Nathan Bransford's Friday blog post pointed to a very interesting article at Whatever about why first novelists are usually in their thirties.
John Scalzi wrote his first novel at 28, and was published for the first time (with his second novel) at 35.
Encouraging.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Out into the Big Bad World
I've just revised a short story which failed - somehow - to win the competition I wrote it for, and sent it out into the world again. This time I've submitted it to a magazine.
I've another story under consideration elsewhere.
That's it; I'm not querying my novel at the moment pending extensive rework.
It's a good feeling sending a story out. I'm not writing at the moment, but I still have a couple of little representatives flying around. You never know what might happen.
I've another story under consideration elsewhere.
That's it; I'm not querying my novel at the moment pending extensive rework.
It's a good feeling sending a story out. I'm not writing at the moment, but I still have a couple of little representatives flying around. You never know what might happen.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tips from the movies
Here are five lessons writers should (apparently) learn from the movies.
Ah, now I see where I've been going wrong. Although I always describe my explosions graphically, I haven't included a soundtrack and rarely use slo-mo effects.
Ah, now I see where I've been going wrong. Although I always describe my explosions graphically, I haven't included a soundtrack and rarely use slo-mo effects.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Polish, shine, perfect
Nathan Bransford's blog post on Thursday Stepping up your Game hit the nail on the head. Only one agent so far has asked to see my entire MS. Here's a quote from her eventual rejection:
"The market is extremely tight at the moment, and crime fiction in particular is proving difficult to place."
Encouraging, no? No.
But everyone in the business is saying the same thing. Did you think it was hard to be published? Well now it's a whole lot harder! There are only two sensible responses:
1) Polish, shine, perfect.
2) Give up.
"The market is extremely tight at the moment, and crime fiction in particular is proving difficult to place."
Encouraging, no? No.
But everyone in the business is saying the same thing. Did you think it was hard to be published? Well now it's a whole lot harder! There are only two sensible responses:
1) Polish, shine, perfect.
2) Give up.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Back to page one.
Just before Christmas '07, I went out for drinks with friends I rarely see. I'd been writing for about 6 weeks. I told them I was writing a murder mystery, proudly boasting that I'd written 12,000 words already. I hadn't got to the murder yet though, I added.
"You've written 12,000 words of a murder mystery with no murder?" said one of them. "That doesn't exactly sound riveting!"
With friends like that...
However others were A LOT more encouraging, so I kept writing instead of topping myself.
I stopped submitting to agents a month or so ago. I decided that the novel was just not ready, and I could be harming its chances by sending it out. There were a number of issues churning at the back of my mind, not ready to be verbalised.
The intervening month has clarified one of them for me:
The first 12,000 words of my murder mystery have no murder. Maybe that is insufficiently riveting.
So when I embark on the next round of edits, the murder will be moving from page 58 to page 1. Current pages 1-57 will appear around pg. 4 or 5 and 9 or 10, interspersed with current events.
I'm not over-fond of books that are structured like this. If Agatha can spend 30 pages (admittedly, rarely 57 pages) setting the scene, I tend to think, who are we to introduce time disconnects and where-did-it-all-go-wrong flashbacks?
There is, however, a difference. When you pick up an Agatha Christie you're along for the ride. You know you'll be entertained. You let Agatha take you there how she will. When you pick up one of my books there will be slightly more uncertainty - at least until you've read some of my stuff already.
"You've written 12,000 words of a murder mystery with no murder?" said one of them. "That doesn't exactly sound riveting!"
With friends like that...
However others were A LOT more encouraging, so I kept writing instead of topping myself.
I stopped submitting to agents a month or so ago. I decided that the novel was just not ready, and I could be harming its chances by sending it out. There were a number of issues churning at the back of my mind, not ready to be verbalised.
The intervening month has clarified one of them for me:
The first 12,000 words of my murder mystery have no murder. Maybe that is insufficiently riveting.
So when I embark on the next round of edits, the murder will be moving from page 58 to page 1. Current pages 1-57 will appear around pg. 4 or 5 and 9 or 10, interspersed with current events.
I'm not over-fond of books that are structured like this. If Agatha can spend 30 pages (admittedly, rarely 57 pages) setting the scene, I tend to think, who are we to introduce time disconnects and where-did-it-all-go-wrong flashbacks?
There is, however, a difference. When you pick up an Agatha Christie you're along for the ride. You know you'll be entertained. You let Agatha take you there how she will. When you pick up one of my books there will be slightly more uncertainty - at least until you've read some of my stuff already.
Friday, May 22, 2009
No poetry
Adorno famously said "There is no poetry after Auschwitz".
That's how I feel after the release of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in Ireland.
The findings are being discussed all over the country this week. My usual concerns seem inexpressibly trivial in the light of what these children went through.
The report is honest and detailed and its authors deserve praise. But it's too late. Most of the victims are long dead.
That's how I feel after the release of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in Ireland.
The findings are being discussed all over the country this week. My usual concerns seem inexpressibly trivial in the light of what these children went through.
The report is honest and detailed and its authors deserve praise. But it's too late. Most of the victims are long dead.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Back back back!
I'm just back from a holiday on a remote Croatian island with no public internet access. Hi!
While we were away, the winner of the Francis MacManus award was announced. You can read the details here.
The winning story was broadcast on May 10th. It should be available here. Click on the link for May 10th 2009.
I haven't tried to listen yet because the requisite silence is not available in my house. If the link turns out to be faulty I'll update this post.
Not only the winner, but twenty other stories to listen to! I can't wait!
While we were away, the winner of the Francis MacManus award was announced. You can read the details here.
The winning story was broadcast on May 10th. It should be available here. Click on the link for May 10th 2009.
I haven't tried to listen yet because the requisite silence is not available in my house. If the link turns out to be faulty I'll update this post.
Not only the winner, but twenty other stories to listen to! I can't wait!
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