I am a much different reader than I used to be. I used to blast through books, barely taking in the details as I rushed to finish the story. That's all that mattered to me...story. It's a problem for me now. I have a great story to tell, but I need to take to the time to set the scene and write the emotions and describe the details. It's not enough that they're all in my head. I have to get it down on the page.
That's what I'm doing right now. One more trip through the manuscript, making sure that I've dotted the i's and crossed the t's. I want the world of Eternal Knight to be as real to the reader as it is in my head.
I've been re-reading two novels in an effort to capture how the authors handle description and narration. One is George R. R. Martin's, A Game of Thrones, and the other is Christian Cameron's, Tyrant. I love the way these two authors write.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Progress Report
Slow but steady progress on editing. I'm going to revamp my time schedule for the query process. I'm thinking August 1st right now. It's been very hectic around the house finishing up landscaping and getting ready for a family reunion. Things should quiet down next week.
I'm very happy with the last batch of changes I've made. Kemp's suggestions have been a huge help. I'm not worried about the delay in querying--writing doesn't pay the bills around here. I needs to make the manuscript as flawless as possible before I launch it into the world.
I'm very happy with the last batch of changes I've made. Kemp's suggestions have been a huge help. I'm not worried about the delay in querying--writing doesn't pay the bills around here. I needs to make the manuscript as flawless as possible before I launch it into the world.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Rainy Day
Yet another rainy Pennsylvania day. My daughter and I pulled out the paint and markers and got to work on some art projects.
I tried to get her to stick around for the photo, but she bailed on me. She painted a nice forest scene as well a the sun shining on some flowers. I decided to do some Eternal Knight images.
The top image is Helna's Orb. It appears in the novel as a pendant on a necklace worn by the protagonist, Hadde. Helna is the creator goddess in the mythology of the Eternal Knight world.
The lower image is the face of the shield, Forsvar. The shield differs from the other shields in the novel as it is a round shield--the others are heater shields (you'll see some below). Forsvar is 500 years old and there have been changes in arms and armor since its creation.
The crossed warhammers on a white field are the coat of arms of Earl Waltas. White is the color of the South Teren of Salador and is often worn by its nobles.
The yellow dragon on a blue field is the coat of arms of Maiden Maret's family. I'd have to look in the manuscript to be certain, but it might be a blue dragon on a yellow field. Blue is the color of the East Teren of Salador.
Red if the color of the Royal House of Salador. Unlike the individual coats of arms worn by nobles, all of the Knights of the House carry the same shield. The Knights of the House are the elite profession soldiers in direct service to King Boradin. I am unhappy with the piece of "art". The lightning image should look like the one on the shield Forsvar. Sir Nidon, the Champion of Salador, carries a plain red shield in order to distinguish him from all other knights.
I tried to get her to stick around for the photo, but she bailed on me. She painted a nice forest scene as well a the sun shining on some flowers. I decided to do some Eternal Knight images.
The top image is Helna's Orb. It appears in the novel as a pendant on a necklace worn by the protagonist, Hadde. Helna is the creator goddess in the mythology of the Eternal Knight world.
The lower image is the face of the shield, Forsvar. The shield differs from the other shields in the novel as it is a round shield--the others are heater shields (you'll see some below). Forsvar is 500 years old and there have been changes in arms and armor since its creation.
The crossed warhammers on a white field are the coat of arms of Earl Waltas. White is the color of the South Teren of Salador and is often worn by its nobles.
The yellow dragon on a blue field is the coat of arms of Maiden Maret's family. I'd have to look in the manuscript to be certain, but it might be a blue dragon on a yellow field. Blue is the color of the East Teren of Salador.
Red if the color of the Royal House of Salador. Unlike the individual coats of arms worn by nobles, all of the Knights of the House carry the same shield. The Knights of the House are the elite profession soldiers in direct service to King Boradin. I am unhappy with the piece of "art". The lightning image should look like the one on the shield Forsvar. Sir Nidon, the Champion of Salador, carries a plain red shield in order to distinguish him from all other knights.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Progress
I sent my last chapters to my "final reader" last night. Kemp is giving me one last round of feedback from the perspective of someone who has never seen any part of the novel before. He's already given me loads of excellent advice. So far he hasn't found any critical flaws--things what would need a major overhaul.
Today I'll start a final run through the book incorporating changes Kemp has recommended and fixing any bugs that I discover. I think this process will take about two weeks. After that it's agent query time.
Today I'll start a final run through the book incorporating changes Kemp has recommended and fixing any bugs that I discover. I think this process will take about two weeks. After that it's agent query time.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Agent Dreams
Last night I dreamt I was in New York City looking for a hotel room. I came upon a row of townhouses and each home had a sign in front advertising itself as a bed and breakfast.
Every single sign had the name of an agent I've researched for future solicitation for representation. I remember wondering if staying at their bed and breakfast would help my chances at signing with them. I also remember comparing prices and peeking in the windows to see how clean and welcoming each B+B was.
It's so funny how the subconscious mind works. More than any time in the past I really think my novel will be published. With each passing day I grow more and more excited for the possibilities for my manuscript. With each passing day I also come closer to sending out that first batch of queries.
I also dreamt of receiving a stack of envelopes in the mail. I couldn't bear to open them. Phone calls are good. Emails can be good. SASE envelopes are not good. I've received some of those envelopes before. They are where the fleeting dream hits the hard wall of reality.
Getting published is a difficult road to travel. That's what will make success that much sweeter.
Every single sign had the name of an agent I've researched for future solicitation for representation. I remember wondering if staying at their bed and breakfast would help my chances at signing with them. I also remember comparing prices and peeking in the windows to see how clean and welcoming each B+B was.
It's so funny how the subconscious mind works. More than any time in the past I really think my novel will be published. With each passing day I grow more and more excited for the possibilities for my manuscript. With each passing day I also come closer to sending out that first batch of queries.
I also dreamt of receiving a stack of envelopes in the mail. I couldn't bear to open them. Phone calls are good. Emails can be good. SASE envelopes are not good. I've received some of those envelopes before. They are where the fleeting dream hits the hard wall of reality.
Getting published is a difficult road to travel. That's what will make success that much sweeter.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Back at it
Final exams are graded and my seniors are long gone. Time to get back to work on Eternal Knight.
The good news: My friends Mike and Kemp have been giving me some great feedback on the manuscript. The reworked manuscript will be greatly improved due to their advice.
The downside: My query letters will be delayed by about a month. All for the better. I want to put forward the best piece of writing possible.
The good news: My friends Mike and Kemp have been giving me some great feedback on the manuscript. The reworked manuscript will be greatly improved due to their advice.
The downside: My query letters will be delayed by about a month. All for the better. I want to put forward the best piece of writing possible.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Everbloom
Funny how I can wake up at the crack of dawn for a Saturday morning bike ride, but on a weekday..... snooze button again and again.
By 6AM I was on the road heading toward the village of Skippack. It's a hilly out and back ride of fifteen miles through some pretty Pennsylvania countryside.
While I ride I think about my novel (usually a part I've been working on recently). I often have a song running through my head as well. I don't listen to my iPod as I would like to live to see my next birthday. The song that runs through my head is often one that I recently heard. In this case it was (unfortunately) a parody of Meat Loaf song. I like Meat Loaf, but was irritated that I had this parody song stuck in my head. Luckily I managed to switch it to another song. Now, I'm no fan of High School Musical (I've never seen any of the films), but this is the song that got stuck in my head:
The singer and the video editor/pianist are both former students of mine. Sam (the singer) also painted the picture of Hadde you see on the blog.
But that isn't what this post is about.
As I was riding back home this morning I was going up a long gradual slope. I took the time to check out the scenery (I was near Evansburg State Park) and looked into the woods to my right. I noticed bushes filled with white flowers scattered across the forest floor. I had to laugh. It was almost a perfect image of Landomere, the setting of the first four chapters of Eternal Knight. In the novel the flowers are called Everbloom. The funny thing is, when I wrote the book, I wasn't imagining a Pennsylvania forest. At least not consciously. But when I was writing the book my subconscious mind must have pulled out this image, one that I must have seen hundreds of times in my life, but always took for granted.
I won't be able to look at a Pennsylvania forest the same again.
By 6AM I was on the road heading toward the village of Skippack. It's a hilly out and back ride of fifteen miles through some pretty Pennsylvania countryside.
While I ride I think about my novel (usually a part I've been working on recently). I often have a song running through my head as well. I don't listen to my iPod as I would like to live to see my next birthday. The song that runs through my head is often one that I recently heard. In this case it was (unfortunately) a parody of Meat Loaf song. I like Meat Loaf, but was irritated that I had this parody song stuck in my head. Luckily I managed to switch it to another song. Now, I'm no fan of High School Musical (I've never seen any of the films), but this is the song that got stuck in my head:
The singer and the video editor/pianist are both former students of mine. Sam (the singer) also painted the picture of Hadde you see on the blog.
But that isn't what this post is about.
As I was riding back home this morning I was going up a long gradual slope. I took the time to check out the scenery (I was near Evansburg State Park) and looked into the woods to my right. I noticed bushes filled with white flowers scattered across the forest floor. I had to laugh. It was almost a perfect image of Landomere, the setting of the first four chapters of Eternal Knight. In the novel the flowers are called Everbloom. The funny thing is, when I wrote the book, I wasn't imagining a Pennsylvania forest. At least not consciously. But when I was writing the book my subconscious mind must have pulled out this image, one that I must have seen hundreds of times in my life, but always took for granted.
I won't be able to look at a Pennsylvania forest the same again.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Evil Editor Query Critique
The Evil Editor's critique of my query has arrived. If you take a look at it, the first thing you'll see is "Guess the Plot." This is where other readers of the blog attempt to guess the plot of the book based only on the title. The first one is excellent. With a title like Eternal Knight I was expecting to get several vampire guesses.
Next you'll see a copy of my original query. The Evil Editor inserts comments (in blue). These comments are a mix of humor, snark, and serious critique. Following the query he gives more serious suggestions.
Other readers post their ideas in the comments section. These comments can be just as (or more) useful than the EEs comments.
*edit* You might want to skip the query letter. Query letters always show how a novel is resolved. Don't read it if you want to be surprised when you read the novel.
Next you'll see a copy of my original query. The Evil Editor inserts comments (in blue). These comments are a mix of humor, snark, and serious critique. Following the query he gives more serious suggestions.
Other readers post their ideas in the comments section. These comments can be just as (or more) useful than the EEs comments.
*edit* You might want to skip the query letter. Query letters always show how a novel is resolved. Don't read it if you want to be surprised when you read the novel.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Still Grinding
If I get published I'll owe a big debt of gratitude to my critique partners. Mike Shultz just got back to me with a third round of comments on my first three chapters. No big changes, but his suggestions definitely improve the novel. Visit Mike's website. He has published several wonderful short stories and his novel Sword of Memory will be published in Germany next year. Visit Mike's website to learn how he managed to get published in German before getting published in English.
I'm about 35% of the way through this round of edits on Eternal Knight. Should be smooth sailing for several chapters. Things will slow down as I fix up the final 25%.
I'm about 35% of the way through this round of edits on Eternal Knight. Should be smooth sailing for several chapters. Things will slow down as I fix up the final 25%.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Three Chapters
I sent the first three chapters to my critique partner today. I've done a lot of work on these chapters recently. I thought things were a little too "nice" in Hadde's homeland of Landomere. I decided to significantly increase the level of threat to Hadde and her village. The "ticking clock" just had three months cut off of it. The end of the world is much closer than it used to be.
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