Writer Unboxed

Johnny Depp will play Barnabas Collins in the new Dark Shadows flick? And is Peter Jackson really in talks with New Line about directing The Hobbit? Fingers crossed. Read more at the new and promising blog, Fantasy SF, HERE.

Chuck Sambuchino is the editor of the Guide to Literary Agents, which has been published for 15 consecutive years by Writers Digest books. With more than 130,000 copies of this market guide sold and listing over 600 agents, the book is a true powerhouse resource for writers looking to find a home for their written […]

What makes a book a ‘keeper’? Why is it that Book A, a critically acclaimed literary masterpiece, venerable classic or New York Times bestseller, can be given away without a second thought while Book B instantly earns permanency on your small shelf of those titles you must own? Why can Book C be returned to […]

We welcome our newest contributor, Ray Rhamey, to Writer Unboxed.  We’re sure that you’ll find Ray’s expertise about editing fiction and his tales on the grueling process of submission as insightful as we do.  Enjoy!
Everyone writer is, to some extent, an editor. And every editor is, to some degree, a writer. I’m one of those people who works both […]

I’ll be tidying up the Google Notebook this morning, so don’t forget to go on over for your hit of Books & Business news for the week.
A study released last week really caught my attention: Kids eating foods and drinks from containers labeled “McDonalds” preferred the taste over the same exact foods served in generic […]

WU contributor Jason Starr’s latest noir thriller THE FOLLOWER has just been released to rave reviews.  We’re pleased to bring you this Take 5 interview with Jason.  
Q:  What is the premise of your new book?
The premise of THE FOLLOWER is The Date from Hell. It’s about a young woman in Manhattan who becomes the object of affection of a […]

Noir/P.I. novelist Ed Lynskey, like all writers, wears a checkered pedigree.  He worked in Washington D.C.’s defense industry for many years, which gives the detail he works into his novels the coveted ring of authenticity when it comes to modern-day weaponry.  But just as crucially, he’ll evoke the swinging of kudzu vines draped in an Appalachian forest with […]

Last week we were thrilled to have Eric von Rothkirch from the must-read blog Quantum Storytelling join WU as a guest blogger.  Part one of his post on How to Make Your Novel into a Media Franchise generated a nice discussion on this exciting idea.  Most of us just dream about having our work made into a movie, but Eric […]

As an author, I probably don’t view blurbs like an average reader. Heck, I’m not sure that I view books like an average reader – first, I check out the publisher, then I read the acknowledgements to see whom I might know, then, if I’m really curious, I’ll google the writer to learn more […]

Looking for a way to spend your $5 Amazon coupon for pre-ordering the latest Harry Potter book?  May we suggest:
Contributor Jason Starr’s latest release THE FOLLOWER.  Hilarious rapid-fire dialogue combined with ever-increasing tension made this book one of my favorites.  It releases today and is the perfect read by pool or surf.
If fantasy is more […]

It’s been a while since I’ve done a proper Click Here, and since I have several links relating to words, that’s what you’re getting this time around. Here goes:
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, includes 100 new words or expressions, including these favorites:
1. Bollywood
2. chaebol
3. crunk
4. flex-cuff
5. ginormous
6. […]

Obviously I’m having a day of supreme mental blankness, when I can neither write nor blog intelligently. I was supposed to be working on my wip today, but I stumbled across the website Writing Fix: Word games for Writers and I got hung up playing cyber Hangman.
The Boggler game is pretty fun too.
Okay, this […]