http://litfarm.com Writing. Publishing. Goats. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:46:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In an era of declining sales, declining readership and shrinking marketing budgets, publishers are looking for authors with a "profile". Or better still, a small following. Podcasts are yet another way of getting the word out about your book, without spending a penny on editing, printing or design. Ask Scott Sigler. ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/19/give-away-your-books-as-podcasts/ Like a lot of guys who were pushing thirty when it came out, I had a slightly embarrassing obsession* with Fight Club, and the homo-erotic, visually stunning piece of awesome that was Fincher's movie. Well, say what you want about the book, you have to respect Chuck Palahniuk for really, really ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/18/chucks-site/ Cory D twigs us to a book on showmanship for magicians that was a collectors item until it was reprinted in 2000. Not only is it a well-written look at a fascinating subject, with compelling illustrations of tricks, techniques and other bits of stage craft, but it's also full of ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/17/magic-and-showmanship/ Here's an essay by WH Auden on writing, that explains why I always feel so incredibly awkward at literary events before the alcohol. Literary gatherings, cocktail parties and the like, are a social nightmare because writers have no “shop” to talk. Lawyers and doctors can entertain each other with stories about ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/14/writing-by-wh-auden/ Never mind the declining sales of books and depressing statistics that show North Americans are reading less than ever before. Editors Tom Jenks and Carol Edgarian see all kinds of silver linings in the gloom, or more accurately, silicon linings. (Ed: Please forgive me for thinking of, and writing down "silicon ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/13/transition-to-digital-and-opportunity/ A musical about a Scottish village of the same name, that appears only for one night every hundred years, because of a curse (or blessing, depending on your perspective) that keeps the village from ever having to change with the times. Two Americans stumble onto the village by chance, and threaten ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/13/brigadoon/ Robert Harris, author of the bestselling historical novels Fatherland, Archangel and Pompeii has some advice in the Guardian on how to write fiction. Having the urge to write a novel, especially if you've yet to be published, is like having a medical condition impossible to mention in polite company - it's ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/12/how-to-write-fiction-novels/ Hey folks! Geoff Cole, one of my friends and fellow alumnus of TWS, just placed second in Apex Magazine's annual horror short story contest. This year's theme was "election horror". Here is Shaded Streams Run Clearest, by Geoffrey W Cole. Enjoy. If you like what you see, why not check out ... http://litfarm.com/2008/11/05/election-horror-2008-contest-winner/ IRoSF has an article on silencing the inner editor. Nothing too earth-shattering, but worth a look if you're staring -1,667 words in the face on a Tuesday morning. http://litfarm.com/2008/11/04/for-my-nanowrimos-fast-writing/ Especially good advice for fantasy writers. (thx, Craphound!) http://litfarm.com/2008/10/29/xkcd-on-writing/