Don't Use "I Write Like" meme

From mecurtin:

Don't use I Write Like

Jim McDonald did some digging into that "I Write Like" meme, and what he found isn't pretty.

I looked at the rest of the text on the results page:

Great job! Do you want to get your book published?

“I have personally read through thousands of book proposals in my career as a publisher and agent. I know what these professionals are looking for—and what they are not looking for.”
— Michael Hyatt, Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers.


That little bit includes two links, both to the same page: http://michaelhyatt.com/products/ebook-writing-a-winning-book-proposal

Yep, it’s SEO. And they’re using social engineering to get those links wide-spread and high in the Google stats. Helpful little cut-n-paste code to put in your blog!

But wait! There’s more!

Go over to that advertised page, and you’ll find a pair of $19.97 e-books by the above-said and afore-mentioned Michael Hyatt. These books promise to tell you such insider secrets as how to avoid the three items you should NEVER include in a fiction book proposal. Wow, I can’t wait to find out.

So, who’s Michael Hyatt, and what is Thomas Nelson?

Basically, a former legitimate Christian publisher, now a vanity press.

This “I Write Like” site isn’t remotely legitimate. No, they aren’t trying; or, anyway, they aren’t trying to analyze writing samples: They’re trying to lure newbie authors to the rocks and shoals of vanity publication.

I will also note that there's a "sign up for our awesome newsletter!" box on the side, which says that by doing so you can download FREE a "classic" book on writing by Charles Raymond Barrett -- a book which is, it *doesn't* tell you, also available at Project Gutenberg because it's from 1898.

I *strongly* recommend removing any links and code from "I Write Like" that may be in your posts.

Boost the signal.

Earthquakes are scary!

Had sacked out on the couch while beta-reading amalthia's SPN Big Bang fic (it's hilarious! And crack-tastic! And it's been so long since amalthia's put out fic that I don't think I ever knew she's the kind of author who notices that wet dirt becomes mud which becomes heavy. I love that. But I digress).

I woke at 4:30 am with my neck at a strange angle on an uncomfortable pillow. I lumbered up to bed. Navigated the hall with my eyes half-lidded (didn't want to wake up too much) though I did have to click on the lights. Too much crap on the bed. Pushed it aside, climbed under the covers.

And stared at the ceiling.

Damn. Turning on the lights woke me up.

Fell into quasi-sleep.

Then the whole house roared and shook, like I was sitting on the lit rocket for the Apollo program. My terrified mind came up with implausible explanations: Bomb. Air conditioning about to explode. Over-sized mega-ton truck drove by (through residential neighborhood?). Back to: bomb. Natural disaster. Earthquake. Nuclear war.

It stopped.

Heart pounding, I went downstairs to check on Simbha. He was still peacefully resting, unfazed. Clicked on the porch lights and looked for signs of an explanation (I don't know what I expected: 30 foot flames? Sirens? People wandering about in bathrobes?)

Nothing.

Online I found out one of my implausible explanations hit the mark: a 3.7 earthquake.

Earthquakes are scary!