I like that terribleminds has kind of become an inadvertent writerly community. People gathering around the campfire, burning their old trunk novels, weeping into cans of beans about this rejection or that bad review. As such, this seems like an opportune time to once more check in with you ink-fingered key-slingers and see:
How are you doing?
How’s the writing going?
Tell us some good news.
Trouble us with your problems.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk to each other about it.
Got a grievance? Air it.
Got good news? Celebrate it.
Progress reports: starting now.
Christopher Robin Negelein says:
Busy would be the right word.
e-short stories: Last month I put out several e-shorts on the big three, Amazon, Nook and Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=negelein. There have been a few sales on Amazon with the zombie short “Late Bloomer” being the best seller with a 5/5 review. Not bad for zero promotion.
Audiobook: I’m putting my broadcast degree to some use by laying down tracks for one of the e-shorts, Small Town Nights, a rural horror story. I try to channel my best Sam Elliot in front of the microphone.
Novels: A recent manuscript consultation at a writer’s conference was both flattering and disheartening. The agent thought my storytelling skills were above par to what she saw at the conference, but said that Western Horror is a dead genre. She wants first dibbs on my Fantasy YA when it’s ready, though.
Said Fantasy YA had a great chapter that my usually tough workshop loved.
Short Stories: Wrapped a fun one about the adventures of a goblin cat burglar in Goblin Town. Submitted it to Fantasy/SF with fingers crossed.
Promo efforts: Did a FB author page … yea? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Robin-Negelein/674852135923993?ref=hl
Blog: I’ve been a bad boy and probably need to repost some select FB, Io9, and comments on other websites to keep my blog alive and healthy.
August 18, 2014 — 1:03 PM
Fatma Alici says:
Super busy! Great job on getting yourself out there.
August 18, 2014 — 5:37 PM
Curtis Edmonds (@Curtis_Edmonds) says:
My second novel is finished. I decided to wait and release it in November in order to try and collect some reviews through NetGalley. That is, er, hm, not going well. A few people have asked for the novel, and I have obliged them, but these are all people who request a LOT of novels and probably have a gnarly TBR pile. (One person–one-freaking-person–has read the book through NetGalley, and gave it three stars, and said “kinda funny but too long.” I will now set myself on fire, along with all the money I gave to NetGalley.)
But there’s good news, in that Amazon is now letting people pre-order the second novel, which is great (you can already pre-order it at B&N and Apple) and I’m hoping that leads to some early sales and some notice when the book’s released. I am going to try to find other reviewers and suchlike (this will be easier when the cover art is done, which should happen soon).
As far as problems go–let’s face it, man. I am tired. I am depressed that I haven’t been able to land an agent. I am going to have to spend the next few months wearing my author-publisher hat as opposed to my writer hat, and I’m looking to change my day job on top of that, which is every bit as stressful as querying. This is not a good state of mind for trying to sell books, or look for work, or anything.
I just want a little, tiny break. It doesn’t have to be huge. It doesn’t have to be life-changing. But it does need to convince me that I am going in the right direction–that I am pushing the rock uphill, ever so slightly.
August 18, 2014 — 1:04 PM
Cameron says:
I have given myself a deadline for my debut novel- on or before January 1, 2015. I’ve been playing with the idea, then the research, then agonizing over every word for several years now, but never with much focus or time limit. Well, I will finish this book before my firstborn arrives! I have 41/2 months…I can do this. Right? Right.
August 18, 2014 — 1:12 PM
Christine Ashworth says:
YES, Cameron. You CAN do this!!!
August 18, 2014 — 4:23 PM
Fatma Alici says:
You can definitely do it. The trick is to do a little bit at a time every day, and you’ll be there in time.
August 18, 2014 — 5:41 PM
Cameron says:
Thank you both!
August 18, 2014 — 11:59 PM
wildcatbrass79 says:
My novel that I wrote back in November is in the second round of post-rewrite beta readers. It still has a long ways to go, but the feedback has been tremendously helpful. In fact, some of the very best notes I’ve gotten came from someone I met here on Terrible Minds, A.J. Bauers.
I’d also like to say that this entire process of writing a novel has made me totally forgive George RR Martin for how long he takes with his work. I’m just a first timer with no expectations and a sub-200 page tome. It’s still taking much longer than I thought it would.
.I can’t imagine doing what he does with such scrutiny and high expectations.
August 18, 2014 — 1:20 PM
Kyra Dune says:
I’m doing great. I had a book come out this month and two more coming out in September and October. I’ve had a few excellent reviews, and progress is coming along swiftly on my current WIPs. Also, and this is the most exciting, my YA fantasy novel, Shadow Of The Dragon, is up for an award. It’s not a big award, but it would still be way cool to win it.
August 18, 2014 — 1:42 PM
eviljwinter says:
Courting an agent for what will be my last crime novel if it does not sell. Working on a novella designed to build interest in my SF novel before I release it into the wild. Subbed two shorts, hoping for a.paycheck.
August 18, 2014 — 2:16 PM
antoniamurphynz says:
I started treating writing like a job in 2008: three hours a day, five days a week.
Got 98% through my first YA novel (fantasy supernatural treasure hunt in Guatemala), decided it was collapsing under its own weight, and buried it in a drawer.
Second book was a nonfiction memoir about sailing around New Zealand pregnant, with my disabled baby on board. I shelled out lots of money to a professional editor to work with me on that one. I paid for a professional cover, set up a website, started networking online…
… and I met some published authors. And they liked my voice! Two of them introduced me to their agents!
One of the agents took me on! But… she couldn’t sell the sailing book.
2013, five years after I started treating this pen monkey thing like a job, I had a funny idea for a book. In the shower. I emailed my agent.
She said “You know what? That’s actually pretty good. Could you put that into a proposal for me?”
Proposal sold at auction to Gotham Penguin.
DIRTY CHICK: ADVENTURES OF AN UNLIKELY FARMER comes out in January 2015. (Available now for pre-order! Go ahead, treat yourself!)
I’m pretty freaking glad I stuck it out.
August 18, 2014 — 3:10 PM
cleverbear says:
Congratulations Antonia! I always like hearing about Kiwi authors having success, it gives me hope 🙂
August 18, 2014 — 5:24 PM
T. Jane Berry says:
I’m in the last couple of weeks of what I call the Summer of Done. I’m great at starting projects and terrible at finishing them, so the rule this summer has been no starting anything new. I’ve finished the first draft of an urban fantasy at 80k and I’m on track to finish the second draft of a YA scifi at 85k by the end of August.
I’ve been dying to write short stories this entire summer. I’ve had to content myself with jotting ideas and phrases into a notepad file. My husband caught me writing a short story in a notepad file and he said, “You know, it still counts even though it’s not in Word.” Snagged!
August 18, 2014 — 3:23 PM
Andrew Conlon says:
I wrote 1,100 words yesterday.
August 18, 2014 — 3:24 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Congrats!
August 18, 2014 — 3:31 PM
Andrew Conlon says:
Thank you! 🙂
August 18, 2014 — 3:35 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Quite welcome. (Hey, we’ve gotta support each other in the craft, right?)
August 18, 2014 — 3:41 PM
Michelle Hunt says:
Seriously — that’s great! Any day you write is a good day (she says as she goes off to right).
August 18, 2014 — 3:38 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Happy writing!
August 18, 2014 — 3:41 PM
Courtney Cantrell says:
I’m rewriting the novel I “finished” for my senior English project in college about 15 years ago. At the time, it was my third novel, and I’d worked on it for five years. A couple years ago, I dug it out again and decided there was useable material in it. I’ve now been working on the rewrite for six months.
Good news: This is the hardest thing I’ve ever written, and it’s going great.
Bad news: This is the hardest thing I’ve ever written; the original ending makes no sense at all; I am about 75% done; and I have no earthly clue how to end it.
Also, this is an epic fantasy novel, so I really do need to start having an idea of how it ends, because as we all know, epics have billion-word potential, so I could conceivably keep writing until the cows not only come home but also get slaughtered, hauled off to a meat-packing plant, processed, cellophaned, bought, cooked, and served up in Granny’s favorite beef stroganoff.
Not only that, but my previous five published novels all went through an indie publisher. This one, I’ll be author-pubbing, so it’ll be my first time to put a full-length novel through the process myself. And I’ve set myself the deadline of December 31, 2014. According to my calculations, I’m about two months behind at this point.
Note to self: ART HARDER. WRITE FASTER.
*SIGH*
August 18, 2014 — 3:46 PM
Courtney Cantrell says:
*rereads own comment*
*weeps into lunch*
August 18, 2014 — 3:48 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
You can do it, Courtney!!!
August 18, 2014 — 3:52 PM
Courtney Cantrell says:
Thanks, Sara! I appreciate the encouragement. : )
August 18, 2014 — 5:05 PM
Sara says:
No problem. We should build each other up!
August 18, 2014 — 7:42 PM
Christine Ashworth says:
You’ve GOT this, Courtney!
August 18, 2014 — 4:20 PM
Courtney Cantrell says:
Thank you, Christine! I am hopeful that’s the truth! : )
August 18, 2014 — 5:05 PM
Christine Ashworth says:
Loving this! Okay, I do have good news – a three book contract with Boroughs Publishing Group, contemporary romance, loosely connected around a talent agency. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve had anything out, so I’m stoked. The hard work is starting to pay off. Eventually I’ll self-pub, but I’ve got a lot of learning still to do. Thanks for asking, Chuck!
August 18, 2014 — 4:19 PM
Toni Kenyon says:
Congratulations, Christine. Romance writers rock!
August 18, 2014 — 4:28 PM
Courtney Cantrell says:
Three-book contract sounds fabulous! Congratulations! And once you’re ready for self-pub, hop on in. The water’s great. So far, anyway. 😉
August 18, 2014 — 5:06 PM
Tonia Brown says:
Congrats to everyone on their projects! It’s always nice to hear good news from folks.
I should finish the twelfth and final volume of Railroad! this year. As much fun as the series has been, I will be glad to put it behind me. Four years is a long and arduous road. I suspect I will weep when I am done.
August 18, 2014 — 4:21 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Tonia, that seems like a lot of books in only a few years! Very nice!
August 18, 2014 — 4:24 PM
Jessica McHugh (@theJessMcHugh) says:
My sixteenth book, a bizarro sci-fi novel called “The Green Kangaroos,” will be released this Wednesday by Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing. 🙂 Pretty jazzed about that.
https://www.facebook.com/PerpetualPublishing/photos/a.273099106129722.50432.270330436406589/554249128014717/?type=1&permPage=1
August 18, 2014 — 4:22 PM
Shecky says:
Are copyeditors allowed here? If so, what’s our role? Security? RED PEN FOR HIRE: “Don’t worry, mister; I’ll wrangle them pesky varmint commas for yuh.” *spits terbacky juice* *squints*
August 18, 2014 — 4:24 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Hahah, I like your comment.
Hm, if we count editing as well as writing, I did just beta read and edit a novella that’s being released as a serial… and a short piece that will be part of an anthology.
August 18, 2014 — 4:27 PM
Laura Anderson says:
Writer/editor here. As editor, I’m in the process of developing my second speculative fiction anthology. I’ve got 31 authors on board, and I’m quite excited. Things are progressing quite well. I’ve streamlined the formatting process, we’re almost finished with editing, and things are looking good. I had an issue where my intern had some mental health issues and is now on leave, but I was able to get a copyeditor in place.
With writing…I’ve actually been enjoying nonfiction essays right now. I’ve got a couple ready to ship out to potential publishers, I just need to get off my butt and do it.
August 18, 2014 — 4:24 PM
Molly Dugger Brennan says:
Okie dokie, here goes. I thought I was finished. Then I passed my MS to people who do not love me and do not count on me feeding them at Thanksgiving. I am back down to 70% done and rewriting like mad. On a brighter note, I have been hired to be a columnist for a magazine with a decent circulation starting in January.
August 18, 2014 — 4:27 PM
Josh Loomis says:
Way, way, way too busy with the upcoming move.
MORE WRITING AFTER I RELOCATE.
Promise.
If I don’t make the damn thing you can come out and beat me with whiskey bottles.
August 18, 2014 — 4:27 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
And then someone who beats you with a whiskey bottle can write a novel based on the experience?
I’d rather you finish writing though, haha.
August 18, 2014 — 4:28 PM
Paul Baxter says:
BEATEN BY WHISKEY BOTTLES: THE JOSH LOOMIS STORY by Sara Testarossa.
August 18, 2014 — 5:21 PM
Paul Baxter says:
“What do you want for dinner, Josh?” Sara asked.
“Chicken and biscuits sounds good. And could you make those beaten biscuits? I love those.”
“I think you already packed the biscuit mallet away.”
“I haven’t packed the liquor yet. Those whiskey bottles are pretty sturdy though, aren’t they?”
Sara eyed the back of Josh’s head…
August 18, 2014 — 5:27 PM
Sara says:
Paul, bwahaha! That’s great. Though I was thinking more along the lines of BDSM than abuse.
Now I want chicken and biscuits…
August 18, 2014 — 7:40 PM
Toni Kenyon says:
I’m building a house, Josh. We move in two weeks – I can’t tell you how much it’s screwed my writing schedule – I feel your pain.
August 18, 2014 — 4:30 PM
Chad Williamson says:
Finishing the final draft before sending out to beta readers this week, I hope. Then going into the second novel, which is partially written and needs more work that a $100 pickup truck. Goal is to somehow have the first book out next month and the second in November, with a third in probably February.
August 18, 2014 — 4:29 PM
David A McIntee says:
Knackered from three cons in two weeks.
Downsides- some projects late due to family issues.
Upsides- commissions continue, but the good news I could share is NDA’d for a few months, so I can’t!
August 18, 2014 — 4:29 PM
Toni Kenyon says:
Just coming down from a three day writing conference with Romance Writers of New Zealand. Man, I love the romance writing community. So many helpful authors willing to share their knowledge no matter what level they’re at. I don’t know what I’d do without my romance girls (and the occasional guy who’s game enough to spend three days in a hotel with us all) 🙂
August 18, 2014 — 4:33 PM
Lorin O. says:
Debut novel–one of a contracted three-book series written with a fabulous co-author–came out from Harper/William Morrow in July. Woot!
I am now in the throes of editing book two and working on book three simultaneously, while a) trying to keep some kind of promotional wheels spinning on book one; b) keeping the clients of my editorial services business happy; and c) promoting and planning the workshops I put on for writers around the country.
All of which translates to an ongoing sound in my head that’s not unlike the one Charlie Brown makes when Lucy whips away the football. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Awesome to see a mix of traditional and indie published authors here, with so much being accomplished all around!
August 18, 2014 — 4:36 PM
annalewiscorsair says:
I pitched my second novel (dark fantasy with historical tendencies) to agents for the first time a couple of weeks ago and got two very enthusiastic requests: one partial and one full, which are both sent off. Currently researching & writing the third in the series, and I entered a chunk of it in OryCon’s writers workshop this fall. I just had a meet-up with my editor about the direction this new one is headed and she thinks it’s going to be a really exciting plot.
I was also just named volunteer editorial lead for the North American Falconers Association triennial magazine, the Hawk Chalk, which has a readership of several thousand and averages 80-90 pages. This sort of gig is a first for me, so it will be good to stretch my skills and comfort level while giving back to a great nonprofit. My first issue as editor is this December.
August 18, 2014 — 4:38 PM
Carol McKenzie says:
I am struggling. With writing, with life, with getting out of bed in the morning. I’m tired and writing is either the thing that pulls me out of bed, or the thing that makes me want to stay in it.
I have a client still, so there’s that.
August 18, 2014 — 4:38 PM
Nicole says:
Hugs and support. All good thoughts and positive energy I can muster is heading towards you.
August 18, 2014 — 6:17 PM
Sara says:
Sending you good vibes. An earlier poster got a bunch of good advice on writing while struggling with depression on the first page, check it out!
August 18, 2014 — 7:44 PM
Terri says:
Book 1 of my series is with an editor after a painful awkward, barely successful Kickstarter campaign. I anticipate release into the Amazon wilds in 60 days.
Book 2 should have a completed draft. It doesn’t. I am over it. But it does have a beginning.
Historical romance that I am serializing in my newspaper is at 1/3 mark. When I can burst through and complete it, I am going to also ebook it.
Rushing around to get ready to go geek out at Killer Nashville writers con Thur – Sunday and then going to visit my best writer buddy for 3-4 days of a working holiday.
Must grind out non-fic net content for $$$.
Terri
August 18, 2014 — 4:41 PM
Graylin Rane says:
2014 is going down as my HOLY FUCKING CRAP year.
As Graylin Rane, I’ve got 6 PNR short stories this year (Candy Man Delivery). Three are out already (Tastes Like Chocolate, Irish Cream Dreams & White Chocolate Cherry), one should be done in a week (Apple Cinnamon Swirl), with upcoming release dates of 9/15 (ACS), 10/16 (Hot Caramel Passion), and 12/15 (Dark Chocolate Peppermint).
As Graylin Fox, it took me a year to revise three novellas from 3rd to 1st person and combine them into one 80k novel. Contessa: Princess of the Summer Fae (Urban Fantasy) is avail for pre-order now.
As Rane Sjodin: Red Lady, the 2nd dark fantasy novel in my dragon shifter series releases 10/27.
That will be 140k written and 80k revised/rewritten. For me, that’s a hell of a thing. *thud*
Oh, I almost forgot. I started Dark Fantasy Press this year.
*cheers to all of us*
August 18, 2014 — 4:44 PM
Dave-Brendon de Burgh says:
I’m busy with the second novel in my trilogy, have to deliver by the end of August and I’m now at 26K of a planned 140K, so it’s a bit tight, and the pressure is on, but I’m picking up the pace nicely -wrote just under 5K last week and I’m already approaching 1K for today.
I was stressing myself nuts a couple of months ago, but I’m confident I’ll deliver before the deadline.
August 18, 2014 — 4:45 PM
Dave-Brendon de Burgh says:
Er, nope, I mean end of November!
August 18, 2014 — 4:46 PM
Allison M. Dickson says:
I’m going through a massive stalling period. Whilst I wait for my agent to get my edits back to me so we can get my latest book out on submission, I’ve been pushing to get a good way into my next novel. But there is always, without fail, a lull for me between acts 1 and 2 in any book, and at 22K in, my groove has gone on groovecation. I also think this happens when my life is feeling particularly unsettled. With the usual back to school jive, my daughter’s birthday, and my wedding anniversary, August is always my craziest month of the year, and so with that usually comes a bit of professional malaise. But I’ve written enough books over the years to know these periods are temporary, so they don’t worry me much.
Good-ish News: My dystopian book, The Last Supper, is now in print. I sold some pre-release copies at a show this weekend, and I have two more events coming up where I will get to sell more. My publisher is now officially in the big promotional race to the release in December, and they’ve invested a lot to try to help it do well. The “ish” side of that is this book scares me. I’m not sure if people will like it, and I have always felt like it’s a little on the raw/underbaked side. Because it was technically supposed to be my debut novel, it was easier to accept its shortcomings, but because reasons, it had to be released second, and I’m not sure how well it will do now that it’s being treated as my sophomore effort. :-/ So a great part of me wants to run away and hide. But I’m going to power through my uncertainties as best I can, with the realization that I am always my toughest critic.
Except Publishers Weekly may give me a run for my money.
But I’m not going to think about that.
Much.
August 18, 2014 — 4:47 PM
Jana Oliver says:
All is going fine here in Atlanta. The non-fiction book I’m co-authoring is now in galley stage (thank G-d) and I’m about to dig back into the fiction side of my life. I miss it, a lot. It’s fun making up sh*t for a living.
August 18, 2014 — 5:02 PM
marlanesque says:
ALD2 is off to editors and will hopefully have a cover in a couple weeks.
Currently working on the second Patcher book but more as a time killer until I’m ready to look at a first draft of another project. It’s in that “Sit in the drawer and think about what you did to be there” phase. So I’ll probably start the first round of edits next month.
Doing a lot of critiques and might curate another bundle in the near future.
Oh, also working for my old game company, writing about Nazis and stuff.
August 18, 2014 — 5:04 PM
Deb B says:
I have a great opportunity to get my work in front of an editor in October, so I’ve been re-working a short story into a full novel. Spending this week plotting and fleshing out my characters. I am very excited.
August 18, 2014 — 5:06 PM
Fatma Alici says:
I’m doing okay, I suppose. Been a rough couple of months with my husband getting laid off, deciding for him to go to college, and setting up our house to turn into a rental. Feeling semi happy its over and bit worried for the future.
As far as writing it has been amazingly frustrated. I’ve been to mentally and physically tired to really write anything except in short bursts for the last two months. My blog been only minimally updated in this time. And, my WIP progress (a pen and paper game campaign) has been stalled out due the house. My husband is doing the pdf formatting work.
Now it is mostly over, I can get back to everything.
August 18, 2014 — 5:24 PM
Joshua says:
We’re getting settled in Seattle and loving it. I’m nearing the end of edits for my first novel in the timeline and I’m outlining for a later novel in the timeline. It’s great to be writing again after taking a break to move across the country.
August 18, 2014 — 5:30 PM
Dr. Nate Harada says:
Closing in on sixty-thousand words on my first attempt at an original novel. Forward progress torpedoed at the beginning of this month by the not unexpected death of my father — not unexpected because he was given six months to live a year ago and so it was pretty much all over but the waiting — complicated by standard emotional fallout including a heavier than average desire to sleep all the time. Working on getting back in the saddle now, hope to have a first draft complete by the end of this year.
August 18, 2014 — 5:35 PM
cleverbear says:
I’m frothing towards finishing an urban fantasy with a deadline for the first draft on the first of September to get it to my mentor. Averaging and freelancing 3000 words a day. Doing a little travel writing on the side too. I have heard of sleep, but not yet seen this elusive beast.
August 18, 2014 — 5:36 PM
Eric Quertermous says:
I’m doing OK. Wishing Fall would hurry up and get here to Northern CA.
For the writing, I’ve finally resolved to get off my ass and get more serious on the work. For years I’ve been playing around with the idea for a novel, but always pushed it aside to work on poetry. I finally arrived at a point where I’ve decided to set up a writing schedule starting on Sept. 1.The goal is to have the first draft of the novel done in a year. I know that it’s going to be a helluva journey and it’s one that we all have to do.
I also want to thank you Chuck for this blog and environment that you’ve created here. It’s refreshing to read other people’s posts and see that I’m not the only one in the boat. Whether it’s your writing entries, the Amazon v Hachette discussions, or just random shit, your blog is the only website I read everyday.
So, putting the wraps on a poetry project this week, take a week to relax, and then get to work on Sept. 1.
Thanks again.
August 18, 2014 — 5:42 PM
Doc Wilson says:
I accidentally found out that I’m writing between 2000 and 4000 words a week between articles, Web comics, and RPG adventure design.
I never would have believed it, had I not accidentally hit the word count button.
August 18, 2014 — 6:02 PM
Jack Soren says:
273 comments?! Holy crap. Anyways…
Signed a multi-book deal with HarperCollins in April for my debut thriller series. The first book, THE MONARCH, is due out December 2014, with the follow-up scheduled for June 2015.
August 18, 2014 — 6:05 PM
Michelle Hunt says:
Congratulations! That’s wonderful!
August 18, 2014 — 9:41 PM
Jack Soren says:
Thanks Michelle!
August 18, 2014 — 11:57 PM
TheSpiderlilly says:
After working hard on short stories, and finishing my novel, and sending them out… and having the demon of self-doubt Sylvia Plath described so well ride my back throughout the interim… I sold one. I’m going to be a published author for the first time IN MY LIFE. I’m going to be published by Postscripts to Darkness (issue 6) early next year.
Now, the question seems to loom large in my mind… can I do it again? (sell something)
When’s this novel gonna finish itself? It’s almost there…
August 18, 2014 — 6:13 PM
Casondra Brewster says:
I’m still doing the freelance penmonkey thing — June it was three years. It’s paying what it can, which still isn’t nearly what I was making in the corporate world; but, I’m home for my kids — especially my Autistic Son. I got to the semi-finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award with a manuscript I wrote in 2009. The PW critique was dead on and I will apply those critiques and edit it (likely not until next year). In May, I had a short story accepted — one that I wrote based upon one of your prompts, Herr Wendig. And I’m continuing to work on the hardest thing I’ve ever written — a novel about a mentally ill teen told from his perspective, in present tense. I’m halfway through it and the beta readers love it thus far. I plan to finish it by the end of September, and then Edit it come November. I believe that 2015 will be the year I finally sell a full-length novel. I hope.
August 18, 2014 — 6:32 PM
JWJ says:
Thanks for asking, Chuck! I’m working on the second draft of my first novel (~25% of the way through). I would like to be published by 2020 and the more I think about it, the more serious I become. Unfortunately, I had to pause midway through chapter seven to move everything I own across six state lines. But now I’m alone in my hotel room with my laptop, my dream, and my rage at the page. Grrr!
August 18, 2014 — 6:57 PM
Doug Daniel says:
Just removed about 32,000 words from a work in progress that I have been struggling with for about ten months, hollowing out the middle so I can start over. Also started a second, new novel on my blog, just because I want to tell that particular story and I am tired of waiting around for my main WIP to stop having convulsions, Better to give it away for free than never tell it.
Mr. Gloomy will now return to his cave….
August 18, 2014 — 7:08 PM
Erika Mitchell says:
What a lovely introduction to your blog! This is my first time reading and I already feel like part of the group.
I am knee-deep in the querying trenches, awaiting responses from a handful of agents about whether or not they think my manuscript has a future.
While I wait, I’m having loads of fun researching my next book, which will be a challenge for me as I take a stab at writing female protagonists. Wish me luck. I’m going to do my best to make sure they don’t suck.
August 18, 2014 — 7:08 PM
Adam Gallardo says:
I’ve lurked here for quite a while, but thought I’d finally join in.
Next week, my debut novel will be published Kensington. It’s a YA horror novel called Zomburbia. It’s received nice reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. The sequel is already written and with the publishers. I have my third novel all outlined but haven’t had a chance to actually start writing it since I’m mostly working on promoting Zomburbia. I hope to get to it after this month is over.
August 18, 2014 — 7:10 PM
betsydornbusch says:
Three words: School. Starts. Friday.
Then I shall get some real work done. It’s been a kid-focused summer. I’m working on the third book proposal for the Seven Eyes series, noodling final revisions on a book called The Silver Scar, and contemplating a new series and short stories!!
August 18, 2014 — 7:37 PM
SciFiMagpie says:
Hi, I suppose! I am writing a sequel. Last night I was taking notes on continuity by copying and pasting things from my ebook to an email to myself. I hope to get some revisions done soon so I can publish After the Garden by month end. I have some collab projects too.
August 18, 2014 — 7:53 PM
Luke Matthews (@GeekElite) says:
About a month ago, the final editing pass on my first novel finished up. I went five rounds with a developmental editor and three with a copyeditor, and now the thing is completely done.
Over that same period, I was working with a cover artist, who – just a couple of weeks ago – handed in an absolutely fantastic cover painting. I’m a sucker for old-school, painted fantasy covers (having grown up with Vallejo and the Hildebrandts), and she just knocked my cover out of the park.
Once the text was locked down I busted out the eBook design. I spent a week hand-tweaking the code to make the book as attractive as possible, testing and re-testing and testing some more, and I finished up as soon as I got the cover artwork. The whole package came together quite nicely, if I do say so myself.
Over the last several months I’ve been building the website I’m now using to promote the book, which I launched last week. Right now, I’m immersed in promoting the book and searching for promotional opportunities. I’m sending copies to reviewers, and I set the release date for Sept. 18th to give time for a few (potential) reviews and cover blurbs.
I’m a stressy, nervous wreck. My first novel releases in four weeks, and until it’s done and out and available for sale I’m just going to feel like I’ve missed something or fucked something up or made some idiot mistake. But it’s basically done.
August 18, 2014 — 8:22 PM
colinjkeats says:
First I will be smarmy and tell you chuck that your flash fiction challenges have kept me writing when my normally lazy self slacks off because I feel too overwhelmed with life and work and … being lazy. It also has reintroduced me to the art of the short story which I felt I had lost a longtime ago as I tried to put ideas on paper. So I might start entering contests to see if anything pops. I feel I am at the point where I might actually finish a novel (one of about 8 I have started) and am accomplishing it like elephant eating -chewing one scene at a time. I have no illusions, no expectations, and some slim hopes, but my main goal is to write something that people other than me might like. I am also looking forward to seeing you at the Surrey Writers Conference in October. Thanks again to you and the other very good writers who contribute here who encourage me and in turn make me humble with their brilliance.
August 18, 2014 — 8:54 PM
janinmi says:
[flings glittery bitz to all here]
My good wishes, I send you them.
Life is improving. I’ll spare y’all the gory details. I’m pondering the benefit of digging up that fishwrapper of a high-school rock-band novel again, to see whether I laugh (again) or not. For all those who commented on being writers and dealing with depression, you have my deepest commiserations.
I’m mostly a freelance book reviewer for a reviews magazine these days. But I keep hearing pixies giggling in my closet…
August 18, 2014 — 9:23 PM
Richard says:
How are you doing?
Doing okay, man. Thanks for asking. Have my up days and my down days. Seem like the last week or so has been a lot of down days, but hell, what do you expect when the comedic hero of your generation has that most final of down days? So it’s nose and mind to the work. Penmonkey therapy, amirite?
How’s the writing?
Actually, pretty damn well. It’s flowing along (terrible and morbid inside joke–today’s scene was set in the Johnstown flood of 1889…). Solid 1200+ words that didn’t feel as if each one required the donation of one of my organs.
I’m not pantsing this novel as much as I have in the past, and I seem to have greater sense of where I’m headed with the story and the characters. It’s early in the actual word count, thiugh, so we’ll see. Color cautiously optimistic, for now.
Side note?
Yeah… Mr. Wendig, I am enjoying the living *insert the colorful and entirely inappropriate vulgarity of your choice here* out of Blackbirds, as well as The Kick-Ass Writer. Thank you for both. As the Aussies say, “Good on you, mate!”
August 18, 2014 — 9:26 PM