down the writer's path

Cal Thomas's 20-yr-syndication offers valuable lessons

Did you know Cal Thomas is the leading syndicated political columnist with 570 clients? I didn't. Dave Astor's article in the April issue of Editor & Publisher chronicles Thomas's success. The fact that he's a conservative columnist makes his accomplishments all the more impressive.

Today, April 17th, is Thomas's 20-yr-syndication anniversary. Thomas continues to rely on tried and true sales and marketing strategies. Building relationships with editors is key. Meeting his potential audience through speeches, is another. Thomas did a number of "one-shot columns" before he made the leap into syndication, so for those writers and bloggers, who opine and hope for syndication, perhaps a walk in his footsteps might yield similar results.

Language this and language that

The other night I spent some time googling and surfing through teen-related blogs on writing and came across Mary Nicole Sylvester's Creative Writing for Teens. Her blog is full of entries on writing and publishing that appeal to any age, and I found quite a few new blogs to add to my own blogroll.

Writers write. That's a given, but they should also read and enjoy language. That said, here are two terrific blogs on language: Languageart and Languagehat. Spend some time reading their entries; it's time well spent.

Are bloggers creating a new literary trend?

While blogs birthed online diary writing, the epistolary form of novel writing is not the latest blogger writing trend. Nor is journalism. The Guardian's Jim McClennan, who is currently researching online narrative as an interactive writer-in-residence--is that not a new term? --for the BBC, recently discussed the emergence of online narrative and provided some great links to follow if you're even slightly interested in the idea of how to use a blog for fiction writing.

"Indeed, with their short daily entries, reader feedback and links to the net, blogs seem purpose-built for creating episodic stories," McClennan says. Are going full circle? Many great writers such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Charles Dickens made their claim to fame with episodic fiction.

But what to name such a thing? Maude Newton's Stepheny Aulenback suggests "bliction" or "flogging."

Harlan Ellison battles AOL: Are you concerned about intellectual property rights?

The current issue of Writer's Digest (May 2004) raises serious questions about writers' rights. Chief among them is Internet piracy, and Harlan Ellison's battle with AOL is tightly focused in Robert W. Bly's interview with Ellison. As anyone who has read Ellison before knows, the writer is only slightly opinionated and has no qualms speaking out. Ellison certainly blames the Internet for much of the woes beleaguering writers today, but he also has a lot to say about "amateurs…the ones who give their stories away…." WD makes the full transcript available online. Although Ellison has settled with the individual who put his material up on the site without authorization, he's fighting AOL because they did not respond immediately to his request to remove the material. You have to give the man credit: he puts his money where his mouth is. His entire retirement money--he's 79 yrs--is at risk with this lawsuit, and we all know who benefits in the long run from any court case. If, after reading more, you agree with Ellison and want to help, consider donating to KICK Internet Policy.

Book covers and design: Whose art is it?

Okay, reader Mike Perry raised the question about cover iterations and what authors have to go through. He asked: Do you see many changes to the artwork as the book matures? Is it something you decide relatively early on in the process and it stays kinda static?

Well, for many—make that most—authors the answer would be “not much.”

The face of Divided Loyalties

Here at last: The final cover design for my YA book being published by Awe-Struck E-books this summer (August, 2004). I also heard the review copies were sent out last week. Let me know what you think of the cover.

Writing juices flow with Onionboy's blog

As I browsed through some of my favorite blogs, I stumbled across Onionboy's blogs. Now Onionboy has a main blog, Onionboy's Journal of Arts and Fetters, where he's combined writing and art, but the one that first caught my eye was the Onionboy Writing Prompts blog. The design is clean and clear-cut. The Onionboy at the typewriter graphic is clever and made me laugh. The idea is not new but Onionboy's blog is simplicity in action. Every day he posts a writing prompt. This is a great way to spend five minutes stirring up the writing juices.

Last weekend I directed a writer's retreat for the Houston Writers League and had the opportunity to put folks through the 5-minute sprint writing exercise program I've developed for use in workshops and classes. Using visual and verbal prompts, writers are moved through a series of exercises that not only often produce kernels of stories and sometimes uncover glittering gems, but often provide clues to their writing style and preferred stimuli. Having a toolbox equipped with the proper tools needed to jump-start the writing session can be invaluable to fledging writers as well as old-timers. So if you're looking for a way to start the day, click on over to Onionboy's and start writing. . . now.