Why I’m resurrecting the ‘link journalism’ argument
June 25, 2008
(hat tip to Chris Brogan for mentioning this issue (and the Scott Karp post) on his AWESOME blog!)
About two years ago, before I lost everything to the ‘oh dear lord’ crash of 2006, I had a tonne of articles talking about a disturbing trend in the blogging/journalistic communities - and that was ‘link love’/'link journalism’.
Buckling down
March 15, 2008
Butt in seat – or laptop on knee – or - pen and paper in hand are three of the most important traits any writer can learn. Once you’ve fed your muse, you gotta find a schedule of work – that schedule of work needs to be daily.
Not weekly, not ‘when you can be bothered’ – daily.
Writing daily is an art in and of itself. I was once told that once you got into a routine for 21 days, you would always do it, but that doesn’t work for me. I can ‘force’ myself to write and work, but I don’t like it. I still do it though.
Muse-ili
March 14, 2008
My muse is an informant. She comes in the night, and whispers stories to me. Constantly.
The problem is, she’s very easily led.
You see – most people can’t write without inspiration – and if you write – long term, you have to keep feeding your muse, or they starve. And a starved muse is probably a form of torture for writers, to be honest.
So, ratting on your muse and sharing everything starts with reading, and absorbing experiences. WE can only write about the things we have a passing knowledge of after all – even if it’s creating events in our head and following them through to logical conclusions. Or illogical ones.
What writers and business owners can learn from Babylon 5
March 5, 2008
I am a sci fi geek.
I prove it, frequently, over at IRLfemale - gamer, irreverance and other fun stuff, but there’s something I worked out whilst watching Babylon 5.
Babylon 5 was a sci fi TV show that was plotted over at least five seaons. It got to season three, and J Michael Straczynski needed to change the story arc, due to the possibility of cancellation.
But it highlights a couple of things about good writing, better work, and engaging your audience.
Your first step to publishing that manuscript
March 4, 2008
Your manuscript is finished. You DID IT!
GO you!
And you’ll have to edit it of course, but after that?
What, exactly do you DO now?
Well, the first thing you need to do is decide what you’re going to do.
Should you query agents? Publishers? Go it ‘yourself’?
This can be a difficult decision for authors - because they can’t make up thier mind whether to risk possible rejection, or take a chance on the big contract.
I’ve got a different view on it all to be honest. I have a lot of books that are self published, and some that are tradtionally published, and though I’ve aimed high, my decision is based on how I’d perform ‘midlist’.
Interviewees required
February 29, 2008
I’m looking for interviewees, for books/blog posts/articles, so I’ve added this category, and would be grateful if you could get in touch if you can help 
Subject: Children with behavioural issues - trollling for parents, carers and teachers
Hi guys - I’m setting up a website for parents with kids, with behavioural issues.
I’m looking for parents to interview, offer anecdotes ‘etc’ - for the moment it’s just the blog, but I am looking at writing a book, once we find the ‘magic’ tactic that works with my little one, and others.