Another ConQuesT behind me. I had a lot of fun, even if it didn't recharge my creative batteries as it usually does. The short version is that I drank too much (although Boulevard's raspberry chocolate ale is amazing) and that four panels in one day is to many.
I am an awesome moderator, though. I'm better designed for asking questions and prompting discussion and keeping people on task. It's what I do for the writing group, so it makes sense that I'd be good at it on panels. The NaNoWriMo panel was my favorite. It was a lot of fun. The LFK Writers panel was my second favorite. It was the first panel of the con, and we got a great turnout and people had great questions. The Writing Prompt panel was a bust, with only three people who showed up. The Publish Like the Pros panel was nice because it was the four of us from Bottle Cap talking about what we do. Lots of great questions there, too.
Then there were my two tough subject panels. The Creativity and Mental Health panel went about as well as it could have, although I regrettably didn't get much of a chance for audience participation. Everyone was very respectful and I think the audience really related to all of our panelists. The Creative Isolation panel was really tough. I didn't have many good questions for it, but it ended up generating some important, if difficult, conversations. Those panels were draining, but again, I feel like it's important to talk about those aspects of creativity.
I went to a few other panels, but found that I much prefer being on the speaking side. Maybe that would have been different if I had had a chance to see any of the guests speak. I think next year I am going to try volunteer behind the scenes rather than on panels, though. I've been toying with the idea of doing a literary festival in Lawrence sometime in the next five to ten years, so I'm trying to get involved in con planning so I know what to do.
Speaking of which, I have been pulled into planning the Midwest Reader Con with a lady I got to know at ConQuesT. This event is going to be HUGE. There's nothing really like it around here, so I am excited about it. But man, planning a con is a ton of work. I'm really glad my partner in crime, Kathleen Collins, is at the forefront, telling me what to do right now.
As if that wasn't enough, I still want to try to put out the vampire short story anthology (hopefully releasing it in time for the Reader con next year), and still keep up with the breakneck writing and editing pace I've set for myself.
Speaking of writing (since that's what this blog is actually supposed to be about), I am around the 85k mark for ToK, so that's coming along. Just gotta put some ducks in a row before I take off at full speed for the climax. I have two weeks left to finish before Camp Nano hits and I'm supposed to change projects. Dunno if I'll make it or not, but finishing this book is more important, so I'll keep at it until it's done.
My current plan is to write the final book at the end of this year, and then spend next year editing the last two books up. Having the completed trilogy before getting any of them published (whether traditional or self-published) will help a lot. I am never going to be able to write two books a year, so I have to rely on my back catalog, as it were, to sustain me once I start publishing.
I'm really doing this, friends. I still feel like I'm playing at this writer thing a lot of the time, but things are getting serious. I have a finished, polished novel. I have an almost completed sequel. I've freelance edited four novels and three collections. I have six short stories published (or will this fall). I'm involved in conventions. I'm starting my own publishing company.
I've come a long way in five years. I'm excited to see what the next five years brings.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
May Update: On Track and ConQuesT 47
All right, friends. All kinds of news to share. I really should start updating more often.
First, I won Camp Nano and finished the story I was working on. Second, I am back working on Towers of Kansas. The rest of the book is outlined and I'm making decent progress. Most days. This is exciting news because that means I am still on track with the huge project list I made. I'm optimistic that I will get ToK finished by the end of June. July is the second session of Camp Nano, and I have another nearly novella to write for that. I think I can do this. I really do.
Third, WE HAVE AN OFFICE. Jack and I went in with Kevin and Rachel and found a tiny office in a suite of offices downtown. It has a skylight and room enough for three or four workstations. There are bathrooms and a kitchen area and even a waiting room. It's pretty posh. We're doing a six-month lease as an experiment, see how much we use it and how productive it will make us. I am hoping many a novel and short story are written there. It's still in a state of partially furnished, but we're slowly working on getting desk and chairs and, y'know, internet up and working. We have a coffee pot in there. That's probably the most essential thing, right?
As a quick follow-up, I am still firm on my decision to retire as a freelance editor. I just finished what will probably be my last freelance project for awhile. It makes marketing myself weird, since my main website is still my freelance editing one, but I figure over the next year, I will make the transition from freelance editor to writer and editor for Bottle Cap Publishing.
Ok, ConQuesT 47! I will be there. I am moderating five panels. I will be doing a reading. I will probably go to a few panels for friends and colleagues, but also potentially spend lots of time at the bar.
If you are reading this blog and want to know where I will be when, here are my panel titles and times (and a couple lines about them):
Friday
3:00 PM - Writing Groups: This panel is hosted by the LFK Writers writing group and will discuss how to find the right writing group for you.
5:00 PM - Writing Prompts: This panel is also hosted by the LFK Writers, who contribute to the Confabulator Cafe, a website where we write fiction to a new prompt every month. We'll talk about all the different kinds of prompts there are and how to generate story ideas.
Saturday
10:00 AM - Publish Like the Pros: Bottle Cap Publishing will talk about how to self-publish your books.
1:00 PM - NaNoWriMo: A panel talking about the who/what/where/when/why/how of writing a novel in a month.
2:00 PM - Creativity and Mental Health: A common stereotype is that creative types all have some sort of mental illness. Sadly, there is a lot of truth to that. This panel is designed to raise awareness to reduce stigma and also talk about productive ways to work past those illnesses.
4:00 PM - Creative Isolation, Balancing Creativity and Relationships: This panel is designed to open up a dialogue between creative types and their loved ones to make sure everyone is getting what they need, whether it be time, space, or support.
Sunday
1:00 PM - Reading: Not gonna lie. This is my first time doing a reading in public. I am nervous. But. I will try to delight listeners with a short story from a recent publication, an excerpt from Monsters of Lawrence, and some of the ridiculous magnetic poetry I've written.
For a full schedule, check out the ConQuesT Sched website. There are lots of other interesting panels hosted by amazing people.
I shouldn't make promises, but I will try to post a wrap-up post-con when I get back. I am sure I will have lots of thoughts and feelings.
And hopefully more news as far as my writing!
First, I won Camp Nano and finished the story I was working on. Second, I am back working on Towers of Kansas. The rest of the book is outlined and I'm making decent progress. Most days. This is exciting news because that means I am still on track with the huge project list I made. I'm optimistic that I will get ToK finished by the end of June. July is the second session of Camp Nano, and I have another nearly novella to write for that. I think I can do this. I really do.
 |
| Only partially furnished at this point. |
As a quick follow-up, I am still firm on my decision to retire as a freelance editor. I just finished what will probably be my last freelance project for awhile. It makes marketing myself weird, since my main website is still my freelance editing one, but I figure over the next year, I will make the transition from freelance editor to writer and editor for Bottle Cap Publishing.
Ok, ConQuesT 47! I will be there. I am moderating five panels. I will be doing a reading. I will probably go to a few panels for friends and colleagues, but also potentially spend lots of time at the bar.
If you are reading this blog and want to know where I will be when, here are my panel titles and times (and a couple lines about them):
Friday
3:00 PM - Writing Groups: This panel is hosted by the LFK Writers writing group and will discuss how to find the right writing group for you.
5:00 PM - Writing Prompts: This panel is also hosted by the LFK Writers, who contribute to the Confabulator Cafe, a website where we write fiction to a new prompt every month. We'll talk about all the different kinds of prompts there are and how to generate story ideas.
Saturday
10:00 AM - Publish Like the Pros: Bottle Cap Publishing will talk about how to self-publish your books.
1:00 PM - NaNoWriMo: A panel talking about the who/what/where/when/why/how of writing a novel in a month.
2:00 PM - Creativity and Mental Health: A common stereotype is that creative types all have some sort of mental illness. Sadly, there is a lot of truth to that. This panel is designed to raise awareness to reduce stigma and also talk about productive ways to work past those illnesses.
4:00 PM - Creative Isolation, Balancing Creativity and Relationships: This panel is designed to open up a dialogue between creative types and their loved ones to make sure everyone is getting what they need, whether it be time, space, or support.
Sunday
1:00 PM - Reading: Not gonna lie. This is my first time doing a reading in public. I am nervous. But. I will try to delight listeners with a short story from a recent publication, an excerpt from Monsters of Lawrence, and some of the ridiculous magnetic poetry I've written.
For a full schedule, check out the ConQuesT Sched website. There are lots of other interesting panels hosted by amazing people.
I shouldn't make promises, but I will try to post a wrap-up post-con when I get back. I am sure I will have lots of thoughts and feelings.
And hopefully more news as far as my writing!
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
April Update: Big Decisions
I'm starting to think I might need to update here more than once a month. I never think I'm going to have enough to talk about for a whole blog post, but then I look back at the previous entry and realize how much ground I've covered.
Which is why I do this blog. I lose sight of my progress if I don't check in.
So, first. Monsters of Lawrence. My theta reader says it's done. All of the things have been fixed (although we're still scratching our heads over what to do about the first chapter, which apparently still sucks). She is going to copy edit it for me, and then I'm going to send it out to a few more agents (I have already received three rejections out of six queries, which crushed me more than I like to admit).
I am not banking on agents, though. At this point, I think I've decided to self-publish the Mythos series. At least Diana's trilogy. I don't know that I am prepared to do any more substantial editing on it, and I know that an agent and then potentially a publisher's editor very likely will ask me to make more changes. It's where I want it. Like it or not, this is the story it is. It is the story of my heart. So. If I don't land an agent in another few tries after I get copy edits done, I will put it out through Bottle Cap Publishing.
I have several other more marketable story ideas and partially completed novels to work with. If my self-published trilogy can make me some money while I work on polishing and querying, all the better.
Towers of Kansas is at a standstill again, but I did get over ten thousand more words written on it after finally getting the scene order right. It's not perfect, but it's a mess because I've been writing it on and off for the last several years. I think once I sit down and write the rest of it, it'll be more cohesive. I am never leaving a book like that again. It's been a pain to match my tone and remember where I was going with stuff. I like ToK a lot, but I'm ready to be done writing it so I can get started on Diana's conclusion.
Because I made a HUGE project list the other day. I have tentatively scheduled what I should be working on each month through October of 2018. I may deviate from it, but for the most part, I'm hoping to work on the Mythos books, Online Dating for Demons, and the Druid Wars trilogy over the next couple of years while doing an episode for my adventure series between each larger project. The adventure series will go out under a pen name sometime in 2018. I love the stories and the characters, but I don't necessarily want it to be associated with the more serious brand I am trying to develop.
And speaking of brands...I've decided that I am going to retire as a freelance editor. It lasted barely a year, but I've decided I want to focus more on my writing career, and I don't have enough free time to do both writing and editing. I will continue to be the primary editor for Bottle Cap Publishing, but no more begging for clients for me. I will probably take down my website once its renewal comes up. I have one last freelance client to do at the end of this month, but then I won't take on any new clients going forward. I suppose I may take on a project here and there--small ones, at any rate--if the project sounds interesting to me. While the few grand a year will be sad to say goodbye to, I'm hoping before long I can make up that difference with writing.
Oh, and the hunt for office space is on. Bottle Cap Publishing has decided that we all need an office. Rachel needs it during the day. I need it for when I need to get work done and the boys are being distracting or the puppy is or the messy state of the house is. I need to be able to get away and do some work without the interruptions or the guilt that I should be doing something else. With Rachel and Kevin's help, we should be able to afford a small space somewhere in town. If we can get anyone to call us back.
Ok, I think that's enough for now, even though there are other things waiting to be told. I still haven't talked about music, but I can save that for another update. I want to talk about the vampire anthology I want to coordinate, too. I also need to talk about Conquest, but I will probably devote some time to that next month before I actually go. Just as a little teaser, I am going to be on SIX PANELS. Five of those are panels I suggested. Yowza. I am equal parts excited and terrified. Luckily, Jack, Rachel, and Kevin are on most of the panels with me. I can do this.
Which is why I do this blog. I lose sight of my progress if I don't check in.
So, first. Monsters of Lawrence. My theta reader says it's done. All of the things have been fixed (although we're still scratching our heads over what to do about the first chapter, which apparently still sucks). She is going to copy edit it for me, and then I'm going to send it out to a few more agents (I have already received three rejections out of six queries, which crushed me more than I like to admit).
I am not banking on agents, though. At this point, I think I've decided to self-publish the Mythos series. At least Diana's trilogy. I don't know that I am prepared to do any more substantial editing on it, and I know that an agent and then potentially a publisher's editor very likely will ask me to make more changes. It's where I want it. Like it or not, this is the story it is. It is the story of my heart. So. If I don't land an agent in another few tries after I get copy edits done, I will put it out through Bottle Cap Publishing.
I have several other more marketable story ideas and partially completed novels to work with. If my self-published trilogy can make me some money while I work on polishing and querying, all the better.
Towers of Kansas is at a standstill again, but I did get over ten thousand more words written on it after finally getting the scene order right. It's not perfect, but it's a mess because I've been writing it on and off for the last several years. I think once I sit down and write the rest of it, it'll be more cohesive. I am never leaving a book like that again. It's been a pain to match my tone and remember where I was going with stuff. I like ToK a lot, but I'm ready to be done writing it so I can get started on Diana's conclusion.
Because I made a HUGE project list the other day. I have tentatively scheduled what I should be working on each month through October of 2018. I may deviate from it, but for the most part, I'm hoping to work on the Mythos books, Online Dating for Demons, and the Druid Wars trilogy over the next couple of years while doing an episode for my adventure series between each larger project. The adventure series will go out under a pen name sometime in 2018. I love the stories and the characters, but I don't necessarily want it to be associated with the more serious brand I am trying to develop.
And speaking of brands...I've decided that I am going to retire as a freelance editor. It lasted barely a year, but I've decided I want to focus more on my writing career, and I don't have enough free time to do both writing and editing. I will continue to be the primary editor for Bottle Cap Publishing, but no more begging for clients for me. I will probably take down my website once its renewal comes up. I have one last freelance client to do at the end of this month, but then I won't take on any new clients going forward. I suppose I may take on a project here and there--small ones, at any rate--if the project sounds interesting to me. While the few grand a year will be sad to say goodbye to, I'm hoping before long I can make up that difference with writing.
Oh, and the hunt for office space is on. Bottle Cap Publishing has decided that we all need an office. Rachel needs it during the day. I need it for when I need to get work done and the boys are being distracting or the puppy is or the messy state of the house is. I need to be able to get away and do some work without the interruptions or the guilt that I should be doing something else. With Rachel and Kevin's help, we should be able to afford a small space somewhere in town. If we can get anyone to call us back.
Ok, I think that's enough for now, even though there are other things waiting to be told. I still haven't talked about music, but I can save that for another update. I want to talk about the vampire anthology I want to coordinate, too. I also need to talk about Conquest, but I will probably devote some time to that next month before I actually go. Just as a little teaser, I am going to be on SIX PANELS. Five of those are panels I suggested. Yowza. I am equal parts excited and terrified. Luckily, Jack, Rachel, and Kevin are on most of the panels with me. I can do this.
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