Privacy, Emails, Links + Pictures to Burn

Hey everyone!

Following on from this post, where I said I can't let go:


On the train this morning, I had an epiphany.

Yep, a true blue epiphany.


I was listening to Taylor Swift - of course - and Picture To Burn came on. Now, before today, the song was good, nothing special, but nothing awful. Not one of my fave Taylors, but I listen to it.

The basis of the song is about a guy - of course, most Taylor is! - who broke her heart, and instead of getting revenge or anything, she's just going to add him to pictures to burn. And that made me realize - perhaps all I need is my own burn list!


A list of ex's - and to a certain degree, friends - who I should stop thinking about the get the hell over.

So, once this post is finished, I am going to construct a list of all the people that I need to burn: forget about, get over.

Let's hope this works! Argh!


On other bookish news, I'm going to be a part of an ARC tour! Yay! It's for Elizabeth Scott's new book, but on the downside it's touring fourty blogs *gulp!* so, as Elizabeth says on her blog today, it might not make them all :S

There's a really interesting topic being discussed over on Allison Winn Scotch's blog. Everyone is discussing whether you should pass on editors/agents names/emails/phone numbers when friends/co-workers/random people ask for them.


I have a huge problem giving out people's numbers normally. Like if a friend asks for someone else's number, I ask that person first, and say, "is it okay if I give so-and-so your number?" Usually it's no problem, but I always like to check first.

Similarly, I HATE IT when people give out my number.

I also hate it when people forward me chain emails (don't even get me started on those!) with a bunch of other people's email addresses visible, which means those people can see mine too.

For God's sake, use the BCC!!

This particular instance, this person forwarded a chain email to me, and another person also received the email.

Our addresses weren't BCC'd, and everyone could see everyone else's emails.

This annoyed and upset me GREATLY as one of the other people in the email I DID NOT want them to have my email address.

ARGH.

I'm getting angry all over just thinking about it.

So, let's move on.

I've been put in that situation before: someone has asked me for a contact, when that person knows I have the contact - so it's not like I can lie and claim I don't know.

It's awkward, but then again, I'm sure I've asked people for contact details before too!

Jessica over at BookEnds sheds some light on why agents say no.

Over at Ed Anon, a question was asked: just what do Editorial Directors do? And the answer? "I can't tell you!" All the people in publishing houses, at different houses, have slightly different titles, and by answering what an Ed Dir at Ed Anon's house does, would mean that Ed Anon would be Anon no more. In the comments, people are answering, so if you're not sure, check it out!

Lisa & Laura: How do you get your characters to talk?

Libba Bray: Writing a novel, a love story.

Kirsten over at Pub Rants discusses publicity.

Nathan Bransford discusses query letters in a new way.

Pimp My Novel discusses movie-tie-in books.

Justine Larbalestier discusses tricky bits in books.

On the mega plus side, I have another agent interview in the works!

I don't want to post it until I find a specific article to attach it with, but so far I've had ZERO LUCK. I think I'm just going to give up, but want to give it one more shot.

Anyways, I must be off. Expect the agent interview soon, and, all bloggers, you won't want to miss this one, trust me!

Tonight I'm going to a pub with two of my best friends - Mel (from The Melbourne Cup) and Jess, both of whom I did business school with last year, and we're going out to celebrate something very exciting that happened to me today, but I'm sorry, I can't say anything at the moment!

Anyway, I need to get ready, so, have a great night everyone!

Meme from Simmone: Letter To Younger Self

Okay, I know I just blogged but bare with me.

In some freaky coincidence, I was just reading Simmone's newest post, and listening to Fifteen by Taylor Swift.

At. The. Same. Time.

Both are talking about wanting to talk to your younger self. Simmone writes a letter to her sixteen year old self, informing her of all wonderful things, and Taylor is singing about:

'cause when you're fifteen and somebody tell you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin round but
In your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy of the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen

Because, basically, it's my blog and I can, here's a letter to my teenaged self:
*And before you laugh, I am aware I am only 21, but bare with me here!*

Dear Teenaged Megan,
Hello! Oh how many times I've wanted to talk to you, and say that shit back then doesn't matter at all now!

How I wanted to reassure you that it will all be okay, but, of course, no matter how many older and wiser people told you that, it doesn't make a difference as, when you're a teenager, everything is now and if the now is crap, then the future will be too. ("My life is overrrrrrrrrrrr.....")

I would like you to be nicer to the people you may not be so nice to now; it will surprise you to learn that the people you keep in contact with after high school and various writing courses you do will be the people that weren't necessarily your best friends at the time, and for some weird reason we're friends with them now.

Trust me, this still confuses me now, so surely all it is doing is confusing you then. But it's fantastic, and you wouldn't have it any other way.

You shouldn't worry about your friendship with your best friend, although you guys spend a year not talking, and when you leave for Alice Springs you also weren't talking, you two were meant to be best friends and you will grow up to be little old ladies, in rocking chairs in the nursing home, still debating about the world. That hasn't changed.

Speaking of Alice Springs, it might be nice that instead of drinking all your money away, if you save some. It'd be nice to return to Melbourne with more than $50, thanks.

Although a lot of people would disagree, I say go ahead and enjoy year eleven and twelve as your sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll years. Lots of people would tell you you're crazy - as they did! - but really, in the long term it's had little impact on our life - except for great memories! - so go ahead and enjoy it.

Don't get so caught up about dating, and thinking about what everyone else expects of you. There's lot of time for that, and really, it doesn't matter now.

Don't worry, or even change, your first time. It still is something I think about now, but it made you who you are today.

Try not to be so influenced by you-know-who. It's so not worth it.

Try not to get involved with several people actually; it only leads to trouble. You know who I mean.

Know that your relationship with your parents improves drastically once you move out; although this may not seem like a big deal now, you actually learn to value your dad pretty high later on. And that's important to you (as surprising as that is!).

I guess the most important thing you need to know is that now, at twenty-one, you are exactly where you need to be and your life is right on track.

Don't worry!

Love, Megan, twenty-one years.

Not Letting Go + Study!

Hey fellow blog-readers: here's a secret you might not know about me.

I can't let things go.

Nope, I am that awful ex who, moments after breaking up, bombards you with countless texts asking stupid questions, trying to 'clarify' things, anything I can think of to keep talking.

I am that person who, months after not talking to a friend after a fight, will email them to try and make peace.

I am that ex who, after me dumping you, I email you and see how you are.

Even I am surprised when I get a polite response instead of "screw you".

Anyone who knows me personally knows I can't let things go.

I live in the past, bad.

I can admit that, and I can see how that would be a bad thing *cough* but I can't help it: I like things the way they were, not how they are.

This only applies to some things, of course, not all.

Things like failed friendships and failed relationships, I generally want back the way they were.

I see the person's name pop up on msn or an old text and it takes all my will not to talk to them, yet more often that not I start.

Today a similar situation happened. The situation ended with a sad smile and a, "I will understand if you don't want to talk to me for a few weeks" (long story) and I held out until eleven before texting the person in question.

I honestly cannot help it. It's an actual problem.

I know people get frustrated because I can hear it in their replies, but most humour me for a little while.

Today's one, for example, said, "I know you're upset but..." Which is a really nice way of saying leave me alone, basically. Haha.

Anyway, I have no idea why I started talking about this, if nothing else because it's on my mind.

What else is on my mind is homework.

As one of my friends Sarah would say, shit is hitting the fan with deadlines are fast approaching.

This morning I handed in one major assignment (and by major I mean, it was hand this in or fail the entire subject, regardless of all your other assignments and marks through-out the year) and it was YAY that's done!

On the weekend I emailed all bar one section of my screenwriting folio; that section is a hand-written graph thing that - admittedly! - I still need to do, but the rest is done!

Tonight, I've completely cleaned my room - OMG! - and organised all the random crap lying on my floor in folders: bills, MWF, random, work.

I wrote out another homework list, and have already ticked two things off. YAY! Two things that are signed, sealed and delivered (well, one is emailed and one is printed, to be handed in tomorrow :D).

Now I am working on my report for my MWF internship. This involves two essays, and I have a hell of a lot of appendices, which has required going through all my MWF posts to find the ones that I need, going through all my MWF paperwork, all my MWF emails. It's very time consuming as there's so much to go through!

But finally, I've found everything I need. I have around 50 pages of notes to print off for the appendices, and I just have to write another 500 words for one of the essays and I'm done.

I'll print everything off and hand it in tomorrow.

I also have another essay that's due on Wednesday - well, it was due two Wednesdays ago, but I haven't been to class (I have medical certs, people!) - that I *gulp* haven't done yet.

That plus the 5,000 word folio that is still untouched.

Yikes :S

On the plus side, this change of scenery for me seems to be working. I've relocated myself from my room to the desk in the lounge, and so far I've been ever so productive. It's such a bonus as now I can sit on my laptop for hours without it burning me (it gets soooo hot!), and lay all my papers out.

Also on the plus side, Rachelle Gardner has an awesome post about characters, and Maureen Johnson tackles the issue of word counts, and how 560.6 words really isn't that much.

Anyway, I'm going to get back to this homework.

Have a great night!

Someone Elses Autobiographies

Evening all!

I must say this afternoon has been blissful - the two parties this afternoon were PERFECT. In every sense of the word.

The birthday girls (yay!) were five and six (perfect ages!). Small groups (twelve and seventeen, hoorah!), great behaviour.

It was PERFECT.

So perfect in fact that my co-worker and I were commenting on how awesome our jobs were, and then one of the mums (of one of the kids who was at the party) said it must be awesome to work here, and said if there was a position opening she would take it in a heart-beat.

Yeah. My life rocks :D

On the bus home, I was reading I'll Scream Later, as I've been doing the past few days, and that started me thinking about autobiographies.

I'm a big fan of autobiographies. Celeb, political, random people - give it to me, I'll read it.

By the time I finish reading one, I feel as if I could fit easily in the person's life. I know their history, their sense of humour, their friends. I could easily slide right into their life, knowing everything.

I guess that's the power of a really fantastic autobiography.

In year nine, we had to write our autobiographies (as apposed to writing someone else's autobiographies :P) and I remember that mine ended sounding something like this: As I looked up at the stars, I suddenly knew that everything would be okay.

The scene was just after my mother's funeral, at the wake, and my cousins, my sister and I walked down the street and was looking for The Southern Cross.

I do remember staring up at the sky, but in reality the scene should have read something like this: As I looked up at the stars, I wondered why the hell I couldn't see anything, yet apparently my cousins and sister could!

I guess I felt that my teacher would appreciate some sort of happy ending.

I always wonder about autobiographies, is how they get specific conversations down pat, right back from when the person writing it was a teenager, or younger.

I can remember vaguely conversations I've had with people over the years, but I certainly can't remember specifically what everyone said.

Several people that I know have mentioned my life would make a great autobiography.

One of my friends lovingly refers to my life as 'mini-dramas' every week, often opening conversations with, "So, what's today's mini-drama?"

Oh yes, people, my life has had it all: death, stealing, romance (several romances! One night stands! Long distance relationships!), foster care, weddings, sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, running away, fights.... I could go on, but you'll just have to wait for my best-selling autobiography!

*Disclaimer: the above list of things doesn't mean that all of those things I've done, but have affected me in some way. I.e. stealing.

Anyway, I am off to pen my best-seller, and also to duck down to Coles to buy some ice-cream.

YUM.

Have a great night everyone!

The Post Where It's Late, I'm Tried and It (Mostly) Doesn't Make Sense

(Very) happy early morning to you, kids!

I am up at this crazy hour doing homework.

Well, technically. I've written out a beautiful table with everything that's due, plus all my work this week and social outings.

I can safely conclude - along with the availability I put into work today at The Gift Shop - I won't have any free time until roughly half-way through January.

But it's okay. I love being busy!

Currently, I am painting my finger nails sparkly silver and listening to Taylor Swift. Woot woot on both accounts!

I don't know where to start with my homework: one assignment requires lots of research (too late/cbf), another requires me to gather material for appendices (room too messy/can't with wet nails), another requires me to go through work-shopping papers and re-draft (too much effort), another requires me to write 5000 words (I really want to print what I've done so far, cut it up, arrange it on the floor and work out where the hell I'm going with it. But again, it's too late/too much effort/cbf).

I could go on, but I won't.

But on the plus side, I feel completely organised about what I have to do, and now I just have to do it.

Easy!

Right?

I have to say, over on my website I have my email listed on my contact page, and I kid you not, I'm getting thousands of junk email every single day. I swear, do people having nothing better to do than send out emails, proclaiming I've won over $100,000,000?

Does anyone actually ever answer these emails?! I must admit I've been tempted before, just to see if I could out-smart them. When they say that I've been offered to hold this trust money and get a cut, give them bank details that aren't connected to me at all, and have a zero balance, and see how far it goes. Hahaha :P

Anyway, finally finally I've changed the email on my site to read megan(at)meganburke(dot)com(dot)au, which I am hoping will cease all of that. I'm so sick of going through my email system and deleting the thousands of spam (which don't go into a spam filter, by the way!) while trying to keep an eye out for any proper emails.

Which reminds me, if you've emailed me on that email and I haven't replied, chances are your email's been accidentally deleted. Email me on literary(dot)life(at)hotmail(dot)com.

*Another coat goes on the nails*

Did you guys here that someone has written a parody of Twilight? I saw it in Borders, when I was there the other day, and it's rather hilarious.

I've found the first chapter here, and I advise everyone to read it. It's perfect, from the apple-core front cover to the pure literary gold found inside.

I especially like this:

"You don't have to go, Belle,'' said Bill. ''Sure, my street-hockey team is going on tour, but only around the neighborhood. There's plenty of space in the car for you, your mom and me to live.''

Hahaha! I vaguely remember from Twilight that it's Bella's step-father who is going on tour with some random sport team, but that is gold! GOLD!

I have to say though, I think Laura at Pimp My Novel has a fair point: fanatic Twilight fans wouldn't buy it, and those who hate Twilight - like me! - certainly aren't going to waste money on it, so who will buy it?

Ahhh *Yawns* it's almost two am, and all I've done since I started this blog is paint my nails, and laugh reading the first chapter.

Not very productive, especially considering that I have stacks of work to do, and oh so very little time.

Hmmmm :(

Tomorrow (well, today) is children's party shop and Monday I actually have off from tutoring, so instead I'm going out for coffee with a friend. Hoorah!

Also on Monday I'm giving a speech on one of Simmone's short stories, which I had to analyse for a project.

And writing that reminds me that I wanted to get some quotes from Simmone's emails to me, to use for my presentation.

Three people from my class got chosen to present their assignments, and, lucky me, I was one of them!

Hahaha, re-reading Simmone's emails, she started one off by saying, "Hello, Megan June" and I replied, laughing, saying, "You sound like my step-mum with the 'Hello, Megan June'!"

Oh, it's the small things in life, people, the small joys!

Lalalalala, what can I talk about now?

One would assume, since I'm actually not doing anything of value anyone, that I should just pack up and go to bed, but really, people, what fun would that be?

None. That would be no fun!

So, instead, I'll listen to an acoustic version of Forever & Always by Taylor Swift, trying not to fall asleep and blog about random crap, which is just me rambling on.

Victory is mine!

On checking Facebook, apparently a bunch of my friends have joined a group called "What's the point of making my bed when I'm just going to sleep in it again?" to which I say AMEN! What is the point?!

The only time I ever make my bed is when someone is coming over, and even then it's a half-assed job.

Living at home, my step-mother was so pedantic about making my bed every morning, and I never saw the point! What is the point?! You're just going to ruin it again!

Well it's just pass two am, and I'm still yawning and trying not to ruin my beautifully painted nails. Which I often do, just when the paint is half-dry. I hate that!

My toes are very pretty in their standard red (my toes are always red, always. I feel funny and weird and I won't wear open-toed shoes if they're not painted red. Don't ask me why, it's like an addiction. They. Must. Be. Red!).

Also, in between yawning and watching my nails, I'm also poking my head down the side of this desk and making sure the spider that is there hasn't moved. And so far, within a few hours, he hasn't moved, which is awesome because I don't like spiders and don't want him to move.

By the way, if you haven't checked out Thug Story by Taylor Swift featuring T-Pain, you must. Just read the lyrics.

My fave part?

I'm like 8 foot 4/
Blond hair to the floor/
You shorties never thought I dreamed about rapping hardcore/
No I ain't got a gun/
No I never really been in a club/
Still live with my parents but I'm still a thug/
I'm so gangster you can find me baking cookies at night/
You out clubbing but I just made caramel delight

Is that not the most hilarious lyrics you've ever read?

Anyway, I might stop torturing you all with my mindless and pointless ramblings.

Hope you all got some sleep tonight!

Pitch Us Your Current Read!

Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP?! Hoorah for the new Nanny Diaries coming out!

And, BEST EVER, I'm getting an ARC of it!

So stay tuned for a review, and hopefully an interview with Emma and Nicola too *Fingers crossed*

So now, in light of tomorrow's awesome read - Nanny Returns - and today's awesome ready - I'll Scream Later - this post is about you kids!

Please leave in the comments what you're reading at the moment - pitch it to everyone else! Then again, maybe it's totally crap, and you don't want anyone else to read it. And if it is, then I'll ask you: why the hell are you still reading it?! Chuck it aside! Read something else!

Anyway, enjoy your Saturday night and don't forget to pitch your read!

The Post I Published Without A Title.... Whoops!

Hello everyone!

So today I said to myself, Megan, you need to stop with the depressing and serious blog topics and think of something light.

Well, technically I didn't think that, but you know what I mean!

Today I was working in The Gift Shop, and this insane lady came in and abused my manager. It was crazy. She was going mental, and when she left several shoppers came up to my manager to ask if she was okay. THAT insane.

After work, I met a friend in the city for coffee/dinner. Soooo good to see her. And her bump! She and her husband had been trying for a few months to fall pregnant, and now she is six months along. I could see it! And feel it!

Last time I saw her it was a sort-of bump, but now there is no mistaking it.

After we finished, I wandered around the city and went into Borders, where I saw this:



If you can't tell, it's a giant blackboard, complete with chalk and eraser, and people are invited to write about a good book they've read.

How awesome! What a great, unique idea!

I just had to take a photo of it, although I was annoyed when I realized that, in an attempt to take a smaller bag to have dinner (and not to mention that giant hard-back novel I took with me!) I didn't take my camera - now, anyone who knows me knows that my camera never leaves my side. It's standard leaving-the-house attire: keys, purse, mobile, camera, iPod. But tonight I didn't take it. And then I saw that board in Borders and I was screaming!

But, not wanting to pass this brilliant opportunity up, I took out my mobile out and stood there like an idiot, snapping pictures of the wall.

But oh so worth it, don't you think!

As I mentioned before, I'm reading a new hard-back book, which is I'll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin, who is an Academy Award and Golden Globe winning Deaf actress (who also apparently has a star on the Walk of Fame. I didn't know that!). Notice how I wrote Deaf, and not deaf?

Apparently it's some form of political correctness or something, cuz through-out the book 'deaf' is always written as 'Deaf'.

Anyway, the book is awesome! A few times it's stopped where I thought it shouldn't, but apart from that, it's really interesting.

I have a soft-stop for celeb autobios. Bad I know, but oh so good.

I have Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady), Goldie Hawn, Paris Hilton (don't laugh!), Audrey Hepburn (by her son), Miley Cyrus (duh!) and many more.

Today in tutoring, my boy had to write a 500-word essay, which he did yesterday and I was revising it today.

The particular topic that he's studying in English currently is something that I have very strong opinions about, and something he couldn't care less about.

It seems to me that this stupid topic in English has dragged on forever: he's written countless poems, essays, assignments on this topic. I'm over it, he's over it.

I wish it would finish already!!!

He had the draft of the essay, as I said, and I was going through it, making it and giving suggestions. One thing I noticed was that half the paragraphs didn't relate at all to the topic.

I told him this and he said the outline was written by the teacher, which I found really surprising.

It was simple enough for me to write a few linking sentences that made the paragraphs semi-relate to the topic, but for that outline he had written down - from the teacher - it didn't relate at all!

Speaking of high school English classes, over on Teen Fiction Cafe, Stephanie Kuehnert talks about a recent trip back to her old high school.

I have mostly fond memories of my high school. Okay, it kicked ass. I loved my school. Yes, I was a nerd, and still am.

It's funny, I've been talking to several people who are considering sending their kids to my old school, who have kids at my old school, and are thinking of moving their kids away from my old school.

I cannot sing it enough praises; my two sisters and I had a fantastic time there, loved the teachers, the teaching, everything.

But talking to all these people who are almost bagging my old school makes me sad and upset, until someone finally pointed out something that I was privately thinking but didn't want to say, in case I offended someone: You and your sisters are all very academic, and did really well in school. My son/daughter are not as academic, and are getting lost in the crowd. Maybe your old high school is fantastic when you're really academic and excel at class, but maybe it's not so good when you're not so academic.

Maybe that's true. Maybe it was a super school to be at if you're a nerdy smarty-pants, and maybe if you're not that way inclined you get lost in the crowd.

Either way, I had a great time at my high school and I'll continue to talk it up.

Anyway, enough of that :P

Now for pub links!

1. How long is too long to wait for an article at a magazine? Advice needed
2. The Aliens Onions have new book news!
3. The Inkwell Bookstore has complied a hilarious list of NaNoWriMo writing tips from major authors. My fave? From Anne Frank: "@AnneFrank #NaNoWriMo tip: Avoid distractions! When I wrote my book, I locked myself in the attic & refused to let any1 in"
4. Doyce Testerman, aka Kate Scafer Testerman's husband (who is, as we all know, super-agent Daphne Unfeasible) gives some brilliant writing tips for NaNoWriMo
5. Sure-fire way to get published: head over to this blog and read it!
6. Rights and copyrights 101 at Writers Beware
7. If you like Twilight, click on the link to find something that I'm sure you'll want to purchase. If you hate Twilight, click on the link to laugh at something stupid, but make sure you have a bucket near by to throw up in. Oh - here's the link!


Have a great night everyone!

Emotional Content + Emotional Revision

Hello!

Firstly, I'd like to quickly follow on from yesterday with this quote: "You have to operate online as if you're in a public place." That was said by a police officer on The 7pm Project about... well, it's a long story, but the point remains (especially in reference to yesterday's post!).

And also, I wanted to talk about personal content on blogs.

I once dated this guy earlier this year (and by dated I mean hooked up a couple of times in random places and at random times (hospital car parks at 3am, anyone?!) until we went on a date where I was ignored - he elected to watch the giant TV screen and play tetris. I. Think. Not. So I faked an emergency call from a BFF and got the hell out of there :P) and was mentioning my blog, and he looked all serious and said, "Do not mention me on it." At first I laughed and went, "Yeah, right, mate," but he turned to me and said, "Seriously. Do not mention me, okay?" At the time I thought, Uhh right, like I'd mention you anyway but it was sort of eye-opening how paranoid he was, and how much he didn't want to be on my blog.

Of course, he had nothing to do with books, publishing or writing, and the "relationship" lasted all of five minutes so obviously I didn't bother to blog about him, but I was thinking today about yesterday's post, and how you do have to be careful, and how some people really don't like being mentioned.

I usually try to be vauge when re-counting personal stories (obviously I don't want 1000 people turn up on my door step if I mention I'm having a few people over for drinks!) and I usually don't write my friend's names on my blog, or I change them.

With the post about The Cup, for example, originally all it contained was "my friend", rather than "Mel", but then it was becoming too hard to make it make sense while saying "my friend" each time, so I just changed it to "Mel". Now Mel, who actually does exist, and that is her real name, knew I was blogging about the horse and such, and just rolled her eyes and laughed at me.

Some bloggers advise when talking to authors/agents/publishers/people of publishing importance, and they know you blog, to tell them that the conversation is "off the record", so they know that whatever they tell you won't appear on your blog.

Sometimes I write personal stories because either they're relevant to books/writing, or they're funny - like the horse story.

I think you have to respect people's decisions if they don't want to be included on your blog (like that guy from above) and at the very least change people's names.


Anyway, enough of that for the time being!

I've been all very serious for the past few days, what's happening?!

In links news,

1. Lili Wilkinson has posted a beautiful picture of where she is currently spending NaNoWriMo
2. Allison Winn Scotch has posted chapter one of The One That I Want! YAY!
3. Kirsten from Pub Rants de-codes Google Books
4. Great article about publishing and getting published, featuring quotes from Kate from Ask Daphne!
5. Have I lately mentioned how much I love THE INTERN? No? Well, here's another GEM of a post for you: revising (!) your novel's emotional journey. Advice. Of. Gold.
6. Kiersten talks about writing a book, and how everyone has a book inside them.


Anyway, kids, I'll let you hop on over to THE INTERN, and ponder the content of blogs.

Have a great night!

Negativity, Links and Such

I'd like to start out with some words of wisdom from Rachelle Gardner today.

You never know who is reading what you write on-line.

*Not Rachelle's specific words, but the essence of her post today, and I will be quoting her later*

Rachelle's post is about reasons why you may not get an agent, and she says that if an agent is interested in you, they may Google you and read what comes up.

Which is a natural step, if you think about it, as authors would too Google agents, see their past projects, their current authors, etc.

And then Rachelle says that agents can get turned off, depending on what the author has written:

If you're negative about the publishing industry; if you complain about agents and publishers and the unfairness of it all; if you're resentful about bad books being published; if you speak disparagingly of specific publishers or editors or agents... you can be pretty sure most agents will not want to work with you.

There are plenty of places on the Internet for you to rant about everything that frustrates you with publishing. But I urge you to use caution, because agents and editors have the same Internet access you do. Many of us Google your name if we like your writing and are considering discussing representation with you. If we find things that scare us away, you'll never know we were even investigating you. You'll get a form rejection.

I think the most obvious personal example would be my long rant on Rachelle herself.

But I emailed her and explained myself, ala damage control, and she did leave that awfully long comment, so I do hope that she doesn't harbour any sour feelings. She did say in an email back to me that it was well-written and a "great post", and in all honestly, as the post says, I know my writing isn't suited to her and what she represents and it would be a waste of time for me and her if I were to query her, but still...

I think the most important thing to take away from Rachelle's post today is that you never know who is reading. People have quoted me back things I've said that have caught me off guard, and I've thought, "How did you know that?!"

As many of my friends know, I'll say things without thinking, be quick to fire off responses etc.

But I think that its a completely different thing to potentially ruin a friendship for a few hours during a fight by saying the wrong thing without thinking, to writing something online, which can be read by people - such as agents - who can hold your future (if you're interested in publishing, that is!) in their hands, and then simply decide to turn you away.

Another point that I left as a comment on Rachelle's post was it's the old advice we were always given: don't bag a former employer to a potential employer: they'll think you'll do the same to them if you leave, etc.

Anyway, enough of the negativity!

There's actually so much to get through today and I really need to get my skates on as I have to get to bed at a semi-decent hour because I have to work extremely early tomorrow morning!

So, quick quick quick publishing links:

1. Simmone Howell overheard an extremely hilarious conversations about points of view, between three teenage boys, on a train in Sydney. Hilarious!
2. Speaking of POV, Maureen Johnson also tackles this subject
3. Helpful hints on writing from Inkwell
4. A fantastically informative post from Steph at Hey, Teenager, on writing advice. And I must admit that I agree with a comment left, about her being offered three agents just good luck: "Your success isn't just luck, it's raw talent." AMEN!
5. NaNo Tip #4 from Justine Larbalestier on word counts
6. Wonderful advice about breaking into the industry from Allison Winn Scotch
7. Ten reasons why publishers don't give feedback on submissions from Hey, There's A Dead Guy


So many links for you kids to read today!

And I must be off to shower and sleep!

Hope you had a great day!

New Horse Names + BOOKS!

Afternoon everyone!

Hope you all enjoyed THE INTERN's advice before!

As I mentioned, today was Melbourne Cup Day and, as I said, I spent it in the city with my friend, Mel, at Fed Square.

It in a quite hilarious conversation, I was asking Mel if the owners named their horses the random names - such as "Alcopop" - when they were born. Like when the horse is born, they look at it, point, and say, "I'm going to name you Alcopop!" (Keep in mind, I know nothing about horse racing and am actually scared of horses).

Mel said no, they have all these rules and regulations about names and would most likely name them later. I asked why, and she said because probably so they didn't get two horses with the same names, and the right number of characters etc. And then she also said, "So people don't name them stupid names, like F**ker".

And then we burst out laughing and for the rest of the day said that we are going to buy a horse, and call it "F**ker" and race it, and then people would call out "F**kers!" when cheering.

It would be rather hilarious. Are you laughing? I am, as I write this. Hahahahahaha!

We went to the TAB before, and I placed a $2 bet on Alcopop, simply only because it has an awesome name. Alcopop! Come on! Awesome!

Mel placed a bet as well, but relized about fifteen minutes before the race she had, in fact, betted against the wrong horse.

And then was kicking herself that the horse she wanted to bet on had won.

Poor, poor Mel :P

After that, we went shopping and walked past Sportsgirl, where I saw this display:







And my jaw dropped and I stopped and pointed and Mel shook her head and looked embarrassed as I whipped out my camera.

Books! In a fashion store window! BOOKS!

I know have much more respect for Sportsgirl than I did before.

BOOKS!


Anyway, that is all I have to say.

BOOKS!

Have a great night!