Beta Readers and Roadblocks

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There's good news and bad news.  The good news is I'm about to have a break in my work schedule due to the holidays, so I will have serious time to work on my books.  Most days, I only get some editing done on my boy's books at the end of a day filled with hours of other work.  It would be so nice to do this full time.  Also, I finally have found some readers for my books, so I've at least had most of the first half of my series read by someone else and have had feedback given.  Two of them are willing to tackle more. 

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The bad news is my illustrator has had serious technical difficulties and may not be able to proceed much further with illustrating.  She was all but done with the second book.  This leaves 8 books to illustrate and 9/10 needing serious revision (the first one is mostly done with revision, though it still needs some).  But I have time for a while to knock out illustrations, figure out Scrivener in order to work over the whole set, and have been told by a handful of readers that they've really liked what they've read.  This all gives me hope that in the next month, I can really accomplish a lot, possibly get this first set ready to go.  Here's hoping. 

The Newest Plan

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My days have opened up a bit with some cancellations on my schedule.  I'm still not where I need to be with my books, but I have a plan.  My nephew has been helping me see the importance of the 12-point structure story, basically a codification of the hero's journey used by writers and movie makers everywhere.  There are 12 story beats most stories need to hit. 

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Also, I went to Authorcon recently, where I heard a writer describe the dramatic structure it takes to make a satisfying structure (described in my Writer's Reflections).  It occurred to me that if I hit most of those beats in the 12-point structure, one per chapter, and make sure to reshape the stories according to dramatic structure, my stories will be more readable and engaging.  In order to be able to see them all at once and make the structural change, I need to figure out Scrivener.  It also makes the most sense to illustrate them myself to save money. 

So, now, I have a plan.  I just have to make it happen.  I hope to make a lot of progress now I have more time. 

Awards and Delays

[First illustration for Misadventures of the Just Us Chickens.]

My son and cowriter of Doomimals: Extended books (pseudonym: Ax the Narrator) started writing his books when he was 13, earlier this year.  He began with short stores and then started writing novels like they were short stories, one small mini adventure at a time.  I helped him polish the first of these novels, The Misadventures of the Justice Chickens, and then he submitted it to the children's book writing category of the League of Utah Writers' annual contest.  When I first entered several years ago, I got a few prizes, first and second place.  But I was an adult, not 13, and already had a degree in English.  Ever since, I've felt lucky to get an honorable mention, as I did this year for my essay and the last two weeks of my nephews' mom's life, "Battered Wings."  This is a competitive contest, with lots of entries, most of them written by adults, some with degrees like me.

[2nd place!]

I say this to help you understand why it was so amazing that my boy's first novel achieved second place in this children's book writing contest.  It's a very good book.  Instead of heavy critiquing, the judge recommended a few line edits and begged that we find a way to let him/her know when it's published, so he/she can buy a copy.  That's downright high praise for the book written by a 13-year-old.  I want to get this series (and mine) out to you, but life has gotten complicated and busy.  I still need to finish polishing and illustrating my books, so they're all ready for you.  The first three books in the Just Us Chickens series will appear as bonus material at the end of my first collection, and then my books will appear as bonus material at the end of his.  It may be we'll be publishing both sets at roughly the same time at this rate.  I'll keep you posted.

Time Flies By

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At the beginning of the summer, I had a rosy view of what I could accomplish and how quickly I could do so. I thought I could get the first drafts of the first ten books in my series (plus five bonus book for my boy's series) done by the end of the summer.  That, I was able to do.  But I further had the hope that I'd have time to jump right into editing and get it done within a month.  Sadly, my regular work started toward the end of August.  I get to arrange my own schedule, but with the way work came in this time around, I ended up slowly booking up all day, every day, and sometimes the evening as well.  In addition, I teach courses online.  I've been so busy the last month that I have scarcely been able to look at editing, let alone restructuring or illustrating.  

I have a new plan, and I hope I'll be able to stick to my goals this time, now that reality has set in.  I plan to do at least a quick review of my books, including what feedback I've received so far.  I'll then look to outside help in the form of a paid editor and illustrator. I'd love to be able to do all of his myself as planned, but reality will not cooperate.  I have to block out my schedule as is and make myself focus on my work during the times I have blocked.  My new goal is to get my first publication released by Christmas.  Here's hoping all goes well.  

Latest Chat with my Publisher

[An amazing drawing by Gostelle, my illustrator.]

I had a chat with my publisher recently, after my boy and I finished drafting the 15 chapter books in our first collection (the first nine in Doomimals plus a bonus backstory from a major character, and as an added bonus, the first three books in my son's Just Us Chickens series, a backstory for one of the chickens, and the first in another series he'll write, Key Lime Python.).  She's enthusiastic about my boy's clever, quick-thinking prose and would love for him to host a Roku-type TV series and possibly even be her co-host in another show.  First, I want to get our books edited before I can even start taking on another monster project.  She's working with so many serious projects that his whimsy and humor are a refreshing change of pace.

[illustration from one of the Just Us Chickens books]

 My struggle right now is to polish the books as well as I can then to find beta readers willing to give me feedback on the seven of my books for which I haven't found readers yet.  I want to make sure they're all polished as well as they can be.  The goal here is to help kids of that age fall in love with reading.  I really think my boy's books can do that, even better than mine.  If anyone wants to be a reader for any of my books, let me know. 

Drafting Done!

[Cat vs chicken from book 1 of Doomimals by my niece, Ghostelle]

I set out to complete my first draft of the first nine books in my chapter book series Doomimals (about three kids and their super pets protecting the world from the evil Dog of War) plus a bonus book.  I also set out to have my teenage son complete the first three books in his spin-off series, Just Us Chickens (about zany super chickens, which reads like Captain Underpants), a backstory for one of those characters, and the first book in another spin-off series, Keylime Python (about a swashbuckling, world-traveling snake).  

I've been blogging about these all summer.  We finished the last draft a few days ago, just in time for the end of summer vacation.  In other words, between the two of us, we've written 15 separate books (less the two I had drafted before) in one summer.  I'd say that's fairly good, even if they're short chapter books (10-13,000 words long).  .  

[One of my illustrations from Just Us Chickens.)

From there, I need to prepare this entire children's chapter book collection for readers like you as well as children 7-12.  This entails illustrations (I'm almost done illustrating my son's books, while my niece has completed illustrations for book 1 of my series and has started book 2), major revision for consistency, increased humor and heart, line editing, etc.  

I want to make sure it is consistently fun, funny, and compelling.  I want it to appeal to kids in the target age group as well as older kids and/or adults who enjoy sci fi/fantasy.  I'd like to make sure it could be read by a hi-lo readership, kids who want to read fun and engaging material but whose reading level is not all that high.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to achieve all of this, but I will do my best.  I'll keep you posted as we get things done.  

Making Progress

(Deathlayer, one of the Just Us Chickens)

I'm racing the end of the summer to at least get my first set of books drafted.  My teenage boy has now drafted his part of the bonus books, the first three of his zany super chicken series, Just Us Chickens, his backstory for his Supermanish chicken, Impeckable, and the first of his other series, Keylime Python, the swashbuckling snake.  He's now just taking some time off and enjoying summer vacation.  I'm almost done with illustrating the Just Us Chickens trilogy.

[Illustrations from Doomimals: Book 1]

Meanwhile, I am wrapping up book 7 of my 9-book set.  I'll then write a back story to a major character.  I'm shooting to have it all drafted by mid-August.  I'm a little behind but am still hoping to catch up and finish on time. I've finished a draft in a few days before.  I can do it again, especially now some of my other obligations are done for the moment. 

Most excitingly, book one's illustrations are now complete.  Huzzah!  Thanks again, Gostelle. 

Of course, now we get to the hard part: revising to the point where readers will enjoy reading them.  I always seem to stall there.  I have an editor's review of book one, which I hope will be useful on the others.  I have friends reading a couple of them and finding major issues on which I need to work.  But I need a way to have outside eyes go over the rest.  I'm working on formulating a plan for that.  Oh, and the rest need illustrations, too.  So, on one hand, it feels like I'm getting close.  But if I really think about it, the hardest parts are yet to come.