Looking forward to a Break

[The juggle continues: source]

 With the crazy juggle that has been my life this semester, I've been thankful for every scrap of time I could use for writing. I have made some progress, but much of that was with getting feedback to improve what I've already written, as I said last time.  Over the next month, the holidays pick up, and the obstacles between me and getting the time to write start fading again. I will be able to make much faster progress and actually use that feedback.  

[The publisher question: source]

I'm hoping that I'll be done with books 3 and 4 by the end of the break, so I'll be able to explore the next steps of bringing you these books. If I can make connections and find a regular publisher, I'd love that because it's likely to get more widespread readership.  

[Talking animals: source]

However, I know chapter books and middle-grade fiction are hard to place with agents and publishers because they're considered not very profitable.  Add the variety within the lore and series and the essential aspect of talking animals, and my optimism is not high.  However, I still have the plan of a hybrid publisher who can spread word of these fun series far and wide.  One way or another, I will keep working to bring these books to you.. 

Seeking Feedback

[Feedback; source]

While I'm working on book 4, I'm also looking through some detailed feedback on book 3 I got on the book before I seriously revamped it.  Some of that feedback still applies, but I'm also getting feedback on the rewritten version.  I want to make it as polished as possible.  I'm also hoping to get another beta reader for other books in this series, and this is supposed to be a way to do it.  

[Getting published-source]

Meanwhile, I have also had the recommendation to see if I can join a national children's writers' group to make connections that may help either publish or spread the word on both Doomimals and Just Us Chickens. I would very much like as wide a readership as possible. I have a hybrid publisher standing by, but it would be nice to find a traditional publisher with a wider readership.  I just know that chapter books and middle grade fiction often are hard to traditionally publish. I've tried some already with agents and publishers.  My friend, who is actually in the publishing field, suggested that the first three books of a middle-grade fiction may be enough to get someone interested but also indicated the nature of middle grade fiction is that it is hard to get published.  

One way or another, I will bring it to a publisher soon.  It may be traditionally published, or it may be via my hybrid publisher I've mentioned.  One way or another, I hope to make it available to you soon.  

A Complicated Juggle

[Juggle-source]

I'm back around to working full-time as a transcriber and online college instructor, which means I'll be juggling work with writing.  On the bright side, I made it through the first trilogy of my series, Doomimals.  I have rewritten all three books over the summer, one per month of the summer, basically.  It's been wonderful to have time to take books that weren't bad and turn them into books you will enjoy reading.  On the not-so-bright side, things will slow down some since I have to reprioritize and have urgent items to deal with for a while.  

[An illustration from book 3 by Ghostelle.]

Last time I blogged, a month ago, I was just then puzzling over book three.  It was a book with a protagonist who was fairly weak, who was not much of an actor in her own story.  The normal world was her cousin's world and not even hers.  The climax was confusing and weak.  The whole thing needed to be rewritten.  And in the last month, I found Tessa's voice.  I found a way to start in her world, with her family, and to allow her take charge of her underworld, slowly gaining confidence through the adventure.  The climax is exciting and triumphant because I turned to my creatively genius boy to help me write it.  

Now, I'm ready to start working on book four.  It should be fairly simple because it already has a strong voice, and its events are fundamentally sound.  It mostly needs a polish. And I'm looking forward to getting it ready for you. 

(Almost) Full Time Writing

[Recovering from burnout-source]

It took me a while to recover from burnout from a very long, difficult school year.  Now, I'm trying to spend all the time I can, as close to full time as I can, rewriting the books and getting them ready for publication using the editor's feedback. During the school year, I gather up the few scraps I can and try to write a little bit.  But during the summer, I get real time. When I'm not teaching or transcribing (my two full or part time jobs during the school year, which become very part time jobs during the summer), I'm focusing all my time on writing. 

[Editing-source]

I'm now able to dig right into writing.  First, I'll go over the feedback I've received from various sources and make sure I know which direction I'm headed in, then I'll dig into each chapter, making sure I follow the right format and have at least one turning point per chapter.  Some chapters and even spans of book have to be completely rewritten.  It's not as fun as the freedom of writing in the first place, when a rough idea of what will happen that chapter guides me, and just about anything can happen.  But it's still gratifying to know where I've come from, where I'm going, and more about who these characters are and what they're doing over the course of these ten books and the next ten besides.  I'm making good progress and hope to make better progress still as I push through July.  I look forward to bringing you some actual published works soon.