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I’m sick today, so I’m only posting a small post while my brain is active enough to handle it. I’ve actually been sleeping on and off all day today.

Alright, the big news, right off the top:
Amazon buys Goodreads! Here is an article from Daily News and another from Amazon Press Release. What does it mean? Will they integrate reviews? Will they muck up social networks and ruin things like facebook? Time will tell.

Second, Bioshock Infinite is out, and I love this review done by Adam Sessler. Basically… video games are pushing the boundaries of story telling. I can’t wait to play this game and be a full part of the story.

Felicia Day did a great AMA on Reddit this week, and talks a bit about the future of Geek and Sundry, and her creative drive in general.

The Writers Knowledge Base offers a searchable index of articles about writing, creating, and what have you. I haven’t had much time to search around in it, but so far it looks interesting.

The Nerdist interviews Macklemore. They talk about the weirdness of fame, writers block, creativity, and doing what you love.

The Future of Storytelling, interviews with people at Comic Con.

On the home front, I’ve been putting together a playlist on YouTube of video’s about Overcoming Fear, from the likes of Charlie is so Cool Like, Hank Green, and Vi Hart. There are some wonderful videos and I hope they inspire you, too.

Accomplishments!

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Here is the story list I have been working off of. It is incredibly helpful to check off each story as it gets finished, or nears completion.

Pink – Almost done (I’m just filling in and refining.)
Green – Done! Just needs an edit.
Orange – Published.

This is my “Short List” which only has stories listed that have some good development, and synopsis, or chapters already written. Most of the novels have between 10 and 30k words already there in order to be on this list. I have another list that I won’t be looking at for a while that has everything else. The short list keeps me from getting overwhelmed.

But, regardless, watching the green spread across the page as I complete more stories… that sense of accomplishment is awesome! I can’t wait to add a few more green spots, and even orange as I release more of them.

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The biggest news this last week or two has been about the Random House imprints, and their contracts.

John Scalzi had a lot to say about the matter, and about the subsequent changes put into the imprint contracts.

My thought on the matter is that if the publisher doesn’t give you a better deal than self publishing, then it isn’t in your best interest to do it, especially if you have to give them all of your rights to the piece of writing. After all, your the writer. You’re the one who should be making money off your work before anyone else.

And here is and article in defense of the royalty only contract, but take note. Royalty only does not mean giving up all rights, paying for things like printing, editing and storage out of your royalties, or losing control of your IP.

Please check Writers Beware for more information on sketchy issues with agents and publishers.

In other news:

Google Reader is shutting down. Here is a list of alternatives. So far, I like Feedly.

March 30 is INTERNATIONAL TABLETOP DAY! 

Body language cheat sheet for writers.

What if we put DRM on a chair? Well, I know what happens when we put DRM on SimCity.

Jim Butcher is putting out a steam punk series.

 

There’s been a lot more then this during the last week or so, but I think this is enogh for the day.

Small Bites 1 cover

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Three flash fiction stories. “Beware the Werewolf”, “Chimera” and “Griffins Flight”

Three flash fiction stories. “Beware the Werewolf”, “Chimera” and “Griffins Flight”

I just finished “Chimera”, the third story in Small Bites.

Now it’s off to be edited so that I can put the first of the books up.

There will be four of them, each for .99 cents, each with three really short stories. Then I will do the full “Small Bites” with all twelves stories as one $3.99 offering, and raise the singles to $2.99.

In other news, “Osiren’s Tears” is well on it’s way to completion. I am in the process of finding an editor. It is almost 30,000 words long and definitely needs an edit before I put it out.

This will be my first full length book out. It will be at $3.99 I think. But once I have it up I will also start offering some KDP select free books, so look for that soon as well.

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A lot has been happening this month. Penguin is pushing Authors Solution. Amazon is discouraging free book sites. And interviews all over the place! Here is a look at what’s been going on around the web.

Amazon HEAVILY discouraging websites that focus on free books. (The guys over at SPP are probably going to be talking about this on the next episode, so keep an eye out for that. 

Tips on recovering from Writers Burnout

Penguins Solution for Writers: One Racket to Rule Them All  (I liked that title too much to paraphrase.)

60 Years of interviews with authors from The Paris Review

We had the review scam a few weeks ago, now authors are paying for their spot on the best seller list.

Breaking Dawn, Part 2 wins 7 Razzie Awards

Barns and Noble may cut back on Nooks and some more about that from NY Times.

The internet is kickstarting a teen poetry revolution.

Shut the *** up and Create, an article by one of my favorite new authors. (Language)

Maybe I can do this

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A while ago I posted this image of my “writing list”. It was overwhelming, to say the least. But I think I tamed the beast. After going through the list, the ideas, and the half formed plots I whittled it down to those that I actually had a fair amount of progress on, a fully functional plot, and an interesting story idea. And this is what was left over:

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The ones on the left in yellow and orange are novels. Everything else is a short story, and the ones in the middle, in faded grey, are in the “to write after everything else is finished” category. Best part? See all those orange spots? Those are FINISHED! They are mostly first drafts that are complete and waiting an edit from me before I send it to an actual editor for the final edit before publishing. But… they are finished. So what does this mean?

This is me saying: I can do this. It isn’t as overwhelming as I was telling myself. And, when I am done with these, there are more stories in the well to draw from. I’m actually a little excited!

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Tor Authors give tips on writing.

Yes, Virginia, You can be a Paid Author Too (which is a bit tongue in cheek, and NSFW language.)

11 ways you can help get your favorite author noticed, some of which are new-ish.

Google+ communities create networks for authors and publishers. (I’ve been saying for a while, Google+ people! Drop Facebook! Find me here.)

7 Worst Mistakes by Indie Authors (according to Joanna Penn, taken from her own experiences.)

Writers and Depression: An Interview with Psychotherapist and Author, Philip Kenney

And because I absolutely love this site, and think more people should use these: MOO stickers and business cards.

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It’s a new year, and the internet has been buzzing. Interviews, AMA’s, and some discussions.

Also, there was no new “Self Publishing Podcast” this week. Johnny tweeted that they had an extra super secret erotic writer who wished to remain anonymous  so we will hear her next week. Perhaps this means we’ll get two SPP’s? One audio, one youtube?

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I’m sure something else has happened to, but that’s what I have for you this week.