You're trying to tag a user on one of your fics when you discover the tag doesn't work.
Your first thought may be they changed their URL, or maybe they deactivated their account.
There's a third (not so) secret possibility:
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You're trying to tag a user on one of your fics when you discover the tag doesn't work.
Your first thought may be they changed their URL, or maybe they deactivated their account.
There's a third (not so) secret possibility:
In the office today as required. Literally, no one else here on my entire floor and only 4 other people in the entire building. On-site face to face collaboration is so valuable. Glad I'm here for it.
(In reference to the recent Department of Justice v Penguin Random House trial) https://twitter.com/JohnHMaher/status/1555231154525159426
Me: I have never come up with an original idea in my entire life.
Book Agent Query Form: List books that are like your novel.
Me: ... I can't think of a single one. I'm a hack.
People of publishing, I implore you: Please đ stop đ redesigning đ book đ covers đ halfway đ through đ a đ series đ. It drives me absolutely bonkers when my books don't match.
Non-BTS related rant incoming... (sorry)
Thereâs been a trend in the publishing industry recently when it comes to book titles Iâm sure weâve all seen it, and it botherâs the hell out of me. Books like this:
The _____âs Daughter
The _____âs Wife
There are countless books titled in this format most of them referring to a male relationâs occupation or achievement.Â
Listen publishers I get it, you are trying to market a book using the societies label of the main character, maybe that character will define themselves over the course of the novel, and maybe theyâll rise above those preconceived notions.
But if you want to have a empowering book with a lead female, fucking start with the title! You are doing a disservice to the main characterâs in your book, defining them by the achievements of the men around them. Â
Notice how my story Under Fire isnât called The Crime Lordâs Daughter? You know why? Because Fire has her own achievements. She is a strong ass character, who is successful in putting dangerous people under her control, despite the fact that some people only see her as her fatherâs daughter.
...
Sorry for the rant I just opened up my email to see upcoming book releases and there was another one to add to this list...
Hereâs an adorable gif for your trouble and for making it this far :)
âPlease submit a 100 word synopsisâ of our 94,000 word book?? SURE.Â
(Pai and I in the kitchen preparing dinner)
Pai: So how was your meeting in Porto?
Me: Really great. It was so nice to connect with another writer working the system, climbing the publishing ladder. I really enjoyed her insights. We work very differently and in different genres.
Pai: Which isnât a bad thing?
Me: Not at all. I think there are unique elements we can learn from each other and ideas and projects we can pass off to one another.
Pai: Which genre is her work?
Me: YA.
Pai: Why what?
Me: YA⌠Young Adult.
Pai: Argh, you Americans and your acronyms. Itâs like youâre all in the army all the time.
Me: (giggles) A book is YA when the protagonist is between the ages of 13-18. It doesnât mean the book is specifically for teens, but that it deals with the struggles and adventures of youth.
Pai: Such as sparkly vampires would be YA even though it felt like everyone every age read that book?
Me: Exactly. What I love about YA is that you have none of the patriarchal nonsense of Adult Fiction.
Pai: Right, the Chick-Lit dilemma.
Me: (sarcastically overly serious) Um, excuse me, in the interest of being more inclusive and less debasing the term is actually Womenâs Fiction.
Pai: (oozing with facetiousness) My humble apology, authoress.
Me: Listen, genres are incredibly important! When you pitch your book you toss your plea onto a specific slush pile; get that pile wrong andâŚ
Pai: You donât get past the gatekeeper.
Me: (nodding) You must KNOW THY WORK! I write contemporary fiction, BUT my work thus far has a female protagonist and is written with a female voice, therefore according to mainstream publishing should be marked to a female audience so my work is considered Womenâs Fiction, but there is no Menâs Fiction genre. Anything written with a male perspective without Sci-Fi, Fantasy, dystopian or elements a historical timeframe is simply Contemporary Fiction.
Pai: So because youâre a woman and wrote a book about a woman that is why you have this specific genre.
Me: Not because I am a woman womenâs fiction is fuzzy and nuanced. Â Nicholas Sparks writes Womenâs Fiction, but some people consider his work more Romance. Paulo Coelho is marketed within Womenâs Fiction.
Pai: And Fifty Shades of Gray is Romance?
Me: No, Fifty Shades of Gray is Erotic Romance or Erotica.
Pai: Whatâs the difference between Romance and Erotica?
Me: Writing where the sexual contentâs objective is to stimulate or arouse the reader is Erotica and Romance is writing where sex and courtship exist and are a part of the plot, but are written in more of a Hollywood-movie-montage vibe. Erotic Romance is a blend of both and was a term developed to help market some books out of the Harlequin Fabio- cover-modeled mass-marketed paperback trap and into a higher price point.
Pai: But doesnât your book contain sex?
Me: Yes, but the plot isnât driven by sex. My books employ a âself discoveryâ narrative so they fall into Contemporary Fiction, but because of all the aforementioned malarkey I will more likely get noticed if I toss them into Womenâs Fiction slush (mimicking gagging because I deeply resent this genre trap).
Pai: So it is all about the amount of sex?
Me: No, well maybe, kinda, genreâs are a tangled webâŚ
Hank: (sitting across the hall at the dinning room table) ARGH! YOU GUYS! YOU KNOW I CAN HEAR YOU. I am right here. I can hear everything.
(Pai and I lean to the left to be in full view of the doorway)
Pai: So?
Me: What is wrong with our conversation? Weâre talking about publishing.
Hank: Youâre talking about sex.
Pai: Our conversation isnât inappropriate and besides youâre ten.
Hank: I just⌠I donât know. I guess⌠I mean, it isnât, but I justâŚ
Me: Just because you have zero interest in sex doesnât mean it isnât a major part of life for a lot of adults.
Hank: Oh, I know! Sex is everywhere. I guess, I mean, I get it, but I just sooooo donât care and I am like STAWP TALKING all the time about it people! Like, on TV and songs and teenagers, all they talk about is sex and I just do not care. Like, there are more interesting things, you know?
Me: Word.
Pai: But we arenât talking about sex acts. Weâre discussing how sex within the context of publishing leads to being separated, categorized and marginalized. This conversation is rather interesting.
Me: If sex never becomes interesting to you that is cool, but if it does know you can always talk to us about what you find attractive, but until just donât engage.
Hank: I just donât care.
Pai: Good, as I said you are ten. Sex is a part of adulthood and never anything to be ashamed of as long as sex is respectful and consensual.
Hank: I know, I know! I just donât care!
Me: Then, my darling boy, employ the same methods I used when you were obsessed with Minecraft: just donât listen and donât engage! Change the subject or if you are distracted by a conversation you are not a part ofâŚ
Pai: Like now for instance.
Me: Simply turn your attention elsewhere. Apply your headphones, politely close a door or move to a less distracting area.
Pai: Okay?
Hank: Sure. Yes. Can you please close the kitchen door so I can study and be less distracted?
Me: Our pleasure. Thank you for telling us we were disturbing your work.
Hank: (nodding, focus back on his books) Thanks.
Me: (closing the kitchen door) So, what were we talking about again?
Pai: Publishing, I think?
Me: (sigh) Right, anywayâŚ