Writing a novel? by NervousPete

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Writing a novel?

POSTED BY: NERVOUSPETE
UPDATED: Thursday, May 6, 2004 06:10
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VIEWED: 6768
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Monday, May 3, 2004 7:27 AM

I'm currently writing a novel that I am tremendously excited about.

Oh, one thing before I start... Lyryn, lass, if you're reading this, I'm just taking a short break from the writing! I've done 1,500 words this weekend, honestly! Don't hurt me!

Oh, and thanks for buying me the Firefly DVD and all... thank you, Lyryn, thank you.

There, now that my proof-reader is happy, I can continue.

Is there anyone else on this board writing a novel, other than fan-fic? I've noticed that the fan-fic here is quite a cut above other efforts on other sites, and I wonder if any of the writers have their own secret projects underway?
My viewing of Firefly came too late to even remotely inspire or alter my vision of my novel, thank God, though I am somewhat a fashion victim when it comes to being influenced by authors whom I admire. It's a fantasy, you see, but one that attempts to ignore all the rules and customs of Tolkien and its ilk. No other intelligent creatures other than humans... (thanks Firefly for seconding me on that) no magic or heroics. No ponderous language or trite quests. Rather a sort of combination of Patrick O'Brien meets Michael Moorcock, meets Angela Carter, meets Ray Bradbury, meets Iain M Banks, meets Emily Bronte, meets Neil Gaiman, meets Alan Moore, meets H P Lovecraft, meets Hilary Mantel, meets John Le Carre. Hopefully.

26,000 wods so far. *Phew* And a kick-ass plot and characters that go in a direction hitherto unattempted in fantasy and sci-fi. Hopefully.

God, I hope this works.

It's working title is, 'Ugly Beautiful' and it features a young woman befriending a very strange and very dangerous lady who makes River look a little lucid and rather ineffectual on the old 'I can kill you quite easily' front. Set in a world that hovers around the Napoleonic level of technology, with a 1930's sense of fashion, culture, medicine and hygeine. There are several deaths, a rich young artist called Henry Lewis who desperately fancies a woman called Sophe Harlow (who is a secret agent) and a rather frightening threat to peace. And a lot of fun bits plus, hopefully, some 'Whedon wit'.

So, anyone else out there writing a novel or script? How difficult are you finding it? Has Firefly inspired your work? What hopes do you have for it? Use this thread to let the world know with annoyingly teasing details.

Cheers,

Pete

P.S: I'm going back to work now, Lyryn! Honestly!

"If you can keep your head whilst others... eurgh! Ack! I've spilt my ink! Ugh! Ink on my trousers! Agh! Ink on my shirt! My only hope! The window! Aieeeeee!" (Falls to death)
- Jonathan Nash

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Monday, May 3, 2004 8:10 AM

DELIA

Pete,

The question isn't when am I writing a novel, it's when am I not writing a novel? (Actually, the real question is when will I finish one already, but that's a whole different subject.) I've always got at least one going, though it's slow going because almost all of my writing time gets eaten up by graduate level papers right now.

I can't say I've been especially Firefly inspired, though I do try (when I'm working on modern world stuff) to have a character who likes Firefly or Buffy or whatever, so that if I ever publish anything I can get a plug in for my favorite shows.

I find characters easy, plots difficult, and have to watch myself so that everyone doesn't talk like I do.

Your story sounds interesting. Good luck with it.

Delia

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Monday, May 3, 2004 8:19 AM

KNIBBLET

Quote:
Originally posted by NervousPete:
Is there anyone else on this board writing a novel, other than fan-fic?

I'm working on my 2nd novel, "Meal Ticket". Wish me luck.

"Just keep walkin, preacher man."

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Monday, May 3, 2004 8:28 AM

ASTRIANA

LUCK! LUCK! LUCK!

~A~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Monday, May 3, 2004 9:36 AM

BIBSY

The concept for your novel sounds very intriguing, NervousPete. Best of luck with it!

I'm also working on a novel--my first attempt at one after writing only short stories for a while (two of which have been published...go me with the shameless plug!)

Actually, I should say I'm working on three novels. The one I'm currently writing is the first of a trilogy, so it's constantly informing my ideas for what will come in the novels to follow. The funny part is that I really meant to write a single novel because, as a notoriously slow reader, I have trouble keeping up with the plethora of series out there in the book world. But I couldn't get to sleep one night and made the mistake of wondering what some of my characters would do after the story's end. Next thing I knew, I had a sequel.

Mine is also a fantasy without intelligent non-human creatures. It does make with the magic and the prophecies, but I'm trying to give them as original a spin as I can. I'm aiming for characters who are a lot more morally ambiguous than those of the Tolkien ilk. I'm also dealing with what a lot of popular fantasy (though not all) seems to ignore--characters with sex lives. And while there's much that I love about Tolkien, I am avoiding the pretentious lanuage of his and other works as avidly as the Serenity crew would avoid Reavers. I want my characters to talk to each other, not speechify. It's good to know someone else is aiming for the same in the language department.

Even though my two main characters are male, one of my major goals with my novel is to create female characters who aren't cliched and have some dimension and complexity to them. Too much of the fantasy I've read has female characters who are either nonexistent or one-dimensional, or they are written with the idea in mind that "strong" women are pushy and bitchy...either that, or whiney princess types who show their supposed strength by irresponsibly running away from home to seek adventure with the hero. And they're always beautiful. It gets old.

My novel is actually a major revamping of a novella-length story I wrote back in high school. I began reworking it in college, put it on the back burner for a while, then finally got my ass back into gear a few months ago. The writing itself isn't difficult for me--it's finding the time to write. I work full-time and also do a lot of theater work, so my free time is at a minimum. I invested in a word processor a few years ago that has been invaluable in allowing me to write at lunch and on the train to and from work. It doesn't have the distractions of a laptop (we all know how evil solitaire is), so I have no good excuse not to get as much writing done as possible.

Firefly has inspired my work in that it's good writing with incredible characters. Watching that in action always inspires me to write, even if it has no relation plot-wise to what I'm working on. I watch Firefly and think, "I want to write characters like that!" Not the Firefly characters in particular, but ones as realistic and intriguing as them.

I also think Nathan Filion would be perfect for one of the characters who is going to show up in the second book of my trilogy (assuming I get that far). I often write characters with a certain actor in mind. It helps because I'm very visual about writing. I have to picture the scene in my head as if it were a film before I can write it down.

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:
I'm working on my 2nd novel, "Meal Ticket". Wish me luck.

Good luck!

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

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Monday, May 3, 2004 9:46 AM

SOULOFSERENITY

The Man They Call Soul...

I as well am writing a novel. Have been for several years. The specifics have undergone so many revamps and changes that it's hard for me to keep up with myself. The basic storyline's the same, though. Fun going, but a long effort.

Good luck on yours!!

______________________

But if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you.

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Monday, May 3, 2004 10:21 AM

BEOWULF

Quote:
So, anyone else out there writing a novel or script? How difficult are you finding it? Has Firefly inspired your work?

It would be dishonest to say I'm writing a novel, but I do have a notebook full of... well, notes for a particular story I've been actively neglecting for years.

At first, firefly reminded me of my own story:
a somewhat misfit group of smugglers.
a captain with serious authority issues as a result of a dramatically painful past.
A first officer from that past he truly trusts.
An overbearing central government of allied planets
A cute bubbly mechanic
A doomed romance between the Cpt and a crewmember
A cowboy hat
And a few other things...

Then I watched more Firefly and got to thinking how much more interesting some parts of this story might be if there were no aliens. It would necessitate some changes, and it would push the storyline hundreds of years further into the future than I originally envisioned but... well then it would start to look like a rather warped FF fanfic.

So at this point, I think I'm just going to neglect this story a little while longer.

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Monday, May 3, 2004 10:28 AM

CYBERSNARK

I'm working on short stories now (I understand it's marginally easier to get into publishng with SSs, and work up to novels). Actually, no; I write novellas, then frantically rip out scenes to try to get down back into "short story" length, 'cause editors don't buy novellas.

Trouble is, the stories want to be a novel. All my stories take place in pretty much the same universe (except for the hard sci-fi ones, which tend to have a common 'verse of their own; I just haven't been writing them lately). Characters and events bleed over and interlock (one story tells of a character seeing a girl doing something illegal and wondering what she's doing, another story has the same girl frantically trying to gather medicine for her wounded bf, another story has the bf duelling on the astral plane with his enemy, etc).

Both of these universes are basically my grabbing whatever I like about others' stories and putting it all into a blender. There's bits of Buffy/Angel mixed in with various animés, some Legend of Zelda-style high fantasy adventuring, some historical drama, etc.

My female lead is a cross between Buffy (looks), Spike (snarky attitude), and Willow (magical powerhouse). Also, she's a shape-shifting dragon. Other characters include a Xander/Link hybrid, and a Spike/Giles/Harry Potter/Morpheus "sorcerer/hacker."

Obviously, I do use the whole high-fantasy set of non-humans and magic, but I like to think I treat it in a different way. My dragons and elves and faerie are just people. Some may be immortal and have strange powers, but they still experience all the normal stuff. The dragon works as a waitress, the sorcerer has a crappy apartment, the knight has girlfriend problems, etc.

No overt odes, really, but I put in little injokes from time to time. The setting is as "real world" as I can make it, and my characters are fans of much of the same things I am. Crystal (the dragon-girl) is an otaku; she drags her sorcerer boyfriend to all the animé-cons, and in return, he drags her to the sci-fi cons. Of course he'll have bought her a certain DVD set (off-camera, of course). . . One of them will almost certainly say "not so much" and/or "shiny" at some point.

Quote:
Originally posted by Bibsy:
I often write characters with a certain actor in mind. It helps because I'm very visual about writing. I have to picture the scene in my head as if it were a film before I can write it down.

Thank you; I was worried that I was the only one that did this.

My lead villain is played by "Connor" from Angel.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Monday, May 3, 2004 12:22 PM

GHOULMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by NervousPete:

SNIP!
So, anyone else out there writing a novel or script? How difficult are you finding it?

Difficult. DIFFICULT! *aarrrrrrrgh*

I love all your influences and like your approach. Certainly you have done the hardest thing; starting. Keep going! I'd post more but I just want to be positive and not depress you with my experience. lol!

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Monday, May 3, 2004 12:23 PM

PEDME84

wow, reading whedon,etc. influenced original novels would be really cool

i have writing aspirations. i have one finished screenplay that is very influenced by buffydom, but still very different. and instead of playing with the horror genre, i play with ghost hunting folklore.

i don't usually write novels, but i'll be giving it a try when it comes to my mythopoeic stuff.

i'm also writing book for a musical which will be performed at the my collaborator's university (Columbia University) in november. it will be in a very large theater, room for everyone! he, he, you can be sure i'll be bombarding you all with more ads for this when the time comes.

am i finding it difficult? no, it's me, it's what i do. i just wish i had more finished products.

- emily

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Monday, May 3, 2004 12:37 PM

GUNHAND

I have three novels on the burners, a Sci-Fi one, Pulp (yeah you read that right) Alt History one and a Fantasy one.

Curiously enough my fantasy one doesn't have non-human races in it either. Must be a Firefly fan sorta thing that we don't like elves.

And a screenplay that's almost finished, World War II espionage/thriller/air fighting one. More interesting than it sounds, trust me.

Whether any of them see the light of day as far as publishing goes...who knows.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
"Oh hey, I got an idea. Instead of us hanging
around playing art critic till I get pinched by
the Man, how's about we move away from this
eerie-ass piece of work and get on with our
increasingly eerie-ass day, how's that?"

My eerie-ass website:
http://gunhandsfirefly.homestead.com/Index.html

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Monday, May 3, 2004 12:39 PM

PEACE

I hold to the theory (expounded, I believe, by Frank Herbert) that you use up the same energy talking about something you're writing as you would writing it. But because I can't resist talking about myself and my work, I'm going to do it anyway.

It's not so much a question of "am I writing a novel?" as "what number am I on?". I have something like six or seven novels (depending on what you decide is the minimum word count for a novel) sitting in my garage-- novels that numerous editors have sneered at, laughed at, ripped to pieces, urinated on, fed to their Dobermans, and returned with nasty comments about my abilities, ancestry, and habits. I produced my first complete novel in 1990; neither that one nor any subsequent one has sold.

Does this discourage me?

You bet it does.

But somehow, despite some lengthy hiatuses (hiatusi?), I eventually drag myself back to the computer and start plinking away again. I was once told by an author in a seminar that persistence is 90% of getting published. Also, I have stories and characters in my head that WON'T GO AWAY, as much as I try sometimes to bury the bastards.

Anyway, the novel I'm working on at the moment (about 45,000 words at this point) is a military alternative-history, the history of which diverged about 1560. Without going into painful detail, the Tudor dynasty gets transplanted to North America, and its subsequent history is one long struggle with a Spanish-dominated Europe. The main character is an up-from-the-ranks officer. I have two other complete novels in this universe, both of which were laughed out of every publishing house I submitted them to. So maybe I'm

-- but, again, the story won't let me go.

Firefly obviously didn't inspire this story, but for me Joss Whedon's work in general has been like a graduate writing course, especially in learning the importance of doing the absolute worst thing to your characters. I've learned a lot from him, and I hope someday to prove it by getting published.

Good luck to any of you writing even a short story, much less a novel-- any sort of writing takes guts.

Oh, bugger! Now I have to wait for someone to wake up!

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 4:16 AM

STRDNCR5

Yes, I am writing -- again! My first novel, "Noble Savage" (ISBN 193204745x), was released last year through Llumina Press and is available through online bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

"Noble Savage" is the story of a self-proclaimed prophet who brings about Armageddon through the use of technology. He saves people who agree to follow him, but there are those who are naturally immune to the weapon's effects (coincidentally, my weapon is a large-scale version of the one the men with blue hands used in 'Ariel' -- and I wrote my manuscript before I'd heard of Firefly!). If anyone's interested in more info about the book, you can go to Amazon and read my five-star review.

While that sounds very exciting, I'm still working on building my own fan base more than a year later. The work doesn't stop with the writing process. Still, there's nothing else I'd rather do than sit down and create worlds of my own. If only I were as talented as Joss in that area...

Liz Moore
Firefly fan and author of "Noble Savage"

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 4:35 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by Peace:
I produced my first complete novel in 1990; neither that one nor any subsequent one has sold.

Does this discourage me?

You bet it does.

Don't let it get you down; How many times was Stephen King rejected for his first few novels? Couple hundred?

Have you tried looking into self-publishing? It's losing the stigma that used to be attached, though now you'll end up having to do the marketing and publicity on your own (without hitching your work to the coattails of a big House, IOW).

And Gunhand, my assorted faerie, dragons, elves, and gorgons are giving you an Inara-esque arch look.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 5:40 AM

PEACE

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
Quote:
Originally posted by Peace:
I produced my first complete novel in 1990; neither that one nor any subsequent one has sold.

Does this discourage me?

You bet it does.
Don't let it get you down; How many times was Stephen King rejected for his first few novels? Couple hundred?

Have you tried looking into self-publishing? It's losing the stigma that used to be attached, though now you'll end up having to do the marketing and publicity on your own (without hitching your work to the coattails of a big House, IOW).

I've resisted self-publishing; in the first place, I'm broke, and in the second, I'm broke. And I do think that what I'm writing should have have mass-market appeal that might not be there with self-publishing.

To me the number of "trunk novels" I have gathering dust doesn't discourage me in itself; I've heard a number of writers say that almost everybody who gets published will accumulate a number of early manuscripts that never see the light of day-- that these are necessary practice works that help hone your skills.

The main difficulty I have is the self-editing/self-critiquing that goes on while I'm writing; the thought often comes to me, while I'm writing, that this is crap and nobody's going to want to see it. This, too, is normal, I hear, but I'm still learning how to fight past it.

There is a book I can recommend for those of you who might want some encouragement: "The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear" by Ralph Keyes. It's very good about how hard it is to get up the courage to write something for publication, and how to finesse the fear most writers feel look at a blank page. I have no association with the author and I'm not getting anything for recommending it; it was just a very helpful book for me.

Oh, bugger! Now I have to wait for someone to wake up!

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 6:10 AM

KINGOFKOINS

Yes, I'm writing a novel as well. It's at about 26,000 words right now, which I banged out in a couple of weeks. Problem is, I've been so busy with school work (got finals right now) that I really haven't been able to write anything on it in about a month.

--------------------------------
It's sickening how comforting the privacy of the mind can be.
"Bible's broken; contradictions, false logistics. Doesn't make sense." - River
http://stripe.filetap.com

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 6:39 AM

TROUBADOUR

Yes. I'm writing a novel and I'm not sure if the previous posts are encouraging or discouraging. It's my first one and I'm pretty excited about it. It's called 'Flicker' and it's about a movie geek who starts seeing his life as a film. Starts off as a romcom and slowly falls through hardboiled mystery to horror and onwards to insanity. I too see my characters as film actors and my page as a movie screen. I try to put in pans, fades, jump cuts, closeups, use the rhythm of the words to simulate cinematic processes while still retaining a zeitgeisty punk-lit feel.

Hmm. Talking of zeitgeist I guess there's a strong Whedon-esque inspiration in there. Joss doesn't just have his finger on the pulse, rather he has the entire length of himself pressed up against the body of popular culture, probably in the process of violating it in an incredibly dirty but pleasurable way.

Anyway, the novel is the cause of more heartbreak and hope than I could have ever imagined but I'm pressing on because there are thousands of Earths in this galaxy of ours and the meek have inherited not a one. (to bastardise the Captain)

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 7:57 AM

KALATHENA

Not writing one myself, but my husband is a novelist. Once he gets through the Movie Novelization From Hell (in more than one way...heh) he will return to his original stuff.

A couple of comments:

1) 26,000 is a great start! Try to remember that the average length that a publisher will be looking for is between 100,000 and 120,000 words. Anything longer than that will have to have massively-wide appeal and will be a difficult sell.

2) Watch out for self-publishing. Now, if you're talking about putting stuff up for purchase on your own web-site, there shouldn't be any pitfalls. You sell the work; you make the money. Also, there are places that publish online work that ask for nothing up front, pay no advance and you get royalties as copies of your work sells. No problem there either. HOWEVER, beware of anyone who asks for money up front to publish your work. In the real world, money flows from the publisher, through the agent, to the author and NEVER the other way around. Anyone charging up-front is scamming you. Period. No exceptions.

3) The "Hot Item" right now in fiction is a female character who can kick-ass, so it sounds like many of you are on the right track. Even Harlequin is coming out with two new lines of books that promote this character archetype. One is a line of fantasy/romance the other is modern day/thriller type.

4) Anyone wanting info on technical details such as where to find publisher's writing guidelines, how to format manuscripts feel free to write me or visit my husband's website at http://www.sff.net/people/spiziks/. He has a TON of info for new writers.

5) I almost forgot this one! Had to come back and edit. There is a brand-spankin' new editor at Asimov's SF magazine. After many years, Gardner Dozois has left. The BEST time to submit short stories is when a new editor has come to a magazine and may be unsure about what direction to take the publication. I don't have a web address for them, but can get one if anyone is interested.

Good luck to everyone!

--Kala

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 7:57 PM

PEACE

Quote:
Originally posted by kalathena:
Not writing one myself, but my husband is a novelist. Once he gets through the Movie Novelization From Hell (in more than one way...heh) he will return to his original stuff.

A couple of comments:

1) 26,000 is a great start! Try to remember that the average length that a publisher will be looking for is between 100,000 and 120,000 words. Anything longer than that will have to have massively-wide appeal and will be a difficult sell.

2) Watch out for self-publishing. Now, if you're talking about putting stuff up for purchase on your own web-site, there shouldn't be any pitfalls. You sell the work; you make the money. Also, there are places that publish online work that ask for nothing up front, pay no advance and you get royalties as copies of your work sells. No problem there either. HOWEVER, beware of anyone who asks for money up front to publish your work. In the real world, money flows from the publisher, through the agent, to the author and NEVER the other way around. Anyone charging up-front is scamming you. Period. No exceptions.

3) The "Hot Item" right now in fiction is a female character who can kick-ass, so it sounds like many of you are on the right track. Even Harlequin is coming out with two new lines of books that promote this character archetype. One is a line of fantasy/romance the other is modern day/thriller type.

4) Anyone wanting info on technical details such as where to find publisher's writing guidelines, how to format manuscripts feel free to write me or visit my husband's website at http://www.sff.net/people/spiziks/. He has a TON of info for new writers.

5) I almost forgot this one! Had to come back and edit. There is a brand-spankin' new editor at Asimov's SF magazine. After many years, Gardner Dozois has left. The BEST time to submit short stories is when a new editor has come to a magazine and may be unsure about what direction to take the publication. I don't have a web address for them, but can get one if anyone is interested.

Good luck to everyone!

--Kala

Good advice, and the web-site is excellent! One of the best compendiums of writer's knowledge I've seen in a while (that you don't have to pay for). Everybody should check it out.

Oh, bugger! Now I have to wait for someone to wake up!

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Tuesday, May 4, 2004 8:32 PM

ANGELDOVE

I am working on my first novel, not something I usually feel comfortable sharing, especially when people ask what its about, and I then explain the premise behind my Fantasy Novel, all the while watching the confusion form on their faces, and later come to find they aren't big Fantasy or SciFi fans. It really does make a difference in perception.

I had a comment for those who mentioned not being able to start or finish their novels. I was also having difficulty on this score, lots of ideas but no way to organize. Then I found the wonderful book The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall. It is a 16 step program guaranteed to take you from idea to completed manuscript. (Standard disclaimer, no affiliation, yada yada yada) By the end of two 14 hour writing marathons, I had made it through step 8. I highly recommend this book.

For those thinking about self-publishing, www.publishamerica.com is a small publishing house that covers the cost of printing however does not provide marketing, and books are only available through their web-site. They do not accept everyone for publication, but can be a good starting point for first time authors. (My mother's first novel Perfect Ending was just published through this site. They did great cover art, their concept etc. If you are curious and would like to check it out, when you get to the site go to search, romance, Perfect Ending (I would have just provided a link to the page but it won't let you

There, my shameless plug, mom can't say I never do nottin for her.

And, I have also been writing short stories, however all of mine have been in the romance genre as there are more publishing oportunities for this type of writing. However I do have some Fantasy/SciFi stories that I haven't attempted to have published because I don't know of any magazines that accept unagented writing of this genre. Any suggestions out there?

And yes, I too have found it disconcerting upon receiving rejection letters. It is hard not to. Especially when you have read other works published by the magazine that are not as good as what you have writen. I say this without arrogance knowing that I am by far my toughest critic and therefor do not hesitate to make this statement.

And, I find a lot of my inspiration in Joss shows, especially episodes that are written by him. I download pieces of transcripts that inspire me from www.buffyworld.com and often read them to help get me in the mood to write. The Angel voice over narrative from the episode Passion of BTVS is one of my favorites. You should check it out.

And...if you have not visited www.writersdigest.com or www.writersmarket.com do it today. Both have a lot of valuable information. And you should also pick up a copy of Writer's Digest, Special Issue Writer's Yearbook on stands now. (standard disclaimer...) This issue covers 100 best book markets for new writers, 10 agencies for NW, finding publishers in your genre, and tips on how to start or finish your novel by best-selling authors and much more. I found it both helpfull and inspiring.

Good luck to all of you.

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 1:36 AM

KALIMEERI

Quote:
Originally posted by Peace:
I hold to the theory (expounded, I believe, by Frank Herbert) that you use up the same energy talking about something you're writing as you would writing it.

I absolutely agree. I don't talk about the substance of my work, mainly because it ruins the 'magic' in me.

I have bins of previous works, some of them written on wide-ruled school paper from when I was 14 yrs old. I keep them to remind me how I've improved (?) and hey, there were some good ideas there... I'm not a sappy packrat, I'm NOT.

My daughters both write fantasy, but I can't get past reality. My ideas have always come from the news. My latest effort has been on backburner off and on for many years, and I still am not sure I'm up to the technical challenge, 35 chapters into it. Ta mah de.

Sometimes I hate writing, and sometimes I love it, but I guess it is the one definitive theme that has run through my whole life. Gotta do it. And I still get up at 4 a.m. and turn the computer back on when the juice is flowing.

I'm just glad there ARE computers now! Makes everything SO much easier.

Jen dao mei.

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 4:21 AM

BIBSY

Quote:
Originally posted by Angeldove:
And, I have also been writing short stories, however all of mine have been in the romance genre as there are more publishing oportunities for this type of writing. However I do have some Fantasy/SciFi stories that I haven't attempted to have published because I don't know of any magazines that accept unagented writing of this genre. Any suggestions out there?

Luckily, you don't need an agent to submit to most fantasy/sci-fi magazines. Even better is that most of them post their submission guidelines online. Two sites I can think of off the top of my head that list several publications in the genre are:

http://www.marketlist.com
http://www.spicygreeniguana.com

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
Quote:
Originally posted by Bibsy:
I often write characters with a certain actor in mind. It helps because I'm very visual about writing. I have to picture the scene in my head as if it were a film before I can write it down.
Thank you; I was worried that I was the only one that did this.

I'm not alone! Yay!

Quote:
Originally posted by Peace:
I produced my first complete novel in 1990; neither that one nor any subsequent one has sold.

Does this discourage me?

You bet it does.

I can't remember the damn title, but there's a book that looks at rejections that famous authors received. One example I can remember is Rudyard Kipling receiving a rejection letter in which he was told that he didn't know how to use the English language.

With that in mind, let's all give a good

to discouragement and keep plugging away.

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 4:36 AM

CHANNAIN

i DO aim to misbehave

I think it would be easier to say I've been re-writing a novel for several years now. New ideas keep coming up, changing the events and even the main protagonist focus. It's a story I started writing years ago as a teenager while avoiding "history" homework (the teacher was a hack) that has since blossomed thanks to the 70/30 principal introduced by - of all things - Treasure Planet by Disney Studios. Say what you want about the alleged adaptation of Treasure Island, but if nothing else, it did utilize the concept of 70 percent real life, 30 percent fantasy. It gave me the idea to move the events of my story from an alien planet into an Elysium-like universe rather like Treasure Planet's Etherium, where space is breathable and there's more than just wind power at work to propel tall ships. This concept is based on the theory the ancient Greeks had - that outer space was filled with ether, rather than merely a blank vacuum.

In terms of the 70/30 concept, Firefly was much the same way, although I think the ratio was more like 60/40 reality/science fiction, or even 50/50. I have a couple other pieces I'm working on that has much the same kind of universe going on as Firefly, although I can't quite bring myself to write about anything as inherrently creepy as Reavers. That would probably be my ingrained Star Trek sensativities.

I like to write more than I like to draw, and I LOVE to draw, so oftentimes writing is a way to create characters that I can draw - so you can see how nicely that works out. If you check out my artist page on mnartists.org and look for Deirannon, you'll get to see an image of one of the characters who will inhabit my "Etherium"

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 4:57 AM

BIBSY

Quote:
Originally posted by Channain:
I like to write more than I like to draw, and I LOVE to draw, so oftentimes writing is a way to create characters that I can draw - so you can see how nicely that works out. If you check out my artist page on mnartists.org and look for Deirannon, you'll get to see an image of one of the characters who will inhabit my "Etherium"

Oooh, I do the same thing...though after taking a peek at your artist page, it looks like you're a much better artist than me.

The novel I'm working on actually was inspired by a drawing I did way back when I was a wee young one. Unfortunately I haven't been sketching anything from my stories as much as I used to. That pesky not having enough hours in the day thing.

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 5:06 AM

CHANNAIN

i DO aim to misbehave

Thank you. Probably just had more practice, is all. Self-taught as I am, I find it's the only way to keep the creative muscles in shape.

Looking at Deirannon now, though, I realize it's time for a newer, better image. Something that reflects the shiny new premise. Time to get that boy out of storage!

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 5:13 AM

CYBERSNARK

A thought on rejections: just compare yourself to Joss getting shot down by Fox after getting accepted. We're all in good company, I think.

And, while we're talking about websites, I'll throw up, er, throw out http://www.ralan.com/ Ralan's Webstravaganza. It's great for charting what magazines are good markets (and which ones are closed to submissions, backlogged into a black hole, how much they pay, etc).

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 8:58 AM

KALATHENA

Quote:
For those thinking about self-publishing, publishamerica is a small publishing house that covers the cost of printing however does not provide marketing, and books are only available through their web-site.

Yikes. Be VERY wary of Publish America. They do their best to keep you in their own little stable so you don't send your stuff anywhere else. They lie constantly on their website about what the real publishing world is like and will delete any discussion post that does not fit into their own little fiction about how publishing works.

Quote:
However I do have some Fantasy/SciFi stories that I haven't attempted to have published because I don't know of any magazines that accept unagented writing of this genre. Any suggestions out there?

Actually, most sf/fantasy magazines will accept un-agented fiction. My husband doesn't use his agent for any of his short work and never has. Most agents won't bother with short fiction either. The best place for market news about where to publish sf/fantasy is a magazine called Locus. Not only do they have info on the magazines, but also keep updates on any anthologies that are in the works and accepting submissions.

One thing to remember about short story writing: Editors are ALWAYS looking for new authors. Authors tend to write short fiction first then move on to novels very quickly. Getting a foot in the door with short fiction tends to be easier and will help you out if you eventually want to write novels. (You can put in your cover letters "My short fiction has appeared in blah-blah-blah magazine...")

--Kala

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Wednesday, May 5, 2004 6:01 PM

PEACE

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
A thought on rejections: just compare yourself to Joss getting shot down by Fox after getting accepted. We're all in good company, I think.

Another thought on rejections-- the fact is, if you're accumulating a real stack of them, you're doing what you're supposed to-- most writers (there are always exceptions) will get enough rejection letters to paper a wall before they're published-- I think I'm in that range now (80+ at this point, I think, although I'm sure I've lost some over the years).

Writing and submitting and writing and submitting and writing and submitting eventually will hone your skills to the point that you will start producing material that will make an editor think, "Hmm, not half bad-- and I got this big hole in my publishing schedule/monthly edition-- we'll get him/her/it a shot...."

Oh, bugger! Now I have to wait for someone to wake up!

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Thursday, May 6, 2004 1:09 AM

HORRID

at the moment I'm writing the script for a sci-fi pilot, in between shooting a movie from another script I wrote. I much prefer writing to directing

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Thursday, May 6, 2004 1:46 AM

KALATHENA

Quote:
Another thought on rejections-- the fact is, if you're accumulating a real stack of them, you're doing what you're supposed to-- most writers (there are always exceptions) will get enough rejection letters to paper a wall before they're published

Very VERY true. One of my closest friends is sf/fantasy novelist Sarah Zettel. I believe she has an entire paper box filled with rejection letters. She had at one time planned to paper her office wall with them.

And it doesn't stop once you make a sale. When my husband started writing, he was actually one of the anomalies that sold the very first thing he submitted. After that, he received at least 40 rejections over 3 years before selling a second one.

--Kala

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Thursday, May 6, 2004 5:48 AM

FARWALL

Just have to say I'm amazed at what a creative bunch you guys seem to be. People say that everyone thinks they have a novel in them but that so many of you guys are actually attempting to get them down on paper is very cool.

I've been incredibly lucky with the friends I've got over the years. I've had an urge to write for ages but the prospect of a novel was always way too daunting for someone as easily discouraged as me.
The good part is that one of my good friends is an aspiring (and very talented) comic book artist and has asked me to script a story for him to draw so we're going to make our assault on the world together.
So far it's pretty dark and not a little surreal, following a man as he withdraws from a society he has grown to hate and plotting his mental breakdown as he starts acting out his internal monologue against the world.
Each episode/issue has a pivitol plot point based around a song lyric 'cause I like to soundtrack my stories in my head and thought it might be a nice gimmick to find a lyric that really does tell the story I want to tell.

Speaking of which, if anyone knows any songs with lyrics covering police brutallity I'd be very appreciative to here about them.

I have no faith but it's all that I want
to love, and believe
in my soul.

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Thursday, May 6, 2004 6:10 AM

MAUGWAI

Quote:
Troubadour wrote:
I try to put in pans, fades, jump cuts, closeups, use the rhythm of the words to simulate cinematic processes while still retaining a zeitgeisty punk-lit feel.

If you want anyone to buy your script, leave out all camera instructions. That's considered the job for the director, not the writer. If you haven't read any of Syd Field's books, get Screenplay: The Foundations of Scriptwriting. Most producers expect screenwriters to be familiar with his work.

Just a suggestion. It's really difficult to sell a screenplay. It helps to know what the producers expect.

[ED: Okay, I went back and realized you were talking about a novel. Ignore me.]

"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

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