How Todd spent 2016

In short, it was the year of Vortex.

As indicated, I devoted the bulk of this year to querying selected agents regarding the completed manuscript. This took place in several small waves throughout the summer and fall months. I culled a number of different references in order to target agents that represented Contemporary YA, Sci-Fi or similar. New agents, well established ones, East Coast US, West Coast, even a couple overseas. Alas, though I received a few offers of encouragement that went beyond the rote 'Not for me,' there were no takers. At this point, I feel I have allowed sufficient time for reactions to come in accordingly on my outstanding queries. These days most agencies tend to operate on the basis of: if you don't hear from us by X, assume we are not interested. I'd estimate around half of my query letters did result in some kind of formal rejection returning; I figured I'd be lucky to get any kind of actual rejection from around a third of them. Props to the ones who took the time to say no thanks. Closure is a good thing.

So I am therefore switching to the next stage of my go-to-market plan. I'm currently in the midst of performing two professional editing passes on the story: a) an extensive structural critique to identify any plot, characterization, continuity or other glaring issues requiring correction, and b) a line edit to catch and resolve all the grammar problems. In parallel, I'll be commissioning cover art. The goal is to pull together an e-book package and self publish early in 2017 via Amazon and Smashwords. Once that is accomplished, I'll be into the marketing and promoting stage of my plan. I'm interested to see what the latest options are in this area, how they work, certainly how well they work (if that's even measurable). One way or another, this ride will be fascinating.

I actually do have an older short story of mine, Shadows in the Mirror, that I need to package up and publish as a standalone e-book. I'll be completing that activity to learn the latest and greatest methods and procedures involved ahead of having to use them for Vortex. The tools and techniques for e-book publishing continue to evolve since my last hands-on years ago. From what I'm seeing, it appears to have simplified somewhat but it still isn't to the point where it could be called simple, consistent and reliable with predictable results. Unless a writer just wants to fork over a fee for someone else to take care of it. I suppose that's mighty dirt simple, if you can afford to do it.

In the background, I've been working on a smattering of flash pieces. One looks promising to have ready for early 2017. Most of the other works I'm chalking up to exercising and experimentation. At some point next year, I'll need to sort out and embark on my next major project or two.

So onto 2017. As of now, it's looking like year 2 of Vortex, at least for starters. Hope this ride doesn't get too bumpy.

Right.

Silly me.

What Todd is Writing

Vortex clocks in at 73,000 words. Amazing. Incredible. Hallelujah.

Now for reflections…

For the most part, the story went where I expected it would. I mapped it out last year, though I must say, since then, there have been some surprises along the way. Meaning, twists and turns I didn't envision. That's what 'discovery' writing can do for you. It provides plenty of opportunities for your keyboard to take control and pound out a real zinger or two. Even still, the story wrapped up the way I'd envisioned. I am quite tickled. Biased as I undoubtedly am, I really enjoy reading it.

Now begins the process of commercialization. I've decided that I'm going to query select agents in the genre that embodies Vortex (YA and New Adult + Speculative Fiction). We'll see if it garners any interest. Say what you will but these are evolutionary times in the publishing industry, which is shorthand for: all bets are off. That being said, it remains true that well-told stories will find their audience, one way or another. That's the amazing aspect of this business. There are numerous ways to get your stories circulating in quest of the ultimate audience. Perseverance can prevail, assuming it doesn't drive the writer insane along the way.

So where did Vortex come from? Well, that's a story unto itself…

On May 29, 1982, an F4 tornado wrecked havoc upon Southern Illinois. Living in Marion, Illinois at the time, I had a set of grandparents. Stereotypically, they happened to live in a trailer occupying a classy trailer park skirted by the tornado in question. My Grandpa told me about what he saw that day. He stood outside and watched the twister head straight for him, unerringly and unstoppable. I will not forget how he described his vision of the thing. It weaved methodically, side-to-side, vacuuming up everything in it's path. 'Serpentine' he portrayed it. To him, it seemed like the thing held him mesmerized, to the point where his physical safety was in jeopardy. He couldn't stop watching it. That's what he said. 'I couldn't take my eyes off of it.' As it set upon him, somehow, he shook off his hypnosis and rushed inside to be with my Grandma there in the end. They survived. Ten people didn't.

Vortex is for you, Grandpa.

A semi-pantser figures it out

It's the last day of 2014. I'm 50,000 words deep into my draft manuscript for Vortex. Seems like an appropriate time to pause and reflect.

What Vortex has taught me about my writing:

• I'm not the type that can write the first draft from start to finish prior to doing any edits
• Polished (read: edited) scenes/chapters increase my confidence in the new, subsequent ones I write
• I'm a pantser, meaning I discover the story as I write it, but...
• Deep into the story, I really want to know where it's going, so I do outline the parts to come
• With outline in hand, I can't resist writing ahead--fleshing out upcoming scenes and vignettes--particularly the juicy or significant ones
• Regarding those upcoming scenes, sometimes my exploratory drafts get tossed, unusable; sometimes it triggers me to retrofit earlier chapters I'd edited and felt were mostly baked

So this seems to be my natural writing style. Picture a chunk of virgin territory before you. Into one corner, your explorers probe. They find rich land and call in the settlers. The land is made productive and a thriving community develops. Then, it's time for more exploration, more settling. Sometimes, though, the explorers return to the established areas and cause upheaval, all in the name of the ultimate goal: total conquest. Eventually the entire territory is won over.
 
Which means I write like most people play the games Civilization or The Settlers of Catan. Amazing, eh?
 
No matter your own writing style, here's hoping your 2015 is supremely productive and richly rewarding.

You may be a writer if...

With a nod to Jeff Foxworthy, I've been enjoying quite a few giggles coming up with these over on Twitter. From the reactions, I'm not alone.

Read all of the following starting with the opening line: "You may be a writer if..."

1. You get the most brilliant ideas the farther away from a keyboard you wander.
2. A spare 15 minutes isn't a quick break. It's a whole new scene.
3. Every real person you meet has something to use in a story. You just have to figure it out.
4. Sleep and dreams require a notepad be stationed for rapid access.
5. World building and world plundering are typical things you do before breakfast.
6. Word Count to you is like the Gravitational Constant is to a physicist.
7. Instead of people watching for fun, you do it for juicy ideas.
8. You ache to edit your uneditable stuff. Like tweets, e-mails, scribbled out grocery lists.

Feel free to add your own.

Reflections on the writing year that was

It's always a mixed bag thinking back on the year behind and ahead on the one to come. Inevitably my 'good' list outweighs my 'not so good' one. Though that might sound disappointing, I treat it as a positive in the sense that, whenever I face the future, I hope and strive to accomplish more. Putting it differently, I dread the way my life may have turned if I ever intend to do less. That's not me, at least not the me I've grown up with.

On the writing front, I've got a couple of pluses. I made significant headway on my novel WIP, including plotting it out in my head through its conclusion. Along the way, it took a couple of exciting turns that boost the story, IMHO. I may not be an outliner type of writer, but I did learn over the last 12 months that a pure seat-of-the-pants approach is just too open-ended for me. I need some boundaries and a blueprint, at least a birds-eye version of one. I've got that in hand now for the WIP.

I placed two short stories this year. Had some nice reader reactions to both. Feedback is A Very Good Thing.

For minuses, my stable of short stories has grown thin. This is due to a heavy focus on the novel WIP, which is usurping the majority of my writing time. Need to work on that.

Speaking of the novel, it isn't progressing as quickly as I'd like. I had hoped to have wrapped up the first draft in 2013 but it looks like I'll have to try again for that in the new year. I confess that I did some rewriting this year instead of focusing on just capturing a full draft. I blame my inner editor, which can't stay silent about rough edges, gaps, inconsistencies and plot problems. They're like dust bunnies skittering across your floor while uttering a taunt of "Catch me if you can." You just gotta go get 'em.

I need to overhaul my web page. I could pay someone to do that but I'm stubborn. So I want to take first crack at it.

Lastly, I think I did a bit better using social media in regards to my writing but I've got a long way to go. With social media, Zen is mighty difficult to achieve.

That's it. Goodbye 2013. Greetings 2014.

Let the words flow.

You are writing... even when you aren't

Just got back from a summer vacation with the family. We took our two boys on their first ever cruise to the Western Caribbean. All of us had a blast and enjoyed getting pampered, spoiled and catered to 24x7. No serious sunburns or significant seasickness resulted, so I'd call the trip a resounding success.

During our packing stage, my wife asked how much of my writing I planned to tote along. I said zip. This was a full vacation, time-off from both the day job and from the writing job. I totally blew that plan even before I finished packing. How did I manage that?

My TBR pile.

For my current novel WIP, I have a small set of books on various technical topics that constitute research. Guess what the #1 choice of book was that accompanied me on the cruise. Yep. Ditto book #2 (which I didn't actually get to). 

So basically I performed research on behalf of my writing during my summer vacation. Admittedly all of that happened in a lounge chair either on the ship's fantail or else pool-side, usually with a frosty beverage or two involved. Have to say that a writer could get seriously used to that caliber of research. Alas the same cannot be said for a writer's bank account.

Self vs. traditional publishing. Tastes great or less filling?

If you're into self-publishing, you're probably into articles about it. While it's easy to get caught up in the hype, the straight answer is: there is no easy answer as to whether self-publishing is the 'right way to go' for any given writer.

The real answer is: it depends. (Yes. Those cop-out answers just suck. Don't they?)

When I get asked, I generally advise writers not to be quick to limit themselves. Stay flexible. After all, the traditional publishing industry is undergoing change at warp speed, all thanks to the digital era. Writers must too. We have to adapt as the industry shifts around us.

So go ahead. Read the advice columns. Devour the How-To articles. But use what you learn to build up a map of all the directions you can go, instead of picking just one path and locking that one in. This trip to writing success is about the journey, not the destination. Might as well enjoy it.

Humor me a bit more while I further milk my metaphor.

On your journey, don't speed. Meaning, don't try to rush things along. Plan and be deliberate about the steps you take. Backtracking might be involved. Accept that, if it happens. Haste just leads to stress, frustration and disappointment, as it would on any cross-country expedition. Don't be hasty. Your vital signs will thank you.

Okay, I'm done with the cheesy metaphor. But I do want to make one more point, the most important thing you can do no matter what.

Write.

That can't be said enough. The more writing you do, the more it might lead to. There aren't any guarantees, of course. That said, the members of the one-hit-to-instant-stardom club are precious few. You'd have much better odds in the lotto than trying to win that way.

So write. And then repeat. Repeat some more.

Much of what I've said is emphasized in this nice article, Freedom isn’t Free—5 Common Tactical Errors in Self-Publishing, by Kristen Lamb. Check it out.

Then add all this lovely data to that big, writerly map you're building up. After all, quite a journey lies ahead.

Published! Flash piece from writing prompt

I talked about writing a story based on an image. Well, it's been published. You can read the 500-word story online here. Let me know if you think the story is a good reflection of the prompt image (look left - big thanks to MartinaK for the photo inspiration!).

If you're a writer, I certainly recommend trying this out for yourself.


Officially this makes me:

You have a writer web site, don't you?

Not all writers do, it turns out. But you should. Okay, perhaps if your writing is a private, self-indulgence, then a web site is extraneous. For all other writers, consider it a necessity.

You can find lots of excellent references for how to establish an effective web site for your writing persona. Carrie Cuinn recently posted some great advice on her blog, with various examples for reference and illustration. Check it out.

In my case, my web site is due for another overhaul. I've been remiss accomplishing that because I built it using an old Microsoft tool (Publisher). My intent is not only to modernize my web site but also modernize my web development tool and methods while I'm at it. So it's on the To-Do list. Unfortunately it's keeping company with quite a number of other entries on that list.

Don't let my predicament deter you, though. There are tools that make simple web site development, well... simple. Many are free. Or you can hire out the work. I chose to take on the responsibility myself because I expected to evolve it. Often. With gusto. Also, HTML/XML coding comes in quite handy for creating e-books. But that's a completely different topic.

Jumpstarting a story via a writing prompt

If you've never tried writing a story based on a prompt, it can be quite liberating. This weekend I took a shot at it and really enjoyed that particular variant of the creative process.

For my attempt, I chose a picture out of a set, pondered the reason for the scene it represented, and let the words flow. In a total of 3 separate sessions behind the keyboard, spanning just a few hours, I put together a 500 word flash piece that I felt the image represented. It sang. Very cool.

Probably this had to be one of the easiest times I've ever experienced crafting a 'full' story. I'm qualifying the word 'full' here because the goal was to keep it flash length yet still tell a complete tale. We're not talking a novella or novelette, though I suppose the technique would be as applicable for those lengths of stories as well.

Do you want to know the real interesting part of all this? I'll tell you.

I had hundreds of images to choose from for a prompt. I expected to browse through them and have one or two stick out because, when I first scanned them, bits of their stories immediately came to mind.

That's not what happened though.

I ended up browsing all the photos multiple times. My attention kept returning to one or two, for reasons I really couldn't determine. They just seemed interesting at the time. Not outright yes-es. More like maybes--maybe sos.

I then narrowed down the field and selected the one that I most wanted to write about. But I didn't chose strictly because of the image. I chose because of the kind of story I felt must be behind the image. In other words, instead of "wow, nice picture," it was more "wow, I wonder what's really going on here?" Once I got to that point, well... it pretty much told itself. The story opened up in my head, sorted out and rooted squarely back to the image it belonged with. Almost seemed like cheating, it emerged so readily.

Unfortunately, I can't share it here because I did submit it for consideration. Perhaps I'll post it as an example if the editors reject it. We'll see.

In the meantime, if you ever get the opportunity to do so, try writing from a prompt sometime. See if you find it refreshing like I did.

I'm a proud, card-carrying, dude writer - NOT!

Labels suck. All too often they get used to marginalize or trivialize someone, even when there was no deliberate intention to do so. It's sad that, in our society today, it is still a tendency to think negatively when a label gets applied to a person.

For the record, the following are writers I've never met:
Brown, black, yellow or white writers
Gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender writers
Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist or atheist writers
Latino, American Indian, Asian or Eskimo writers
Disabled or handicapped writers
Old or young writers
Short or tall writers
Shy or daring writers
Loud or quiet writers
Skinny or chubby writers
Bald or hairy writers
Lady or dude writers

Instead, I've had the honor, privilege and benefit of meeting many, many writers. They come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Each crafts words that draws directly upon their experiences and worldviews to say something. I may not always like what they say or necessarily agree with it, but that's my opinion only. It takes nothing away from or diminishes the writing they do. Nor would I ever want that to happen.

I'm a writer, one of countless others who have the power to deliver something unique through their words. That should be celebrated. It's what's really important.

* * *

ETA: For more reactions to recent editions of the SFWA Bulletin, I highly recommend this digest page being kept by Jim C. Hines.

5 paths to publishing

This is a good overview of 5 typical paths to publication in use today. Many of the writers I've met are focused on #5, DIY Direct. This doesn't surprise me much because:

1. I'm meeting most writers virtually, that is, via the web. Which is the primary channel for DIY Direct.
2. DIY Direct gives the writer more control. I think many people much prefer to sit in the driver's seat, especially in regards to their business, life or passion.

Frankly though, there really isn't one "best" way to get published anymore. Just different ways, each of which has pros and cons to be considered.

No real surprise, it comes down to: whichever path works for you. And that choice of path may not stay the same over your writing career.

The article provides a handy PDF file with summary info and reference links.

The best site for any writer

I will now unlock the secret and reveal the absolute best site for any writer to be...

Find the icon for your word processor program.

Double-click on it.

You're there.


(I know. It's technically not 'a site.' You get the idea.)

Reading to become a better writer

I read. A lot.

Most writers tend to. For many, reading the works of others becomes more than an escape, diversion or pleasure trip. It becomes a study in the craft of writing. A process of learning by observing, then followed by doing. Nothing wrong with that approach.

I find remarkable not just what I learn from reading other works, but how I learn it. Sure if there are outright errors or grammar inconsistencies, I can't help but spot them and wonder how they got overlooked. Logic and plot problems tend to jump out at me too. Bad characterizations, factual mistakes, poor choice of wording, all of this becomes a lesson is what not to do. What to beware of.

When it comes to the positives, the things other writers do well, I seem to have two methods of learning. I think of those two ways as active and passive.

The active method is where I consciously pick up on what the writer is doing. In this case I tend to be more a student and learner than a casual reader. Which makes it a great way to absorb techniques, practices and skills but at the cost of really investing in and enjoying the story. Again, nothing really wrong with that. Though it can be frustrating at times if all I wanted was a good read, not a writing lesson.

I think the passive method of learning is, in the end, the more powerful and compelling of the two. The difference here is that I rarely find myself not being a casual reader. I let the story carry me from start to finish and just appreciate the journey. Only after I turn the final page do I really reflect on how the story was written. Quite often I'm amazed at the deft skills the writer exhibited. I find it thrilling to reflect on how they brought the story to life first. Afterward, I consider the methods, styles and tactics they used to execute the story to such great effect.

I suppose it comes down to experiencing a well written story versus an engrossing story that's written well. What writer wants to settle for just delivering the former?

A writer wraps up 2012

Just a quick reflection on the year that was. Being the primary breadwinner, I have to weave writing into the spaces between the day job, family time, domestic duties and assorted pursuits. I think I did a fair job this past year. Not great but not too shabby. I've got multiple short stories out for review. One that "sold" (a donation for a good cause, actually). Progress was made on my primary novel WIP. I'm happy with the story creation process for the most part.

E-publishing got a fair amount of love this year. I count efforts to complete and post e-books on Amazon and Smashwords as well as the outreach (read: marketing) to go with them all in my writer's yearly success column. Again, plenty more could have been done here but, all-in-all, I'm satisfied.

I think I grew as a writer in 2012. That's a big deal to me. Frankly, the better craftsman constantly learns more about their respective craft. That's an inescapable fact. It can come in many forms or via different methods as long as it does happen in some way. I'll take some points here while acknowledging there is always more that could, and possibly should, have been done.

I'll give myself a low score for blogging and other social media efforts across 2012. This is a tough area to find the right balance for. It could easily consume a significant amount of energy and attention and isn't a bad thing in isolation. But it does siphon off cycles from everything else, writing included. I'll wager the challenge for me will continue into the coming year on this.

So in closing I'll label 2012 another good year for my writing. Here's hoping I can keep my track record intact through 2013.

Stories Should Have a Killer Ending (or Die Trying)

Like most writers I tend to fret over nearly every aspect of the stories I write. It's natural to want them to be 'just so,' perfectly delivering on that impression we have in our heads. But since we can't jack our readers straight into our skulls yet, we're stuck using words. Not just any words either. We quest endlessly for that perfect set of words, or at least as close to ideal as we can make them.

Start to finish, a writer relies upon the right words to deliver the story as intended. Every word is vital, though the opening and closing ones do extra duty by drawing the reader in and then delivering the final payoff of the intended, overall impression.

Namely, hook 'em. Then leave 'em with the lasting thought and feeling.

Like most writers, I labor over my story openings. They're tough buggers to nail. Twiddling, tweaking and tuning can be, and often is, involved. Sometimes extensively. I think two things work here in the writer's favor though. One is the writer quite often has a good sense of how the story will begin. (Whether it's an appropriate or the best beginning is a subject for another time.) The second thing is, if the writer's first few words aren't supreme, there are a handful more that come right afterwards that can, hopefully, pick up the slack.

Wrong way to look at it? Point taken.

It certainly pays to make those first few words the perfect hook. But just in case the hook is slightly dull, the second sentence or paragraph might be sufficient to set the barb. As a reader, I have never bailed out on a story after sentence #1. Page #1, yes. In rare cases, perhaps paragraph #1 or #2 gave me enough to know the story wasn't for me.

This is not the case with the story's final words. Those sit there on the screen or page naked... alone... with no hope of reinforcement. They cannot be weak or inappropriate choices for the closing lest they compromise that all-important payoff. They must deliver.

So I, as the writer, must provide the perfect, final words. Those words must impart the final impression of the story, the last piece the reader requires to complete the experience.

These two burning needs often vex me. For me, it's mostly a problem of choice. As in, too many to pick from.

Some stories I write have what I'd call obvious endings. You know the ones. They practically write themselves. Done deal.

Some story endings gel only after the tenth, fiftieth, or one hundredth time reworking them. These elusive ones you know aren't quite right when you first write them. Try, try again ultimately prevails though and it's a small celebration the day your rewrite clicks. Whew.

Then, there are the bad boys. These tend to defy logic and threaten sanity. The problem is not rooted in the story. It's me. The writer.

I'm the problem because I quite often haven't resolved exactly, precisely what I want. Actually, that's a misleading statement. I want perfection. Perfection is a real bitch to pin down. In fact, it's near hopeless. But you still have to try because 'good enough' really isn't.

Good enough is compromised. Flawed. Left alone, you know the story requires more attention. It deserves a hundred or a thousand or a hundred thousand reworks to make it proper, whatever that ends up being. Whatever it takes.

Then, reality intrudes. At some point, the writer is forced to let it go and move on. I hate that point. Actually, I hate facing that point, but once you're past it, it's a huge relief. Talk about getting an 800 pound gorilla off your back.

Unfortunately, I don't have any particular brilliancies to share regarding these problem children. Except, like real children, the best you can do is to love and nurture them as much as possible to the point where they must fend for themselves, for better or for worse.

And that's OK to do, even if it's not guilt free.

Write what you want

I’ve never been one to chase fads. I shudder when I hear the expression “out of style.” Shortly after that particular expression surfaces there is often a figure quoted, which reflects the necessary coinage required to get back “in style.” Whereupon life is good again. All too briefly.

You know the expression: lather, rinse, repeat? Chasing trends feels that way to me, like some endless shampoo cycle. Only it’s your sanity and bank account that’s getting washed out.

Okay, so we’ve established that I’m a genuine stick-in-the-mud. This is the point where I draw a quick parallel to writing and wrap up the blog post, isn’t it?

Err... sort of.

I titled this post “Write what you want.” Underline and emphasize the word ‘you’ in that title. Because that’s not only where the writing comes from, it’s who the writing really targets at the end of the day. Strip away all the readers, fans, agents, editors, critics, et al., and you’re left with the one person who really defines success.

You, the author.

Obviously this implies you actually have a definition of success for your writing. While this could amount to anything under the sun, I would strongly encourage you to focus on factors that are more in your control. Completing your novel is one example. Selling 1,000 copies a month of it is not. Writing a story in a totally different genre is good. Getting it to the top 5 ranking on Amazon is not.

Equally bad is defining your success along the lines of: “being the next X, Y or Z.” That’s sure tempting, isn’t it, comparing your appeal or your book’s acceptance to some popular name or work.

Don’t.

Whoever it is, whatever they wrote, that’s their success. Not yours. Make your own, using your terms. Stay out of the chase and run your own race.

A writer’s sanity and psyche is usually under enough pressure as it is, so figure it out and write what you want.

You just might start your own trend. You never know.