The Science Fiction Urinal

I have been a soreheaded occupant of a file drawer labeled 'science fiction' ever since, and I would like out, particularly since so many serious critics regularly mistake the drawer for a urinal.
(Kurt Vonnegut)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

Communication Breakdown

I’ve been known to e-mail people who were literally standing next to me, which I know sounds crazy, because at that distance I could easily call them on my cellphone.
(Dave Barry)

literature, writing, fiction, writers

The Writer's Refrain

If a young writer can refrain from writing, he shouldn't hesitate to do so.
(Andre Gide)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism

Show Me The Money

Worthy Of Hire? - Wordarts
Late last week, I had a phonecall from what sounded like a very nice young man who explained that he worked for Scottish Television. They were organising a...(more)

How Much Should You Be Paid for Freelance Work? - The Average Idea
If you’re just dipping into freelancing, or even if you’ve been at it for awhile, you could be grossly underpaid for what you do and not even know it...(more)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

The Literary Household

Indeed, the literary household is held together, so to speak, by paper-fasteners, and how other people get along without them we are at a loss to imagine.
(H.G Wells)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

Kurt Vonnegut R.I.P.

Kurt Vonnegut, Counterculture’s Novelist, Dies - New York Times

I consider anybody a twerp who hasn't read the greatest American short story, which is "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," by Ambrose Bierce. (Kurt Vonnegut)

Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college. (Kurt Vonnegut)

I think that novels that leave out technology misrepresent life as badly as Victorians misrepresented life by leaving out sex. (Kurt Vonnegut)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

Writing For Money

Don't Quit Your Day Job - Intergalactic Medicine Show
When I attended Clarion West Writer’s Workshop in 1994, I was given two very specific pieces of writing advice from my teachers....(more)

Science Fiction Income - Whatever (Author John Scalzi)
Last year, in response to a question from the peanut gallery, I spilled the beans on how much I made in a year from my writing. This year I thought I'd return to the subject...(more)

Why We Must Stand Together - Canadian Freelance Union
The harsh reality is freelance writers are under direct and sustained attack by media owners. Over the past three decades, independent writers and journalists...(more)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

The Misfortune Of Literary People

It is the misfortune of literary people, that they have to write about something. There is no reason, of course, why they should, but the thing is so.
(H.G Wells)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

Genre Fiction Cliches & Writing Rules

New Additions (03/15/2007)
100% Guaranteed Ways to Create an Amazing Fanasty Novel That People Will Totally Read - SFFWorld.com


Dictionary of RPG Clichés
Grand List of Fantasy Clichés
Horror Stories We See Too Often - Strange Horizons
(Richard) Laymon’s Rules of Writing
Movie Clichés List
Not-So-Grand List of Fantasy Clichés
On Thud and Blunder - by Poul Anderson
Risus Fantasy Clichés
Stories We See Too Often - Strange Horizons
Thundering Clichés

Tips for the Creation of Your Darkly Gothic Poem
Top Ten No-No’s - On Spec
Tough Guide to Animeland
Tough Guide to Fantasyland
Tough Guide to Harry Potter
Tough Guide to the Known Galaxy
Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories
Usability in the Movies: Top 10 Bloopers - Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox


literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

The Secret To Writing Well

It is imperative, if you wish to write with any power and freshness at all, that you should utterly ruin your digestion.
(H.G Wells)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

The Surreptitious Proposals Of Literary Men

This is a thing innocent girls exposed to the surreptitious proposals of literary men do not understand. They think it will be very fine to have photographs of themselves and their "cosy nooks" published in magazines, to illustrate the man's interviews, and the full horror of having this feral creature always about the house, and scarcely ever being able to do any little thing without his knowing it, is not brought properly home to them until escape is impossible.
(H.G. Wells)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

Guilty Reads

King Crowned Top of Guilty Reads - Guardian
Stephen King has beaten JK Rowling to the title of the UK's favourite literary guilty pleasure. A survey carried out on behalf of the Costa Book Awards 2006 has shown that the thriller writer is the most popular choice among readers looking for an indulgent read, with the adventures of Harry Potter coming a close second. (more)

Books hip-hop off the shelves - Sydney Morning Herald
From rapper to clothing designer and author, US hip-hop artist 50 Cent is adding a new branch to his business empire a book imprint of novellas set on the drug-ridden streets he grew up on. (more)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

High Art & Romanticized Clap-trap

Firstly, forget the romance of the writer's lifestyle and the aesthetic beauty of having a Vocation that calls you to create High Art and lends you total creative control. That's all guff. Any depiction of the way novelists live and work that you see in the popular media is wrong. It's romanticized clap-trap.
(Charles Stross)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud

Hired Guns & Indie Cheerleaders

Raves For Sale - Slate
The most interesting add-on BookSurge offers is, for $399, a personally crafted review written by "New York Times bestselling author, Ellen Tanner Marsh." (more)

Writer demands to be unlisted from Amazon - Guardian
"Amazon's unfair trading practices are making it impossible for smaller retailers to compete. They need to realise that their size does not entitle them to special treatment - they need to play by the rules." (more)

literature, writing, fiction, writers, cynicism, scams, fraud