Four Hundred and Fifty Million Reasons to Soldier On

Posted on November 16, 2011 by hermit

Kotaku.com reports in on the financial success of Skyrim, the fifth Elder Scrolls game:

The press release says that they expect that the game will generate more than $450 million in global retail sales at launch. They also tell us they shipped seven million copies worldwide. Also, and stay with me here, half of the game’s “launch units” were sold in the first 48 hours and the studio says it is swamped for large reorders.

Story, setting, history, factions, characters and critters… Northern Arcadia has them all. Now, if I could just convince people to start emigrating…

Five for Tuesday

Posted on November 15, 2011 by hermit

Moving on! I mailed five more agents today, and – golly! – it sure would be nice if at least one responded. I’m not about to suggest that my first book will race up the New York Times bestsellers list and make everyone involved pots of money, but I do feel confident that – even without editorial input and subsequent revisions – the manuscript of Witch of the Colonies is at least as good as half the sci-fi/fantasy fiction published every year.

Piers Anthony spent five years trying to get a book published. John Kennedy Toole only achieved success after he was dead! And there are plenty more examples of authors who endured repeated rejections only to win out in the end.

But I still hope I hear something back soon. This is a lonely road to walk.

I Blame the Hill Giants

Posted on November 14, 2011 by hermit

Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is my excuse for not posting the past few days. Well, that, and finally cracking Terry Pratchett’s new novel Snuff. Also, the last Harry Potter movie is available On Demand in HD! And the weather was really nice in Chicago this weekend!

I’m enjoying documenting my slow train to publication. I’d prefer if I got some actual rejection letters, so I could photograph and post, but so far I’ve heard only silence. Tomorrow I start soliciting agents again.

Today I think I’m going to play some Skyrim.

Little Type Stuff

Posted on November 9, 2011 by hermit

I’ve tried to be judicious about switching perspectives within the novel. The bulk of the reader’s time is spent with Abigail, with occasional switches when appropriate. To mark the moments of transition, I’ve included excerpts from a range of (fictional) sources.

Today’s exercise was to review the excerpts currently in place. I’m pleased with where I ended up: only a half dozen or so require immediate attention.

If an agent or publisher asked to see this manuscript right now, I’d pass it over without a moment’s hesitation. But since I do have the time…

No news is. Full stop.

Posted on November 7, 2011 by hermit

To recap where we stand with the quest for publication:

The first agent on the list of six has been mailed, and (per their request) given an exclusive window until November 21st. Haven’t heard back yet; I’m cheerfully pessimistic. Assuming no movement with agency number one, five more mailings go out on the 21st.

In the interim, I’m editing the manuscript for the first novel (guilty pleasure) and drafting the second in the series. Also: updating this web site.

I’m staying busy.

Fit, Print, and Footprints

Posted on November 6, 2011 by hermit

To tell the first big story arc set in Northern Arcadia – the romance of Pierre and Abigail and the struggle for Northern Arcadian independence – I’m guessing I’ll need around 750-1,000 pages. Collected in one volume, you’ve got yourself a daunting-looking novel. I’d prefer to split things up into slimmer chunks – a la the Amber series from Roger Zelazny.

Like Zelazny, I’m not going to be shy about using cliffhanger endings, either. Here’s hoping folks will forgive me at the (final) end.

One Thing (Leads to Another)

Posted on November 5, 2011 by hermit

As I jog through the manuscript, searching for mentions of the dhao bo, the newly re-christened frog people native to Northern Arcadia, I keep stopping. Suddenly, I can see where (and how!) everything from brief passages to entire scenes can be buffed and detailed.

Perspective is a marvelous thing.

My initial plan was to hold off on any sweeping changes or rewrites until a professional editor had a chance to weigh in, but now?

I can’t help myself.

Senses & Working Overtime

Posted on November 4, 2011 by hermit

Appealing powerfully and consistently to people’s senses is a hallmark, I’d suggest, of lasting fictions. In the realm of imaginative long form fiction, George R.R. Martin’s descriptions of dishes have inspired fans to acts of culinary alchemy. As a child, I was fascinated by the descriptions of lembas bread in LOTR, and even as an adult who rarely drinks, J.K. Rowling’s butter beer sounds mighty tasty.

Over the past few days, while I’ve been maintaining radio silence on this blog, I’ve been doing nothing. Okay, well, I took one day where I did nothing even slightly productive, but then I followed it up with two days focused on stinking up the place. By which I mean editing the manuscript with a keen eye (and nose, etc) on the sensory clues and cues I’m offering.

Turns out switching from fish people to frog people created an interesting challenge. What, exactly, does a toad smell like?

Fortunately, the Internet always has an answer, even if the source might seem a little half-baked.

Edioting Wind

Posted on October 31, 2011 by hermit

My father refused to edit the novel manuscripts he wrote in the middle of his life. His vision of the author was the solitary figure scratching out words on paper, each pen stroke deliberate, final. Others could puzzle over his handwriting and type the manuscript into the computer. Others could worry over the ways his book didn’t work as well as it might. Dad made some desultory efforts to sell a couple of his ‘books’ but he genuinely seemed unconcerned when he didn’t succeed.

Years later, he would read and re-read the novels he’d written, and (according to Mom) he could not have been more pleased with what he’d accomplished. Reading his own stuff, he beamed.

As I prepare to edit the Witch of the Colonies manuscript for the bajillionith time, I think of my Dad, and though I miss him I can’t help but smile.

We should all derive such satisfaction from our hard work.

I Have the Touch

Posted on October 30, 2011 by hermit

I spend my time crafting blog posts, sketching maps, weighing names and worrying over the manuscript for Witch… because, when I have fussed and bothered for a sufficient period of time, I’m happy with what I’ve written.

As much as I moan about my fears of rejection, I know, deep down: it’s time to share Abigail and Pierre with the world.

Northern Arcadia

Personal site of Christopher Turner.

Category Archives: Quest for Publication