Writing, Writers, and Wordy Things

[KoPilot]

"Too different" aka "Not marketable" was the main reason given by the Big Six publishers who rejected us.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[Keroin]

 

[Keroin]

I write... and stuff... occasionally.

I guess.

What do you write, Stag?

 

[Keroin]

The proof for the next book arrives on Friday!

 

[Ropebunny]

The proof for the next book arrives on Friday!

The other half will be thrilled! I'm only half way through Warpworld but he finished it about a week ago and keeps pestering me for updates on when the next one will be out.

And, as it is now his most treasured book in our collection (being the only book we have that's signed by the author) I am not allowed to leave it open or fold the corners, though breaking the habit is not going very well for me. :caning:

 

[Keroin]

The other half will be thrilled! I'm only half way through Warpworld but he finished it about a week ago and keeps pestering me for updates on when the next one will be out.

And, as it is now his most treasured book in our collection (being the only book we have that's signed by the author) I am not allowed to leave it open or fold the corners, though breaking the habit is not going very well for me. :caning:

Sweet! Thank you, RB. It always makes my day to hear someone enjoyed our little scribbles.

We shot for a spring release but then when we actually sat down to write the first official draft we realized we had a much bigger story than our rough draft. I stressed for awhile and then I said, "Fuck it, quality matters more than deadlines."

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Oh yeah, the stigma of "indie" is a loooooong way from gone. The scandal, started by John Locke, about puppet (paid) 5 star reviews set us back a lot, too. It helps that some big names have indie published or have chosen a hybrid route but you'll still get more derision than praise from the legacy publishing crowd if you're not a known quantity.

This is going to change. It's going to take some time, and there's always going to be a lot of bad indie books out there because epublishing is so "easy" (not easy if you do it correctly, as I'm sure you know), but more and more writers are going to start seeing the value of going indie.

Irony? The comment I hear most often from our readers is how much they love how "different" our story is, how it avoids the sci fi cliches. "Too different" aka "Not marketable" was the main reason given by the Big Six publishers who rejected us.

Anyway, I rant. Short story: yes. But what you describe in web comics is much the same in the book world. Legacy publishing has been snail slow to react to changes in the industry, which is why The Zon now rules supreme.

Read an old essay on the subject, last night. Raymond Chandler wrote the essay in 1939. Bad writing is the topic.

Most readers cant distinguish bad from good, and the good is beyond their ken. Coffee drinkers are the same, 85% don't know good coffee from bad. Like dogs, steak or Alpo is all the same. And the guy with the most effective marketing wins. So indies are doomed.

 

[Keroin]

 

[Keroin]

For those who may be considering self-publishing, I wrote a (long!) blog post on making that decision, today.

Should I or Shouldn't I? Advice from the self-publishing trenches

 

[Keroin]

This is a really good, regular podcast and it's only 15 minutes long. I've made it part of my morning writing routine.

http://www.writingexcuses.com/

 

[marieR19]

Writing is my life. No, seriously. For my birthday I bought myself a $50 Amazon gift card, which was spent specifically on medical books for research for my current novel (Yes, I do have roughly 20k written about the genetics, possible medications, and progressive symptoms of Huntington's Disease. It's a large part of this character.) I've been writing this novel since January and it is nearly TWICE the longest thing I'd ever written before then (currently hovering around 120k).

Who's doing NaNoWriMo this year? I'm trying to get some sort of outline together for my "Princess story", something I started writing not too long ago and have way too many ideas for. (I also have a fanfiction idea gnawing at me, but I'm trying to kick that one away for now)

I'm too much of a scaredy-cat (or maybe just too protective of my stories) to actually send them out to friends to beta, the way some of my friends do (I've betaed 3 of a certain friend's novels), and there's like 100 reasons I can't see myself ever attempting to get published. However, I do post chapters of my current novel on a writing forum I'm in, and it *does* feel really good when I get positive reactions.

(have I rambled enough yet? lol)

 

[Keroin]

Writing is my life. No, seriously. For my birthday I bought myself a $50 Amazon gift card, which was spent specifically on medical books for research for my current novel (Yes, I do have roughly 20k written about the genetics, possible medications, and progressive symptoms of Huntington's Disease. It's a large part of this character.) I've been writing this novel since January and it is nearly TWICE the longest thing I'd ever written before then (currently hovering around 120k).

Who's doing NaNoWriMo this year? I'm trying to get some sort of outline together for my "Princess story", something I started writing not too long ago and have way too many ideas for. (I also have a fanfiction idea gnawing at me, but I'm trying to kick that one away for now)

I'm too much of a scaredy-cat (or maybe just too protective of my stories) to actually send them out to friends to beta, the way some of my friends do (I've betaed 3 of a certain friend's novels), and there's like 100 reasons I can't see myself ever attempting to get published. However, I do post chapters of my current novel on a writing forum I'm in, and it *does* feel really good when I get positive reactions.

(have I rambled enough yet? lol)

Nope, you have not rambled enough. Keep rambling.

Congrats on the 120K! That's awesome!

As far as feeling protective, are you sure it's of your stories or is it of yourself? Writing is a very personal act, as are all arts. Sharing can feel like walking out naked in public. If that's not the case, then fine. But what I find is that I write my first draft for me and me only. That's me naked. In successive drafts, I put some clothes on (editing), even if it's just underwear.

If you want to share, it helps to think of your finished and edited work as a "thing". Yes, you created it but once it is done, it is an object. (This thinking also helps me with the loathed 'sales' part of my job). Reader feedback and professional critique is the only sure path to help you improve your work. It is scary at first but it gets easier and easier, especially as your skill level improves.

Again, if that is your goal. If you only plan to write for yourself, that's fine. Writing has intrinsic value.

So, do you want to share? And what are some of the reasons you feel you cannot publish your work, Marie?

 

[marieR19]

I like the clothing metaphor, lol.

My aversion to publishing/sharing is a mixture. Certain novels are simply too personal (example, during a struggle with a really strong crush I wrote a whole novel centering around fantasies of me and her). And with most, I just can't imagine a publishing "niche" for what I write. I write a lot of stuff about serial killers and their journeys while on the run from the law... I write a lot of, well, Shades of Gray type of stuff. "Bdsm" that really *isn't*, it's closer to abuse, but the consentuality is still there.

Another thing is, simply, editing. I know editing is a hard process for everyone, but I just can't seem to DO it well enough... Like, I know rough drafts are usually crap but I look over one and I can't make myself change much. I have *one* novel that I've really hunkered down and gone through two editing-passes, but there are still little "fix this" and "check this info" type of notes everywhere.

But yeah, I do like *sharing*, when it's on my terms I guess (like, certain scenes).

 

[BiBunny]

I'm bumping this thread because I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to pursue writing (of the non-work variety) much more aggressively this year. Anybody else doing something similar?

 

[intothewoods]

I'm bumping this thread because I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to pursue writing (of the non-work variety) much more aggressively this year. Anybody else doing something similar?

Yes.

 

[BiBunny]

Yes.

Woo! Solidarity!

 

[intothewoods]

Woo! Solidarity!

I've kind of been doing too much recently and I can't do it all. I'm not sure what to do about it. I do a few different types of writing/performing and I don't know what would be best to focus on nor what I enjoy the most.

I'm super driven and I don't even entirely know what the goal is anymore. I had a few goals for myself the year before -- and I said, oh, if I do x, y and z, I'll be happy. Well, I'm happier but I'm not satisfied. I just want to do more.

 

[IrisAlthea]

I'm bumping this thread because I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to pursue writing (of the non-work variety) much more aggressively this year. Anybody else doing something similar?

Yes.
I am going to get back to more extensive diary writing. I was down to keywords and then got lost totally the last weeks of 2013.

I'm going to do more work related writing too this year.

 

[Sebastian_Plz]

I'm bumping this thread because I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to pursue writing (of the non-work variety) much more aggressively this year. Anybody else doing something similar?

Same here, finally getting my drafts into typed form and posting a lot more frequently. Not sure about you, but I am hoping to get at least a Chapter/story posted a week.

I've been pretty good so far but still have yet to establish a consistent schedule of composition....do any folks here find they write 'best' at certain times or under certain conditions? Kinda wondering about that....

Good luck to all, hoping to see some great stuff getting out there!

 

[BiBunny]

Same here, finally getting my drafts into typed form and posting a lot more frequently. Not sure about you, but I am hoping to get at least a Chapter/story posted a week.

I've been pretty good so far but still have yet to establish a consistent schedule of composition....do any folks here find they write 'best' at certain times or under certain conditions? Kinda wondering about that....

Good luck to all, hoping to see some great stuff getting out there!

I started out trying to write a chapter/story a week, too, but the poetry muse now has me firmly in its grasp and is slowly strangling me, so that's all I've been able to write lately. I managed one chapter before Poetry sunk its claws in. Demanding little bastard.

Personally, I find that strict scheduling doesn't help me at all. I do ghost-writing work for a living, and I do have to stick to a schedule for that. So what I try to do is build in a couple of days each week where I don't have a lot of work stuff to do. That way, if I want to write creatively on those days I can, but if I don't, I can work on some of my work stuff and get ahead of that schedule. Then, when inspiration does strike, I can drop everything and work on it because I'm already ahead on my work schedule. (That sounded confusing, didn't it?)

And I always work better well-caffeinated and at night. ALWAYS.

Good luck to you and everyone else in y'all's writing this year!

 

[Sebastian_Plz]

I started out trying to write a chapter/story a week, too, but the poetry muse now has me firmly in its grasp and is slowly strangling me, so that's all I've been able to write lately. I managed one chapter before Poetry sunk its claws in. Demanding little bastard.

Personally, I find that strict scheduling doesn't help me at all. I do ghost-writing work for a living, and I do have to stick to a schedule for that. So what I try to do is build in a couple of days each week where I don't have a lot of work stuff to do. That way, if I want to write creatively on those days I can, but if I don't, I can work on some of my work stuff and get ahead of that schedule. Then, when inspiration does strike, I can drop everything and work on it because I'm already ahead on my work schedule. (That sounded confusing, didn't it?)

And I always work better well-caffeinated and at night. ALWAYS.

Good luck to you and everyone else in y'all's writing this year!

Lol, I can def relate to writing on fixed schedule. Last year I was too burned out from my 'pro' writing to even find the motivation to do it for Lit submissions. That was def a point I did not consider at the start but eh, live and learn.

I'm not adhering to a time table but just a week goal that sometime between Sun thru Sat. Considering how quick I can type, as long as I get a few paragraphs here and there, hoping it won't be too much of a challenge or expectation. Only time will tell though.

Good luck with the Poetry as well. I cannot say I am a fan of that genre, but I def understand how passions and interests can suck you into their respective worlds.

 

[KoPilot]

I sat down and scripted about 30 pages ahead of where I am the other day. Man, it felt good!

It's always exciting to write scenes and lines that you've been thinking about for years. They never turn out quite like you imagine... or anything like you imagine, and it's so much fun to see how it winds up turning out, seeing what your characters wind up actually doing. I love that moment when your characters officially take on a life of their own.

 

[BiBunny]

I sat down and scripted about 30 pages ahead of where I am the other day. Man, it felt good!

YAY!

It's always exciting to write scenes and lines that you've been thinking about for years. They never turn out quite like you imagine... or anything like you imagine, and it's so much fun to see how it winds up turning out, seeing what your characters wind up actually doing. I love that moment when your characters officially take on a life of their own.

Yes, it is. I've had a lot of things rolling around in my head for quite some time now. Of the ones I've put down on paper so far, none of them ended up being really like what I had envisioned, but I think I like what actually came out better.

On the other hand, given how excruciating some of it can be, sometimes I wonder if I'm a writer or just a conduit the Universe uses to express something.

 

[KoPilot]

Yes, it is. I've had a lot of things rolling around in my head for quite some time now. Of the ones I've put down on paper so far, none of them ended up being really like what I had envisioned, but I think I like what actually came out better.

On the other hand, given how excruciating some of it can be, sometimes I wonder if I'm a writer or just a conduit the Universe uses to express something.

Seeing as how many times I've said that being an artist is "not fun", I often feel like I'm being put to use by something else. But that's woo that I won't go into here.

I know the feel, though. Boy do I know the feel.

 

[sweepthefloor]

I wish I could write the prose in my head, but I can't get the story on paper. There is a story. I don't have the discipline to write it. Where to start is the question. It's just a bunch of small parts jumbled in a messy word processor.

I am left with creative thoughts, without any structure.