Jan 25, 2011
Knightly Orders
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
Jan 24, 2011
The joys of a new book
This is the first time I've started planning a new book after having completed one. Oddly, this actually feels more daunting than moving on to any number of new projects has in the past. I think this may be due to the fact that I've had beta readers for my last book, and there's a sense of needing to live up to expectations.
I'm unsure about the ettiquette of sharing details of a WIP publicly on a blog. Is it frowned upon or just unwise in case someone browsing the blog should decide to steal an idea? Am I just being paranoid?
Either way, I have my protagonist named and his background decided. I could really use a working title. And some more ideas for how to write an urban fantasy set in London.
I'm unsure about the ettiquette of sharing details of a WIP publicly on a blog. Is it frowned upon or just unwise in case someone browsing the blog should decide to steal an idea? Am I just being paranoid?
Either way, I have my protagonist named and his background decided. I could really use a working title. And some more ideas for how to write an urban fantasy set in London.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
Jan 17, 2011
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
Jan 11, 2011
New Book
I know I've not posted here anywhere nearly as often as I should. Things have been busy. Between editing Locked Within and sending out queries, my wife and I have also begun to start a family. She's about 14 weeks pregnant now.
Today I was struck with inspiration for my next book. It's not a sequel to Locked Within. Instead this is an entirely different world and story. I'm going for a modern-day fantasy where magic, elves and orcs are all real, but also commonly known. It'll meld a lot of modern-day issues with usual fantasy tropes, including protestors campaigning for orc rights and professional adventuring heroes.
I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.
Today I was struck with inspiration for my next book. It's not a sequel to Locked Within. Instead this is an entirely different world and story. I'm going for a modern-day fantasy where magic, elves and orcs are all real, but also commonly known. It'll meld a lot of modern-day issues with usual fantasy tropes, including protestors campaigning for orc rights and professional adventuring heroes.
I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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?
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?
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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.
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.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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.
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.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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.
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.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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.
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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