Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Fan fiction -- write your own stories

I can't see the appeal of fan fiction for writers. If you want to write, write. And that means, create your own characters.

I agree with Chelsea Quinn Yabro, who's quoted on Lee Goldberg's blog: "If fans want to write, they should make up their own stories with their own characters. That's what fiction is all about."

There seems to be some kind of fiction (play on words intended) among some in the writing community that fan fiction is a "grey area". I can't see it. If you use someone else's characters in something you write, make sure the work is in the public domain. If you're using characters created by a writer who's alive, or whose work is still under copyright, you're stealing someone's livelihood -- either that of the writer or his heirs.

And there's no "But..." about it either. It's theft.

OTOH, if you want to get permission to use the work, then apply to the author/ publisher, and be prepared to pay a permissions fee.

A lot of fan fictioneers' pouting responses to Cease and Desist requests from writers is along the lines of: you take yourselves too seriously, we're FANS by heck, and we can do whatever we want with your creation.

Yes, you can, in the privacy of your own home and your own computer. But if you publish the material -- and putting it online is publication -- prepare to be sued.

Technorati Tags: fiction, writing

iTunes now includes podcasts

The blogosphere is buzzing with the new podcasting (Internet radio) feature in iTunes.

"Podcast + iTunes = Pretty Neat" tells you how to get started listening:

If you aren’t familiar with Podcasts, or are curious about this whole thing, try these steps:


1. Download the new iTunes (of course)

2. In the Advanced menu, click on the “Subscribe to Podcast…”

3. In the field that pops up, put in the URL for your favorite podcast. Or, if you don’t know of one, just try Leo Laporte’s - http://feeds.feedburner.com/kfi

Technorati Tags: podcast

Thinking about writing is different from writing

Most (all) of the challenges that occur in writing are in your head.

For example, let's say you don't know what the title of your new novel should be. In your head, you brainstorm and consider and discard various titles. You're confused.

Or, you need to write a computer manual. In your head, you think about the manual's structure. What's most important? Should you begin with common tasks the reader might want to perform, or should you begin with how to install the program? You're confused.

This confusion can lead you to think (thinking again) that there are problems with the project.

This is illogical.

Over time, I've found that I can solve any writing challenge -- when I'm writing. As much as possible, I avoid thinking about current projects too much when I'm not in front of the computer, or when I don't have a pen in my hand.

Try it. Dismiss conscious thoughts about current projects until you're writing the project. You'll find that you don't have challenges. You simply have tasks.

Technorati Tags: writing

You're THE BEST

You believe in yourself and your writing -- yes?

You do. Except for those times you don't. :-)

From Home Office Help, here's a brilliant marketing/ motivational exercise:

Write an ad praising your product to the heavens. Think about your customer. What could you possibly say to him that would make him want to buy from you? Talk to her about all the fabulous benefits realized when she uses your product. Show how much better your service is over the competition. Convince the world that your product is absolutely the best there is. 
Don’t hold back. 
Exaggerate if you have to.

Your "product" is your writing.

Write the ad. Believe it -- strive to live up to it.

Technorati Tags: Motivation, writing

Keep a log for your projects

Need to stay on track with a project? The easiest way is via a log. A log can remind you of your goals for the project and guide you. It will show you that even if you think you're not making progress, you are.

For example, let's say you want to write a novel.

You've been talking about this novel for years. However, you never make any progress on your novel, and you forget about it for months at a time.

A novel is a huge and threatening commitment. A log helps you to break down your commitment into easy chunks.

Start by writing about the novel in your log. Write a paragraph, or just a sentence a day. Your log helps you to stay in touch with your project.

Technorati Tags: practice your writing, writing

Mac viruses? Say it ain't so

Heh. The Mac vs PC virus debate -- The Apple Blog » Viruses on Mac OS X.:

Thus did the argument begin. I pointed out that while there were viruses running around on Mac OS, there aren’t any for Mac OS X (aside from the obligatory mention of MS Office macro viruses). The Mac OS viruses that I’d run across in general were pre-8.5, and couldn’t even run in Classic today. Mac antivirus developers do a great job, and I’m the first one to say “Antivirus? Sure, install that. Cheap insurance against the inevitable.” But actual viruses running around on OS X that can actually do anything, destructive or otherwise? I just haven’t run across any. Spyware’s been a big zero on OS X as well...

Technorati Tags: Mac

Writers are catching on to the blog thing

pro write - professional writing secrets...:

I've just Googled: "writer writing blog" and was amazed in the number of new writers' blogs.

Not sure how to start your own blog? Workshop Twelve — "Blog Your Writing" will get you started.

Need help? Ask for it on Pro Write's forums.

Technorati Tags: Pro Write, writing

What I love about my new Mac

I'm a new Mac user of two weeks, and I'm spending much more time in my Mac than I thought I would. (All the time, for the past couple of days.)

Here's what I LOVE so far:

* I can open as many programs as I please, without the dreaded blue screen of death, lockups, or other distracting OS behaviors which wreck my train of thought;

* The Services menu. It has a huge number of options, and makes working with multiple programs a breeze. To mention just one feature of the glorious Services menu, whatever app you're in, if it recognizes Services, you can send text directly to it -- I'm writing this blog post in DEVONthink, and when I complete it, I'll select the text and send it to ecto;

* Applications written just for the Mac, like DEVONthink and ecto;

* The Dashboard;

* The font thingy (no idea what it's called): you just press Command + T and a font tool thingy pops up. Amazing;

* Install and uninstalling via drag and drop;

* No opening and closing of programs: I can open what I like, and leave it open --!

Amazing. Just amazing.

Technorati Tags: Mac, Mac Tiger, puppy

What's a blog, etc?... A blogger's class

Writers need blogs. You'll notice that I said blogs, rather than a blog, singular.

Trudy W. Schuett has posted The Blogger's Class which contains a link to a site she created as a resource for a beginning blogger's class she gave. It answers novice bloggers' questions capably and well.

Technorati Tags: blogs, blog how-to

How long should your book be?

"Big Ideas, Little Books: What a Concept!" in the New York Times says:

All books should be exactly as long as they need to be. There is no ideal length.

It's an excellent article, with several books that you're sure to want to add to your "must read" list.

Changing word processors ... it's not easy

Apple Matters has a review of Pages.

How Pages made me look good

Look at this example taken from my resume.  The page on the left was done in Word, on the right in Pages.  These were done only two weeks apart, yet why does the Pages’ one look so much spiffier? I didn’t rush out and do any DTP courses in that time.  It’s just Pages. It helps you be more creative.

Technorati Tags: Mac, software

Reality bites

FC Now, the Fast Company weblog, has a story about writers on reality TV:

"The secret about reality TV isn't that it's scripted, which it is; the secret is that reality TV is a 21st-century telecommunications industry sweatshop."

This isn't surprising considering that networks were attracted to the reality genre because they are so cheap to produce. It turns out they are cheap for a reason: Not giving story producers health benefits or paying them the minimum salary requirements. If you've seen any reality TV, especially any involving celebrities, you know how contrived they are. You can almost hear the producers saying, "Let's send her to a psychic." OK, maybe that's just me.

Technorati Tags: writers low pay, writing

One creative act a day, every day

Thanks to BoingBoing for the link to this crafter who makes a stuffed animal a day.

What creative act could you perform every day? It doesn't have to be linked to writing, although it will be -- everything a writer does is linked to writing. :-)

It's the COMMITMENT that counts. When you make a serious commitment to a creative act, and perform it every day, you train yourself to take your creativity seriously.

Make a commitment to a creative act a day for 40 days.

You'll be a different person at the end of those 40 days.

Technorati Tags: productivity, writing

Janet Evanovich and the writing business

Janet Evanovich is clear-eyed about the writing business in this New York Times article:

"I'm a writer, but this is a business," she said. "You have to look at it in the way you would look at any business. You have to have honesty to the product. You have to meet consumer expectations. You give them value for their money and give them a product that they need. I don't see anything wrong with all these things. And I don't think it's a bad thing to meet consumers' expectations."

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