New contributor + Winners announced + January craft topic
By Therese Walsh | November 10, 2009 |
Kath and I will be changing the way the blog runs in the next few months. Instead of posting a Q&A every Friday, we’ll post interviews twice monthly. Historical fiction author Anna Elliot will claim one of those freed-up Friday slots while the other will belong to our newest contributor–Jane Friedman, editor with Writer’s Digest. Her bio, which will be permanently available on her WU page, reads:
Jane Friedman is the publisher and editorial director of the Writer’s Digest brand community at F+W Media in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she oversees Writer’s Digest magazine, Writer’s Digest Books, and the Writer’s Market series. Writer’s Digest is the world’s #1 resource and community for writers, and for nearly 90 years has published the best-selling annual reference guide, Writer’s Market. Jane’s blog on the industry, There Are No Rules, tackles the future of the publishing industry and how authors can successfully adapt. She lives in Cincinnati.
Now you understand why we’re so thrilled Jane accepted our invitation. Her vision? Jane will be our version of Snopes for Writers, debunking the bad advice she often stumbles upon online. Sounds terrific, no? She’ll slide into her new official day with us–the 3rd Friday of every month–on December 18th, though you may see her here before then. Stay tuned.
In other news, Juliet Marillier increased her generous offer of a two-book giveaway for her new release, Heart’s Blood, to three books. Our winners, chosen by a random number generator from the list of commenters on Juliet’s Take Five interview are: #s 68 (Jennifer), 17 (Kristan) and 36 (Prue). Congrats, you three! We’ll be in touch directly in order to make book-mailing arrangements.
Finally, Kath and I would love to dive into a new craft topic in January–your chance to hear from all of us on one particular thing. Last time around, we talked about characterization. Before that, we discussed plotting methods. What would you like to read about next? Pacing? Point of view? Dialog? Tags? Writer’s Block? Something else? You can leave a comment here or send us a private email at writerunboxed@writerunboxed.com.
How is everyone doing with NaNo? I’d be doing well, if I could count the number of words I’ve written via rewriting the same scene over and over again. I know, this is not NaNo behavior, but I can’t move on until it’s right. You?
Write on, all.
Therese Walsh (she/her) co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006 and is the site’s editorial director. She was the editor of WU’s only book, Author in Progress, and runs the Writer Unboxed UnConference.
Her second novel, The Moon Sisters, received starred reviews and was named one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and Book Riot.
Learn more about Therese on her website, and sign up for her newsletter to be among the first to hear about any new projects.
Wow, great to see Jane Friedman on board. I get her other blog on RSS, too. Congrats on adding her to your group!
I’m NaNo’ing. I’m a little behind, but not hopelessly, and intend to do a big push to catch up at my retreat with the What Women Write ladies this weekend.
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Retreat to Nature =-.
I’m getting very tempted to slip the 13,000 words I wrote on my novel BEFORE NaNo started into my word count. Then I’m ahead of schedule! :) It’s going well, though. I love how I can feel the way I’ve grown in the past few years as a writer… I can FEEL the stakes rise in my plot as I go!
The new contributor sounds great!
.-= Maya´s last blog ..New Haveil Havelim! =-.
Great news about Jane Friedman. NaNo has been a NoGo for me. Last year I did well, this year it’s 10 days in and 0 word count. Between the new job and long commute, I’m exhausted when I get home and haven’t been able to motivate myself. I feel guilty and continually beat myself up about it. Maybe a new craft topic on finding energy for tired writers? :) Or maybe I should get a caffine drip and invest in some chocolate bars.
Not doing NaNo this year. Instead, working furiously on the final edits for my novel to allow publication on schedule. Think I have my priorities right.
Great news about Jane Friedman joining WU. I especially like your characterization of her work as “Snopes for writers.” It’s been sorely lacking from the blog-o-sphere. Looking forward to reading it.
Great post…looking forward to Jane Friedman’s POV…and I would love to read about pacing…this is something that I struggle with constantly!
I love the idea of a Snopes for Writers! I can’t wait for Jane’s first post.
POV and pacing would both help me.
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..*gasps for breath* =-.
I just realized I wrote that post to include stumbling, sliding and diving. Maybe it’s time for me to include an action scene in my wip?
Julie, good luck at your retreat.
Maya, oh, do I understand your temptation.
Heather, hang in there. Sometimes my muse locks me up when I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. Could it be that? Otherwise, give yourself permission to rest; the writerly fuel is sub-par when polluted with guilt.
Richard, it sounds like you have your priorities right to me. I’m looking forward to your April release.
Jamie and Melanie, thanks for the feedback. Your votes are duly noted.
Yay, thanks, and congrats to the other winners!
Also, welcome to Jane Friedman! I live in Cincy too. I didn’t know Writer’s Digest was based here!
I’m at 6350 in NaNo and trying to catch up. Gee, only 10k behind… o_O
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Dear agents/editors: find me, love me, sign me! =-.
I’m excited Jane’s joined up with WU! I’ve enjoyed reading some of her posts in conjunction with WD. =)
I’m trying out NNWM for the first time this year. It’s so fun to write without using the internal editor! Should be hitting the 20,000 mark in a couple of days.
I’ve loved the previous focuses on plot and characterization. I wouldn’t mind a nice crash course in POV or pacing either. Also (I know it wasn’t one of the options) but worthwhile exposition that shows instead of tells would be invaluable.
Awesome! I’ve been involved with Writer’s Digest online in one way or another for over a year now, and I love it. Great to see Jane here, too.
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby! =-.
I’m always excited to get more info on the craft. Writer Unboxed is on my Google Reader and I can’t tell you how valuable your posts have been for me since I started writing.
Topics I’d love to see are POV, how much to leave up to the reader, and being a student of whatever genre you write.
Thanks!
.-= Jonathan´s last blog ..The Revisionatrix is a Cruel (and Cool) Mistress. =-.
congrats, winners and welcome, Jane!
Great to have new input! This blog just gets better and better:-)
Like you, Therese, I can’t move on until it’s “right”. The trouble is, of course, the story will change as I type and after a few more chapters, what I wrote last week is no longer “right” so I have to go back and fix it. Add to this that I’m the world’s second worst typist (and that’s only a guess because I haven’t met the worst one yet) and there’s little wonder that I’m still struggling with the same old trilogy after five years of hard slogging.
.-= Satima Flavell´s last blog ..Once I thought… =-.
*sobs*… :D Congrats, guys. :D
Welcome to Jane! I really enjoy following her twitter feed.
I’m always up for more craft information. Right now I’m thinking a lot about POV but who knows what I’ll be pondering come January?
.-= Eliza Evans´s last blog ..Lady Chatterley’s [redacted] and the Happy Ending =-.
I can’t wait to see Snopes for Writers! And with Jane, no less.
.-= Meryl K Evans´s last blog ..How Writers Can Manage Federal Income Taxes =-.
I love Jane! What a great addition to WU.
.-= Heidi Cogdill´s last blog ..NaNoWriMo-Day 11 =-.
Thanks so much WU and Juliet and three cheers to the other winners as well. Shall be haunting the letterbox . . .
Can’t wait for the grumble of the spine as I ease the book open and the whisper of the pages as they turn. Was just commenting today to a writer friend about how a book can be more so much more than just a book but an arousal of the senses.