tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:07:15 +0000writingweb writing90% Freelance Writing, 5% Angst, 5% Star Trekhttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)Blogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3274904266177932014Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:28:00 +00002012-01-17T00:07:15.878-08:00Hi all, I've been away for quite a long time, but I do have a few reasons. I mean, not good reasons, but reasons nevertheless. Since I've been gone: * I wrote about 8,000 words of a novel during NaNoWriMo. So, I was quite the loser, but I did write more fiction during that month than I did in the rest of the year combined. So, I was perfectly pleased with it. That novel is now about 12,000 words http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/troubles-and-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-4349139429218142965Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:16:00 +00002011-11-03T12:40:07.337-07:00Wow, I've been away from Ye Olde Blog for quite a while, writing like crazy and wishing that I was writing something other than whatever I'm writing at the time. I went to DragonCon and attended a number of fascinating writers' panels. I had been planning a long blog post about it but never quite got to it. To sum up, I:Met Wil Wheaton - twiceHeard a number of interesting sci fi and fantasy http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/nanowrimo-and-fear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-6767656067529484118Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:08:00 +00002011-08-13T16:16:36.804-07:00I did one of my very rare self-searches today on Google because I had to find some article samples to send to someone. I hate doing that because every single time I do any lengthy search for samples I find at least one copyright infringer. Today? Yup. Found one. However, I also found this: The Growing Zones for Watermelons This is an eHow U.K. article that cites my book as a reference and me http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/crazy-find.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-6965003565380823317Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:16:00 +00002011-07-11T22:20:05.391-07:00A little over a year ago, I outlined what I thought was a fairly solid bit of arguing against using Facebook. I don't want pictures of myself all over the interwebs and I don't need more online time wasters. I don't want to post my "mood" or "status" and I don't want to read anyone else's. Apparently, this wasn't enough. I am still being cajoled, prodded and basically harassed about Facebook http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/ok-i-guess-i-need-to-do-this-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3080379923078115301Sun, 03 Jul 2011 07:27:00 +00002011-08-30T12:12:26.491-07:00I ran across this Guardian piece today- it's a massive list of rules for writing fiction, as written by several well-known authors. Reading it through is pretty inspiring, and a little eye opening in some ways. I managed to break two of these "rules" in that last sentence. Anyway, this is long, but many of the rules were just too interesting not to share. A few of my favorites: Elmore Leonard- http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/rules-for-writing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-27202992018232103Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:27:00 +00002011-07-01T14:35:42.286-07:00Every year, November presents a puzzling little question that hangs over the heads of obsessed writers. Should we speed write a novel during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), or decide that we don't have time/can't be bothered/haven't perfected the story yet/wanted to but there was an X-Files marathon. Often, the best course of action is to ponder it until the month is nearly over and http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/nooooooooooooooooo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-7549049975115173649Mon, 23 May 2011 03:39:00 +00002011-05-22T21:12:24.064-07:00Things are getting back to normal for most people. The power has been spotty, but it's holding right now. I had stopped jumping at noises finally, and then the tornado sirens went off today. It was the first time they had sounded since the April 27th outbreak. I had been sure that I'd vomit or panic the next time I heard them, but I did neither. I did those stupid childbirth breathing exercises http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/last-tornado-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3106241751629565183Tue, 03 May 2011 19:16:00 +00002011-09-22T12:33:17.253-07:00Warning: this is going to be very long, and it's not necessarily about writing. But then again, virtually everything is about writing. I always see things in terms of what I'd say about them, how I'd crop the tale to the right details, etc. But again, most of it is not about freelance writing and there is very little Star Trek:6 a.m.The day began a little before 6 a.m. when the weather radio http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/tornadoes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-8946755989940713755Tue, 03 May 2011 17:45:00 +00002011-05-03T10:48:48.456-07:00Since the events of last week, I've been trying to organize my thoughts about what happened to me and to the area as a whole. I want to write something, maybe many things, about the experiences with the tornadoes and what came afterward, but I don't know what I am and am not willing to share just yet. I'm planning a blog post or two, two apocalyptic short stories and a few informational articles http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/long-post-coming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3481612423468347611Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:29:00 +00002011-09-22T12:23:22.007-07:00Suite101, if you aren't already aware of it, is a long-standing website that pays a revenue share to freelance writers who take on various topics and categories. I started writing for them about three and a half years ago when I'd been ghostwriting a lot and needed some Web bylines to get new clients. They proved to be fun to write for, and I made my minimum hourly amount with them, so I stuck http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/suite101-panda-casualty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-7320982703074645725Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:08:00 +00002011-05-09T17:51:12.257-07:00I had a six-hour surgery last month, and the recovery is proving to be slower than I imagined. I think in a civilized country they would allow you to stay in the hospital for more than one night after an ordeal like that, but this is not such a nation. However, a couple of days after the whole mess, my book came in the mail. The publisher was nice enough to send along six advance copies, and theyhttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/recuperating-and-excitement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-7860215193199114684Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:20:00 +00002011-02-17T00:55:30.592-08:00Wow, it's been quite a while since I updated. I don't think I've ever gone this long between posts before. The two people who read it must have been disappointed. :(Since I've been away from here, I've mostly been obnoxious. I've always known that I have some obnoxious tendencies, but over the past few months I've really started to notice just how bad it really is. This week I've been thinking a http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/still-alive-still-obnoxious.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-1600137884304266390Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:09:00 +00002010-12-22T23:29:34.468-08:00As expected, Kirk looked great in a tree But who, I did ask, will represent TNG? Picard is a safe bet, but seems to lack luster Riker instead is the one to pass muster The Riker ornament came, but its weight brought surprise How could the uniform hide so much heft for his size?http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/tale-of-christmas-tree-massacre.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3857178108526135991Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:45:00 +00002010-12-16T12:13:49.338-08:00If you read The Bloggess, pretty much the best blog ever, you may have seen her amazing Christmas donation thing going on. She committed to giving out Amazon gift certificates to people who simply said they needed them. That has blown up into a snowballing network of people who are donating gift cards to people who have asked for them on her blog. Today that has apparently snowballed into other http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-donations-want-ebook.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-4008697368311167498Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:21:00 +00002010-12-14T16:45:22.845-08:00I once read a short story by Asimov called "Writing Time" that I really found fascinating. I mean, most of his short stories were pretty thought provoking, but this one really struck a chord with me as a teenage wannabe writer. The gist is that there is a guy who is constantly waiting for cabs, waiting in line for elevators, walking home or to the store, etc. His dearest wish is to have more timehttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/cave-men-writing-asimov-and-captain.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-1457426236346212897Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:56:00 +00002010-12-04T15:56:13.609-08:00This is the third year in a row that I've been making a Writer's Journey list of gifts for writers? Why? Because I'm avoiding work right now. No offense out there, but I didn't get a single thing from last year's list. Just saying. But, if there is a writer on your Christmas / Chanukah / Ramadan list and you don't know what to do, here's what they want:Writers enjoy bacon. Why do you think they http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-gifts-for-writers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-4606168838061662757Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:12:00 +00002011-05-09T12:46:18.193-07:00Now that NaNoWriMo has come to an end, you see how many people won and what an incredible job they did as far as word counts. Some reached 100,000+ words, and I know of one that ended with more than 150K words. Me? Not so much. I'm not even going to cop to my word count, but I will say that I am very proud of both the pages that I wrote. How many people can say that they are proud of every singlehttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/writers-journey-loser.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-7861614371189888298Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:06:00 +00002010-10-31T22:50:05.683-07:00So, NaNoWriMo started 45 minutes ago. The Halloween frenzy is over (though the candy will linger for a month), and now I'm expected to write 50,000 words in one month while also writing my regular, paid work and taking care of familial commitments. I was excited to start it, but now that the time is actually here, I'm looking for other things to get done before I start. Write a novel quickly? Ermhttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/writing-50000-words.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-2417623398239694862Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:05:00 +00002010-10-25T10:01:42.276-07:00I'm doing NaNoWriMo. No kidding. I am actually going to do it. It's a great concept if you've never looked into it- you write a novel in a month, ignoring that internal voice that tells you that what you are writing is ridiculous and weird. You just write it. Just write. You write and write and write, getting all of those characters out there and creating the entire framework, 50,000 words, http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/nanowrimo-bitches.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-7205534164839787355Sat, 02 Oct 2010 07:39:00 +00002010-10-02T00:44:01.371-07:00I did my once-in-a-great-while Google search on myself just now and guess what I found? My book.It's already listed on Amazon, and it looks like it's already been pre-ordered by at least a couple of people, judging by the placement number. I don't even know how to get my mind around that. I really, really don't.http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/holy-crap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-5690952925402733009Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:05:00 +00002010-09-16T18:15:45.193-07:00If you were a Mahalo writer or manager, someone is finally getting a class action suit together to throw at them. The full information is here. If you were burned by Mahalo when they decided that they didn't feel like paying people anymore and decided to change their terms from "you own all of the rights to your work and you will be paid as long as your work is on our site" to "nener neners," thehttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/class-action-suit-against-mahalo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3760578152583644759Sun, 12 Sep 2010 07:02:00 +00002010-09-12T10:45:45.571-07:00I attended DragonCon last weekend and have just recovered from the sleeplessness (and drunkenness). If you've never heard of it, it's a massive science fiction and fantasy convention held in Atlanta every year. I hadn't been in more than 10 years, and was pretty astounded at how enormous it's gotten. Aparently it's no longer embarrassing to be a sci-fi geek or a writer- it's swelled to more than http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/dragoncon-creativity-and-double-chins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-8230805521656541451Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:20:00 +00002010-08-23T02:37:24.616-07:00So, my spouse actually got a job this week. He's been out of work for almost two years because his industry has pretty much died in this country. Thanks, China! Anyway, with him soon to be employed, that means that I don't have to write full time anymore, though pretty close to full time. The first thought in my head was, holy crap, I get to write some fiction.I have been writing a lot about http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/jobs-writing-and-vampires.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-1487886025604064576Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:37:00 +00002010-08-13T15:29:53.072-07:00There is wave of panic rolling across the freelance Web writing world right now because of the news that Demand Media isn't actually profitable. Multiple stories have come out touting the company's lack of profits, as announced during the company's IPO, as a sign that they will fail any day and that the entire business model is obviously an unprofitable one. Here's why they're wrong.Profits Oftenhttp://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/demand-media-isnt-profitable-no-biggie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855950334653809254.post-3139287767967478670Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:29:00 +00002010-08-04T06:41:01.423-07:00I think that was the longest break I've taken from blogging since I started, but my schedule has been so difficult that no other option was possible. Last week, I wrote more than 32,000 words, including two mid-sized projects and most of the last third of a book that is now (mostly) completed. Final edits will be coming back soon, but for the most part I never have to look at the thing again. http://writersjourneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/still-alive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (L. Shepherd)0