Comments on: RUSSELL’S RULES FOR PUBLISHING SUCCESS? http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/ Where Words and Imagination Meet Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:33:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alan Russell http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1335 Alan Russell Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:20:50 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1335 You're right, Amy Jane, I probably should have explained that line. As authors, we have to be attuned to what feels right. That means we have to be brutally honest with ourselves. If something feels wrong, we shouldn't spray perfume on it. We have to listen to that nagging voice, embrace it even if it means cutting sections, character, whatever, to make things right. One of the comments talked about how certain books felt true. When you write, you need to do your own test on everything. Do I know people that talk like that? Would I react that way? Does that passage feel true. Books and music have to find the right notes. That's what I mean by bullshit detector. Hemingway might have defined it a bit differently, but Papa is not around to comment. Best, Alan You’re right, Amy Jane, I probably should have explained that line.

As authors, we have to be attuned to what feels right. That means we have to be brutally honest with ourselves. If something feels wrong, we shouldn’t spray perfume on it. We have to listen to that nagging voice, embrace it even if it means cutting sections, character, whatever, to make things right.

One of the comments talked about how certain books felt true. When you write, you need to do your own test on everything. Do I know people that talk like that? Would I react that way? Does that passage feel true. Books and music have to find the right notes.

That’s what I mean by bullshit detector. Hemingway might have defined it a bit differently, but Papa is not around to comment.

Best,

Alan

]]> By: Amy Jane (Untangling Tales) http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1332 Amy Jane (Untangling Tales) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:51:52 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1332 "Develop your authorial bullshit detector." There are a couple ways to take that. Would you mind expanding on it? “Develop your authorial bullshit detector.”

There are a couple ways to take that. Would you mind expanding on it?

]]> By: Alan Russell http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Alan Russell Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:21:00 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1330 Misery loves company, and Sully's India story made me feel glad only a pinkie was amputated. I also liked what he had to say about memorable characters. I think I'll make one of my "rules" a question - what makes your book different? I like your title, Brian. Ken and I have been talking about finishing our third and final "On the Road" book with the title: AND NO DAMN RECIPES (referring to the proclivity of mysteries to include recipes). Howard, you just can't trust family and friends (as you know). They don't want to hurt you, and what they say isn't going to help unless you happen to have a relative like Barbara Kingsolver (which I don't). And Dirtywhitecandy (quite the image) was right - it does help if another writer is in tune with your genre. I have done read and critiques before where mainstream writers have totally not gotten what the horror writers are doing. Evelyn, if you want to laugh (and cry) you might go to Ken Kuhlken's website (I think it's www.kenkuhlken.net) where he has ROAD KILL available to read for free (or at least he did - I hope it's still there). How right you are, Cassandra. True books feel true. They are real (or should be). I am going to throw that comment into the class mix. And Marisa, how could I not occasionally indulge in that fine drug called chocolate? I think women are the true addicts, though. I once had a lady friend who told me she would give up a week of orgasms for a frozen Snickers bar. I know of no man that would do the same. Thanks for writing everyone. I enjoyed all your comments. Best, Alan Misery loves company, and Sully’s India story made me feel glad only a pinkie was amputated. I also liked what he had to say about memorable characters. I think I’ll make one of my “rules” a question – what makes your book different?

I like your title, Brian. Ken and I have been talking about finishing our third and final “On the Road” book with the title: AND NO DAMN RECIPES (referring to the proclivity of mysteries to include recipes).

Howard, you just can’t trust family and friends (as you know). They don’t want to hurt you, and what they say isn’t going to help unless you happen to have a relative like Barbara Kingsolver (which I don’t).

And Dirtywhitecandy (quite the image) was right – it does help if another writer is in tune with your genre. I have done read and critiques before where mainstream writers have totally not gotten what the horror writers are doing.

Evelyn, if you want to laugh (and cry) you might go to Ken Kuhlken’s website (I think it’s http://www.kenkuhlken.net) where he has ROAD KILL available to read for free (or at least he did – I hope it’s still there).

How right you are, Cassandra. True books feel true. They are real (or should be). I am going to throw that comment into the class mix.

And Marisa, how could I not occasionally indulge in that fine drug called chocolate? I think women are the true addicts, though. I once had a lady friend who told me she would give up a week of orgasms for a frozen Snickers bar. I know of no man that would do the same.

Thanks for writing everyone. I enjoyed all your comments.

Best,

Alan

]]> By: Marisa Birns http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1327 Marisa Birns Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:46:39 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1327 You did EAT chocolate though, right? Something about silky cacao down the throat makes life's moments a ceremony. All those Aztecs knew about that! Thanks for pithy and excellent advice... You did EAT chocolate though, right? Something about silky cacao down the throat makes life’s moments a ceremony. All those Aztecs knew about that!

Thanks for pithy and excellent advice…

]]> By: Cassandra Frear http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1326 Cassandra Frear Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:42:57 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1326 Good article. I kept thinking of my favorite books and what makes them great. I think it's their trueness. That's what resonates for me: make it true. Even if it didn't happen, I should feel that it did -- somewhere, sometime. Yes, that's it. Good article. I kept thinking of my favorite books and what makes them great.

I think it’s their trueness.

That’s what resonates for me: make it true.

Even if it didn’t happen, I should feel that it did — somewhere, sometime.

Yes, that’s it.

]]> By: Evelyn http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1295 Evelyn Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:40:43 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1295 You guys are so funny! I swear, sometimes the comments are as good as the post! Classic! Prize winner: "Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go outline my next novel, Save The Chocolate Cat." Hahaha! Love the eccentricity idea! Great! I'm sorry, Sully, for that horrid, worst-nightmare event! OMG, I would die! Egads! So sorry, so sorry! Ouch! Damn technology! Alan, don't be so hard on yourself! I like you already! :) Thanks for sharing everyone! You guys are so funny! I swear, sometimes the comments are as good as the post! Classic!

Prize winner: “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go outline my next novel, Save The Chocolate Cat.”

Hahaha!

Love the eccentricity idea! Great! I’m sorry, Sully, for that horrid, worst-nightmare event! OMG, I would die! Egads! So sorry, so sorry! Ouch! Damn technology!

Alan, don’t be so hard on yourself! I like you already! :) Thanks for sharing everyone!

]]> By: dirtywhitecandy http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1271 dirtywhitecandy Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:58:36 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1271 Good advice. I'd add this: find a writing buddy to show your drafts to. Pick someone who's in tune with what kind of novel you want to write and can tell you when you've gone wrong. Good advice. I’d add this: find a writing buddy to show your drafts to. Pick someone who’s in tune with what kind of novel you want to write and can tell you when you’ve gone wrong.

]]> By: Howard http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 Howard Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:39:22 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1256 I love the quote "One good page a day for a year equals a book" - this is true of so many things. Plans and dreams that look so large and far away. If you can break them down into tiny pieces and do one of them a day, very soon you will be well on your way to your first chapter! I also like "Don’t trust the opinions of your family or friends." just not for the same reasons! I love the quote “One good page a day for a year equals a book” – this is true of so many things. Plans and dreams that look so large and far away. If you can break them down into tiny pieces and do one of them a day, very soon you will be well on your way to your first chapter!

I also like “Don’t trust the opinions of your family or friends.” just not for the same reasons!

]]> By: Brian Hodge http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1254 Brian Hodge Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:02:39 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1254 If these are mostly unpublished, or at least very-little-published, writers, then publishing success may very likely mean just getting the work published in the first place, and never mind the Amazon ranking. So publishing success counts on first achieving writing success. And you have plenty sketched out there for them to chew on. But if any of them are looking for shortcuts, it would probably be best just to show them the one to the door. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go outline my next novel, <i>Save The Chocolate Cat</i>. If these are mostly unpublished, or at least very-little-published, writers, then publishing success may very likely mean just getting the work published in the first place, and never mind the Amazon ranking. So publishing success counts on first achieving writing success. And you have plenty sketched out there for them to chew on.

But if any of them are looking for shortcuts, it would probably be best just to show them the one to the door.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go outline my next novel, Save The Chocolate Cat.

]]> By: Thomas Sullivan http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2010/02/04/russells-rules-for-publishing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1253 Thomas Sullivan Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:19:48 +0000 http://7.2994#comment-1253 Well, thank you for crediting me with the deviation rule. Actually, I might suggest carrying deviation beyond simply using it to get unmired from routine. To wit: be deviant as hell. Eccentricity sells. Seriously, I would call eccentricity a major tool in constructing characters. Can't think of a single memorable plot that didn't require memorable characters -- characters with foibles, quirks or some kind of uniqueness -- to make it work. I'm suggesting this particular snippet of advice, Al, because your books always make use of just such characterization. And don't we all have a story about work we've lost in the great cyber limbo of the computer! After Dell's techs blew up my bell-n-whistle mirror-drive pc's fool-proof redundancy from halfway around the world in India, I went back to backing up stuff with auto and manual software, plus printing out, plus 2 flash drives, plus 2 more external drives. Someone is sure to re-invent the pen and paper soon, and the world will be saved. Thanks, Al... -- Sully Well, thank you for crediting me with the deviation rule. Actually, I might suggest carrying deviation beyond simply using it to get unmired from routine. To wit: be deviant as hell. Eccentricity sells. Seriously, I would call eccentricity a major tool in constructing characters. Can’t think of a single memorable plot that didn’t require memorable characters — characters with foibles, quirks or some kind of uniqueness — to make it work. I’m suggesting this particular snippet of advice, Al, because your books always make use of just such characterization.

And don’t we all have a story about work we’ve lost in the great cyber limbo of the computer! After Dell’s techs blew up my bell-n-whistle mirror-drive pc’s fool-proof redundancy from halfway around the world in India, I went back to backing up stuff with auto and manual software, plus printing out, plus 2 flash drives, plus 2 more external drives. Someone is sure to re-invent the pen and paper soon, and the world will be saved. Thanks, Al…

– Sully

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