Good idea / bad idea

If you ever watched the '90s cartoon show Animaniacs, you probably saw a segment in the program called "Good Idea/Bad Idea." If you've never seen Animaniacs, here's a two-minute compilation of some of the Good Idea/Bad Idea sketches (courtesy of Youtube). Hilarious!

Now then: in the publishing world, there are very often scenarios in which what would otherwise be a great idea is actually a terrible idea due to one or two crucial detail(s). As part of your (and, frankly, my) continued education in this industry, I present to you the following examples:

Good Idea: Venting to your friend, spouse, significant other, &c about a negative review of your book.
Bad Idea: Venting to Twitter, Facebook, the Internet at large, &c about a negative review of your book.

Good Idea: Following an agent's guidelines when submitting your novel.
Bad Idea: Following an agent to his or her office/car/home to submit your novel.

Good Idea: Reading industry blogs to improve your writing and querying.
Bad Idea: Reading industry blogs instead of writing or querying.

Good Idea: Selling yourself in order to promote your novel.
Bad Idea: Literally selling yourself in order to promote your novel.

Good Idea: Setting aside a specified block of time to write each day.
Bad Idea: Setting aside your family, friends, and day job to write each day. (May lead to the above scenario.)

Feel free to create your own good idea/bad idea in the comments!

--

Pimp My Blog, 4 February 2010

Poets & Writers Magazine: Top Ten Topics for Writers

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Ten Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues.

• Literary Magazines

  • Introduction
  • The World of Literary Magazines—Determining Which Are Right for Your Work
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Simultaneous Submissions
  • Cover Letters
  • Other Resources
• Publishing a Book

  • Introduction
  • Small Presses vs. Large Publishers
  • Chapbooks
  • Submission Guidelines
  • What to Expect from Your Publisher
  • What to Expect from a Standard Book Contract
  • Marketing and Distribution
  • Self-Publishing and Print-on-Demand Companies
  • What is a Vanity or Subsidy Press?
  • Other Resources
• Literary Agents

  • Introduction
  • What a Literary Agent Can Do for You
  • Finding the Right Literary Agent
  • The Query Letter
  • What You Should Know Before Signing a Contract
  • Literary Agents and Poets
  • Fee-Charging Agents
  • Other Resources
• Writing Contests

  • Introduction
  • Other Resources
• Vanity Presses

  • Introduction
  • Recognizing Scams
  • Other Resources
• Copyright

  • Introduction
  • Glossary of Rights
  • Other Resources
• Book Publicity

  • Introduction
  • Developing a Mailing List
  • Creating a Web Site
  • How to Set Up a Reading Tour
  • Hiring an Independent Publicist
  • Other Resources
• Writers Conferences, Colonies, and Workshops

  • Introduction
  • The Benefits of Attending a Writers Conference or Colony
  • Writing Groups/Workshops
  • Online Writing Workshops
  • Other Resources
• MFA Programs

  • Introduction
  • What an MFA Degree Can Offer
  • How to Choose an MFA Program
  • Low-Residency MFA Programs
  • Other Resources
• Literary Organizations

  • Introduction
  • Other Resources