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Friday, April 29, 2011

Penguicon 2011

I've been at every Penguicon since it first debuted in Warren, MI.

The usual suspects -- Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, Tobias Buckell, Jim C. Hines, Merrie Haskell, and many more -- will be there. Our GoH's Brandon Sanderson.

I'm trying to think of something that poor Brandon hasn't been asked a thousand times. I stymied Steve Jackson of SJG one year with a question; I swear it wasn't intentional. Steve's a good sport, though.

But I think Brandon might like getting a good unusual question. Or... maybe not. :]

If you've never been to P-con, here's his schedule and Jim Hines' schedule. To give you a tiny taste -- tiny indeed, since this doesn't include the music, such Tom Smith and the Great Luke Ski! nor the liquid nitrogen ice cream... or the Chaos Machine...

I realized I hadn't posted about the con earlier -- sorry! I'd truly meant to.

Hope to see you there!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Help from Inkpunks.

I check into Inkpunks every so often. Here's some gems from Christie Yant, which Erika Holt brought to my notice through her own Standing Out in the Slushpile: Some Basic Tips:

Lessons From the Slushpile: Good vs. Great, and What editors owe us and also Your Cover Letters.

I highly recommend these. Of course I'm biased. :D We're all Tribe, sure, but I know [read "work with"] an Inkpunk friend.

But I'm biased because hey, people who write clearly and are extremely helpful are my kind of people. Even when we aren't one degree apart.


One screen that I've had my browser load automatically is "Learning to say no" and there's reason for this. We all run out of spoons -- we have limits. Know your own.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Recent links.

Here's some bits and pieces, garnered through Tweets on L-In.

@jackschofield : Sign in window of soon-to-close Borders store in Chicago. Someone's a little bitter http://t.co/rwmHPOD

Another bit of joy from Borders: Jason Erik Lundberg RT @nkjemisin: RAGE. Are you kidding? Borders can't pay publishers and authors, but they can pay execs $8.3 million in bonuses?? http://on.wsj.com/ifM3s1

Profits for the largest five publishers in 2010.

Two slants on rejection:

He's Just Not That Into You (Publishing Edition)

Marc Gascoigne RT @RachelleGardner: Why does it take agents and editors longer to say yes than no? (Think Nordstrom. ) http://ow.ly/4psJT