Writer
-
Independent Publishing: What Would Marcel Proust Do?
This is an easy one: we know what Proust would do, because he did it: Still, for all the brouhaha, many modern readers still find themselves in agreement with the two French publishers who turned down Proust’s manuscript [Swann’s Way] in 1912. A third agreed to publish it, provided that Proust himself cover the expenses. I… Continue reading
-
Independent Publishing: What Would Dr. Johnson Do?
Okay, let’s see. What do agents and publishers have to offer a new author? Free editing? Nope. Marketing, surely? Not much of that either. So… you edit everything yourself, before it gets to the publisher. Maybe you even hire someone to help. Then the book comes out and you are left to your own devices… Continue reading
-
An Open Letter to Laura Miller
Dear Ms. Miller, We have not always seen eye-to-eye in the past. And my tone was perhaps inappropriate. However, I will try to do better. I think your heart is in the right place and I have long appreciated your devotion to good writing and good literature. I am a fan of yours when you’re… Continue reading
-
Berlatsky the Hack: A Word of Encouragement
Cheer up, Noah Berlatsky! Your self-described life as a Hack puts you on Level 3 of our Ladder of Writerly Financial Success. Not a bad place to be! And it puts you in some esteemed company. Continue reading
-
Congratulations, Alice Munro!
Munro is a very deserving author indeed, who has not only given great insight and pleasure to her readers, but has been a model and inspiration for so many authors, perhaps especially those of shorter-form fiction. Like Borges, she has shown that rich fictional worlds can be created in the span of a few pages.… Continue reading
-
The Great Novella Tournament of Champions: Billy Budd v. The Secret Sharer
The Great Novella Tournament of Champions celebrates a classic literary form believed to be poised for a comeback. The judge is a long-time fan of the form who is in the final stages of self-publishing a novella of his own. Off we go! First up in our celebrity novella deathmatch are a couple of… Continue reading
-
Marketing Self-Published Literary Fiction
So much to agree with in this James Campbell post from 2012: A quick summation: yes, there is a difference between genre fiction and literary fiction; no, genre fiction is not necessarily ‘lower’ than literary fiction or mere escapism; yes, literary fiction has just as many cliches and tropes as genre fiction; and yes, there… Continue reading
-
What They Knew #8
“If you live long enough, you’ll see that every victory turns into a defeat.” –Simone de Beauvoir Continue reading
-
Self-Publishing Progress Update
Drafts complete: Yes (five) Extensive revisions complete: Yes (four) Assessment to move forward: Yes (two) (both novellas) Website operational: Yes Beta reader feedback incorporated: Yes (one draft, multiple readers) Editing complete: Yes (one) Formatting for Kindle finished: Yes (except for back matter) (one) Cover design: In progress (one) Preview on Kindle device: None Uploaded to… Continue reading
-
Writing and Writers: The Levels of Financial Success
Level 1: The Lottery Winners Riches beyond compare. This is the land of writers with amusement parks based on their characters, ownership of professional sports teams, etc. Level 2: The Serious Earners Writers can pay all their bills solely from their writing. No financial support from spouses, parents, savings. Level 3: The Hacks Same as… Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 