Publishing

So, I met with a very good friend today and we fell into the conversation of publishing.

I'm very close to being done with the second draft of my book. In fact, if I can just crank out these last ten chapters, I'll be able to start editing. And from there... I'm not entirely sure what I want to do. There's many options. I could try and find and agent and publish that way. I could try and send my manuscript to publishers to see if I could get it published that way. OR I could self publish.

Self publishing is beginning to have an appeal to me. Originally, years ago, I would have never consider the option. Now, it doesn't seem like the other two options are a good idea at the moment. If I self publish, I'll be able to promote the book myself, have family and friends buy it and read it, and hopefully have it start building a bit of a fan base that way. It might be a little pricey in the beginning but, hopefully, it'll start getting a little more rewarding as time goes on.

So, I'm beginning to get revved up for the new year. I'm going to try to do a chapter at least every day (if not every two days) so I can get those ten chapters done in a couple of weeks. Then I'm going to crack down on the editing.  Hopefully, if everything goes well, I will have my stuff up in at least 6 months for everyone to be able to buy a hardcopy of. I want to start getting this done. I want everyone to see what I'm writing.

And I'm guessing (right now) that the only way to do that at the moment is to self-publish.

The Book

I am published.

This short blog entry today, before the New Year begins, is to let you know that I am officially published. Two of my short stories, of which I am both proud, have been published in a book. The book is a science book, an astronomy book, full of professional papers and recounts done by professional astronomers. Technically, it is mostly the boyfriend's book since he's one of the three editors on the book. Most of the astronomers in the book I've met and adore. They were all very sweet to let me publish two of my short science fiction stories in their astronomy book: "The Demotion of Pluto" and "Titan: Mission Gone BOOM!"

If you're interested in buying a book, go to the  www.CollinsFoundationPress.org and look for the book entitled Small Telescope and Astronomical Research. You can order it straight off the website. Today, it is $19.95. As of the new year, it will be $29.95.

Please let me know if you get it! I would love to hear your thoughts on my stories. So far, I've read them in front of many professional astronomers. I'm curious to know what the public thinks as well.

NaNoWriMo Exhaustion... Already?

I kicked butt yesterday.

I'm proud to tell myself that because I really did. I was able to crank out two chapters and over 4500 words for the second draft of my novel in 24 hours. I spent nearly 7 hours writing yesterday. I fell into bed exhausted but totally happy last night. And, according to the boyfriend, the actual writing wasn't too bad either (but you can never trust those you love, right?)

I am exhausted, though. Today, especially, since I had to divide my time between chores, errands, school work, and writing. I struggled to finish chapter three, on which I got stuck twice but forced myself out of writers block after taking a break for an hour or so each time to work on something else. (Like reading boring literature: aka - the textbook for one of my classes. Believe me, that makes you want to get back to writing after a while.) However, I did finish it, finally, and I've made it to 7,301 words, which is a huge jump from the 3,334 words that I only need to have today. I'm looking forward to writing chapter four tomorrow, too, but I'm dreading school. I just want to spend my time writing. However, on the bright side, I organized a student NaNoWriMo group to hang out with me and write in between classes in one of the student centers and, from what they've said on the website, most people seem to be looking forward to it. I really think I'll be making a lot of friends out of this experience (just as I did with the whole HvZ experience) and I'm up for a challenge.

Daily clip - from Chapter 3:
     With a warning screech, Katisha suddenly veered to the left and Tristen clung to her neck, hanging on for dear life. He heard the screams of hundreds and, glancing to his right, he saw a large, boat-like contraption that was attached to a fabric air-filled balloon-like structure. The boat was double tiered and, from what he could tell, those with the finer clothing stood screaming at the bottom tier and those with more decent outwear screamed from the top, as the boat veered to the right, away from Tristen and his dragon. Katisha screamed in fear again, trying to stay air-born after her sudden scare and the people screamed right back at her. It hurts, Tristen… she complained, lowering their altitude once more. I must get away. Several strong beats of her wings and they were miles away from the flying contraption, leaving Tristen only to stare back at it in bewilderment.
     What in the name of the gods' could that have been?

Dipping My Toes In

So....I've decided to try it.

I mean... I'm almost 21. Most authors have sent their short stories or poetry out to be looked at and possibly published by now, right?

The idea occurred to me last night as the boyfriend and I were just about the leave Barnes & Noble. I had gone over to the magazines and, just as I was about to bend down to look at Writer's Digest and The Writer, I saw it. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

And then it hit me. Publishing. I've never tried to publish any of my stories. I mean, sure, two of my science fiction/fantasy short stories are being published in the boyfriend's astronomy book in December but that's not the audience that I want my stories read by. It's only kind of bragging rights for me. Because, when you know the two people who are publishing the book, it's not hard to stick your stories in and it's hard for me to want to go around and be like, "Oh. I'm getting published. Check me out."

I really would like my stories to be read by the audience that is meant to read them. The people who obsess in science fiction and fantasy, just as I do. So, I've gone to the magazine's website, I've looked at their info, I've chosen the story, I've put it into the right format (using Scrivener, which I mentioned in my last blog and which I find AMAZING now that it has helped me so much), and all I really need to do is write a cover letter. Then, I will send it away and cross my fingers. I'm not expecting anything except for a rejection letter (actually, I'll be very surprised if they do publish it), but at least it means I will have taken my first steps towards getting my stuff looked at and getting my name out there. One rejection letter after trying to publish is better than nothing after never trying.

So, ready or not...

Valentines Day

Last night, I was talking to a friend of mine about poetry that we used to write in high school. It seems to that a lot of people in high school write poetry and I've never really been able to figure out why that is. (I know why I wrote poetry but a few of my friends, who couldn't even put a simple story together, could end up writing some of the most beautiful poetry I have ever read.) I'm assuming that, due to raging hormones in high school, poetry was written as a release from all that.

This reminds me of the fact that I'm finally going to be done with high school this year, once and for all. I know what you're probably thinking: "you're in your 3rd year of college; you've been done with it for a while!" However, that's not quite true. As a senior in high school, I experienced something that I hadn't experienced in about 3 years: being single. One of my best friends who had graduated the year before had been bugging me to "take on a freshman" or guide a new one through the craziness that is high school. Surprisingly, I actually took on this project and I say that it's surprising because I had a huge resement against freshmen at the time. My boyfriend of 3 years (who was a senior) left me for a freshman. Never-the-less, I sort-of accidentally became friends with this girl and she is finally graduating this year. I talked to her the other day and it hurt my heart so much to hear all of the high school drama that I'm finally over. I could only assure her that it would be over soon and she could start over in life.

Anyway, back to the topic of the first paragraph, I found on my myspace (which I can't believe I still have) a poem that sounds a bit like residue from high school. Since it's fairly decent poetry, I thought I would share it with you all.

The Most Mocking Holiday of the Year

I say I'm content with everything
My friends, my family
They hear me
Content with everything
My school, my work
They see me
Content with everything

And there, looming ahead, you lie
Taunting, twirling, with your red, pink, and white
Dancing and mocking, never leaving my sight
Until I am not content with everything

You laugh and you play, making my each step heavier
As I hold out my hand to you;
Brushing the bare edges, my fingertips rejoice,
And then you move away.
I am left with nothing.

You stand before me, in your pink and your red
Holding what I want, flashing what I desire
Commercialized now
Visual affection, according to the media
And I don't want it…
But I do.
Not the candy, the cards, or the gifts
But you.

You may loom ahead but I
I sit instead
Turning a blind eye as you mock me openly
And I allow myself to hide
Just for one day
I hide from you

In the darkness, then, you return to me
Colors shed; I feel your cool touch on my face
Your smile prickles my skin
And I know you have returned to me once again
Returned to my heart
And I am comforted.