Wednesday, October 31, 2012

NaNoWriMo

There is a very real possibility that I will not be posting for the month of November as I try, emphasize TRY, to write 50,000 in 30 days for National Novel Writing Month. www.NaNoWriMo.com.

Finished first draft of Gentle Rebellion and have begun the November project, Vengeance. It is already not cooperating. The movie theater in my head is not playing this one as clearly as Blood on the Zuni or Gentle Rebellion.

My theological parable is returning from the first reader today, finally. There were a lot of references and facts to check in that one, Puzzling Theology, and it took by dear friend and critic a while to wade through it. Not that it was dull, just the checking. I hope.

Blessings on you and work out those fingers every day.


Friday, October 26, 2012

The Conspiring of All Others

It seems as if the entire world is conspiring against me as a writer. I say that with tongue in cheek, actually it is stuck between my teeth where the molar is missing.

I no sooner signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and planned out how I would finish my current project in order to be free for November, how many words I would have to write daily (2275 a non weekend day)(22 of those) in order to complete (WIN) the 50,000 words in November, and began outlining my new project, VENGEANCE, when the other activities I am involved in went from minor time expenditures to much more demanding annoyances.

Then out of the clear blue sky I get writer's block and the ideas just don't flow. The problem was finishing that current project. After spending a year and a half on that project, focusing all my creative (?) talent (?) on those 70,000 words for so long, nothing else would come to mind.

One of the blogs I follow (can't remember which) pointed out in that authors view the hardest thing to do was to shift projects after each draft was complete. That author even stated that it took him/her over six months to start activities concerning a new project. I can't wait that long.

So, I am doing a couple of short story rewrites from the archives deep in the dungeon beneath mi casa. Who knows what will happen. I do, teacher, I do.

NaNoWriMo or bust.  Join me. Now get back to writing.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Rejections

Looking over the Writer's Market it seems like the Publishers (of whatever) really don't want any new writers in their stables.  Either that or they are just trying to keep the agents busy and out of their hair. One book publisher whose website I checked out, as requested in the Writer's Market (WM), stated flatly that any unrequested manuscripts would be trashed and not opened. Another had the comment in the WM they would accept email submissions to a certain editor on their website. The email address doesn't work. There was another one that didn't even want query letters.

I guess it's just like a fella having a stable full of really good horses. He doesn't need to buy any more. Why waste the time and money looking? What happens when the rustlers come and steal them or they die of a rare tropical disease or they just disappear when the UFO comes and beams them up? NO HORSES. Panic time when he needs a horse.

Now, I don't whinny, but I do write. I have been fortunate enough to get published a few times. If I can write a story or article well enough to get them published and get paid, why can't I interest an agent or a publisher with a query letter or a manuscript?

Did you ever go to a used car dealer? Listen to the salesperson's description of the car. Is the car as good as the salesperson says it is? Is it even the same car?

Okay, I'll quit whining and get to work.

Join me for NaNoWriMo. This will be my first try.  50,000 words in 30 days, piece of cake (if I have nothing else to do in November), but I am going for it using my new best seller, VENGEANCE, as the project.

So, keep writing.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Writing

I remember my first piece.  I thought of the premis and wrote it on the same day.  Sent it off the next day.  Received acceptance letter and check 15 days later. $27.  Took me 35 submissions before next piece sold. $100. 50 or so rejections later my biggest piece sold.  $250. My next one sold for $50 as did two more. I currently have over 300 rejections under my belt.  Wouldn't it be nice if they all went like the first and paid like the third. I could retire.  Wait a minute,  I am tired.