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There's a lot of shockingly bad advice about how to get published online. Much of it comes from unpublished people who know nothing about the publishing industry and are bitter about their own inability to get published. ((Before you yell at me for this statement you should know that I spent twenty years trying to break into mainstream publishing. I know how it feels. Also very few of those unpublished writers are bitter about it and decide that the big publishers are evil. Most suck it up and keep trying.)) But some of it is from actual published writers with careers, who have a bug up their arse about the evil of agents, or small presses, or big presses, or ...
Posted by Justine at 16:44, March 14th, 2010 under New York City/USA, Publishing business, Ranting, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
Due to
boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much for awhile. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
David Levithan's a writer, an editor, and class president of the NYC YA scene. He got the YA drinks night going and the NYC YA Lit Festival. He does not sleep and must be at least part cyborg. (Or there's more than one of him, which his ...
Posted by Justine at 23:59, March 3rd, 2010 under Guest post, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's blogger, Lauren McLaughlin, is a crazy talented YA writer, who has one of the more unusual backgrounds of all the YA novelists I know. She used to be a Hollywood producer. This means that she has more confidence than anyone else I know and is extraordinarily good ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 24th, 2010 under Guest post, State of the World, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Varian Johnson is not only a wonderful writer---you must read
My Life as a Rhombus---he's also an engineer who builds bridges. Real ones that you can walk or drive on. Why, yes, I am very impressed. Varian's yet another writer who has a job in a completely ...
Posted by Justine at 0:02, February 23rd, 2010 under Guest post, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest blogger is debut author, Karen Healey, whose first book is coming out quite soon, I believe. She may mention it in her post below. Possibly. She's a busy woman. She's prolly not paying much attention to things like that. I can tell you that her debut ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 17th, 2010 under Guest post, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Searching for something else entirely, I stumbled across
this old post from March 2007 where I asked my faithful readers to help me choose what to write next. I decided it would be fun to do an update. Fun for me, anyways. ((Hey, it's the holidays no one's reading this right now.))
First on the list of possibilities is this one:
The compulsive liar book narrated by a—you guessed it—compulsive liar. Downside: will involve lots of outlining. I hates outlining. Plus it’s going to be so hard! Upside: whenever I mention this one folks get very excited.
Sound familiar? Why, yes, it's the book I wrote next: Liar which published in September this year. As it happens it involved no outlining at ...
Posted by Justine at 19:59, December 26th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Liar, Love is Hell, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
A while ago I posted about my
writing goals. I
updated it a year ago with the publication of How To Ditch Your Fairy. But now I have published Liar which is in a whole new genre and allows me to cross even more off my lists.
My goals are not stuff like Become NYT Bestselling Author or Win Nobel Prize. Winning prizes and making bestseller lists is not something I can control, but I can control what I write. So that's what my goals are about. Simple, really.
First the genres:
Romance
Historical
Crime (what some call mysteries)
Thriller)
Fantasy
SF
Comedy
Horror
Mainstream or litfic (you know, Literature: professor has affair with much younger student in the midst of mid-life crisis)
Western
Problem novel
YA
The publication of ...
Posted by Justine at 15:28, October 17th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar, Writing goals & milestones |
Why do so many people have an obsession with how old people are when they make art?
Hmmm. I think that sentence demands a bit more context. I keep seeing comments like, "OMG, Buffy is amazing and Joss Whedon was only in his early 30s when he first created it." Or Arthur Rimbaud was one of the most influential French poets ever and he quit writing when he was 19!"
There must be something wrong with me cause I think, "So what?"
Either the art is good or it isn't. Who cares how old the person was who created it? Doesn't make it any better.
Not to mention that there's an argument that the only reason people are still talking about ...
Posted by Justine at 15:23, September 25th, 2009 under Ranting, State of the World, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Since
everyone else is professing their love for
Strange Horizons and urging folks to support their
fund raising efforts I thought that I would jump on the band wagon. What can I say? I'm a sheep.
Like Scalzi and Nora,
my first fiction sale was to Strange Horizons way back in 2001. At the time I had been trying to sell one of my short stories for just about a gazillion years. I thought it would never happen. So I would love them for that alone. But that is not even close to the best thing about Strange Horizons I love it and read it because it is a breath of fresh air in the stale ...
Posted by Justine at 22:19, August 16th, 2009 under Praising, Writing goals & milestones |
The
discussion in the fanfic post got me thinking about the differences between writing to make a living, as I do, and writing solely for fun.
Many people in that thread talked about how writing fanfic was a learning experience that prepared them for becoming a professional writer. And there's no doubt that that's how fanfic has worked for many pros. However, the vast majority of writers of fanfic not only don't become pros, they have no desire to do so. They write fanfic for a variety of reasons: fun, community, because writing is something they can't not do and so on---they don't do it as some kind of apprenticeship for becoming a "real" writer.
I know professional writers who ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 23rd, 2009 under Publishing business, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
I've been writing stories since I first learned how to write a sentence. But I did not become a full-time writer until 1 April 2003. ((Wow, this is my sixth anniversary. How bizarre.)) In those many many years before I became a full-time writer I wrote in between doing other things. In between going to primary school, high school, university, and my various jobs. I'd always have at least two documents open when I was at uni. One was the essay I was supposed to be writing and the other was the story or novel I was writing on the sly. When the going got tough with one I'd switch to the other. Writing was something that I snatched time ...
Posted by Justine at 0:12, April 1st, 2009 under Publishing business, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:14, February 17th, 2009 under Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Yup, it's my annual what-I-did-this-year skiting post. I write these mostly for myself so I can easily keep track. Hence the
last day of the year category. Thus you are absolutely free to skip it. ((I would if I were you.))
This year was exceptional. I'm still pinching myself. My first Bloomsbury USA book, How To Ditch Your Fairy, was published and seems to be doing well. I was sent on my first book tour, which was fabulous. It's insane how much fun I had and how many fabulous schools, book shops and libraries I visited in California, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Thank you to everyone who came to see me while I was on the ...
Posted by Justine at 0:20, December 31st, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Book tour, First Kiss, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Last Day of the Year, Love is Hell, New York City/USA, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Vainglory, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Quite a few people lately have been asking me for book recommendations. They want to know what new YA they should be buying for the holidays. Sadly, I am in less of a position to help than usual.
For most of this year I have been solely reading books about (or published during) the 1930s. The only non-1930s books I've read have been manuscripts I've critiqued for friends. This means I have not read Hunger Games yet. Or the second Octavian Nothing or the National Book Award winner, Judy Blundell's What I Saw and How I Lied or Coe Booth's Kendra which I hear is every bit as good as the wonderful Tyrell. Or anything, really. Nor will I be ...
Posted by Justine at 19:13, December 5th, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Research, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 15:46, November 9th, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Bloggery, Excuses, Fans & readers, Liar, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 12:40, September 23rd, 2008 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar, New York City/USA, Praising, Sport, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
Today is the official publication day of How To Ditch Your Fairy in North America. To celebrate I am doing
what I did for Magic's Child: sharing the first sentence of each chapter of HTDYF.
As usual my concern is to protect you, the potential reader of the novel, from unnecessary spoilerage. Because there is nothing worse. NOTHING. Hence there is a small amount of redaction. Trust me, it is for your own good.
Without further ado, behold the How To Ditch Your Fairy first sentences:
1. My [redacted] looked funny in the [redacted], which is odd because my [redacted] are tiny. ((You'll have to read the book to find out what [redacteds] are. Although I worry that it is only ...
Posted by Justine at 12:00, September 16th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 13:55, September 2nd, 2008 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 19:23, August 12th, 2008 under Liar, Words & Language, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, August 5th, 2008 under Liar, Sport, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 20:50, July 23rd, 2008 under Admin, Bloggery, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Magic or Madness trilogy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 12:40, July 22nd, 2008 under Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 0:05, July 15th, 2008 under Publishing business, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 12:27, July 11th, 2008 under Publishing business, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 0:03, July 10th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar, Ranting, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 0:06, July 9th, 2008 under Book tour, Liar, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 14:00, June 19th, 2008 under Admin, Bloggery, Excuses, Liar, Writing goals & milestones |
Often when people find out what I do it turns out that they harbour ambitions of writing a novel too. Mostly they just daydream about it. But sometimes they confess that they've had a whack at it but not very successfully. "How do you actually finish a novel?" they'll ask. "Starting's easy but how do you finish?"
I cannot tell you how many novels I started but did not finish before I finally managed to complete one. Not because I don't want to tell you, but because I honestly don't know. On the hard drive of my current computer there are fourteen unfinished novels. But there are others that didn't make it to this computer. Not to mention many notebooks that ...
Posted by Justine at 0:09, June 12th, 2008 under Best of Blog, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 12:05, May 12th, 2008 under Bloggery, Fashion, Frippery, Vainglory, Writing goals & milestones |
I'm curious: Are any of you interested in reading about writers' word counts? And if so why? Cause I confess I'm not sure I entirely get the point of blogging about it. And those who post 'em on your blog why do you?
Don't get me wrong I keep an eagle eye on my word counts. They are the measure of my days. ((Better than coffee spoons.)) I'm aiming to hit 60 thou by the last week of July. But, you know, it's housekeeping. I don't keep people posted on how many dishes I've washed, meals I've cooked, or hours I've spent exercising. ((For the record: today I've washed no dishes, put together two meals, and spent an hour at the ...
Posted by Justine at 0:06, May 10th, 2008 under Bloggery, Sport, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, May 5th, 2008 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Praising, Vainglory, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 14:42, March 2nd, 2008 under Unicorns, Writing goals & milestones, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 10:05, February 6th, 2008 under Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 10:50, January 23rd, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Travelling, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, December 31st, 2007 under First Kiss, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Last Day of the Year, Love is Hell, Magic or Madness trilogy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 10:35, December 20th, 2007 under Excuses, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 11:07, December 18th, 2007 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Sydney/Australia, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 19:25, December 14th, 2007 under Admin, Bloggery, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Manga, New York City/USA, Sydney/Australia, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 10:11, December 7th, 2007 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 0:03, December 4th, 2007 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 16:18, November 20th, 2007 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Publishing business, Words & Language, Writing goals & milestones, Writing process |
My desk is not so small as you all think. It has two levels. Two! Look closely at this photo:
See the stuff below? It's not on the floor it's the second level of the desk.
I'm now curious about your working spaces. If you feel so inclined take a photo and link to it in the comments.
Posted by Justine at 9:44, November 9th, 2007 under Frippery, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 13:35, July 19th, 2007 under Bloggery, Writing goals & milestones |
Marrije asked over on insideadog if I'll be following the Tour de France this year. Sadly, I will not.
This year has gotten out of control. I cannot afford to spend hours every day watching the Tour and following it online. I am incapable of following the Tour non-obsessively. So for the first time in years I'm not following it at all. (No spousal pressure was brought to bear in the making of this decision. Well, okay, just a little bit. I am not husband-beaten! I am not!)
Waaaahh!!!!!
The New York Liberty (10-8) will have to sustain my sport-following needs this northern summer.
And now I go back to the myriad tasks that confront me. At this point it's so bad I'm resorting ...
Posted by Justine at 12:02, July 9th, 2007 under Basketball, Sport, Tour de France, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 1:01, June 19th, 2007 under Bloggery, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 17:12, June 10th, 2007 under Bloggery, Excuses, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
My big news is that my next two books are going to be published by
Bloomsbury USA. That's right the great Aussie cricket mangosteen monkey knife fighting fairy YA novel has found a home! Not to mention an actual title: The Ultimate Fairy Book.
I am so excited I cannot sit still. I'm bouncing as I type this. I am all over with yays!
My new editor is Melanie Cecka who is wonderful. We had a three-hour lunch last year where we learned conclusively that we are each girls after each other's heart. Hot sauce! Mexican food! Dessert! Love of many of the same books!
The whole team at Bloomsbury are incredibly impressive and seem to be almost as excited ...
Posted by Justine at 11:39, June 7th, 2007 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, New York City/USA, Praising, Vainglory, Writing goals & milestones, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 13:16, April 6th, 2007 under Scott's books, Writing goals & milestones |
Scott's working so hard that bicycles have started growing out of his head:
I'm afraid of what's next . . .
Posted by Justine at 18:31, March 28th, 2007 under Scott's books, Writing goals & milestones |
Posted by Justine at 0:16, March 23rd, 2007 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Writing goals & milestones |
