So close but not quite there

The few readers of this site may know that I’ve been trying to get a book published since I was 18. The first book I tried with was the first draft of “Elseworld.” The first draft, looking back now, had lots of issues. There were lots of info dumps (still working on cutting those down), and too many characters and subplots.

I rewrote Elseworld multiple times, then started on a second book. Then a third, and now have six. The second, “The Garden of Abel” is now on the site. It is the shortest of my works, so I figured I could try to upload it here to see if it gets any traction. The length makes it a tougher sell for traditional publishers.

I recently rewrote my third book, the fourth needs a rewrite. The fifth is my favourite and the first 1,000 words of the sixth became my first published short story.

I’ve been able to get three more short stories and a poem published since, but these works were meant to serve another purpose. Doing short stories was an exercise to help my pacing, which was pointed out as a weakness by three different agents (who read parts of my book but declined taking it on).

So, I got promising feedback on my fifth book recently, and at first, it seemed like I finally cracked the code.

Then, I get feedback I’m more used to getting.

So again, something is not quite right to get it to the next stage. I was pretty livid when I read this. However, I’m trying to look on the bright side. The pacing was “nicely done” according to this agent. That gives me some hope that the book’s pacing doesn’t have to be a roadblock for any agent, and maybe the same could be said for other works. Perhaps there is a chance that I find the right agent, and don’t have to rewrite all of my books (again).

 

New published poem – The Undertaker

Maybe not quite new, but “The Undertaker” got published on the 9th.

It’s my first poem and I’m glad I finally gave a poem a try. I actually got an acceptance within my first five submissions, which gives me a bit of a boost getting into the new year. Of course, the acceptances have been slow since then but I’ll keep at it and hope to get at least one other piece published this year.

As I’ve said before, my main goal is to finally get an agent this year.

Re-reads and edits

Now that I’ve got copies of “Alive” and “Memory Catcher” back I’m working on re-reading them. I still feel like “Hazard” is the strongest work but I’ve exhausted most sci-fi agents so I need to start shopping other works around.

I’m going to try “Memory Catcher” with an agent who I submitted “Elseworld” and “Hazard” too.  Both times she said my writing style is great, but she didn’t like the concept. Hopefully “Memory Catcher” can be the one. The agent reopens to queries in late January so we’ll see what happens then.

Writing goals for this year

A quick update on my main writing goals. Life has been hectic, and writing/publication effort has been staggered. However these things remain:

  1. Complete Anansi
  2. Get another short story published
  3. Get an agent for Hazard

The third is more tentative than the first two. One is in my hands, and I believe I can do it, even with the delays I’ve had so far.

Two and three are partly on me. I need to get back to querying but losing my tracking sheet left me demotivated about it, and unsure of how many submissions I’m still waiting on.

I’ve been at work on #2 and #3 for almost a year now. The last publication was August and no bites since. However, I need to try to remain hopeful.

Anansi- Working from the end

Yesterday I was struggling to even get through a page of “Anansi.” My girlfriend was sitting beside me and I mentioned that I had the ending wrapped up in my mind. Then she suggested writing that first.

I got through the page, doing a mockup of what I had in mind for the ending. The ending lends itself to a visual medium well, since I have a reel in my head of what I want it to show. I’ll have to see if the text is enough to convey that to readers.

Although I’ve been working at a slower pace than normal, I’ve still reached over 2,000 words already. Page by page I’ll get through another book.

Anansi- Slower Progress

I usually start a new project aiming for 500 words a day, but “Anansi” has been tough to get into at the start. Instead of letting that discourage me completely I’ve decided to just go back to my one page a day goal. This was the goal I started writing with over a decade ago. It is slower, but is better than not doing anything since 500 seems overwhelming at the moment. As I get further into the story I may have days where I hit 500 or even 1,000 easy. The one page goal will help me stay motivated and get to the meat of the story quicker.

If I stay consistent with it now I should still have a draft done by year-end.

Also, I still hope to recover my USB and get access to my fourth and six book. Fingers crossed.

Anansi

I’ve officially started “Anansi,” the story of a Jim Crow-era vigilante. I’m only 1,000 words in so far. Long story short but I’ve had issues locating the USB I kept most of my files on and I’ve had issues with my backups. Two of my books are in tact elsewhere: “Hazard” and “Alive: Part II.” “The Garden of Abel” is also in tact on this site.

“Elseworld” will need an edit again.

However, I have no full copies of “Alive: Part I” or “Memory Catcher.” I hoped to pitch the latter to an agent.

It’s been tough staying motivated to write with this situation, fearing that my seventh book is actually the fourth now. I hope to recover the files but with everyday that passes I’m worried I won’t.

All I can do is try to stay motivated, keep writing and stay hopeful.

Seventh book ideas

As I work my way through a busy (and rough) week I gave thought about a project that’s been brewing in my mind for a while. My schedule is getting more and more hectic but I want to get back to trying to do 500 words a day for something.

Right now, I actually have two ideas I want to pursue for a book. One is an extension of “Embers (page 157-159).” The plot was inspired by “Chronicle” and explores an incel who develops superpowers. I was motivated by multiple acts of incel violence and wanted to create an incel supervillain, not to support such a mindset but to explore the mind of a twisted individual whose worldview is warped by misogyny and racism.

My second idea is basically a Jim-Crow era vigilante, spurred to action by the death of his family. I already know how I want it to end but everything else isn’t as ready as “Embers” is. Within the next month I want to decide on a project and pursue it.

It’s been tough to stay motivated about starting new projects with no luck on the agent front for any of my existing works. Part of me wonders if it is worth it. I already have a decent catalogue if I get an agent, so a part of my brain tells me to focus on other pursuits in life that are actually paying me and then use the rest of my energy for querying.

Another part says that the sooner I start writing the sooner I get to flesh out the ideas in my head.

I remember a tweet that asked writers if they would continue writing if they knew they’d never get paid for it. Many of the repliers said they would, with verbiage that made it clear they looked down on any writer who would consider getting paid as a reward for their work. I don’t think it makes me any less of an “artist” or creator if I hope that I can get something from the time I’ve put in. If you learn a language, a skill etc. you can typically use it. You learn it and you can speak Spanish, change a tire, build a deck etc.

I’ve been able to parlay a piece of my writing skill into an editing job, but I am not getting paid to share works of fiction. Is it wrong to be able to want to do that after writing six books? Am I motivated by the wrong things if the thought of writing eight books, all of which will never see the light of day, doesn’t excite me as much?

Some writers said they need to write for their mental state. Everything from odd dreams, to lethargy can come when they haven’t transcribed the ideas in their head. That I can get. I had the idea for “Embers” in my head for a while, inspired by the blending of two images: a scene from X:Men 2 and Elliot Rodger.

My second idea, which I will likely title “Anansi,” excites me as well and I have a feeling it may be the one I decide to focus on.