The Fictioneer

Posted By admin on July 2, 2009

This week was all about following up on my visit to New York.  The trip went so well, it left me with plenty to do, which is really a wonderful problem to have.  Times like this motivate and stimulate me; when I know an editor’s interested in something I’ve talked about, it pushes me to work harder and faster to finish follow-up materials that could lead to a sale.  It pushes me creatively, too; I think I do some of my best work under pressure.  Now, I just need to finish a few things up over the weekend and send them before my next travel rolls around.  In other words, I have to wrap up the current follow-ups before next Friday, when I leave for another workshop.

That’s right, another writing workshop.  Like the one in May, this will take place in Lincoln City, Oregon.  Once again, I’ll be studying under Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and it should be an excellent experience.  I’m looking forward to it.  I’ll write more about it as the workshop gets closer, but for now, it’s time for bed.  See you soon.

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Posted By admin on July 1, 2009

Wendy and I returned Saturday from our trip to New York City, which was just great.  Make that incredible.  We did so many fun things, and the writing side was also fabulous.  One part of that writing-related business had to do with something I’ve been keeping under my hat for a while…a bit of great news I didn’t want to mention until I’d signed the contract.  The news is this:  I’ve sold a novel.  It’s a middle grade urban fantasy due in 2011 from Clarion Books, and it’s titled My Favorite Band Does Not Exist.  During our trip to New York last week, we had lunch with the editor at Clarion, signed the contract, and had lunch with my agent to discuss the deal.  So things look pretty positive.  And the trip was extra fun and exciting as a result.  Now do you see why I was being so vague and cagey about the details of our trip?  Of course, though I’ve told you about the book, there are other details that I still can’t discuss yet.  Suffice it to say, it was an awesome week.  See you soon!

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Posted By admin on June 20, 2009

Today turned out to be a real back yard extravaganza!  My wife, Wendy, decided we should trim the lower branches off the 50-foot spruce behind our house…so that’s what we did!  For three and a half hours, we used an electric pole saw borrowed from the neighbors across the street to cut down an avalanche of branches, most heavy and cumbersome.  I ended up with cuts all over me, sawdust flying at my eyes (my goggles kept fogging up, so I couldn’t use them much), branches flying down at me, and a host of sore muscles.  After cutting, we had to haul the limbs across the street and dump them over the hillside (Township property and a known dumping ground for the neighborhood and beyond).  It was quite a job.  And after that, I mowed the lawn!  Plus cleaned a corner of the basement and took care of other odds and ends.  It was quite an exhausting day.  Off to bed now, to dream of our upcoming trip to New York City…just one day away now.  See you soon.

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Posted By admin on June 19, 2009

In just two days, my wife and I will be heading for the Big Apple, and I can’t wait!  We really have a jam-packed week planned, including lots of writing-related business that I just can’t talk about yet.  Soon, hopefully, I’ll post some exciting news right here.  So watch this space!  Meanwhile, this weekend will be all about the packing and prepping, getting ready for this exciting trip.  Well, that and some yard work, gardening, chores, and Father’s Day dinner.  Maybe I can squeeze in a little writing and relaxation, too, if I’m lucky.  So let the countdown continue!  I’ve visited New York City five times before, in 1985, 1986, 1995, 2002, and 2005.  In just two days, I’ll be there for the sixth time!  Talk about being pumped!  See you soon!

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Posted By admin on June 18, 2009

All I can think about is going to New York City next week.  I have so many cool things planned for the trip that I just totally can’t wait for it.  For example, I won tickets yesterday to see the Late Show with David Letterman!  (This’ll be the third time I’ve been to one of his tapings.  The first time, in the 80s, was for his original late night show.)  I also have tickets to The Colbert Report, which is hilarious!  And we’re going to see the musical Wicked on Broadway, too!  Not to mention my top secret writing-related meetings and activities.  (Maybe I’ll be able to talk about them when I get back.)  And, of course, the incredible food and music and sightseeing and shopping, and…I can’t wait!  I know, my productivity has been low this week.  Haven’t gotten much done.  Haven’t even started that short story I was fighting to get rolling.  But guess what?  For once, I don’t care!  Because I’m going to New York City in a few days!  See you soon!

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Posted By admin on June 17, 2009

Have I started writing that short story I’ve been putting off?  The answer is “no.”  I’m still fighting my fear and reluctance to try the form again after over a year away from it.  Yes, I realize this is all a major head game, and I should have plowed right past it already…but unfortunately, it’s giving me a bit of a tussle.  One of the problems is, I’m leaving for New York City in five days, and I’ll be there for a week.  Therefore, I know it’s unlikely I’ll have enough time to finish an entire 5,000-6,000-word story in a single, uninterrupted run of days.  I hate breaking up the writing of a short story, especially for an entire week.  But even this, I know, is a lame excuse.  When I’m working on a novel, I sometimes break for a few days at a time for various reasons…and I’m always able to pick up where I left off, plot-wise and feeling-wise.  So what I need to do now, soon, tomorrow, is just pick an idea out of thin air and start smacking keys.  I’ve put this off too long, and I have to get it in gear.  The current deadline for the story I’m planning to write is June 30.  If I don’t start soon, I’m going to have a problem finishing by that date.  So please, send some good vibes my way.  Wish me luck in getting this thing rolling before the deadline passes and I lose my mind, whichever comes first.  See you soon.

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Posted By admin on June 16, 2009

Tonight, I was determined to start a new story…my first short story in many, many months.  But I didn’t start it.  In part, my reasons were good.  My wife had a tough day and needed to talk.  I had to run an errand.  I had to work on a query for the current novel.  But I have to admit, my main reason for not writing was a bad one:  fear.  As Frank Herbert wrote in Dune, “Fear is the mind-killer.”  How true it is.  The fact is, I haven’t written a short story since February-March 2008.  That’s right:  over a year ago.  Now, in that time, I haven’t exactly been idle.  I’ve written two novels and a ton of marketing materials.  I can’t say the lack of short story writing has even been a bad thing; after all, I made a conscious decision to focus on novels.  However, now that I really want to write a story, I’m afraid.  I’m also facing the natural fear that comes with not doing much creative writing since the end of April 2009.  So now I have to work a little harder than usual to build a head of steam.  I have to get to the point where the urge to write surpasses the fear of writing.  And then I just have to start pounding the keys.  That’s how it works sometimes.  Okay, most of the time.  So wish me luck!  See you soon.

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Posted By admin on June 13, 2009

Sometimes, I feel like I’ve come so far in life.  I feel like I’ve really gained wisdom, skill, and maturity.  Other times, I feel like I’ve made exactly zero progress.  I’m pretty sure that’s a common feeling among human beings, but it doesn’t make it any easier.  Days like today just take everything and throw it right out the window for no genuinely good reason.  All over something truly, truly stupid.  And that makes me worry even more, because what will I do when something truly big and scary comes along, and I have to face it?  Will I rise to the occasion?  Will all the stupid setbacks finally add up to a lesson that finally takes root and gives me the power to face the big stuff?  I sure hope so, because all this backsliding and beating myself up over stupid unfinished business is getting old.  See you soon.

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Posted By admin on June 11, 2009

Starting today, the fiction writing is taking a back seat…which, I know, isn’t a bad thing.  In fact, I could use a bit of a break about now.  It’s high time I reenergized.  Actually, I’m about to have company from out of town for the weekend, which I know will keep me occupied and away from the writing…especially because part of the company is a 7-year-old nephew with a lot to say.  I’m looking forward to seeing him, though it does make me wonder how people with kids manage to get any writing done ever.  My hat is off to all of them for accomplishing something that seems like magic to me.  See you soon.

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Posted By admin on June 10, 2009

I got two great rejections today…very complimentary!  One was for a short story, and one was for the urban fantasy novel.  The one for the novel, especially, was promising.  It’s always a good thing, even when being rejected, to receive an open invitation to send more material in future.  These are the kinds of letters I keep in my “Encouragement” folder and pull out on days that are especially down, when I feel like there’s no hope.  In all seriousness, these are the kinds of things that help me keep going, which is no mean feat considering the long haul and constant rejection that come with fiction writing.  One thing I do need to remind myself constantly, though, is this:  as impatient and thin-skinned as I still can be, I’ve come about a million miles since the early days, when a single rejection could utterly crush me.  I still have so very much more to learn about patience, acceptance, and endurance…but I’ve already come a long way, baby.  And that, in itself, is a hell of an accomplishment.  That alone is worth celebrating again and again.  See you soon.

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