Wednesday
Sep012010
In Which I Get You Guys to Do All the Work
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 6:00AM in J.D. Rhoades Monday night I typed those glorious words “The End” on the first draft of my WIP. Now, I’ll admit, this is a true first draft, meaning that, as it stands now, my new opus blows like a tranny hooker during Fleet Week. But I can already see ways to make it better. I can even see ways that it might even achieve awesomeness, if I can pull it off.
For the moment, however, I’m taking Our Alex’s advice to put it aside for at least a week, after which I’m going to print out her blog post on re-writing, tape it up above my desk, and get back to work.
For the moment, however, I’m taking Our Alex’s advice to put it aside for at least a week, after which I’m going to print out her blog post on re-writing, tape it up above my desk, and get back to work.
In the meantime I see that it’s my Wednesday to blog here at Murderati. Only problem is, my brain is burned. All the bearings on the magnificent machine that is my mind are smoking and squealing like the brakes on an 18 wheeler headed down out of the Rockies. I’ve also been so buried in this book, not to mention life and the day job, that once I surfaced, I felt like I’d been asleep for the last month or so. I’m having a hard time even figuring out what’s been happening, much less commenting on it. So I’m asking our loyal readership to fill me in on what’s going on, discuss it, and, not to put too fine a point on it, write this post for me.
Ready? Let’s begin:
- Why are people mad at Jonathan Franzen this time?
- Apparently, the Wylie Agency and Random House have “struck a truce”. I didn’t even know they were at war. Can someone fill me in on this? Who should I have been pulling for?
- So, this new Kindle. Why is it only 139 bucks? Is it because you can only download stuff if you’re in a WiFi hotspot? This wouldn’t really be a problem for me, even living in the sticks like I do, but is there some other feature that you give up for that price that I need to know about? In your opinion, is 139 dollars the tipping point that will make the Kindle 3 as ubiquitous as the Mp3 player?
- A six year old got a multi-book contract? WTF?
Lay some wisdom on me, cats n’ kittens.
Bonus question: Was the movie version of WINTER’S BONE freakin’ awesome, or what? I mean, if Jennifer Stewart and John Hawke don’t get Oscar nominations, there is something seriously wrong with the process, am I right?
tagged Jonathan Franzen, Kindle, publishing business
Jonathan Franzen, Kindle, publishing business 
Reader Comments (24)
One other newsworthy item you might have missed there, Van Winkle, is that Mavin Austin has apparently discovered Twitter...not sure you'll be happy about it though.
Carolina Football - The "Tutor" Dynasty!!!
:D
I think they lowered the price on the Kindle because there is so much more competition now, and since the Kindle uses a proprietary book format it's not as useful as say the Nook, or the iPad, et al. It was a self-defensive move.
What six-year old?
the non-life threatening, niggling problems I have.
IMHO, Franzen's getting bashed because he writes boring books and gets tons of critical acclaim for them. There's jealousy involved, but also the sense that the hoopla is undeserved.
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-media-gets-it-wrong.html
I just do it to myself or among a few close friends.
(I know nothing about Franzen's book, so I have no opinion on whether the attention is deserved or not).
Jake: :-P
Man, I don't have answers to ANY of our questions . . . and I'm not close to finishing my WIP. Guess that makes me a sleep walker.
Congrats on finishing the first draft. That's got to feel wonderful. I hope to be singing about the same thing by the end of this month or the middle of next.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/07/konrath-on-wylie.html
Alex just today, posted more on rewriting and like always, it's a do not miss.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20009738-1.html
However, the article was written before the new versions were out, so you might want to search for a more recent article.
I'm resisting. Instead, I bought a $300 netbook (Acer) to take with me on trips, and to read all kinds of different e-books, including the Kindle versions. It's tiny enough to fit in my purse, plus I can read email, go online, and even write with it, should the urge strike. For my purposes, it's a much better use of the money. And the screen is large enough to read, unlike an iPhone. Why would anyone want to read an entire book on that tiny screen, I wonder?
When I was in South American in April I really wished I'd had the netbook. It would have meant I didn't have to take as many books with me (six, and I read all of them before the end of the two-week trip), and could have used the Wi-Fi at the various hotels instead of trying to figure out how to use international keyboards, and pay for Internet access. The iPad would have worked, too, but it's much more fragile, I think.
You mileage may vary, of course. :-)
News flash - it has been reported that the world is still round. Welcome back to it.
Enjoyed your post.
"It's doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is writing good fiction."
So I have to ask, a) what's "good" fiction?; and b) I care what you think why?
I think he has managed to insult several truly wonderful fiction writers with that statement.
Of course, I'm probably as guilty of saying the same type of nonsense, in that same know-it-all way. But at least in my case nobody's listening.
As for the news, I'm workiong on draft #2 and haven't finished that but clueless about the "news items." Oh well, glad I tuned in.
Congrats on finishing your first draft! Woohoo!
Apart from the story about the six-year-old, I hadn't heard anything about ANY of these, so what does that make me? (Besides uninformed.)
It's obvious we're members of the same club and it has a big sign over it: Oblivious. <g>.
The problem with Franzen is that The Corrections SUCKEDDDDDD!!!!!!! I actually made $20 on a bet that I wouldn't finish it or toss it out the window. Now I don't really blame Franzen for The Corrections sucking, but his editor should have to repay his salary, but only after anyone who read this over indulgent piece of crap gets to take a copy to the back of his head.............But the high point is........the friend who bet me, the friend who "doesn't read crime novels" had to read a Connelly novel as well as give up the 20.....and guess who is now Michael Connelly's biggest fan....lol (Converting snobs one Connelly at a time)