- I decided to go ahead and offer the full 40 episodes of Twenty-Somewhere on Smashwords (which converts it into pretty much any format you could want for your computer, phone, or ereader) and I’m in the process of doing the same at Amazon. This makes it easier and cheaper for readers to get the whole story. (Considering my modest sales, and the major revisions ahead, I don’t think any agents or editors will care.)
- BIG thanks to Sonja for adding her review to 20SW episodes 1-4 so they didn’t look so crummy with just a little 1-star rating. (I’ll have to comment on those reviews after the update so that people realize they were in response to an earlier version that only had the beginning episodes.) Sonja = awesome. ^_^
- Progress on the 20SW proposals & sample pages is… progressing. My friend and fellow writer John suggested a structure for the opening chapter that I really like, and thus the writing is finally coming together! My self-imposed drop dead deadline to submit materials to The Major Publisher is July 19th — exactly 12 weeks after I got the request from them. I’ve been told that’s a normal/reasonable timeline.
- In Colorado I started reading War Dances by Sherman Alexie, finished when I got back, and am now reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Your turn: What’s going on with y’all? What have you been up to?
15 responses to “What’s been going on”
I’m glad things are coming together on 20SW at last. I know this is a big deal. Are you going to keep episodes 1-4 on amazon? Or changing over to everything in a single book?
Love it when a friends steps in with a brilliant comment that kick-starts the writing juices. Good luck! I’m in the revisions stage too. :)
Sonja-
I changed everything over to a single book, and I actually did it by just “updating” the ebook that used to be episodes 1-4, because it had a decent sales ranking and a couple reviews (even if one was tough). Meanwhile, the rest of the episode bundles are coming down. Amazon usually takes 24-36 hrs to process all those changes completely.
I’m reading a lot of other writer’s stuff. I love doing that, actually. And I’m reading The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. I love how it’s ironic and obvious, and horrific and mellow. I, myself, am a lot of contradictions so I relate. That’s it, really. Letting summer slip by while I think about revising my story.
I love Sherman Alexie! Have you read Tonto and the Lone Ranger Fistfight in Heaven?
Just working on my own list of goals, trying not to fret because apparently I am hosting a radio show this weekend (!) and catching up on some writing. That’s one good thing about it being rainy outside :)
Sarah-
Thinking is an extremely important and underrated part of the process.
Jon-
Hmm, no I haven’t, I’ll have to add that to the list. But I did read (and LOVE) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. And the main stories in War Dances are excellent.
Emily Jane-
RADIO SHOW? Way cool!
Not enough by far :p Pretty much starting to solidify things for my trip, and overhauling the rest of my life ;p
Hi Kristan,
I found the link to your site via Allison Winn Scotch’s blog, and I just wanted to say that I’m rooting for you and Twenty-Somewhere! I can tell what a journey this is, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes you. Good luck!
Les-
You always say that. :P But it seems to me like you’re always working 120% of the time…
Shari-
Aw, thank you SO much!! I really do appreciate your support. Me and the 20SW girls can use it, hehehe. :)
Ooh nice little list of happenings. I’m holding my breath about your proposal! Wow it sounds like a lot of work.
Been alternating between vacation down time, and frantic novel writing madness on my side of things. Overall, can’t complain, just pretty busy :)
Revisions galore. I’m in the final stages of my project though, and ready to get back in the query saddle. I’ve reached the impatient stage and I don’t want to wait for any feedback on my query before I send it out. Foolish, but that’s where I am.
I’ve just read a slew of amazing books. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Under the Dome by Stephen King, Dirty Little Secrets by Cynthia Omololu and I’m just starting a bit of much anticipated summer fluff–Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich. Yay!
Whew! No wonder I’ve been missing on-line.
– Liz
T.S.-
Frantic novel writing madness is always fun. :) Good luck!
Liz-
SUZANNE COLLINS IS THE SH*T!!!! I also LOVED Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. And is Omololu’s novel what the movie was based on? Because that movie is excellent. Regardless, sounds like you’ve been reading some quality stuff!
Kristan, sounds like a great deadline and let me know if you want me to read 20 pages of it. I’m reading The Book Thief, too, sort of. I started it and then started another book, but plan to finish it once I finish the other book. Good luck with the proposal and revision!
Thanks, Meghan! I haven’t forgotten my prize, haha. I do plan to collect, I’m just… slow.
That’s exactly how I started TBT too, but now that other book is done so I’m focusing on this one. It’s a bit dense, actually, but charming. I admit, I’m looking forward to reading something a bit “simpler” when it’s over.