Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 217

Kent Wynn, and others

Have you ever stopped abruptly and taken up a different project and never gone back to the old one?
When I first read this question I thought my answer was going to be a brief "nope".
But then recalled that time I did a full stop and went in a completely new direction. After one too many disappointments; I turned my back 180 degrees on my stupid futile crime novels that would never make it, and instead got into writing literary brochures.
Well, one literary brochure. Yes, it was the product of...

The quk broan foz jumpped....

Q: Have you ever stopped abruptly and taken up a different project and never gone back to the old one?
-from Susan
We’re talking about the craft of writing, so I’ll leave out the partially painted closet and my effort at needlepoint.
I can’t say “abruptly,” but I did give up on the very first attempt I made to write a crime fiction novel, long before I got serious and quit my day job to work hard at writing mysteries. Long before computers, in fact, which is why I threw up my hands. I’m a terrib...

To A Hammer, Everything Looks Like A Nail

If I could magically do one thing to make the business end of writing easier for myself, what would it be?

I read the question, and my colleague's responses, and I had to take a pause and consider where magic would actually help. I'm particularly adept with technology to the point of being a proud geek. I find marketing and outreach fun. I've been a secretary/administrative assistant in a past life, so I'm good about organizing my time and tasks. I've had a great accountant for years. Stuff th...

Shouts from a Mountaintop

by Alan

If you could magically do one thing to make the business end of writing easier for yourself, what would it be? (Having an assistant? Learning to use a program you have resisted? Having someone who could magically explain your royalty statement? Knowing for sure what promotion would work best for you?)

Just one?

Let’s get a couple of the choices out of the way. If I had an assistant, I’d probably spend all my time telling him/her what to do (control freak much?). I generally don’t have...

On Easy Street

by Dietrich Kalteis

If you could magically do one thing to make the business end of writing easier for yourself, what would it be? (Having an Assistant? Learning to use a program you have resisted? Having someone who could magically explain your royalty statement? Knowing for sure what promotion would work best for you?)
 



If I could magically make one thing easier for myself, well, a clock with an extra hour would be nice, that, or one that ticks slower. Either one would give me some ext...

If Only...

By R.J. Harlick
If you could magically do one thing to make the business end of writing easier for yourself, what would it be? (Having an Assistant? Learning to use a program you have resisted? Having someone who could magically explain your royalty statement? Knowing for sure what promotion would work best for you?)
I can quickly knock off a program. I’ve no interest in these fancy software tools that are supposed to do everything but write the book for you. The words, the story have to come f...

Business life

Business:: If you could make magically do one thing to make the business end of writing easier for yourself, what would it be?
Terry here, posting a little early because I haven't figured out how to schedule posts (see below) and I have to leave for the airport at 6AM.
I yearn for an assistant to help me with the business side of writing. My ideal assistant would be someone who:
1)   Can handle book-related social media. By that I mean someone who knows what to post about my books, how...

Dazed and Confused, but Too Tough to Die

If your writing process/life could be summarized as the title of a song – what song would it be? i.e. Born to be Wild, The Long and Winding Road… And why? 

by Paul D. Marks


Well, I’m not sure if this song would cover the entire process or life of a writer – this writer – summarized in a single song, but at least part of it would be the Beatles’ Paperback Writer*. The song opens with these lyrics, “Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look?” a...

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll

"What song title best describes your writing life? And why." by Catriona

Well, it's not that Ian Dury hit now, is it? "Post-it Notes and Cups of Tea" would never have been released as an A-side.

Mind you, "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" is a contender for the editing part of the job. "Stet for rhythm" is my most frequent margin note when a copy-editor tries to bend towards the formal, conservative English style some copy editors seem to prefer.

"Once I Had a Secret Leeerrrrrve" describes the dec...

Sinatra, Bowie, Curry, Joel & Joplin...by Cathy Ace

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