're right. I don't know anything. I AM A WORM! *glare* But still you're only saying that because you're a slut who's jealous.
Me: Of what?
SS: My super powers!
Me: *not impressed*
SS: My good looks!
Me: You just said you weren't pretty!
SS: My sex god boyfriend thinks I am, and everything he says is gospel truth. *gasp* Oh my god! That's it! You want to steal my boyfriend!
Me: You mean the one who tried to KILL you? I don't think so.
SS: Then... OH GOD. YOU'RE A LESBIAN. YOU WANT ME. NOOOOO. HETEROSEXUAL MONORACIAL MARRIAGE IS THE ONLY REAL FORM OF LOOOOOOOVEEEE.
Me: Okay, that's it. No person could possibly be this obnoxious and fake and idiotic. Let's see who you really are.
SS: What are you doing? Stay away from me! Help! Rape! I'll blast you with sparkle magic!
Me: *pulls off mask* Holy shit. It's the author!
Author: And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling reviewers.
/every bad YA book ever
Me: Oh God. Not you again.
SS: I'm not like other girls.
Me: Yes. You are. You're EXACTLY like other girls.
SS: Nuh-uh!
Me: You. Are not. Special.
SS: Oh yeah? Then why don't people understand me? Huh? Why not?
Me: They do. They just don't like you.
SS: Because they're jealous whores who want to steal away my one true soulmate?
Me: No. Because you're a slut-shaming insecurity complex wrapped up in wishful thinking and tied with a bow that doesn't know it's pretty.
SS: But I'm not pretty! My Aryian good looks make me a freak of nature! Who could ever love a girl with white skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair? I'm hideous!
Me: ...also, you have the emotional depth of a mirror.
SS: That's not true! Bitch! *cries* I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. You're right. I don't know anything. I AM A WORM! *glare* But still you're only saying that because you're a slut who's jealous.
Me: Of what?
SS: My super powers!
Me: *not impressed*
SS: My good looks!
Me: You just said you weren't pretty!
SS: My sex god boyfriend thinks I am, and everything he says is gospel truth. *gasp* Oh my god! That's it! You want to steal my boyfriend!
Me: You mean the one who tried to KILL you? I don't think so.
SS: Then... OH GOD. YOU'RE A LESBIAN. YOU WANT ME. NOOOOO. HETEROSEXUAL MONORACIAL MARRIAGE IS THE ONLY REAL FORM OF LOOOOOOOVEEEE.
Me: Okay, that's it. No person could possibly be this obnoxious and fake and idiotic. Let's see who you really are.
SS: What are you doing? Stay away from me! Help! Rape! I'll blast you with sparkle magic!
Me: *pulls off mask* Holy shit. It's the author!
Author: And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling reviewers.
/every bad YA book ever
December 13, 2012
Reader, Reviewer...Author: Not Mutually Exclusive
There is a controversy on Goodreads about an issue that I find very interesting (and not just because it happens to be personally relevant). Should authors be permitted to read and review the works of other authors on public platforms like Goodreads, or Amazon, where everyone else can see them? Should they interact with their own reviewers?
From what I've read, both sides of this argument have good points.
Some believe that openly reading and reviewing others' works opens the door to "revenge-rating" and other schoolyard-esque intimidation tactics that wouldn't occur if the author had decided to lie low, or give everyone four or five star ratings.
On the other hand, authors tend to do just as much reading as anyone else--if not more--and shouldn't they be entitled to the same rights as other individuals as long as they are respectful and adhere to the golden rule?
The problem, I think, is that you can't really generalize a situation like this because people are so diverse and unpredictable. We all put our feet in our mouths sometimes, but authors as public figures are doubly culpable because their opinions reflect badly not only on themselves as people, but also on their books and their standing as an author/figure in the publishing industry.
The "just be nice" rule doesn't work, either, because rating everything positively only causes readers to be that much more disappointed and angry when they spend their money on a book on the basis of a favorite author's endorsement, only to find that it is (for them, in any case) crap. Their respect for the writer diminishes as a result. Of course, you could just NOT rate anything, but what's the point in that? That's no fun at all.
My policy when it comes to reviewing is pretty straightforward, and can be summed up in five points. It's probably not the best strategy, but that's why I'm posting this in a blog. Because it will be interesting to see if this generates a debate on the topic. I know for many of you, active GoodReads authors are a hot button.
1. Don't write things that you wouldn't be comfortable having said about your own work. This doesn't mean that you have to coat everything in sugar, but if you tear people's books to shreds you shouldn't be surprised or angered or personally offended if someone one day decides to do the same thing to you.
I am a harsh critic--but I don't hold people to standards any different from the ones that I use for myself. If my characterization falls flat, or if I have a typo on page 345, I'd like to know about it. And if someone gives your book a 1-star rating, well. It's not the end of the world. Oh well. Move on.
2. Be honest, but polite. Don't feed the trolls, but give people the benefit of the doubt. Some people on this site seem determined to provoke others into flames and rants. Others may seem provocative at a glance, but if you talk to them you may realize that their wording was a casualty to the nuance-less black hole that is internet communication. If the person does turn out to be a troll, thank them for their opinion and end it at that. This isn't LOSING. It's being a mature adult.
3. Don't be pretentious. Being an author does not make you a better person, nor does it give your opinions more weight. Going after people for not "getting" your book is not a very nice thing to do. Books are subjective. People may read different things out of them than you intended. Lord knows my books have garnered some pretty interesting interpretations.
But beyond that, it's important that you not attempt to define yourself by the books you read. Filling your bookshelves with nothing but classics does not mean you're Shakespeare. People KNOW that you read other things besides The Great Gatsby. You aren't fooling anyone except yourself.
One of the best things about being a writer is that you get to share all the books that inspired YOU with other people. I always love it when people tell me that they stalk my shelves for good reads (ha!), because I want to support the authors I love. That's why I make my shelves so silly. I want curious individuals to peruse them. I've made so many connections on this site through a mutual love for a book/series. It's wonderful. I hope one day people will bond like that over my books. ♥
4. Accept the fact that you are a biased individual. You, as the author, probably think your books are the cat's meow. Other people might not agree. And since they are paying for your book and you aren't, you might want to pay them some mind. Feedback will never be 100% positive. Just as there will always be someone who hates you for being you, there will always be someone who hates what you write just because of the genre, the topic, or even the fact that you, as a person, wrote it. Sometimes they will have something of value to say. Sometimes they might just say "this book sucks donkey." If you can't think of anything constructive to say in response, don't respond. I, personally, think it's ok for authors to (politely) ask for elaboration in a critical review, but if the person reacts to you hostilely you should probably just leave them alone, lest you be branded as a bully. (And if the person makes it clear that they don't WANT you commenting on their reviews, then you are being a bully, even if you are being polite.)
5. Be your own worst critic. I am! And it works. If you are hard on yourself, then nothing that anyone says will come as a surprise to you. It will also make you better at picking out your own errors. Don't be afraid to cut out unnecessary descriptions, adverbs, adjectives, punctuation, and italics. If you are constantly chanting "I am not perfect I am not perfect," then when someone tells you "You are not perfect," you will just be like, 'Yeah, so? :D' Plus, it will make your own reviews that much better when you provide concrete examples for why YOU didn't like a book.
And that's a wrap! What do you think?
From what I've read, both sides of this argument have good points.
Some believe that openly reading and reviewing others' works opens the door to "revenge-rating" and other schoolyard-esque intimidation tactics that wouldn't occur if the author had decided to lie low, or give everyone four or five star ratings.
On the other hand, authors tend to do just as much reading as anyone else--if not more--and shouldn't they be entitled to the same rights as other individuals as long as they are respectful and adhere to the golden rule?
The problem, I think, is that you can't really generalize a situation like this because people are so diverse and unpredictable. We all put our feet in our mouths sometimes, but authors as public figures are doubly culpable because their opinions reflect badly not only on themselves as people, but also on their books and their standing as an author/figure in the publishing industry.
The "just be nice" rule doesn't work, either, because rating everything positively only causes readers to be that much more disappointed and angry when they spend their money on a book on the basis of a favorite author's endorsement, only to find that it is (for them, in any case) crap. Their respect for the writer diminishes as a result. Of course, you could just NOT rate anything, but what's the point in that? That's no fun at all.
My policy when it comes to reviewing is pretty straightforward, and can be summed up in five points. It's probably not the best strategy, but that's why I'm posting this in a blog. Because it will be interesting to see if this generates a debate on the topic. I know for many of you, active GoodReads authors are a hot button.
1. Don't write things that you wouldn't be comfortable having said about your own work. This doesn't mean that you have to coat everything in sugar, but if you tear people's books to shreds you shouldn't be surprised or angered or personally offended if someone one day decides to do the same thing to you.
I am a harsh critic--but I don't hold people to standards any different from the ones that I use for myself. If my characterization falls flat, or if I have a typo on page 345, I'd like to know about it. And if someone gives your book a 1-star rating, well. It's not the end of the world. Oh well. Move on.
2. Be honest, but polite. Don't feed the trolls, but give people the benefit of the doubt. Some people on this site seem determined to provoke others into flames and rants. Others may seem provocative at a glance, but if you talk to them you may realize that their wording was a casualty to the nuance-less black hole that is internet communication. If the person does turn out to be a troll, thank them for their opinion and end it at that. This isn't LOSING. It's being a mature adult.
3. Don't be pretentious. Being an author does not make you a better person, nor does it give your opinions more weight. Going after people for not "getting" your book is not a very nice thing to do. Books are subjective. People may read different things out of them than you intended. Lord knows my books have garnered some pretty interesting interpretations.
But beyond that, it's important that you not attempt to define yourself by the books you read. Filling your bookshelves with nothing but classics does not mean you're Shakespeare. People KNOW that you read other things besides The Great Gatsby. You aren't fooling anyone except yourself.
One of the best things about being a writer is that you get to share all the books that inspired YOU with other people. I always love it when people tell me that they stalk my shelves for good reads (ha!), because I want to support the authors I love. That's why I make my shelves so silly. I want curious individuals to peruse them. I've made so many connections on this site through a mutual love for a book/series. It's wonderful. I hope one day people will bond like that over my books. ♥
4. Accept the fact that you are a biased individual. You, as the author, probably think your books are the cat's meow. Other people might not agree. And since they are paying for your book and you aren't, you might want to pay them some mind. Feedback will never be 100% positive. Just as there will always be someone who hates you for being you, there will always be someone who hates what you write just because of the genre, the topic, or even the fact that you, as a person, wrote it. Sometimes they will have something of value to say. Sometimes they might just say "this book sucks donkey." If you can't think of anything constructive to say in response, don't respond. I, personally, think it's ok for authors to (politely) ask for elaboration in a critical review, but if the person reacts to you hostilely you should probably just leave them alone, lest you be branded as a bully. (And if the person makes it clear that they don't WANT you commenting on their reviews, then you are being a bully, even if you are being polite.)
5. Be your own worst critic. I am! And it works. If you are hard on yourself, then nothing that anyone says will come as a surprise to you. It will also make you better at picking out your own errors. Don't be afraid to cut out unnecessary descriptions, adverbs, adjectives, punctuation, and italics. If you are constantly chanting "I am not perfect I am not perfect," then when someone tells you "You are not perfect," you will just be like, 'Yeah, so? :D' Plus, it will make your own reviews that much better when you provide concrete examples for why YOU didn't like a book.
And that's a wrap! What do you think?
December 12, 2012
Let's Talk About Books
1. What's on your current book wishlist? If too many to list, describe what kind of things are on it.
EVERYTHING. No, seriously, take a look at that shit. The only genres I don't really read all that much are chick-lit, contemp. romance, westerns, thrillers, horror, and inspirational.
The genres I have the most of are probably science-fiction, gothic, fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, literature (classic and modern), and young-adult.
2. If you could get just one of those as a gift right now, which would it be?
Taming the Forest King. It's out of print(!) and I despair of ever getting my hands on a copy. But Wendy's review of it made the wants reach a dangerous new high so MUST HAVE. ;~;
Also, pretty much anything on the indie-books-I-desperately-want list.
3. Are there any books in your collection that you want a different or secondary copy of?
Apparently there's a graphic-novel edition of Soulless. WANT.
4. When is the last time you sold/donated/otherwise got rid of books you didn't want anymore?
Today. I get rid of books ALLLLL the time. Usually, I donate them to the library or to one of my local high schools, but I also make piles for friends and family members based on what I know they like to read.
5. Do you have any books written in a language other than your native tongue?
I have a couple books in Spanish. :)
P.S. Cloak and Dagger is now back online and available for purchase. The typos and formatting should be fixed now!
EVERYTHING. No, seriously, take a look at that shit. The only genres I don't really read all that much are chick-lit, contemp. romance, westerns, thrillers, horror, and inspirational.
The genres I have the most of are probably science-fiction, gothic, fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, literature (classic and modern), and young-adult.
2. If you could get just one of those as a gift right now, which would it be?
Taming the Forest King. It's out of print(!) and I despair of ever getting my hands on a copy. But Wendy's review of it made the wants reach a dangerous new high so MUST HAVE. ;~;
Also, pretty much anything on the indie-books-I-desperately-want list.
3. Are there any books in your collection that you want a different or secondary copy of?
Apparently there's a graphic-novel edition of Soulless. WANT.
4. When is the last time you sold/donated/otherwise got rid of books you didn't want anymore?
Today. I get rid of books ALLLLL the time. Usually, I donate them to the library or to one of my local high schools, but I also make piles for friends and family members based on what I know they like to read.
5. Do you have any books written in a language other than your native tongue?
I have a couple books in Spanish. :)
P.S. Cloak and Dagger is now back online and available for purchase. The typos and formatting should be fixed now!
December 9, 2012
Cloak and Dagger Temporarily Unavailable
One of my readers was kind enough to list some of the typos in Cloak and Dagger (thanks Kathryn!), so I submitted a new document with the corrections she suggested for both Kindle and hard copy editions. Both should be available for purchase in 12-42 hours.
Thank goodness! Some of them were pretty embarrassing.
On that note, please don't be afraid to tell me if you see any typos or mistakes. Apart from some assistance from some lovely friends of mine I don't have an editor, and I do want to improve as a writer. Plus, I want all of you to have the best reading experience possible!
As always, I appreciate your kindness and support.
Happy reading,
xNenia
Thank goodness! Some of them were pretty embarrassing.
On that note, please don't be afraid to tell me if you see any typos or mistakes. Apart from some assistance from some lovely friends of mine I don't have an editor, and I do want to improve as a writer. Plus, I want all of you to have the best reading experience possible!
As always, I appreciate your kindness and support.
Happy reading,
xNenia
December 7, 2012
Horrorscape Banner!
One of my lovely readers made me a banner for my story! It is so awesome that I am going to post a picture of it here!
I just love surprises like this. ♥
Thank you smelyalataa!!!!!
I just love surprises like this. ♥
Thank you smelyalataa!!!!!
December 5, 2012
I Wanna Be a Billionaire So Freakin' Bad?
It's been a while since I've posted an essay/rant, and this is something that's been on my mind for a long time. I just watched the Southpark episode making fun of EA games, and it made me wonder.
Why do people need so much money?
We're seeing the so-called Rags-to-Riches fairytale more than ever with people who started in 'obscurity' and then rose to fame.
And yet... when these people are interviewed, they don't seem humbled or even particularly grateful to their fanbase. Yes, talent is important, but talent would be nothing if you didn't have people willing to support you--either fiscally, socially, or even by word of mouth.
You can't take all that money with you, and I am not cool with the idea of heirs and heiresses--I feel like that only exacerbates the effect of entitlement, knowing that you have a nest egg. Money should be contingent on effort.
Shouldn't these people give something back? Look at what Bill Gates and Paul Newman did--they gave so much.
I won't lie--I wouldn't mind the idea of spending the rest of my life being fiscally secure. But there's secure, and there's hedonistic. And it definitely shouldn't be about a race to the Fortune 500.
I'm going to make a resolution, right here and now, that if I ever find myself with more money I could possibly spend in one lifetime, I'll carve out a chunk for my younger siblings' higher education, make sure my parents live out their twilight years as comfortably as my dawning ones, and set up a scholarship fund at my three alma maters.
Why do people need so much money?
We're seeing the so-called Rags-to-Riches fairytale more than ever with people who started in 'obscurity' and then rose to fame.
And yet... when these people are interviewed, they don't seem humbled or even particularly grateful to their fanbase. Yes, talent is important, but talent would be nothing if you didn't have people willing to support you--either fiscally, socially, or even by word of mouth.
You can't take all that money with you, and I am not cool with the idea of heirs and heiresses--I feel like that only exacerbates the effect of entitlement, knowing that you have a nest egg. Money should be contingent on effort.
Shouldn't these people give something back? Look at what Bill Gates and Paul Newman did--they gave so much.
I won't lie--I wouldn't mind the idea of spending the rest of my life being fiscally secure. But there's secure, and there's hedonistic. And it definitely shouldn't be about a race to the Fortune 500.
I'm going to make a resolution, right here and now, that if I ever find myself with more money I could possibly spend in one lifetime, I'll carve out a chunk for my younger siblings' higher education, make sure my parents live out their twilight years as comfortably as my dawning ones, and set up a scholarship fund at my three alma maters.
December 2, 2012
Fearscape Hard Copies Now Available!
Some of you wanted to know when Fearscape was going to be available in paperback. Well, I just got le news today! The proofing went through, and yes, your edition will come with Lou's GORGEOUS cover. ♥
You can order a copy from Createspace HERE for $7.50 (I almost wrote $750. LOL, no.)
And just to reiterate, you can get the Kindle version for $2.99 (NOT $299) at the Kindle store HERE.
As always, happy reading!
xNenia
You can order a copy from Createspace HERE for $7.50 (I almost wrote $750. LOL, no.)
And just to reiterate, you can get the Kindle version for $2.99 (NOT $299) at the Kindle store HERE.
As always, happy reading!
xNenia
