tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post116420365187954108..comments2023-10-22T07:19:57.496-04:00Comments on Oliver's Offerings: Oy, the Questions! (Part V)Jana Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1166063656402565962006-12-13T21:34:00.000-05:002006-12-13T21:34:00.000-05:00ARC's -- ah yes, they can be used in illicit ways....ARC's -- ah yes, they can be used in illicit ways. They are specifically marked not for sale, but they show up on eBay anyway. When you track down the turkey who put it up there, they claim they got it from their third cousin who works at a publishing house.<BR/><BR/>There is a lot of author controversy about this. First, that's a book upon which you receive no royalty. Second, it's not the final version. They're uncorrected (and marked as such) so there's typos in the thing. The plot may have changed between the time the ARC was created and when the final book comes out. It's purely for review purposes.<BR/><BR/>I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before someone posts large sections of a story online. That's a no-no, pure copyright violation Selling an ARC is not illegal, only bad form.<BR/><BR/>And then there is a special ring of Hell reserved for those who take an author's work, change the names and post it as their own. That's just so pathetic (and mucho illegal). Hence the need for a specific place in Hades for these folks.<BR/><BR/>The higher you are in the author world, the more vigilent you have to be. Alas, there's always someone out there keen to borrow/steal/co-opt your work. It's just like any other industry.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1166063149133674802006-12-13T21:25:00.000-05:002006-12-13T21:25:00.000-05:00MattI do have times where I just can't figure out ...Matt<BR/>I do have times where I just can't figure out where the story is going. I try not to panic. Deep in every writer is that insecure part that shouts "You're losing it. You're not going to pull this off." Etc. Etc. The internal critic/editor (I have less kosher names for him) is always there working on you. You have to ignore him. I keep reworking the mystery plots in my head, over and over until I could scream. Then something will go "BING" and hopefully, it's not the oven timer. A character will step up and point out that the purple umbrella at the end of chapter ten is the key to the whole mystery (or not). <BR/><BR/>The trick is not to quit. You quit and you're screwed. The little editor will win. Then there would be no living with him.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1166030302158119362006-12-13T12:18:00.000-05:002006-12-13T12:18:00.000-05:00I apologize in my delay in thanking you for coming...I apologize in my delay in thanking you for coming to our class to speak. It was truly an enjoyable experience. However, I do wonder something about the copy that the publisher sends to reviewers (ARC). With the new technologies that have come out through the internet and such, do these copies ever get out to the public in "non-legal" ways, such as posted on the internet? I just wonder because you said they get sent three to four months before the books go on the shelves. There must be some kind of laws regarding this right? Thanks again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165985779891104002006-12-12T23:56:00.000-05:002006-12-12T23:56:00.000-05:00M.RIn class you spoke of some of the difficulties ...M.R<BR/>In class you spoke of some of the difficulties and challenges that you often face while writing. Is there any thing in particular that you do to break through this to continue your work? If so what seems to work the best in order to get you back to work?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165971916022237772006-12-12T20:05:00.000-05:002006-12-12T20:05:00.000-05:00Coffee Ice Cream rocks. Edy's brand is good and cu...Coffee Ice Cream rocks. Edy's brand is good and cuts some of the calories (for those of us who worry about adding inches to our waists).Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165957491433552702006-12-12T16:04:00.000-05:002006-12-12T16:04:00.000-05:00Jana,Thank you for responding to my questions! I m...Jana,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for responding to my questions! I must say, I love your outlook on life- it is very refreshing!! I look forward to reading your book over the Christmas break and getting to know the characters in your head. Great advice, maybe I will try writing over the break as well. Thanks again for coming to our class and I hope you have a wonderful holidays!<BR/>KJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165940429903872962006-12-12T11:20:00.000-05:002006-12-12T11:20:00.000-05:00I love your icecream choices. I'm a fan of coffee ...I love your icecream choices. I'm a fan of coffee icecream too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165887330077863842006-12-11T20:35:00.000-05:002006-12-11T20:35:00.000-05:00I've thoroughly enjoyed this 'dialog'. Thanks for ...I've thoroughly enjoyed this 'dialog'. Thanks for asking all sorts of intelligent questions that kept me scratching my head.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165882212524241182006-12-11T19:10:00.000-05:002006-12-11T19:10:00.000-05:00I want to congratulate you on finishing your NANO ...I want to congratulate you on finishing your NANO book within a month. After reading your postings on it, it seemed like you were having a crazy time writing it. <BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and speaking with our class and on top of that answering all our questions. <BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/>AGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165781272109216552006-12-10T15:07:00.000-05:002006-12-10T15:07:00.000-05:00It was so fascinating to meet you and hear how you...It was so fascinating to meet you and hear how you go about writing your books. It is also neat how you make the terms in your book significant to the time period but also relatable to 2006. Thank you so much for devoting so much time to answering our questions. K.FAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165452917890129102006-12-06T19:55:00.000-05:002006-12-06T19:55:00.000-05:00KJThe characters are rarely silent. They're like a...KJ<BR/>The characters are rarely silent. They're like a Greek chorus in the back of my mind chirping away. When they do get quiet I get nervous. I nudge them, promise them copious amounts of beer/ale/chocolate... whatever it takes to get them to talk to me.<BR/><BR/>Relying on them makes writing a lot more 'white knuckle.'. If I knew what was going to happen in each scene, I wouldn't have to do some rewriting after the first draft. I've tried laying out each scene and it buggered the process. So it appears this is way my brain is wired. As long as the little voices tell me their stories, I'm good to go. I pray they don't ever fall silent. <BR/><BR/>As to your 'lull' in creativity. To all things there is a season. Right now might not be the time for you to write. When the time comes, you won't be able to stop the urge (obsession). I didn't really start writing until I was (clears throat) in my mid-forties. That's when it all hit. Some folks don't get that creative spurt until they're in their '70's. It depends on life pressures and when your mind says "NOW!"<BR/><BR/>Just because that creativity isn't present at this point doesn't mean you're not storing impressions for sometime down the line. You're just dormant or hibernating. It'll come when the time is right.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165452507697837832006-12-06T19:48:00.000-05:002006-12-06T19:48:00.000-05:00KJI really don't have a secret to my success. Admi...KJ<BR/>I really don't have a secret to my success. Admittedly, I'm not on the NY Times Best Seller list (yet) but I absolutely LOVE what I do. I guess that means I judge sucess differently than others might.<BR/><BR/>Deep in my heart I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing in this life. (Sounds corny, doesn't it?) That colors how I view life.<BR/><BR/>If you can find your passion, whatever that may be, then every morning is a bit easier to face even when things suck. <BR/><BR/>I apply the "will the sun come up tomorrow?" rule. 99.9% of the time the answer is yes. That attitude makes the small and medium stuff roll by. The big stuff still hurts (loss of family members, etc.) but you cope. You've only got "X" number of days to do cool stuff in this life, so push those boundaries and go for it.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165427714363408232006-12-06T12:55:00.000-05:002006-12-06T12:55:00.000-05:00Jana,I use to write as a child for fun but as I go...Jana,<BR/>I use to write as a child for fun but as I got older/busier I stopped writing. Now when I try to write, nothing happens or it really sucks!! What happen to all that creativity? How can I get it back? Any suggestions<BR/>KJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165427323963707932006-12-06T12:48:00.000-05:002006-12-06T12:48:00.000-05:00Jana,You told us in class that the characters them...Jana,<BR/>You told us in class that the characters themselves tell you what to write- that is fascinating! But doesn’t that make it very difficult to finish your book in a timely manner? Do you have to wait until they talk to you before you can work? What if they are not telling you what to write? DO you go through long spells of not writing because they are silent? <BR/>KJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1165427085221505072006-12-06T12:44:00.000-05:002006-12-06T12:44:00.000-05:00Jana,Thanks for answering all of our questions!! I...Jana,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for answering all of our questions!! I really admire the fact that you are actually accomplishing one of your dreams. So many people have dreams, ideas and desires that they never put into motion…you are inspiring! What is the secrete to your success? How did you keep yourself motivated when things did not work out the way you had hoped? <BR/><BR/>KJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1164590061158525602006-11-26T20:14:00.000-05:002006-11-26T20:14:00.000-05:00M.J.Without heels for me because I'm a klutz. Neve...M.J.<BR/>Without heels for me because I'm a klutz. Never been able to tolerate heels of much above 1"<BR/><BR/>However, the Victorian had heels -- http://www.victorianelegance.com/shoe.html<BR/><BR/>All the better to truck through the muck on the streets. They used to put horsehair braid on the bottom (inside) of their skirts so they could have their servants brush off the accumulated dirt, etc. without damaging the fabric. I can only imagine how filthy those skirts would get.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1164582621521815372006-11-26T18:10:00.000-05:002006-11-26T18:10:00.000-05:00A victorian boot? Interesting...heels or not (cau...A victorian boot? Interesting...heels or not (cause I'm not sure if they had heels then)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1164320422151165902006-11-23T17:20:00.000-05:002006-11-23T17:20:00.000-05:00K.S.Oddly enough, I have a big blind spot when it ...K.S.<BR/>Oddly enough, I have a big blind spot when it comes to erotica. I love to write it, but rarely get the chance. When I'm doing mysteries, I want all the 'real estate' I can get to play out the suspense. When I'm penning smut (and I say that with respect) I'll go for the happy ending. <BR/><BR/>As Tom Lehrer put it, <BR/>"Smut, give me smut and nothing but, a dirty novel I can't shut <BR/>If it's uncut, and unsub-tle."<BR/><BR/>A little naughty reading every now and then keeps one young. Or so I like to believe.Jana Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603652346290427856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079851.post-1164312695103027822006-11-23T15:11:00.000-05:002006-11-23T15:11:00.000-05:00"I'm not a full blown romance writer." Of course..."I'm not a full blown romance writer." Of course, not! That would be erotica.<BR/><BR/>Lovely blog!<BR/><BR/>KSKim Rossi Staglianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17687828526726281119noreply@blogger.com