...streak. That's it. That would get me the most publicity. Lady Godiva into a few bookstores after my book is published and try the outlandish with the already idiotic game of reaching readers and building audience. This business of being a writer in the socially connected world makes me a bit edgy.
Frankly, I have to stay positive to appear professional. So, I wear that badge. But slay me for blogging about writing (very unoriginal, so I've read. Even my twitter handle @avlwriter, yawner) and find a subject to draw people into your marketing snare (here's my blog about fine wine, and by the way, buy my book).
Hey, if you read my book (once it is published), here I am. Ask me questions. Follow my virtual a**. Let's be tweeps. Whatever. Just let me write.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Lost Without a Dictionary
All four of my dictionaries are packed away for a move to Portland, OR. I miss them. I stopped using dictionary.com because it's germy. You can pick up more goobers from that website than a frosted doughnut dropped face down at a swimming pool locker room. Just consult the Wall Street Journal.
It's been maybe four or so days living without them, but I've gone to the place I usually keep them several times now to look a word up, only to remember they're packed. With four, I usually look up a word in at least two dictionaries and compare. The definitions are always different. Word choice is everything, isn't it?
The NYT Book Review from April 10 has an article about a book of poetry, Beautiful and Pointless: A Guide to Modern Poetry by David Orr, and the reviewer, David Kirby, writes that more poetry readers tend to love poetry than simply like it. He uses an unscientific method to conclude this (ubiquitous Google search), but it's interesting. I'll apply that to my dictionary habits. I think I love words.
It's been maybe four or so days living without them, but I've gone to the place I usually keep them several times now to look a word up, only to remember they're packed. With four, I usually look up a word in at least two dictionaries and compare. The definitions are always different. Word choice is everything, isn't it?
The NYT Book Review from April 10 has an article about a book of poetry, Beautiful and Pointless: A Guide to Modern Poetry by David Orr, and the reviewer, David Kirby, writes that more poetry readers tend to love poetry than simply like it. He uses an unscientific method to conclude this (ubiquitous Google search), but it's interesting. I'll apply that to my dictionary habits. I think I love words.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
What I've Given Up to Write
The extras had to go.
Things I do much less frequently (sometimes not at all) to make time to write:
LESS: Balance my checkbook. Cook anything worthy of more than a C+. Bake. Weed. Dust. Vacuum/wash my car. Mop my bathrooms. Chase dust bunnies. Wash my dog. Volunteer at school (ouch, I know). Drink alcohol (ouch, I know). Facebook. Shop for groceries. Polish my toenails. Attend social events. Worry about whether I'm attending social events. Did I mention alcohol? Match socks. Wear socks. Sort socks. Read the newspaper. Watch TV. And, shower.
What I do more of that helps my writing:
MORE: Give in to the urge to write. Spend time with my family and dog. Run. Let other people cook and praise their offerings. Read. Rummage for chocolate. Think about drinking alcohol. Love. Watch good movies. Write this blog. Read blogs. Tweet. Encourage others to write. Be satisfied I can't do it all.
Things I do much less frequently (sometimes not at all) to make time to write:
LESS: Balance my checkbook. Cook anything worthy of more than a C+. Bake. Weed. Dust. Vacuum/wash my car. Mop my bathrooms. Chase dust bunnies. Wash my dog. Volunteer at school (ouch, I know). Drink alcohol (ouch, I know). Facebook. Shop for groceries. Polish my toenails. Attend social events. Worry about whether I'm attending social events. Did I mention alcohol? Match socks. Wear socks. Sort socks. Read the newspaper. Watch TV. And, shower.
What I do more of that helps my writing:
MORE: Give in to the urge to write. Spend time with my family and dog. Run. Let other people cook and praise their offerings. Read. Rummage for chocolate. Think about drinking alcohol. Love. Watch good movies. Write this blog. Read blogs. Tweet. Encourage others to write. Be satisfied I can't do it all.
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