SHE WROTE: How It's Gonna Work

Sorry, didn't mean to be obscure about how the blog is going to work next year.

Every Sunday, one of us will post a short blog entry on a topic (see syllabus in previous blog entry). It will be that person's opinion on that topic. Occasionally, the other person who contributes to this blog will disagree, but she or he will have to shut up until Thursday. It will be a short entry, no more than a thousand words, on the basics of that topic. Anybody can read it. Nobody has to sign up. Nobody has to pay anything. Nobody even has to read it. It's just there.

The comment box will be there, too. If you have questions, you can ask them. If you disagree, you can do that. If you have comments ON THAT TOPIC, well, it's a comment box, gang. What you cannot do is chat. Because it's a classroom and the people who are reading the blog and then going to the comments are trying to learn more about that topic, not about your social life, fascinating though it is. 2006 was about how cute we all are (and you wouldn't believe what Bob just tried to name his character for the new book). 2007 is about the Crusie/Mayer Writing Workshop which may be the subtitle since that's the logo we're putting up. Oh, and there's going to be a T-shirt sometime around February, since Bob and I have both become entranced with the idea--you know, the T-shirt with "Nothing but good times ahead" on the front and "We're doomed" on the back--since that perfectly describes the writing experience which bounces between "I'm a genius" and "This is crap" on a hourly basis. We’ve got the same designer who did the logo working on it now, so it’ll be gorgeous.

Where was I?

Right. The comment box. Stick to the kind of comments you'd make in a relaxed but on-topic class. We're not deadly serious, you can enjoy yourself, but if you start to talk amongst yourselves, you're gonna get deleted because it's rude. You shouldn't be making people who are trying to learn something wade through your chat. That's self-centered. Yes, this is Mom, smacking you with a ruler. And don't think it's going to be the last time, either. That's why we told you to get a place of your own, remember?

Then when everybody’s had time to make a comment, the other half of the blog duo will come in on Thursday and give her or his opinion on the topic and answer questions. In theory, that’ll be it. Only two blog posts a week, the original post and the response. In actuality, I’m guessing there will be more. I often find it difficult to let Bob have the last word. Especially when he’s wrong. No, not wrong, misguided. No, not misguided, differentially crafted. No, wrong.

I'm kidding, there really isn’t a right or wrong in fiction: Whatever gets you to the story you want to tell, that’s the way to go. We’re just putting up what we think about the topics we listed. And then you can chime in. And then we’ll chime in some more. And eventually down the road, there’ll be a book on the craft of writing. And along the way in 2007, we'll all think about the craft of fiction, whether you’re a writer or a reader. Which is good.

Oh, and we’ll be talking about Agnes and Chase and You Again and Sanctuary because we’re not stupid, we’ve got books to sell and talking about them helps sell them, so if you want to know what we’re working on, this will be the place to find out.

Plus there’ll be the fights. I know some of you come for the fights. I think it’s disgusting, and we’re certainly not having them to keep you entertained, but the chances of us fighting in 2007? Very high. Especially if Bob doesn’t learn to clean out the coffee pot.

I think that pretty much answered everybody’s questions, right? You are under no obligation. Salesmen will not call. There are no hidden fees. We are not responsible for belongings left behind. No animals will be injured in the making of this blog. No guarantees expressed or implied.

If anything goes wrong, it’s Bob’s fault.