100 Common Publishing Terms

Every industry has its own language that gives everyday words a special meaning to the in, hip, and working their butts off crowd. For our visitors who write for publication as well as (or – sob – instead of) TV or film, here are publishing terms you’ll need to know if you’re going to communicate with publishers, editors, et al.

And they’re especially important for keeping up your end of lunch table talk with other writers in the field as well!

Not your father’s printing press!

by Robert Lee Brewer

Advance. A sum of money a publisher pays a writer prior to the publication of a book usually paid in installments, such as one-half on signing contract; one-half on delivery of a complete and satisfactory manuscript. read article

‘Neo Cab’ may well be the best written game of all time…so far

NOTE FROM LB: Having rediscovered video gaming (because I’ve ended up owning a gaming laptop that I love…and almost can afford), I fully intended to write a full review of the game Neo Cab, which is being released this week, and which without a doubt is the deepest, most subtle exploration of humanity and characterization I’ve ever encountered in a video game.

As luck would have it, however, Sam Machkovech of ArsTechnica.Com had already done it. So…here it is!

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Life, Love, Career et al Got You Down? ‘Rise Up!’

A 5 minute message for those of us who need help keeping on keeping on, which you can take as meaning just about all of us humans on this planet or even more of us humans struggling to make it in the creative arts on his planet:

“Rise Up” by Andra Day, from the album Cheers To The Fall, available now. Director: M. Night Shyamalan read article

‘I’m Listening: a “Frasier” Podcast’

Speaking of podcasts, as TVWriter™ buddy Bob Tinsley does so well here every Thursday, the other day we found something we believe is very special.

That something is I’m Listening, a Frasier Podcast with Anita Flores. Particularly interesting to this TVWriter™ minion is the concept  that this is a regularly scheduled audio discussion of a formerly regularly scheduled video entertainment…and, like NBC’s classic Frasier series, this podcast is one of the all-time best. read article

Common Grammar Confusions Part 2

Yesterday we were filled with the joy that only saints, narcissists, and writers trying desperately to improve their karma can know thanks to Part 1 of Grammarcheck.Net’s infographic about confusing grammar.

Today we’re doubling up on yesterday’s success with – yeppers, you guessed it – Part 2.

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