On why so many writers write badly

Author Monte Schulz (This Side of Jordan) addresses why so many unpublished authors write badly, at 2009’s SCWC*LA7.

–msg

Inspiration/Digression: Artistic considerations

And how about some interesting (or not) artistic distractions?

• Why publishing has a future.
• An author theorizes about books are the length they are.
• Chinua Achebe talks with The New York Times.
• Some call them funny metaphors; others might have a few more colorful names for these literary … um … er … yeah. Of course, it has to do with high school, so there’s that.
• Ted Wilson reviews his … ah … you know? Don’t bother clicking this link.
• Robin Hobb shares a few words with SciFiChick.com.
• Cambridge University apparently put on a really cool octocentennial light show.
• On the list of things I probably would have been better off not knowing about, apparently Hootie has gone country, and is having a pretty good run at it.
• There is a reason the idea of Col. Muammar Gaddafi and the idea of “dictatorial literature” can raise my spirits. To the other, though, I won’t say it’s a good reason.
• And speaking of lifting spirits, how about Edgar Allen Poe and funerals?

And now, a young guitarist makes musician Tanita Tikaram jealous:

-bd

Inspiration/Digression: Cool Sciency Stuff

Cool sciency stuff for stories

• It seems there really were giant crocodiles.
• Giant crystals are apparently one spectacular result of climate change.
• Science isn’t always boring. But you knew that already. A writer wonders about what happens “when science asks, ‘What if?’.
• Okay, now this is really cool: synthetic bone, made from rattan.
• Humanity seems a bit more diverse than we had prevously thought.
• Nature is extremely fascinating.
• Any reason to pick on Ron Howard, I guess.
• A little bit of science probably would have helped.
• Humans can be so cool: A twenty-one foot mirror to float around in space, and what will it see? (Dreamers, you’re on notice.)
• Science isn’t always boring (again): Adventures with the scientific method.

And now, for hopefully obvious reasons:

-bd

January publishing sales

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) reports for the month of January 2010, book sales decreased by 0.7 percent at $814.9 million and were down by 0.7 percent for the year.

The Adult Hardcover category dipped 8.1 percent in January 2010 with sales of $55.6 million a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to January 2009. Adult Paperback sales increased by 0.8 percent for the month ($103.2 million) and were up by 0.8 percent compared to January last year. The Adult Mass Market category declined by 0.5 percent for January with sales totaling $56.0 million; sales were down by 0.5 percent year for the month. The Children’s/YA Hardcover category decreased by 41.6 percent for the month with sales of $31.7 million, a decrease for the month by 41.6 percent. The Children’s/YA Paperback category decreased by 18.1 percent in January with sales totaling $30.7 million; sales were down by 18.1 percent compared to January 2009.

Inspiring End of Publishing

–msg