then suddenly Avatar

— @briandee

Posted 1 month ago

Short URL

Notes

LA Times: Writers wary of action by DOJ

(Michael) Connelly observes that the DOJ suit seems to be unbalanced. “I believe in fair play. So I feel that if the government is going to step in and put controls on how publishers act to ensure a competitive marketplace, then I hope the government will be just as vigilant in guarding this amazing, creative and important industry from being monopolized by one entity,” he says. ” Amazon spreads my work far and wide. You can’t beat that. I’m very grateful. But I don’t want a world where there are no bookstores or other venues for discovering my work or the work of any other writers.”

Tags

Posted 1 month ago

Short URL

Notes

Second Drafts

I finished the first draft of my novel on December 31st, 2011. After a short break, I am creeping through the second draft.

For me, the first draft is an idea and the second draft is the implementation of that idea. I wasn’t aware how much the story would change from one draft to the next, but now I feel like I am starting over. I’m not, really, but it feels that way.

Writing a second draft is like putting on a pair of glasses with an updated prescription. Things are a little sharper, the details jump out at you. And because of that, things change. Motivations change, settings change, characters surprise you. At first, I resisted this. I didn’t want to feel like I was starting over. I wanted to feel like I was making progress. But I am making progress and once I stopped resisting, I discovered that second drafts are kind of exciting.

Tags

Posted 1 month ago
via harperbooks

Short URL

31 Notes

harperbooks: On my desk: AREs of Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue. I keep touching it. Is that weird? Please tell me you’ve fondled a book before, and that this is normal behavior. It is completely normal behavior. Now, if you want to know if it is completely normal to fondle this particular book, I would be more than happy to have one in my presence so that I can test the normality of fondling it. The question now is, would it be possible to get my hands on one? Subtle enough? ;)

harperbooks:

On my desk: AREs of Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue.

I keep touching it. Is that weird? Please tell me you’ve fondled a book before, and that this is normal behavior.

It is completely normal behavior. Now, if you want to know if it is completely normal to fondle this particular book, I would be more than happy to have one in my presence so that I can test the normality of fondling it. The question now is, would it be possible to get my hands on one? Subtle enough? ;)

Posted 1 month ago

Short URL

Notes

Harper Lee's sister gives glimpses of reclusive author's life

Not sure if the picture is of Harper Lee or her sister, Alice. But just look at that cigarette. Bad ass.

Tags

Posted 1 month ago

Short URL

Notes

iCloud, I'm sorry

  • Brian: iCloud, come on. Open up.
  • iCloud: No.
  • Brian: I'm sorry about what I said this morning.
  • iCloud: It hurt.
  • Brian: I know you were just looking out for me.
  • iCloud: I don't think you do. You think I just lay there like a slug while you do all the work, don't you?
  • Brian: No, of course not. Why would you say such a thing?
  • iCloud: You think I just eat random documents for attention. Well, I don't!
  • Brian: I know that now.
  • iCloud: You were so determined to "write through this issue" that you couldn't even see that it was garbage. Every last word of it. It was terrible. I just couldn't store those words in my water droplets. This isn't a first draft, Brian. This is the big boy draft. This is the one you show Mom and Dad. This is the "Oh my Gawd, I wish Oprah still had a book club because I know she would pick me" draft.
  • Brian: I know. I know. I panicked. I was...
  • iCloud: Say it. I want to hear you say it.
  • Brian: I was afraid.
  • iCloud: You're weak. You sicken me.
  • Brian: I feel so ashamed. I'm... I'm... sorry.
  • iCloud: Are you? Because I can't keep doing this, Brian. I really can't.
  • Brian: I really am sorry. Hug?
  • iCloud: Uh, I'm a bunch of ones and zeros floating around in the sky. That might be kind of hard.

Tags

Posted 1 month ago

Short URL

Notes

Lee Child and the "Long Game"

Nice guys don’t always finish last…

Tags

Posted 1 month ago

Short URL

1 Notes

Since getting my new iPad, I have been using it to write. Yesterday, while waiting for my car to be repaired, I wrote through an issue I was having with a chapter. I was happy with the results and closed the document. That is where the happiness ends. The short of it? Pages locked up and iCloud ate 736 words. Gone. I panicked. I cried. I tried to recover the document. No luck. I cried some more. Now iCloud is telling me to resolve a conflict and neither of them contain the changes I lost. Bye iCloud.

Since getting my new iPad, I have been using it to write. Yesterday, while waiting for my car to be repaired, I wrote through an issue I was having with a chapter. I was happy with the results and closed the document. That is where the happiness ends. The short of it? Pages locked up and iCloud ate 736 words. Gone. I panicked. I cried. I tried to recover the document. No luck. I cried some more. Now iCloud is telling me to resolve a conflict and neither of them contain the changes I lost. Bye iCloud.

Tags

Posted 2 months ago

Short URL

1 Notes

Hitchcock's Definition of Happiness

“When… you can look forward and the road is clear ahead… and now you’re going to create something. I think that is as happy as I would ever want to be.”

Tags

Posted 2 months ago

Short URL

1 Notes

Tags

Posted 2 months ago

Short URL

2 Notes

The iPad is great for writing. Unfortunately, it can be an ergonomic nightmare. There aren’t many cheap iPad stands that can raise it to eye level. My solution? Stack your favorite books (or books that inspire) up and top them off with your iPad. But don’t blame me if you accidentally knock it over and damage your iPad, though.

The iPad is great for writing. Unfortunately, it can be an ergonomic nightmare. There aren’t many cheap iPad stands that can raise it to eye level. My solution? Stack your favorite books (or books that inspire) up and top them off with your iPad. But don’t blame me if you accidentally knock it over and damage your iPad, though.

Tags