Tag Archives: Laura Roberts

A to Z challenge: Laura Roberts

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R is for Laura Roberts. Yeah, that’s right: I’m featuring myself as an Awesome Lady Author today. Because I’m worth it. And because it’s my blog, so I can write all kinds of egomaniacal posts if I want to, so there.

If I were to profile myself, here are the highlights:

Laura Roberts used to write filthy, thought-provoking erotica, before it was cool to write filthy, thought-provoking erotica. She published pieces in her online magazine, Black Heart, and people seemed to enjoy them, so she made some print copies and sold those to anyone who’d buy ‘em. Based on her success, she started writing a sex column for a Montréal weekly paper, profiling sex workers and finding out all there is to know about the underground city. She took notes for a novel, which she’s still wrestling onto paper, and moved into a post-Apocalyptic bunker in Austin to continue writing. For now Laura writes humorous fiction about pirates, ninjas and other bizarre characters, has published her first novel, Rebels of the 512, and is contemplating a sequel. She still runs Black Heart, which has transitioned to a multi-genre literary magazine with a dirty streak, and writes reviews for money.

You should buy one (or all) of her books to support her filthy writing habit.

Who’s your favorite R author? (Mine is actually Mary Roach, because she’s even more of a freak than I am, but still gets paid by reputable sources to indulge her freakish writing behavior.)

Preditors & Editors Readers’ Poll nominations

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Guess what? I’ve been nominated in several categories for this year’s Preditors & Editors Readers’ Poll!

The poll is an annual tradition, and boasts a variety of categories on everything from books to short fiction and poetry to digital publications—including online magazines and e-books.

So I turn to you, dear readers, for support. If you like my writing or my magazine, Black Heart, give these projects some love by voting in the following categories:

I also have a piece nominated in the Nonfiction Article category, “Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Get Laid in Montréal,” which I published as part of my “quickies” series at Amazon and Smashwords. If you’d like to vote for this piece, I would also be eternally grateful for your support.

To facilitate voting for something you’ve actually read and enjoyed, you can currently download a free copy of “Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Get Laid in Montréal” from Smashwords by clicking here and using the code JL28B (only until January 11). It’s available in all formats, including PDF, so you can read it on your computer or with your favorite e-reader.

And then, remember to vote by January 10!

Become a successful writer in 3 easy steps!

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“Become A Writer” collage by Laura Roberts

Today I’ve been catching up on my Twitter feeds, and I’ve found some interesting posts from a variety of writers. There’s The Worst Love Poem in Chicago by Mel Schwartz over at the Tribune, Bo’s Café Life (a cartoon about writing in cafés by Wayne E. Pollard), a list of 100 Little Ways You Can Dramatically Improve Your Writing at a site called “Online Colleges,” and my friend Jason Mashak has recently published a book of poetry entitled Salty as a Lip with Austin’s own Haggard & Halloo, (and which you can buy online here).

In short, I’ve been inspired, and I feel compelled to sit down and write like the wind. Because, ultimately, if I were to write a book on How To Become A Successful Writer, it would only have three steps. They would be:

  1. Sit your butt in a chair and write.
  2. Edit your work.
  3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 as necessary.

That’s it, that’s all. Publication? That’s a concern that comes later, and it’s up to a wide variety of whims. Ultimately, the way to become a successful writer is to write. That’s what all the great writers, and even the not-so-great writers who get it, will tell you. If you’re not writing, you’re not a writer. Period. So sit in the chair and write!

How to become a successfully published writer is a whole different blog post, my friends. Don’t bother yourself about it right now; just get out there and get writing!