What I’m Reading:
(Okay, so no mini reviews. This is just what I’m actively reading at the moment.)
- I’m trying to catch up on Strange Horizons (http://strangehorizons.com/) and Beneath Ceaseless Skies (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com). I did read a good story on the TOR website (http://www.tor.com/). The Starship Mechanic by Jay Lake and Ken Scholes is surreal and strange, but in some ways makes more sense than most first contact stories.
- Judge by Karen Traviss – Thought I’d already read this, but it got lost on the shelf. Wonderful sociological SF with philosophical leanings.
- How to Teach Physics to Your Dog by Chad Orzel (http://dogphysics.com/) – Read about this online and thought I’d check it out. So far, so good. Interesting approach.
Writing
Last week I posted a link about cultivating your novel’s voice. Here’s an alternate perspective that looks at whether voice is necessary or if the consequences of forcing it are worse than the absence.
http://www.publetariat.com/write/talking-voice
An editor speaks out about overwriting:
http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2009/01/overwriters-anonymous.html
Life
A life reminder to listen to yourself. While aimed at writers, it’s true for everyone:
http://www.comfortqueen.com/static-free-authenticity-2
Also aimed at writers (geez, you’d think I had a focus area ;)), but this is solid advice on living a positive life:
http://ididntchoosethis.blogspot.com/2010/01/positivity.html
Promoting
Tips for building your online platform:
http://michaelhyatt.com/2010/01/7-ways-to-build-your-online-platform-from-scratch.html
A voice of reason in a roar of advice:
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2010/01/key-to-marketing-your-book-time-well.html
Science
A researcher has discovered definitive evidence that US paper in the 1800s may indeed have been made from the wrappings removed from Egyptian mummies.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100102/NEWS/1020340/1116
The SF trope of plant-based animals gets a leg up, though these started out pure animal:
http://www.livescience.com/animals/green-slug-animal-plant-100112.html
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I think it might have been wise if the writer of Overwriters Anonymous would have taken the time to edit and correct his spelling, misused words, and some of the basic grammar and punctuation problems before putting the piece on display. Especially as it does pertain to correct writing habits. Or maybe I’m just being too critical. I do find that when I am reading articles that try to be helpful to would-be writers and they have so many glaring errors, it tends to put me off. It’s too late and I’m too picky, I know. Thanks for sharing all this. So many of the sites you share are really great and helpful.
I’ll admit nothing stood out to me when I read it over, but I also know of moonrat as a professional, so maybe I read less critically since that is more likely a blog post issue than a general lack of care. Unless it was in the quoted sections, in which case it was deliberate.
On the other hand, a professional friend of mine pointed out to me better to put up something interesting with a typo or two than to let editing paralyze you. I have easily 20+ blog articles that I wrote which will never see the light of day simply because when I started writing them, I was in a specific mood, but never got around to editing them so now they’re largely old news :).