Two things, right off: it is good to be back...and I need some hardhitting AW advice.
Backstory: After completing the novel I'd worked on while I frequented here, I made a tough decision. We only get so many chances--and this wasn't the right book to lead with in the series that I had in mind. Too dark, too violent, too any other adjective that popped into my mind. The few agents whom I showed the book claimed the first person p.o.v by a sideline character distanced them from the hero. I made a tough decision: to lead off with another story that had in my mind for years--and which I'd tried to write, in one form or another, since 1993. I experimented, using the hero's p.o.v...and things began to fall into place.
Dramatic ironing: A wrinkle soon arose. A press release alerted me to a juggernaut arriving from a well-known Hollywood name sometime in 2012. Though our storylines differed completely, I felt the need to put on speed--and to have my own novel completed before the juggernaut arrived.
Enter the partner: I contacted a past pro contact, B, who's collaborated several times and has authored 65 novels: s/f, mystery, YA. He agreed to partner up and we devised our strategy, without a written contract. I'd send me the first section of 80 pages, as polished as I could make them. And he'd go to town on these, working his magic where I was weak: transitions, gestures, techno details, etc. Meanwhile, I'd be prepping the next, longer section while waiting for his rewrite.
Long story made short: B's rewrite of the opening pages, which I received in June, was first-rate. Since then, though, I've had nothing but promises to send the rewrite of the second section...and even look at the balance of the book, sent him in following chunks. E-mails have grown more sporadic, usually informing me that he's looking after his mother again. I've stepped up the pressure, politely insisting that I really need to know when the next pages are coming. Nothing.
My goal: I want to proceed on this solo, since the project will be tanked if all I do is sit and hope for the best. Actually, I told B a few weeks ago that if he could simply send me the changed copy for the second section, I'd be willing to regard his partner duties as complete--provided he review the completed manuscript. No response once again. I've gone on to rewrite section 2 myself and am prepared to go through the first pages again, removing all trace of B's presence.
Question: Am I right in claiming ownership since B is in default and the the concept/plotline/characters are mine and I roughed out the entire story? What action do I need to take beyond telling him, in an e-mail, today of my wish to go on with this solo? Do I need to go through the expense of an attorney?
Final points: The book has had numerous forms, as I said. A few years ago, I pitched it under a different title with a different cast of characters. Luckily, in my queries, I didn't spell out the novel's Almighty Shockeroo (now connected to the juggernaut). I hope I'm right in thinking that I'm covered by the files of query letters, flash drives of drafts of that manuscript too.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you in advance. And I want you to know I have much thicker skin since my time in Query Hell.
I invited 5 beta readers to sneak-peak the first fifty pages. And these readers ranged from pros to savvy genre fans. They offered terrific, insightful advice that I was grateful to get before my baby makes the rounds.
Cheers!
Backstory: After completing the novel I'd worked on while I frequented here, I made a tough decision. We only get so many chances--and this wasn't the right book to lead with in the series that I had in mind. Too dark, too violent, too any other adjective that popped into my mind. The few agents whom I showed the book claimed the first person p.o.v by a sideline character distanced them from the hero. I made a tough decision: to lead off with another story that had in my mind for years--and which I'd tried to write, in one form or another, since 1993. I experimented, using the hero's p.o.v...and things began to fall into place.
Dramatic ironing: A wrinkle soon arose. A press release alerted me to a juggernaut arriving from a well-known Hollywood name sometime in 2012. Though our storylines differed completely, I felt the need to put on speed--and to have my own novel completed before the juggernaut arrived.
Enter the partner: I contacted a past pro contact, B, who's collaborated several times and has authored 65 novels: s/f, mystery, YA. He agreed to partner up and we devised our strategy, without a written contract. I'd send me the first section of 80 pages, as polished as I could make them. And he'd go to town on these, working his magic where I was weak: transitions, gestures, techno details, etc. Meanwhile, I'd be prepping the next, longer section while waiting for his rewrite.
Long story made short: B's rewrite of the opening pages, which I received in June, was first-rate. Since then, though, I've had nothing but promises to send the rewrite of the second section...and even look at the balance of the book, sent him in following chunks. E-mails have grown more sporadic, usually informing me that he's looking after his mother again. I've stepped up the pressure, politely insisting that I really need to know when the next pages are coming. Nothing.
My goal: I want to proceed on this solo, since the project will be tanked if all I do is sit and hope for the best. Actually, I told B a few weeks ago that if he could simply send me the changed copy for the second section, I'd be willing to regard his partner duties as complete--provided he review the completed manuscript. No response once again. I've gone on to rewrite section 2 myself and am prepared to go through the first pages again, removing all trace of B's presence.
Question: Am I right in claiming ownership since B is in default and the the concept/plotline/characters are mine and I roughed out the entire story? What action do I need to take beyond telling him, in an e-mail, today of my wish to go on with this solo? Do I need to go through the expense of an attorney?
Final points: The book has had numerous forms, as I said. A few years ago, I pitched it under a different title with a different cast of characters. Luckily, in my queries, I didn't spell out the novel's Almighty Shockeroo (now connected to the juggernaut). I hope I'm right in thinking that I'm covered by the files of query letters, flash drives of drafts of that manuscript too.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you in advance. And I want you to know I have much thicker skin since my time in Query Hell.
I invited 5 beta readers to sneak-peak the first fifty pages. And these readers ranged from pros to savvy genre fans. They offered terrific, insightful advice that I was grateful to get before my baby makes the rounds.Cheers!
