Writers Wrule

Okay, so I can't say I'm entirely satisfied with my experience with Authonomy. While my piece that I've posted is fairing well, a few troubling patters have emerged.

First, politicking, paying lip service and catering to a popularity contest is what earns you ranks, not your talent.

Second, there is rarely a chance to have anything done for you other than a review - since acquisitions are being frozen, and Authonomy is HarperCollins' UK division, a debut author of another country would rarely be considered. The review will probably be helpful, but to kiss pompous, elitist writing snob ass is not, and has never been one of my strong points. And, in the extreme off chance one from the US would get signed by HarperCollins UK - one would most likely go the way of David Hasselhoff. Famous everywhere else but his homeland--and in his homeland, he's a joke.

One good thing has come of this.  A few of us talented and underappreciated authors have moved to a site created by a fellow writer.  He has created this site to be used as a tool that is more comprehensive and interactive than Authonomy. Since Authonomy is treated to beat slush piles (the unsolicited manuscripts agents get every month), the site is almost treated with the same dispondence and contempt. There are many things they could do to make it more user-friendly, but because it's a bastard step child of a concept, it's left to the wayside.

So, if you're interested, check me (and the others) out at Writers Wrule. It wrocks.

Authonomy

If you've read my post about self-publishing, perhaps you remember an earlier post that I can't remember where it's at to link to here, about this American Idol for Writers called Authonomy. It's hosted by HarperCollins of the UK, which from what I understand in many articles is doing better than it's American counterpart. Perhaps that's why they've managed to sign three of their undiscovered writers participating in the site in teh last month.

So, my friends and those who wish to enable this crazy hobby of mine - read a story of mine here. Vote on it, leave your input, whatever. The story that's posted is one that I wrote during NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month) YEARS ago. While the site says you're the owner of the rights and intellectual property I am, like any other artist, paranoid that my ideas will be stolen. This story? I care not to so much if it does. But, if it gets pretty popular than maybe I will post some other stories (books) on there.

Please check it out! My pen name: M. V. Merchant.

Update on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 08:56PM by Skinny Monkey

As of today, 2/10 my posted piece is up 1483 slots leaving me with a rank of 968.

Update on Monday, February 16, 2009 at 07:41PM by Skinny Monkey

As of 2/16, my posted piece is up to rank 889!

Update on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 10:11PM by Skinny Monkey

2/17 rank:  605 +363!

Update on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 06:44PM by Skinny Monkey

Stalling a bit at 562 (+25).

Update on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 07:20PM by Skinny Monkey

3/3 482 +20!

Lily in Oil

A year later, Lily in Oil is finished.

Ulterior Motive

So, it's finished. I mean, as complete as it's ever going to be. With a completely different ending, adding layering into the characters, story and plot line - the Caitlyn story is done. Done done. I'm sure it's version 697 of a final rough draft, but it's been officially renamed to: Ulterior Motive.

More of a mystery suspense thriller than a crime novel as it was before, I've been encouraged by an essayist (a bona fide published person) who critiqued my work at the last writer's conference. She said she couldn't get the beginning sample out her head and referred me to her publicist's agency. I queried, unfortunately at an inopportune time (an insider said never query two weeks before or after a major holiday and I did it mere days after Thanksgiving) after the literary agent said she'd like to read more. Now, I just hope she a) remembers, b) didn't purge her email after being buried in submissions and c) still has a job.

Why do I say the last part? Apparantly, in the literary world, the economy has rippled into the industry. Folks aren't buying books in Big Box stores where there's the bread & butter for the money, more folks are going to libraries, downloading e-books and still processing Kindle sticker shock. Editorial and publishing houses are merging, freezing acquisitions (buying folks' stories) and retreating into silos becoming ever more unreachable than ever. With mergers and general market downsizing agents, publishers, editors and assistants are being given pink slips.

I did stumble on to a website called Authonomy which seems to be like an American Idol for writers, but I'm more disturbed by the politics (which can resemble the real publishing world) but more over, the worry of loss of first rites (most editorial houses won't touch something 'published' either by electronic version or self publish because they don't have 'first rites') and the dread all authors have - plagerism. So what if I have a great idea and a great story? It doesn't mean anything if someone steals it and passes it off as their own no matter the level of writing skill they have.  So, where I could technically post Ulterior Motive there for y'all to read in a central location (and vote so it can pass the editor's desk), I'd rather humbly share with you via email if y'all interested. Just send me a line.

So, let's cross our fingers and hope that querying widely will pay off.

Salmon Wrap

Sometimes creativity best lends itself to last-minute desperation. The other day, Vin and I were hungry and we made the yummiest wrap out of canned salmon we had in the pantry. The recipe is as follows:

One can of salmon
Mayo to taste
Mustard to taste
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
celery see to taste
1/4 cup finely chopped pickle (or one whole pickle)
1/8 cup or to taste finely chopped onion
Dill weed to taste
Course peper blend to taste

Mix all ingredients together until you reach the consistency of patè or to your liking. Line a tortilla with lettuce, plop mixture on top and wrap! Then, enjoy!