Poppy Z Brite chronicles the spectacular and fucked-up crash-and-burn of writer Kevin W. Reardon, a.k.a. Cole A. Adams.
When writer/editor Steve Berman criticized one of Reardon’s story in an anthology review, Reardon responded by leaving “anonymous” comments on Berman’s LiveJournal blog very seriously urging hm to commit suicide. But this is the Web, and it’s amazingly simply to discover who is behind the comments on your blog — Reardon was unmasked, and has apparently moved on to making death threats.
This sort of thing gets around. If an editor hasn’t already heard about this, he or she soon will. Reardon’s career as a paid writer of horror fiction is, in all likelihood, finished.
As Elizabeth Bear says, “Dear aspiring writers: don’t do that.”
January 19th, 2009
Based on my work here at Writing For Pay, Liz Strauss has declared me a Successul and Outstanding Blogger. Huzzah!
October 27th, 2008
Ed Healy hailed me on Twitter, asking if I was working on a new episode of the podcast. I’m not, I answered. Not yet.
I seriously underestimated the effect that my new job at a PR firm would have on my life. On show after show I kept saying that I’d make changes that would give me more time to pursue projects I care about, particularly this one. But honestly: the first six months at any new job always kick your ass. There’s nothing you can do about it except to focus as hard as you can on learning the ropes.
So in case you were wondering, that’s what I’ve been doing since June. But summer’s over and I’ve more or less gotten my sea legs, and it’s time to start planning for the next “season” of Writing For Pay. I’ve had a number of emails from people who’d like to be guests on the show, and I’m going to start writing those folks back and setting up interviews.
Although there’s one troubling development: Mysteriously, I see that my subscriptions have gone UP since I stopped posting shows. Maybe what my audience really wants is for me to stop talking?
October 7th, 2008
Writinghood has posted links to and descriptions of nine sites which Sydney Hazelton knows for certain have paid contributing authors. Check out Nine Legitimate Writing Sites Which Pay.
September 6th, 2008
From the site:
Mahalo.com is searching for skilled gamers/writers to play, beat and write walkthroughs for today’s most popular games. // If you are interested, please e-mail Evan D. (evand at mahalo dot com) or Mark B, (markb at mahalo dot com) and include a short 2-400 word sample of walkthrough writing. It can be a level you’ve beaten, or a specific boss, etc. We just want to see that you can write clearly and descriptively about video games.
1. Must be approved first
2. Must have excellent writing skills
3. Must be very knowledgeable of video games
August 26th, 2008
Christa Terry is the writer and editor of the bridal blog Manolo For The Brides. Her book iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net is out in bookstores now.
- From blogger to book author
- Finding a niche and pitching the concept
- Who owns the information in Christa’s head?
- Winning over skeptical editors with statistic
- Writing a book under a tight deadline: tears and Tofurkey for Thanksgiving
- The publishing world can be a warm and nurturing place
- Christa’s next project: writing books and building a brand
- Advice #1: Value what you do and make people pay you for it.
- Advice #2: Bloggers - building a following online is all about interacting with your readers.
- Advice #3: Journalists - don’t expect to make big bucks doing glamorous work. Expand your repertoire by taking other gigs.
- Advice #4: You don’t have to be a freelance magazine writer to be a “real writer”. That world is very stressful and takes a very specific kind of person to do it.
- Christa’s book “iDo” did indeed come out on June 10th, but this episode was unfortunately delayed. Go buy it, wedding planners!
Christa’s book:
iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net
Christa’s blogs:
http://www.manolobrides.com
http://www.manolohome.com
Christa recommends:
The Everything Guide To Writing A Book Proposal
Music by Morgansorange
June 14th, 2008
Part three of our conversation with Christa Terry, aka Never Teh Bride. Christa talks about her new book “iDo: Planning Your Wedding With Nothing But ‘Net”
Show notes at www.writingforpay.org
June 14th, 2008
Christa Terry is the writer and editor of the bridal blog Manolo For The Brides. Her book iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net is coming out on June 10.
- Job-hunting in Boston.
- Envy and spite: valuable career tools.
- Enter the Manolo.
- Editorial policy in the Manolo blog empire.
- Blogging for pay: how does it work?
- Blogger ethics and conflicts of interest.
- Never Teh Bride does not shill, even for freebies.
- Blogging gives a writer a tremendous intimacy with readers.
- Anonymity or infamy? Blogging with a persona.
- Does your bridal blog change once you become a bride?
Christa’s book:
iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net
Christa’s blogs:
http://www.manolobrides.com
http://www.manolohome.com
Christa recommends:
The Everything Guide To Writing A Book Proposal
Music by Morgansorange
June 1st, 2008
We continue our conversation with Christa Terry, learning how she made the jump from journalist to professional blogger at Manolo For The Brides.
Show notes at www.writingforpay.org
Standard Podcast [22:57m]:
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June 1st, 2008
Christa Terry is the writer and editor of the bridal blog Manolo For The Brides. Her book iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net is coming out on June 10.
- Our first long-distance show using Skype!
- Do gender stereotypes hold true — are men afraid of wedding talk?
- What happens when a bridal blogger plans her own wedding.
- Eating mints before eight o’clock can doom a marriage.
- Don’t be too quick to flee that internship for a paying job.
- Auditioning for a job in the newspaper business, and the perils of getting the job you want.
- Journalist by day, New Age freelancer by night.
- Using Craigslist to find freelance work.
- Good or bad, put it all on your resume!
Christa’s book:
iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net
Christa’s blogs:
http://www.manolobrides.com
http://www.manolohome.com
Christa recommends:
The Everything Guide To Writing A Book Proposal
Music by Morgansorange
May 25th, 2008
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