Life is very busy, in a great way, filled with new things. New job, which I start in a week. New kid, who's an absolute pleasure, and a new rhythm to life, which is a little disconcerting. People tell you your life changes, but it feels like a platitude.
It's not. Life is now totally revolving around taking care of one little human. And while that is as gratifying as they say, it's a real huge total seizmic change. And you just can't prepare for it.
All of it's great though because it distracts from the waiting. Have they received my manuscript? Should I remind them? Will they call today and say maybe? Will they write and say no. Will a rejection just be flat, or will they at least say what they liked?
So at least I've got plenty of distractions. :)
Saturday 20 May 2017
Friday 28 April 2017
Conversations
The following is typed while minding a baby, and therefore not as gramatically correct as migjht otherwise be expected.
3 Weeks ago
Agent: Let me see your Full
Me (internal) SHIIIIIIT!!! This is it, the dream, I've only written the best book ever. Oh, but I was just editing the ending, because it wasn't 'bang' enough. I'll ask her to wait.
Me - checks internet.
Internet: Don't wait. Agents hate that shit.
Me (internal) fuck you internet, you've been wrong before. You're not the boss of me.
Me (to Agent): Can you wait? I've just had a baby - so I'm not exactly talking to other people at the minute - I won't query any one else in the meantime.
Internet: Don't tell agent's you've been unsuccesful in talking to other agents
Me (internal) didn't I tell you to GTFO internet?
Agent (relaxed and cool) Dude, no worries, throw it over when it's as good as you can make it.
Me: Cool, thanks.
1 Week Ago
Me: Here's that manuscript you requested, fully edited, and as good as I can make it.
Agent: We don't reply to requests, but I'm probably already loving it. But you can't hear me loving it, but trust me, I probably am.
Today:
Me (Internal) You know, I really enjoyed re-editing my book. I actually forgot how good it was. I should query more agents.
Me (good angel) You said you wouldn't query anyone else
Me (bad angel) Yeah, but it's a reallly good book. Share it with the world!!!
Good angel winning right now. I am Mr goody two shoes.
3 Weeks ago
Agent: Let me see your Full
Me (internal) SHIIIIIIT!!! This is it, the dream, I've only written the best book ever. Oh, but I was just editing the ending, because it wasn't 'bang' enough. I'll ask her to wait.
Me - checks internet.
Internet: Don't wait. Agents hate that shit.
Me (internal) fuck you internet, you've been wrong before. You're not the boss of me.
Me (to Agent): Can you wait? I've just had a baby - so I'm not exactly talking to other people at the minute - I won't query any one else in the meantime.
Internet: Don't tell agent's you've been unsuccesful in talking to other agents
Me (internal) didn't I tell you to GTFO internet?
Agent (relaxed and cool) Dude, no worries, throw it over when it's as good as you can make it.
Me: Cool, thanks.
1 Week Ago
Me: Here's that manuscript you requested, fully edited, and as good as I can make it.
Agent: We don't reply to requests, but I'm probably already loving it. But you can't hear me loving it, but trust me, I probably am.
Today:
Me (Internal) You know, I really enjoyed re-editing my book. I actually forgot how good it was. I should query more agents.
Me (good angel) You said you wouldn't query anyone else
Me (bad angel) Yeah, but it's a reallly good book. Share it with the world!!!
Good angel winning right now. I am Mr goody two shoes.
Tuesday 11 April 2017
Good things happen in threes?
So, I had another post in mind.
For about a month infact. I'll parahprase it, feeling bad is bad.
OK, that's too short. I did a book swap and I didn't like it. The other author's writing style was too different, and I had to tell him to abort the swap.
OK, that's too short. I did a book swap and I didn't like it. The other author's writing style was too different, and I had to tell him to abort the swap.
He was pleasant about it, but I
felt bad. And it was discouraging for me.
But (considering that update
obsolete) I'd rather talk about good things.
It's taken a while to get my 'feelers' out into the workplace, but I had a job interview lined up for Friday. Interesting position, interesting company, looked good. Actually, I had an interview on Thursday morning and another on Thursday afternoon, so I was also impressed how quickly the company was moving.
It's taken a while to get my 'feelers' out into the workplace, but I had a job interview lined up for Friday. Interesting position, interesting company, looked good. Actually, I had an interview on Thursday morning and another on Thursday afternoon, so I was also impressed how quickly the company was moving.
Of course Friday morning at 3am
my wife went into labour. If you can find her and talk to her, she can tell you
the story of the birth of Finley, but it's perhaps most interesting because
it's such a story of positivity. It was a natural birth, with very little pain,
and a lot of mental strength from my amazing wife. Holywood's lying to
you! (Surprise!)
We got home at 4pm, with our
beautiful son, exhausted, emotional and absolutely thrilled. We ran round like
mad tidying the flat, getting everything into position for our new kid.
And I thought I better check my
email, because I'd had to cancel the job interview, and I wanted to make sure
they knew I wasn't coming. And I had an email. A request for a full. I barely
knew how to react, but I sprinted across the flat, into the room where my wife
was holding my son, and told them, brimming with pride and excitement.
For budding authors, here's what happened: I sent out
a number of queries to American agents, around 250 words, and every time I read
the query I thought "this misses the mark..." but I had been so excited
to try and persuade them my book was great... well... I jumped the gun.
I also started researching UK
agents, who look for a much smaller query, but also ask for the first 2
chapters. I sent a 70 word query to one agent, the synopsis and first 2
chapters, and then decided I should polish it more rather than making the same mistake.
2 Months after the UK request, I got a request for a full. Which also means the first 2 chapters must be good!
Needless to say I'm immensely proud. Step 1 of launch
achieved. Step 1 of finding a job achieved. And most of all, 'having a family':
achievement unlocked.
Wednesday 15 February 2017
Rejection agian? Come on...
No, but a different point
I'm very down at the minute because I'm applying for jobs, and going nowhere slowly. It's taking it's toll, and making my mental robustness for querying on the novel has slipped. A lot, infact.
Also, I've lost confidence in my query letter.
Finally, I'm strongly considering re-writing the first chapter of my book.
...
...
...
And kinda lacking the motivation to do it.
I'm very down at the minute because I'm applying for jobs, and going nowhere slowly. It's taking it's toll, and making my mental robustness for querying on the novel has slipped. A lot, infact.
Also, I've lost confidence in my query letter.
Finally, I'm strongly considering re-writing the first chapter of my book.
...
...
...
And kinda lacking the motivation to do it.
Sunday 5 February 2017
On rejection
I saw a post saying you shouldn't blog about the number of rejections you've had.
Because agents might see you've been rejected, and doubt their own judgement.
I don't want to work with an agent who makes that mistake - and also, I'm trusting that agents are smart enough to know that I could have been rejected for any number of reasons, including a different query letter.
Also, I got my first non-rejection today. Of sorts. It was an email saying the agent had decided to stop working as an agent. That's not a rejection.
I mean yes, you could look at it and say maybe my query letter was so bad it made her throw in the towel...
Onwards and upwards!
Because agents might see you've been rejected, and doubt their own judgement.
I don't want to work with an agent who makes that mistake - and also, I'm trusting that agents are smart enough to know that I could have been rejected for any number of reasons, including a different query letter.
Also, I got my first non-rejection today. Of sorts. It was an email saying the agent had decided to stop working as an agent. That's not a rejection.
I mean yes, you could look at it and say maybe my query letter was so bad it made her throw in the towel...
Onwards and upwards!
Wednesday 1 February 2017
on authors
Major reading influences:
Iain M Banks:
Osa Tovaren is Slovakian for wasp factory. This represents one of the biggest conundrums in my reading life.
Some context: If you didn't know, Iain M Banks was the finest sci-fi writer since Asimov. (Opinion). He lived a dual life, writing both sci-fi and modern crime novels. For Sci-Fi, he wrote as Iain M Banks, and for crime, he ommited the M.
I have read every single book by Iain M Banks
And not a single page of Iain Banks. His most famous book, the one that sticks in my mind the strongest was Wasp Factory.
He's a literary hero, and I would be devastated to find that his crime novels were hum-drum. I was so attracted to his ability to create complex plots in insanely complex worlds, believable characters, wonderfully integrating AI and high-end technologies into alien cultures all the while telling outstanding stories.
Could he manage it without the license to create the complexity?
I've never been brave enough to read The Wasp Factory.
Iain M Banks:
Osa Tovaren is Slovakian for wasp factory. This represents one of the biggest conundrums in my reading life.
Some context: If you didn't know, Iain M Banks was the finest sci-fi writer since Asimov. (Opinion). He lived a dual life, writing both sci-fi and modern crime novels. For Sci-Fi, he wrote as Iain M Banks, and for crime, he ommited the M.
I have read every single book by Iain M Banks
And not a single page of Iain Banks. His most famous book, the one that sticks in my mind the strongest was Wasp Factory.
He's a literary hero, and I would be devastated to find that his crime novels were hum-drum. I was so attracted to his ability to create complex plots in insanely complex worlds, believable characters, wonderfully integrating AI and high-end technologies into alien cultures all the while telling outstanding stories.
Could he manage it without the license to create the complexity?
I've never been brave enough to read The Wasp Factory.
Thursday 26 January 2017
Look Up
This is a very short story. It's based on the Broken Rooms universe, here:
We don't look up.
I had been groggily aware of this, even before I saw him. That half registered understanding that something was wrong. Slippery. Hard to pin down.
Occasionally, I would break through and realise that I never look up. I'd drag my eyes up and scan the Glasgow rooves, a growing sense of wonder. The architecture; beautiful, so isolated, undisturbed, unobserved.
Every time I would come to the same conclusion. I should look up more. There's so much to see up on the rooves.
And I never would. Months would pass, and I would look at my feet, shuffling round the city, looking at faces, at cars, shop windows, everything infront of me. But never the rooves.
Now, though, it starts to make sense. Last night, I looked up. Last night I saw him, looking down.
I shouldn't look up any more.
We don't look up.
I had been groggily aware of this, even before I saw him. That half registered understanding that something was wrong. Slippery. Hard to pin down.
Occasionally, I would break through and realise that I never look up. I'd drag my eyes up and scan the Glasgow rooves, a growing sense of wonder. The architecture; beautiful, so isolated, undisturbed, unobserved.
Every time I would come to the same conclusion. I should look up more. There's so much to see up on the rooves.
And I never would. Months would pass, and I would look at my feet, shuffling round the city, looking at faces, at cars, shop windows, everything infront of me. But never the rooves.
Now, though, it starts to make sense. Last night, I looked up. Last night I saw him, looking down.
I shouldn't look up any more.
My first cover letter.
So, English agents prefer a cover letter to a query.
That's great, because it means they're going to start reading the book, rather than the query. That can't be bad. I believe in my book. But it's bad because, well... I need to do this:
(Stolen shamelessly from here)
The above advice lays out what I need to say in 37 words, and says I can use 40 words to do it. By my (high-end, super-duper) math skills, I've got three words left to sell the book. Hmm, let's see... My favourite three word pitches:
1 - Hello, I'm Ten-Tee.
2 - No Artificial Intelligence?
3 - Who said that?
4 - Boy meets girl. (This may seem simple, but read the book, and you'll agree it's painfully cruel.)
5 - Everybody loves Packu!
I hate pitching the book without talking about Packu. He's not important enough to make it into the pitches, but damn if he isn't the coolest.
Right, back to the grind.
That's great, because it means they're going to start reading the book, rather than the query. That can't be bad. I believe in my book. But it's bad because, well... I need to do this:
The fiction sound bite
could include:
a. The heroic character
b. The central issue of the story
c. The heroic goal
d. The worthy adversary
e. Action
f. The ending
g. A grabber
h. Or a twist
a. The heroic character
b. The central issue of the story
c. The heroic goal
d. The worthy adversary
e. Action
f. The ending
g. A grabber
h. Or a twist
40 words
(Stolen shamelessly from here)
The above advice lays out what I need to say in 37 words, and says I can use 40 words to do it. By my (high-end, super-duper) math skills, I've got three words left to sell the book. Hmm, let's see... My favourite three word pitches:
1 - Hello, I'm Ten-Tee.
2 - No Artificial Intelligence?
3 - Who said that?
4 - Boy meets girl. (This may seem simple, but read the book, and you'll agree it's painfully cruel.)
5 - Everybody loves Packu!
I hate pitching the book without talking about Packu. He's not important enough to make it into the pitches, but damn if he isn't the coolest.
Right, back to the grind.
Tuesday 24 January 2017
Surprise!
I was so sure I was ready. I was certain I could take this. On the chin, no problem. You know this is tough, you know the odds are awful.
It was a certainty they would come, and I was ready for the rejections.
No I wasn't. Damn you cruel world, how can you say no to this? Don't you know how I've sweated over this? Don't you recognise my pride? This is the best god damn book in the universe, and you reject it?
But seriously, two rejections within an hour? Boooo!
It was a certainty they would come, and I was ready for the rejections.
No I wasn't. Damn you cruel world, how can you say no to this? Don't you know how I've sweated over this? Don't you recognise my pride? This is the best god damn book in the universe, and you reject it?
But seriously, two rejections within an hour? Boooo!
Monday 23 January 2017
Once upon a time...
Query letter, pummeled into submission, shown the brutalized corpses of its predecessors and briefed on expectations.
Synopsis dragged screaming from my brain, told to straighten up and fly right, and slapped unceremoniously into a word document.
Query tracking spreadsheet, to everyone's surprise turned up for active duty without a complaint, self formatted and with some nifty drop down boxes.
Book written.
Two words. Because compared to everything else, the book was the easy part. What a bizarre industry.
Now I'm off to become the worlds most famous author. Or at least to have a copy of my book I can hold in my hand. I'll settle for that one, in case the first thing is already taken.
Is it taken?
Synopsis dragged screaming from my brain, told to straighten up and fly right, and slapped unceremoniously into a word document.
Query tracking spreadsheet, to everyone's surprise turned up for active duty without a complaint, self formatted and with some nifty drop down boxes.
Book written.
Two words. Because compared to everything else, the book was the easy part. What a bizarre industry.
Now I'm off to become the worlds most famous author. Or at least to have a copy of my book I can hold in my hand. I'll settle for that one, in case the first thing is already taken.
Is it taken?
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