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Writing-GAF: Writing, Publishing, Selling |OT|
- Thread starter AngmarsKing701
- Start date
toddhunter
Member
As above, but maybe also Mark Z. Danielewski depending on what you mean by visual.
Writing's been slow and steady for me over the past couple of weeks. I've been writing *a lot* of non-fiction for various websites lately, which has been eating into my fiction writing schedule, but I'm making good progress on a short story that I started a few months ago (before it was pushed to the wayside by the demands of raising an infant.) I'm a few writing sessions (usually my lunch break at work) away from finishing the first draft. It's called "The Penelope Qingdom".
I've got several stories on the back-burner now, making their regular rounds through the short fiction magazine market. Depending on how they do, I'm considering putting together another short fiction collection, similar to Tide of Shadows and Other Stories, once I have five or six that are ready to go. In all, I think they're much stronger top-to-bottom than the first five stories I published.
One of these stories is a Sword & Sorcery fantasy that stands more or less on its own, but I also have two bookending stories that will expand upon a larger story arc. I'm trying to decide if I should write the remaining two stories and pitch/publish it as a novella, or try to sell/publish each of the stories separately.
Finally, I published another one of the stories from Tide of Shadows and Other Stories, "The Girl with Wings of Iron and Down," for free today: https://medium.com/a-dribble-of-ink/the-girl-with-wings-of-iron-and-down-89114b8a7da9#.d002hrbo6
It's the most popular story from the collection, so I thought it would be fun to put it up online.
I've got several stories on the back-burner now, making their regular rounds through the short fiction magazine market. Depending on how they do, I'm considering putting together another short fiction collection, similar to Tide of Shadows and Other Stories, once I have five or six that are ready to go. In all, I think they're much stronger top-to-bottom than the first five stories I published.
One of these stories is a Sword & Sorcery fantasy that stands more or less on its own, but I also have two bookending stories that will expand upon a larger story arc. I'm trying to decide if I should write the remaining two stories and pitch/publish it as a novella, or try to sell/publish each of the stories separately.
Finally, I published another one of the stories from Tide of Shadows and Other Stories, "The Girl with Wings of Iron and Down," for free today: https://medium.com/a-dribble-of-ink/the-girl-with-wings-of-iron-and-down-89114b8a7da9#.d002hrbo6
It's the most popular story from the collection, so I thought it would be fun to put it up online.
Conkersbadfurday
Member
I've focused all my writing on the video game I'm working on, going through pages and pages of dialogue and fixing/editing/fixing/fixing/rewriting/fixing, and it's been kind of a slog. I haven't hit up some of these characters in well over a year, and damn do they need some work.
Starting November first, I go back to my second novel and do the first round of editing. So I have to get all this game stuff done before then.
Starting November first, I go back to my second novel and do the first round of editing. So I have to get all this game stuff done before then.
I'll try and share this around!
I'm not sure if I'll do Nano this year. I've participated every time for the last four years but I've been working on a novel for a few weeks now and making good progress and I don't know if it's a good idea to put that aside for a month to focus on something else.
Tough decision.
Tough decision.
Conkersbadfurday
Member
Got another agent to request my manuscript! I think I'm batting 3/115 now 
Email the guy sent me is super casual, like "sure why not?" in tone. Gotta figure out how to respond to that without, ya know, stressing.
Email the guy sent me is super casual, like "sure why not?" in tone. Gotta figure out how to respond to that without, ya know, stressing.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
I thought NaNo is mainly for people who never written a novel before and just to get people to write. If you're already working on a book I think it still applies.
FlowersisBritish
fleurs n'est pas britannique
Got another agent to request my manuscript! I think I'm batting 3/115 now
Email the guy sent me is super casual, like "sure why not?" in tone. Gotta figure out how to respond to that without, ya know, stressing.
If he's being super casual, you've got two reasonable responses; 1) Extra super casual. Out casual him. "Yeah, I guess man. You know, if I have the time.I'm busy with other things. Writing just kinda a thing I do to get my mom off my back, ya know?" option 2) Super desperate. Find out where he lives and slip the manuscript underneath his pillow with kind whispers and a mint. Make him both horrified and regretful he ever contacted you. That way you'll leave the kind of impression that he won't forget without therapy.
Also good luck! Hope third times the charm!!!
NipplesAndToes23
Member
That's why I said mainly. Even in the thread you created, you were targeting people who have written a book before.
He was? I don't follow.
http://nanowrimo.org/about:
And that's it. Anything else is an assumption.
I'm gonna say Cyan is right here. Because I don't understand what you're talking about. Although you wouldn't know it once you hear what his plans for doing NaNoWriMo is.
Write a novel? Nope. Just editing. Last year's work.
Still fifty thousands words right? well no.. erm... not words. Not fifty thousand either. Hours. Measuring in hours not words.
At least it's writing from a month of November. I guess.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Did you even read the thread? It's in the first sentence.
You form your conclusions astoundingly quickly. And are slow to move off this assumption even though the thread creator and the actual organisation was cited to help correct this.
I'm not sure why you are being obtuse about this. Did your cat die yesterday or something?
Conkersbadfurday
Member
Got a rejection letter today, but with it came a slew of websites/resources because some agents I guess are super cool. Gonna post them here for others:
QueryTracker - http://www.querytracker.net/
Agent Query - http://agentquery.com/
Association of Authors' Representatives - http://www.aaronline.org/
Guide to Literary Agents Editor's Blog - http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents
Agent Hunter - http://www.agenthunter.co.uk/
Association of Authors' Agents - http://agentsassoc.co.uk/
Literary agencies located in Australia - https://robinmizell.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/literary-agencies-located-in-australia/
25 Steps to Getting and Working with a Literary Agent - http://robinmizell.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/25-steps-to-getting-and-working-with-a-literary-agent/
If by chance you've only recently begun to think about your career as a creative writer, you might want to start by reading Jane Friedman's explanation of the key book publishing paths:
Jane Friedman - http://janefriedman.com/2015/04/17/key-book-publishing-path/
.
QueryTracker - http://www.querytracker.net/
Agent Query - http://agentquery.com/
Association of Authors' Representatives - http://www.aaronline.org/
Guide to Literary Agents Editor's Blog - http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents
Agent Hunter - http://www.agenthunter.co.uk/
Association of Authors' Agents - http://agentsassoc.co.uk/
Literary agencies located in Australia - https://robinmizell.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/literary-agencies-located-in-australia/
25 Steps to Getting and Working with a Literary Agent - http://robinmizell.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/25-steps-to-getting-and-working-with-a-literary-agent/
If by chance you've only recently begun to think about your career as a creative writer, you might want to start by reading Jane Friedman's explanation of the key book publishing paths:
Jane Friedman - http://janefriedman.com/2015/04/17/key-book-publishing-path/
.
toddhunter
Member
Thanks CBF
FlowersisBritish
fleurs n'est pas britannique
Fuck you and your Hugo Award winning blog. Trying to tell me who I should and should not encourage.
I read through the story you posted. It was good. I still have your whole collection on my backlog to read, but I'll probably go through it soon since I'm now apparently 2/5th of the way through it.
I'm not judging, but dude, you have really weird taste in porn.
Though I suppose I'm one to talk.
Nappuccino
Member
I'm kind of disturbed that I see grumpy eyes in that tank.
Nappuccino
Member
My serial fiction project has been going on for several weeks now. Man, getting people to read this is hard
Do you tweet about it? Fun/silly/engaging tweets might be a good way to get people reading.
Asking your readers to recommend you to friends/family isn't a bad idea either.
edit: Unless I fuck things up, I'll have something cool to announce shortly.
Nappuccino
Member
So Crazyhorse announced the winners of their short short fiction contest.
I did a good thing: http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/2015-crazyshorts-winner-runners-up/ (I'm Alexander J. K. Hughes)
I did a good thing: http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/2015-crazyshorts-winner-runners-up/ (I'm Alexander J. K. Hughes)
Nice! Awesome news, don't spend all that money in one place.
FlowersisBritish
fleurs n'est pas britannique
Congratulations! I want to punch you in the face you god damn success haha. Incidentally, mind giving a short synopsis?
Nappuccino
Member
Thanks! I'm already spreading it out--though 90% of it will go to rent. Ah, the life of a graduate student . . .
Haha, sorry! If it makes you feel better, this is my only success so far. Damn good success, but I've still got a good way to go. Hm . . . I wonder how much I'm really able to share before they'd get mad at me. I think I can say that it is about parenting and the kind of parents who never tell their child that the child is wrong. My story is a bit weirder than that, but that is where it sprung from.
Also, this experience has taught me to send out everything because you never know what'll resonate with an editor or a judge.
All of my friends who read the three pieces I sent in said "A Rearing Pact" was the worst of the three. A lot of revision happened between their readings and sending the stories in, but I contemplated writing a replacement piece for "A Rearing Pact." Starting fresh had seemed easier than revision . . . Thank god I didn't pull it out of my packet.
Nappuccino
Member
Wow, congrats dude! That's awesome! And a nice prize.
Thank you! I'm definitely most excited to have been picked. It feels amazing to have a bit of validation; I'd have been happy with that alone, but I'm not going to pretend like the prize isn't wonderful either lol.
Thanks, man! The response to the story has been generally positive. It's tough to get people to read short stories, though...
I'm going to have to write some Hippy Van/Tank erotica under a pen name, aren't I?
Congrats!
Nappuccino
Member
Tell me about it. I have a few friends who are consistent readers. Outside of that, thank god for workshops.
Thanks!
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Got this email back from KWS:
It was the first competition I entered in a while. It would've been so nice if I won that. I really need that money and to get out my mom's house.
Does anyone know of any other free competitions before I go digging for them again?
It was the first competition I entered in a while. It would've been so nice if I won that. I really need that money and to get out my mom's house.
Does anyone know of any other free competitions before I go digging for them again?
Speaking of which, I never got that email to read your book. Congratulations by the way.
RoyaleDuke
Banned
I'm just posting this here since it seems like a good place, I've been in a couple of the other older writing threads but I wanted to make a fresh post in this one.
I've entered into Nanowrimo, to try to get my manuscript finished.
Does it sound interesting enough? It's a cyberpunk lovecraftian science fiction novel.
EDIT: I've also considered putting what I have up for others to critique
I've entered into Nanowrimo, to try to get my manuscript finished.
Does it sound interesting enough? It's a cyberpunk lovecraftian science fiction novel.
EDIT: I've also considered putting what I have up for others to critique
I know we usually talk about our aspiring personal projects here, but I just wanted to congratulate H.Protagonist on the release of Trails in the Sky SC. She (and the rest of the team involved) did a *tremendous* job on the game, and I'm proud to see one of our own involved in such a wonderful project.
AngmarsKing701
Member
Yay H.Pro!I know we usually talk about our aspiring personal projects here, but I just wanted to congratulate H.Protagonist on the release of Trails in the Sky SC. She (and the rest of the team involved) did a *tremendous* job on the game, and I'm proud to see one of our own involved in such a wonderful project.
toddhunter
Member
I know we usually talk about our aspiring personal projects here, but I just wanted to congratulate H.Protagonist on the release of Trails in the Sky SC. She (and the rest of the team involved) did a *tremendous* job on the game, and I'm proud to see one of our own involved in such a wonderful project.
Apparently 716,401 words. Which is somewhat impressive.
Nappuccino
Member
Part of the problem with writing is that a cliche idea can be executed outstandingly and a really interesting idea can turn out dull and boring.
I'd personally need to see more than a brief plot summary to give you a thumbs up or thumbs down. I might suggest that you stay away from the druggy/alcoholic detective unless you can give an interesting, substantive take on the character. He seems a bit too trope-like at the moment.
Elfforkusu
Member
I know we usually talk about our aspiring personal projects here, but I just wanted to congratulate H.Protagonist on the release of Trails in the Sky SC. She (and the rest of the team involved) did a *tremendous* job on the game, and I'm proud to see one of our own involved in such a wonderful project.
Great googly moogly.
Last year I got an idea for a Christmas book, I wrote 10k then set it aside to write erotic shorts. Once I got into writing longer books I worked the Christmas story into my schedule. It's an idea I like but man am I really having to deal with the drastic change in my writing routine. When I started it I had no idea where it was going and just wrote, now I've got a word count goal and I'm trying to make it a romance. It's going to wind up being a short story but very well could end up taking longer to edit than it takes my novels.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
Speaking of which, Soulfire, would you mind giving us a newer update on how that's working out? That whole challenge thing didn't do much, I think, but you seemed to be doing pretty decent with it (in as far as possible, I mean).
Conkersbadfurday
Member
Two months ago I finished the first draft of my second novel. It was a book I really struggled with, as ya'll know because I bitched incessantly like this thread was a blog.
Well, time to edit. Actually, I'm on my third day of edits. First day was a chore, second day was a breeze, and the third day is somewhere in the middle.
Strangely enough, I'm actually ADDING more than taking away. I wrote this thing in a lean style that I don't quite like as much this time through, meaning imagery and better transitions need to be added. So far so good, I think. I'm not sure I'll really know for another few days yet.
Well, time to edit. Actually, I'm on my third day of edits. First day was a chore, second day was a breeze, and the third day is somewhere in the middle.
Strangely enough, I'm actually ADDING more than taking away. I wrote this thing in a lean style that I don't quite like as much this time through, meaning imagery and better transitions need to be added. So far so good, I think. I'm not sure I'll really know for another few days yet.
I can't remember the last time I updated my numbers but in the last ninety days I've had 3,005 free giveaways, 647 sales, and 111,880 pages read in KDP select.
August was my slowest month by a lot since I started publishing longer works and I still made $135. Last month I ended just shy of $700. The change to KDP from borrows to pages really hurt and I haven't fully recovered from that.
I've got two series, 3 books in the first and 2 books plus a short in the second. The first series starts off with a permafree book and then each book after is $2.99. The second series starts off with the free short, the first book is $.99 and the next is $2.99. Each book is about 40k words and the short is 5k words.
I made my first series available everywhere to see what would happen and in the sixty days they've been wide I've sold a total of 14. I'm keeping them out of KDP select for now just so that I can see the difference in between series. I haven't had any complaints so far from readers.
My mailing list has grown to 61 subscribers and I have a 69.6% open rate with a 25% click through rate.
My read through rate from my free book to my second is 5%, not sure if that's good or not but my read through from second to third is almost 100%
After I finish the Christmas book I'll finish writing the third book in my second series and then in January I have a fourth book planned that connects both series and concludes all current story arcs. All of them are Sci-Fi romance. I've gotten a lot better writing 2k a day Mon-Fri so I can finish writing a book in 4 weeks. However, recently we visited family and then had family visit and then my daughter and I got sick so I'm about 2-3 weeks behind the schedule I'd created for myself. Thankfully I'd built in a buffer so I should (hopefully) finish everything I wanted to for the year. We'll see.
I think that's pretty much it update wise, if I missed something just ask.
H.Protagonist
[-_-]/
A bit late to it, but congrats, man! That's so cool.
I know we usually talk about our aspiring personal projects here, but I just wanted to congratulate H.Protagonist on the release of Trails in the Sky SC. She (and the rest of the team involved) did a *tremendous* job on the game, and I'm proud to see one of our own involved in such a wonderful project.
Awww, cheers, aidan. Kiseki is a special kind of hell, but really happy it's out there now (and over). Hopefully, it'll live up to people's expectations and keep them warm and cozy for many night. It's such a cozy series. Shame I can't celebrate with champagne now, though
\[-_-]/ Freeeeeeeedooooooooooom!
I did a fist pump when it passed War and Peace. There are a couple of books on the Wiki for longest novels ever that exceed the SC numbers, but not many. Sweet cheesus.
So after a summer during which I had my very will to live crushed, let alone submit anything, I decided to spend this year's NaNo editing last year's book.
But I edit by hard copy, you see...
Halp. What do I put this monstrosity in? Right now it's in a box that once held manila folders, but it is flimsy as shit and won't last long.
On the upside, I have a pretty good idea of how to fix the structural issues.
But I edit by hard copy, you see...
Halp. What do I put this monstrosity in? Right now it's in a box that once held manila folders, but it is flimsy as shit and won't last long.
On the upside, I have a pretty good idea of how to fix the structural issues.
Elfforkusu
Member
I mean, with that much paper you would think it would be structurally sound.
FlowersisBritish
fleurs n'est pas britannique
I like to hard edit too, but looking at that makes me just wish I had money to buy a sandwich... MIke how many printed pages is that? Is it double spaced? is it... double sided?
Badum tsshh..
toddhunter
Member
A computer.
Well yeah, it exists as a computer file too : P
Seriously, I catch way more stuff with a hard copy than I do looking at it on a screen. It's just my process.
Conkersbadfurday
Member
cunt said:
That's a rejection email I just got. I want to snarky respond, but I should probably just delete and move on. But man, fuck that. Fuck it hard.
Elfforkusu
Member
I'm totally with you on this. I have the same problem/quirk/undiagnosed medical condition.
I've been making do with epub -> nook (yes I still have one) -> notes. Ideally I would just re-read on the computer and all typographical and story errors would be made manifest. But we do not seem to live in that world...
Agreed!
FlowersisBritish
fleurs n'est pas britannique
What a jackass. I hate rejections like that, because I always hear their voices as being smug like "I'm doing you a favor. Here's some helpful advice on what I like harharhar."