Sorry, Gar, didn't mean to sound dismissive. Just trying to be terse. In journalism school, I was laconic. Thanks, Laura. I know it's a little crude.

When I was writing longer stuff, I'd read it walking. I know it sounds weird, but I'd pace up and down the deck and read aloud. It highlighted some awkward phrasing, pointed out things that a cold reader would find unclear, and helped me with pace, either building suspense or excitement, unfolding clues or sharing intimate secrets. The reading while walking sort of shook things into place--and pointed out where they were out of place.

I am loving the writing tips. Keep 'em coming.

The reading out loud is a good way for me to find some of my more common mistakes (awkward phrasings, infelicitous repetitions, etc.)

The best thing for me, though, is to let things sit for about a week and then go back and read through. That tends to give me enough distance to notice places where what I wanted to say didn't come through clearly, but not so much that I wonder "what the hell was I trying to say/imply/hint at" here?

Neat little exercise in coming up with a plot:

[link]

Though the link to the sf cliches is dead. Google works, though.

Its not ethical to ask for a blurb from someone who has not read the book is it? Even if someone they trust has read it, liked it and is willing to say so? No, I thought not. Sigh.

Its not ethical to ask for a blurb from someone who has not read the book is it? Even if someone they trust has read it, liked it and is willing to say so? No, I thought not. Sigh.

Depends on what the blurb says. I would think

"I heard it was pretty good from a guy...what was his name?...we were both on that panel about...what was that about? Fuck. I gotta stop hangin' in the hotel bars at cons, man, you know? Just way too much trouble. But then I get bored all alone up in my room and spend way too much on hotel pay-per-view porn...

...anyway. Yeah, somebody said it was okay. So, uh...read it."

...would be perfectly acceptable.

...

In some respects.

Readers:

Insent.

Gar, can you send them a copy of the manuscript in email?

They've had a copy for two years. They don't have to time to read it. I now know the particulars (which I did not when I last posted), and they have an ongoing family tragedy, and simply will never have time to read it. I'm just going to have to do without their blurb. I knew even asking for a blurb for a book they will never rad would be wrong, but I was so fucking tempted to ask, because a blurb from them would pretty much ensure publication.

I can't speak for anyone else, but sometimes I really feel the impulse do something I know is wrong. Rather than wrestle with alone, I find it helps to say it out loud to friends. Sometimes the result of that is a verbal kick in the ass when that is exactly what I need.

I still think I will get this published. And if not, well there are a whole lot worse things in life than never being published. I now know why a particular person is not reading my book - it is because he is going through one of those things; all I can do is wish for the best possible outcome for that particular family, knowing the best possible outcome is still pretty awful.