Discussions on how to write, publish, and sell a book
Left out
I haven't posted anything here, so I thought I'd fill the void. I had been waiting to start posting book chapters, but I've hit a wall on one of the books ... no, all three ... that I'm working on.
Here's where I'm at:
The Cult of Hahn - This was originally meant to be in four parts, but I'm only in the second part and I'm already up to 70K. I don't really want to go over 100K with a "first novel" because I don't think I'll be able to pitch it to a publisher as a 500+ page monstrosity. My problem is that I've been aiming towards a certain point, and now suddenly I'm there, and my thoughts beyond it are sketchy. I need to ponder it a while.
The first 6 chapters (of 13 so far) may be found here (ca. 5K per chapter) (You must be a WritersCafe member to view it.)
The Wind Whisperer - I know I'm going to have to change the title. It has too much competition (The Horse Whisperer, The Ghost Whisperer), but it really is integral to the plot, and I'm not sure what to do. I'm in the same situation with it. I got to a point, or nearly there, and I don't know where to go after it. I need to fill 3 days worth of action, and then describe a funeral (and a death that happens during it). It should be a piece of cake, but what I really need to do is get Siobhan back to New Mexico, and again things become sketchy.
Most of what I have is here. It has longer chapters divided into scenes.
The Fantastical Adventures of S-69 Lost - This began as a short story and just exploded. It is a series of sexcapades. Rebecca is 33rd century replicant, a robot with the cellular memory of a 21st century woman as well as her true memories - so true that it takes her a long time to believe that she isn't human. She has been programmed to use sex to learn valuable secrets from prisoners (in an orbiting prison fortress), the most valuable being their names. In the 33rd century, one's name is the key to a person's will. If you know someone's name, they will do anything for you if you speak with a modulated voice. Only a few know how, and they are the most dangerous. Stuck with 21st century morals, Rebecca finds her job distasteful, but has no choice other than to comply. She resolves not to fall in love, but no sooner does she voice her resolution, she falls in love with a strange woman (PIla) - something she finds particularly awkward, later discovering it was part of her creator's plan. I'm at the point where she and her "lover" are alone together, each coming to terms with their feelings. Soon Rebecca will have to discover her lover's name and secrets, thus consigning her to execution. Rebecca will want to drag that out as long as possible, but her instinct tells her that Pila is her "graduation" assignment, and she must complete it before she is let loose down on Earth, where she will attain a certain autonomy (subject to her programming), but is doomed to out-live any lovers she takes.
The first four chapters may be found here. These are generally shorter chapters, and I'm mid-way through the ninth.
Well, that's where I'm at right now. I hope to put together an anthology of my short stories sometime this year, but that keeps getting put off. I'm too busy, outside in the cold leaning against my wall, and feeling decidedly unmotivated.
Here's where I'm at:
The Cult of Hahn - This was originally meant to be in four parts, but I'm only in the second part and I'm already up to 70K. I don't really want to go over 100K with a "first novel" because I don't think I'll be able to pitch it to a publisher as a 500+ page monstrosity. My problem is that I've been aiming towards a certain point, and now suddenly I'm there, and my thoughts beyond it are sketchy. I need to ponder it a while.
The first 6 chapters (of 13 so far) may be found here (ca. 5K per chapter) (You must be a WritersCafe member to view it.)
The Wind Whisperer - I know I'm going to have to change the title. It has too much competition (The Horse Whisperer, The Ghost Whisperer), but it really is integral to the plot, and I'm not sure what to do. I'm in the same situation with it. I got to a point, or nearly there, and I don't know where to go after it. I need to fill 3 days worth of action, and then describe a funeral (and a death that happens during it). It should be a piece of cake, but what I really need to do is get Siobhan back to New Mexico, and again things become sketchy.
Most of what I have is here. It has longer chapters divided into scenes.
The Fantastical Adventures of S-69 Lost - This began as a short story and just exploded. It is a series of sexcapades. Rebecca is 33rd century replicant, a robot with the cellular memory of a 21st century woman as well as her true memories - so true that it takes her a long time to believe that she isn't human. She has been programmed to use sex to learn valuable secrets from prisoners (in an orbiting prison fortress), the most valuable being their names. In the 33rd century, one's name is the key to a person's will. If you know someone's name, they will do anything for you if you speak with a modulated voice. Only a few know how, and they are the most dangerous. Stuck with 21st century morals, Rebecca finds her job distasteful, but has no choice other than to comply. She resolves not to fall in love, but no sooner does she voice her resolution, she falls in love with a strange woman (PIla) - something she finds particularly awkward, later discovering it was part of her creator's plan. I'm at the point where she and her "lover" are alone together, each coming to terms with their feelings. Soon Rebecca will have to discover her lover's name and secrets, thus consigning her to execution. Rebecca will want to drag that out as long as possible, but her instinct tells her that Pila is her "graduation" assignment, and she must complete it before she is let loose down on Earth, where she will attain a certain autonomy (subject to her programming), but is doomed to out-live any lovers she takes.
The first four chapters may be found here. These are generally shorter chapters, and I'm mid-way through the ninth.
Well, that's where I'm at right now. I hope to put together an anthology of my short stories sometime this year, but that keeps getting put off. I'm too busy, outside in the cold leaning against my wall, and feeling decidedly unmotivated.
Add a Comment
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Comment by James R. Vance on May 3, 2009 at 5:40am -
Ref: The Fantastical....
You are so lucky working on Sci-Fi Fantasy based in the 33rd century. You can write whatever. The reader will accept every word, every scenario as they immerse themselves in your fantasy creation. My books are set in the present in real settings. To achieve accuracy and credibility even in fiction, considerable research was required...an absolute pain & extremely time-consuming. Don't stay out in the cold. Be motivated by your freedom of thought to create.
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