Well, five months is long enough to wait through silence, I think. The editor requested my manuscript; I delivered it; she confirmed its receipt. I waited patiently until I got past her "Please contact me by now," date, and I sent a very polite request for information. I feel like I've been pigeonholed. Meanwhile, I'm editing the second book in the series- primping it for the trashcan. No, I'm tired of waiting.
I knew that my chances of being picked up with my first manuscript were negligible at best, and I was wholly prepared for that rejection. Corie and Jen both seem to feel that I should have heard something by now. They both advise me to send a letter to the editor to inform her that I am now pursuing additional avenues. Corie worded the letter so eloquently last night. I must try to remember what she said.
At any rate, I'm going to be turning back to my original idea, and podcasting the Piggy Moto books. I've been sick lately with a real nasty chest cold, and it's given me time to listen to some of the work of Tee Morris, Phil Rossi and Scott Sigler. I am very inspired, and with friends like Jen and Corie around I have no excuse not to make it happen.
This is a big, huge project, but it's gotta' get done.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Last day of the year
Well, this is the last night of the year of the pig. Silly, superstitious me. I actually thought this would be the year I found that special someone. I gave up eating pork with the hopes of the big mother sow in the sky taking pity on me and sending me a boar to love. I guess that was pretty dumb, but it was kinda' fun daydreaming about it. Oh well.
I'd hate to day that the year ended on a down note, but it kinda' did. No word from the editor, no realistic nibbles on the romance front. My finances are pretty crappy. All things considered, I think I'm half a step behind where I was last new year.
Maybe I'm just bummed out a lot lately. I've been writing a bunch of my feelings into s series of inappropriately adult stories, and that's been helping me get a good feel for where I am and where I'm coming from.
I'm moving out of this house. Getting a little apartment on my own. I figure I can get a little place, live in it for a few years and pay down my debts a good deal, and then move up into somewhere cooler. Being on my own will probably be very helpful. I'll be free to be myself, to date, to live my own life. It's gonna be great. Of course, the process hasn't been all joy and excitement, but that's what writing is for.
Anyway. I hope the year of the rat is better to me. I feel so stupidly EMO. I mean, my friends and I laugh at the morose idiots who drone on in their LJ's about being lonesome, and here I am. SO, let me get it out of my system.
There's nothing shittier in this world than being alone in a room full of people. All of the people with whom I regularly hang out are spoken for. Not that I'm interested in dating any of them, but “And then there's Nick,” has become my fucking life slogan.
Seven of us go out. Him and him, him and her, her and him- and then there's Nick. Sure, I've been invited into two romances, by two couples. Sure, let me hop right into that one- let's be neglected by twice as many people now.
This shit really sucks. Coming up on another fucking Valentines day single. *sensitive details deleted for inclusion in previously mentioned story* I hate looking at it. All this love all this happiness- everything from which I am excluded. That is why being in my own apartment will be so nice. I will be alone, but it will be okay, because I really will be alone.
I'd hate to day that the year ended on a down note, but it kinda' did. No word from the editor, no realistic nibbles on the romance front. My finances are pretty crappy. All things considered, I think I'm half a step behind where I was last new year.
Maybe I'm just bummed out a lot lately. I've been writing a bunch of my feelings into s series of inappropriately adult stories, and that's been helping me get a good feel for where I am and where I'm coming from.
I'm moving out of this house. Getting a little apartment on my own. I figure I can get a little place, live in it for a few years and pay down my debts a good deal, and then move up into somewhere cooler. Being on my own will probably be very helpful. I'll be free to be myself, to date, to live my own life. It's gonna be great. Of course, the process hasn't been all joy and excitement, but that's what writing is for.
Anyway. I hope the year of the rat is better to me. I feel so stupidly EMO. I mean, my friends and I laugh at the morose idiots who drone on in their LJ's about being lonesome, and here I am. SO, let me get it out of my system.
There's nothing shittier in this world than being alone in a room full of people. All of the people with whom I regularly hang out are spoken for. Not that I'm interested in dating any of them, but “And then there's Nick,” has become my fucking life slogan.
Seven of us go out. Him and him, him and her, her and him- and then there's Nick. Sure, I've been invited into two romances, by two couples. Sure, let me hop right into that one- let's be neglected by twice as many people now.
This shit really sucks. Coming up on another fucking Valentines day single. *sensitive details deleted for inclusion in previously mentioned story* I hate looking at it. All this love all this happiness- everything from which I am excluded. That is why being in my own apartment will be so nice. I will be alone, but it will be okay, because I really will be alone.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Waning Motivation
While attending Dragoncon in September, I met the senior editor for a pretty well known fantasy publisher. She invited me to send her my Boar Band manuscript. Well, my test readers made some suggestions and gave me a unanimous thumbs up. SO, after two final edits, I sent it in.
Pretty much immediately upon receiving the file, the editor wrote me back and said that she did remember talking to me and was looking forward to reading the manuscript when she could. I was flattered, elated and beside myself. This was in October.
Well, I made it past the deadly first two weeks without any rejection. November came and went, bring and taking NaNo 2007 with it. Still no word by December, but I'm patent. I mean, it's the holidays and whatnot, so I kept my game face on. I did send in a Holiday card saying best wishes and everything, and while I didn't expect it to inspire an immediate response, I did hope that after the holiday hubbub, maybe the second week in January or so.. I'd hear something.
Alas, no.
So, Exactly a week ago today, I sent my official, allowed by tradition, two-month check-in e-mail. I was polite and everything, and even mentioned that I have not simultaneously submitted my manuscript.
It's not that I couldn't handle a rejection letter, I just want to know so that I can proceed. If they don't like it, that's cool, there are a few other places I'd like to try. If they DO like it and just need more time, great! I'd just like to know that so I can put my mind to other projects.
I just feel pigeon-holed at this point, and that feels worse than rejection.
Trying not to lose heart.
Pretty much immediately upon receiving the file, the editor wrote me back and said that she did remember talking to me and was looking forward to reading the manuscript when she could. I was flattered, elated and beside myself. This was in October.
Well, I made it past the deadly first two weeks without any rejection. November came and went, bring and taking NaNo 2007 with it. Still no word by December, but I'm patent. I mean, it's the holidays and whatnot, so I kept my game face on. I did send in a Holiday card saying best wishes and everything, and while I didn't expect it to inspire an immediate response, I did hope that after the holiday hubbub, maybe the second week in January or so.. I'd hear something.
Alas, no.
So, Exactly a week ago today, I sent my official, allowed by tradition, two-month check-in e-mail. I was polite and everything, and even mentioned that I have not simultaneously submitted my manuscript.
It's not that I couldn't handle a rejection letter, I just want to know so that I can proceed. If they don't like it, that's cool, there are a few other places I'd like to try. If they DO like it and just need more time, great! I'd just like to know that so I can put my mind to other projects.
I just feel pigeon-holed at this point, and that feels worse than rejection.
Trying not to lose heart.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
@set 2008=_better_than_2007?YES!!!
2007 was… ugh. You’d think the year of the golden piggy would have been better to me.. Well, I shouldn’t speak so fast, cause it’s not over till February :P So, let’s talk about 2007 instead. My official word for the year is fiasco, 2007, in retrospect, was just.. stupid. I mean, some good things happened, some crappy things happened, but top to bottom, what’s really changed except for $3.00 gas?
Throughout most of the year, I edited All Star Boar Band. Now, I’m waiting to hear from the editor, to see if it’s been bought or not. In the meantime, I’ve written the second in the Piggy Moto series, The Accidental Activists. Im taking a break from it for a while before I begin the edit process- just to clear my mind a bit.
In the novel downtime, I’ve been working on the ongoing, Fate’s Cold Hand story, and at this point, I have the first two segments completed and uploaded here:
http://nicholasmcrae.com/id11.html
I’ve gotten a little bit of feedback already, and it’s all been encouraging. A very generous musician who goes by Lazz is also interested in doing a soundtrack composition for me, so that’s very exciting! I can’t wait to hear it.
There’s also about to appear an art gallery on my website, so keep an eye for that. It’ll be for the story related work I’ve made and will be making in the future. Dunno really when that will be up, but it’s coming.
A friend and I recently worked a bad habit banishing ritual over the new moon, so let’s see if that will help me get things under control. For the up and coming full moon, I’m thinking of doing a little luv ritual, or maybe just something for general good luck.
Throughout most of the year, I edited All Star Boar Band. Now, I’m waiting to hear from the editor, to see if it’s been bought or not. In the meantime, I’ve written the second in the Piggy Moto series, The Accidental Activists. Im taking a break from it for a while before I begin the edit process- just to clear my mind a bit.
In the novel downtime, I’ve been working on the ongoing, Fate’s Cold Hand story, and at this point, I have the first two segments completed and uploaded here:
http://nicholasmcrae.com/id11.html
I’ve gotten a little bit of feedback already, and it’s all been encouraging. A very generous musician who goes by Lazz is also interested in doing a soundtrack composition for me, so that’s very exciting! I can’t wait to hear it.
There’s also about to appear an art gallery on my website, so keep an eye for that. It’ll be for the story related work I’ve made and will be making in the future. Dunno really when that will be up, but it’s coming.
A friend and I recently worked a bad habit banishing ritual over the new moon, so let’s see if that will help me get things under control. For the up and coming full moon, I’m thinking of doing a little luv ritual, or maybe just something for general good luck.
Well, the official Dragon Wagon, is now the official Puppy Wagon.
Yesterday, two friends and I went out and traded in my ’98 Plymouth Grand Voayger for a ’99 Saturn LS2. One of the guys used to work for Saturn, so he looked it over top to bottom and gave it high marks. The brakes need some work, but I think he wants to work on those this morning. So, that’s all cool.
He’s a standard (the car- who’s name is Raphiel, by the way), so my other bud took me around in him to teach me how to drive a stick. It’s not so bad, after all. Yesterday I took him out by myself and drove down to catch a bite with a couple friends and show him off to them and a couple more. It was a good evening, and by the time I got back home, I almost felt comfortable shifting.
Besides the brakes, the only things Raph needs are a new headliner and all new speakers. The previous owner blew them all out. It’s the one thing we didn’t check on our test drive. But, the radio and cd player work fine. There’s no tape deck, though, so no more listening to the Ipod while I drive :P.
So that’s it about that. I’ll make another post about the writing.
He’s a standard (the car- who’s name is Raphiel, by the way), so my other bud took me around in him to teach me how to drive a stick. It’s not so bad, after all. Yesterday I took him out by myself and drove down to catch a bite with a couple friends and show him off to them and a couple more. It was a good evening, and by the time I got back home, I almost felt comfortable shifting.
Besides the brakes, the only things Raph needs are a new headliner and all new speakers. The previous owner blew them all out. It’s the one thing we didn’t check on our test drive. But, the radio and cd player work fine. There’s no tape deck, though, so no more listening to the Ipod while I drive :P.
So that’s it about that. I’ll make another post about the writing.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Joys of Editing
Not that many authors have complained within earshot about the work of editing what they have written- about the long hours spent sifting through a manuscript for inconsistencies, punctuation and spelling issues, lulls and repetition- but, I've found the process to be somewhat exciting. Now, I get to add all the really cool bits- those things that make a story come to life for me. You know, it feels like the shooting is done, and now it's time to add all the special effects.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Sketch Draft Done
I like to call the first draft of my manuscript a sketch. There are thin lines connecting all of the points and large areas of space open for details and expansion. After the initial layout comes the ink- when plots and subplots are definitively set. Then the pencil marks go away and flourishes add the personal touch to the world. After all of this, the technical aspects of my manuscript enjoy a tidying and tightening, and it's off to my test readers. After that, it's post production, final edits, and submission.
Why do I share this? Well, Piggy Moto volume II: Accidental Activist is completely sketched. Since NaNoWriMo is still going on, I'm gonna jump right into book three. This time, Corbin is the MC.
Why do I share this? Well, Piggy Moto volume II: Accidental Activist is completely sketched. Since NaNoWriMo is still going on, I'm gonna jump right into book three. This time, Corbin is the MC.
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