DYING FOR THE THIRD TIME

I've been writing fiction since 2004. It took me three years and a whole lot of rejections (around 250) before I sold anything. I've sold a few short stories since, several to what SFWA laughably calls 'pro' markets.

The first novel I wrote was called KUKRIT'S HONOR, and the kindest thing I can say about it now was that it wasn't entirely crap. The second one I finished (after several false starts) was WOTAN'S BLOODY SPEAR, about werewolves in medieval Europe. WOTAN'S BLOODY SPEAR was way better, and after some time querying, got me an offer of representation from William Reiss at JHA Literary. Surely, I thought, that must mean the book's going to sell.

Alas no. After a long time, the book had gone round practically every publisher offering decent advances, and although it got within inches of being taken, it didn't sell.

I wrote and finished a bunch of different novels. None of them were very good.

Recently, I found this blog by Alexandra Sokoloff. After reading through several entries, it was like things that had been whirling around my head like jigsaw pieces in a tornado suddenly fell into place and formed something whole. A lot of material I've read in other places started to make sense.

And most importantly, I realized what I was doing wrong when writing novels.

So now I'm going to write one right. And this one's going to sell. (I really hope.) 

The title? DYING FOR THE THIRD TIME.

I'm writing this on July 1st, 2009. By July 1st, 2010, I hope to be holding a published book galleys in my hands.

Comments

[nobody]

To shatter dreams rends my heart
especially those of a novelist.
But, I must inform you duly,
even if your work rival'd Stephen King's best,
being published in a year is an idea unruly.
For even if a printer ran without rest
a year from birth to print, is unlikely, truly

perhaps on a galley you should set your sights
this possible for a newbie
and while you're waiting, sell off the rights
of the inevitable movie

[Euan]

You're right of course Publishing is slow. Shooting for galleys sounds like a better idea. I'll amend the post to do that.

But, on the other hand, if I do everything that's under my control, then the rest . . . meh. I'm not going to worry about it. If I can the novel finished, revised to the point where it's saleable, and submitted to publishers, then I'll be satisfied.

As for the movie rights . . . eh, we can dream, right? ;-)

[tmso]

Euan - you can do it.
:)

[Euan]

I love you. :-)

[tmso]

LOL