The literary agent search is on. I've been going through my new 2013 Guide to Literary Agents, which I picked up for my Kindle, and I have to say this first off: having the Kindle version is so much easier than what I used to do with the physical copy. I've scoured through the listings and have highlighted/bookmarked the ones who represent the thriller fiction genre.
My first plan with the agent search is to narrow the list down to roughly 10 solid ones who also appeal to new writers or ones that somehow connected with me in their listing. I'm following a number of them on Twitter and Facebook.
What else is going on? For Beholder's Eye, I have the first five chapters available for your viewing pleasure on this site. Just go along the side and you'll see a link for it.
I have a few short stories I'm going to work on as well, and those will be up for viewing shortly.
For those doing NaNoWriMo, congratulations for even entering the frey. November is roughly half-way done. You can do it. Believe in yourself that it can be done. Don't give excuses for why it can't be done. Give yourself permission to dream and to accomplish something.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Arm yourself against criticism
I thought I was ready. But it turns out I wasn't. What am I talking about? Handling criticism.
It's funny too because a few weeks ago Joel Osteen covered this very same topic on one of his broadcasts. Joel talked about handling criticism like slicking yourself up with oil and letting the negativity slide right off.
This past week at my full-time job, we had to come up with a clever team name to go along with a contest one of our vendors was planning. I wracked my brain to come up with something clever yet creative. Oddly enough, I couldn't think of something--I only had a few hours to do this, so it's possible the pressure of coming up with something at the last minute may have got to me. Anyway, I asked some of my colleagues for ideas. They had a few, but the ones they came up with were inappropriate. So, I used one of the other suggestions tossed around by one. They meant it as a joke. I did not.
I ran with that particular team name.
Afterwards, I heard some awful grumbling amongst them, and one even called it "Gay." Note: the name was not in any way associated with homosexuality and the comment was simply derogatory. I was very upset. I let it get under my skin.
Instead, I should've taken Joel's advice and let the comments slide right off. In the end, that's what I did. I didn't care what comments were said and even used the team name to "rally the troops" even more boldly to the cause.
The more successful one becomes, the more criticism you'll be asked to handle. Take a look at the latest election and not wonder how either candidate can handle about half of the country not believing or rallying to your own message.
Get a tough skin for criticism early on. You're gonna need it.
It's funny too because a few weeks ago Joel Osteen covered this very same topic on one of his broadcasts. Joel talked about handling criticism like slicking yourself up with oil and letting the negativity slide right off.
This past week at my full-time job, we had to come up with a clever team name to go along with a contest one of our vendors was planning. I wracked my brain to come up with something clever yet creative. Oddly enough, I couldn't think of something--I only had a few hours to do this, so it's possible the pressure of coming up with something at the last minute may have got to me. Anyway, I asked some of my colleagues for ideas. They had a few, but the ones they came up with were inappropriate. So, I used one of the other suggestions tossed around by one. They meant it as a joke. I did not.
I ran with that particular team name.
Afterwards, I heard some awful grumbling amongst them, and one even called it "Gay." Note: the name was not in any way associated with homosexuality and the comment was simply derogatory. I was very upset. I let it get under my skin.
Instead, I should've taken Joel's advice and let the comments slide right off. In the end, that's what I did. I didn't care what comments were said and even used the team name to "rally the troops" even more boldly to the cause.
The more successful one becomes, the more criticism you'll be asked to handle. Take a look at the latest election and not wonder how either candidate can handle about half of the country not believing or rallying to your own message.
Get a tough skin for criticism early on. You're gonna need it.
Monday, November 12, 2012
What I Listen To - Reading And Writing Podcast
Early on in my pursuit to find as many fiction writing podcasts as I could fit on my MP3 player (no iPod or other Apple toy for this boy . . . yet), one podcast that always seemed to be within others' top 5 is the Reading and Writing Podcast, hosted by Jeff Rutherford. And I rightfully agree!
Jeff currently has 89 episodes, and in the beginning has interviewed many thriller writers but has branched out to interview fantasy authors like Peter Orullian and Kevin J. Anderson, and screenwriter Nick Santora. As well as several others.
Jeff has interviewed many of the greats in fiction writing, from:
Lee Child
Saladin Ahmed
Tobias Buckell
Kevin J. Anderson
Christopher Farnsworth
Jonathan Maberry
Jeff's interviews typically delve into how the author got published, what they're currently reading, and even what their writing style entails. They may be short but they're definitely not short on information regarding these authors.
Be sure to include the Reading and Writing Podcast into your recommended listening podcasts. You will not be disappointed--there's a reason it's on so many top 5 lists!
Jeff currently has 89 episodes, and in the beginning has interviewed many thriller writers but has branched out to interview fantasy authors like Peter Orullian and Kevin J. Anderson, and screenwriter Nick Santora. As well as several others.
Jeff has interviewed many of the greats in fiction writing, from:
Lee Child
Saladin Ahmed
Tobias Buckell
Kevin J. Anderson
Christopher Farnsworth
Jonathan Maberry
Jeff's interviews typically delve into how the author got published, what they're currently reading, and even what their writing style entails. They may be short but they're definitely not short on information regarding these authors.
Be sure to include the Reading and Writing Podcast into your recommended listening podcasts. You will not be disappointed--there's a reason it's on so many top 5 lists!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Nov-2012 / Novel Complete!
Chapters 58-61 of Beholder's Eye are DONE!
The afterward, even, is also complete!
Does that mean my work is done, and that I can sit and be lazy? Not on your life. I've only just begun--hmm, sounds like the lyrics to a 70's song.
What's next for me is to work on chapter 1, to make sure it's polished to perfection, and then . . . well, I have a list of projects I want to do and I just have to sit down and decide what I want to do next. A top project is the literary agent search--yes, I've decided to take that route vs. the self-publishing route.
For those of you out there doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), keep going. Life is a marathon. Don't be discouraged if you're not hitting your daily goals. Even if you don't do it this year, keep writing and by the time NaNoWriMo comes next year, you'll be ready. If you are hitting your goals, congratulations! A job well done for all.
A few weeks ago, I let everyone know I had two new blogs added to my arsenal. As I believed they were redundant, as they'd be stumbling over the same subject matter, I changed the Minneapolis VCU blog to:
Gillsley, MN - a fictional town I created with a few of my first novels, and a town where I will return to shortly.
The other one is the Twin Cities Crime Blogger where all material on that series will reside.
Nothing is really posted yet on these sites, but in due time they will. Please be patient with me.
The afterward, even, is also complete!
Does that mean my work is done, and that I can sit and be lazy? Not on your life. I've only just begun--hmm, sounds like the lyrics to a 70's song.
What's next for me is to work on chapter 1, to make sure it's polished to perfection, and then . . . well, I have a list of projects I want to do and I just have to sit down and decide what I want to do next. A top project is the literary agent search--yes, I've decided to take that route vs. the self-publishing route.
For those of you out there doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), keep going. Life is a marathon. Don't be discouraged if you're not hitting your daily goals. Even if you don't do it this year, keep writing and by the time NaNoWriMo comes next year, you'll be ready. If you are hitting your goals, congratulations! A job well done for all.
A few weeks ago, I let everyone know I had two new blogs added to my arsenal. As I believed they were redundant, as they'd be stumbling over the same subject matter, I changed the Minneapolis VCU blog to:
Gillsley, MN - a fictional town I created with a few of my first novels, and a town where I will return to shortly.
The other one is the Twin Cities Crime Blogger where all material on that series will reside.
Nothing is really posted yet on these sites, but in due time they will. Please be patient with me.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The Election is Over. Get On With Your Life.
Last night was the 2012 Presidental election here in the United States.
Did your candidate win?
Chances are, somebody's candidate did, whether it be Obama for another four years or Romney for a first term.
Now that this is done, I must say this: get on with your life.
I've tried hard to keep the political discussions on this blog to a minimum as well as neutral--I'm a middle-of-the-road guy, a I-vote-for-the-person-not-the-party person, even though I do lean towards one side--I'm just not sharing which side.
This blog is geared towards writing and the business of writing, so that's what I'm going to continue to do. I want to share my experiences and knowledge about writing, in the hopes that it'll help someone else get them closer to their own publishing success.
As I've said before, your life's success has very little to do with who is sitting in the White House. If your candidate won, get over it. If they lost, get over it.
Your life is waiting. Create the future you were meant to have. Do it now. What are you waiting for?
Did your candidate win?
Chances are, somebody's candidate did, whether it be Obama for another four years or Romney for a first term.
Now that this is done, I must say this: get on with your life.
I've tried hard to keep the political discussions on this blog to a minimum as well as neutral--I'm a middle-of-the-road guy, a I-vote-for-the-person-not-the-party person, even though I do lean towards one side--I'm just not sharing which side.
This blog is geared towards writing and the business of writing, so that's what I'm going to continue to do. I want to share my experiences and knowledge about writing, in the hopes that it'll help someone else get them closer to their own publishing success.
As I've said before, your life's success has very little to do with who is sitting in the White House. If your candidate won, get over it. If they lost, get over it.
Your life is waiting. Create the future you were meant to have. Do it now. What are you waiting for?
Monday, November 5, 2012
When Should I Start Planning For Next Year?
If you've already asked yourself this question, you're a step ahead of most other people.
I'd say it's okay to start planning now for the next year. These goals to accomplish don't have to be written in stone, but it's a good idea to start brainstorming some ideas. There are about seven areas in your life where, in order to have a more fullfilling life, these accomplishments should be under. They are:
Career
Financial
Spiritual
Physical
Intellectual
Family
Social
Start brainstorming ideas on what you'd like to accomplish. Even if you feel it's a huge goal that you'll never be able to finish, write it down anyway. When you get closer to the next year, choose which goals you'd like to accomplish.
And don't be afraid to think big. Because it's the big things that make a difference in this world.
I'd say it's okay to start planning now for the next year. These goals to accomplish don't have to be written in stone, but it's a good idea to start brainstorming some ideas. There are about seven areas in your life where, in order to have a more fullfilling life, these accomplishments should be under. They are:
Career
Financial
Spiritual
Physical
Intellectual
Family
Social
Start brainstorming ideas on what you'd like to accomplish. Even if you feel it's a huge goal that you'll never be able to finish, write it down anyway. When you get closer to the next year, choose which goals you'd like to accomplish.
And don't be afraid to think big. Because it's the big things that make a difference in this world.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Nov-2012 / Solar Flares?
Last weekend, my wife told me I should write a blog post about solar flares.
"But that's not what my blog is about, solar flares and such," I said to her. "I write about . . . well, writing."
"I know. But you should though."
Okay, here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_flares
Yes, I know that's the Wikipedia link, but that's the best I can come up with. Solar flares seem to have an aura surrounding themselves, and have even been linked to the end of the world in December 2012. They do cause some interference, as they blast out huge amounts of energy at once. Here's a video too, which can explain some of the solar flare phenomenon.
Now, on to Beholder's Eye.
By early next week, this book will be done with its final edit. Chapters 58-61 are nearing completion, as well as the Afterward. I've made tremendous progress, and on next week's Happenings In The Outhouse, I'm confident I'll scream, "I'm done!"
But not quite.
I recently read an article in the Writer's Digest's "Guide to Literary Agents" blog which touched on the importance of first chapters--or, rather, the first chapter. The article is titled "7 Reasons Agents Stop Reading Your First Chapter" Needless to say, I'm going to scan through the first chapter again to see how it holds up. At a quick glance, it's fairly good.
I just want to make it better.
"But that's not what my blog is about, solar flares and such," I said to her. "I write about . . . well, writing."
"I know. But you should though."
Okay, here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_flares
Yes, I know that's the Wikipedia link, but that's the best I can come up with. Solar flares seem to have an aura surrounding themselves, and have even been linked to the end of the world in December 2012. They do cause some interference, as they blast out huge amounts of energy at once. Here's a video too, which can explain some of the solar flare phenomenon.
Now, on to Beholder's Eye.
By early next week, this book will be done with its final edit. Chapters 58-61 are nearing completion, as well as the Afterward. I've made tremendous progress, and on next week's Happenings In The Outhouse, I'm confident I'll scream, "I'm done!"
But not quite.
I recently read an article in the Writer's Digest's "Guide to Literary Agents" blog which touched on the importance of first chapters--or, rather, the first chapter. The article is titled "7 Reasons Agents Stop Reading Your First Chapter" Needless to say, I'm going to scan through the first chapter again to see how it holds up. At a quick glance, it's fairly good.
I just want to make it better.
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