Being Unemployed Gave Me One Thing...

[Dilorenzo]

As long as I was unemployed, I had the time to write two books. Though now that I'm gainfully employed, I doubt I'll be able to match the speed those two were written at.

However, even though I don't have the time, I did have the passion re-ignited. Anyone else here write novels/short storys, whatever? And how do you feel about your works once you're done with 'em?

For me, I actively despise my first novel, despite the fact that others seem to like it. It's generally very weak. The latest one I prefer, though it could still use a lot of improvement.

Course, I'm more likely to save that improvement for the next story, rather than go back and re-write old ones. If I did that, I'd be writing the same book for ten years.

ETA: And doubtlessly screwing up the story in the process, of course.

[telecom_goddess]

so what are they about? are they published or ?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I write an ongoing "soap opera" type story and publish it online once a week. Sometimes I am satisfied with it, sometimes I hate it. But either way, I have a week to get it done and get it up, so it it is what it is.

I look back on earlier writings and sometimes I cringe. Sometimes I cringe a lot. I think my little experiment has made me a much better writer. The deadline and the fact that I have a pretty good following keeps me motivated. I would have found some reason to quit a long time ago otherwise.

You will never be completely satisfied. You're always going to find reason to want to change stuff. But at some point, you have to move on and just say "that's it. Done." Otherwise, you'll obsess over the same stuff forever, and that does not make you a better writer. It makes you OCD.

I'm not saying you have to be satisfied with half ass writing. Make it the best you can, of course. But within reason. It does not have to be perfect. It just has to be as good as you can get it within reason.

I try to write my chapters, which average a thousand words each, by no later than Tuesday. I post late on Thursday night. If I mess around and run too close to my deadline, I pay for it by not being able to rewrite and tweak and make myself happy with it. And as I do not like posting stuff I hate, it motivates me to write early and often.

I'll give myself a couple hours grace, if I absolutely need it (like when I went on vacation or when my cousin died). But I don't let myself get into that as a crutch very often. I have people sniffing around my site by midnight on Thursday, and the last thing I want is to have my hit count slack off because I have been lazy.

[Dilorenzo]

so what are they about? are they published or ?

First was a sci-fi(ish) crime book. It's published via Lulu as I couldn't get an agent with it and wanted the damned thing out of my hair. It's horrifically edited though, so it was mostly put there for friends and family to buy a copy. I attempted, poorly, to market it (blogspot preview and the like), but it's not that important a story to me.

Second is... er. I'm not sure. Fantasy horror comedy? Delusional Fiction? There's Leprechauns in it, as well as other mythical creatures. That's about the only thing I'm sure of with it. My wife is currently editing my horrible, horrible grammar, so that's not seen the light of day yet.

It makes you OCD.

Hah, yes, that's exactly what I'd need. OCD writing as well as OCD working. I'd never see the sun again. Not that my fair Irish skin would exactly mind that.

This Five Dollar Mail the work you refer to? I'll have to give that a read, then.

(Just read the first line of Chapter One, and it has me hooked. I'm a sucker for this kinda story )

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Way I look at it is the current way to getting a story published the traditional way sucks. And I don't want to go through that level of horseshit.

Bottom line is, I just like to write. My goal is to have fun writing. If I get published somewhere, fine. That would be very cool. But it's not my goal. I have already achieved my goal.

As for selling your work, you can't sell something you can't give away. You approach a publisher with a book, congratulations. You're one of a legion of same. However, if you manage to approach a publisher with a ready made audience...well...how many authors have that?

This Five Dollar Mail the work you refer to? I'll have to give that a read, then.

(Just read the first line of Chapter One, and it has me hooked. I'm a sucker for this kinda story )

Yes it is! Glad you like it!

[Dilorenzo]

Way I look at it is the current way to getting a story published the traditional way sucks. And I don't want to go through that level of horseshit.

Bottom line is, I just like to write. My goal is to have fun writing. If I get published somewhere, fine. That would be very cool. But it's not my goal. I have already achieved my goal.

I agree (been extra busy for a while, hence late reply). I've actually been considering posting the rest of my first book on the blog site I have already set up, because, well, it's done (except for horrific grammar).

I'll likely do the same with this new one, because, well, I don't have the energy for submitting anymore.

I only wish I could do like you do - just write an ongoing story. They don't stay too long in my head though - definite endings are always just around the corner.

[KiaKat]

Editing is what makes or breaks a piece of writing.

Get yourself a good editor - one that knows when to cut, when to rearrange, and when to add. Let her at both your books, and then take the results to an agent.

You *need* an agent. These days, the big guys won't even consider a manuscript that hasn't been submitted through an agent they know. This means finding a good one, convincing them you're worth taking on and have potential for future revenue, and then letting them handle negotiations. Getting an agent can be almost as difficult as getting a publisher, especially if you're a completely new author. Go to these guys here and pay them to find you one. They're good. No really. They're REALLY GOOD. If *you* are really good, they might even recommend you DIRECTLY to an agent.

So. You know what you need now?

An editor.

Even if you don't like the piece of writing, there might be something really worthwhile in it, and a good editor can tease that out and give you a good base to work from.

[Dilorenzo]

Any recommendations on where to go for a good editor? My wife is currently cleaning up my grammess, but she's not comfortable changing the story.

(Neither am I, but, hey...)

[KiaKat]

Unfortunately, the only one I know is my aunt, and she's currently overwhelmed with work. Most of her editors are ones she's met through the years, usually either via her agent or her publisher. Because her work is historical fiction, it requires someone who has a good grasp of history and character development. So they're fairly specific fields of editing.

[Dilorenzo]

Well, that'll gimme something to do in a couple of hours!

[KiaKat]

Woot!

Also don't be afraid to change your story. Writing exercise: take a printed manuscript and go through it with a red felt-tip pen. Just mark the trouble spots (don't even bother to make notes, just number each bad spot.) Go back when you're done, and see how much of the story is a problem, either because of contradiction, plot holes, or weak characters. Take notes on a separate page, about why exactly those spots are trouble. Then look at that page and find out where your weakness is.

Character development? Write backstories for each character. Even if they don't make it into the book, it gives them more depth.

Plot holes? Summarize the plot. Then summarize the sub-plots. Then create a plot web, where each event is noted, along with how it advances the overall plot.

Contradiction? Decide which side works better, and go with that. Dump the other.

I can come up with exercises for you, but I'm not very good at the actual editing.

[Dilorenzo]

Well, with my first novel, I actually did scrap entire portions of the story on my second run through. On first draft, I wrote the thing one way, decided 50 pages later that I didn't like the way the story was going, and so wrote in the change from that point onwards.

My problem is I look at them now, and don't know what else to change. Not that I think they're perfect (they're not) I'm just drawing a blank. So looking for an editor might just be my best bet.

[KiaKat]

That's why the above exercise is actually really good. It forces you to take each part on its own, which means you can pinpoint exactly where things go south.

Though it's always felt a bit academic to me. I've never done it on a piece of my own writing (mostly because my writing never makes it to the point where it's useful) so the results and process are probably completely different.

[Dilorenzo]

Still good advice, and I suppose I'll give it a try on days off.

(Also, reminds me why I missed this place. A community that actually thinks before it speaks - mahvelous)

[Kheldarson]

I participate in NaNoWriMo most years...I'm still working on editing a couple of novels from out of that. But I get distracted by new ideas; my fault.

Would offer services as an editor, but don't have access to my regular e-mail at this time (stupid no internet at home problem). But If you ever need an editor...