A while ago I read an essay/article/rant online re a fantasy author / series and I'd like to read it again but google is failing me because I can't remember any specifics.
[more inside]
posted by fearfulsymmetry
on Apr 23, 2013 -
2 answers
I'm looking for myths/stories about books and writing. Not - and this is where I'm running into trouble with google - top ten lists about cafe productivity and self-publishing; I mean more like a hero whittling a pen from the boughs of Yggdrasil and then stealing ink from the Kraken, with the goal of writing down the secrets of Enki in order to embarrass him and get him to pay the 5 goats owed.
Or whatever.
Any location/time is fine! Can be short, can be long.
posted by curious nu
on Mar 5, 2013 -
20 answers
Let's say that certain phases of my life were already written in a book 70 - 100 years ago by someone, who was either a futurist of a scifi-writer. Let's also say that there are people, who want to make sure - for some yet unknown reason - that I live through those phases and that my personality gets developed similarly to some character's personality in that book. The book would have been written a long time before I was born. Now, what kind of search engines and what kind of search strategies I should use to become sure that there actually is such a book? There might exists traces of revitalizing of the book, if the original writer didn't make good enough guesses about the future.
posted by spctrm
on Feb 5, 2013 -
13 answers
I'm considering writing a technical book, mostly a labour of love. I want to do the writing process online, like Bruce Eckel did for his excellent
Thinking in Java years ago. In order to facilitate user feedback, Eckel had a very fine-grained commenting system, which he developed himself and called TalkBack. At the end of each paragraph there was a "comment" link that let users comment on that particular paragraph. Are there any other CMS that offers fine-grained feedback like that? I'm aware of an older (2003-2004?) Zope TalkBack implementation, but would like something more current. And if you think I'm looking for the wrong thing and should go about writing a book on the web differently, please chime in!
posted by Harald74
on Jan 22, 2013 -
8 answers
I'm looking for examples of fiction that heavily involve transcripts of online communication - forum posts, website content, emails, IM conversations, the more and more varied the better.
[more inside]
posted by restless_nomad
on Jan 3, 2013 -
37 answers
I would like access to a supplemental resource for a textbook that I purchased, for non-school-related use, but only instructors for a course can have access.
[more inside]
posted by zeek321
on Dec 6, 2012 -
3 answers
I am interested in writing a non-fiction book or two (possibly ebooks) in a proven popular style. Where can I find resources, reviews, interviews, commentaries about choosing book structures, layout, language, tone and content that appeal to an aspirational audience?
[more inside]
posted by vizsla
on Nov 12, 2012 -
3 answers
I just got an offer to publish my first novel. I know very little about the publishing industry and the business aspect of being an author. Help!
[more inside]
posted by inire
on Oct 22, 2012 -
13 answers
I'd like to read substantive writing about MMA that does more than just follow the news. If possible, I'd like to participate in thoughtful discussion about it. Ideally, I'd like a blog, column, or forum that gets updated regularly, but books are fine, too.
[more inside]
posted by ignignokt
on Aug 14, 2012 -
8 answers
[Song Filter] The roommate I had in college during the 2000-2001 year listened to this song that I liked a lot but of course I do not know the name of it, who sang it, or fully remember much of the lyrics.
[more inside]
posted by zizzle
on Dec 15, 2011 -
2 answers
I have a journalism background and an idea for a non-fiction book that is biographical in nature. This would be my first attempt at writing a book of any kind. What should I know before beginning this process (other than it will take up all of my time and I'll likely never see a dime from it)? Suggestions specific to non-fiction writing appreciated.
[more inside]
posted by iamisaid
on Dec 8, 2011 -
6 answers
I intend on writing a career advice book for a particular field and the content of the book will be interviews with leaders in that particular field. What legal or contractual issues should I be concerned about?
[more inside]
posted by abdulf
on Oct 25, 2011 -
1 answer
I am trying to remember an elementary school book that had a teacher who gave his students an in class writing assignment about why life is worth living, but none of the students write an essay that is good enough for him, so he rides his motorcycle off a cliff the next day.
[more inside]
posted by weewooweewoo
on Sep 6, 2011 -
2 answers
What politically neutral book(s) should I read on multiculturalism and Islam, immigration/integration politics and/or ethnic/religious tensions in Europe?
[more inside]
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane
on Jul 25, 2011 -
11 answers
A recent conversation reminded me of something I once read. It was in a Playboy magazine, likely mid-80s, and it was either a short story or an excerpt from a novel if Playboy even does that kind of thing. From what I remember it was written in the first person about a guy (a reporter?) who hears about this Vietnam vet that has learned some art of tattooing which acts as the perfect camouflage.
[more inside]
posted by komara
on Jun 20, 2011 -
8 answers
Looking for books and/or movies about fiascos and disastrous but avoidable situations
[more inside]
posted by reenum
on Nov 22, 2010 -
25 answers
Science Fiction character identification: Which SF story had a sort of Friar Tuck like character who followed all faiths simultaneously and had the symbols for multiple world religions hung around his neck?
posted by Artw
on Sep 29, 2010 -
14 answers
Recommendations for nonfiction adventure books with one person facing a single overwhelming challenge?
[more inside]
posted by gottabefunky
on Sep 22, 2010 -
24 answers
What are some good books written about where to find free information on the internet? What are the legal implications about writing a book about a collection of internet websites?
posted by MechEng
on Apr 12, 2010 -
4 answers
With NaNoWriMo looming ever nearer, I would like to hear your best tips, tricks, habits, and techniques for staying chained to the keyboard.
[more inside]
posted by BitterOldPunk
on Oct 22, 2009 -
26 answers
I've recently begun work on a children's book. It is inspired by my granddaughter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get a children's book published? Suggested Publishers? Also, any other information pertaining to this process, would be appreciated. ***I realize that children's books are a dime a dozen...but mine just
might be spectacular ;)***
posted by gypseefire
on Oct 17, 2009 -
4 answers
What well-known novels lack any character descriptions aside from names?
posted by odinsdream
on Oct 9, 2009 -
17 answers
I've seen a couple people recently with very nice fairly stiff leather journal covers, maybe a little smaller than 8 1/2 by 11, that hold a smaller replaceable floppy journal inside. I want one. I've looked around some, but all I can find are the cheap mass-produced ones. Does the hive mind have a lead on where to get a good-quality leather cover online or in the SF bay area?
posted by devilsbrigade
on Mar 28, 2009 -
6 answers
I need a recommendation for an instructional book on putting together a memoir. I already have a good portion of it written. The area I need help with is what to do with the various experiences that I've written about. Right now it's a bunch of stories with a central theme. I need to pull it together and make it a book in other words.
posted by adfeb
on Mar 1, 2009 -
2 answers
The phenomenology / ontology of text: has anyone examined this issue directly in philosophical, literary and/or critical terms?
[more inside]
posted by 0bvious
on Sep 18, 2008 -
26 answers
Tété-Michel Kpomassie: where is he now? Whatever happened to him? I can't find other books by him after An African in Greenland; I've read he eventually received French citizenship and lives there now - but what does he do? He must have written other books or articles, right? Anyone know?
posted by luriete
on Sep 3, 2008 -
3 answers
I need a new name!!! I've written a book for
friends and non-primary caregiver family (NOT for primary caregivers) regarding illness and death.
[more inside]
posted by Sophie1
on Aug 8, 2008 -
16 answers
The rights to my ~400 page pop/technical book reverted to me when the publisher went bankrupt. How can I best monetize the second edition?
[more inside]
posted by lothar
on Jun 11, 2008 -
4 answers
Looking for sites or reviewers who review books other than literary fiction
[more inside]
posted by reenum
on Jun 10, 2008 -
4 answers
What one book will allow others to gain the truest insight into the soul of each city or region
[more inside]
posted by reenum
on May 6, 2008 -
16 answers
I'm looking for a series of hardback science fiction anthologies I dimly remember from childhood (sometime in the mid 80s). I think it had a one word title with a number, and the series went up to at least number five. I remember two stories in particular...
[more inside]
posted by Artw
on Jan 13, 2008 -
11 answers
Looking for books that talk about aspects of society or culture in new and interesting ways.
[more inside]
posted by reenum
on Jan 10, 2008 -
20 answers
Is there such a book as "The London Times Historical Atlas"? Google and Amazon are clueless.
[more inside]
posted by grumblebee
on Dec 22, 2007 -
6 answers
I'm writing a book and keeping a blog along the way. I have a questions about copyright law in case I want to use text from the blog posts.
[more inside]
posted by jeffmshaw
on Feb 25, 2007 -
13 answers
I need help putting together a book about my Peace Corps experiences, though I have no idea where to even begin. Any ideas?
[more inside]
posted by brokekid
on Feb 23, 2007 -
15 answers
Please help me find any and all information available about an old book about writing whose very long name I cannot recall.
[more inside]
posted by Nedroid
on Dec 8, 2006 -
5 answers
Once I've made my sci-fi novel available via Lulu.com, will it still be viable to shop around to agents and editors for potential mass-market publication? Are there factors that influence it? For example, if it sells a lot, is it considered a good buy by a publisher, or has it basically had its first run?
posted by JWright
on Dec 8, 2006 -
9 answers
