Nathan Bransford - The Forums

It took me a while to get this one out, but it's finally up:

Grand Gestures

Mark wrote:Quitting my job to write full time has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In some ways, it helped me to access a depth of confidence and creativity that I’d long thought beyond my reach. That said, I’d never recommend it to anyone else.

Well, my brain hath birthed Idea, and am now seeking volunteers. So, shameless plug.

Opening the floor for requests: What writing merit badges would you like to see?

Memorial Day

http://josinlmcquein.blogspot.com/2010/ ... l-day.html

http://artedwards-layindownthelaw.blogs ... lousy.html

Art

The moments that help a writer…

It's not too late to keep a fellow writer out of crazy town. Just sayin'. ;)

Link in my signature.

What's the deal with the pen and paper crowd always trying to tell us typists how much better their way is?

The Longhand Rant

Writing longhand does not make you a better writer. You may feel as though you can think things through more thoroughly, or that the feeling of scribbling your crayon across the page helps you better tap into the muse, but that is the difference between opinion and universal law.

Today, I posted my review of an indie author's book http://mmcdonald64.blogspot.com/

Yesterday, I came up with the solution to cleaning up the mess in the Gulf of Mexico. :-) http://mmcdonald64.blogspot.com/2010/06 ... ution.html

Great interview, I enjoyed it a lot!

Best answer is this, in my opinion:

K: What is the most common downfall you hear about (not necessarily through the lit agency, though) for new and/or unpublished authors?

CM: I think most new and/or unpublished writers query too soon, often before they even know what they’re doing. It’s easy to get in a hurry when you see other writers getting agents in a week, book deals in a month, writing 5k+ a day, etc., but these are the exceptions. Learning to write a publishable novel takes time. Publishing is slow. If you can approach the process with patience and be willing to take your manuscripts through the checks and balances of critique, beta-reading, contests, etc. I believe you’ll actually progress much faster.

P.S. Has anyone ever told you you look like Maggie Gyllenhaal?

More shameless plugging. This time for an actual interview.

This week I wrote about the terrifying reappearance of writing tics you thought you overcame:

http://offcentre.net/blog/?p=68

Just a random one I thought about:

http://heyimkt.blogspot.com/2010/06/fav ... aring.html

It's hard to read and stop comparing other books when you've found one that is just...amazing! :)

You look great for 91, Kay! I must take up candlestick making. Says he, waxing lyrical...But breathing is good too.

kayemevans wrote:

FK7 wrote:Great interview, I enjoyed it a lot!

Best answer is this, in my opinion:

K: What is the most common downfall you hear about (not necessarily through the lit agency, though) for new and/or unpublished authors?

CM: I think most new and/or unpublished writers query too soon, often before they even know what they’re doing. It’s easy to get in a hurry when you see other writers getting agents in a week, book deals in a month, writing 5k+ a day, etc., but these are the exceptions. Learning to write a publishable novel takes time. Publishing is slow. If you can approach the process with patience and be willing to take your manuscripts through the checks and balances of critique, beta-reading, contests, etc. I believe you’ll actually progress much faster.

P.S. Has anyone ever told you you look like Maggie Gyllenhaal?

Hey FK! Thanks for checking out the interview!

Actually, I've never heard I look like Maggie Gyllenhaal before, but I've heard I look like Kirsten Dunst...I used her for my profile pic on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/kayemevans) during Doppelganger Week.

KirstenDunst.jpg

kay_bnw.jpg

Whatda' think? Resemblance? Yes? No? Maybe I look more like Maggie.

MaggieGyllenhaal.jpg

Thanks again for checking out the interview!

K

I think you have more of Maggie G. than Kirsten Dunst... I'm a professional photographer so I tend to notice bone structure and other elements more than others. Both are hot, so either way you win! ;)

I intended to blog a ten-day countdown to querying MS#3(Manuscript #3). MS#1 has been pulled while I decide what to do with it. MS#2 is undergoing a surgical plot replacement (also known as complete rewrite), so after sitting for a few months, MS#3 proved itself ready to go.

Unfortunately, a late night burst of energy resulted in four queries going out on T-minus 9. So far, it's generated 2 requests. So, I'll be continuing the countdown, but including request/rejection stats as I do. Also, I'm brainstorming a tribute to the wonderful Annie Potts and will be reviewing The Sweet Scent of Blood when I find the time to dedicate to it.

You can find all this, and more, at my blog, listed below.

*AND, in response to the comments and PMs, a "followers" section has been added to the blog. See how I listen to the peeps.*