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Post by bill on Aug 20, 2017 21:27:02 GMT
Earth - I've made a plan and began the revision process. I completely rewrote chapter one yesterday. My goal is to have all my revisions done by the end of September, which gives me six weeks. Hang on!
Other than my weekly newspaper column - which I really like this week - all my efforts went into Earth. That will probably be the case until it's complete unless I end up with some days off from work. Once Earth is done I'll have to decide what my next priority will be. I go back and forth.
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Post by bill on Aug 28, 2017 0:40:26 GMT
Earth - I did major rewrites of chapters 1-3. I have several pages of notes of things I need to address in the rest of the manuscript, but none of it will require as much rewriting as the first three chapters did (at least I hope not!).
Millionaire - I touched up the second chapter. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this story yet, but I want to write a rough draft chapter for each of my writing group meetings, which I have tomorrow evening.
This week my focus will continue to be on Earth. I want it done by the end of September so I can publish it soon after.
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Post by bill on Sept 11, 2017 3:20:43 GMT
Earth - I'm ahead of schedule! I have about ten chapters left to finish my revision. Then I'll give it a big lookover before passing it along to proofreaders. Debbie has a preliminary cover done, so it's close. Once I'm done I'll have to write the acknowledgements and other supplemental info for the book. I hope to make it out in October.
Hodgepodge of Poetry - I order my proof copy from Amazon today. I haven't uploaded the files for the ebook yet. Maybe next weekend. Depends on how much time I have. I'm working out of town this week so I won't get much done.
Vetrix - I participated in the Wichita Public Library Local Author's Day. I didn't sell any books but did some networking. Received an inviation to do a book signing in Derby (just south of Wichita) at a local bookstore, so maybe all was not lost yesterday. I think I'm going to set up a booth at Sedgwick's (a town 10 miles from Halstead) Fall Festival next Saturday.
Once I finish Earth I don't know what I'll work on next. I have so many options I just don't know which is the best strategically to do. Probably either the mystery or the ghost story. I need to take some time to think this through.
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Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2017 3:30:26 GMT
Strategy is the one that gets me. I have so many ideas and can follow them all to logical conclusions but I don't have enough experience or date to know which plan is most advantageous for me as an author.
I'm getting Knock Knock consolidated into a clean ms. Once I get it all typed in I'll do another read through to catch typos and rough spots, then get it in the line up for editing.
Josh is closing in on the finish of 2nd draft. This one is so much better than the first. I feel like he's going to have an awesome picture book. I put a question on Holly's board and came up with a tentative plan. The submission package will include a query letter, the text, and I'll withhold me as the illustrator. I'd rather have them provide a professional illustrator but if that is not an option I will step forward and offer but I want Josh's book to be judged on the book and not on the artwork. I'd feel terrible if my lack of training lost him an agent.
Once he has all that in place, I'll contact Holly and see if she meant it when she said she'd take a look at it to help us beef up the submission package. If she is too busy, and the hurricane may pile too much on her, then I'll go ahead and start sending it out.
It sounds like your opportunities to meet people has been going strong. Way better than anything I did. I think I've had a total of 3 signings. They were educational to say the least.
I'm tired tonight. I'm still having a hard time with my energy levels but I suspect a lot of that is grief. I'll work through it. At least I'm productive even if its not exactly what I need. Any progress is still progress.
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Post by bill on Sept 17, 2017 17:58:52 GMT
Vetrix - I had signed up for a booth at the Sedgwick Fall Festival yesterday. I had an outdoor area so in between the rain I set up my canopy and table. Then the rain started drifting in so I took my books underneath the permament shelter (where most of the vendors were) so they wouldn't get wet. Well, the wind blew my canopy over (even though I had it staked down). With the forcast of more rain and nowhere to set up, I called it quits. I thought it was better than ruining books or other items.
Earth - I didn't get much accomplished because I worked nearly 60 hours out of town last week. I think I'll finish my final revision this week. That's the hope anyway. I'm close!
Hodgepodge of poetry - I got my proof copy ordered from Createspace and the ebook is available on Amazon. Once I get the printed copies I'll carry a few in case people want to buy a copy, but I'm not going to promote it. I put the collection together so Sydney and Blake would have it available whenever they decide they want it.
Mystery - I think I'm going to do another run-through of my mystery next. It's hard, because I have so many stories I want to work on. In 2018 I want to focus on getting this story sold. Which means I want to get it to an editor and back by then, then start shopping it around. Also, assuming I don't have it sold by then, I want to use it for my query letter and reading for PPWC next year. At this point I think it's my best shot at having a ready book for the conference.
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Post by Admin on Sept 17, 2017 19:25:52 GMT
I've been giving thought to the conference next year. I think its getting close to the time when they will announce the keynote speaker and who will be presenting. I think its in October but I'm never sure. I'll start checking the site next month. I like to get my reservations in early so if there is something I really want and a limit I can get in. I will most likely concentrate on Joshua's book. He finished his rewrite. I'm sending it to Rhonda today. She said she'd be a beta reader. Once we get the text where it needs to be I'll see if I can help him get a submission package ready.
Then, if Holly is still willing, I'll send the package to her first for a read-through to see if she has suggestions to beef it up. If she doesn't intro us to her agent, I'll submit to the one JOshua talked to a PPWC. If she passes, then I'll send it out to as many agents of picture books as I can find but I'm not going to bother with small presses unless they are very reputable small presses.
When I think of how much work is involved in the marketing/promoting/business side of writing my brain hurts because that is the part I have the least experience in.
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Post by bill on Sept 25, 2017 0:55:05 GMT
Earth - I finished my revision and will send it to my first proofreader tomorrow. I hope I can get through this process quickly, but since I rely so much on others for proofreading, cover, and formatting, I lose a lot of control. I've slowed on my marketing. Once Earth is close to release I'll start scheduling more book signings Hodgepodge of Poetry - This is now available on Createspace and Amazon. I got a blog about it put on my webpage. I've ordered copies to sell at the book signings and fairs. Mystery - I think my next project will be to do another read through of my mystery. I need to evaluate where I'm at, polish a query letter and write a synopsis. I need to decide if I need to do more revision or send it to an editor. I hope to have this done by the end of October. - I have several projects I could work on next. HTTS: I've stalled at week 8, I believe. I could pick this up and work through the rest of the lessons. A World Amongst: My ghost story I have started but haven't been able to get back to. I love the story and cannot wait to finish it. It's maybe a third of the way done. Millionaire: The appeal to this one is I think it could be a series and marketed to the Christian book reading community. That gives me a niche to work with and is an attractive marketing angle for me. It's halfway done or so. Zentron: This is the third book in the Vetrix series. I have a rough draft written and want to revise it the first of the year so I can be ready to publish toward the end of the summer. That means I really only have time to work on one of the previously mentioned projects before I get to January and Zentron. I wish I had a confident, gut feeling which project makes the most sense for me to strategically do next!
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Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2017 2:22:23 GMT
Its that multiple projects and lack of direction that side lines me. I have good reason to work on each project but not one clear project shining. You've accomplished an unbelievable amount of work over the last year. I'm truly proud of you.
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Post by bill on Sept 25, 2017 3:25:37 GMT
Thank you!
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Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2017 14:36:59 GMT
I finally took time to bridge the missing content in my ms. I had to rewrite and come up with new content but I think I bridged it and can move forward again. I will return to typing in to create a clean ms. Once all the typing is done, I'll read through it for a line edit and then send it to the editor.
I need to talk to the Crumrines and see if they want to go forward with their project. If they do, it is next in line. If they don't, I'll move on to the final book in the Cosmic Chronicles trilogy. I want the 3rd book done and ready to go live by March. Once Cosmic is done. I will write the Lucky Donovan novel. That is the one I think could be a break out character.
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Post by bill on Sept 26, 2017 22:59:20 GMT
It's fun to near the end of one project and the start of a new one
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