This week I read quite a few articles that (as an aspiring author) scared me half to death. Among this news I learned:
1. The market is inundated with fantasy. I write fantasy. Apparently some agents are getting "fantasy fatigue"--i.e. getting tired of reading it. Nathan Bransford, who tries to stay positive, wrote a blog about it. You can read it here.
2. I just wrote my first picture book. I submitted it to one agent. I got a rejection letter. She said she really liked it but it didn't "spark" for her and she needed it to "spark" in order to be able to market it "in this very difficult marketplace for children's fiction." Then I read this article about how picture books aren't selling and picture book authors are doomed.
3. Apparently ebooks are destroying the publishing industry. I've seen multiple articles about this in the last few weeks. That's scary. I always dreamed of eking out a living with my pen and paper. Articles like this make me feel like that dream is utterly hopeless.
Stephen King
Stephen King wrote this amazing book called On Writing 10 years ago. I had never heard of it (of course I was only 16 ten years ago). Simon and Schuster just published a 10 year anniversary edition. It looks like this:
I bought it earlier this week and I've been reading it in what spare time I have. It's amazing. He has some really great advice (and why shouldn't he....HE'S STEPHEN FREAKING KING!). King also narrates with a frankness and a sense of honesty that I appreciate. If you're an aspiring writer like me, you should read it.
Other Stuff
I did a Kid Craft post earlier this week. Lots of people sent me facebook messages about how much they liked it, so I'll be doing that one again.
I finally figured out Twitter (I think). It only took like a month (hahahaha). I'm loving it. I had no idea Twitter offered such a rich writing community. If you are following me on twitter then I want to say thank you. All of the twitter writers I've met thus far are amazing and supportive. I am so very grateful for that!
Could you let me know what you thought of Stump the Writer? Do you want me to do it again? Did you like the story? Did it just suck and you never want to see it again? This blog is for my readers so LET ME KNOW! If you hate it then I won't do it again.
I'm thinking it might be time for another contest. What do you think of a $5 Starbucks giftcard? Get your next cup of joe on me?
And finally: What do you want to see/read that you are not seeing/reading on this blog?
Thanks for the input!
