cindygold.net

Attack of the RoboSlushPile

There are lots of things that software programs do well. Database applications, modeling, simulation, animation, and mapping come to mind. What about analyzing writing? It would seem an unlikely task, given that current programs can’t even do the mundane task of spell checking with any degree of finesse.

Enter the Arc Angel story analysis software, a product currently under development by engineers at Zirdland. According to the website zirdland.com, Arc Angel will help authors hone their skills and help agents and publishers quickly differentiate between promising works and drivel. My first thought was, “This is fascinating! What sorts of algorithms do they use?” My second thought was, “Great— now my work can get rejected twice as fast! No more waiting six to eight weeks for that diddly-dang form letter!”

Nevertheless, my interest was piqued, so I went to zirdland.com just in time to discover that they were looking for manuscripts to use for beta testing. Arc Angel would analyze the submissions and the winner (as determined by Arc Angel) would get PR and some prize money. The first draft of my novel was in pretty good shape (or so I thought at the time), so I submitted it. It placed somewhere around thirtieth out of some unknown number of submissions. Knowing what I know about software (which is a fair amount) and what I know about writing (which is substantially less), it was difficult to decide whether I should feel pride or be insulted by my ranking.

Whenever I walk into the local bookstore, I feel like I am drowning in a sea of books, all screaming “Buy me! Please, pluuuuhhheeezee!” For any given book, what are the odds that I will pick it up? And of the ones I pick up, what are the odds I will buy it? I mean, really, just who the hell do I think I am, thinking anyone could possibly be interested in anything I have to say?

I’ve only let a handful of people read my first draft. Some have flattered me with high praise. A few others have given my work, shall I say, a more tepid reception. This is probably why some successful authors advise against showing early versions of your work to your family and friends. No matter how well-intentioned they may be, they simply cannot be objective.

So, it looks like we can’t trust ourselves and we can’t trust our friends. We will never know if we suck or not until it is too late.

Hurry, Arc Angel! We need you!

Technorati Tags: writing,zirdland,arc angel,contest

The Kindle Experiment

There's lots of information on the web about how to publish on the Kindle, including a wealth of knowledge at Amazon.com, of course.  No need to get bogged down in all the minutiae just yet, though.  Let's take a look at a few high points. Then, if you're interested in pursuing it, google-away. 

1. Write something.  Something good, if possible.
2. Consider buying a Kindle.  Having access to a Kindle is not strictly necessary, but you will get quite a thrill when you download your writing to the device and get to look at it.
3. Go to http://dtp.amazon.com.  There you will find information on how to publish on the Kindle.  You don't need an account to get access to much of the information posted there, so you might want to root around in it for a while before proceeding.  If you have an existing Amazon.com account (which you will, if you've ever bought anything from them), you can use that account to login there.
4. Fork over some private information.  Maybe you don't like the idea of doing this, but without your social security number (or other tax payer ID), Amazon won't be able to report your massive earnings.
5. Upload your story, following the directions on the dtp site.   When I last checked, you could upload HTML, Microsoft Word (.doc) format or plain text.  See the site for the current rules on what formats are acceptable.
6. Set your price.  The minimum is one dollar, which is the price I set for Waitomo Caves - Wonderland or WeirdoLand.
7. Verify your story properly uploaded.  If you have a Kindle, you can get a sample of your work sent to your Kindle for free.  Be patient:  it can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or so for your work to show up on the Amazon web site.
8. Check your sales!  This can be done from the dtp web site.
9. Wait anxiously for your royalty checks.  Amazon won't pay you any royalties until you've reached a minimum of $10.00.
10. Sit back and bask in the knowledge that you are now officially published.

Easy, huh?

Technorati Tags: kindle,writing,cindy gold

Write First, Blog Later

Greetings and welcome to my blog!

I am a new author.  I’m tempted to be self-deprecating here and put the word “author” in snarl quotes, but there will be plenty of time for all that kind of stuff later.

My first foray in publishing was a travel story I wrote about black water rafting in a glow worm cave in Waitomo, New Zealand.  Originally, I wrote the story just so I wouldn’t have to keep repeating the tale to my friends.  Instead, I could just say, “Oh, you want to know about that rafting trip, huh?  Well, here — read this.”   The story got a good reaction from all who read it and they encouraged me to publish it.

But where?  This wasn’t your typical travel story.  For one thing, there was a fair amount of cussing in it.  And while I believe the article painted an accurate and vivid picture of what to expect on such a trip, it’s basically a relationship story.  

My husband (no, I didn’t divorce him after the trip) loves technology.  He owns a Kindle, Amazon's electronic book.  He suggested I publish on that device.  I didn’t write the story for the money, and it costs nothing to publish on the Kindle, so I decided to follow his advice.  I know only three people who own Kindles, so I was surprised to see that more than three people had bought my story.  This fact, and the fact I have a ridiculously supportive husband, has encouraged me to do more writing.

If you'd to take a look at my story on Amazon.com, you can see it at Waitomo Caves - Wonderland or WeirdoLand.

I’ve just finished my first draft of a novel and have started investigating the hideous labyrinth of how to find an agent and get published.  Spend ten minutes googling for advice on such matters and you’ll see what I mean.  I am undaunted though.  Not because I have high hopes that my novel will get published by some big publishing house like Houghton Mifflin or Random.  No, no, not at all.  It’s just this:  I have a story to tell, and damn it, I’m going to tell it.