Disqus - Latest Comments for le_shack

Re: Why you should write your novel

le_shack — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:06:24 -0000

Thanks Tina for your thoughts. The general consensus I have been getting seems to be, keep writing your novel but learn the business needs alongside.

With the F1 analogy. It is a world class car, competing against the best the world can produce. If a novice jumps in he/she is more likely to hit the pit wall than make it out on to the track. Sorry I didn't make it clear just how different driving and driving can be.

Thanks again for taking the time to put up such a good argument.

Re: Great People to Follow on Twitter

le_shack — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:28:50 -0000

Just love this idea, do you mind if I steal it for my blog?

Thinking... I can do it once,
put a link to it on my front page,
Keep growing it,

And retweet it each #FollowFriday

And you are so very right. All the extra info is brilliant.

So much better than "good tweep @SomeoneOrOther"

Thanks

Re: Vonnegut’s First Rule of Writing

le_shack — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:04:15 -0000

Never considered their time as an investment, although I can see the reasoning to this and I will bear that model in mind.
I always loved street performers who told stories and this fondness of the entertainment arts spills over in my approach.
I set out to interact with my readers and strive to entertain them, easier said than done.
I try to flow the prose as if an actor was playing the audience, draw them along, know them and most importantly for this to work.
Know where you are going, you can not draw them along if you are stumbling around yourself.

Re: Big News From Two eBook Sellers: Amazon and Smashwords

le_shack — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:58:56 -0000

The more I read on this, the more it seems that Amazon has seen the future and is putting all its efforts into claiming the lions share.

Obviously Amazon is a business and that is what any good business will do, I can’t fault them for that.

But, and it is a big but, we have seen the #Amazonfail debacle and the loss of choice to the public and selective purchasing options feeding into only Amazon promoted authors.

I feel as if Amazon is like a giant constricting snake, slowly wrapping up all the options and squeezing out non-Amazon choice, until the “prison walls” leave us little more than pop-corn books that return the biggest profit.

As I said it is my feeling and my opinion, for me I am thankful that Smashwords, PDFs and a cheap PC are, for the moment, available.

Re: Vonnegut’s Fifth Rule of Writing

le_shack — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:46:20 -0000

I find this so difficult, the times I have been told or have read "begin after it has started" seems so, so, so... well it does.

Trying to have my joggers mid conversation at the mid point of their jog when they first appear on the page. Trying to have the conflict almost in the readers face, but there is so much story in my mind of the time before this point. Mercy me, what am I to do?

Maybe I should write the prequel at the same time?

Love the post, been there, have the hat, tee shirt and the bumper stickers.

Re: FIVE Major Mistakes New Bloggers Make That Fatally Affect Their Profits!

le_shack — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:48:51 -0000

All good lessons, wish I had read them a month or two ago :)

I would add on the planning, that thinking (and writing down) what you are going to post on, and which day of the week each topic is published, helps loads and loads. Since your mind is focused and you know what you are going to write about next .

One more thing, if I fail to get my wife to check my posts before they are posted, then loads of silly mistakes, that I am somehow blind to, get displayed to my readers. (Humble mutterings and feet shuffling.)

Even now I am writing this in word and taking advantage of the spell checker before copying to the comments field.

Re: Amazon Anger Rises on Twitter - mediabistro.com: GalleyCat

le_shack — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:06:51 -0000

Searches on Amazon.co.uk turned up the "Adult" material, where as it was masked on the Amazon.com sites.

I can understand, obviously the American population need protection. Why? Only Amazon can answer why they believe all Americans should be treated like children. And what does that imply about what they think of the moral status of Engilsh people?

But why oh why is there not an "Adult" check box in Amazon users profile, and any credit card carrying customer can exercise their own freedom of choice?