I'm still in the query trenches, and it's still really killing my creativity. I didn't get nearly as much done last month as I would have liked, only writing about 13k words. About 10k of those words were on my novel, but the rest were brainstorming and finishing up the SP adventure from April.
I'm starting to rethink my "quarters" after this month. In some ways, I like it. I like having three months to work on one aspect, because if one month ends up being a flop, I still have two solid months of work. On the other hand, writing 15-20k three months in a row is a lot. I guess I've done it before, so it shouldn't be as daunting (both the first and last books from MystWatch I spent 3+ months writing 15k+ consistently). I guess maybe my mid-year break just came a little early. I had figured June would be my slow month. Now, June needs to be my catch-up month.
Either way, it doesn't seem likely that I'll get Chain Letter Choice done. I'll have to decide at the end of this month where I'd like to go from here. Continue doing quarters and switch to editing? Keep writing? If I do write, do I do the next SP adventure or try to finish CLC?
One thing I managed to finish in May was the James Patterson Masterclass. Part of that was because on days I was really unmotivated to write, I pretended that learning about writing was as productive as actually writing. I know to some extent, it's necessary work, but it's not a great excuse for not writing. I will say I learned a thing or two from him, so I'm glad I took it. His class just wasn't as good as Gaiman's.
My biggest takeaway from Patterson is outlining. I've always been a planner/pantster hybrid, but after seeing how efficient his process is, I'd like to go more planner. My biggest argument against outlining has always been that it sucks the fun out of the story if I know what's going to happen. But the actual joy of writing should be in turning a dry, telling outline of a scene into a beautifully crafted scene that shows what I want to convey. I did it with MystWatch book 3. Most of the second half of the book was done that way, and it in no way hindered my creativity or joy.
So I've decided to go ahead and outline the rest of CLC as an experiment to see if outlining works for me.
I imagine I'll still do NaNo as a pantster, because some of my most off-the-wall ideas come from diving into a sprint unsure of where I'm going, but I think for non-first books in series, for the SP adventures, for books I need to finish once NaNo is over, I might start to do more outlines.
As far as querying goes, I have submitted 45 queries. Right now, I'm at 22 outstanding queries (a couple of which I will probably close out this week), 18 rejections, 4 closed with no response, and 1 full manuscript still out there. I have been doing a lucky job search candle magic spell on Sundays to put positive energies out there, but I haven't had much success from that so far. I'm hopeful this week that will turn around.
I have also had zero success keeping myself from obsessively checking Query Tracker. But it's fine. Checking it is better than wanting to check it and wondering. I'm thinking about it either way. Plus, I'm watching the two agents that are closed that I want to submit to. I will probably send out queries to five more agents at some point this summer, then call it quits for awhile. Although #Pitmad is this week. I'm debating whether or not I want to participate. If I do, I really need to work on my pitches. And my hook. That's the other thing I learned from James Patterson. Pull agents in with a good hook so they have to know what happens.
I've learned a lot this round of querying. I thought I was an old pro after querying my first book, but boy was I wrong. I'm still such a newb. It gives me the confidence that the next time I query, things will go a lot better.
I haven't entirely given up on this book as far as querying yet, but we're getting close to the end. So far, it's had less interest than my first book. I'm starting to think the full request was just a fluke. I hate to put that negative stuff out there, but all my fears and insecurities are nagging at the back of my brain. Maybe I'm not ready. Maybe I'm not actually that good of a writer. Maybe all of my ideas are overdone and tired so nobody will ever want to read my books.
Thing is, even if all that is true (which, on some level, I know is not), I will keep writing. Keep trying. This is what I do. Even those days I want to throw in the towel, never write again, it doesn't last. I will keep doing this, even if I never get published. Because I am a writer. For better or worse.
So. For June. I'd like to get CLC outlined and at least another 10k written on it. I'd like to query the last five agents on my list when they open (which might mean rewriting my query a bit). I'd like to start another writing Masterclass. And I'd like to write a short story, since I haven't yet this quarter (and since we didn't go to Conquest, I didn't get to do story-in-a-bag).
Seeing as it's already June 3rd, I guess I'd better get to work.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
May Update: Writing Quarter Take 1
I forgot how much querying a novel can suck the creativity out of a person. It's been a rough month for that. Although I will say that it hasn't been entirely in vain. I sent out 35 queries and have gotten 11 rejections and 1 full manuscript request in the last 30 days.
I've had to limit myself to checking query tracker once a day so I don't drive myself nuts wondering if/when I'll hear and what the response will be. It can really make a person crazy and keep one from being productive.
I did eventually get productive, though. I took my sweet time getting in to writing, managing about 1200 words the first couple days, although a third of that was brainstorming, then nothing for almost two weeks. But as per usual, the last two weeks I kicked into gear and managed to get all but the last scene written for SP 2.2. I finished that up this morning, so I'm calling it a win. And not counting the words I wrote this morning, I hit my 15k words (almost exactly) for April. Kicking off my writing quarter was a success.
I also did some brainstorming for Druid Wars book 2 and tweaked my 10-year writing plan. Which is basically a self-pub plan. Eventually I will need to revisit the idea of self-publishing, especially if the next few novels I query don't get me an agent or a book deal. I'm hitting snooze on making plans for that, but right now, I'm looking at aiming for 2026 to start publishing on my own (which will be when I hit 45, five years after my "get published by 40" goal passes me by).
I also reread and did a little poking at Dante Novels book 1, since the big news this month is that Tor is opening a horror imprint. Might be next up on the list starting next year, once I get Online Dating for Demons off my plate later this year.
But first, this month and next, I need to focus on finishing up Chain Letter Choice. I'd like to write another 30k-40k on it, and I have two months to do it. Yikes. I will say, though, once I got my SP adventure finished up, I started reading where I left off, and I'm exited to dive back into that world. Hang out with those characters. I'm even going to try the NaNo goal tracker, just to see how it works and if I like it better than myWriteClub and my own tracking spreadsheets.
I also finished Neil Gaiman Masterclass and have started on the James Patterson one. It's an interesting contrast as far as creativity versus craft. Gaiman was good for getting ideas brewing. Patterson has some interesting suggestions on the more mundane things like building plot and characters. Who knows, I might start outlining the next novel or two to see how that goes. If I ever want to be as prolific as him--and let's be honest, if I follow my self-pub plan, I'll have to be--that might be the best way to "manufacture" books for maximum income.
Which, by 45, is what I will probably be aiming for. Sad to say. But I should have quite the body of work to draw from, so I think it's sustainable for at least ten years. Which should be enough to keep me set to retire and have enough to get by until KPERs and Social Security kick in.
Anyway. The last thing of note is that all plans are made for Murdercon in August. Convention fees are paid. Hotel is reserved. Flights are booked. It's a lot of money to go to a con for a genre I've never really considered writing in before, but I think it'll be a good experience. I've never been to such a big con before, and I think even not writing thrillers/mysteries, I stand to learn a lot. I'll have to do a second post that month to tell all about it!
I've had to limit myself to checking query tracker once a day so I don't drive myself nuts wondering if/when I'll hear and what the response will be. It can really make a person crazy and keep one from being productive.
I did eventually get productive, though. I took my sweet time getting in to writing, managing about 1200 words the first couple days, although a third of that was brainstorming, then nothing for almost two weeks. But as per usual, the last two weeks I kicked into gear and managed to get all but the last scene written for SP 2.2. I finished that up this morning, so I'm calling it a win. And not counting the words I wrote this morning, I hit my 15k words (almost exactly) for April. Kicking off my writing quarter was a success.
I also did some brainstorming for Druid Wars book 2 and tweaked my 10-year writing plan. Which is basically a self-pub plan. Eventually I will need to revisit the idea of self-publishing, especially if the next few novels I query don't get me an agent or a book deal. I'm hitting snooze on making plans for that, but right now, I'm looking at aiming for 2026 to start publishing on my own (which will be when I hit 45, five years after my "get published by 40" goal passes me by).
I also reread and did a little poking at Dante Novels book 1, since the big news this month is that Tor is opening a horror imprint. Might be next up on the list starting next year, once I get Online Dating for Demons off my plate later this year.
But first, this month and next, I need to focus on finishing up Chain Letter Choice. I'd like to write another 30k-40k on it, and I have two months to do it. Yikes. I will say, though, once I got my SP adventure finished up, I started reading where I left off, and I'm exited to dive back into that world. Hang out with those characters. I'm even going to try the NaNo goal tracker, just to see how it works and if I like it better than myWriteClub and my own tracking spreadsheets.
I also finished Neil Gaiman Masterclass and have started on the James Patterson one. It's an interesting contrast as far as creativity versus craft. Gaiman was good for getting ideas brewing. Patterson has some interesting suggestions on the more mundane things like building plot and characters. Who knows, I might start outlining the next novel or two to see how that goes. If I ever want to be as prolific as him--and let's be honest, if I follow my self-pub plan, I'll have to be--that might be the best way to "manufacture" books for maximum income.
Which, by 45, is what I will probably be aiming for. Sad to say. But I should have quite the body of work to draw from, so I think it's sustainable for at least ten years. Which should be enough to keep me set to retire and have enough to get by until KPERs and Social Security kick in.
Anyway. The last thing of note is that all plans are made for Murdercon in August. Convention fees are paid. Hotel is reserved. Flights are booked. It's a lot of money to go to a con for a genre I've never really considered writing in before, but I think it'll be a good experience. I've never been to such a big con before, and I think even not writing thrillers/mysteries, I stand to learn a lot. I'll have to do a second post that month to tell all about it!
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
April Update: Successful Editing Quarter
I'm going to take a minute to brag.
I edited the shit out of March. I got my intensive first edit of MystWatch 3 done within the first three weeks of March, got it out to beta readers, then I turned around and did a final proof of Druid Wars 1. I kicked so much ass, and I'm incredibly pleased with myself.
Not only that, I also managed to write a couple of short story snippets, thanks to the Neil Gaiman Masterclass, and brainstormed a couple of different future story ideas.
And then, I spent the first day of April doing a final edit on my query and putting together my first batch of agent queries. Those went out this morning.
It has begun.
The next several months will be a roller coaster ride of hope and rejections. I'm ready. I mean. Ish.
In the meantime, I need to shift focus. My editing quarter was a resounding success. And now, it's time to start my writing quarter. It may take me a few days to switch gears from editing to writing, which makes me glad I'm starting with SP. She makes for a good transition series. I'm all signed up for Camp Nano, and now that I've got about a week or two before I hear back from my first few queries, I have some time to be creative and stop thinking business.
I do want to think about craft for a minute, though. Neil Gaiman made me think about a lot of things I already know how to do and the things I need to work on. But someone also shared an article with the writing group that I found really interesting, and it got me thinking about my One Free Trick.
Basically, this writer says everyone gets one thing by default that they're really good at. The rest we have to learn to do better. I keep trying to figure out what my one thing is. Every time I think I have it narrowed, I trace it back to where I learned to do it, instead. So I've finally come down to, I'm good at putting characters in situations where there's going to evoke some emotional response from the reader.
I like to believe that I have the Plot Machine figured, but there was a long time I was bad at beginnings, middles, and ends. I think I have an instinctual feel for the shape of stories, so story structure comes pretty easily. I'm good at coming up with horrible things to happen to my characters to keep them from their wants and needs. And I've gotten good at subverting reader expectation, once Ted taught me how to do that. Dave taught me to do better dialogue. Dianne has taught me a lot about showing versus telling. Amanda helps me figure out where I've hit the emotional beat I meant to hit and where I missed. Jack gives me weird stuff I wouldn't have thought to include. Rachel gave me the confidence to keep writing what I love and put myself out there.
Yes, I had a few solid tricks when I first started writing, but it's been thanks to all of my friends (and family, too! My brother and sister are my biggest fans!) that have made me a better writer, and kept me writing even when things seemed bleak.
Anyway. I digress. I've just found it interesting to reflect on my process, and my journey as a writer. Especially since I'm trying to hard to take the next big step in that journey.
But for this month, I just need to write. Hopefully I can wrap up this next SP adventure. And then, over the rest of the quarter, finish up writing Chain Letter. And write another short story at some point. Here's hoping my writing quarter is as epic as my editing quarter! Really liking this goal system so far.
I edited the shit out of March. I got my intensive first edit of MystWatch 3 done within the first three weeks of March, got it out to beta readers, then I turned around and did a final proof of Druid Wars 1. I kicked so much ass, and I'm incredibly pleased with myself.
Not only that, I also managed to write a couple of short story snippets, thanks to the Neil Gaiman Masterclass, and brainstormed a couple of different future story ideas.
And then, I spent the first day of April doing a final edit on my query and putting together my first batch of agent queries. Those went out this morning.
It has begun.
The next several months will be a roller coaster ride of hope and rejections. I'm ready. I mean. Ish.
In the meantime, I need to shift focus. My editing quarter was a resounding success. And now, it's time to start my writing quarter. It may take me a few days to switch gears from editing to writing, which makes me glad I'm starting with SP. She makes for a good transition series. I'm all signed up for Camp Nano, and now that I've got about a week or two before I hear back from my first few queries, I have some time to be creative and stop thinking business.
I do want to think about craft for a minute, though. Neil Gaiman made me think about a lot of things I already know how to do and the things I need to work on. But someone also shared an article with the writing group that I found really interesting, and it got me thinking about my One Free Trick.
Basically, this writer says everyone gets one thing by default that they're really good at. The rest we have to learn to do better. I keep trying to figure out what my one thing is. Every time I think I have it narrowed, I trace it back to where I learned to do it, instead. So I've finally come down to, I'm good at putting characters in situations where there's going to evoke some emotional response from the reader.
I like to believe that I have the Plot Machine figured, but there was a long time I was bad at beginnings, middles, and ends. I think I have an instinctual feel for the shape of stories, so story structure comes pretty easily. I'm good at coming up with horrible things to happen to my characters to keep them from their wants and needs. And I've gotten good at subverting reader expectation, once Ted taught me how to do that. Dave taught me to do better dialogue. Dianne has taught me a lot about showing versus telling. Amanda helps me figure out where I've hit the emotional beat I meant to hit and where I missed. Jack gives me weird stuff I wouldn't have thought to include. Rachel gave me the confidence to keep writing what I love and put myself out there.
Yes, I had a few solid tricks when I first started writing, but it's been thanks to all of my friends (and family, too! My brother and sister are my biggest fans!) that have made me a better writer, and kept me writing even when things seemed bleak.
Anyway. I digress. I've just found it interesting to reflect on my process, and my journey as a writer. Especially since I'm trying to hard to take the next big step in that journey.
But for this month, I just need to write. Hopefully I can wrap up this next SP adventure. And then, over the rest of the quarter, finish up writing Chain Letter. And write another short story at some point. Here's hoping my writing quarter is as epic as my editing quarter! Really liking this goal system so far.
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