Field Trip Friday: August 3, 2012

THIS WEEK IN WRITING

- Writers write, right? Except for when they're marketing. Marissa Meyer runs the numbers on an author's time.

- Author Elizabeth Bear addresses the problem of balance (via Tessa Gratton).

- Laurie Halse Anderson is once again hosting a month-long "Write For 15 Minutes a Day" challenge.

- Kristin Cashore shares how daily sexual harassment influenced the writing of Fire.

- Two agent posts regarding writing and "the rules": Rachelle Gardner pulls "The Rules are Just Tools" out of the archives, and Jennifer Laughran says "Your Path is Unique; You Are Incomparable." (Ironically, Oprah featured "Why the Best Way to Get Creative Is to Make Some Rules" by Aimee Bender in her July issue.)

- Agent Miriam Goderich wonders why (and if) writing support groups are predominantly female.

- John Green explains why anticipation is better than a surprising plot twist.

- Get tips on writing characters with disabilities from author Zoe Marriott.


THIS WEEK IN READING

- Bathing suit doesn't match your beach read? How embarrassing. Matchbook can help. (Seriously, their matches are pretty cool.)

- A few weeks ago I mentioned idream, a Rotten Tomatoes-style book review site, and it's already live!

- Two big losses to literature this week: Maeve Binchy died Monday at age 72, and Gore Vidal died Tuesday at age 86.


THIS WEEK IN PUBLISHING

- Once an agent has your full, what happens? Suzie Townsend describes her requested materials process.

- Fifty Shades is now outselling Harry Potter on Amazon UK. Meanwhile, another Twilight fanfic, Gabriel's Inferno (formerly known as The University of Edward Masen, for your Googling fun) sold in a seven figure deal.

- "[I]f the situation ever arose when Alfred A. Knopf was the only publishing house remaining in the world and I was the sole remaining author, that would mark the end of the world of books." Norman Maclean's ultimate F-off letter to a publisher that rejected him.


THIS WEEK IN OTHER STUFF

- Check out the trash can-found art collection of a New York sanitation worker (via Molly O'Neill).

- "My Semester Abroad Gives Me Ownership of this Cultural Event" from Eric Noah Feldman at McSweeney's.

- "Even though I did my best to make the salads and wraps extra-gay, I don’t want to harm the customers." A gay Chick-fil-A employee speaks out on Wednesday's day of "appreciation." Also, YA author Jackson Pearce went viral (and on The Daily Show!) with her video about the company's policies.

- Somewhat related: Scientific American takes on the question "Why is Everyone on the Internet So Angry?" (via Myra McEntire).


THIS WEEK IN CONTESTS

- You could have a short story published in Defy the Dark, edited by Saundra Mitchell, plus win $500!

- Rebecca Behrens is giving away ARCs of Skinny and Origin as well as hardcovers of Keep Holding On and Audrey, Wait!

- Win a Scarlet shirt from Bookshelvers Anonymous!


THIS WEEK IN THE RANDOM

Buzzfeed says Olympic diving isn't a nudist sport, it just looks like one.

I lost my source on this one -- someone on Tumblr, I'm sorry! -- but here are three baby bears getting rescued from a dumpster. You're welcome.



Paul Simon gets a little help from Jimmy Fallon and STOMP.





Have a great weekend!