I might have finished my novel, The Book of Astrophilia. I say might...it is hard for me to know when something is finished. I'll rewrite forever. And I haven't had a beta reader or anyone give me feedback, and that is part of the process. So is it finished-FINISHED? Well, I've done what I can …
Welcome to the New Year and all shining promises. Here in the northern hemisphere, its winter, of course, and while the days may be getting incrementally longer, there remains a lot of dark. It's a time for resolution and reflection, even if you try to ignore that sort of thing. It's a time to look …
"Just keep swimming," as the fish says. (You know what fish.) And here we are swimming from one year and into the next, and what a strange body of water it is. This week between Christmas and the New Year is a favorite week of mine. I teach, so I'm always off. But unlike other …
First off, for the record, I never watched the Fear Factor reality show. Well, once when visiting my dad, but in dad's house we watch whatever his wife wants to watch--even though there are four TVs in the house. End of discussion. In any event, I'm not a big fan of fear. I'll watch a …
I'm two years out from my cancer treatment, and so far, so good. I see my oncologist this month for another check up. Fingers crossed. of course. When I hear of anyone who's died of cancer, I pause. The closeness of that person to me doesn't matter as a mix of feelings brew. A sense …
A week or so ago, I read a post by Porter Anderson over at Writer Unboxed about mystique. At the same time, I was reading Amanda Palmer's book The Art of Asking. They are two different ways to live your creative life. Very different ways. Amanda Palmer has stripped naked and let her fans draw …
Continue reading Mystique, Social Media, and Other Distractions
I don't like being asked for advice. I don't want to be asked which job you should take or what you should do about a relationship. I have an opinion (I'm full of opinions!), but I don't need more responsibility. What happens if you follow my advice and everything goes wrong? Blame is what happens. …
I'm hoping to do something I've never been able to do--go to a writers' conference. Writers Unboxed will hold a conference in November in Salem. Salem! I've always wanted to go to Salem. Anyway, there is also a fundraiser to help a group of women get to the conference. If you can help and would …
Fran Lebowitz said the audience is important to the culture. I hadn't thought of an audience this way. I mean, yes, I've read a thousand times, "Know your audience." That rule I've failed to follow. Who is my audience? My demographic? I know more who it isn't more than I know who it is. But …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 