Ketchup

Hmm, that's a good article. I'd heard of the kerfluffle with Martin (you can't read Scalzi's blog and not know what's going on in science fiction), but it's a tricky path for authors to navigate, isn't it?

I mean, we want you to be busy writing your books! As you put in your sidebar, you're not going to blog about your dentist appointments. I think you have to find your comfort level with the technology and how much you feel you should reveal of your life. That's not something I (or any fan) can say.

I think my responsibility on this end of the keyboard and as a fan is to remember that my favorite authors are just as human as I am. That means that I have to think about what I'm typing. If I say something like "December 2009? I have to wait fourteen months to get the next book?" is probably okay. "Jeff, you can't even make your deadlines, you putz." is definitely not. Adding certain *ahem* fighting words to either sentence is right out. Of course, I admit, that's what I've learned from over a decade hanging out on various networks, and maybe it doesn't come as easy to others, but it's worth the attempt.

(I don't think you're a putz, btw. Just using it as a bad example. Besides, I'm not calling anybody out on deadline issues ever, because I have enough problems with 'em on my own.)

And now I'll stop using your comments section for essay space. :)

-kat
 

Whoa, whoa, whoooooa, Kat, them right there is fightin' words! :)

Who said anything about missing a deadline? The contract, editorial schedule and release date for PLAGUE ZONE were all dependent on the folks at Ace, not me. My deadline for the book was January 15th and I nailed it with a complete, solid draft that my editor called "Chilling."

[sticking out my tongue at you]

More seriously, you've given me an idea for a blog entry about the secret behind-the-scenes workings of the editorial process, and I promise you that it will *sing* with tension, mystery, and drama. Wow!
 

Fellow Writer of the Future Stephen Kotowych blogs on this same topic, Jeff, on his blog.
Off-Topic, I am glad the final copy is being readied for Plague Zone but will be sad to see the last of the characters...
 

I'll have to check out the Koto Man's take on the subject. Thanks, Randall.

As for ZONE, well, if you think the feces struck the oscillating rotor in the previous installments, you ain't seen nothing yet... :)