Over at River City Reading, the vision is set for 2014.
Goodreads has pages of UPCOMING 2014 lists already.
Tomorrow, we're joined by new-DSDer Holly West, whose debut drops in 2014.
2014. 2014.
2013, we hardly knew ya.
So, are you looking forward to any 2014 books? Do you have a book coming out in 2014?
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
No Risk, No Reward
Yes, that title could apply to Black Friday shopping! However, I've been thinking about this a lot in terms of writing lately.
In the last few years, for me, the focus has been on practicality. Bills stacking up, personal matters requiring attention to the point of becoming all-consuming at times. Writing seemed like an indulgence. A luxury that I couldn't afford or justify.
I balanced the practicalities with tutoring and editorial/critique services, and occasionally pulled together enough time to work on a project or polish something off. I went with sure things instead of labors of love so that I could justify the investments of my time.
Through tutoring, I eventually taught myself the biggest lesson that anyone could take away from a writing course. In the end, the only way you will succeed in this business is if you step out on your own. Nobody inherits the family business of writing. In the end, readers will decide what's great and what's garbage, and no matter whether you get an editor on sub 1 or sub 331, you still have to satisfy the reading public.
So many writers play it safe. They cling to the security of their amateur writing group. They hang with those who talk about trying to write, but don't actually do it. They dabble with something and call it done, but won't submit to editors and agents. They like the idea of writing.
Some like the idea of someone carrying them, and think they'll be handed a golden ticket so they don't have to take any chances on their own.
In the end, it's down to you and the keyboard and the ideas you execute. There are no sure things, no guarantees. You have to step out, on your own, and take the plunge. If you're working without an editor or agent, that means again and again and again, until the project is completed. Even if you have editors and agents you work with already, you work alone, with the added pressure of trying to satisfy the people who invest in you and your work.
I was thinking about cutting the cord of my safety nets, stepping away from the regular paying jobs, and getting back to what I love. Even with some successes behind you, there are always risks and fears.
But no risk, no reward. For some, that means stepping away from a loved, successful series character. For others, it means bringing a hugely successful series to an end. This year, I've had a few firsts, including stepping outside my genre, and what it's taught me is that every risk I take brings a bigger payoff in the end than you can measure just in dollar signs, because it's inspired me to take different risks that pay off with work I might not have produced otherwise.
Don't pull your punches. And don't play it safe. The only way you'll ever know what you're capable of is if you step out on your own. Take the risks today. It may take years, but eventually, you'll reap the rewards.
In the last few years, for me, the focus has been on practicality. Bills stacking up, personal matters requiring attention to the point of becoming all-consuming at times. Writing seemed like an indulgence. A luxury that I couldn't afford or justify.
I balanced the practicalities with tutoring and editorial/critique services, and occasionally pulled together enough time to work on a project or polish something off. I went with sure things instead of labors of love so that I could justify the investments of my time.
Through tutoring, I eventually taught myself the biggest lesson that anyone could take away from a writing course. In the end, the only way you will succeed in this business is if you step out on your own. Nobody inherits the family business of writing. In the end, readers will decide what's great and what's garbage, and no matter whether you get an editor on sub 1 or sub 331, you still have to satisfy the reading public.
So many writers play it safe. They cling to the security of their amateur writing group. They hang with those who talk about trying to write, but don't actually do it. They dabble with something and call it done, but won't submit to editors and agents. They like the idea of writing.
Some like the idea of someone carrying them, and think they'll be handed a golden ticket so they don't have to take any chances on their own.
In the end, it's down to you and the keyboard and the ideas you execute. There are no sure things, no guarantees. You have to step out, on your own, and take the plunge. If you're working without an editor or agent, that means again and again and again, until the project is completed. Even if you have editors and agents you work with already, you work alone, with the added pressure of trying to satisfy the people who invest in you and your work.
I was thinking about cutting the cord of my safety nets, stepping away from the regular paying jobs, and getting back to what I love. Even with some successes behind you, there are always risks and fears.
But no risk, no reward. For some, that means stepping away from a loved, successful series character. For others, it means bringing a hugely successful series to an end. This year, I've had a few firsts, including stepping outside my genre, and what it's taught me is that every risk I take brings a bigger payoff in the end than you can measure just in dollar signs, because it's inspired me to take different risks that pay off with work I might not have produced otherwise.
Don't pull your punches. And don't play it safe. The only way you'll ever know what you're capable of is if you step out on your own. Take the risks today. It may take years, but eventually, you'll reap the rewards.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
The fun of holiday shopping
by: Joelle Charbonneau
I am not a big "shopper". Going to the mall has never rung my bell. Not now. Not when I was a teen. Nope. Not me. All my clothes basically come from one store because I know what sizes fit. That means I can run in, try stuff on and leave with what I need all in under forty-five minutes. Huzzah!
But while I don't love going out to shop, I like online shopping even less. Oh - I get the convenience of it. There is something wonderful about pushing a button and having something arrive at the door without the need to fight crowds or stand in lines. But there is something about shopping online that feels limiting to me.
How can that be, you ask? After all, the inventory of the entire retail universe is sprawled across the internet. It's not like there aren't options to be had.
Yes, that's true. There are options. Lots and lots and LOTS of them. But browsing online isn't much fun for me. And this weekend, I remembered why.
Yesterday was small business Saturday. In the book world, elves in the guise of authors went to local bookstores and helped hand sell books to patrons. I dropped in on Anderson's Bookshop as a surprise elf and spent several hours putting some of my favorite books in the hands of holiday shoppers. In the process, I managed to accumulate a huge pile of Christmas gifts that I can't wait to give to the readers in my life.
I didn't intend on buying anything today. And I certainly didn't know before hand that I wanted those items as gifts. While browsing the shelves, I was struck by how much "X" would like this book or how "Y" would enjoy a specific present. I read back jacket copy, admired beautifully illustrated pages and got excited about knowing I had found the perfect gift for someone I care about.
It's that experience--flipping through pages, browsing through racks of clothes or nicknacks or whatever--that is missing from the internet shopping experience for me. I like being able to walk into a store with the people I love firmly in my mind and seeing things I never knew existed but I feel are the perfect fit for them. There is something that feels more personal about the whole gift giving experience when I buy the gifts in person. Maybe I'm strange in this, but it doesn't make it any less true. And as an added bonus, I get to know that the money I'm spending is flowing into my community. Which makes me happy, too.
Does that mean I'm anti-internet shopping? Nope. I get why it's popular and why people love doing it. But this weekend, I not only got to find some perfect gifts for those on my holiday list, I was able to be a part of helping others find gifts for those they love. How cool is that?
So, this all makes me wonder...are you the type that likes to shop on line or are there other crazy people like me who need to see things in person in order to know if they are the perfect gift? Internet or in store shopping? I have to know!
I am not a big "shopper". Going to the mall has never rung my bell. Not now. Not when I was a teen. Nope. Not me. All my clothes basically come from one store because I know what sizes fit. That means I can run in, try stuff on and leave with what I need all in under forty-five minutes. Huzzah!
But while I don't love going out to shop, I like online shopping even less. Oh - I get the convenience of it. There is something wonderful about pushing a button and having something arrive at the door without the need to fight crowds or stand in lines. But there is something about shopping online that feels limiting to me.
How can that be, you ask? After all, the inventory of the entire retail universe is sprawled across the internet. It's not like there aren't options to be had.
Yes, that's true. There are options. Lots and lots and LOTS of them. But browsing online isn't much fun for me. And this weekend, I remembered why.
Yesterday was small business Saturday. In the book world, elves in the guise of authors went to local bookstores and helped hand sell books to patrons. I dropped in on Anderson's Bookshop as a surprise elf and spent several hours putting some of my favorite books in the hands of holiday shoppers. In the process, I managed to accumulate a huge pile of Christmas gifts that I can't wait to give to the readers in my life.
I didn't intend on buying anything today. And I certainly didn't know before hand that I wanted those items as gifts. While browsing the shelves, I was struck by how much "X" would like this book or how "Y" would enjoy a specific present. I read back jacket copy, admired beautifully illustrated pages and got excited about knowing I had found the perfect gift for someone I care about.
It's that experience--flipping through pages, browsing through racks of clothes or nicknacks or whatever--that is missing from the internet shopping experience for me. I like being able to walk into a store with the people I love firmly in my mind and seeing things I never knew existed but I feel are the perfect fit for them. There is something that feels more personal about the whole gift giving experience when I buy the gifts in person. Maybe I'm strange in this, but it doesn't make it any less true. And as an added bonus, I get to know that the money I'm spending is flowing into my community. Which makes me happy, too.
Does that mean I'm anti-internet shopping? Nope. I get why it's popular and why people love doing it. But this weekend, I not only got to find some perfect gifts for those on my holiday list, I was able to be a part of helping others find gifts for those they love. How cool is that?
So, this all makes me wonder...are you the type that likes to shop on line or are there other crazy people like me who need to see things in person in order to know if they are the perfect gift? Internet or in store shopping? I have to know!
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