In the publisher's catalog!

I got the Constable & Robinson catalog in the mail!

The best part is that I'm on page 43:

Computer savvy

That is not a word that would ever be used to describe me. So this idea I had to create some print copies of my book that is set to be digitally published in July... well, it is kicking my ass.

I checked out Lulu and Createspace, the two names I recognized. On first glance, it seemed Lulu was easier, but more expensive. A few steps in, Lulu became just as complicated so I'm opting for the cheaper route. This way I can afford to make up a few dozen books to display and sign at my book party in July. Plus, there are those members of my family who refuse to get with the times and start reading digitally. I understand. I still don't own a Kindle.

So far, I've uploaded the cover art and just have to format the interior. Wish me luck!

Sexist Reading Habits

I was having a conversation recently about how the majority of readers are women and then I wondered what the numbers are. So I looked it up. This article puts it at an 80/20 split, meaning that women make up 80% of book-buyers. And despite their clear domination over the market, it is still geared toward men.

The article above mentions how the vast majority of books are reviewed by men and they're reading male authors. This is crazy-making as a female writer who is hesitant to embrace the women's fiction label. There's a reason this genre does so well- most readers are women!- but this tag alienates a male audience.

When I had my work posted on authonomy, there was no women's fiction tag and half of the readers supporting my book were men. I am a woman and my main character is a woman, but I don't understand why that means only women should read my book. I read books written by men with male protagonists and I never think: "Wow. That was such a guy story. Can't relate."

I can't decide whether women should be insulted that men won't read our work or if men should be insulted that the people advertising books don't think they're capable of reading outside their gender.

I'm pretty sure it's insulting though, one way or the other.

Pima Writer's Workshop - A Look Back

So I said I'd talk more about this and then I got distracted. It has been a week since the workshop and I thought it was worth sharing the big take-away from the weekend.

The speakers, most of them published authors, had some differing advice on many of the issues that came up repeatedly. Some described their writing as something they were driven to do; others as something they more or less fell into as adults. When one speaker was asked what to do when you're characters begin to misbehave, he seemed perplexed. His advice was to remember that as the writer, you are in charge. Another speaker gave a whole talk that focused on the concept of allowing the protagonist to take control of the story. There was also a mixed perspective on whether the main character needs to change in order to have a successful story.

What seemed to be the only point these writers agreed on was that there are no hard and fast rules for writing a great story. Each speaker would give their way of doing it, followed quickly with a "but that's me" disclaimer. It was reassuring to me. I didn't feel like any of them were experts, exactly, and I worried a bit for people in the audience scribbling down their words as if they were definitive.

Each speaker represented another facet of the writing prism and I think that was actually much more helpful than if they'd all had a unified message.