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Wednesday 3 September 2014

What's Up Wednesday & IWSG

I'm back for What's Up Wednesday, a weekly meme run by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow. Here's what I've been up to this past two weeks! ^_^

What I'm reading

This week, I've been reading the Emperor's Edge series, which is an awesome indie steampunk fantasy series by Lindsay Buroker. I've also been rereading some of the Skulduggery Pleasant books in preparation for the finale!

What I'm writing

SHINY NEW MANUSCRIPT. Seriously. This. Book. It's relentless, I tell you! It has me captive and superglued to my laptop! Even when I was on holiday, with a broken flash drive (a writer's worst nightmare!), I managed to write 14,000 words - I'm now halfway through and it's only been 2 1/2 weeks since I started writing it! This is the fastest I've ever written a draft, and it's my 15th book! It's official - I'm in love with this story. <3

What inspires me

THIS STORY... Okay, I'll stop now. :P But it's been months since a new story captivated me in this way (the last time was with Indestructible, last November), and my first drafts are often an exercise in extreme patience. Nothing's better than being completely in love with your own story!

Also, this article by Chuck Wendig on writing what you love. This is EXACTLY what I'm doing with this series! :)

What else I've been up to

Well, I didn't update last week because I was in Florence! But the week before, I was writing words and spending time with the boyfriend. Then last week, I went to Italy with my family. Here are some of my photos! ^_^










Picture

It's also time for IWSG! The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the creation of Ninja Captain Alex, and is a great way for writers to share their worries, support and encouragement. 

I talked last month about goals, and about how "backup plans" are basically saving my sanity while swimming in the query trenches. Now that I'm halfway through my shiny new manuscript, that's more true than ever! This book is like a dream. That's not to say it's easy - it's actually one of the most challenging projects I've ever written. But it's basically the book I'd NEED to buy if someone else had written it. Not only that, it's also like the Darkworld series in that I don't just want to write it - I want to see it published. With Darkness Watching, I was willing to postpone my dream of getting an agent and sign with CQ to publish a story mainstream publishing would never accept. And it's the same with this one. Unless gravity reverses and we're all sent spiralling out into space, I'm determined to write this series!

I'm not yet at the stage where I can share too much about it, but I will say this: this is not a book I want to put through the traditional publishing process. Of course, I really want an agent and a publishing deal for my children's books - that's always been my dream. But it's been four years now since I started seeking a traditional publishing deal. And this is my fifteenth manuscript. That's a LOT of unshared words. I'm very lucky that I get to publish the rest of my Darkworld series with CQ.  Some of my other manuscripts are shelved, and rightly so. But ultimately... well, it's a subjective business. That's a fact. And in publishing, so many things are out of our hands - including our entire careers.

I think it might be obvious where I'm going with this. To make it clear: I'm still querying The Clockmaker's Key. But this new series is my focus for now. I called it a backup plan, but that might be devaluing it a little. Well, we writers are an insecure bunch! But this has been a long time coming, I think. All I can say is... next year looks set to be an interesting one!

17 comments:

  1. So happy to hear your new project is going so well, I hope it continues. You're right, this is such a subjective business to be in.

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  2. That's so great you're loving the new project. It's definitely the best feeling :D And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your querying project, too!

    Thanks for sharing the photos and congrats on the ice bucket challenge!

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  3. Being in love with a project is the best! And Italy! *dies* There is so much gorgeous there. I have to add it my places I must visit list!

    Your video is hilarious! ^_^

    It definitely helps to have another project you love in your hands while you're querying. It reminds us how that one story isn't all we have to offer the world. :) I just finished my 15th novel! But I suspect at the pace you write, you'll have me surpassed quite soon. ^_^

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  4. Sue- Thank you! :)

    Cole - Thanks! :)

    Krystal - Italy's wonderful! I recommend Rome, Sorrento and Lake Garda, though I enjoyed Florence, too!

    I can't watch that video back without cringing, lol.

    Yes, very true! I think that's why I've written so many! :P

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  5. Oh Florence!!! My fave city in Italia! So so beautiful and artsy.
    Congrats on your publication with CQ! That's wonderful! And I just love when a new story enchants you so much you never want to leave it. Ahh the romance of a shiny new draft!! :)

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  6. I self-pubbed, so I'm no help. LOL
    Good you have another project to keep you busy.

    IWSG #179 until Alex culls the list again.

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  7. Florence? Cool!

    That is a lot of work in four years. My hat's off to you.
    Always submitting. Always writing. That's my moto. :)

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  8. Florence!? Awesome! Super jealous. And great photos :) Also great IWSG post.

    Sarah Allen
    (From Sarah, With Joy)

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  9. Good Luck with this new series. Sounds like your happy and breezing through it.

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  10. It's good to be writing and querying at the same time. I'm impressed you've written 15 manuscripts in just four years. Wow.
    I enjoyed the Emperor's Edge as well.

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  11. It is so fun when a new project has you all excited like that!! It's the BEST part of being a writer.

    Soooo very jealous of your trip to Italy. Gorgeous photos!

    Hope you have a stellar week!

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  12. Glad your new project is moving along quickly. Not every manuscript fits traditional publishing, so it's good you're willing to take an alternate route to see it come to life.

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  13. 14k words is nothing to sneeze at. Congratulations! Hopefully the pace will continue. Just don't burn yourself out. Take a break whenever you need it. Good luck.

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  14. PK - Thank you! I love that feeling. :)

    Melissa - Ah, I'm actually considering both paths! :)

    David - Thanks! Absolutely. :)

    Sarah - Thank you! :)

    Cathrina - thank you!

    Lynda - Thanks! I'm really enjoying the series.

    Kris - It really is! ^_^

    Alex - Thanks! Yes - absolutely true! I'm happy to be flexible with how I share my work.

    Ken - Thank you! I'll try not to - especially as I'm not used to writing this fast!

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  15. Woot! Let's hear it for fast drafting! That's awesome you're passionate about your story. It's very exciting to hear. :)

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  16. I think it's great that non-traditional publishing is becoming more and more frequent, to the point where one can choose which way they want to publish each novel.

    Best of luck on both fronts and those pics of Italy are great. :)

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  17. Man, you've got ME excited for your shiny new idea! Hope it continues to be awesome. Great pics too.

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