Hi there! So if you've kept up with anything I've posted, I got some closing news.
I'm rewriting my novel. My Fantasy New Adult (first written novel). It sucks big time. How do you scrap & rewrite without writing the SAME thing?! (Any advice would be great if you have some) So I'm trying to mentally block all the details of book one as to not write them in book 2. The problem is *UGH* it already has the same elements and I'm only 3 pages in. I'm trying to establish an emotional connection with the reader and my character and the only way I have so far is to show how the character's life is. (Is that so wrong?) Maybe I'll research the topic and come up with a new view.
My dark and dirty drug underworld is coming along. I'm kinda in a weird spot though. The story has plateaued and I'm working an angle for a climax (although there is a lot of other climaxing going on, pun intended). I didn't think I would like writing something so vulgar, degrading, drug related but it's kind of fun. Who doesn't like drug, sex, and a cuss word every other sentence? I personally wouldn't pick it up and read it but ya know there's all kinds of people out there. All kinds.
#keepyourpenup
Monday, September 25, 2017
Sunday, September 17, 2017
The Final Chapter, possibly?
So I haven't heard back from any more agents. This is the hard part. The heart-wrenching-I-don't-want-to-do-it part. I'll chalk it up as a no go for any other agents. I sit here and tap my fingers on what to do next. Do I strip and rewrite my entire novel? </3 (OUCH! *cue chest pains) Do I simply rework my query? My query is pretty solid, but maybe not if it's not attracting agents. (???????)
I'm not feeling my sci-fi book. I don't even want to look at it right now. I seriously would be CRUSHED if my sci-fi got me an agent and not my already queried novel. Plus I originally thought I could pass it off for a series, then decided against that. I know I wrote sci-fi was easy but I truly think it was my ignorance showing. One of those, "what in the world wide web was I thinking?" moments. I think it's salvageable but still way deeper than planets, space travel, aliens, and tech. The mind people have to have to write an in-depth sci-fi, Einstein level legit.
Anyways folks, I'm off to work on a dark & dirty drug underworld book to forget my writing woes.
At least I'll be writing SOMETHING!
#keepyourpenup
I'm not feeling my sci-fi book. I don't even want to look at it right now. I seriously would be CRUSHED if my sci-fi got me an agent and not my already queried novel. Plus I originally thought I could pass it off for a series, then decided against that. I know I wrote sci-fi was easy but I truly think it was my ignorance showing. One of those, "what in the world wide web was I thinking?" moments. I think it's salvageable but still way deeper than planets, space travel, aliens, and tech. The mind people have to have to write an in-depth sci-fi, Einstein level legit.
Anyways folks, I'm off to work on a dark & dirty drug underworld book to forget my writing woes.
At least I'll be writing SOMETHING!
#keepyourpenup
Monday, September 4, 2017
Update on Being Heard
So if you read my last post, you would know I got a nibble from an agent.
I want to break down the stats for you.
I emailed 6 different agents. 2 responded with a polite pass. 1 25pg request. 3 crickets.
I know I know I know, it's a holiday weekend so they're all taking vacation...at the same time... Or they're all out for coffee...at the same time...
It's excruciating waiting and waiting and waiting. But alas that's all to be done for another 3 to 5 weeks.
I've decided not to send out any more queries until I get responses back. Yes this may be the long way around. I think it'll pay out so I can tweak my emails as I go and find better way to "pitch" my novel. Until then, that's the full update.
Keeping trying to reach them goals! Oh, and have a lovely holiday!
#keepyourpenup
I want to break down the stats for you.
I emailed 6 different agents. 2 responded with a polite pass. 1 25pg request. 3 crickets.
I know I know I know, it's a holiday weekend so they're all taking vacation...at the same time... Or they're all out for coffee...at the same time...
It's excruciating waiting and waiting and waiting. But alas that's all to be done for another 3 to 5 weeks.
I've decided not to send out any more queries until I get responses back. Yes this may be the long way around. I think it'll pay out so I can tweak my emails as I go and find better way to "pitch" my novel. Until then, that's the full update.
Keeping trying to reach them goals! Oh, and have a lovely holiday!
#keepyourpenup
Thursday, August 31, 2017
It's Not the Query
*************YOU GUYS!!!!***************
I have super duper supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news. So I've sent out 6 queries for my first novel. I have been trying for YEARS to get this published. YEARS! We've been through a lot together. Friends, jobs, tears, and revisions. Not to mention all the countless awful queries. Like extremely awful.
Down to the nitty gritty.
I GOT A NIBBLE.
If any of you writers are pursuing the publishing industry like me you KNOW how huge this is.
A few things though. A: the agent didn't say "you're query is really buff! I gotta read your book."
No. B: In fact, this agent says, "I really don't read Fantasy." C: "BUT I'm intrigued by how you described your book."
***AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH****** (Insert heavy breathing into a brown paper bag)
Now now now. I acted like I've done this before. Cool as Larry, I quickly replied with a thank you and the first 25 pages of my novel.
I'm jittery and pretty much on an emotional high. So I keep telling myself, "this could be nothing." I'm also a crazy optimistic. "This could be the beginning."
So there you have it folks. It wasn't my query.
It was my enticing skills. Just kidding. It was the small paragraph at the beginning of my email stating why I chose this agent and a one sentence sum up highly dumb-downed (for lack of better words) point of my novel.
Anyways I'm off to slightly celebrate and pray a little bit more. It's amazing what hard work and faith will get you.
#keepyourpenup
I have super duper supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news. So I've sent out 6 queries for my first novel. I have been trying for YEARS to get this published. YEARS! We've been through a lot together. Friends, jobs, tears, and revisions. Not to mention all the countless awful queries. Like extremely awful.
Down to the nitty gritty.
I GOT A NIBBLE.
If any of you writers are pursuing the publishing industry like me you KNOW how huge this is.
A few things though. A: the agent didn't say "you're query is really buff! I gotta read your book."
No. B: In fact, this agent says, "I really don't read Fantasy." C: "BUT I'm intrigued by how you described your book."
***AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH****** (Insert heavy breathing into a brown paper bag)
Now now now. I acted like I've done this before. Cool as Larry, I quickly replied with a thank you and the first 25 pages of my novel.
I'm jittery and pretty much on an emotional high. So I keep telling myself, "this could be nothing." I'm also a crazy optimistic. "This could be the beginning."
So there you have it folks. It wasn't my query.
It was my enticing skills. Just kidding. It was the small paragraph at the beginning of my email stating why I chose this agent and a one sentence sum up highly dumb-downed (for lack of better words) point of my novel.
Anyways I'm off to slightly celebrate and pray a little bit more. It's amazing what hard work and faith will get you.
#keepyourpenup
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
QUERY LETTERS
*UGH* *SIGH* *GASP*
The main problem I witness with an imperfect query letter; to many words. The author crams as much information about the novel into 700 words. (Which is way too long if you care to know).
I have the opposite problem. Yes. My first queries for any of my novels are less then 120 words. And sometimes its a stretch to get them that far! I give enough bones of my stories but not enough meat.
So I'm sharing my writing angst to procrastinate on revising and writing. Thanks for that.
I'll place my query here and you let me know what you think. This is version #2, by the way.
The felon that got away murdered her father but left too many clues for a seasoned bounty hunter. Now Losi wants revenge.
Losi is on the hunt for a felon named Kos when she forms an alliance with a disgraced military officer. Their search on ETP156 doesn’t discover Kos but what they do find, is a conspiracy and anyone who interferes ends up dead.
Kos is a pawn in the conspiracy as well as the disgraced officer. If they can unravel the mystery in time they can save countless lives. At the heart of the plot is an intergalactic collapse.
The main problem I witness with an imperfect query letter; to many words. The author crams as much information about the novel into 700 words. (Which is way too long if you care to know).
I have the opposite problem. Yes. My first queries for any of my novels are less then 120 words. And sometimes its a stretch to get them that far! I give enough bones of my stories but not enough meat.
So I'm sharing my writing angst to procrastinate on revising and writing. Thanks for that.
I'll place my query here and you let me know what you think. This is version #2, by the way.
The felon that got away murdered her father but left too many clues for a seasoned bounty hunter. Now Losi wants revenge.
Losi is on the hunt for a felon named Kos when she forms an alliance with a disgraced military officer. Their search on ETP156 doesn’t discover Kos but what they do find, is a conspiracy and anyone who interferes ends up dead.
Kos is a pawn in the conspiracy as well as the disgraced officer. If they can unravel the mystery in time they can save countless lives. At the heart of the plot is an intergalactic collapse.
Let me know what you think.
#keepyourpenup
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Why Lose Motivation
Fellows, we are gathered here today to witness the death of a writing streak.
Ever wonder why you lose motivation? I ponder this all the time. There are days when all I want to do is COMMIT, COMMIT, COMMIT, to writing, editing, finishing, typing, ANYTHING that has to do with my personal writing career. The desire is so strong, I feel the fire burning in my chest. My fingers tingle with the anticipation of touching the keys of my laptop.
So why is it...I feel the extreme opposite? A void so big it threats to swallow me up. Dark and thick as tar slowly consuming my once burning desire? What if I don't want this bad enough? What if I can't be published? What if my book will never make it to that list? What if no one ever reads it once it's published? My books won't ever be as good as So-and-so's; why bother?
I know. So. Many. Questions. I seriously doubt myself especially on days I shouldn't, like the days I don't feel motivated. It's a bad circle of never-endingness. UUUGGGGHHHH.
Then I get stuck in this...unmotivated state. I get caught up in the despair.
That leaves us with the ultimate question. How do we defeat it?
When you find an answer let me know. I normally push through anyways. After a few days of not writing, I start to get this itch. This itch to write. If I don't get a writing itch, I do it anyways. If I don't ever start, I won't ever finish. Practical right. But why is it so hard to just do it??
Tell me how you defeat the despair and what your struggles are.
As always,
#keepyourpenup
Ever wonder why you lose motivation? I ponder this all the time. There are days when all I want to do is COMMIT, COMMIT, COMMIT, to writing, editing, finishing, typing, ANYTHING that has to do with my personal writing career. The desire is so strong, I feel the fire burning in my chest. My fingers tingle with the anticipation of touching the keys of my laptop.
So why is it...I feel the extreme opposite? A void so big it threats to swallow me up. Dark and thick as tar slowly consuming my once burning desire? What if I don't want this bad enough? What if I can't be published? What if my book will never make it to that list? What if no one ever reads it once it's published? My books won't ever be as good as So-and-so's; why bother?
I know. So. Many. Questions. I seriously doubt myself especially on days I shouldn't, like the days I don't feel motivated. It's a bad circle of never-endingness. UUUGGGGHHHH.
Then I get stuck in this...unmotivated state. I get caught up in the despair.
That leaves us with the ultimate question. How do we defeat it?
When you find an answer let me know. I normally push through anyways. After a few days of not writing, I start to get this itch. This itch to write. If I don't get a writing itch, I do it anyways. If I don't ever start, I won't ever finish. Practical right. But why is it so hard to just do it??
Tell me how you defeat the despair and what your struggles are.
As always,
#keepyourpenup
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Freelancing Anyone?
I know I have been MIA lately. Such are the trifles of juggling life.
My most recent endeavor is freelancing. Anyone heard of UpWork?
I love to be creative and write. I'm not making money with it right now. Might as well give it a try.
You know what happened? I found stable writing jobs. Yes. JOBS. UpWork takes a little cream from the top just like all other big online companies do when your selling an item. But what's the difference if this company takes the cream or Ebay, Amazon, or Etsy? None really. Be smart and make sure you're aware of scammers.
As far as personal writing, I'm torn between finishing my goal or working solely on my NA Fantasy trilogy. Ugh. Not to mention I have this crazy new idea for a novel that is nagging me in the back of my head. Wanna know?! Okay I'll give you a hint. Think EVIL mermaids. Pretty dark for me but whatever, I'll go with it.
As always,
#keepyourpenup
My most recent endeavor is freelancing. Anyone heard of UpWork?
I love to be creative and write. I'm not making money with it right now. Might as well give it a try.
You know what happened? I found stable writing jobs. Yes. JOBS. UpWork takes a little cream from the top just like all other big online companies do when your selling an item. But what's the difference if this company takes the cream or Ebay, Amazon, or Etsy? None really. Be smart and make sure you're aware of scammers.
As far as personal writing, I'm torn between finishing my goal or working solely on my NA Fantasy trilogy. Ugh. Not to mention I have this crazy new idea for a novel that is nagging me in the back of my head. Wanna know?! Okay I'll give you a hint. Think EVIL mermaids. Pretty dark for me but whatever, I'll go with it.
As always,
#keepyourpenup
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