| Well ...that was interesting ... |
[May. 16th, 2008|07:20 am] |
Didn't get a lick of work done yesterday. "And why was that?" I hear you chorus disapprovingly.
Well, because I nearly asphyxiated from what I believe was a massive allergic reaction to a liquid herbal supplement I swallowed at around 8.30 in the morning, after my 2 boiled eggs for breakfast.
I'm not an asthmatic. Never had an asthma attack. But I think I now know exactly how that feels, because at the height of whatever happened yesterday my airway was swollen almost shut, and I was retching and coughing so hard there was blood. This went on for quite some time. At one point I stood in the kitchen with the phone in my hand, gasping for air, wondering if I should bother calling an ambulance, or if I'd be wasting their time because I'd be dead by the time they got to me.
Like I said, it was interesting.
I've nearly died before, in various accidents, so to be honest, I wasn't scared. Not even when I really couldn't get any air into my lungs. I have a peculiar reaction in a crisis -- I don't get scared and upset, I just get focused and peculiarly observational. The writer in me takes over and takes notes. And yes, I really do think things like, Shall I bother to call an ambulance or will I be wasting their time?
I was irritated, mainly. Because I knew I was going to lose a day's worth of work. And also I was astonished. It happened so fast, and it was so overwhelming, and I'd never felt anything like it before. The amazing way the body just takes over. I had no control over the coughing and the retching. The wheezing. The incredible imperative to breathe, even though the breathing mechanism was compromised. So yeah. Irritation and astonishment, those were my main emotions.
Whatever the reaction was, it passed off eventually, and I went down to the local medical centre to get checked out just in case. I nearly didn't bother, then I thought -- if this happened to a friend I'd yell at them for not going, so probably I should. By which time my O2 sats were back to normal and the swelling had subsided. Yay, I could breathe! My pulse was pretty high, and my throat was raw and I was pretty croaky. Good thing I'm not an opera singer, I'm not sure my vocal chords will ever forgive me. The doctor I saw just shrugged and said, oh well, you're okay now. If you want to take that supplement again make sure you're not alone and have some histamine handy. You might have sent some down the wrong way when you swallowed it.
I'm pretty sure I didn't, it was 5 mls in a teaspoon and I swallowed it quite happily, but what the hell. Either way, I won't be taking it again. I don't want to name the stuff since I know other people take it without effect. I will have a chat to the manufacturer today.
I was pretty wiped out yesterday as a result. I coughed a lot all day. This morning my throat's okay, the voice is still a bit croaky. And I'm sore all over -- never underestimate the toll on the body after you've coughed long and violently enough to bring up blood. You writers out there -- take note! *g*
But I'm well enough to write, so I'll write ... and file the experience away for future usage.
That's the best thing about being a writer. No matter what happens, it's all good copy. |
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| A brilliant article by Richard Morgan |
[Apr. 30th, 2008|10:52 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | writing | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  impressed | ] |
This is just the best, best article. This is brilliant. This sums up everything I've been thinking about the spec fic world ever since I started seriously getting involved in it. Richard Morgan isn't just a damned fine writer, he's an articulate and thoughtful member of the tribe who's got some serious moxie, coming out and saying it.
Thanks to LJer James Gilmer, for posting about this originally. And no, I still can't make the LJ icon thang work, either. Yes, I'm pathetic. Tell me something I don't know!
And then go read this ...
http://www.richardkmorgan.com/article_soundfury.htm |
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| A Question of Agents ... |
[Apr. 29th, 2008|12:49 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | writing | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
I've just updated the website with a new article on the Getting of Agents. Hopefully what I've said is useful. I'm putting a link in, since it's a long article and I still haven't mastered the whole LJ Cut thang ...
http://www.karenmiller.net/index.cfm?page=25
Have a read, if you feel so inclined, then perhaps we can chat about it here ... |
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| A new week, a new agenda |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|10:28 am] |
Well, no, actually it's more like refocussing on the old agenda. A log-jam got cleared up late last week, which means I can now proceed with the insanity of the next 3 months. And they really really really will be insane. But that's okay. Insane is starting to feel a little like Situation Normal, in my world. *g*
Not so much with the writing over the weekend. Got some done, but there was also lots of theatrey stuff. We have a set! Insofar as me attempting to create an 'in the round' feel on a proscenium stage can achieve that effect. But it's minimalist. Because the play is a series of 3 one-acts played with 2 people, who pretty much come on stage and don't leave until the end, the set is in fact the least important part of the production. It's all about the actors. The characters. So that's where all the focus has been placed. Of course, I could be screwing this up big time, but I live in hope ... *g*
It's twelve weeks, more or less, till Worldcon in Denver. I'm so looking forward to it. But in addition the mad writing schedule between now and then, I'm taking my physical well-being in hand and really putting some effort into getting fighting fit. Stay tuned for my moans and groans ...
Speaking of fighting fit, a passing comment on the Final 3 for Biggest Loser. How lovely to have three really great people in the final. There were some nasty types in this year's competition, so having those 3 lovely Blue members make it through is just so wonderful. I was very sorry to see Bryce go -- he really impressed me as a lovely person -- but he was very smart. And he looks so hot! *g*
And Jack won So You Think You Can Dance. Honestly, I wanted Rhys to win, but Jack's a great dancer. I hope all four finalists go on to have brilliant careers.
Last but not least ... a pointer to a new writing blog that's popped up. This one is hosted by a good friend of mine. We met through Stargate fandom, and quite simply, she's one of the finest human beings it's my privilege to know. In fact, the friends I made through online Stargate fandom are all spectacular people -- but that's another post entirely. *g*
So this blog is wonderful because it contains much insightful, articulate and intelligent discourse on the journey to becoming a published writer. I don't post there much because right now I have to pay more attention to the actual doing of the writing, but I always read it and I always come away informed and thoughtful.
http://chasing-the-muse.blogspot.com/
It'd be great to see some vigorous conversing start up there, so I'm doing my bit to get that going! And when I'm a little less buried beneath deadlines, I'm going to start talking some, too.
Now it's time to catch up on backlogged email, do the dishes, then knuckle down to getting another chapter of Witches Inc. taken care of, before I head off to rehearsal tonight.
Final final note -- as you'll see in the music tag, I'm listening to Enzso. Wow. This is such spectacular music. Split Ends with the NZ Symphony Orchestra, having rescored/arranged some of the Enz's biggest hits. If you've never come across this album, I highly highly highly recommend. |
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| A wibbly day |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|04:16 pm] |
Well, now that I'm getting organised and back on track, I'm back to putting proper words down on paper, or screen, or however you'd like to phrase it. The last few days have involved intense thinking and plotting for another project. I've discovered, as part of my process, that while I'm in that phase I can't do anything else but that. My brain won't give me any more room. But then I got that finally nailed and suddenly my brain is free again. A big relief!
So the morning started with the most amazingly surreal phone call, which I can't discuss, but trust me ... it was a real 'pinch me' moment. *g* Sometimes my life is too bizarre for the saying.
That was followed by not one, but two, instances of receiving cover art for me to check out. The main cover illustration for the Australian version of Rogue Agent #2 came in -- and can I just say WOW!!!!!!!! It's so beautiful, I want it hanging on my wall. Seriously. So beautiful I can't begin to tell you. It's just so beautiful. I'm all misty-eyed just thinking about it.
And then the rough art for the UK/US version of The Accidental Sorcerer -- and it's so different to the cover work for the Australian version, and yet just as amazingly striking and arresting. This is the fun part of the game, seeing how different artists/art departments/designers envision the same collection of words.
By the time all that stuff got sorted it was time to have some lunch ... during which I listened to a bit more of the director and writer commentary over the BSG movie Razor -- and wow! Ronald D Moore and I have exactly the same writing process, which gives us exactly the same result! (Not in terms of brilliance, but in balance of the work) It's so exciting, hearing someone I admire so enormously and I have some tiny weeny little thing in common. *g* Because I think he's a total genius.
And then, at last, the writing thang. I'm really revving up on Witches Inc, which is Rogue Agent #2. Certain amount of fear and trepidation with this one -- I'm terrified I can't recapture those voices, terrified I won't be able to bring the funny, terrified the first book was a fluke and that'll be that. But then some stuff happened, and I'm not quite so scared. Cross your fingers for me!
Witches Inc wordcount:
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| Words to live by, if you're a writer ... |
[Apr. 22nd, 2008|05:16 pm] |
Burbling in the background as I type this is Foxtel's Sci Fi channel. They're playing Solitudes, one of my top 3 season 1 eps of Stargate SG-1. How much do I adore Brad Wright, who really gets that it's about the characters, stupid????
Brad Wright and Ronald D Moore. Two of the best working in the business today. I'm all excited about the second Stargate movie, Continuum, because Brad Wright wrote it. He is a god.
Anyhow, onto business. Through various nefarious means (and mostly thanks to the lovely Ron Serdiuk of Pulp Fiction books) I got sent this wonderful quote today.
"As soon as I see awkward prose on page one, I reject a book. You wouldn’t trust a clumsy surgeon with a scalpel. I don’t trust authors who aren’t in complete control of their environment. Sloppy work is sloppy work. Doesn’t matter the profession, I don’t want it."
The person speaking is Benjamin LeRoy, publisher of Bleak House books. You can catch a full interview with him here: http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/?p=500
I just want to say this:
BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT!
And also, read the comments as well as the actual article, since Mr LeRoy expands on his theories. For my money he is another god in the pantheon of people who work in the writing biz.
I agree with everything he said, and I try to live by everything he said. I expect I fall short at times, but I really do try. And I will continue to try, with this timely reminder. |
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| Good deeds and whinging and life ... |
[Apr. 7th, 2008|09:41 am] |
I have a sign over my house, I must do. Where ever that house might be, I have a sign. Or maybe it's over me. Anyhow, it says: Waifs and strays, come see her!
I walked out of the house yesterday afternoon to put some rubbish in the big bin and this frantic, well-fed and collarless Staffy bitch rushed up to me, eyes rolling, panting. I'd never seen her before, and neither had various neighbours. So she stayed the night. She was lovely, very friendly, the most gorgeous eyes. Obviously loved by someone, but the stupid someone had neglected to give her a collar and tag with a phone number I could call. I took her to the vet this morning and luckily she was microchipped, so she'll be going home.
Of course, now I'm worried that she was dumped for some reason, and even with a microchip no-one will claim her. She's too lovely to die a week from now in the pound. I'll have to make sure she's okay. I can't keep her, she's not cat friendly, but I'd like to make sure she's okay.
In the past I've kept the waifs and strays that have found me, but that's not feasible at the moment. After a quarter century of having many, many animals, I'm looking to stay permanently downsized.
And for my whinge, I'll just say that while I'm sure Ron Moore loves his wife very much, I wish she wouldn't get involved with the Battlestar Galactica podcasts. I want to hear him talk about the show without her interruptions and observations which, quite frankly, are not what I buy the dvds to hear.
Over the weekend I wrote the Stargate story for the magazine, and I'm pretty pleased with it, given I really don't do short fiction. I also finalised the outline for the next Stargate novel, Consequences, and that I am pleased with. Although the slash fans are going to hate my guts, if they don't already. Because -- shock horror! -- I intend writing about a relationship that is canon within the series. So shoot me!
In the next two days I have two manuscripts to read, for various reasons. And then I knuckle down to pick up with the next Rogue Agent novel, Witches Inc.
Busy ... busy ... busy ... |
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| Manuscript Presentation |
[Apr. 5th, 2008|01:47 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | writing | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | the study | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  artistic | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | tv in the background | ] |
In response to a reader's enquiry via the website, I throw out these thoughts, for what they're worth:
The most important thing to remember when you’re getting a manuscript ready for submission to an agent or editor is the Keep it Simple, Stupid principle.
Editors and agents spend many, many hours reading. The last thing they want to be looking at is a manuscript that’s tricked out like an explosion in a font factory. Or a manuscript that’s travelled to them via a rainbow, and contains multi-hued pages. Or one that’s collected some interesting add-on bits and pieces. Trust me when I say that while these tactics might indeed attract attention – which is why some writers do it -- they do so for all the wrong reasons.
If you want to be treated like a professional you have to present like one, and that means playing it neat, clean, quiet and low-key.
In a moment I’ll explain how I present my completed manuscripts to my publisher. Before I do, though, it’s worthwhile noting that some publishing houses and agents have very specific guidelines for manuscript presentation, which are often posted on their website. When you’ve identified where you’re sending your work, check the relevant websites to see if they have manuscript presentation requirements and then FOLLOW THEM TO THE LETTER. It staggers me, the number of people who profess themselves familiar with the guidelines and then don’t follow them – presumably because they feel that rules don’t apply to them.
Trust me, this is not the way to make a favourable impression.
So, here is how I set up a manuscript:
A4 standard paper, plain white, set with the default margins.
My line spacing is 1.5.
My font is either Courier or Courier New, in 12 point.
I automatically indent my first paragraph to 0.5 cm.
I number on the top right hand side of the page, from 1- whatever, beginning to end – in other words, I don’t start over with a new #1 at the beginning of each chapter.
I include a header, which looks like: Miller/Empress- Godspeaker book 1.
And that’s it. Nothing fancy, nothing clever. Neat, plain, legible.
Like a lot of people, I now submit my work electronically, and the publisher prints it out for distribution to the copy editor. But when you’re starting, not every editor/agent will accept an e-submission. If you are submitting hard copy, make certain you’re using the best printer you can get your hands on. If you can’t use a laser printer, use a high-quality ink printer and don’t ever let the text get faded. Remember, your top priority is to make the reading experience pleasant, not a chore, for people whose eyes get very tired.
And that’s it. No big secrets, nothing fancy, nothing spectacular.
Remember, a writer needs to focus on what actually sells a manuscript: the quality of the writing. No amount of fancy, tricky presentation will hide a poorly written book. And attempting to add on all the bells and whistles only marks you as an amateur, and won't encourage the editor or agent to read your work. |
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| Crunch time |
[Dec. 6th, 2007|05:05 pm] |
Okay. Just a little heads-up ... I'll be pretty much invisible between now and the new year. Aside from keeping track of wordcounts, I won't be thinking about posting stuff here or anywhere, because I just have to break the back of the workload. If I don't significantly shift up gears and really start cranking out some words I'll be risking my next publication date and to say that makes me unhappy is the biggest understatement I've ever made.
So.
If I owe you mail, if I owe you responses on LJ, if I owe you anything ... sorry. Once I've got past the first draft of Hammer of God and the major rewrite of Do No Harm I'll be far better placed to reschedule my life. But due to a combination of factors, some over-optimism on my part, some ill-health, some stuff, I've fallen behind and it's going to take sheer bloody mindedness to get back on track.
Bugger it.
Wish me luck. I'll see you on the other side! |
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| The plot has landed! |
[Nov. 13th, 2007|04:44 pm] |
So today hasn't been a writing day, as such ... it's been a day for finally working through the nuts and bolts of what happens in Hammer of God. When I submitted the Godspeaker trilogy idea to Voyager/Orbit in the first place I was very clear on what happened in bk 1, moderately clear on what happened in bk 2, and very very hazy about bk 3. I knew how I wanted the trilogy to end, but I didn't stress too much about doing a detailed synopsis of the whole thing because I suspected that a lot of bk 3 would be shaped by what happened in 1 & 2. And so that proved to be.
After the first hazy outline I did a second one, that was a little more refined. But not until today did I work my way through the major important join-the-dots plot points of the whole book. Wow, that's hard work! I find plotting tough most of the time, but I have a lot of loose threads to tie up in this book. It's my first third of a trilogy, so that learning curve is retaining its steepness. I knew enough to get the story started and complete the first two chapters, but I also knew I couldn't postpone the plotting trauma forever. So I took myself off for a walk this morning and started nutting out What Happens Next. Good thing I was alone in the national park, because I was talking aloud to myself and playing out certain scenes like a complete nutjob! *g*
I finished off my walk with a spot of sword practice and that was useful too, since I have swordplay and stuff in this final book. Then I came home, had breakfast, and started work.
And was completely ambushed by something I did not see coming. Wow. As soon as the idea popped into my head I knew it was right. I knew this character's journey had to end this way ... but until that moment I really hadn't planned it. Writing is a funny beast -- the subconscious works in mysterious ways. It was kind of like the experience I had at the end of Do No Harm, where right up till the last moment I thought I was working towards one resolution, and then realised no, that was wrong. Coincidentally, the moment I realised I was wrong the words started flowing like nobody's business. Yet another reminder that the subconscious can tell you important things if you let it.
At this stage I think what I've worked out will hold till the end, but I am staying open to the chance I'll want to change things. Outlines are great -- for me they're essential -- but they shouldn't be a creative straitjacket. Sometimes you go with an idea because it's the best you can come up with in that moment -- and then another one can come along and blow it out of the water. I think you need to trust those instincts. When it's right I believe you gut will tell you.
I know it's early days yet, but I'm feeling strangely unpanicked about this book. Possibly because I've only just started. Give it time and I'll be flailing like a loon, I have no doubt. But I'm going to enjoy the serenity while it lasts ... |
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| A little progress |
[Nov. 12th, 2007|03:42 pm] |
Busy week just gone, busy weekend. Didn't realise how tired I was till I woke up this morning at 6 am and promptly passed out again till 10.30 am.
And the day's kind of bobbled around ever since. But I have finished another chapter!
Hammer of God:
Still no proper plot outline, it's resisting me as yet. First thing I have to do is list all the dangling plot threads from the 1st two books that need to be addressed. Ai carumba! I'm having a moment here ...
The Newtown Festival writers' gig yesterday was a lot of fun. It's one of the reasons I'm tired -- a long week with a few late nights culminating in a public appearance and the travelling from Kellyville to Newtown. Sheesh. But I had a great time and it was lovely to finally meet Traci Harding.
Special congrats to the other panelist, Ian Irvine, who's just reached a million copies of his books in print. That is a phenomenal achievement. Every Aussie spec fic author should be giving him a standing ovation. And Ian is such a lovely bloke -- no pretention to him, he's quiet and unassuming and just gets on with the job.
It's funny ... both Ian and Traci got their starts in the early days of my sadly defunct bookshop, Phantasia. And now I'm following in their footsteps. Life is strange.
Now I have to go away and do bits and pieces before heading off to sword-fighting tonight. Yay! |
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| Hammer of God -- liftoff! |
[Nov. 8th, 2007|09:31 pm] |
Okay. So now a new adventure begins. I've started the first draft of Godspeaker bk 3: Hammer of God. Didn't quite hit the required daily word target of 4k -- I had a slow start to the day and some businessy interruptions. But as of tomorrow I have to knuckle down and develop laser focus ... because this draft needs to be done sometime between Christmas and the end of December.
Final finished product word count will be @195k, keeping it in tune with the first two books of the trilogy. That means bringing in the first draft at @180k, seeing as how I know what happens when I go from first draft to subsequent rewrites.
In a couple of weeks bk 2, The Riven Kingdom, hits the bookshops. I have no idea how it will go. Empress was a tough sell ... I hope folk haven't lost faith in me. Riven Kingdom is a different kettle of fish, but by the end of the trilogy I think I'll have shown that there's method to my madness!
I have yet to complete my full plot outline for this book. Over the next couple of days I'll get that done. It's enough for the moment to know where the first couple of chapters are heading.
Wish me luck!
Hammer of God:
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| Odds and sods |
[Nov. 6th, 2007|05:38 pm] |
So, note to self ... possibly when one is going to be handling long shiny pointy swords one shouldn't be quite so exhausted.
I had fun at swordfighting class last night, but to say that my brain wasn't all there is to master the art of understatement to perfection.
On the other hand, I can report (for those lucky enough to know him but not to have seen him recently) that Chris Barnes (and I'd do the link thingy to him if I could manage it but I can't make it work because I am teh stoopid) looks excessively dashing with his new goatee!
Today in the mail I received a single advance copy of The Riven Kingdom, which goes on sale at the end of the month here in Australia. It's bk 2 of the Godspeaker trilogy and it is a lovely looking tome if I do say so myself. Voyager have a done a great job on the design of the book ... many thanks to them! (The contents you'll need to judge for yourselves!)
I also received the cover flat for the Orbit version of bk 1, Empress. It's now on my wall in a frame. How much do I love the US habit of providing copies of a book's cover in a flat format so the author can smile like an idiot at it? And, as I say, frame it????
I've cleaned the house and the study, wiped off my white boards, put up my preliminary plot outline notes for Hammer of God ... so tomorrow sees me beginning the 3rd and final book in this series. Wow.
My indispensible team of beta readers is about to tear into the draft manuscript of Do No Harm and rip it to shreds, I hope, leading to an end result of a Much Better Book. I'll be waxing lyrical later about these often unsung heroes of the publishing world.
Finally, my Worldcon trip details are finally coming together. So exciting! Worldcon in Denver and then Chicago and New York and London and David Tennant in Stratford! I can't wait! It's going to be a very quick trip because of massive writing commitments next year ... I hope to take a more leisurely trip in 2009 and spend more time visiting friends than leaping about hysterically. Although in 2009 it might be fun to do the Romantic Times convention ...
That's it for now. I have a committe meeting tonight.
Hope you had luck with the Melbourne Cup. Efficient put in a ripper of a run -- I'm glad we kept it out of foreign hands! But my heart goes out to the connections of the horse that died earlier in the day. It's the dark underbelly of racing that doesn't get shoved into the light often enough. |
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| Do No Harm is done!!!!!!! |
[Nov. 4th, 2007|07:23 pm] |
The first draft is completed. I can't quite comprehend it.
Stargate SG-1: Do No Harm
It helped that I finally figured out a whole lot of important stuff. Major change of focus when I had a light bulb moment at the end. So now the whole thing will be crafted towards that end in the rewrite. But basically, it's there. Full of holes. Staggering about the place like a drunken sailor.
But ...
basically it's there. Yee haw! |
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| I'm so boring ... |
[Nov. 2nd, 2007|08:42 pm] |
Because I can't think past getting this book done. I promise I'll be less boring very soon. I swear, oh lord, I do.
Do No Harm:
In other news, the first two Kingmaker, Kingbreaker books remain in the top 10 in the US and the UK.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
The play I saw last night, The Underpants, is the last show of the season for my local theatre, The Pavilion. It's a German farce adapted by US actor/writer/comic Steve Martin. I think we're going to have a ripper of a final show with this one. It's very funny, the set is genius, and the cast is having so much fun. If you're looking for a great night of entertainment at reasonable prices, come check it out!
Here's the theatre website: http://www.paviliontheatre.org
And that's it for me. I'm going to unwind with an hour of Supernatural then go to bed. Tomorrow I shall attempt to write the final 2 chapters. That leaves Sunday for the flashback inserts, and then I'm done.
Please, please, please. |
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| Sob ... weep ... |
[Nov. 2nd, 2007|12:03 am] |
I swear I am trapped in a bizarro land, a nightmare world for writers, where no matter how many words you write you never, ever get any closer to the end.
Why am I dummy spitting this time?
Because today, 300 words into chapter 23, I realised I'd missed three very important scenes. So I had to stop, and go back, and fix up the boo boo. Which turned into a rewrite on one part of a chapter, and a whole new chapter which ended up bumping all the others one place further down the line. It had to be done, and done now. It wasn't the kind of write a note to yourself insert that can happen on the rewrite. No, no, no. It was big.
Of course, it didn't help that I had to stop writing so I could go see a rehearsal of the next play because I needed to do the PR for the local press. I did that after seeing the play, and then I sat down to finish the new chapter 20. Which is why it's now midnight and I'm still working. If I hadn't had more ratty, tatty real life stuff to deal with today on top of that, I might be in bed and snoring by now.
I'm going in a minute!
But here is the current word count. Yes indeed, the worm is well past the original limit ...
Do No Harm:
The next 3 days are going to be ... intense! |
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| One chapter closer! |
[Oct. 31st, 2007|05:54 pm] |
Oh wow. It's so close I can taste it.
Do No Harm:
I anticipate completion on Saturday. That's 3 more full chapters, then 3 flashback/insert pieces.
If ever I was in any doubt that I am still on a massively steep learning curve, when it comes to this writing game, this project has kindly removed all question.
Wow! |
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| Trickle, trickle, trickle ... |
[Oct. 30th, 2007|06:04 pm] |
Sigh. 2 more days where I didn't write. Okay, Sunday was galleys day so it wasn't wasted, but I was still feeling dodgy yesterday and ended up having to cope with lots of Life stuff and run errands and so forth.
Eeerrggghhh.
But today was a good words day! I fumble my way towards the end of Do No Harm:
Waaah! And can't put in the word count meter due to NaNoWriMo thingy congestion.
But I'm now on 96550.
ETA: Because of the wonderfulness that is Desperaunce:
I think this is going to come in at 110k, and might shrink back 5k or so with editing.
One way or another, I am starting the first draft of Hammer of God next Monday. So this damned thing's got to be finished before then. I know, I sound frustrated. And I am. Not because I don't love Stargate and writing it, because I do. I really do. I just don't want it to be this hard!
In other news:
Today I signed and returned the Orbit contracts for the 3 new Kingmaker, Kingbreaker books. Yay!
The first 2 books will be published in Hungary and Spain, in due course. Those deals have just been finalised by the wonderful foreign rights team at HarperVoyager. Seeing my stuff in Hungarian promises to be interesting ... it's not a language related to English and therefore appears to be completely incomprehensible. I have a Teaching Company cd set about the history of language, which I'm really looking forward to hearing, one of these days.
I'm currently organising my flights to the US/UK for next August. I'm going to Worldcon in Denver, plus New York and London and of course Stratford to see David Tennant and Patrick Stewart in Hamlet. If it turns out Orbit thinks there's a point to organising any booksignings in either country, I'll let you know well ahead of time.
Despite feeling dodgy I did swordfighting again last night and it was loads of fun, again. I'm going to invest in a wooden sword so I can do a little bit of drilling every day, for practice. Next year, if I'm still enamoured, I'm going to take the plunge and buy a real sword!
Last but not least, McDuff is fully recovered. Let's hear it for mouldy bread, eh? |
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| Another project put to bed! |
[Oct. 28th, 2007|06:27 pm] |
No, no, not Do No Harm. That's a couple of days away. I was feeling dodgy today, the kind of dodgy that still lets me work but not do anything really taxing like writing.
So today I checked galleys. Of the Sekrit Projekt I can't really talk much about yet. But I guess the word 'galleys' kinds of gives a bit away, eh?
Yes. It's a book. And when I can blurt all about it, I will. I promise.
It's not quite as humungous as my regular stuff, around 130k. That's why I've been able to correct all 420 pages and take in corrections in one day. Plus, it's pretty clean. Only one insert to the manuscript -- for me that's a record. And I'm really, really proud of it. I can't wait to start squealing about it in a more public, open way.
Did I mention I love this one? *g*
So that's me cooked for now. I've got some reading I really have to do, but that task is nearly over too. I'm one of the Aurealis YA judges this year, so I've had lots and lots of reading to do!
And then it's Idol. Australian hits tonight, if I recall correctly. Should be interesting ... |
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[Oct. 27th, 2007|05:16 pm] |
I just can't do it. I can't write a small story. I try and I try and the words get away from me like wildebeest on the veldt.
Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!!!
Do No Harm:
Ah well. I already know I've got some stuff to cut out, but even so ...
Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!!!
In other news, the two Kingmaker, Kingbreaker books remain in the top 10 of the spec fic charts in both the US and UK, and both books are off to reprint in the US. I am profoundly ... discombobulated.
Also? I still haven't finished this damned book! |
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