It's official. After hours on end drenching my keyboard with sweat and blood, I've finished (at least hopefully finished) the final edit of my second novel. The book is a suspense novel that may, or may not ;), lead into another book. Really it'll all depend on how well the book is taken. I made sure to leave it on a note that would allow for a second book, but not necessarily need one.
Now time for putting it to the test. I've done a little search through some forums on goodreads and found a beta reader to do a partial read on it to get an overall vibe. I'd like to get a few more beta readers before deciding whether or not to leave it alone or do a little more drafting. If anyone out there reading this is interested in doing a partial read, don't hesitate to email me.
This means it is now time for me to go on the hunt for a book cover! Of course, it isn't as though I haven't already been on the hunt, it just means that now I have to make a decision.....ugh I hate making decisions. At first I couldn't help but cringe at some of the 'art work' I was coming across, until yesterday evening I came across a phenomenal indie author book cover site. They have some very beautiful (oh yes, these are beautiful) pre-made covers, and a wide variety to boot! Finally I've stumbled upon a page where real graphic designers have made their mark on book covers. About damn time.
-C.B. Burdette
(If you're interested in beta reading a few chapters give me a shout: BurdetteCB@gmail.com)
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Gender of Writing
Similar to my tendencies of indecisiveness of whether or not to blog, I've had the constant battle of whether or not to upload a photo of myself for the corner "About Me" section.
Every author blog I've yet to stumble upon has the all too familiar author headshot sitting in the corner, starting at the reader on the other side of the screen. I'm sure that this gives some sort of personalization with the reader. When people can look at a photo and go 'Ah, that's who wrote this', I'm sure it gives them a sense of connection. I do have to wonder though, to what cost? Isn't the best part about reading a book the mysteriousness of story telling? Doesn't that somewhat become shaded over with some invisible haze when we find out the gender of authors?
Being that this is a worry of mine, I keep my pen name to a neutral, unrelated to gender, name. I can't help but fathom how one's writing becomes depicted in the subconscious dwellings of our mind when we become aware of an author's gender. I feel it can put limitations on writers. "Women know best of this subject, and men prevail in writing on those topics" are things that come up, even nowadays, generations after gender equality has been legally established. Even in modern times we have stigmas as to what's right for either gender.
Though, I'm not sure how long it could last, I like remaining gender neutral. I wouldn't want someone judging my work for how a male or female writer should write. Quite honestly I don't want it to be judged at all, but would rather it be a story to take someones mind off the everyday hassles of life. Then again, what is life without some sort of judgement. It's one of the main things as a modern society we do have to dwell upon. Turn on the television and you'll see judgements happening left and right.
Of course, I don't have any pieces of work floating around quite yet. At the moment I lack the need to be judged, however when they are out there, I'd hope for at least a minuscule amount of time that they could be judged for what they are, rather than for whom wrote them.
Your gender anonymous,
C.B. Burdette
P.S. I'm not completely insane. I do in fact realize that the majority of people reading this at the present time are well aware of my masculinity/femininity as you all are friends and family. Eventually there shall be others ;)
Every author blog I've yet to stumble upon has the all too familiar author headshot sitting in the corner, starting at the reader on the other side of the screen. I'm sure that this gives some sort of personalization with the reader. When people can look at a photo and go 'Ah, that's who wrote this', I'm sure it gives them a sense of connection. I do have to wonder though, to what cost? Isn't the best part about reading a book the mysteriousness of story telling? Doesn't that somewhat become shaded over with some invisible haze when we find out the gender of authors?
Being that this is a worry of mine, I keep my pen name to a neutral, unrelated to gender, name. I can't help but fathom how one's writing becomes depicted in the subconscious dwellings of our mind when we become aware of an author's gender. I feel it can put limitations on writers. "Women know best of this subject, and men prevail in writing on those topics" are things that come up, even nowadays, generations after gender equality has been legally established. Even in modern times we have stigmas as to what's right for either gender.
Though, I'm not sure how long it could last, I like remaining gender neutral. I wouldn't want someone judging my work for how a male or female writer should write. Quite honestly I don't want it to be judged at all, but would rather it be a story to take someones mind off the everyday hassles of life. Then again, what is life without some sort of judgement. It's one of the main things as a modern society we do have to dwell upon. Turn on the television and you'll see judgements happening left and right.
Of course, I don't have any pieces of work floating around quite yet. At the moment I lack the need to be judged, however when they are out there, I'd hope for at least a minuscule amount of time that they could be judged for what they are, rather than for whom wrote them.
Your gender anonymous,
C.B. Burdette
P.S. I'm not completely insane. I do in fact realize that the majority of people reading this at the present time are well aware of my masculinity/femininity as you all are friends and family. Eventually there shall be others ;)
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Decision of Blogging
The decision to take my writing to the blogging realm has been a bi-polar hell.
"Oh every author should have a blog!" They all say. But what in the dickens is a writer supposed to write about on their blog? Especially an author who's yet to be published. One of the likes who's still sifting their first creation through the in-boxes of countless publishers and agents. One who has yet to get a strong hook in the mouth of either to reel in for dinner. One who would like a strong bite, yet has only felt nibbles.
Do I write about my work? That is, the work that I care for everyone to see. The work of which I bled out of my fingers for months to land in the hands of readers, yet only is only drifting from trash folder to trash folder? Or do you write little short stories to appease to the likes of readers surfing the web. Pulling them in one by one with your miniature adventures that last only a few paragraphs long.
Although I'm still not 100% sure as to what it is that an author should post on an 'author blog', I did do a little research and guess what? Apparently you can use a blog like everyone else. Letting people get a little piece of the person who wrote the novel they so dearly love. Or in my case, the author of the novel they've yet to even hear of.
It was an interesting little 'diddy', when I realized that 'Holy Hell!', I can just blog about me. Me the author, rather than 'me' the character in my book, or 'me' the campaign manager of my self-published (or yet to be self-published), or simply published, book.
This was the turning point upon which I decided I would blog. It felt cool and breezy when I realized I wouldn't have to think so hard to blog.
Perhaps, this could actually be beneficial when my novel does launch, regardless if it ends up published by some traditional publishing house, or by the lone C.B. Burdette pubishing.
Dearest,
C.B. Burdette
(I will keep you company once a week. Promise ;))
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