Scalzi on Writing

My friend Mark lent me John Scalzi’s book of writing essays some time ago, and I just started reading it on the exercise bike this morning. It’s tongue-in-cheek, and it’s sarcastic, but it’s also a solid piece of perspective.

Let me tell you why, if you’re a writer, you should read this.

Many of us base our writing in insecurity. We are, after all, artistic butterflies. Much of what we produce is beautiful, gossamer, and not worldly. Even if you have to work on your craft yet, this may well be how you view your work. We also, as artistic sorts often tend to do, look to find our work in other’s acceptance of us, and compare our success to the success of others.

Scalzi iterates as plainly as any writer I’ve ever seen what I consider to be the core of writing–stop worrying about others. You have your own writing to worry about.

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Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Small Press and Web Recommendations

A couple of writers I know have recently been published.

Dryad by Julie K. Rose is now available for your reading pleasure at Serendipity, the online journal of Magical Realism. Julie is a vivid writer, full of deep description.

And one of my fellow Broads from Broad Universe, Phoebe Wray has her new book, Jemma 7729 available for purchase from EDGE. Phoebe was a delight to hang out with last Wiscon.

Best of luck to both of these women with their new publications!

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Portus YA Reading Series

Dear Author Friends:

I am affiliated with the HPEF, a group of people who run Harry Potter symposiums. For some time, we have been wanting to expand our programming offerings. This year we’ve decided to add a YA track for new authors. To see more about it, please click below to read the whole call for readings.

The skinny is this: we’re currently soliciting YA authors to come and read their work at Portus 2008 in Dallas, Texas on July 10-13. If you’re chosen to read, like an academic presenter, you’ll be required to register for the conference, but at a reduced cost.

As part of the YA Reading Series, we’ll make every effort to get your books in the Vendor Room through the Barnes and Noble book fair we’ll be having. Every author will have the opportunity to read, and there will be autograph sessions as well. You’ll get a chance to sell books, gain exposure, and just maybe you can use the whole experience as a tax write-off.

If you’re interested, please feel free to read further. Also, please feel free to share this information, as well as the call for readings anywhere you think YA Friendly, YA or YR authors can be found. I’m happy to have you send me the appropriate connections, and I’ll take care of it as well.

Our submission deadline is May 15, 2008, after which myself and my crackerjack team of associates will pick out the authors for the series. There will be alternates, because authors must register for the convention before they are confirmed.

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Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.