Nov 9, 2010

The hard work

I've been busy going over and over details in my book, and I'm at the stage where I've identified the section in the book that needs the most serious re-writes and additions/removals. This is going to be some hard work.

What's also going to be hard is deciding what my next project will be. Do I move on to book 2 of this series, hoping that it'll give more weight to trying to sell the first, or move on to a different book entirely and go for variety?

Or do I take the third option, and do both?

Sep 16, 2010

Query Letters

I never imagined that this, of all things, would be the most intimidating part of the process so far.

It's hard to get my head around how important this is. One blurb will be the thing that first makes an agent either think my book is worthwhile, or send me a rejection. It's especially daunting when it comes to those agents who only want to see 5 pages first, rather than the first 3 chapters.

Sep 14, 2010

All Set

My first 3 chapters are pretty much ready, I think. I still want to go through them to do a final spellcheck and make sure the story flows well in a straight read-through.

Now it's time to get my query letter prepared and start researching which literary agents to contact.

This is pretty intimidating, since I have no experience in this side of things and I'm dependent on what I can learn online, along with the whims of whoever ends up reading my query.

Aug 17, 2010

Catching Up

I think I've done all I really can for Chapter 1 for now. Chapter 2 looks good, though it probably needs some going over later.

There are times when I'm writing that I wish I could let people hear the music I listen to while writing. Music is a huge part of life for me and nothing gets me more inspired to write than good music. Sometimes it almost feels like my writing is incomplete if the reader doesn't know the music I have in mind for a given scene.

Aug 16, 2010

Grindstone

I have, out of necessity, gone back to the beginning in my editing. I guess this is where I'll find out if I love or hate this book. I'm very much aware, however, that if this book is to have any chance at all, it all rides on the first three chapters. They need to blow the reader away.

Jul 1, 2010

Back at it

After a long break, I'm finally back editing my book. Went over Chapter 2, and now I've to start Chapter 3.

Apr 29, 2010

Editing Update

Well, Chapter 1 is more or less edited. Changed a few things, made dates more vague and imprecise to avoid conflicts later on, added in some extra background to my hero. Time to get to work on Chapter 2.

Apr 27, 2010

Editing

Editing is new ground for me. Since my current WIP is the first novel I've finished, I've never been in a position to really look back and work out what needs to be changed to make my work publishable.

I've had some amazing help from some great friends so far, who have all offered their opinions and advice. I'm thrilled to say everything they've said so far has helped me think about the book in new ways, and see how I can better get across my intent and meaning.

So here goes. I started the editing work yesterday and it's continuing today. I'm already contemplating the re-write of a major event in the main plot.

Apr 21, 2010

Second Draft Progress

I haven't started editing yet, but I've gotten a bit of feedback on the first draft and I have to say I'm incredibly pleased I handed a few copies around to be read. It's great to get outside perspectives on the book, and see where I haven't quite managed to get across what I intended. I think the couple of changes I've already decided on will tighten up the narrative very well, and I can't wait to find out how else I can improve things.

I was also given an idea by an old friend for a background element that will add a lot of depth and direction to my hero, so cheers for that!

A few years ago, I definitely couldn't have done this. Before, I would have only wanted to hear positive reports and would have become very defensive if suggestions like this came to me. It's taken me until now to have the maturity as a writer to accept this stage as the part where I have to work to make this thing as good as it can be.

Apr 20, 2010

Inspiration

Working on the "between books" factsheet yesterday proved to be incredibly useful. I know what the new status quo is in the city and roughly how my hero's actions have affected things.

What I also got out of it is some major inspiration for where to go with book 2. I have a tentative working title, even if it's a bit cliché, and a nice starting-off point.

Writing down what happens between two books is such a simple idea, I'm actually a bit shocked I never thought of doing it before.

Apr 19, 2010

In between books

It's something I never actually thought about before now, how to decide what happens in the empty space between the last page of one book and the first page of the next. I'm in that position now, while I give myself some clear head-space after finishing the first draft of book one and wait for some feedback from people who've offered to proof-read for me.

On the one hand, it's daunting because I need to consider how events will have shaped my characters and how they'll be acting and living their lives over a longer period of time, without the benefit of being "on the ground" as it were, in their heads. On the other, it's useful to be able to advance events to the point where I need them to be for the sake of the story.

I'm currently compiling a list for each character detailing what's been happening to them. I'm planning to maintain this even for characters who might not appear, so that when they do return, I have a reference point to re-introduce them.

Apr 18, 2010

Backups, pdfs and proof-reading

Under sound advice I've backed-up my work on 4 seperate hard drives, as well as the files I have saved on Google Documents. I can't express enough how useful Google Documents is for writing from pretty much anywhere, so long as there's an internet connection available.


I've compiled the seperate chapters into a single "first draft" file, which I've converted to pdf so it can be proof-read. I know full well that things need to be changed, not just in terms of possible spelling or continuity errors, but also because of differences in personal taste. If I'm to get published, my work has to appeal to the widest possible audience, and I know my ego has to take a back-seat for this to happen.

I'm oddly calm and confident about this. I actually want to hear criticism so I can learn and grow as a writer. I know that, several years ago, I couldn't have honestly said that.

Apr 16, 2010

First Draft

Today I completed the first draft of a book I've been working on for several months. I figured this was a good time to start up my blog. It'll cover my writing, my efforts to get published, and anything else literature and writing related.

First up for me now is to get some proof-reading done and get on with my editing and revision. I want to get enough done to send it to literary agents as soon as possible.

Wish me luck.