It’s time for another edition of Link Love. Twitter is a great place to gank all kinds of websites, and I’ve included the most interesting here. To shake it up a bit, I’ve also included either the referring website or the Twitter profile of the people who were kind enough to Tweet these fabulous sites in the first place.

How eBooks and Digital Publishing will Disrupt Traditional Book Publishing from my good friend Angie Haggstrom at Freedom Freelance. It’s a great article that explores how digital publishing is impacting the traditional route.

All Things Harry Potter from openzine. If you’re a Harry Potter freak, this is the website for you.

Top Ten Dirtiest Hotels from fantomaster. If you travel, you’re going to want to know what to avoid. Ewww.

Check out this really great flash piece: Black Velveteen, Tweeted by eMuseZine.

Trapped by Monsters has a fabulous article regarding agents and Tommy’s Top Tips about them. Tweeted by the one and only, literary agent Colleen Lindsay.

The Dead by Billy Collins: Tweeted by Staci J. Shelton. It’s a fantastic piece of animated poetry. You’ll love it – I did.

Aesop’s Fables: An oldie but a goodie, Aesop’s Fables are a mainstay of inspiration. Thanks to Twitterer quips and tips.

Waiting: This was one of the most inspirational stories I’ve read in a long time. This is the first part; read on for a most satisfying conclusion. Thanks to Bronwyn at A Day in the (Fat) Life. One person CAN make a difference.

Free Celtic Music: Free Celtic Music in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, via Katadhin.

Great sites all; check them out, and if you’re not following the Twitterers, you should be. Lots of information, inspiration, and some free stuff thrown in for good measure.

I love the Interwebz.

I’ve thought long and hard, and I just have to weigh in on this. I’m fairly certain my opinion isn’t going to make me popular among some, but I’ve never given a rat’s ass what people thought of me, anyway. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as long as it’s kept professional and respectful.

Therein lies the problem.

Last week on Twitter, a few NYC agents came up with a brilliant idea to have a “#queryfail” day. The hashtag gives the subject its own Twitter  “stream”, similar to a group chat. Keep in mind the “group chat” reaches thousands and thousands of people. Maybe millions, who knows? Anyway, the point of this chat group was to “educate” new writers what exactly causes a query to an agent to fail. Thus, “#queryfail”.

It sounds good, in theory. Didn’t go so well, in practice. You see, even though “identifiers” were not used, actual excerpts from the failed queries were. Snarky comments were made by not only agents, but other writers. Jokes, sniggers, and mocking were also known to have happened. (And before you even ask, yes, I Twitter, and yes, I read the stream. Some have accused those not such fans of #queryfail to have not read the stream.) What started out as a simple “education” process soon started to feel like recess in an elementary school, where the “cool” kids make fun of the “not-so-cool” kids. It got ugly, to the point one of the hostesses has recieved threatening letters.

How did it go so wrong? Well, to be sure, there were good things about it. I’ve edited hundreds of stories, a few novels, and even did stints as a guest editor for a couple of ezines. I can understand how frustrating it is for an agent to receive 26 queries only to find 24 of them didn’t follow guidelines. I can understand the need to vent, and the need to educate. What I fail to understand is the need to humiliate people in a public forum (and Twitter is about as public as you can get) and hide it under the term “educate”. Sure, names were not used, but the actual excerpts from the letters were, bringing up another issue of public domain and copyright. The snarky comments started slowly, then built up a head of steam resulting in a train wreck.

In order to be in this business, you need a thick skin. This is a given. Some aspiring writers are clueless, and while unfortunate, this is also a given. However, this was not a chat among agents and writers in a private room; this was in full public view, and I would hazard a guess it revealed a LOT more about the participants than it did about the poor hapless writers who have problems writing a query letter. I couldn’t help but wonder if this is what is done in public, what the hell goes on in private? But then, it’s private and I don’t have to know. I also wondered if these agents, who took time out of a busy day to skewer the hapless writer, ever took the time to contact the writer and tell them, in private and in a professional way, just what it was that made the query fail. Feel me?

It stirred up a hornet’s nest. There’s one faction that defends the practice, and another which is horrified and outraged, and worse yet, another faction that thinks sending “hate mail” or threats is the way to handle it. I think this may be an instance of good intentions paving the way to hell. There are just so many other constructive ways this could have been handled, rather than holding anonymous writers up for ridicule, even if that wasn’t the original intent. Even though I don’t have a query currently making the rounds, I was really shocked and horrified at some of the comments made. I wonder too, if agents start out like this or do they become burnt and bitter after years of people ignoring the guidelines and submitting to inappropriate markets?

Will there be another #queryfail? I don’t know. Probably. It seemed to be very popular. Which makes me very sad, not just as a writer or an editor, but as a person. There’s already enough negativity out there to wrestle with, and I was better off not knowing the darker side of people I had come to respect and admire. Not to mention elementary school is many years behind me, and rightfully so.

Or maybe… I wasn’t better off. Ignorance might be bliss, but it blisters your ass when you’re not looking.

Of course, I was glued to the TV and the news channels for All Things Inaugural. It was an amazing experience, and I have to admit I was moved to tears and deeply touched, not to mention totally envious of people who were able to be there in the flesh.

I visited Washington once, when I was twelve, on a family vacation back in the early 70′s. I’ve never forgotten it, and I can only imagine how electric the atmosphere was during this historic event. Alas, I couldn’t be there, but thanks to the technology of not only television, but the live stream of Twitter, I still feel as if I were vested and actually a part of the celebration.

Personal Observations of a Political Nature:

1. Of course Obama stumbled a bit over the oath. All I could think of is, I would too, because I’d be thinking not only of the grand responsibility I was assuming, but I’d be worried about a bullet smashing in the back of my brain. I’m sorry, but if you can point a camera you can point a gun, and honestly, that worry was with me every time I saw him out among the masses. It’s a real danger, and although I was a young girl at the time, I’m old enough to remember how we lost three of the biggest lights this country has ever seen in the 60′s. There, I said it.
2. The send-off to Bush was vile and unnecessary. Although you will go far to find someone as happy as I that the Weasel has left the building, that was not the time or the place to voice such joy. It was classless and I was horrified.
3. The Obamas have beautiful, well-behaved children. That says a lot about their parents.
4. Michelle Obama is a Sistah of Contention. Strong, smart, she is a rock for her husband and I have to give the woman Mad Propz for getting through a long day in heels with grace. Think that’s easy?
5. I don’t care about her ball dress, okay? So over that. I can’t understand why that’s news.

When Obama took office, I cried like a baby. I thought of my grandfather, who was mixed, and how he had to leave Germany when he was a teenager because of the threat of extinction by the Nazi government. I thought about how he hid that part of his genetic heritage when he arrived in America, because of the prejudice and racism that was only marginally better than the genocide he had left behind. I thought of how he had to repress that part of himself to fit in, to make a success out of his life here, and how that was (and continues to be) a subject that is not spoken of in my family. To see Obama taking an oath to the highest position in this country both broke my heart and gave me such hope for the future of this country all I could do was cry.

Yeah, so I’m a schmuck.

****

Now that the celebrations are over, we start with a new day and a new dawn. Now, the hard work really kicks in. I am not so  naive to think the errors, excess, and fuck-ups will all be cleaned up immediately — it’s a Gordian Knot of major proportions, and I can’t even imagine where Obama will start. Still, he’s a sharp guy with a sharp woman by his side; a carefully chosen cabinet and the support of the people behind him.

We can hope. And that, friends and neighbors, after the last eight years, is a lot more than we’ve had.

Wrap it up, I’ll take it.

I’m not sure this is going to be a weekly thing, but we’ll ride this wave as far as it takes us. I typically visit a great deal of websites in the course of a day; some from dropping Entrecards (when I have the time) and sometimes when a Person of Interest uses Twitter to alert we tweeples to something cool, interesting or helpful.

So, for your pleasure, dear readers (I think there’s more than one, heh!) these are my favorites from the last week:

Writing News and Aids:

Web Writer Boot Camp: Paul Lalley serves up some excellent resources and advice to aspiring web writers. He’s not as bad as Harvey on Celebrity Fit Club, but he pulls no punches and offers no bullshit. Writers of all skill levels will learn something here.

The World in the Satin Bag: The blog and fiction of S.M. Duke. Mark this young man, because he’s going places in the speculative fiction field. Thirty-one chapters are posted online for your reading pleasure, and Shaun often posts provocative questions regarding the realm of science fiction and fantasy, plus cool book reviews.

Putting a friendly and funny face on the world of a publishing agent (not that she has a funny face physically, it’s a figure of speech) check out The Swivet. I read in her latest post about the lack of a roof, wrestling with a moldy futon mattress, and the Most Awesome Bartender in Queens, and it brought back fond memories of a few escapades of my misspent (but oh-so-fun!) youth. Heh.

Mike Geffner is a man with a mission and is bringing it on like Donkey Kong. He has a workshop and newsletter; a writing group on Facebook; he Twitters and he’s LinkedIn. An award winning sports journalist, he’s putting together an empire and has a lot to offer the up and coming.

If you’re looking for more free fiction to read online, I recommend The Lifting of the Veil by Chris Tejeda. So much great fiction online, if you only know where to look

One of the most helpful sites I’ve been to in awhile is Tim Beyers’s The Freelance Writer’s Helper. He lists out some really fabulous and informative sites for freelancers in a Google Notebook, which is something I haven’t seen before. He covers a lot of ground for freelancers so you don’t have to. Thanks, Tim!

The Cool:

You can’t miss Rizzo Tees. Seriously…BILF? I hate pants? This is some funny, funny shiz-niz, friends and neighbors, twisted and demented. I love it!

I am hooked on this song. Hooked, I tell you. I can’t play it enough. It’s my new addiction, I’m just glad it’s not Britney. Heh.

Hulu is an amazing site with TV shows and movies free to view online. There’s actually some decent films, and I was VERY excited to see episodes of American Gothic and I will be staying up way too late for many nights to come, I’m sure.

Are you willing to sacrifice 10 friends from Facebook for a free Whopper? Well, let me tell you, this temptation has been plaguing me and keeping me awake at night for the last several nights. Damn you, Burger King! Damn you to hell!!

I think that’s enough to keep you busy. Don’t forget to drop some comment love on those you visit. They work hard at putting out quality content, and it’s only right to say thanks.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Oh, the life of a freelance writer. Doesn’t it sound glamorous? Fun? Easy? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but sometimes it’s none of those things. It’s not like digging ditches, don’t get me wrong, but I’m willing to bet that a freelance writer can expend as much energy and get just as dirty as a ditch-digger.

Can I get an AMEN??

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In my last post, I recommended making a list, checking it twice (go ahead and sing the rest of the song. I know you can’t resist, especially this time of year. You can cuss me out later) but remaining flexible. It’s too easy to lose your focus if you don’t have some kind of road map to guide you.

It will take you a bit of time to find your rhythym, and there will be plenty of distractions along the way. The phone will ring, someone knocks on the door, the kid throws up and has to be picked up from school, YOU throw up…the list is endless. Some things can’t be helped, but there are some factors you can control. (Not the puking, though. Sorry. Beyond your control.)

Turn off the friggen’ phone. I realize you must have a phone (how I hate the phone, I truly do) especially if small children are around, but if you were working outside the home office for someone else, they would most likely not allow you to chat with your bestest bud for two hours and listen to her lastest dating fiasco. Although that may be good fodder for a future article or blog post (and hopefully she won’t kill you when she sees it in print) the truth is you’ve just lost two hours of productive writing time. Set aside a couple of hours for writing; stick to it, and turn off the phone. Tell your friends and family to leave a message, and  you’ll call them back later, or arrange a code for emergencies ONLY. Like if blood or pukage is involved.

Limit the social butterfly stuff. I am the first one to tell you that an important part of the freelance life is participating in social networking. Especially for introverted, possibly neurotic and definitely weird writers, sometimes that’s our only contact with the outside world. That being said, spending three hours feeding your NeoPets or another two hours exchanging virtual Christmas presents on Facebook is NOT networking, people. It’s PLAYING. Although I am not opposed to blowing off some steam when in the middle of a particularly stressful writing session…STEP AWAY FROM THE FUN APPS. Those things will eat your time like a tapeworm. You’ve been warned.

Keep the boob tube OFF. I’m sure you CAN write while Oprah or Rachel Ray natters on in the background, but i’m not sure you SHOULD. If you can’t bear to miss Paula Dean’s latest tasty recipe or what’s happening on Judge Judy, TiVo it. There is a lot of inspiration from watching TV, but when you’re in your Dedicated Writing Time,  you need to be writing, not looking over your shoulder at the new Geico commercial.

Walk the line. Sure, Twitter about your life to a certain extent; blog about your new puppy or announce you just bought new curtains for the living room. You are a person, after all, and it’s really nice to know about the person behind the online persona. But honestly, no one wants to know about your hemmorhoids, how much you hate your ex, or exactly what sexual position you prefer unless that is your niche. Keep in mind there is a personal space, and a professional space, and try to keep the two apart. By all means have a private blog where you can rant about the ex or complain about your personal problems, but professionally, keep that stuff private. Okay?

I know I’m a fine one to talk; after all, I’ve blogged here about my momma, but hemorrhoids have not, and will never be, blogged about here. See the distinction?

****

Those are my pearls of wisdom for a Sucky Monday, friends and neighbors. I will admit to feeling a wee bit snarky today — the state of the economy is starting to seriously freak me out, and sometimes it seems no matter how hard I work, I get no further ahead. However, I know too, since all good things come to an end, so they say, logically the bad things have to end, also.

The best thing I can say about this Monday is…tomorrow’s Tuesday.

Wrap it up, I’ll take it.

Onward.

Like what you’ve read? Stumble it, bookmark it, hell, put it in a Christmas stocking…or just comment and let me know!

It’s a big transition from working for someone else to working for yourself. Not everyone is cut out for it; it takes discipline and Mad Organizational Skillz. A freelancer doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for the muse to hit. We all know she’s a tricky wench, and she’ll take a hike when you have most need of her. If you think freelancing is easy or doesn’t take a lot of time, think again.

Plan your day, but before you do that, determine which part of the day is most productive for you. Are you a morning person? Do you write better in the afternoon, or are you a night owl? It may take some time for you to figure out just what kind of a schedule works, but it’s imperative to recognize your work habits and utilize them to your best advantage.

Make a list. Try to do this the night before, and not the morning you start. Make a list of projects that have deadlines; these take priority. It’s a nail in your professional coffin to miss a vital deadline; so of course, these tasks go on the top of the list. Next come the other eggs in your basket, be it a content site like Constant Content, Helium, or another passive stream of income. Even if you post one article a week, that’s 52 articles per year. Those articles will earn for you long after you’ve posted them, so they are important.

Following projects with a deadline and your passive stream, another important part of freelancing is looking for new work. You can decide if this is a daily project or not, but keep in mind nothing is forever and gigs come and go. Keeping an eye on what’s out there is crucial to maintaining a steady flow of work. Sign up for the free newsletters like at The Core Creative Group or Chasing The Muse; I’ve never received spam from either of them, and they are a great resource for job searching.

Next comes networking. You never know from where your next fabulous contact will emerge; hopefully you have a blog or website to promote yourself (if not, what are you waiting for?) because that’s part of the freelance world. It’s difficult to get work if no one knows where or who you are. Choose your contacts carefully. Use Twitter, Blog Catalog, Facebook, MySpace, Entrecard – the list of social networks is endless. Put your website address in your email signature. Reach out to other freelancers, interact with people – it’s true a lot of writers are introverts, and working from home can be lonely with no other adult interaction. We’re writers and we need human contact, otherwise, who are you writing for? Get involved, and give back to the writing community. I promise it will come back to you.

In between all of this, you must write, write, write. Need inspiration? Check out this post on blogging and SEO from Cute Writing for how pro bloggers work it, and tweak it out so it suits you. Again, interact with other people; find out what they need, what they’re talking about. Read current events, check out new gadgets, new sites, or even old ones…there’s a whole world of inspiration out there, but you have to get out there to see it.

Keep flexibility in mind when you plan your day. It won’t always go smoothly. Events and emergencies will happen, and flexibility is one of the main perks of a freelancing career. Don’t forget to schedule down time for yourself, time to take care of business and household chores, spending time with loved ones and just getting out of the house. Have some damned fun once in awhile! Don’t schedule yourself so tight that you feel strangled – that goes against the fun of freelancing.

First things first; one step at a time. Make a list, and go from there. Before you know it, you’ll have everything under some kind of control, and you’ll get more done than you thought you could.

Now, if I could only get twelve more hours added to the clock….heh!