How's 2010 working out for you so far?

[Lisa Cox]

So we're nearly through the first quarter of 2010. For the novelists out there, how's the year holding up for you so far? Have you kept your writing-related New Year's resolutions? Finished the WIP you carried over from last year? Queried anything yet?

I ask, because I fail. :(

[Perks]

It's been a pain in my ass, so far.

[lucidzfl]

Pretty good. Going to sub to publishing houses starting in June. And once I've finished my fifth book of this year, going to start subbing to agents.

Writing about a book a month. 3000 words a day.

Going pretty good. A bit insecure of the actual subbing process though. (Though I really shouldn't be)

[IdiotsRUs]

Pretty good

Sold a novella \o/
Won an award. \o/
WIP 1 just getting finished up now ( I started it the day before Christmas Eve, so that part of my resolution has kept up!) Hoping to query in a week or so. And I even still quite like it!
WIP 2 aka the book from HELL I TELL THEE! with betas.

It's all going good so far. *crosses fingers*

Oh and I've got my first conference coming up in a couple of weeks. I'm looking forwards to that.

[gothicangel]

I've been more focused on my degree. Nearly summertime now, so I have five months to devote to my novel writing. :D

[The Grump]

I think I finally got the revisions done on the draft I wrote for 2009. Maybe, started the 2010 draft.

[eqb]

Officially delivered the second novel in my trilogy to my editor at Tor. Sold two more novels to Tor. And wrote a new novelette. Alas, I am woefully behind in writing the third in the trilogy, but I think I've figured out how it should start, and I will be applying BIC for the next several months.

[lucidzfl]

Officially delivered the second novel in my trilogy to my editor at Tor. Sold two more novels to Tor. And wrote a new novelette. Alas, I am woefully behind in writing the third in the trilogy, but I think I've figured out how it should start, and I will be applying BIC for the next several months.

I am so fucking jealous of you, I had better not run into you in a dark alley.

You apparently have the life I want...

Question: Did you sub direct to Tor or use an agent?

[eqb]

Question: Did you sub direct to Tor or use an agent?

I have an agent, and I am damned lucky to have her.

(And I've made a note to avoid dark alleys in the future. *g*)

[sleepsheep]

I've been neglecting my fiction writing... completely. But, I'm making a pretty decent living freelance writing and editing boring dull non-fiction stuff. Also, I don't break out into nervous hives whenever anyone asks me how my dissertation is coming along, so that's a bit of progress too. Overall, fail on the fiction front, but the rest makes it a sort of break-even situation.

[lucidzfl]

Tor is my #1 preferred publication house. So, I'm very jealous. Awesome work though.

On a side note, I'd say your Agent is lucky to have you. You're the one with the talent to have sold 5 plus books to Tor!

;)

[eqb]

Tor is my #1 preferred publication house. So, I'm very jealous. Awesome work though.

Thanks! I'm quite psyched. And I hope to hear news of your sales soon.

On a side note, I'd say your Agent is lucky to have you. You're the one with the talent to have sold 5 plus books to Tor!

Heh. Flattery will get you everywhere. :)

But since she also reps Ursula Le Guin, Gardner Dozois, and Gene Wolfe, I'd say the luck is really mine.

[Namatu]

Resolutions? Writing? Oh. Is that what we're supposed to be doing? I fell off the wagon and must hop back on for revision purposes. The feet, they doth drag.

[Stunted]

Creeping along. There have been some challenges, but I've met them effectively, I think.

[Jamesaritchie]

Pretty good so far. Just finished a novel that's off to the editor, and have another quick one to write.

And I bought a new work computer, and my son and nephew just bought me a Smith & Wesson 686 stainless steel .357 Magnum revolver.

What more could anyone ask in the first quarter of a year that a novel off to the editor, a new work computer, and a .357 Magnum revolver that he didn't even have to pay for?

[erinbee]

I've slacked on my fictional goals, but 2010 is the year my NF debut comes out from Harper so I'm still stoked :) Trying to kick my own butt in the deadline department.

[Chris P]

I ask, because I fail. :(

I answer, because I fail :(

On the up side, I've got a diligent beta reading one of the three versions of my novel, and the editing/rewriting is progressing.

[Wayne K]

Good for you erinbee.

I'm still waiting to hear from 11 houses, and pulling out what's left of my hair. It's been three and a half months now. I've written 35,000 of book 2, and 42,000 of book 3 in the meanwhile

[Shadow_Ferret]

2010 is just more of 2009, which was just more of 2008, which was just more of.... I'm reaching the point of throwing in the towel.

[Hedgetrimmer]

And I bought a new work computer, and my son and nephew just bought me a Smith & Wesson 686 stainless steel .357 Magnum revolver.

You and I have decidedly different approaches to publishing, but our tastes in firearms aren't all that different. The 686 has to be one of the finest ever made. Nobody does a trigger like S&W.

[BenPanced]

:rant::cry::rant::cry::rant::cry::flag::gone:

[Al Ross]

I've got 20k words finished of my second book in progress. It's going slow. I will start editing the first one when I finished the first draft of the second. (I hope by end of may.) My plan for this year is to have finished all three planned books, but I am in a bit of slump. I will start getting the first one sold when all three are finished. In the meantime I will not be earning any money with writing.

Also today I promised my daughter I would write a children book for her. I guess from now on, I will start working on two books simultaneously. (I could not say no to her.)

[PoppysInARow]

So far I've written and edited one novel and am working on the second. My first book is heading through betas, and with all the extra revisions I have planned, I think I should be ready to sub starting in June. If all goes well.

Hasn't been a bad start, but the last two months I've been very slow in the writing department.

[Libbie]

So far, it's been great for me! I got my agent in January, my book went on submission to Crown a little over a week ago, and I'm cracking away at two more historical novels, and making great progress on them. I'm also writing a ton of poetry and finding I seem to have a pretty good knack for it. This surprises me, since I only recently became interested in poetry.

I ought to have another sweet zoo keeping gig in a few weeks here, and in the meantime I've been volunteering heavily, working with giraffes and other African hoofstock as well as my usual birds and domestics. Excellent times, so far!

[brokenfingers]

Writing-wise, this year got off to a bad start and my progress slowed considerably.

I'm slowly but surely clawing my way back up and out of my writing hole though.

[*RomanceWriter*]

Going great for me. Have one new release and another coming out in a couple months. I should have a minimum of four novels publishing this year.

[scarletpeaches]

Sold a book, have another with an editor, halfway through a novella, thinking about editing two other novel-length manuscripts I have here...one of them is my agent-bait, the other...I don't know where I'm sending it.

Haven't written that much this year; around 50k I think. The rest of my time's been spent editing but I'm getting back into my 'writing new material' groove. I expect to finish the novella this week and have it on sub a few days after that.

[Jamesaritchie]

You and I have decidedly different approaches to publishing, but our tastes in firearms aren't all that different. The 686 has to be one of the finest ever made. Nobody does a trigger like S&W.

The trigger in why I now own one. I've been using semi-autos for thirty-five years. My only experience with revolvers was a Blackhawk .44 Mag, and a couple of Colt single action army, plus one Remington Single action.

But I never used a double action. Then, while on the shooting range a couple of weeks back, I tried someone else's 686, and fell in love.

Probably out of place on a writing forum, but my next blog entry, which I'll post in two or three hours, goes into more detail on why I Needed a revolver, and why I wanted this one.

[Varthikes]

2010 has been excellent so far. My first novel, the one I've been trying to get published for the past 3 years, is finally getting published. It's just gone into production and, as it stands now, should be released by this July.

I'm fairly confident that 2010 will be the year that my writing career kicks off.

My third novel is stalled at the moment. Right now, I'm editing my second to maintain continuity and submerse myself back into the story.

[AlishaS]

Really crappy until today! Have been super sick and frusterated with coming up with the perfect query for my novel.

Which apparently I have finally got. Sent out a query last night and got my first request for a FULL this morning!!! Super exciting.

[ishtar'sgate]

So we're nearly through the first quarter of 2010. For the novelists out there, how's the year holding up for you so far? Have you kept your writing-related New Year's resolutions? Finished the WIP you carried over from last year? Queried anything yet?

I ask, because I fail. :(
Not so great. Although I've kept up with my contracted nonfiction writing I'm falling dismally behind on my WIP. Can't seem to get my act together this year. Rats.

[Adam]

My novella's out in May (see sig!), my sci-fi novella will be ready for subbing in a few weeks, my productivity is up compared to Nov/Dec, my latest project is fun fun FUN, and I'm madly in love.

Okay, the last one ain't writing related, but still, WOO! :D

[barbilarry]

I truly think I should have listened to Cheshirecat, when I first started and put the writing in a drawer and just read. No matter how hard I try my writing continues to suck. Not a good year, me thinks!

[NicoleMD]

Is crapily a word? The end of my novel feels like an oasis that I'll never reach. And I'm way overdue for a short story sale. And I haven't written nearly as much short fiction as I intended to. But tomorrow is a new day!

Nicole

[Cliff Face]

Is crapily a word? The end of my novel feels like an oasis that I'll never reach. And I'm way overdue for a short story sale. And I haven't written nearly as much short fiction as I intended to. But tomorrow is a new day!

Nicole

No, but Crappily should be.

I've written around 50k this year so far, which isn't much compared to NaNo where I did 102k, but I've been sick and not pushing myself too hard.

I wrote a 40k erotic novella, which I'm very happy with and should already be subbing except I've been putting off the synopsis (I hates them!) - my first erotica, which was something I wanted to achieve at some point, and lo by the end of January it was finished. Spent most of February editing 3 books into submission - 1 book needs serious work, one needs another quick go through, and the novella is basically ready... I might be adding to the erotic scenes as I think I rushed some of them.

Then I got sick, and was out of commission for 3 weeks (I get sick once a year, and it's always really bad...) but I have written about 8k in a fantasy story - probably classified as dark fantasy... and this is my first foray into the world of pantsing, and it's going splendidly... I have a feeling this one is going to be epic... part of the reason I haven't done the synopsis for the novella is that I've been wanting to continue on with the epic (it's loads of fun) - but I need to kick that in the butt and get at least SOMETHING out on submission soon, or I'll never get anywhere.

My family's been asking me when I'm going to submit since halfway through February when I let slip that I was editing 3 of my 4 books (the other one isn't finished and is a sequel to the first one I ever wrote - I originally put it on hold for NaNo, but now I feel that there's not much point in finishing it until I know what's happening with the first one). So for a month I've had to get creative with excuses as to why I haven't submitted yet...

For a while it was that I was sick, which was fair enough. Now I'm blaming my fucked up novel, which needs major surgery... but pretty soon I'm either going to have to man up and write my synopses or tell people that I've been writing new stuff instead, which will make them hum and haw, thinking I'm daft for not following through with my goals.

And that's how 2010 has gone for my writing.

As per the rest of my life, well, it's not looking so good. I'm on medical ceritificates for a mental illness, which is keeping me from looking for work, even though I now want a job more than ever because my rent just went up by nearly double, and mum's told us that we have to contribute more to bills. The plus side is that they don't expect me to clean up after them anymore (which wasn't fair - the only reason I was home more than them was because I COULDN'T work, not because I was lazy...) because I'm contributing equal money, so we now have a cleaning roster, which makes me happy. Seriously, I don't make mess, and they leave crap everywhere...

So I've got to wait till May for my med. cert. to run out, so I can look for some (presumably) part time work to get a little extra cash... even 3 days a week, full days at a decent entry-level wage, would be more cash than the Government gives me per fortnight... I'm doing a Uni subject for free, which is great, and is only 3 hours on Thursdays... it's Short Stories and Their Writers, part of the Creative Writing course list. I didn't have a choice in the subject, but I like it anyway. Next semester is a social sciences subject, can't remember what it's called. It's all part of a course run by the local Uni and an employment agency to help the less-fortunate to get Uni credits... 4 subjects in 2 years gives me a Non-Award Certificate, which can count as subjects done already if I decide to further pursue Uni study, and it's also nifty on the ol' CV, and in cover letters to agents/publishers... "Hi, I'm studying Short Stories and Their Writers through Flinders University, buy my book."

In other news, my dog of about 14 years had to be put down due to heart failure. :(

So in my life away from writing, the only good thing is really the subject I'm studying. Sigh.

But the writing is good...

[emma_kate]

Great! My gap year has really enabled me to go from just writing, to writing stuff I can use :) Last year it was more about writing - anything and everything to escape from life. Now, I'm concentrated on moving the plot forward and filling the gaps in my main manuscript...it gives a really overwhelming sense of satisfaction and completion when you see the progress that you're making...

[Trauntj]

I finally came up with enough plot detail to finally begin writing my civil war fantasy novel and in my opinion, it kind of surprised me because the way the plot flows along, it seems like something I'd see in a book store, not from my own mind. had to get all the dates correct and whatnot for the battles, but overall, I can't wait to start writing it. might do that this weekend since I have stuff this week to get done for college. :)

[cuddlekins]

So we're nearly through the first quarter of 2010. For the novelists out there, how's the year holding up for you so far? Have you kept your writing-related New Year's resolutions? Finished the WIP you carried over from last year? Queried anything yet?

I ask, because I fail. :(

2010 has been really crap. Horrible. Failed at keeping my New Year resolutions. And my WIP can't seem to find its end.

Got a pay raise at work and an apparent 'promotion'. Now along with writing I get/have to comb through the pile of unsolicited articles we receive.

Did you know it is International Talk Like a Pirate day on September 19 and some one decided to send a 9 page work written in pirate lingo for consideration. Also included in the bundle, a pin back button for the occasion. And this to a woman's mag.
Not a good year.:cry:

[laurie17]

Well, my New Year's resolution was a difficult one: to have finished a novel completely (edited and all) and send it off to be published by October. I only started it in February...

Seems all is well though as it's only March and I'm at about 17k and a third of the way through. I'm really picky with editing though and recently I've been getting writer's fatigue (I've been writing course work and taking final exams alongside writing the novel).
Ah well...

[seun]

2010 has been pretty sweet. Got interest from a small American publisher, had a couple of stories accepted by an online horror publisher, and have had agents request fulls based on partials.

[Viktor Night]

I haven't gotten a lot of writing done this year. I've been focusing mostly on overhauling my query letter and synopsis, researching agents and getting submissions out the door.

The problem is I'm a bit of a uni-tasker (opposite of multi-tasker). I like to pick one thing, give it my absolute all, then move on to the next task. Right now, it's getting my last book marketed. Once I've given it the best possible chance of getting sold that I can, then I'll revert back into full on writing mode while waiting for the parade of R's to come back to me.

[Feathers]

I didn't realize how much has happened to me this year until I read through this thread, but come to think of it, I'm doing smashingly.

I took two weeks of school break in January and wrote around 20k, completing my WIP of 11 months, MIRRORPASS. I took a month off and brainstormed on another novel, TOUCHING THE BLOOD. I started blogging like crazy, held two ARC giveaways, and interviewed about a bazillion authors. Then I started MIRRORPASS edits and am already pumped about them. To top it all off, I got an email about someone interested in my novel.

I cannot believe that so much has happened in three months!...

-Feathers

[Ms Hollands]

Wow, this thread has actually been quite motivational to read. Congratulations to those who have done so well this year! Hopefully, it'll kick a few of us into more action.

The year so far has been good for me.

1. I started writing again after a year's break to get a different (web) job finished.
2. I was a runner-up of the first-ever writing competition I entered.
3. I joined a crit group on here.
4. Another agent gave me feedback on my query letter. I just need to refine it now.

[Aggy B.]

I'm going much more slowly than I had hoped. But I've sent out two short stories for consideration, have nearly completed a novella and am almost a quarter of the way through rewriting my first novel (for the fourth f*cking time).

It's all good.

[K.Bristow]

SO far, I have three LONG novels out to betas (Anyone want to read a book for me?) I have three more WIPs going at the same time, nearly done with each one. I have a "short story" I'm attempting for a contest - ok so 80,000 might not seem like a short story for most, but when I can't seem to write a story that is shorter than 500+ pages, 80,000 words seems really short to me.(lol) I guess I should stop writing and try something like query letters soon!
So onward I plod...

[Lydia Sharp]

I am so fucking jealous of you, I had better not run into you in a dark alley.

Ditto. But seriously, yay for you selling all those books to Tor. That's awesome. :D

This month I've been focusing on a short story for a contest. That's done now, so it's time to work on my novel stuff again. The query letter for my WF novel is about to undergo another revision before I send it to anyone else, and my main SF WIP is going through (what I hope is) the final edit.

[Dave Willhoite]

I'm probably the wrong person to ask. I am unpublished, so I don't represent the subgroup you really want to talk to with this thread.

2010 seems to be working.

My WIP is not floundering. It is actually going much, much better than I had any right to hope for.

I received some good crits a few weeks ago, and that pinpointed a lot of stuff that I could use some work on.

The general consensus was that I had to work on some "learnable" stuff. I had to work on some very concrete stuff that I just didn't know. I had thought that I was a competent user of the English language, but I apparently made it all the way through primary school, secondary school, and college, and didn't learn such basics as punctuation and basic sentence structure.

So, it has been a really, really productive three months. I have identified some really important things upon which to work, and really zeroed them in.

The learning curve might be described as running into a brick wall, but it really seems as if there is no mystery at all here. It seems as if my next step has been laid out in pure black and white. I have things that I must work on, and time to work on them.

In addition, I have access to people that can help me to work on them, and very, very clear guidance on how to progress from where I am to where I need to be.

I am sure that I have obstacles that I must surmount before moving on, but the next steps are pretty clear.

So, the first quarter of 2010 has been really good.

Except for the weight gain, of course.

Dave

[midwestamp]

Dave, I totally understand. At the beginning of the year I was writing for my own enjoyment. It wasn't until sometime in mid-February that I decided to get serious about it. That's when I realized how little I knew. A lot of what I have learned since is because of this forum too. So, thank you for that. My main project, a fiction novel, is slowly but surely progressing. I'm thinking anytime by the end of this year will be fine with me. I have a lot to learn along the way, so no rush. My biggest fear is spending all this time on it, for it to end up as crap.

[cwfgal]

So far this year I have done the copyedits on Scared Stiff (pub date Sept. 2010) and seen the cover for it for the first time, and I also did a read-through and edit for the paperback version of Working Stiff (pub date Aug. 2010). I'm two thirds of the way through Frozen Stiff. I did a 50-page draft for a YA novel that is tabled for now. I also got some exciting news regarding the Stiff series and Hollyweird, something I know is a very long shot and not likely to happen, but I haven't received news that it's dead yet so I continue to live in my fantasy world for now.

Beth

[Greeble]

Well, my boss wants to kick me out, so I might have more time for writing than I ever imagined.

[Cliff Face]

So far this year I have done the copyedits on Scared Stiff (pub date Sept. 2010) and seen the cover for it for the first time, and I also did a read-through and edit for the paperback version of Working Stiff (pub date Aug. 2010). I'm two thirds of the way through Frozen Stiff. I did a 50-page draft for a YA novel that is tabled for now. I also got some exciting news regarding the Stiff series and Hollyweird, something I know is a very long shot and not likely to happen, but I haven't received news that it's dead yet so I continue to live in my fantasy world for now.

Beth

Woo! Hollyweird!

Gogogogo!

[Wayne K]

Swimmingly. My memoir is out on sub, my romance/crime drama story gets better and better (at 46 K) , and I have a working outline for an erotic memoir.

Waiting for an editor is worse than waiting for an agent, but meh, whatta ya gonna do?

[Aubie]

2010 is going great! I'm much more excited about my new MS than the one I started writing last year, and I'm hoping this will be THE ONE. New ideas continue to liven up the novel, and I'm excited to see where it may take me!

Good luck to everyone.

[MrWrite]

On the writing front, great! I finished rewriting my novel from 3rd person to 1st. I got it done much faster too. I love writing 1st person. I seem able to get in my MC's head much easier. Now to start with the editing! :D

[Enzo]

I'm in preparation mode for:
-writing a 100-page script for ScriptFrenzy in April
-writing two thriller novels for most of the coming year.
So right now, I'm doing outlines, working out ideas for events and characters, almost ready for the big launch.

[Nateskate]

I'm hearing that Guns'n'Roses song, "Patience... yeah, yeah... I been walking these streets at night ...just trying to get it right..."

All the pieces between me and the bookshelf seem to be moving like frozen molasses.

[Serious Desi]

I see 2010 and the first thing I think is I'm a sen10r!
Graduation, 3 months.
But, with all the senior projects, senior events and senior yada, yada, my writing has taken a horrible hit.

But I've found a great beta reader.

And with all the polishing, help, and editing I'm starting to actually imagine my WIP in the hands of an agent by the time I start college. So, I'm confident that my resolution will be reached...maybe.

Does that count for anything?

[KTC]

I'm fairly confident now that I'm never going to break into the novel market. I've been trying long enough...to no avail. I'm happy about all the other markets I've published in...and enjoying writing plays and poetry...seeing some measure of success in both of these markets. I'm happy freelancing and memoir writing and seeing a certain measure of success there too...but I am on the verge of giving up hope and giving up trying on the novel market. I just can't seem to get it right. But I really can't complain, since everything else is going so well. It's the one you want the most that you can't seem to get, though.

[Eddyz Aquila]

I see 2010 and the first thing I think is I'm a sen10r!
Graduation, 3 months.
But, with all the senior projects, senior events and senior yada, yada, my writing has taken a horrible hit.

But I've found a great beta reader.

And with all the polishing, help, and editing I'm starting to actually imagine my WIP in the hands of an agent by the time I start college. So, I'm confident that my resolution will be reached...maybe.

Does that count for anything?

Yeap, it does. I have the same thing, but I managed to sacrifice my social life to finish my book, and it paid off. I hope it pays off later, but still, it's nice to see a big chunk of printed paper in your hand and saying "MINE!". :D


2010 for me:
- finished first draft of my Untitled novel
- started work on the third novel
- resumed work on the second novel, hoping to finish the first draft by the end of this year
- plotted the outline for the sequel to Untitled
- edits and polishing for Untitled after my final exams
- submission - hopefully agent and contract by the end

Yeah, busy year...

[willietheshakes]

I'm fairly confident now that I'm never going to break into the novel market. I've been trying long enough...to no avail. I'm happy about all the other markets I've published in...and enjoying writing plays and poetry...seeing some measure of success in both of these markets. I'm happy freelancing and memoir writing and seeing a certain measure of success there too...but I am on the verge of giving up hope and giving up trying on the novel market. I just can't seem to get it right. But I really can't complain, since everything else is going so well. It's the one you want the most that you can't seem to get, though.

Don't.

Don't give up.

I hate to go all touchy-feely, empathic, and caring on you, but if you give up I'll be forced to come out there and kick your ass. And I can't afford the flight right now!

[cwfgal]

I'm fairly confident now that I'm never going to break into the novel market. I've been trying long enough...to no avail. I'm happy about all the other markets I've published in...and enjoying writing plays and poetry...seeing some measure of success in both of these markets. I'm happy freelancing and memoir writing and seeing a certain measure of success there too...but I am on the verge of giving up hope and giving up trying on the novel market. I just can't seem to get it right. But I really can't complain, since everything else is going so well. It's the one you want the most that you can't seem to get, though.

The only way you can be absolutely 100% certain you will never break into the novel market is if you quit trying. And if you are willing to quit, you don't really want it bad enough.

Beth (dishing out some tough love)

[Etola]

I was all psyched and expecting to hit the ground running on a number of projects this year, but the first two months ended up being more of a slog than I'd hoped. I hit the 'sticky middle' of one of my WIP's, and the necessity of doing a ton of research slowed down the actual writing process. But it was necessary. And now I've put it aside for this month and have been making good progress on editing another WIP. I'm also feeling very full of ideas, so I think I'll make good progress on my novels this year, overall. If I get stuck on one project, I've got plenty of others to keep me busy.

However, I am not nearly keeping up on my short story submission goals. I really need to get on that, and soon. :P

[bkwriter]

my computer crashed but at least I didn't lose anything. Have to get back to working on query letters

[Cassiopeia]

I'm fairly confident now that I'm never going to break into the novel market. I've been trying long enough...to no avail. I'm happy about all the other markets I've published in...and enjoying writing plays and poetry...seeing some measure of success in both of these markets. I'm happy freelancing and memoir writing and seeing a certain measure of success there too...but I am on the verge of giving up hope and giving up trying on the novel market. I just can't seem to get it right. But I really can't complain, since everything else is going so well. It's the one you want the most that you can't seem to get, though.

Don't.

Don't give up.

I hate to go all touchy-feely, empathic, and caring on you, but if you give up I'll be forced to come out there and kick your ass. And I can't afford the flight right now!

I was talking to someone on the phone today, trying to work through some miscommunications and the woman on the other end said,

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Kim. I needed to hear that today."

"You did?" I asked.

"Yes, you never give up. You just keep fighting."

And here's what I told her. "You can't...never give up. Never give up fighting. You fight till your last breath but don't give in."

I've read you work, Kevin. You've come close to publishing. It gets discouraging.

If there's one thing I've become very well acquainted with, it's how one defeat after another can wear you down and soon, you just want to lay down and stay there. But you can't. I know you pretty well, Kevin, after three years and I'll let Wille threaten to kick your butt so that's covered but you have to see me in five weeks. I'd like to see you tell me to my face that you've given up.

yeah go on, I dare you. :D Remember I'm a force to be reckoned with. ;)

but seriously, you taught me so much, you can't give up now. you've had one heck of a whirlwind ride since Kenya. You're probably feeling the let down of coming off such highs from your experiences in Kenya and Cozumel. And you're in pain.

yeah, no. no giving up.

*hugs*

Kim, determined to not let one of her mentors give up.

[Cassiopeia]

The only way you can be absolutely 100% certain you will never break into the novel market is if you quit trying. And if you are willing to quit, you don't really want it bad enough.

Beth (dishing out some tough love)I don't think that's fair. For some yes, but not for KTC. He does everything he can. He's allowed to be discouraged from time to time.

[Maxinquaye]

The only way you can be absolutely 100% certain you will never break into the novel market is if you quit trying. And if you are willing to quit, you don't really want it bad enough.

Beth (dishing out some tough love)

We're not allowed doubt?

I doubt all the time.

I think "am I mad?" for wanting this.

I think, "nothing will ever come of it".

Doubt is okay. Bouts of pessimism is too. It is a reality check in the toughest of all the arts. It has nothing to do with not "wanting it". Wanting something does not equal attaining what you want.

Life's not that fair.

[Kitty27]

Lovely. I haven't queried in a long while. I've decided to completely finish my horror baby and so far,it's been GOOD.


2010,so far:

Finished Urban Fantasy series. LOVED writing about the blues,Southern food,and folklore that I was taught by my Nana. Hoodoo,baby! This series brought back memories of my stepdad on Sat morning,Howlin Wolf blaring in the background as he explained to me why Robert Johnson is the G.O.A.T and why you should never give anybody your last two dollars.(Johnny Taylor)

Working on a series of interracial paranormal romance novels.

Working on a short story about very proper English sisters who speak Austen style and are cannibals.

Doing research for a historical novel about an ancient Nubian kingdom.

Writing and loving every dirty,messy,and mad bit of it!

What's this about doubt? I rarely doubt. But then I am an egomaniac and Gothic Pollyanna. The only thing I have to force myself on is leaving the writing alone and getting down to the work of actually getting published. Queries,synopsis,how I HATE them.

[cwfgal]

I don't think that's fair. For some yes, but not for KTC. He does everything he can. He's allowed to be discouraged from time to time.

I didn't say he couldn't be discouraged. All I said was don't quit trying because quitting is an absolute guarantee that you won't achieve your goals. If you want it bad enough, you'll never quit trying.

Beth

[cwfgal]

We're not allowed doubt?

I doubt all the time.

I think "am I mad?" for wanting this.

I think, "nothing will ever come of it".

Doubt is okay. Bouts of pessimism is too. It is a reality check in the toughest of all the arts. It has nothing to do with not "wanting it". Wanting something does not equal attaining what you want.

Life's not that fair.

Where did I say no one is allowed to doubt? Quitting and doubting are two entirely different things. All I said was don't quit because the OP wrote he was on the verge of giving up trying. (And is there a post of mine somewhere I wrote in a fugue and don't recall, because this is the second time someone has quoted my post and then chastised me for something that wasn't said in that quote.)

I'm all in favor of a little self-doubt now and then and in fact took some heavy heat from a couple of folks here a few weeks back for saying that it can make you stronger and better. I know that trying is no guarantee of reaching a goal. But I also know that quitting is a guarantee of NOT reaching a goal, which is why I told the OP not to quit. And I do believe that if you want something bad enough, you won't quit trying for it until you're dead. Maybe not even then. ;)

Beth

[Cassiopeia]

If you want it bad enough, you'll never quit trying.

Beththat's a fallacy. it sets up an unreal expectation of a person. I don't want Kevin to give up either but I'd never judge him and assume that he didn't want it bad enough. Sometimes things don't work the way we want them to despite our best efforts.

[scarletpeaches]

Someone who quits wants to avoid rejection more than they want to be published.

That's not a fallacy or an unreal expectation at all.

If KTC - or anyone - wants something badly enough, and believes they're capable of it, they won't quit. Why? Because they believe their reward is coming.

It's nothing to do with judging a person and simply to do with wanting something badly enough...or not.

Wanting doesn't guarantee achievement but it does guarantee at the very least, the attempt.

[Cassiopeia]

Someone who quits wants to avoid rejection more than they want to be published.

That's not a fallacy or an unreal expectation at all.

If KTC - or anyone - wants something badly enough, and believes they're capable of it, they won't quit. Why? Because they believe their reward is coming.

It's nothing to do with judging a person and simply to do with wanting something badly enough...or not.

Wanting doesn't guarantee achievement but it does guarantee at the very least, the attempt.I disagree. There are people in every walk of life who want something badly and they work at it for years and in the end the let go of it because they don't have the talent to accomplish their goal.

However, KTC is not untalented. It may be he needs a new market or some other factor that's missing.

I find it interesting when people say that someone who decides to go a different direction is just avoiding rejection. That's hype, pure and simple. It's motivational speaking that is so general as to not be specifically helpful. That's talking in absolutes and it's not real life.

I have a knack in my area of writing. I'd love to write the most fantastic fantasy story but it's not my thing. I can't write it. I've tried.

Sometimes people don't recognize that going another direction isn't giving up, it's finding your own way.

[lucidzfl]

wanting something badly, working at it for years and letting go = FAIL.

Sorry. If you give up, you FAIL. Whine, make excuses, take some Valium, catch some rest, do whatever makes one happy. The only one responsible in your life for one's utter failure, is one's self.

[misha_mcg]

It's going awesome! I started doing three things this year that have helped and motivated me tremendously:

1. Story a day. At my blog (link below) I write one story every day. Any length. Usually short. Any topic. Sometimes it's just re-arranged snips of conversation. But occasionally it's inspired me to write longer things.

2. Sunday submit. Same blog. I submit one story a week to ANYWHERE.

3. 750words.com. Write 750 words every day. Simple as that. Any words. Sometimes nonsense, sometimes parts of stories I'm working on. It tracks your words, gives feedback on your mood, and even tells you your words per minute, if you took any breaks while writing and which words you used most often. Highly recommend it.

[Cassiopeia]

wanting something badly, working at it for years and letting go = FAIL.

Sorry. If you give up, you FAIL. Whine, make excuses, take some Valium, catch some rest, do whatever makes one happy. The only one responsible in your life for one's utter failure, is one's self.

This has to be the biggest load of bullshit I've read in a long time.

Sure there are a few people who do stuff like that but the world I live in, has plenty of people who work hard at what they do and never whine or make excuses, or take drugs and they are accountable for what they do.

Just because someone decides to go a different direction doesn't mean they've failed. Sometimes one has to face the facts (Not you, kevin, you're talented) and sometimes the fact is some people can't write their way out of a paper bag. And not always for a lack of trying.

It's so easy to come on here and puff up and say crap like "If you quit, you fail."

Yes, sometimes quitting is failing but sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's not seeing the reality that's in front of you. No one and I mean NO ONE who makes an honest effort and puts their whole heart in soul into their work ever fails.

No, this isn't about failure. It's about limiting the possibilities. If being published is your goal, and you quit, you know, you'll never be published.

If you keep trying, you never know but what might be right around the next set of edits or the next book you write or the next round of submission, you might find the answers you seek.

And not writing anymore is not utter failure. Life is never so black and white that we can say we failed if we make a decision to stop writing.

[scarletpeaches]

You may think it's bullshit. I happen to agree with lucid...which concerns me...I feel uneasy when he says things I agree with.

For what it's worth, I say KTC is one of the top ten writers on AW. And what I say goes, so end of story. He's good. Better than good.

If he gives up hope? (His words, remember, not mine)...he's quit. Now it's all very well avoiding the word 'fail' as if it's a dirty word, but that's just too warm and fuzzy for my liking.

If your goal in life is to become a published novelist and you later, for whatever reason, stop trying - you fail in that goal. You won't become a published novelist.

I don't know why we avoid using words like 'fail' and 'quit'. But if you give up on a goal, then...that's quitting.

I for one hope Kevin doesn't and that this is just a temporary self-doubt thing, but whatever he decides, I'll still look at it from lucid's point of view.

And that is the most worrying thing.

[Cassiopeia]

what is the most worrying thing?

I have no objection to using the words fail and quit. I only object to others deciding for someone other than themselves what it means to have failed or to quit.

That's nobody's freaking place but the person themselves.

As a writer, SP, you know that words mean everything. Even one word can influence someone to believe that because they failed to be a published writer, they are a failure as a writer or worse a failure as a person.

Unchecked self doubt can ruin a person's life.

So what if a person recognizes they aren't good enough to be published? Maybe they'll put all that effort and energy into something they DO have a talent for. What they learned from writing and making a true and honest effort IS success NOT failure.

Now if you and lucid want to beat yourselves over the head with that stick you have and feel it is the best motivational tool you have...well good for you. :D But don't use it on others. ;)

ETA: Oh and I can't really say where I'd place KTC. I've not read enough to make that judgment call. I only know that is books, Sebastian's Poet and Reasons, touched my life in a way that I FAIL to properly express it.

[scarletpeaches]

It's nothing to do with beating each other over the head with a stick. What you call being brutal, we call telling it like it is. Set out to do something? Don't manage it? Fail. I use that 'tool' on others all I like. Some people don't like it, other people do. Meh. If i have to accept other people being the way they are, likewise, they must accept this is how I am.

If a person recognises they're not good enough to be published? Well...depends on the individual. KTC is though, which is why if he gives up, he's a quitter.

And actually, he's in the top six, but 'ten' sounds more rounded and my OCD wouldn't let me use any other word.

If I thought he was shite, I'd say so, but he's not, which is why the threat of him quitting makes me angry. If he was mediocre at writing, it wouldn't be any great loss. I couldn't give two hoots if some talentless hack quits. So what? The world can do without their 'work'.

But KTC needs to be aware that if he gives up, I will mock and taunt him 'til his dying day.

[Cassiopeia]

But KTC needs to be aware that if he gives up, I will mock and taunt him 'til his dying day.

How is he giving up if he focuses on writing the poetry he loves and working in freelancing? And I believe he said he's not giving up yet.

Anyway, SP, I'm not blind to your arrogance or that of others who think it's their job to tell it like it is. ;)

And as long as you continue to do so, I'll be right there offering the OTHER way to go about motivating people and maybe somewhere in between, they'll find their own stride.

[scarletpeaches]

Interesting that you call it arrogance. If anyone else on AW has the right to voice their thoughts on the matter, then so do I. People are free to agree or disagree as they see fit, but I never hear anyone who puts the opposite point of view being called arrogant.

I guess assertiveness is often mistaken for arrogance by those who simply have a different way of phrasing things.

[Cassiopeia]

Interesting that you call it arrogance. If anyone else on AW has the right to voice their thoughts on the matter, then so do I. People are free to agree or disagree as they see fit, but I never hear anyone who puts the opposite point of view being called arrogant.

I guess assertiveness is often mistaken for arrogance by those who simply have a different way of phrasing things.

I wouldn't call it being assertive in the place of arrogance. Even an assertive person can be arrogant. However maybe you are thinking of aggressive instead.

[scarletpeaches]

No, I'm not.

[Cassiopeia]

I think this thread has been derailed long enough.

Back to our regularly scheduled program:

I've been given the opportunity to co-author a script for a short video. Totally chuffed about that one.

I'm not writing much on my own projects but I know there's a time and a place for everything and I'll carve out what time I can between trying to build a business, finish my Bachelor's in Communications and working on the script and doing research for one of my clients.

I have high hopes for this year. :)

[cwfgal]

[QUOTE=Cassiopeia;4788931]So what if a person recognizes they aren't good enough to be published? Maybe they'll put all that effort and energy into something they DO have a talent for. What they learned from writing and making a true and honest effort IS success NOT failure.
QUOTE]

If being published is someone's goal and that person "recognizes they aren't good enough to be published" they have a couple of choices. They can give up trying, which virtually guarantees they will never be published. Or they can try to get to a point where they ARE good enough to be published. They can invest the time, money, and effort into learning and enhancing their writing skills. They can keep practicing by writing and submitting and studying other published works. If being published is something this person wants badly enough, they will never stop trying to get there. Does trying guarantee success? Nope. But NOT trying guarantees no success. And if that's a choice someone wants to make, it's okay. We all choose our own priorities and just because something is of ultimate importance to one person, doesn't mean it is or should be to everyone else.

Beth

[billyf027]

I have recieved a lot of acceptances of short stories this year. I even was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, but I continue to struggle with my writing. The short stories I write always need a lot of revisions, and I even discover errors after I submit them.

I dream of writing a novel, but fear the amount of errors that I will make, and the number of revisions I will have to do to make it readable. I think I'm doomed to write short stories forever and even that is a struggle right now.

PS I have numerous arm/hand injuries that make it hard to write a lot in one day. But, I love books and it has always been my dream to write a novel someday.

[year90ninezero]

Surviving. I got married last week, though, so surviving has been enough.

[C.M.C.]

I wrote the draft of the sequel to my novel. Now I just have to figure out what I want to do with it.

[Nateskate]

I wrote the draft of the sequel to my novel. Now I just have to figure out what I want to do with it.

Congrats. What do you see as your options?

[Nateskate]

Surviving. I got married last week, though, so surviving has been enough.

congrats to you as well.

[KTC]

Oops...I didn't mean to stir up such a debate when I posted my comment. Thank you for the threats, the tough love, the votes of confidence, etc. I've nearly exhausted the market with these three manuscripts. Pretty soon I will have no alternative but to give up on them. I won't even tell you how many people I sent them to in the hopes of gaining representation or publication, but I can assure you it's in the hundreds...combined. I'm still trying, but soon I will have to face the music. I did mention how well everything else is going...had this not been in the Novels forum (say Roundtable), my post would have probably been all positive.

Thanks, guys.

[C.M.C.]

Congrats. What do you see as your options?

There's the option of shelving it if I don't like it, sending it out and testing my patience waiting for a reply, or self-publishing it. None of the three have jumped ahead yet, not that I've really given it any thought.

[AlishaS]

I figured I would bump this thread since 2010 is coming to end soon.

Overall 2010 was a good year.
My first novel, though unagented and unsold gave me a lot to look forward to and how to better my writing.
Novel two was a learning exerience and is currently hanging out in the trunk awaiting complete overhaul.
Novel three... Is finished, querying, gotten me fulls and partials... even one offer of revise and submit!

Overall 2010 has treated me very well. I completed three novels and have a stack of idea's that are just begging to be put down on paper. I'm super happy how the year has gone with my writing... my personal life? now that's another matter :)

[willietheshakes]

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

[Anne Lyle]

One word. Awesome.

* I got promoted at work = more money + a chance to shift from just head-down programming to more "big picture" design and planning work

* My first short fiction sale was published

* Spent 9 months on a novel revision course, finally finishing my manuscript after almost 4 years of frustration!

* Had a serendipitous meeting with a publisher, which led to an invitation to submit despite not having an agent (yet) - and ultimately a request for the full manuscript :D

Now I'm just praying 2011 continues the trend and doesn't crash and burn on me :eek:

[darkangel77]

Writing-wise, it's been an on/off year, mostly because of graduate school, clinic, traveling, and all that.

I actually had a goal that I'd get my query + novel out to agents by the end of the year, but since it's about closing in on Christmas and I haven't done that yet...that'll be my goal for next year. I kept getting backtracked on editing, and just when I was getting close to something I thought was decent about a month and a half ago, papers, assignments, presentations, and exams galore came crashing down on me, all at the same time. And now I'm about to start finals, so unfortunately all my time will be devoted to that now. And then I have to entertain my long distance boyfriend for 2 weeks after that. But such is life!

Really happy for those who have had a great writing year, though :)

[Anne Lyle]

Hugs on getting sidetracked - but it sounds like you have a lot on in RL! If it helps, 2011 will be the first year since 2007 that my New Year's resolution isn't "finish Book One"!

[BrandiZ]

I'm very optimistic as I get to the finish line of perfecting my query letter. 2011 is going to be awesome!