Columns

Good Sex, Great Prayers: A Journey in Publication (Part 1: Origins)

August 8th, 2012

It was sort of like the Machete trailer they showed in Grindhouse. I had the genre, the title, and a vague idea of what it would be about, but ultimately, Good Sex, Great Prayers was just something I used to fake people out regarding the ‘what are you working on now?’ question (see also: the dubstep novel, which is exactly what it sounds like). It was a joke, more than anything.

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The Blagger's Guide to William Faulkner

August 7th, 2012

To blag (v): to sound like you know what you’re talking about when you don’t The Blagger’s Guide to Literature (n): an invaluable resource for those who wish to blag about books without actually reading them.

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Writing 'The Twenty-Year Death'

August 7th, 2012

My novel, The Twenty-Year Death, is the story of a “great American novelist” named Shem Rosenkrantz as he goes from literary darling and popular success to used-up hack who can’t get work. His story, which unfolds over twenty years, is told through three complete novels, each in the style of a different mystery master: Georges Simenon, Raymond Chandler, and Jim Thompson.

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What I Learned From My Kickstarter Campaign

August 6th, 2012

A little less than two weeks ago, my Kickstarter campaign ended with 330% of its original goal. I had asked for $8,000 to help fund the printing of my first novel, The Girl Who Would Be King, which I had tried and failed to sell to publishers in 2010 (read about that journey here!) and ended up with a shockingly wonderful $26,478.  So what did I learn?

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Ask The Agent: Rejections And Rude Agents... What To Do?

August 6th, 2012

This week’s questions deal with the more emotional side of being a writer. Not only is this a technically hard industry to break in to (so many rules and regulations, so many faux pas), but it’s also a very emotionally hard, intimidating, and taxing industry to work in. It doesn’t always have to be that way. Listen carefully to this week’s answers.

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LURID: Creepy Crawlies - Invertebrate Horror

August 3rd, 2012

LURID: vivid in shocking detail; sensational, horrible in savagery or violence, or, a twice-monthly guide to the merits of the kind of Bad Books you never want your co-workers to know you're reading.

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Some Practical Writing Advice From Douglas Coupland

August 3rd, 2012

LitReactor asked me for some advice for younger writers. In the end, I don't know how much advice you can really give a writer. They're either going to follow it or they're not. So rather than get mystical, I thought what might be helpful is a simple, practical list that I wish someone had given me 25 years ago. So here goes…

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5 More Ways Your Brain Sabotages Your Writing... And What To Do About It

August 2nd, 2012

Last month, we looked at five sneaky ways your mind messes with your productivity as a writer. I’d love to tell you that those are the only psychological tricks and cognitive distortions your brain has up its sleeve, but I can’t. Because there are five more where those came from, and also because your brain does not have sleeves. Let’s take a look at what else our writing practices are up against…

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Your Favorite Book Sucks: 'The Big Sleep'

August 2nd, 2012

'Your Favorite Book Sucks' is an ongoing column, written by different people, that takes a classic or popular book and argues why it isn't really all that great. Confrontational, to be sure, but it's all in good fun, so please play nice.

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New Release Roundup: Recommendations for August 2012

August 1st, 2012

Every month I'll be toiling in the dank, dark mines of literary obscurity, scouring the catalogues of every major publisher to bring the LitReactor faithful a few choice titles hitting the shelves. The following is a brief look at what's worth checking out in August. Full disclosure: unless otherwise noted, none of the below books have been reviewed by myself or other LitReactor staff. These are just a few recommendations based on publisher's notes and my own opinions. Without further ado:

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