Yesterday, for probably the first time in my life, I had 8 cups of coffee.
It was a lot. I think I could see through space and time.
On the plus side, this meant that I got a lot of editing done! I'll be cleaning up the story a little more (still have to cut a few hundred words), then sending out to some friends for a quick beta-read, and then it heads out!
On the con side, holy smokes do I have an headache. But that's okay! That's okay.
New month, and January only saw 2 rejections, which is very, very bad. Gotta get that back up! Goal is 20 in February! Wish me luck!
Finished a Story!
Well, "finished" is being a little generous. But MOSTLY finished it. All that's needed is editing.
One of the reasons I really like short stories (as opposed to writing full novels) is that the editing process tends to be quicker. I'm not really in love with editing at the best of times, but it is a super critical part of the writing process.
I think this story has some merit. I'm going to be submitting it to the Toronto Star and their short story competition after I cut about 1,000 words and clean it up a bit. It's not the greatest thing I've ever written, but I do like it!
I plan to finish the other short story by Thursday, and then send them both off by Friday. Of course, I've said that before... but this time I mean it!
Anyway! There ya go. With all the chaos in the world right now, at least some things are moving in the right directions.
Gah! Another Week! Bad author! Bad!
I really have to get back into the habit of posting on here more than once every 7 days. It's important for you, my readers, but equally important for me as a writer.
I've also turned on Twitter sharing again (not sure how it turned off... gonna have to look into that!), so hopefully this will signal boost a bit.
Hello! I'm writing. Things are going okay!
My short story that I want to submit to the Toronto Star's Short Story Contest is coming along pretty well. As is tradition for me, it's a touch on the long side right now (3,200 words or so, and the competition is for 2,500), but I can edit that down during the revision stage.
Still haven't finished my sentient-planet story, but it is circling a conclusion. Again, a touch on the long side, but only a touch, and I think it might actually be pretty good. Good enough to submit to Asimov's, I don't know, but pretty good at least. Time will tell.
Anyway! I'm off to paint a little bit and then write a lot! Hope everyone out there is doing well! Keep at your goals, folks. Only way you'll get better!
A Full Week!
It's been 7 days since I got my last rejection... which, in itself, not necessarily a bad thing, is combined with one other factor to become a bad thing.
Specifically, I haven't submitted anything in that week.
This is bad. The lifeblood of an author is our ability to produce *and submit* work to various publications. I need to be keeping up to submitting at least a dozen works per month, and that means I can't just have a week with nothing going out.
So today I'm redoubling my efforts to FINISH SOMETHING. I have a lot of half-starts and ideas, but few actually getting out the door. Today I finish writing one of them, tomorrow I edit and send it out.
That is all! More news tomorrow when I send the story out!
Rejection Number 2!
Just a quick note today. After waiting four and a half months, I finally got a rejection from Asimov's. Took their sweet time about it.
This is the 2nd rejection I've received in 2017 (98 more to go!), but it presents me with a problem. I have a bunch of stories I feel are strong contenders for Asimov's... the right "style", strong stories, et al. But now... if I know it's going to take 4-5 months to get a response... do I want to send a "good" story? Or do I wait for a *perfect* story, since I can't send another while I wait for the response from the first?!
Sigh. I will probably send one to them immediately (as in, tomorrow), and then try to perfect the next one while I wait.
But anyway! Progress. And while 1 rejection every 5 days is good... gotta get 'em faster. Which means submitting more strong stories, which means WRITING more strong stories, which I am going to do right now!
First Rejection of 2017. 99 More to Go!
I think I've mentioned it in passing, but one of my many literary goals for 2017 is to collect 100 rejections.
Last night, around 1am (so, technically, early this morning) I received my first official rejection for 2017. It was from Daily Science-Fiction, which I suspect will be one of MANY submissions that they reject this year.
However, that means I'm getting 1 rejection every 7 days right now, and that's far too slow. I need to be submitting something approximately every 3 days, so I'm going to send out 2 submissions in the next 3 days to "catch up" a bit. I have a few new markets that have opened up recently that I'm going to send stories off to, and we'll see what happens!
Finishing Up a Short Story Today!
This one is heading off to Asimov's, if they ever get around to giving me a response on my last submission. Then, since I have the time today, I'm going to try and crank out a few rough drafts for other markets... there are a few dozen short story sci-fi publishing places, and I've been focused on only 5 of them so far. Gotta broaden the net.
Anyway! We'll see how things go... going to be a 5k+ word day, I think!
Just Watch Rogue One
I won't put any spoilers here, but I loved the film. Fantastic movie!
I do want to touch, very briefly, with the fact that the movie had a female protagonist, and an hispanic protagonist. And two Chinese ones. And an Arabic one. This makes me *extremely* happy! Disney has been doing a great job at this, and I really hope they keep it up!
Anyway, that's all for now. Go see it if you haven't! It's fantastic!
I'm Just Saying...
I submitted a short story to Asimov's on September 1st.
It has now been over 4 months, and no response. Just saying.
Goodbye 2016! Hello 2017!
Goodbye and good riddance to the dumpster fire that was 2016. Here's hoping the new year has better things in store for all of us (yes, I know it's unlikely, but we have to hope!).
I finished reading Redshirts (by John Scalzi) over the holiday break, and it was a refreshing bit of sci-fi. It also helped me gird my loins for the upcoming year... I have a whole lot of rejection to wade through, which is going to be expensive and draining but is an important step on my way to becoming an actually paid writer. Lots of short stories going out this year, lots more being published on this here website for you good folks, lots more interaction with my Patrons over on Patreon... lots of work, basically! And that's a good thing.
So here's to a fantastic (or at least BETTER) 2017 for all of us!
Final Tintian Episode is Up!
Well, it's been a long few months, but I've finally posted all the Episodes for Tintian and the King's Claw.
So far it hasn't been nearly as popular as the Omnibus including all the episodes at once, but who knows? A bunch of people picked up Episode 1 when it was free, and I'll be doing that periodically, so maybe it'll catch on.
Either way, this is the end of publishing my first ebook. Time now to focus on the 2nd novel I'll be posting online... I think I should be finished that one around late February, so you can all look forward to it starting to go online then!
Of course, I'll also have hordes of short stories published here (and for my Patreon supporters!) in the meantime, but for now? I'm going to curl up with the second season of "Star Wars: Rebels" and a good bottle of whiskey and just take it easy for a day.
Back to writing tomorrow!
I Hate Shopping!
I always have the same problem when "gift-giving" situations arise.
First, I'm pretty broke. I know, I know, stunning... an artist without money to spend. News at 11. But this has been true for years. Decades now, I suppose. Money goes to rent, to family, to random chance (vet bills, car breakdowns, replacement heaters, and so on), and the few scrabbled pennies I put aside for "savings" are vapourized instantly as I try to buy stuff for people I love.
Second, I'm really bad at getting gifts. I think this comes down to an inability to pick up on clues. I'm pretty oblivious, even at the best of times. I tend to try to just ask people what they want and then get that: This makes me a mediocre giver of gifts at best, since the good ones (like my buddy Alex) are almost psychic in their ability to manifest strange hints into concrete gifts.
Oh well. I've purchased a few things my family have stated they want: I've dodged getting gifts for most of my closest friends by stating monetary concerns (and instead focused on spending time together, where and when possible!), and I'm going to be leaving it at that.
Anyway, thankfully this only happens a few times a year (Winter Festivals, and a few scattered birthdays for my nearest and dearest), so it will be over soon.
Closing in on Christmas
Not being a religious fellow myself, the whole "holiday season" really only means "more time to write". Which I definitely appreciate!
It usually, however, also means "more time spent with family", which is often somewhat (or very) unpleasant. I love my family, but we agree on almost nothing overall and our gatherings tend to quickly devolve into long arguments of one stripe or another.
But, if that's the price I have to pay to have the time to finish up another book (and maybe read a few in the down time between arguments), then I suppose it's all okay in the end.
Submitted!
So I sent out my first short story for publication since... oh heavens, September? Probably September. It's gone out to "Daily Science Fiction", who only publish 100-1500 word stories, a length I really struggle with.
Why say something in 10 words when you can say it in 100?
Either way, I want to get better, and the wonderful editors at Daily Sci-Fi are nice enough to maintain a steady pace on their feedback (between 3-4 weeks on average, which is fast-as-lightning compared to most of the editors I deal with!).
Anyway, that's it for now. Short story being published here tomorrow!
Ain't No Place for No Hero
I think one of the hardest things for me to mentally cope with as I've aged is the growing realization that I'll never be a hero.
I mean in the "Aragorn" or "Kelsier" or "Jade" (from Beyond Good and Evil) sense. A hero who goes out and does heroic things. Just never going to be me.
I love writing about those sorts of people, though, and if I can't live a life worth writing about, at least I can write stuff worth reading.
Either way, it's been a slowly dawning thing. I now know I'm never going to be a martial arts master, I'll never be a gold medalist at anything, and I'm certainly never going to be in spaceship hurtling through space-time. Or at least it's remarkably improbable.
Anyway. I should get back to writing. Just having somewhat somber thoughts today, thought I'd share 'em! Hope everyone is doing well!
Wow! A Full Week!
Hey folks! Took a few days off, and suddenly a week has disappeared! Crazy!
Good news for those of you episodically following Tintian: Episode IV goes live tomorrow! I'll update the links and the book page tomorrow afternoon.
Other than that, "Starconvoy" is now officially in the hands of my (amazing) editor, and she's dutifully making it better. Ah, love that feeling.
Anyway! I'm back, I'll be posting all the time again, and thanks for checking out my stuff!
A Bit Run Down
Sadly, I've gotten a bit sick recently. Nothing serious: a chest cough, a bit of a headache, exhaustion... that sort of deal. Still, unfortunate timing, and hopefully I can shake it off quickly!
In writing news, nothing really exciting. Still working on the last few thousand words for "How to Train Your A.I.", and preparing to receive editorial feedback on "Starconvoy".
Haven't submitted anything in a few weeks, either. Gotta get on that! Anyway, thanks as always!
There Are No Weekends for Writers
Strictly, this isn't true. Writers, just like everyone else, have days we write more, and days we write less. High energy days, and low energy days. Days we stay under the covers until noon, and days that we don't manage to close our eyes until well into the following morning.
That stated, the overriding narrative around writing is always about production: you have to write. You have to make stuff, and you have to send that stuff out, and a tonne of it will be rejected and so you have to send out EVEN MORE and then you repeat that dozens of times.
So every time I have "time off", I'm either prepping for writing (watching good sci-fi, reading good sci-fi, playing good sci-fi), or I'm actually writing. Not a complaint, of course! I love writing. But it does take a lot out of you, for sure.
Anyway, just a thought as I head into Sunday, with a couple novels creeping closer to being finished their first draft.
Oh! Good news! I have a few short stories that I'm planning on putting up here (and for my Patrons... you support me on Patreon, right?) very soon! Hurray!
Rightio! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
Staggered, But Recovering
Well. That was a thing.
With Trump officially poised as President-Elect, I've had the full gamut of emotions run through me. Starting with hope, rapidly sliding towards disbelief, then in rapid succession fear, anger, disappointment, and crushing depression. This is not how things were supposed to go.
But it is what it is.
The problem is that it's very hard to sit down and write silly stories right now. It's hard to remember that the good guys win. It's difficult to summon up the energy to create fictional evil when there's so much actual evil to deal with.
This feeling will pass. The reason I write stories like I do is specifically because the world is a dark, depressing place. Occasionally we all need to believe that the good guys win precisely because it so rarely happens.
But for today? Today I'm just going to soak in my feelings a bit, try to get my feet back underneath me.
Tomorrow... tomorrow I write.
Episode 3 is now live!
Quick update today: Episode 3 of Tintian went live on Amazon today! Woo!
Only 2 more episodes to go... and then I get to publish something else! Excited!
Anyway, you can find it here, or just follow the big picture on the "Books" page! Thanks for reading!