Tatteredleaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
paragraphs) wrote2017-12-03 05:02 pm
paragraphs) wrote2017-12-03 05:02 pm
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It's been such a long time...
I never write on here except for my GWYO group, mostly writing all my writerly thoughts on Facebook anymore. I have more of a sense of people out there than I do here or LJ - gosh I miss the good ol' days over there. Good things always seem to come to some sort of end, and that is true of LJ pretty much. Also true of my publisher, Loose-Id, who announced this weekend that they will be closing their doors after 13 years. That means on May 18, 2018, I will no longer be a currently-published author, but a former published one. My books A Red Tainted Silence - the book of my heart (until now, the one I am working on now fits that), and The Long Way Home join my Amberquill failure (but a book I love--they too closed) and my first published book, Home is Where the Murder Is (lol still love this one though I write nothing like it now), on the Past Books shelf. I am not truly sad about it as I have moved on, and Red has been out there for 10 years and bought an awful lot of tanks of gas for me. Still, it is the end of an era, and I will no longer publish any similar titles to it. I won't epub again, either, as far as I know.
Current status then? I am working on an epic fantasy with the tentative title of (maybe) Fallenbane. Or maybe The Fallenbane. I think no 'the' though. THere is meaning to the odd word (it is the name of the resistance, but also fits my MC as well) but it is still a bit weird. So we shall see. I don't think I will ever top A Red Tainted Silence for a title! Sigh.
So, wordcount! This book is massive. Just over 186k at this point, with several major scenes yet to write. It will top out around 200k I imagine. I don't know what the future holds for it, honestly. Originally, it was YA - nope, too much story there. Then I was going to target Angry Robot's contest - still could, but I'd have to cut it down to 130k.
The truth is, I want this book traditionally published. I firmly believe it is good enough for it, and more than comparable to books I've read in the genre (and I read a lot of it). Sirens is what has given me the belief that I have every chance to accomplish this. So that is the plan. My son's birthday is February 18th, so that is my goal to start sending query letters out to agents.
The backup? Keep writing the series (should be 2 more at least). If I do end up going self-publishing, I won't even begin to think about doing so until the entire story is done. I'm a huge fan of that method.
These days, writing for me is not about money (good thing, huh) or the desire to quit my job and write full-time (as if I could). But it is my big love, again, finally, and Sundays, my main writing day, is my favorite day of the week.
I've also become a huge fan of gaming - Skyrim is my jam. I have the Witcher2 as well (computer can't handle Witcher3) but though I've started it, I see it will need to wait until I am done with this book. It is hard! Just last night I finally beat the Skyrim main quest - I started playing July 29th, never gamed before in my life, ever. I knew NOTHING. Like, down to how do I move characters? Huh? Nothing. And last night I fought and beat two dragons, one into submission and one into oblivion. It was AWESOME.
With the state of things right now in this country, I need my joys, and writing and Skyrim are my sanity. I wrote Red during a very hard time of my life, and then for years, after life got good (and looking back, the security of having a real president cannot be overlooked), I found it hard to write. I did, a couple books, but the "I need this" had disappeared.
It is back again, in spades. I need writing like breathing these days, and writing a character who is facing horrific challenges - a young girl to boot - and overcoming them, is a kind of catharsis that can't be prescribed.
In any case, will be done soon. I had several betas lined up but that lol was two years ago. I am not sure if I will go that route, or pay someone to read though it - I don't mind the expense of that, just finding the right person is tough.
And now for a little gaming. Done writing for the day, I didn't do Nano but I did get quite a bit new words, so I am happy, very happy with that.
Current status then? I am working on an epic fantasy with the tentative title of (maybe) Fallenbane. Or maybe The Fallenbane. I think no 'the' though. THere is meaning to the odd word (it is the name of the resistance, but also fits my MC as well) but it is still a bit weird. So we shall see. I don't think I will ever top A Red Tainted Silence for a title! Sigh.
So, wordcount! This book is massive. Just over 186k at this point, with several major scenes yet to write. It will top out around 200k I imagine. I don't know what the future holds for it, honestly. Originally, it was YA - nope, too much story there. Then I was going to target Angry Robot's contest - still could, but I'd have to cut it down to 130k.
The truth is, I want this book traditionally published. I firmly believe it is good enough for it, and more than comparable to books I've read in the genre (and I read a lot of it). Sirens is what has given me the belief that I have every chance to accomplish this. So that is the plan. My son's birthday is February 18th, so that is my goal to start sending query letters out to agents.
The backup? Keep writing the series (should be 2 more at least). If I do end up going self-publishing, I won't even begin to think about doing so until the entire story is done. I'm a huge fan of that method.
These days, writing for me is not about money (good thing, huh) or the desire to quit my job and write full-time (as if I could). But it is my big love, again, finally, and Sundays, my main writing day, is my favorite day of the week.
I've also become a huge fan of gaming - Skyrim is my jam. I have the Witcher2 as well (computer can't handle Witcher3) but though I've started it, I see it will need to wait until I am done with this book. It is hard! Just last night I finally beat the Skyrim main quest - I started playing July 29th, never gamed before in my life, ever. I knew NOTHING. Like, down to how do I move characters? Huh? Nothing. And last night I fought and beat two dragons, one into submission and one into oblivion. It was AWESOME.
With the state of things right now in this country, I need my joys, and writing and Skyrim are my sanity. I wrote Red during a very hard time of my life, and then for years, after life got good (and looking back, the security of having a real president cannot be overlooked), I found it hard to write. I did, a couple books, but the "I need this" had disappeared.
It is back again, in spades. I need writing like breathing these days, and writing a character who is facing horrific challenges - a young girl to boot - and overcoming them, is a kind of catharsis that can't be prescribed.
In any case, will be done soon. I had several betas lined up but that lol was two years ago. I am not sure if I will go that route, or pay someone to read though it - I don't mind the expense of that, just finding the right person is tough.
And now for a little gaming. Done writing for the day, I didn't do Nano but I did get quite a bit new words, so I am happy, very happy with that.
no subject
I haven't beaten the main story yet, but I love that game. Am currently poking around the same world, but Tamriel online is nowhere near as nice a game as Skyrim is. (I also recommend Middle Earth: War in the North as a similar game in the genre; loved it to bits.)
Sorry to hear about LooseID & best of luck with the current WIP!
no subject
I had wondered about Tamriel online and had wondered about it. I just am in love with Skyrim and have it all modded out to suit me - I can't imagine playing it differently. Beating the main quest made me sad but there is so much to do still, I think I will never get bored of it. Am at level 38 with my character Jayanti, a Breton. I have of course Sceolang a husky (somehow i broke Bran, and have never found him again!) and Vigilance using the Vigilance Reborn mod so he looks more like a wolfdog (and wears dragon scale armor). And of course, Inigo, my best bud and companion, who I can't imagine traveling without. He and Lydia are my team along with the dogs.
I mean Jayanti's team, of course... :) tee hee... I'm currently doing one of the mod locations, Forbidden City. ALready finished Falskaar and Helgen Reborn... SO MUCH TO DO!!! My son and his gf and her little sister all play, so we have a lot of fun talking about it. :)
Thank you - I now have two most excellent betas and I should be done with it and ready to send it out by end of the coming holiday. Going for traditional, for now at least - I firmly believe it has the chops. We shall see!
no subject
Sorry to hear bout the publishers. Are you going to try to release the books elsewhere? (I assume the rights have reverted back to you?)
If you need a beta reader, I'd be happy to volunteer.
I've never played Skyrim, though I've watched my sons play. What do you like most about it?
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AND YES PLEASE.... my other beta person is a Phd student (and extraordinary writer, ohmygosh) and has off Dec 23 - Jan 23 so I am shooting to have it to him by end of day Christmas Day. Would you like it then, or rather wait until his pass and my clean up and be my final reader? I am very easy about this!
And I would be absolutely thrilled to provide mutual services. I am truly dying to know what your story is about. :)
no subject
no subject
Sorry to hear about Loose-Id, but it sounds like you're in a good place about it. Good luck with the (epic!) fantasy novel!