Julie Barrett is a freelance writer and photographer based in Plano, TX.

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Down the (Killer) Rabbit Research Hole: In the Steps of Sherlock Holmes
You know how it goes when you look up one thing and it takes you off on an entirely different tangent. This week's tangent has been looking at part of the considerable London stomping grounds of Sherlock Holmes. I'm starting at the pub, which is where one should start (or end) an adventure.

SherlockHolmesPub_1990.jpg

This is a vacation snap of the Sh...
9/12/2023 10:22:08 AM
Plodding and Plotting
Yes, I am plodding on a plot!

I have a couple of very stalled novels. I get an epiphany on one, work on it, then the well goes dry. Or more to the point, something happens that needs my attention. Now. 

We're not talking ADHD. We're talking about my life of jumping from one crisis to the next. I have responsibilities, and there are people who abdicate theirs and drop them in my lap. And when there are things like contractual obligations involved, ...
11/4/2022 9:41:58 AM
Writing Progress
Yes, I'm still working on the novel, but it's slow. One of my biggest problems was getting my main character into an investigation. It was reading like a bad Mary Sue. You know the type: She shows up, bats her long, luscious lashes (all the better to show off her unique shade of violet eyes) at the man in charge, and she's instantly put in command. 

To be honest, it wasn't that bad, but without going into details, there was a distinct lack of motivation, or solid r...
7/22/2020 9:48:56 AM
Pay The Writer. And The Artist. And The Freelancer...
I'm killing some time until I the current batch of coasters can be moved indoors to finish drying. So, a rant, of sorts.

Harlan Ellison famously ranted about paying the writer. He was not wrong. You should pay the writer. Or the artist.

When you see someone at a table at a con drawing complex sketches with seemingly little effort, you don't see what got them there. Study. Practice. Enough wadded up bits of paper to recycle into a couple of r...
1/28/2019 3:48:19 PM
Bad Dreams Are Made Of Win - Sometimes
Last night I had what I call the "horror movie" nightmare. I'll spare you the scenario, but I was with three people and I left two of them in a safe spot in order to rescue someone who had been removed from the group. We were on our way back and were surrounded.

No way out.  

This is the moment when I woke up with my heart pounding and my lungs working overtime. It was one of those situations where I couldn't shake off the dream and kept trying t...
1/6/2019 12:12:36 PM
Look! Writing Musings!
Been a while, hasn't it?

I'm presently (yes, still) plotting out a novel. One of the problems I'm facing is how is the main character going to defend herself? She probably will end up with a small gun, but allow me to walk you through my thought process. (Please note that this has absolutely nothing to do with current politics or attitudes about firearms. *)

Weapons = power. So what happens when a person gets so good at defending themselves with a natu...
6/19/2018 10:12:09 AM
Hey, Look! A Story Publication!
Well, this has been on Amazon for a while, but since the press release has hit the virtual street I guess I can officially announce that I will have a story in The Further Crossovers of Sherlock Holmes&n...
4/17/2017 9:16:42 AM
And The Door Starts To Open
Well, this is interesting. Two nights ago I got about six hours of uninterrupted sleep with no responsibility dreams that I can remember. I'll take that after many nights in a row of waking up every hour or two, sometimes in a panic over a particularly vivid responsibility dream, Those who know what I've been going through lately can guess the nature of the dreams.

Last night I had a dream, but it was low-key as far as responsibility dreams go. And instead of waking up in a pa...
12/28/2016 11:52:33 AM
On The Hugo Kerfuffle
Hugonaut, by Vincent Villafranca

That is the closest I'll probably ever get to having my own Hugo Award. Above is Vincent Villafranca's Hugonaut, a lovely little bronze that is based on a piece of the Hugo base he created for LoneStarCon 3 in 2013. I purchased that at a convention art show. If it seems I'm whining that I'll ...
4/9/2015 8:05:34 AM
Publishing Myths Series, Updated
About once a year I try to go back and update my Publishing Myths series. I'm kind of surprised at how well things have held up since 2009. (2011 update) (2014 update)

I've gone through and added a few updates plus rechecked and updated broken links.

There are some major trends I've noticed in the last few years:

<...
3/12/2015 10:50:53 AM
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Tag Search Results
Down the (Killer) Rabbit Research Hole: In the Steps of Sherlock Holmes
9/12/2023 10:22:08 AM

Plodding and Plotting
11/4/2022 9:41:58 AM

Writing Progress
7/22/2020 9:48:56 AM

Pay The Writer. And The Artist. And The Freelancer...
1/28/2019 3:48:19 PM

Bad Dreams Are Made Of Win - Sometimes
1/6/2019 12:12:36 PM

Look! Writing Musings!
6/19/2018 10:12:09 AM

Hey, Look! A Story Publication!
4/17/2017 9:16:42 AM

And The Door Starts To Open
12/28/2016 11:52:33 AM

On The Hugo Kerfuffle
4/9/2015 8:05:34 AM

Publishing Myths Series, Updated
3/12/2015 10:50:53 AM

To The Copypasta Brigade
2/3/2015 7:47:33 PM

Publishing Myths Series Revisited (Again)
1/21/2014 12:53:41 PM

Anxiety Dreams
11/30/2013 12:00:27 PM

Writing Credits, Professional And Otherwise
11/15/2013 3:30:50 PM

Dear Author Looking For Editing Services...
11/7/2013 8:32:47 PM

Monday Mumblings Sifts Through The Spam Folder
7/29/2013 10:26:01 AM

Writer On The Bottom
3/7/2013 9:14:34 AM

Monday Mumblings Contemplates The Creative Life
12/10/2012 4:39:00 PM

Back From Chicago, And Boy, Are My Arms Tired!
9/6/2012 8:34:19 AM

On Choosing A Publisher
8/6/2012 6:40:38 PM

My Fellow Panelists...
6/4/2012 2:43:08 PM

A Few Links, A Little Commentary
4/16/2012 11:07:11 AM

Why I Can't Work For Free
10/12/2011 10:34:03 AM

Yog's Law: It's Not Just For Writers
10/8/2011 5:25:14 PM

The Wrong Stuff
10/4/2011 8:58:48 AM

It's the Bulwer-Lytton Contest Winners!
7/26/2011 7:47:56 AM

Why Is It...
6/30/2011 2:25:16 PM

Monday Mumblings Polishes the Brass
6/13/2011 6:48:10 AM

Following Up on SoonerCon Epublishing Panel
6/7/2011 11:12:09 AM

Monday Mumblings Goes Sweeping Down the Plains
6/6/2011 6:09:56 PM

Yog's Law, Revisited
4/22/2011 1:03:11 PM

I will gladly pay you ... who are we kidding?
4/12/2011 7:53:17 AM

Monday Mumblings Needs and Antihistamine
4/11/2011 6:32:29 PM

Congratulations to the RT Winners!
4/8/2011 12:58:05 PM

Smart Words on the Price of Ebooks
3/20/2011 12:41:57 PM

Welcome to the Undead!
3/15/2011 2:23:03 PM

Monday Mumblings Just Lost A Blog Entry
3/14/2011 12:25:18 PM

Nebula Nominations Are Out!
2/22/2011 9:52:40 AM

A few publshing links to keep you warm
2/3/2011 12:21:18 PM

THIS is why healthcare should be accessible to all
2/1/2011 9:41:52 AM

You should not be this desperate to get published
1/18/2011 9:17:55 AM

More Twitter Spam Aimed at Writers
12/9/2010 10:36:28 AM

So You Want to Write a Novel
11/29/2010 1:19:43 PM

To NaNo or not to NaNo?
10/29/2010 4:24:05 PM

A primer on rights and copyright
10/1/2010 5:00:34 PM

Dear Aspiring "Indie" Writer:
9/29/2010 10:15:40 PM

The end of the week is nigh!
9/24/2010 3:24:24 PM

Why I Don't Write At the Coffee Shop
6/13/2010 7:48:57 PM

I'm An Author, Not A Brand!
6/10/2010 3:27:34 PM

Would You Rather Take and Advance - or Royalties On the Backend?
5/24/2010 8:02:50 PM

Change of Plans, and Pictures!
5/13/2010 10:18:51 PM

The Writing Nook
5/4/2010 4:31:19 PM

Big News!
4/12/2010 6:09:29 PM

I'm Back ... Sort Of
4/6/2010 7:28:49 PM

I Have A New Book!
4/1/2010 10:53:29 AM

Monday Mumblings, Spring Break Edition
3/15/2010 5:11:21 PM

Now I'm Dreaming of Shameless Self-Promotion Fail!
3/11/2010 7:21:58 PM

How to Get Rich in Self-Publishing ... Or Not
3/9/2010 2:26:15 PM

Friday!
2/26/2010 8:17:35 PM

The Not-A-Snow-Day
2/23/2010 6:23:35 PM

Dredging Up an Old Column
2/22/2010 3:32:59 PM

The Killer Rabbit Ate My WIP!
2/22/2010 2:37:58 PM

Monday Mumblings
2/22/2010 8:42:08 AM

A Small(ish) Announcement
2/12/2010 11:03:22 AM

Why Don't We Value Artists?
2/5/2010 9:56:53 AM

More Amazon, More Fail
2/1/2010 10:02:31 AM

My Take on #Amazonfail
1/31/2010 4:28:33 PM

Monday Mumblings, Tuesday-style
1/26/2010 10:56:19 AM

What I'm Reading
1/8/2010 10:19:00 PM

How to Schmooze at a Convention
12/16/2009 4:54:44 PM

A few mutterings on publishing and tech stuff
10/23/2009 10:56:45 AM

More on that book...
9/27/2009 1:40:46 AM

Banging head to desk...
9/26/2009 4:28:31 PM

Heat and other musings
7/14/2009 6:51:00 PM

Pardon me while I do a happy dance...
7/9/2009 10:06:46 AM

Work, Work, Work....
7/7/2009 2:12:48 PM

Writers (And Readers!) Making A$$es of Themselves?
7/2/2009 10:38:27 PM

More Promotional Fail
6/16/2009 8:07:34 PM

Monday Mumblings
6/1/2009 5:21:18 PM

Poking my head out of the (virtual) hole...
5/27/2009 4:19:15 PM

Taking A Break From Cleaning ...
5/12/2009 10:47:25 AM

Workus Interruptus...Or Something Like That
5/7/2009 3:31:08 PM

Can Writers Take A Cue From the Unemployed When it Comes to PR?
5/4/2009 10:18:40 AM

And On the Author Self-Promotion Front...
4/29/2009 9:59:21 PM

Wonder Why Many POD Publishers Have Such A Bad Reputation?
4/24/2009 8:39:26 AM

It's International Pixel-Stained Technopeasants Day!
4/23/2009 3:19:08 PM

Desert Rose Literary Agency Gone?
4/22/2009 4:32:16 PM

Update on Yesterday's Viral Marketing Post
4/18/2009 5:16:11 PM

Does Viral Marketing REALLY Work for Authors?
4/17/2009 3:25:54 PM

Why Some Writers Use an Alias on Forums
3/19/2009 5:03:14 PM

Writers, Follow This Twitter Feed
3/5/2009 1:56:26 PM

Monday Mumblings
2/16/2009 4:08:15 PM

AbsoluteWrite is Down; Looking For New Home
1/17/2009 10:40:29 AM

Of Bowling, Editing, and Cheesy Stuff
1/6/2009 7:29:28 PM

More on Self-Promotion Gone Bad
12/23/2008 6:14:54 PM

How You Can Promote Reading Without Being a Criminal
12/18/2008 12:12:36 PM

Watching for Red Flags
10/17/2008 12:33:23 PM

Shiny Stuff in the Mail
9/17/2008 2:50:07 PM

Monday Mumblings
8/11/2008 7:14:13 PM

A few writing-related bits
7/8/2008 9:18:21 AM

Writers' Rooms
7/5/2008 10:20:54 PM

Speaking of free speech...
7/4/2008 3:55:00 PM

Two of the Deadliest Update
6/27/2008 3:03:43 PM

A little shameless self-promotion
6/12/2008 11:30:32 AM

The Sweet Sound of "Done!"
5/29/2008 8:36:25 PM

Catching up on some writing/publishing news
5/8/2008 11:52:59 AM

Get a Free Copy of "The Street-Smart Writer"
4/29/2008 9:04:18 AM

Happy International Pixel-Stained Technopeasants Day!
4/23/2008 3:39:47 PM

Great News!
4/1/2008 1:12:36 PM

Publishing Rant, Part the Second
3/25/2008 10:00:21 PM

A Follow-Up to Yesterday's Publishing Rant
3/24/2008 11:19:07 AM

A Couple of Publishing Tidbits While I Procrastinate
3/24/2008 10:06:40 AM

Time for a publishing rant
3/23/2008 5:40:10 PM

Why I REALLY need to get cranking on Stalled Novel #1
3/18/2008 8:08:46 PM

You should be in bed
3/14/2008 2:24:08 AM

Some good information on copyright
2/28/2008 1:25:41 PM

This 'n That
2/28/2008 9:39:26 AM

Now that I've had a chance to calm down...
2/14/2008 3:03:26 PM

Man, what a Valentine!
2/14/2008 2:28:21 PM

Is there no such thing as bad publicity?
2/11/2008 10:45:10 AM

Dealing with money
2/11/2008 9:57:50 AM

Just a quick note
11/14/2007 10:41:58 PM

And there was much rejoicing!
11/13/2007 7:35:30 PM

Dear Author's next part in the defamation series is up
11/13/2007 12:13:58 PM

Time to kill the music...
11/6/2007 12:54:29 PM

What music fuels your writing?
11/6/2007 10:24:43 AM

The November Masochism Tango
11/6/2007 10:03:07 AM

Monday Mumblings
10/29/2007 6:12:37 PM

Rewrites!
10/29/2007 12:16:00 PM

Update on the plagiarism case
10/24/2007 8:48:58 AM

Some good advice for bloggers
10/16/2007 10:17:15 AM

Monday Mumblings
10/15/2007 10:51:21 PM

Of trains - wrecks and oncoming
10/15/2007 2:38:27 AM

Update on the previous entry
10/11/2007 10:37:30 PM

Two sentences: Holy. Crap.
10/11/2007 5:09:07 PM

What sort of fees should you pay a literary agent?
10/9/2007 6:58:44 PM

A heads up for writers and photographers
10/6/2007 9:56:01 PM

Monday Mumblings
10/1/2007 3:19:41 PM

My (anti) hero!
9/25/2007 10:29:12 PM

The Hugos are out!
9/1/2007 10:12:16 AM

Writers, think twice about this contest
8/29/2007 8:39:00 AM

Monday Photo Shoot
8/27/2007 9:16:31 PM

Catching up on things
7/26/2007 9:42:15 AM

Reading exercise
7/24/2007 10:45:16 PM

Monday Mumblings
7/16/2007 3:34:24 PM

Monday Mumblings
7/9/2007 10:00:47 PM

Falling off the 'ship
7/7/2007 6:04:31 PM

Dropping in for a moment....
6/20/2007 3:42:07 PM

A million little refunds?
5/19/2007 10:59:42 AM

Well, darn
5/19/2007 2:24:46 AM

As promised - one more short story
4/23/2007 9:48:32 PM

Monday Mumblings
4/23/2007 11:50:50 AM

Proof that I am a Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Wretch
4/22/2007 10:34:11 PM

Still toying with hardware...
4/17/2007 10:53:13 PM

Monday Mumblings
4/16/2007 2:00:39 PM

Musings on webscabbery
4/15/2007 4:22:28 PM

Yes, I am a pixel-stained technopeasant wretch
4/15/2007 3:42:52 PM

Would you pay $122.47 for this book?
4/12/2007 2:22:29 PM

As the philosopher Jagger said...
4/11/2007 5:16:34 PM

Are we awake?
4/11/2007 8:32:50 AM

Why I do it (Or, am I banging my head against the wall? I hope not.)
4/9/2007 4:48:39 PM

Doin' the math
4/9/2007 3:18:22 PM

Your time waster for today.
2/16/2007 8:23:23 AM

Writer Beware's "Two Thumbs Down" Publishers List
2/14/2007 1:39:02 PM

Sometimes I wonder...
2/13/2007 2:25:09 PM

Picture o' the day
2/13/2007 11:00:02 AM

All this free time...
2/13/2007 9:13:06 AM

Today's work
1/23/2007 5:31:37 PM

Thinking of asking a published writer to read your manuscript?
1/23/2007 1:28:08 PM

Monday Mumblings
1/22/2007 7:08:37 PM

Wednesday's early
1/16/2007 8:50:56 PM

Brrrr!!!!
1/16/2007 10:14:58 AM

Publish America sting novel web site
1/14/2007 2:00:14 PM

Will they ever learn?
1/7/2007 11:53:06 AM

Friday!
12/22/2006 11:25:15 PM

Keeping busy
12/5/2006 11:58:53 AM

Score one for the scam busters
11/30/2006 8:22:42 AM

As the week wears on...
11/16/2006 2:12:10 PM

Taking a deep breath...
11/14/2006 9:39:59 PM

Friday!
11/10/2006 2:19:37 PM

The class of 007 and other nightmares
11/9/2006 8:59:36 AM

Don't forget to vote
11/7/2006 9:12:54 AM

Monday Mumblings
11/6/2006 10:06:09 AM

Friday!
11/3/2006 2:18:35 PM

Fast update
10/31/2006 10:35:10 PM

More IILAA horror stories
10/30/2006 10:19:28 AM

More on literary agents
10/28/2006 5:16:59 PM

Friday!
10/27/2006 2:17:36 PM

Dead tired
10/17/2006 2:27:23 PM

Monday Mumblings
10/16/2006 9:43:48 AM

Just like they say on TV...
10/12/2006 4:07:57 PM

All the diodes down my left side
10/11/2006 8:39:25 AM

Friday!
9/29/2006 2:23:59 PM

Blockety, block, block
9/8/2006 11:25:42 AM

Monday Mumblings
9/4/2006 11:15:38 AM

The Monday Photo Shoot
8/30/2006 10:42:44 AM

A couple of writing links
8/30/2006 9:27:24 AM

Monday Mumblings
8/21/2006 10:13:28 AM

Monday Mumblings
7/31/2006 2:07:55 PM

Monday Mumblings
7/24/2006 6:40:25 PM

Friday!
7/21/2006 5:25:46 PM

More literary lunacy
7/20/2006 5:47:50 PM

Bad POD, bad, bad POD!
7/19/2006 11:07:18 PM

It was a dark and stormy writing contest...
7/11/2006 8:33:17 PM

Since there's no House tonight...
7/11/2006 5:09:16 PM

Updates?
6/28/2006 8:39:25 AM

Not much to say today
6/26/2006 10:03:45 PM

At it again
6/25/2006 4:41:51 PM

Sleep (or lack thereof), writing, and grocery shopping
6/20/2006 3:09:59 PM

Content theft revisited
6/12/2006 11:21:22 AM

A little catching up...maybe
6/7/2006 4:53:17 PM

Another busy Friday
5/30/2006 10:40:03 AM

Hoo boy!
5/30/2006 10:39:46 AM

Absolute Write is down
5/24/2006 10:39:35 AM

AuthorHouse loses libel case
5/16/2006 10:37:47 AM

Better late than never
5/17/2006 10:36:10 AM

Sleep!
5/2/2006 10:26:14 AM

Monday Mumblings
4/24/2006 9:47:44 AM

A few update so the site
4/23/2006 9:47:37 AM

Monday Mumblings
5/30/2006 9:38:17 AM

Is the week over, yet?
4/11/2006 9:37:27 AM

Yeah, and a big "me too!"
5/30/2006 9:25:10 AM

Is it ever okay to give away your content?
5/30/2006 9:24:59 AM

So what about those teenagers?
3/14/2006 7:14:00 AM

Dang! Another apology!
3/13/2006 6:27:00 PM

My scam stories and an apology
3/13/2006 5:41:00 PM

Mumblings on writing
3/13/2006 9:32:00 AM

The weekend cannot come soon enough
3/3/2006 12:01:00 PM

Monday mumblings
2/20/2006 7:07:00 AM

Where's the Home Office Cam?
2/19/2006 6:07:00 PM

Frustration in the morning
2/16/2006 7:26:00 AM

More mumblings
2/14/2006 8:33:00 AM

Monday mumblings
2/13/2006 11:01:00 AM

Six more weeks of this?
2/2/2006 6:55:00 AM

Fabulous Friday
1/20/2006 10:20:00 AM

Monday mumblings
1/16/2006 10:03:00 AM

"Abercrombie Forgery" broadcast on Sunday
1/14/2006 7:04:00 PM

TGIF
1/13/2006 10:34:00 AM

Onward and ... I dunno
1/10/2006 8:46:00 AM

Yes, good fanfic does exist
1/8/2006 1:22:00 PM

Suffering and sympathy
1/7/2006 7:50:00 PM

Friday
1/6/2006 7:23:00 PM

TGIF
1/6/2006 6:33:00 AM

Nose, meet grindstone
1/5/2006 6:17:00 AM

A few quick pieces
1/4/2006 9:08:00 AM

It's gonna be on the radio!
1/3/2006 6:57:00 PM

Still at it
1/3/2006 4:52:00 PM

Kicking up dust again
1/2/2006 2:56:00 PM

A new spot for an old fanfic
12/30/2005 5:21:00 PM

A "snail's pace" would be too fast
12/23/2005 7:39:00 PM

Repeat after me ... money flows TO the writer!
12/7/2005 9:17:00 AM

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