When I was 17, I applied to college far away from home. I didn't discuss my choices with my parents. "I want," I told my mother, "to decide for myself--that way I can take the credit if I succeed and I can't blame you if I fail." I don't remember anyone except for my mother …
Author: mapelba
I'm a writer, artist, teacher, mother, wife, daughter, friend, coffee addict... What else? A success, a failure, a mess, a fan, a hater of housework, a lover of dogs, a liberal, an obsessive, and a bunch of other things that probably would never occur to me. I reveal myself in more ways in my writings and art than in any list of adjectives. And whoever you are, I hope most of all that you are a reader.
The Power of Words and the Paper They’re Printed on
Write the right thing. I found this video over at angelinelajeunesse. I don't know her blog well, yet, but I came across her on a facebook group--writers unboxed. Come join me over there sometime. Anyway, how you word things obviously matters or you wouldn't write. And the words we choose shape our perceptions. If the …
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Show!
More art or more writing? I had an art show today, and it went well. People I didn't even know bought my art! A few friends bought art too. And friends may tell you they like your art to be polite. But few people part with their money to be polite. And I give people …
The Reading World
La-di-da-la-di-di. In a teeny-tiny way I'm publishing something. No agent! Just wordpress. Ah wordpress, letting the rabble speak. Anyway, I've fussed with my fiction blog--The Imaginary Lake--and added a few fairy tales from last year's Story-a-Day challenge. Read something if you've a mind to. And that is all for now, lovely reading world.
Book fairies.
Book fairies flutter over your book and turn it into a bestseller. * Today a woman suggested I self-publish my novel. This woman doesn't really know me, and she's never read my blog and she's never read a word I've written, but she is an encouraging person her comment made me laugh because, well, that's …
Please forgive this impersonal blog entry. Your comments, however, will be accepted.
These are a few of the rejections I've received over the years. A few were addressed to me, though many were addressed to Dear Author. Due to the current status of the publishing industry--and the selectivity that the market now demands, we regret that we cannot consider your material at this time. I can't decide …
Dear Author,
Dear Author: Thank you for your submission. It was kind of you to think of us, but we are sorry we are unable to offer to see more of your work. We thank you for the opportunity to consider your materials and we wish you the best of luck elsewhere. Sincerely, ----Inc. I've been in …
My Book-shaped Heart Wants to Live in a Publishing House.
I published by book--by hand. A handmade book takes hours to put together, and it isn't cheap. I love making them though. I made three, but I can't make any more. I can't afford it because who is going to pay that kind of money for a book by an unknown writer when they don't …
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Cut what scares you.
The music is posted because it captures the mood of the story I'm working on... But for the novel I've finished (sort of finished), an agent asked to see the first 155 pages. Well, I proofread those pages again and fussed with the formatting. On page 155 I looked for the place to stop, and …
Shred everything!
Sometimes I have destructive impulses. You? Often when I share my writing with others, I want to yank the work from their hands screaming a loud melodramatic No! I take it back. This is silly, but knowing it is silly doesn't make my stomach settle. And still, I offer to share. Here's the idea. Come …
Marta Bacon 