Feeling Famous, Impatient, and Excited

Well, for only having one flash fiction story in one anthology out, I am feeling pretty famous.

I've been mentioned on two blogs (R.L. Naquin's and K.R. Smith's), I've had over a dozen people tell me they've bought the book, several of my friends (writing and otherwise) have posted links to the book on their own Facebook walls, and I have a whopping 58 likes on my Facebook page! I'm not very good at self-promotion, but this has been a blast and everyone has been so incredibly supportive. All of this and it's only a 1000 word story in a publication's first anthology.

I can't wait for the day I sell an actual book. The internet might explode. All thanks to the amazing support of my friends, family, and writing peers. I'm starting to understand how it's possible for people to be successful at self-publication.

I'm nowhere near ready to publish a book though. Much to my chagrin, when my friend told me about Harper Voyager accepting unagented manuscripts for two weeks in October. Oh how I wish one month was enough time for me to whip one of my novels into shape. Harper Voyager is the sci-fi/fantasy imprint of Harper Collins, which as you probably know is one of the big names in publishing. This is a cool little project they are doing where they're looking to showcase new talent via ebook.

If only I had known about it a month or so ago. However, I think this trend will start becoming more and more popular with the big publishing houses. The market is making a huge shift, and these big houses have to adapt to keep up. So hopefully this won't be a one-time thing. I have a novel or two I think would fit with their other authors (which include George R. R. Martin, Raymond E. Feist, Robin Hobb, Sara Douglass, and Peter V. Brett).

In other news, my submission rate has stagnated as I sit waiting to hear back on 7 stories and a collection of 13-word flash fiction. Of course, one of those is Tor.com, which I don't expect to hear back from until around this time next year. But some of the others are a little past due, and I'm too shy to query them. I'm getting impatient.

I also haven't written anything new in awhile. I'm working on this month's flash fiction for the Confabulator Cafe, but I'm having trouble putting it together. I have a fabulous idea, but I can't make it work. Something is missing from it and I can't figure out what.

I've got a couple of ideas for National Novel Writing Month percolating, though. I'm getting excited. I am a bit out of practice, writing anything longer than 1000 words, but I'm looking forward to it. I wrote around 162,000 words for two novels last year and burned myself out pretty badly, but I think I'm ready to try again.

The Journey Continues: More Rejections, More Practice, and a Book Plug

You remember how I said my first story rejection didn't bother me much? That I just shrugged it off?

Well I've gotten a couple more since then, and each one stings a bit more than the last. For awhile, my stats on Duotrope (the awesome, free website that writers can use to find markets and track their submissions) showed my accept rate as 50%. I had one story rejected, and one story accepted.

I'm at 25% now, because I haven't had any more accepted.

I know I got really lucky (although I like to think my intensive market research paid off, too) getting the second story I ever submitted accepted, but it also spoiled me a bit. I expect better results of myself now.

Although at the same time I'm glad I did get an acceptance, otherwise it's possible I might have gotten discouraged and given up by now.

As it is, I'm still cleaning old stuff up and submitting it, trying to write new stuff, finding backup markets for stuff that's out so I can immediately turn it around when it's rejected, and actually looking into bigger markets. Semi-pro to pro markets.

I'm also getting excited about editing something longer than a short story. I've got a 20k short that I'm going to polish next. I think I'm ready for it.

And after that? Well, practice makes perfect (hah), but more importantly, practice builds confidence.

With each story, I'm getting closer to being ready to tackle my novel.

My goal is to have a novel ready to start querying by the beginning of next year. This has been my year of short stories. It was supposed to be mostly editing, but it's taken me a bit more time to figure out how the heck to do that. I don't see it as much of a setback. I see it more as me having to reassess my goals based on new knowledge.

The editing classes I'm taking starting in September should also help. Hopefully. It'll be interesting to try to write a Nanowrimo novel, where you have to suspend the internal editor, while taking an editing class.

Speaking of Nanowrimo, I was contacted by the public library, and they want to do some programming for NaNo this year! I'm thrilled to death they want to get the word out about it and host some events and write-ins for us. This year is going to be legendary.

I'm getting so excited for Nano, in fact, that I've started buying items for survival kits. Really, that is one of my favorite parts about being ML: putting together kits filled with goodies for the participants. Well, being ML in general is my favorite part, but spoiling my Wrimos is a big part of that. I really do love to share my passion and excitement for writing with everyone.

I just hope I'm able to write a novel this year. I'm still having trouble writing anything longer than a short story. I had planned on giving Camp Nanowrimo another shot this month, but that was an epic misfire. It was a week into August before I even realized it.

But I'm a writer. That's what I do. In November, I write novels. I always get nervous about it, which is usually unfounded. My mind knows what to do. I just have to make the time to do it.

Anyway. It's been a long and twisted path, this road to becoming a published writer. I've always known it would be, but I've found that the twists and turns are less scary as I'm winding through them than when I was looking at them from afar. It doesn't seem as insurmountable now. It's almost like, when I first started this journey, I kept thinking I had to jump across this huge chasm from unpolished writer to published writer. Turns out, it's more like building a bridge. I'm putting a slat down for each step I take.

Although I have to admit, the road has been much easier with R.L. Naquin forging the way ahead of me first and calling back to me along the way, warning me of pitfalls.

Well, and the excitement (and work) of success. Her first novel, Monster in my Closet, came out at the end of last month. You should go buy it if you haven't yet. It's a super fast, fun read. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with all of the characters.

Rachel truly is an inspiration to me. She's part of the reason I've come as far as I have on this journey.

Hiatus

As much as I love National Novel Writing Month, it sucks me dry every year. It's pretty normal for me to drop off the face of the planet for about two weeks afterward.

It's been two weeks. I am slowly emerging from my Nano induced coma.

This year was especially brutal because I started my Nano book right after finishing my Camp Nano book. Two books back to back wiped me clean out.

For awhile I wasn't sure if I'd ever write again.

I say that every year, of course. And I always bounce back.

So here I am. Back to what I do best.

I've already received a lot of positive feedback on Online Dating for Demons, so the consensus is I need to put the work into it and try to get it published. Part of me is terrified of that notion. Am I ready? Publishing Paralysis aside, I've never significantly edited anything before. This will be my first big novel overhaul. What if I can't do it?

I'm having my fair share of doubts, obviously, but I have an amazing group of writers supporting me through this. I know if I don't work on it, they'll get on my case until I do. And they'll keep pushing me until it's done.

The rest of this year will be spent in input and reflection mode. I have a lot of books to read, I have a handful of other people's Nano novels to enjoy and give feedback for, and I have a lot of thinking to do about Dating for Demons.

But starting next year, it's back to work.

I'll try to check in a few times before then. If I don't catch you, have very happy holidays.

Publishing Paralysis

I finished transcribing Riftworld (although after doing some research, I've discovered that I have to change the name since apparently Stan Lee had it first). It was a chore and an adventure at the same time. The world has a lot of potential, and it has a couple of interesting characters, but it needs serious rewriting to fix lame dialog and plot holes. I'm not quite ready to write the book yet, though. I need some space from it so I can start over without it being so fresh in my memory. I've taken copious notes for additional scenes and even made a detailed outline for what was already written, but I'm still not in high fantasy mode. It may not be a bad project for Nanowrimo in November.

Now that that's done, you'd think I'd be doing the happy dance, right? That I'd be excited to actually write some fresh material and not have to do any more mind-numbing typing.

In fact, the opposite is true. I'm miserable. I was able to hide behind transcription and could still say I was working on writing without having to think. Now I'm back to trying to decide what to work on next.

I am drawing a complete blank. Again.

After some soul searching, I think I figured out why.

I am suffering from what I've decided to call Publishing Paralysis. I've been putting the cart before the horse lately by doing research about publishing and agents and if it's possible to make money as a writer...and it's causing me a lot of anxiety.  A few of my writing group friends have had some publication success lately. It's all very exciting and cool and I wanna do it, too! But it seems that the pressure to come up with something publish-worthy is oppressing my creative drive. I suddenly have to be brilliant, and it's taking the fun out of it. I can't be brilliant on command. I usually fall into brilliance unintentionally. And really, it's more like quasi-brilliance. Miniature brilliance babies adrift in a sea of uninspiring crap.

So, as much as I am in awe of my successful writing friends, and wish I could be where they are at, I know I'm not ready. I need to work on creation for awhile. I'm thinking about putting a minimum two year restriction prohibiting myself to even think about publishing and just write as much as I can. I need to keep building that body of work (as a sidebar, does anyone else automatically think of Dexter when that phrase comes up?) without thinking that every sentence has to impress an agent or editor.

I haven't written a book (or even a short story) that I feel is publishable quality yet. I think I need to get out there and experience life a bit to enrich my ideas and find my own unique perspective. Not to mention, I need more practice. I do have a bit of natural talent when it comes to writing, but it is still unrefined, underdeveloped. I've learned a lot and my writing has matured over the last few years, but I have a long way to go yet.

Once I have a few more projects finished, I will be able to pick the best ones and maybe then, after much cleaning and polishing, I can start the querying process.

I'm counting on you all to hold me to this! If I start talking about publishing or queries or even editing, please yell at me. Feel free to throw things, or, in extreme cases, punch me in the face.