In many ways, a writer’s journey has much in common with Arthur C. Clarke’s novel-turned-classic-film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The hapless author boards his-or-her craft (a manuscript instead of a rocket), launches into a hostile space, and spends many months (or, sometimes, years) in what seems like suspended animation. Time passes, the author alternately waiting for something to happen and struggling…
Tag: getting published
Lesson Eleven –The Market –Big Press, Small Press, Self-pub
By Jeanne C. Stein We’ve reached the last lesson. I hope I’ve given you one or two nuggets to strengthen your writing. This lesson will increase your understanding of the business. The two go hand in hand. If you are truly serious about a writing career, it isn’t enough to immerse yourself in the creative…
“Murph” On Writing
By Mark Stevens I’m turning this month’s blog over to Murph, The Asphalt Warrior. Denver cab-driver and wanna-be-a-famous-writer Brendan Murphy, a.k.a. “Murph,” has collected some of his favorite commentary on being an unpublished novelist. (What is below is just the tip of the iceberg of insights.) I thought you could—relate. And maybe grab a laugh. These…
Twenty Years of Sharing the Dream
By Mary Gillgannon Many RMFW members are attending the Colorado Gold conference this weekend. I, unfortunately, have to miss it due to a trip with my daughter later this month. But I’ll be waxing nostalgic the whole time. I went to my first conference over twenty years ago, and I can still remember what a…
Listen to Your Heart
By Mark Stevens According to one website, the first draft of Garth Risk Hallberg’s City on Fire was 1,400 pages long. 400,000 words. He has since whacked it down by one-third, but the projected 900-page novel drew a $2 million advance. The deal was announced a few weeks ago. First novel. Hallberg had previously published…