Nature photographer, writer, indie book editor of 20 years. Author of THE SKIN AND ITS GIRL, a literary spec-fic novel about Palestine and storytelling, Spring '23. she/her 🏳️🌈🧿 (Was @threepenny on 🐦 )
It's something besides doomscrolling. I'm giving away two sets of five free books with signed first editions of my novel. If you have some resources, are feeling uncomfortable with the situation in #Gaza, and want to contribute something, donate by October 29 to the Middle East Children's Alliance, Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, Anera, or UNRWA. DM me your receipt. Details and links are on my website:
https://www.sarahcypher.com/blog/book-box-giveaway-for-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza
Literature is a language for when we don't have the right words. So watch this space, friends! I'm going to offer a chance to win some free books this week to raise money for humanitarian relief in #gaza. 🕊️
Or subscribe to my Substack to be notified: https://sarahcypher.substack.com.
Just a heads up that this Saturday, I'm* teaching an inexpensive online class on how to navigate "revise and resubmit" agent rejections. The goal is to share strategies for revisions that go deep enough to get the right agent to commit to representing your novel. Link to more info + registration here:
https://loft.org/classes/troubleshooting-revise-and-resubmit-rejection
* = indie editor of 20 years, novelist with a Big Five press, good at this.
If you've considered applying for grants or residencies, The Loft Literary Center has an online three-hour class next Saturday (8/5). I'm teaching it, and it's less than $60, but if money is still an issue, you can call The Loft and request a 95% discount---their funders work to remove barriers to access. Don't sleep on this one.
More on all my classes: https://loft.org/artists/sarah-cypher
More on Adult Access Funds:
https://loft.org/classes/access-funds?utm_source=Real%20Magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=194004310
"An important, ongoing part of the 'economy of generosity' is realizing how to pay it forward—how to be generous to other writers, too. Offer to review a book, moderate an event, check in with friends who are on submission, be a diligent workshop member, [and] read and talk about books you love."
I shared some thoughts on literary citizenship, embracing your true voice, & keeping the faith in an interview with The Loft Literary Center.
If you’re a writer and the phrase “parasitic forms” sounds intriguing, come write with me this summer! We’ll look at texts that burrow into other texts, and use our own prompts to crack open structure, genre, & even sentences to find a starting point for our own stories and essays. Online via The Loft Mondays @ 7 ET, starting 7/17, $148. More info here, plus my other classes on revision, grants, and 1st person narration:
https://loft.org/classes/breaking-storytelling-norms-symbiotic-forms-generative-writing-class
Last winter, I started a free Substack for #writers, indie #editors, and anyone curious about #BigFive publishing. The posts focus on everything I wish I'd known as my novel debuted. The latest post on book publicity reflects on working with an indie #publicist, dealing with book reviews, and timing of other #promotion activities. I'm posting here since it's a murky, esoteric, important part of the process, and I hope my experience is useful.
https://sarahcypher.substack.com/p/publicity-1-the-quality-or-state
Writing is a lifelong process punctuated by moments of revelation--usually the eureka kind, but sometimes the public kind. I'm humbly excited to share that tomorrow is the latter: my novel is coming out from Ballantine Books, and I just wanted to say that the 15 years of this novel's creation were worth it. Whatever you're working, on it'll take as long as it needs to.
If you are interested in the book or any of its virtual events, you can find them here: https://www.sarahcypher.com/media
Some writing resources for young writers--books, online classes, publishing info, and conferences.
https://sarahcypher.substack.com/p/writing-resources-for-youth-writers
I have thoughts on the concept of "literary citizenship" especially as I have a book coming out next week. The process has made me realize how much of #writing is generosity--that the solitude at the desk is the long (generative!) shadow of all the structures that make it possible for me to write and be part of a literary community.
My #Substack post is seven ways that I've given or been the recipient of good literary citizenship.
Friends, it's getting real! My debut novel, THE SKIN AND ITS GIRL, comes out in a month, and last year, I knew to leave my calendar open for pre-launch tasks. I just didn't know what they were. If you don't either, this Substack is for you!
https://sarahcypher.substack.com/p/t30-days-till-book-launch-why-are
#WritingCommunity #debut #publishing #promotion #marketing #WritingLife #launch
Even if there’s a hot little fan whirring somewhere in my chest whenever I’m asked to do something in public, it’s no reason to say no. (And maybe see you at AWP?)
Some thoughts on public events from a slightly backward, backwoods introvert:
https://sarahcypher.substack.com/p/preparing-for-face-your-fears-spring
#Substack #DebutAuthor #readings #publishing #publicity #WritingCommunity #events #AWP
#cephalotus folicularis is carnivorous, and for all we know it is the only species of a family unrelated to the rest of carnivorous plants; it's been on its own evolutionary branch and figuring out by itself the pitcher plant tricks for at least 100 million years. Ants are a favorite snack.
#macrophotography #macro #plants #carnivorousplants #gardening #photography #mosstodon #alttext
My eldest sister is a school #librarian. She called me after 9 p.m. last night. I answered the phone in a bit of a panic, thinking something was wrong because we usually text.
But no, she just was saving up the good news that she and her colleague had spent time working on the MARC record for my book and she was so excited.
*happy tears*
Fakey faker just got fakier: bogus writers' assn & epic plagiarizer United Writers Organization has replaced website content it stole from @AuthorsGuild with...stolen content from other writers' orgs. This is how I know scammers read my blog #WriterBeware #WritingCommunity https://writerbeware.blog/2023/02/03/peak-fake-united-writers-organization-and-the-perpetual-eagle-awards/
Checkpoint! Post a picture of your favorite cover design of all time! 🤩
And if you have an extra hankering to know more about how book covers get chosen in the traditional #publishing industry today, there's a #Substack post for that. 👇🏼
https://sarahcypher.substack.com/p/a-crowd-favorite-book-covers
And I'd love to hear your (good, bad, or triumphant) stories too!
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@incurablehippie I'm glad some of these are helpful! And if someone hires you to put together a guide, please let me know and I'll make sure the EFA (medium-sized editors org here in the US) knows about it too!
@incurablehippie These are a few sites I've found helpful from the Editorial Freelancers Association's resource guide (which might be members only). The second one might be what you are looking for?
List of Ableist Words and Terms to Avoid:
https://www.autistichoya.com/p/ableist-words-and-terms-to-avoid.html?fbclid=IwAR3JP4daA7EqSCBKmdlxpqiOT4nDDlB4QT_cK038fy84GRRZm4wM7DbDbsk
National Center on Disability and Journalism Style Guide:
https://ncdj.org/style-guide/
National Disability Authority:
https://nda.ie/publications-and-resources
World of Inclusion - A to Z Offensive Disablist Language:
http://worldofinclusion.com/a-z-offensive-disablist-language-and-origins/
@cjeandowner My dog is a much better audience member than my cat 🤣
Glad you enjoyed it!
