The updates have been far and few between because not much has happened regarding me as an author or in my Spark series.
In the last few months, I've been thinking harder about self-publishing because I'm sick of form rejections in spite of people wanting to read more than the samples I give them and people who are just interested to finally get their hands on the novel I wrote. The author of Egyptian mystery/romance novels Claudia Dillarie (who blogs at http://claudiardillaire.blogspot.com/) is going over Spark: Evolution's pages. Depending on the amount of work I have after her professional eyes have went through the novel, I hope to have Laura and Magnis' story up for purchase through Amazon before the end of the summer.
In other news, I've been writing (but not updating my word count) for Spark: Corruption lately and have also been thinking that I do not want the title of Corruption anymore. There was a time when I had a different protagonist and story for the 2nd in the series. Now that Laura and Magnis are back to alternating chapters like in the first novel, "Corruption" doesn't seem to capture the same essence "Evolution" did.
The ultimate desire of the 1st novel is to "evolve", which I define as a state of progression from which there is no turning back. The ultimate desire of the 2nd book would be to obtain "absolution" defined simply as forgiveness. The word fits like a glove, though, I worry if it's too specific of a word and would foreshadow too strongly.
That's it for now ^_^
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Thursday, November 1, 2012
NaNoWriMo
Well, I have no idea if this is going to work as far as progression on Spark: Corruption, but I've taken the initial steps. Time shall tell if 1,667 words a day will happen. The hard part of all this is I'm enrolled in 20 credits at MSU: Mankato and two of my courses are writing workshops (one Advanced Fiction and the other Screenwriting). I'm also working part time and my wife and kids would be a bit peeved if all they saw for the month of November is a dad statue in a computer chair. I really want to make progress with S:C, but I have a large load. Wish me luck on my grand balancing act.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
(NEW) Spark: Corruption Chapter One
Yes, the first taste of the new direction for Corruption! I feel good enough about this rough draft to share all 697 words of Chapter 1. I know ultra intense, right? Keep in mind this is the 2nd novel in the Spark series and is not a stand alone but a continuation. Please leave comments and/or +1 my post. Enjoy!
Bang!
Laura bolted upright and clutched her forehead in her hands. Silent tears rolled down her cheekbones as her eyes adjusted to the dark motel room. Her heavy breathing subsided little by little, but her mind echoed from the gunshot in her nightmare. She ran her hands down her face and rubbed her arms as if cold in the poorly conditioned room.
She closed her eyes and asked the unanswerable. How could you do this to me Magnis? Why would you hurt me so much when all I wanted was to see you again? The painful memories poured past her eyes lids and dripped onto the blanket.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
New Corruption!
I'm typing this fast because I'm happy I have an update, so screw grammar!
After almost a year of editing on Spark: Evolution and it being around a year since I could seriously write the 2nd novel in the series, I broke through my roadblock and scrapped the 100 pages I wrote and my outlines. Then, I wrote over 3k words with a fresh plot that I have basically no clue what's going on from page to page. The term is a panster, as opposed to a plotter, is where you write by the seat of your pants and just as I described. I'm having a lot of fun this way and I think the story is a lot better than the original. I'm making Laura the main character indefinitely and I don't know yet if I'll have a second main character point of view or if it will even be Lazarus. There is a few checkpoints I'm going to hit because I love the outlined ending of the book, but overall Laura is the only one who knows what is going on, and she only wants to tell me a little at a time.
Oh! And this whole burst of being able to write couldn't have come at a better time... it's spring break!
After almost a year of editing on Spark: Evolution and it being around a year since I could seriously write the 2nd novel in the series, I broke through my roadblock and scrapped the 100 pages I wrote and my outlines. Then, I wrote over 3k words with a fresh plot that I have basically no clue what's going on from page to page. The term is a panster, as opposed to a plotter, is where you write by the seat of your pants and just as I described. I'm having a lot of fun this way and I think the story is a lot better than the original. I'm making Laura the main character indefinitely and I don't know yet if I'll have a second main character point of view or if it will even be Lazarus. There is a few checkpoints I'm going to hit because I love the outlined ending of the book, but overall Laura is the only one who knows what is going on, and she only wants to tell me a little at a time.
Oh! And this whole burst of being able to write couldn't have come at a better time... it's spring break!
Monday, February 27, 2012
02-27-2012 Update
Just like the last post, just saying that I'm not dead and I have also not abandoned this blog. A very cool update is that I've enrolled in a community college to get my A.F.A and intend to go to a university to get a B.F.A in Creative Writing. I'm successfully taking on enough credits this first term (and in the following terms if I can help it) to probably get it all done in 3 years. So, in short, my writings, and Spark, are on hold for the time being as I'm rather busy with my 16 credits and my job.
I have an awesome friend doing a proofread/edit on Spark: Evolution, so when she is done with that, I'll possibly consider a small publisher and forget about getting an agent. Time will tell, but I still dream of landing an agent and being lucky enough to land a large publisher who will give me an advance for Spark: Evolution so I can finish my schooling and not have to worry about holding a job at the same time (seriously, I've been living off bare minimum for years, so even a smally-small advance could be enough).
I have an awesome friend doing a proofread/edit on Spark: Evolution, so when she is done with that, I'll possibly consider a small publisher and forget about getting an agent. Time will tell, but I still dream of landing an agent and being lucky enough to land a large publisher who will give me an advance for Spark: Evolution so I can finish my schooling and not have to worry about holding a job at the same time (seriously, I've been living off bare minimum for years, so even a smally-small advance could be enough).
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Magic Button
Just posting to show I haven't abandoned my blog or died.
So, First I give you, my UPDATE:
I've sent out some queries to several literary agents and have yet to receive a partial request. Recently, I changed my query to what I feel is better, sadly, I had to be form rejected by all the agents I've already sent a query to in order to realize I needed a better query (Ok, one sent me two short sentences which I'm very thankful for the personal feedback, except it was a contest like deal with a "follow the rules" get feedback guaranteed).
All I want is a, "Your query kinda blew ass and I was turned off by your lack of personal brown nosing." Or perhaps a, "I'm starving, I know I have 10,000 more queries to get to before I can allow myself to sate my hunger, and you query didn't blow my socks off enough for me to give it a chance." I don't need your positive outlook, I'm confident that even dribble can make it to print if the person is persistent enough (not that you would know that and thus have to be careful not to break the hearts of peoples). I'd honestly feel better about getting the below than a form rejection:
Can there be a magical section of a query that shows how tempered I am to feedback in correlation to what the agent has typed?
With the presence of said magic button, after you type out your response to my query letter (no matter the length), look at the color of the button (Seriously, as I imagine this, it will take you no longer to type and view button than sticking that form rejection in the email).
If you see the magic button in the green, you have not been too harsh and there is no risk of me jumping off a bridge.
If you see it is yellow, I can handle it, but might shed a tear and take a few shots of alcohol later in the night. The chance I'll "angry monkey from the closet" point at the cat is 100% (but I do that anyways at all my animals)
If you see red, send me a form rejection! There are 3 possible reasons the button will be red. 1) My query blows so hardcore, that even though it was typed up on a computer, you feel compelled to be disgusted on how many trees it could have wasted if given the chance. 2) You (the agent) are either too much of a meanie to relate to people on a human level and/or have been unreasonably harsh. 3) I'm too sensitive and my name being in the public eye will likely lead to me shaving my head, doing a lot of drugs, buying a PT Cruiser with fake wood paneling, and burning my house down via Easy-Bake oven. (Not me so much, but the probability of someone more emotional than myself doing those things if thrown into the spotlight is very likely).
I notice a lot of agents respond to people on Twitter, some even seem to reside on twitter. Should I query via Twitter so I get a real response?
So, First I give you, my UPDATE:
I've sent out some queries to several literary agents and have yet to receive a partial request. Recently, I changed my query to what I feel is better, sadly, I had to be form rejected by all the agents I've already sent a query to in order to realize I needed a better query (Ok, one sent me two short sentences which I'm very thankful for the personal feedback, except it was a contest like deal with a "follow the rules" get feedback guaranteed).
All I want is a, "Your query kinda blew ass and I was turned off by your lack of personal brown nosing." Or perhaps a, "I'm starving, I know I have 10,000 more queries to get to before I can allow myself to sate my hunger, and you query didn't blow my socks off enough for me to give it a chance." I don't need your positive outlook, I'm confident that even dribble can make it to print if the person is persistent enough (not that you would know that and thus have to be careful not to break the hearts of peoples). I'd honestly feel better about getting the below than a form rejection:
Dear Bruce,
Meh.
Signed,
Agent
Can there be a magical section of a query that shows how tempered I am to feedback in correlation to what the agent has typed?
With the presence of said magic button, after you type out your response to my query letter (no matter the length), look at the color of the button (Seriously, as I imagine this, it will take you no longer to type and view button than sticking that form rejection in the email).
If you see the magic button in the green, you have not been too harsh and there is no risk of me jumping off a bridge.
If you see it is yellow, I can handle it, but might shed a tear and take a few shots of alcohol later in the night. The chance I'll "angry monkey from the closet" point at the cat is 100% (but I do that anyways at all my animals)
If you see red, send me a form rejection! There are 3 possible reasons the button will be red. 1) My query blows so hardcore, that even though it was typed up on a computer, you feel compelled to be disgusted on how many trees it could have wasted if given the chance. 2) You (the agent) are either too much of a meanie to relate to people on a human level and/or have been unreasonably harsh. 3) I'm too sensitive and my name being in the public eye will likely lead to me shaving my head, doing a lot of drugs, buying a PT Cruiser with fake wood paneling, and burning my house down via Easy-Bake oven. (Not me so much, but the probability of someone more emotional than myself doing those things if thrown into the spotlight is very likely).
I notice a lot of agents respond to people on Twitter, some even seem to reside on twitter. Should I query via Twitter so I get a real response?
@Agent Thank you for your time and consideration. In the next 211 tweets is my first 5 pages as requested via agency website (32/243)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Adam's Spark: Evolution Appearance
This is the kind of scene you end up in if you ask to be in my novel, not that Adam doesn't approve of his presence. As usual, not a final draft and may contain rough spots, enjoy the silliness.
Magnis took a big breath of the outside air. “What now?” he asked.
Melanie shielded her eyes from the sun and looked into town, “I’m not a fan of walking. What do you say we find some transportation?”
Magnis put his hand over his eyes and scoped the area. “Is there a place in this dinky town that sells cars?”
A dirty ragged dressed man ran at them from the direction the sun was coming from. “Eve! Eve! Eve it’s you!” Half hunched over, he ran waving his arms above his head right over to Melanie.
“Gah, what the hell are you doing?” The strange man tried to rub his hands on her legs or hug her, what he intended to do was not exactly clear at that point. She backpedaled to avoid his touch.
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