(finally looks at a calendar…)

Now that NaNoWriMo is halfway over, I can declare I didn’t even try. I’m going through a weirdly stressful period and adding obligations is the exact opposite of what I need.

Still, though, in honor of the event, here are some coupons for past successes:

• Dreamscapes, 2011 NaNo winner, coupon code ZT32L
• His Brother’s Keeper, 2013 NaNo participant, coupon code LZ35E

In spite of my lack of successful participation of late, this list should soon be longer. Nicky’s Dragon, eventual outcome of (I think) NaNo 2012, is in print and headed for Smashwords. (I may submit it for this year’s Library Writers’ Project.) Dragon’s Haunt, also instigated that year, is making the rounds of publishers; one way or another, it will be out in the world by next year’s NaNo.

Good luck to all this year’s participants!

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And then four months went by…

Wow.

Last time I posted I was in Nano recovery mode. Well, recovery stretched all the way through December and into January. The radio play got finished, more or less, but wasn’t nearly long enough to enter. (Guidelines called for 52 minutes; mine might have run half that.) The wizard thing got abandoned, for now at least. The Way Home got rejected by the Library Writers Project.

The current project is a sequel to Counter Clockwise, which I’ve attempted before. Getting back into the habit of writing has been a challenge. Being in a writers group helps; I feel weird showing up with nothing to read, and I miss it if I stay away too long. But too often I’ve been spending my free time lying on the couch instead of sitting at the computer. I just don’t seem to have the drive.

To that end, I am considering a new project, one that combines couch and computer. As an avowed Doctor Who fan, I’ve seen far too little of the classic series. (There are 26 seasons, so “too little” is still quite a lot.) I shelled out for a Britbox subscription, which streams almost every episode still in existence. My family and friends don’t want to watch as much or as often as I do. So, in order to justify my subscription, make use of the night or two I have home alone every week, and still get my couch time – not to mention indulge in my favorite show – I plan to take on the vastness of the program, from 1963 to today, and write about it on my Doctor Who blog.

What to write about? There are synopses everywhere, of course, and plenty of reviews. I don’t think there’s anything new I can add. But the history and development of the show – its almost-accidental nature – interest me immensely, as does its huge and devoted fan base. I expect my posts will note significant firsts, where-are-they-now, and whatever behind-the-scenes and fan reaction I come across. Not to mention all sorts of things that haven’t occurred to me yet.

All that will happen, when it happens, at Type 40 Travels.

In the meantime, disappointed library members – and any other interested parties – can find The Way Home here at Smashwords – free with coupon code DB73P until Memorial Day.

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Post-Nano wrapup

Well that was a full month.

First, a poetry collection assembled by assorted disparate members of my writers’ group has come out. It contains several pieces previously seen here as well as a range of similar-ish things by other writers. I’ve only flipped through it so far but as poetry goes it stands out for being accessible and straightforward as well as poetic. Also, the cover art is gorgeous.

You can find Over Land and Rising at Amazon.

November is home to literary events Wordstock and Orycon here in my ‘hood – that is, three-plus days packed full of writerly events, panels, workshops, and of course shopping. I discovered the urban fantasy Enter the Janitor, which is just as much fun as it sounds like, and a couple of authors I look forward to getting to know. My to-read pile has grown beyond all reason (not that it was reasonable before) and I also learned a few potentially useful things in terms of writing.

Among those things was some insight into the fun world of submitting. The short fiction panel at Orycon opened up a whole range of markets beyond what I already knew – which is good, because the piece I last mentioned having submitted to Uncanny Magazine has now collected four rejections – one of them personalized, with feedback. One of my upcoming projects is to launch that one into a second round of submissions.

Also in the world of submitting, “The Way Home” is finally finished. This time last year, it wasn’t; this time last month, off it went (just for fun) to F&SF whence it was promptly returned. However, that was not only expected, but perfectly timed. “The Way Home” is now available on Smashwords and has been submitted to the Library Writers’ Project, my community’s annual dose of local library love with which I have twice so far been successful. Wish me luck on this one – “Way” is my heart-piece, a bit odd-sized and weirdly shaped for conventional publishing, and I hope it finds a home here.

Then of course there was Nanowrimo. I really didn’t expect much of this; my last Nano fizzled at 25k, and this month was full of travel and literary weekends and wine. It was somewhat to my own surprise that I managed to write 25 days out of 30, even on airplanes – and at 8pm on the very last of them, verified 50,219 words.

All shitty-first-draft, but that’s the point.

I noticed this round that writing without concern for quality allowed all sorts of ideas to come flying up out of the muck. I went places I might not otherwise have considered, opened new doors, tried out new directions. All of these will help the executed projects in the end. On the down side, it was exhausting. 50k in a month is not a sustainable pace for me, though it’s certainly good for a jolt every now and then. My challenge this month is to work out what IS a sustainable pace. 5k a week? 3k? 500 words a day? (not doing so well so far, this being the 5th, but I think vacation is just about over.)

So what’s next??

Nano encompassed two projects: an idea for the BBC playwriting competition I mentioned last time, and something involving wizards, gender roles, and an unkindness of ravens. Both stories have a rough structure, an arc, a beginning-middle-end. Both need a LOT of work to be readable. The deadline for that competition is Jan 31, and my writers’ group has expressed a desire to perform scenes together, so my next task is to get that script into some sort of functional shape.

Once that’s done, then we’ll see about those wizards.

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Nano ’17 and other things

It’s well past time for an update, isn’t it?

This time last year I posted that I was possibly close to done with a piece that had been on my mind for half a decade. Turns out, I wasn’t: the draft I was finishing then went to a beta reader, got heavily revised, and then went back around my critique group. Now I’m pretty sure it’s almost done. One more read-through, maybe, and it’s off to F&SF.

I also currently have a piece in the queue at Uncanny Magazine. Yes, I finally caught an open window, with a piece of the proper length, a piece that my critique group at least thinks is very strong. It will be at least another couple of weeks before I hear back, and I’m trying not to have any expectations.

Tomorrow, NaNoWriMo begins again. I haven’t participated the last couple of years, and the last time I did participate I only managed about 25k words. Not nothing, but not what I was going for. This year, my projects-in-process are all wrapped up, and I have a number of potential new ones in mind. I’m not sure what I’ll tackle tomorrow: a radio play for the BBC’s International Radio Playwriting Competition, or a sequel to one of my finished works, or maybe a new story that’s been kicking around my brain for a while. Maybe a bit of everything, as none is likely to reach 50k words on its own.

In the meantime, in honor of established tradition, my previous Nano projects will be free on Smashwords with coupon codes below.  Share and enjoy!

• Dreamscapes, 2011 Nano winner: coupon code ZY44D
• His Brother’s Keeper, 2013 Nano participant: coupon code EK22K

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Local love

I am very fortunate in my local library.

Last year, Multnomah County Library introduced a program to promote local authors. The program was called the Library Writers Project, and it invited local science fiction and fantasy writers to submit their work for inclusion in the library’s ebook collection. Out of 170 works submitted, The Edge was considered “a standout.” The library purchased 5 copies for their collection. Multnomah County cardholders can find it here.

A hilarious side effect of this process is that I received a 1099 from Smashwords for my roughly $17 of income last year. 😀

This year, the field was flung open to all fiction writers regardless of genre*. Oddly, only 70 works were submitted, but once again, Counter Clockwise was “a standout.” As of March 1, I have two works available digitally at my own public library. My book is listed on the “Best Of” page, featuring librarians’ favorites of the chosen works. 10 copies were made available and 7 of them are already checked out.

It’s fun and flattering to be included, and it’s great to have my work available to local readers. Actually selling a few copies is exciting too. Multnomah County is one of the largest library systems in the country, and its circulation is huge. That’s a lot of chances for people to read my stories – and that’s really the best part.

Check me out at MultCo if you can, or any time at Smashwords. 🙂

 

*Not counting erotica, per the library’s agreement with its ebook provider.

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Nano fail

More than halfway through the month and I haven’t posted about NaNoWriMo!

Obviously I’m not participating this year. Not only has my personal life been hectic (travel, sister’s wedding) but I’m in the midst of editing the latest version of The Way. This story has been in mental residence for close to 5 years now; if there’s a chance I can finish it and get it right, I’m not going to let myself get distracted.

That doesn’t mean you can’t. Prior Nano projects Dreamscapes and His Brother’s Keeper are only $0.99 for the next 30 days – through December 16 – with coupon codes below. And just for fun, Counter Clockwise is free.

Enjoy!

Dreamscapes, 2011 Nano winner: DT42V

His Brother’s Keeper, 2013 Nano participant: CB83L

Counter Clockwise: LF76F

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Delayed gratification

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

In truth, I’ve fallen well behind of late. Job and life circumstances pushed my writing aside, and even though the schedule is clearing up, after so much time it’s hard to get back on the horse. I almost have to force myself to sit down and type, and I’m rarely happy with the result. There’s a reason conventional wisdom advises daily word counts: it’s easy enough to slack off, and so much harder to get started again.

Still, I’m getting there. And in spite of so little activity I am not without news. My local library put out a call to local authors in the fall, inviting submissions to the e-book catalog. Through an agreement with Smashwords, the library would purchase the chosen books and make them available to patrons. I have a “why not?” attitude when it comes to this sort of thing, so after some consideration I selected and submitted “The Edge.”

A few weeks ago I received notification of a purchase on Smashwords. Very little data accompanies these notifications; I assumed it was a friend who’d let his coupon expire and was embarrassed to ask for another. Then, yesterday, I received this:

“Congratulations!  Your book, The Edge, has been selected to be added to the library’s e-book collection as part of the Library Writers Project.  We had nearly 150 submissions to the Library Writers Project this year and yours was a standout.  Your book will be featured on the Multnomah County Library OverDrive web site, which is accessed by 20,000 unique users monthly.”

By this time I’d forgotten about the project. Of course it was a delight to receive the email: “Congratulations!” and “standout” and “20,000 unique users” are all wonderful to hear. But the real treat is this:

“The Edge,” at Multnomah County Library

My book. My library. How cool is that?

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Worth the wait

‘Counter Clockwise’ is now available on Smashwords.

In other news, National Novel Writing Month has begun. Another thirty frantic days of typing typing typing. Or not – I won’t be participating this year, with a story in need of editing and a schedule still recovering from recent upheaval. However, I have NaNo to thank for a couple of favorite works, and as I did last year I’d like to make those works available in honor of the season.

‘Dreamscapes’ was the result of my first NaNo, a winner in spite of later edits that cut the word count nearly in half. ‘Dreamscapes’ is half off at Smashwords for the month of November, with coupon code YT86Q.

‘His Brother’s Keeper’ also resulted from a successful Nano, along with a string of other projects that never amounted to anything. ‘His Brother’s Keeper’ is FREE for the rest of the month, with coupon code ZS94F.

If you’re writing, be inspired. If you’re reading, be entertained.

 

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Constructive rejection

Finally, after more than 4 months, Analog SF&F rejected ‘Counter Clockwise.’

Unlike ‘No Such Place as Home,’ however, ‘Counter Clockwise’ was rejected by email. And unlike any prior Analog submission, ‘Counter Clockwise’ received positive feedback from the editor.

That’s progress.

Of course, a rejection always comes with good news: Escape Velocity, the print collection including ‘The Edge’ and ‘No Such Place as Home’ as well as ‘Counter Clockwise,’ is now available to the book-buying public. EVEN BETTER: It’s currently 50% off.

Buy here, now, for a limited time: Escape Velocity 50% Off!

People who prefer their literature in digital form can already find two of those three stories on Smashwords. Rest assured that ‘Counter Clockwise’ will join them soon. Stay tuned!

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Writer reading about writing

It appears that reading about writing helps me write.

‘Generation One’ came almost whole out of reading How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card. John Truby’s Anatomy of a Story formed and guided ‘Dreamscapes’ and ‘The Edge.’ All kinds of things came out of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird.

Now, I’ve been dry for close to five months. Finishing ‘Nicky’s Dragon’ was a struggle. ‘The Way’ has started and stopped a dozen times. So has ‘Cambaria.’ No new ideas, no new beginnings.

This week I picked up Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, a collection of essays by genre writers on topics from title to character to setting to sitting down in front of the keyboard and getting things done. This week I wrote 4000 new words on an old idea, fresh and alive again, and a thousand or so on two entirely new ones. I wrote a half-dozen blog posts, and added content to a bunch of character bios on Fanlore. I’ve hardly gotten any actual work done; I’ve written in notebooks waiting for the bus, in the car, on my home computer for three hours at dinnertime, an entire morning at my job. I don’t want to stop.

It’s probably a coincidence. But that doesn’t mean that next time I get stuck, I won’t pick up a book.

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