Hello!
If you are interested, my blog has moved to a new home, a website of the same name.
The link is http://janetbtaylor.com/
The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles
Please join me.. And have a beautiful day!
Posts Tagged ‘publish’
NEW WEBSITE- SAME NAME
Posted in aspiring author, author, fiction writing, new novelist, novel writing, Writing, tagged aspiring author, Author, Janet B Taylor, Literature, new blog, new novelist, novel writing, publish, publishing, Writer, Writing, YA fiction on March 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Sophie’s Blog Choice?
Posted in aspiring author, Uncategorized, Writing, tagged aspiring author, blog, blogging, historical fiction, Janet B Taylor, novel writing, novice writer, Online Communities, publish, Social Networking, Twitter, Writer, Writing, YA fiction on November 22, 2010| 2 Comments »
If you are one of the three people who have visited my blog lately.. (Hi, Mom). You know that I haven’t been here in a while. That is because I am on a hot streak with my manuscript. {Yay.}
Between my riveting life as a Radiology Tech and my glamorous home life- scrubbing toilets and cooking Hamburger Helper; I, like Sophie before me, had to make a choice. Devote all my free time to the book, and Twitter when possible or focus on the blog and give up some of that precious writing time.
Guess which one I chose?
If the publishing gods ever smile on me, I will continue the blog. If it happens, I might have something to say which you guys would care to hear.
Believe me! My fictional life is WAAYYY more interesting than my real one. I think that is the case with most of us, though, huh??
Until I have something profound to share, I bid you adieu!
The Sinking Pioneers- 1856
Posted in aspiring author, author, fiction writing, novel writing, publishing, Writing, tagged aspiring author, Author, historical fiction, history, Janet B Taylor, Literature, Museum, new novelist, novel writing, novice writer, publish, publishing, Steamboat, Writer, Writing on October 11, 2010| 1 Comment »
In most museums you wander around, dazed at the beauty and majesty of the things that surround you.
I recently had the honor to visit a different kind of museum. A museum where you feel as if you are actually IN the past.
The Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City, MO.
The actual wheel from the Arabia
In 1856, the Steamboat Arabia was making its last voyage of the season; before the winter ice closed the Ohio River. The Arabia was a packet boat. Which means that while it did ferry passengers; its main duty was as a cargo ship. Most of the passengers were women and children, bound to meet husbands or fathers, who had already gone out west to stake a homestead for them.
The last night of the Arabia’s life, a giant snag (or upended tree trunk) smashed into the hull of the Arabia, causing her and her 200 tons of cargo, to sink in a matter of minutes.
Arabia sinks
The good news– The Ohio River is fairly shallow and as the Arabia settled on the bottom of the river; the upper level of the three level boat stayed above the waterline. It took a while to ferry the passengers to shore, however. It seems there was only one lifeboat and the cowardly crew had taken it, at the first sign of trouble. Ashamed, they eventually came back, and ferried all passengers to safety.
The only casualty- one poor mule, who was tied up on the bottom deck. His entire skeleton, including the harness, is on display in the museum.
You can see all the fascinating history for yourself. In a tiny theater, there is a 10 minute video about the sinking of the Arabia. The more interesting section of the video, however, is the story of the discovery of the Arabia and its resurrection.
In the 1980’s a family of plumbers heard an old rumor about a steamboat that was supposedly sunk in a field, near the river. Even though they had zero experience at excavation, the story about how these people found, dug up, and preserved the contents of the steamboat is absolutely riveting.
The coolest part of the whole visit was when the leader of the discoverers-Mr. Hawley- came out in person to speak to us; and answer any questions we had… A nice and very gracious man.
I love, love, love historical fiction. But, the American pioneer era has never been my favorite historical venue. I usually limit my writing and research to- and around- the English and European monarchy. But, this collection touched my heart and piqued my interest.
I can imagine myself and my children heading out on this rickety old steamboat. We are finally going to join my husband. He has worked so hard to build our log cabin, so we will not freeze in the winter. All our hopes and dreams float with us down this river. In addition, underneath our feet is the entire supply chain of over 40 dry-good stores, in towns up and down the river. Merchants are waiting anxiously for this, the last shipment of the year, to arrive.
a tiny portion of the goods
When the ship sinks, every worldly good we possess ends up at the bottom of the river. Not only our goods, but thousands of other pioneers will not get new boots, cloth for dresses and coats, dishes ordered from England, tools to work the farm, or countless other items, which the whole town will have to do without.
This ship, when excavated, was in absolutely amazing shape. The Hawley family were able to bring up pristine examples of things used in everyday life in the 1850’s. Things seen no-where else in the country. The sheer amount of goods in the museum is astonishing.
I said before, that I had never really been interested in the pioneer period. After my visit to this museum, however, I think I’ll try to write about this most miraculous part of our past.
Please visit the website- http://www.1856.com/
And enjoy your trip to our country’s past. I know I did.
Who would you do……..In??
Posted in aspiring author, author, novel writing, publishing, Writing, tagged Author, Catherine of Aragon, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry VIII, historical fiction, history, Janet B Taylor, new blog, new novelist, novel writing, novice writer, publish, time travel, Writer, Writing, YA fiction on October 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »
You are in an awful hurry. You have an extremely important meeting at work. One that could change your career. You might even finally get that raise you deserve.
The doorbell rings right before you walk out the door. An old woman stands on your doorstep.
“You can’t go to work today.” She tells you. “If you do, you will destroy your life, forever.”
“Who are you?” You ask, irritated at the interruption.
“Why,” she says, “I am you. From the future!”
Da.Da..Dunnnnn…
What would you do?
My current (um..and first) manuscript deals with Time Travel. It is a fascinating subject. The brightest and most brilliant minds of all time spend years studying the possibilities.
See interview HERE of Carl Sagan, describing his TIME TRAVEL theories.
I hope these uber-smart scientists figure out how to build a time machine, then one day, offer it as a vacation package. Can you imagine? It would be like taking a cruise….to the past.
How flippin’ cool would that be?
Here are a few questions that I have been mulling over.
1.) Who would you do… In??
2.) Who would you want to meet??-Other than your own loved ones.
3.) What historical event would you like to attend??
For me:
1.) Now, I know that everyone is going to say Hitler, Genghis Khan or Pol Pot, and those are great choices. I, however, am gunning for the first idiot who decided that women should be skinny. Take a look at Renaissance paintings, sometime. In that age, “full-figured” women were the ideal. Then somewhere in the fabric of time, some doofus told his wife that her butt looked big. This time, instead of her usual, “Why thank you, dear. What a sweet thing to say.” She must have frowned and decided to have a carrot stick instead of a bon-bon. Booo!
2.) That is easy.. Eleanor of Aquitaine. My all-time favorite person from history.
3.) This is on the fly, but maybe.. the Wedding of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. They were both so young and beautiful.
How would you answer these questions?
Craft–Isn’t that cheese?
Posted in aspiring author, author, fiction writing, new novelist, novel writing, publishing, Uncategorized, Writing, tagged Arts, Author, craft, craft advice, fiction, historical fiction, Janet B Taylor, new blog, new novelist, novel writing, novice writer, publish, publishing, Writing, YA fiction on October 6, 2010| 4 Comments »
While the purpose of most blogs on writing is to inform, I have created this blog to gather information. There are a lot of us “Aspiring Authors” out there, who are trying to learn as we go.
When I began this journey, the only thing that came to mind when someone mentioned “craft” to me, were Popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue.
That was a beautiful time of innocence, when I wrote simply for the joy it gave me. In fact, it made me a little sad to learn how much of “art” is actually “business.”
Once I committed to taking this journey, however, I determined to give it my all. So, I began to do research. The one word that was invariably near the top of the important issues of nearly every website, tweet or book jacket on writing…. CRAFT.
The problem that I am facing at the present is that there is simply TOO much. Too many books. Too many websites. Too many classes. How do newbies like me EVER make the right decisions?
That may sound ridiculous to any experts, who are used to weeding through the chaff of information. We poor little lost “aspirings” flounder. We helplessly bounce from one site to another, not certain whom to trust.
Who is right? What is wrong?
It can be a bit overwhelming. I have already spent WAY too much on books, online workshops, and plan to spend a lot more as soon as I figure out how to choose.
… That is the question…..
HOW DO WE CHOOSE?
Where do YOU turn for craft advice?
If there are any more Aspiree’s out there, which would like to link to this, I figure we are better off together. Welcome. 🙂
Thank you and have a beautiful day.
Janet
Aspiring Nerd
Posted in author, fiction writing, new novelist, novel writing, publishing, Writing, tagged Arts, aspiring author, Author, Facebook, historical fiction, history, Janet B Taylor, Literature, new blog, new novelist, novel writing, Online Communities, publish, publishing, Social Networking, Twitter, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing, YA fiction on October 4, 2010| 5 Comments »
I got some really good news Saturday. I submitted my first short story to an e-zine and it was accepted for publication. I know it is not that big of a deal to most people, but to me, it proved that at least my writing doesn’t completely suck.
I think that is important… not sucking.
I am an “aspiring” author. Hmm.. What does that mean exactly?
The dictionary says:
as·pire
http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf [uh-spahyuh
r]
to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, esp. for something great or of high value (usually fol. by to, after,or an infinitive): to aspire after literary immortality;
Ahhh… Part of the dictionary’s definition… To aspire after literary immortality.. Immortality??? Woowee! THAT is a BIG aspiration!
I think I will shoot a little lower.
I want people to read what I write. I want them to sink themselves into the world that I create. I want them to hide from their children in the bathroom, so they can finish one of my chapters.
There are an awful lot of us “aspirings” out there. The question is, how to I rise out of the obscure pack?
Obviously, the writing has to be good. Or actually, more than good. It has to be phenomenal.
I have mentioned how naïve I was when I started this journey. I thought if you wrote a good book, you got published. Well, apparently, there is a lot more to it. You must also build a “social platform”, have lots of followers on Twitter and have a large Facebook page. I wonder how large of a Twitter following Dickens would have? Or how many Facebook friends Tolstoy could cultivate? What would have been their social media strategy ?
I am a toddler in the Twitter world. As an (ahem) forty-something, I feel awkward trying to break into that world. It seems too hip, too cool for an old broad like me. When I announced to my teenagers that I now “twittered”, they first gagged a little, then informed me, acidly, that it was “Tweeting, Mom. Duh..”
So, here I go. I will face this electronic world. I am going to jump in with both feet, and just hope that I don’t embarrass myself by being a ginormous nerd.
Except.. aren’t nerds cool, now?
Here is a tiny excerpt from my Manuscript. What do you guys think????
This time I dreamed of Alex. Only the dreams were not of our time together, but strange, disjointed images.
He stood across from me, near a wide, flat river. Palm trees swayed in a hot breeze; and behind him, a huge pyramid rose out of the desert.
He wore a bronze breastplate and the plumed helmet of a Roman soldier. The gritty wind whipped my long, white robes and black braids around me. Alex grinned and held out his hand. In his palm rested a huge opal.
As I reached for it, the scene changed to winter. Snow covered a hilly landscape and we were clothed in plush, smooth furs. He tried to push the stone toward me again, but as I stretched out my hand to grasp it; he melted away to be replaced by Lucien. Dressed in the dandified clothes of a French aristocrat, he threw his head back in a cruel laugh. His unnaturally red lips were clownish against his white, powdered cheeks and black beauty mark. I turned to run, but my wide skirts wouldn’t allow me to turn quickly. My head was so heavy under the tall, white wig.
Only a few feet away, Alex struggled, his arms pinned behind him. Scratches covered his chest, where his white-frilled shirt gaped open. His autumn brown hair had escaped the low ponytail and hung in straggles around his blood-covered face. Someone grabbed me from behind, pulling me away as he screamed my name.
I sat up, panting and sweating, and then wished I hadn’t.
BTW>> I added on some of my favorite blog sites, and also some of the books I have read in the last year. With working on my own book, I’ve had less time to read, which is SO not cool! I LOVE “literature”, but sometimes you have to concentrate too hard. All these books are pure pleasure.
Janet B Taylor- My journey as a new writer. 