20 Aug 2011
The Future Is Now
Johnny: The future is now. Brian: But the present does exist. We’re in it now. Johnny: You were just then, when you said it, but you’re not in it now, you’re not in it now, you’re not in it now. You’re forever being kicked up the arse by the future. You with me? Brian: That’s what I mean. See, I’m in the present, but I’m not in the present. I’m in the... read more
19 Aug 2011
Google Plus… So What?
Not another social networking ‘thing’ you groan. What with Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Bebo and FriendFeed, aren’t there enough confusing platforms out there to read other people’s most boring moments? Google+ has been live for just over a month. Feedback is mixed; and I am still unsure of the true benefits of this new social networking platform. Certainly, there are... read more
19 Aug 2011
[Fiction] Friday Challenge #221
[Fiction] Friday Challenge #221 for August 19th, 2011 You character is stranded in the middle of nowhere and their phone has enough battery for one call. Who do they you call? How Fiction Friday works. It’s easy to do. Check this page for this week’s theme or challenge. Prompts are published each month to give you plenty of notice. Spend at least 5 minutes composing something... read more
18 Aug 2011
The future of publishing is… writing.
The future. Remember back in 1999 when we were all scared that Y2K was the end of it all? That there was no future? Were you like me, standing in front of your grandmother’s television set watching Dick Clark counting down, thinking, holy crap, what’s my last thought going to be? as you waited for the one to become literally nothing. The television goes blank, the lights turn off, hell, even the... read more
17 Aug 2011
The Questionable Future of Agents and Publishers
At a recent writer’s conference I attended, EVERYONE was excited about digital books except the agents. They tried to ignore them—had no answers to counter the real issue that publishing digitally gives writers the power, tried to ignore places like Amazon Kindle, Google ebooks and Scribd. They continued that tired refrain that they were so very busy and it was up to writers to break through that... read more
16 Aug 2011
What? What do I know about the future? Let’s talk facts, more or less.
When I opened up the email containing the theme for this month’s posts, I laughed. “The Future,” the two words stood out like a light at the end of a dark tunnel—a light that could be anything from the beautiful door for the afterlife to the head light of an approaching train that will not stop so I can get out of the way. The truth is that the future is a blurry subject, not just for writers... read more
15 Aug 2011
Writer, Thy Name is Marketer–or How I Doubled My Business in a Year
I have a day job, but I write evenings, weekends, vacations. Currently, I’m working on a techno/military/political thriller (I’ve got to fine-tune that description). Despite months (and months) of labor, my novel continues to receive mixed reviews–some bad, some brutal. The best is from my mom who says, “Well, at least this revision doesn’t suck.” It’s clear I continue to... read more
14 Aug 2011
Spoken Sunday #28
Spoken Sunday Submission #28 for 14th August, 2011 For full details check the page. How To Play: 1. After you have submitted to [Fiction] Friday – or written a passage of around 600 words, record it. 2. On your blog, or audioboo site, post an explanation of your piece (if its a passage from a larger work) or ask readers for specific feedback about it – as well as a link to your recording. 3.... read more
