Reading Disorder

My eyes are bigger than my stomach. Especially when it comes to books.

Thanks to the local library system, I indulge myself with armloads of books I couldn't afford. It's only slightly more likely that I'll read them all. For instance, I came home today with

The Children of Hurin -- J.R.R and Christopher Tolkien (as a proud LOTR freak in adolescence, I need to at least attempt this)
The Year of Magical Thinking -- Joan Didion (recommended at the writers' conference as an example of a great memoir)
Taliesin -- Stephen Lawhead (another conference recommendee. Looks a bit D&D, nerdy-homeschooler-type, but I'll give it a shot)
The God Delusion -- Richard Dawkins (cause I figure it's good to read what atheists actually think, instead of reading rebuttals to them)
The Dawkins Delusion -- Alister and Joanna McGrath (for dessert)

I admit, I bought my mom a book for Mother's Day. But at least I'm making brunch too.

Woot for Student Universe

I just bought my ticket from Seattle to London for a STEAL off Student Universe, quite possibly the coolest site on the Internet. My official departure date is September 18.

Maybe when the charge comes through on my credit card it will start to seem real.

Nonversation

From the Urban Dictionary...too good not to share:

Nonversation: A completely worthless conversation, wherein nothing is illuminated, explained or otherwise elaborated upon. Typically occurs at parties, bars or other events where meaningful conversation is nearly impossible.

Smith: What a waste of time it is talking to that guy.

Jones: I know, every time I do, it's like a complete nonversation.

- - -

Is there an equivalent word to describe a blog post?

Spying on Authors: a wannabe editor goes undercover

This weekend I attended a Christian writers’ conference, at which the average attendee had a good 25 years on me. But I stood out for another reason: I don’t write.

Amid the mostly middle-aged women with their manuscripts, I had my eyes on the Simon Cowells of the conference: the editors. These guys send the thousands of rejection letters that dash the publishing dreams of writers everywhere. But win them over, and your book might see the light of Borders.

Throughout the conference, one thing became clear: hundreds of writers face a market that demands not only verbal artistry, but a marketing platform of speaking engagements, a loyal blog following, and “personal branding.”

While I don’t have the fortitude or creativity to be one of them, I left the conference with a new appreciation for authors. Writing comes slowly to me, and marketing my ideas sounds terrifying. But standing behind a great idea and becoming an advocate for that unpublished book —that’s why I want to join those “bad guys” known as editors.