Well, fuck it. November was (and still is! and always will be. it’s a neverending loop.) NaNoWriMo, and I somehow couldn’t get into reading fiction. (Also, none of my favourite writers had new releases until the very last days, so…)
Instead, I read a bunch of short books on writing, mostly of the free-on-Kobo variety, and used them to get motivated to keep on working on a better promotion of Johnny’s Girls while writing its sequel. Unfortunately, not many of them can get an honest recommendation from me. Reader Magnets is worth taking a look at, if you’re new to the idea (I’m semi-new?) and Find a Real Editor, although flawed in many things, seems like a good place to start. (Caveat: I read it more from a budding editor’s perspective, since I’ve been doing an increasing amount of editing on other people’s fiction, and loving it.)
I liked (although I admit not reading every word, since I was on a break at my day job at the time) the three older posts on cover design basics by Derek Murphy, here, here and here.
I’d marked this awesome interview with Talia Hibbert down to watch later a few weeks ago and I spent a great evening with it. Mostly I was pleasantly shocked by a real example of a shy/introvert (and extremely sweet) writer taking such a positive business approach to writing. Yes, we can do it.
Of course, then I started googling Skye Warren, and this post was one of the more fun pieces on marketing and book business in general that I found this month.
A friend shared some older resources the other day, and since I’m applying for a few grant-type things next year (one of the applications is making me quite nervous because I’ll be tackling two minorities I haven’t written yet among the cast of character), I’ll need a killer synopsis—thus, I liked this post and this one here. I’d call it obligatory reading, but still not as obligatory as KJ Charles’ dialogue posts (first, second).
In fiction shores, I’ve loved Rear Admiral, a comedy romance novelette by new-to-me author ‘Nathan Burgoine. It’s not necessarily for everyone (nothing ever is), but if you’re as nostalgic for Queer as Folk as I am, do treat yourself.
On the other end of the spectrum (historical, het, almost rated PG-13), The Captain’s Midwinter Bride by Liana De la Rosa was such a pleasure to read. Seriously, like—warm cup of tea, fluffy blanket, there is some good left in this world pleasure in novella form.
Happy pre-holidays, all—may our good books be many and our high-risk activities few.
Vesna Kurilic 