That’s over at Women and Words.
Click the link HERE.
There’s also a drawing for one of Reneé’s books! So go on and get in on the fun and Happy Friday!
Author: Andi Marquette
Andi Marquette once wanted to be a seafaring pirate. But she realized that could be a problem, growing up in the Rocky Mountain West and Southwest. So she became an editor, anthropologist, and historian instead. But that, too, didn't satisfy her weird cravings for stories and strange realms. Now, she's a writer ensconced in Colorado and when she wants to go pirate-ing, she just makes something up.
For sale: anti-zombie strongholds
Hey, kids!
Haven’t done a zombie apocalypse prep post in a while. So here we go. Yahoo had an article the other day on purchasing anti-zombie strongholds. These are actual living spaces that might serve you well in a zombie outbreak. Some better than others. Not sure it’s actually a good idea to have an underground place unless you’ve got an escape tunnel elsewhere. After all, if you’re underground and zombies figure it out, they’ll just congregate over your bunker. So if you go that route, have an escape tunnel or two that are reinforced and camouflaged.
Anyway, here’s the link to the Yahoo article.
Now let’s go have a look at a couple of ’em.
Super awesome blogs on freelance writing
Hey, all–
Broadside Blog (run by the awesome career journalist Caitlin Kelly) is doing a great series of blogs on freelance writing. Tips, suggestions, hows, whys, what it’s like, and excellent comments from readers.
So here.
“What’s freelance writing for a living really like?”
Introduces you to what it might be like to live that freelance writing life.
“The freelance writers’ life, continued”
Includes tips on ethics and networking.
“Negotiating — every freelancer’s challenge!”
Tips on how to do this.
Oh, and I’m throwing this one in, also from Broadside: “Twelve tips for fresh grads — includes a job offer!”
That one’s got good tips we can all use. Like these:
Take an hour every day unplugged from all forms of technology
Savor it. Your best ideas will come to you alone, in silence and probably while in the natural world. Do not tether yourself to Facebook or Tumblr clutching for some sort of emotional blankie.
Read challenging, smart material. Every day
It’s easy to think “Thank God. I’m done!” No more papers, tests, exams, finals. Just because you’ve snagged your diploma doesn’t mean it’s time to turn your brain off. Veg for a while, but make a point of reaching for some smart, tough work. If you’re an art history major, are you up on the (latest) banking scandal ? Do you know what Libor is? Read the business section of the Wall Street Journal and/or New York Times, the Financial Times if you’re really ambitious. If you’re an economics or political science major, take the time to read history, arts and literature. Throughout your life, and not just to get or keep a job, you need to keep broadening your horizons and stay sharp!
People tend to hire and promote people with insatiable curiosity and the ability to quickly analyze and sift through complex data.
Yeah. Good stuff. So go have a look at Broadside Blog and happy writing, happy reading!
Benefit Auction for Kara Leonardo
Hi, all–
I posted this same thing over at Women and Words. Nevertheless, I’m doing it here, too:
There’s a benefit auction going on until August 5th to benefit a woman named Kara Leonardo. Some of you may know her; she was very active on lesfic boards and FB in the past and has been an ardent supporter of lesfic. In February, she was involved in a car accident in which her partner was killed. Kara suffered serious injuries and is just now leaving rehab, but she’s facing another decision. She’s currently in Delaware, where she moved from Illinois to be with her partner. She’d like to stay in Delaware, but she doesn’t have many resources to help her do that. She may end up having to go back to Illinois, but again, resources are scarce for her. So the auction is to provide a bit of money for her to hopefully help her get settled.
ALL proceeds from the auction go to Kara.
You can read the specifics about Kara and the auction HERE.
Here’s the direct link to what books authors have offered for auction (it’s also accessible via the other link).
Thanks, and please share far and wide.
FANGIRL! Birds of Prey
Hi, kids–
Quick Friday note. I’ve rediscovered comics, and I’ve been following DC’s Birds of Prey (one of a few series I follow).
Under the guidance of writer Duane Swierczynski, the Birds are kicking butt and taking names. Barbara Gordon, who some of you probably know as Oracle in earlier incarnations of the Birds is busy as Batgirl under Gail Simone’s writing chops. So Swierczynski paired Black Canary with a BRAND NEW character (is my understanding), and she had me at “hello” in the New 52’s version of Birds.
Starling (AKA Ev Crawford) is a mixture of streetwise and world-weary; cocky, assured, fun-loving and brash. From my reading of her, she’s got some issues under the surface (an ex-girlfriend [????] who makes an appearance in #5), but it’s still too soon to tell. She’s the hellraiser of the Birds bunch, balanced by Black Canary’s more pragmatic and steely side, along with the enigmatic Katana and the unpredictable Poison Ivy (who Starling refers to as “crazy plant lady” or “crazy salad lady”). I’m really digging Swierczynski’s work on this, creating a team of unlike but wholy likable characters (even crazy plant lady has some cool aspects) who manage to work together to kick some serious ass.
Starling already has a cult following. You can find her on Tumblr like here, here, here, and here and she gets lots of luuuv from fangirls and fanboys over there.
At any rate, I’m totally enjoying this series and it’s pretty much because of the Starling character. So if you like kick-ass women like that and you’re a comic geek, maybe give Birds a try.
source (re-sized here)
source (re-sized here)
source (re-sized here)
source (re-sized here, and that’s Swierczynski’s site)
Happy Friday!
Flash Fiction contest over at Writer Unboxed
Hey, all–
Try your flash fiction skills on over at Writer Unboxed.
This link will tell you how it works, and they’ll supply the prompts. A fun way to hone some writing skills, read other contributions, and maybe win a mad awesome prize.
Go on. Check it out.
Happy writing!
In Memoriam: Nora Ephron
Once again, I’m left trying to sum up in a few words the legacy a woman with great reach, humor, wisdom and talent has left.
Nora Ephron died this past week after a long battle with leukemia. She was 71, and had become “one of her era’s most successful screenwriters and filmmakers,” according to Charles McGrath, writing in the New York Times. McGrath notes that she was “a journalist, a blogger, an essayist, a novelist, a playwright, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and a movie director — a rarity in a film industry whose directorial ranks were and continue to be dominated by men.”
source: Huffington Post (re-sized here)
More…
Finding your fiction in nonfiction
Hey, folks–
I read a lot of different stuff, all the time. Part of my regular reading material is nonfiction, not just because it’s interesting but because real life provides a lot of interesting story ideas. Especially since I write genre fiction. So here are a few articles I’ve recently read that maybe you’ll find give you some ideas. Especially if you write genre fiction, too.
“The Vanishing,” by Bob Briel, Outside (July 2012)
In the stunning and remote wilderness along northern British Columbia’s Highway 16, at least 18 women — by some estimates, many more — have gone missing over the past four decades. After years of investigation, authorities still don’t know if it’s the work of a serial killer or multiple offenders. BOB FRIEL drives into the darkness for answers.
I’m also a huge fan of travel writing. Try this one (winner of the bronze Solas award, by the editors of Travelers’ Tales):
“Letting Go on the Ganges,” by Kristin Zibell
A recently divorced woman finds endings and beginnings in India.
“Mexico Feeds Me: Exploring Mexico’s Culinary Heritage,” by Javier Cabral (Saveur, first published in issue #138)
In rural Zacatecas, Mexico, a young writer explores his heritage by cooking the rustic, boldly flavored dishes of the region.
I’m also a westerner born and bred, so I’m a sucker for a western-flavored essay.
“West to East, and a world away,” Charles Finn (Writers on the Range, in High Country News, February 17, 2012)
After 20 years in the West (and he’s come to love it), a writer has to go back East.
And maybe something you didn’t think you’d ever WANT to think about: Jailhouse food.
“An Insider’s Guide to Jailhouse Cuisine,” by Sean Rowe (Oxford American [the Southern Magazine of Good Writing], originally appeared in Issue 61, The Oxford American Best of the South issue, 2008)
The author spends time in jail, and offers us this slice of life in the big house and the role of food therein.
So there you are, peeps. Maybe you’ll find some…ah…food for thought in some of these pieces and BOOM the next plot for your next novel will hit you.
Happy writing, happy reading!
Tools of the Trade
Hey, kids–
The alternate title to this blog is, “Business screws over workers to make a profit and I use their products but I have no idea how to get the juggernaut’s attention or what to do about it.”
Thanks to Broadside Blog for pointing out this article in the New York Times Business section.
The article is titled “Apple’s Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay,” by David Segal.
I’m a writer. I use Apple products to accomplish many of my goals as a writer. I’m blogging right now on a MacBook that I’ve had since about 2005 and just upgraded to the Snow Leopard OS. That’s right. I was using Tiger up until this year. I’ve been really pleased with my MacBook, written several manuscripts on it, and had few problems that weren’t easily fixed with a call to Mac tech help or a visit to an Apple store, and always with good, friendly service.
So I was a little bummed, but not entirely surprised, to read the article. But again, Apple is a corporation, and one of its purposes might be to make consumers happy, but ultimately, it wants to make money. And in terms of capitalism, generally, somebody gets screwed in that process or doesn’t get as big a piece of the pie.
Read on for more…
Can you relate?
I might officially be an anachronism.
I’m still using a flip phone, and I don’t use it to access the web. I actually dial people’s numbers and TALK to them. Oh, sure, I’ll text as well and send a few photos. But I mostly use it to TALK.
I’m Gen X, which means I’m an immigrant to the digital world. I grew up without the interwebs, without voicemail (or answering machines), without cable, without cell phones, and without DVDs. VHS came along in the late 70s/early 80s, but most of us saw movies at the theater when they were released. (Oh, want more info about how primitive and weird things were for my generation? Here.)
I spent most of my summers outdoors with friends, or we got together at each other’s houses. We’d call each other on landlines and if nobody answered, we figured he or she was busy and we’d call back later. Or, if they did have answering machines, we’d leave a message. Eventually, we’d catch up with each other. No big deal if it took a few hours. Or a day or two. We all had other things to do. We’d meet up at various hangouts and get caught up on rumors, gossip, and plans for the upcoming days.
Point being, we TALKED. Face-to-face and on the phone.
That, I think, is becoming a lost art.
Want more? Keep reading…
Andi Marquette 