Sunday Musings

I’m supposed to be musing today.

But I’ve been too busy to muse! Ha. That’s potentially a good problem to have, since all that I’m busy with are things I’m enjoying doing. But I want to be more organized in my busy-ness, and that is where the downfall enters.

I have stuff scattered everywhere.

In the past week I began some new projects and they snowballed before I had time to neatly organize my plan.

One is the Literary Postcard idea. I’m stumped on choosing a layout and thought maybe y’all could help with that.

Here are the two different options. They’re .pdf files so if you can open that sort of file, please have a look and tell me which one you prefer. If you want to see but don’t have Adobe Reader, it’s a free program you can download here.

If you’ll adjust your zoom to about 50% you’ll be able to see both sides of the card at once on your computer screen.

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4 x 6 Layout 1     or     4 x 6 Layout 2

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The other thing that has me both excited and nervous is that my story with Buzzy Magazine came back from the editor they’d assigned me. It’s soooooo marked up! She wants it back by April 15, so I’ve got to get busy with that now which means I will have to delay editing on Symbiosis until it’s done. I can’t do both (I don’t think…haven’t really tried, but I will).

So I’m excited to be working with this editor. Her name is Laura Anne Gilman, an author in my genre and editor of d.m.y.k. productions. She’s been in the trenches with the New York crowd and has worked with authors like Kristine Kathryn Rusch and a host of others.

Wish me the strength of mind to muck through my rewrite and provide an excellent edit so she’ll be proud to claim me later!

Enter The Coal Mine – a guest chirp from the Canary Review

 Enter The Coal Mine

by Canary The First

I’ll start out with a big thank you to Madison for inviting me to invade her blog and chat about my favorite topics–books, books, and book reviews. I am an editor-in-chief at the Canary Review, an independent book review site dedicated to discussing books, reading, and the writing process. But that’s the party line we use when we have to fill in a “Site Information” box. The truth is, we’re a flock of fluffy, bright yellow birds who love reading and chirruping about our most recent literary finds. Our roost currently houses six feathery fiends, and a nest-full of readerly opinions.

What do we read?

Indie vs Traditional: When it comes to reading and reviewing books, we don’t discriminate between independently published eBooks, small press printings, and traditional on-the-shelf novels. If it catches our attention, we’ll give it a go. What this means, though, is that we have the same picky standards, no matter what we’re reading. It also means that few indie books are picked up and reviewed; there’s stiff competition for our attention, and only so many hours of sleep we can trade-off for a good read.

Genres: Each canary has a preferred genre, but in general, we’re all about fantasy, speculative fiction, science fiction, paranormal, and young adult. The fun stuff.

How do you feathery fiends decide what to read?

There is no magic formula for what will make one of the canaries pick up a book. (Well, yes, there is, but that might be just me.) But there are certain things we look for. As with anything in life, presentation is everything. If you’re requesting a review, personalize your email. Follow whatever instructions the reviewers have. Check out the reviewer’s site and leave a quick comment. Slip in a compliment. Present yourself with friendly confidence. Follow directions.

If you do all that right, whoever reads your email is inclined to like you. Now comes the make or break point of the process–present the book. If your book blurb is boring, it won’t matter that the reviewers like you. They won’t read your novel. Ever.

According to a survey the Canary Review did in August, 61.5% of book reviewers polled said that the blurb could be the sole factor in their decision to read a book (with politeness, friendliness, and originality of the email straggling in next). And in an average week, 49% of the book reviewers surveyed receive 10-20 book review requests. So do what you need to do to rise above the slushpile–finishing a book is just the beginning.

Spend the extra time on your blurb. Draft and redraft. Ask a friend. Ask a canary. Spend several sleepless nights gnawing on your pen.

Well yes, but what about you? What does tCR do?

• We review books. You can find our request submission guidelines here.
• We post nifty series about writing, publishing, and reading. We slap the writing pitches we don’t like, and we draw swanky graphs about unhappy reading truths.
• We offer editing and proofreading services. We’re currently accepting new projects for January and February (contact us at thecanarypost at gmail dot com for more information).
• We invite guest writers to share their best and worst reads. We recruit canaries.

 

So let me know in the comments below (or at our email at canarypost at gmail dot com) if you have any questions about us, our review process, or anything else feathery and yellow. Chirp!

 

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The Obligatory Bio: Naiya got lost reading and still hasn’t managed to clamber back to the land of the living. She has two degrees worth of literature, speaks three languages, and wants to be even more yellow and fluffy when she grows up. Her weaknesses include library cards, Mango Lassi, and amnesia plot twists. Visit the other canaries here!

Instant gratification

What are you doing with your long weekend?

This morning I’ve relished in ticking things off my list of things to do. I always love that.

I’ve also given myself a little instant gratification. This short story I’ve been working on is wearing me down because it seems to be taking a lot of work to get polished to a point where I’m ready to submit.

So I pulled my first draft file and read over the first page. Then I pulled my current first page. Wow. Huge difference between start and finish. Seeing the improvement made me realize that yes, it really has been worth the effort.

Now I can get back to work on the rest of the edits with a renewed sense of purpose.

Have you ever done that? If not, try it next time you’re feeling whipped by your wip. It’ll make you feel better quick!

Guest Post: Vanessa Cavendish (via Welcome to the Asylum)

Vanessa is somewhat of a rebel (that’s probably an understatement).

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a parallel from life to writing, so I’m going to send you her way because I think the one she’s drawn today in her guest post over at the Asylum is a good one.

I hope your ears aren’t too sensitive… this girl’s kinda gutsy. LOL.

A Threat to the Regulators: Vanessa Cavendish “who pays any attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you; wholly to be a fool while Spring is in the world my blood approves, and kisses are a far better fate than wisdom lady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry–the best gesture of my brain is less than your eyelids’ flutter.”  — e. e. cummings I first read that in, I think it was seventh grade, before I’d been so much as felt up, neve … Read More

via Welcome to the Asylum

Editing is bringing clarity

Of course I thought I knew what my story was about when I wrote the first draft. But as I’m doing the editing, the underlying picture is becoming more clear.

When I was ready to write ‘The End’ the first time, I thought I’d be sick of this book before I wrote “The End’ for the last time. But quite the opposite is happening, and that’s a pleasant surprise. The more I edit, the more I like it.

If you’re interested to know more about the story, I’ve updated my SYMBOSIS page to reflect the underlying theme.

Unusual editing scenario

Alright, I think I have just experienced a most unique writerly situation.

Today I had an appointment for my annual physical. On a hunch, I brought my laptop with me because it seems that every time it’s my turn she gets called away on delivery.

Sure enough, it happened again. This time, though, I was ready

Since a friend has begun pestering, er, urging me to get it finished, I’ve been sneaking in a little editing when I can. A sentence here, a paragraph there, wherever I’ve had time. I have to say, though, this is the first time I’ve ever done it while in a doctor’s exam room wearing a little paper gown tied with a paper belt.