What Does it Take - And Do I Have It

So, I read a variety of blogs, each dealing with a variety of topics. A few speak about writing, and what it means to write well and tell a good story.

Often, I find myself wondering if I qualify as a good storyteller. You see, while having a lot of stories to tell, and having written several million words toward them, that does not necessarily mean I know what I'm doing. Just look at G.W. He was president for eight years and never figured out how to do his job properly.

I get worried about my storytelling. Probably, this is because so few people read my stories. Oh, I have had as many as thirty people read Swords of Fire over the past thirty years, and only a couple didn't like it. Two didn't like it because they simply do not like any fantasy story. One didn't like it because she thought it was religious. (It's not. She just thought it was.) Everyone else liked it to varying degrees. Several were very eager for the sequel, which no one but me has read. Well, I take that back. I think I may have read it to Spouse and Son a couple of years ago. Can't remember. Getting old.

There is the Tavaar background story, of which I have posted 34 entries on this blog. But those are all rough drafts, and not part of a real story. Tavaar's backstory is just a series of vignettes without any real plot. I'm simply following her life in order to define her character.

Then there is Apprentice, which has been read by four people, three who liked it and one who didn't care for the subject matter, but who liked the writing.

So I've got some feedback, and it's mostly positive. Even my blog writing has been complimented by two or three. Apparently my writing style is easy to read.

I honestly believe that most fantasy readers would enjoy my stories, if they could but read them. But convincing them of that is difficult. I have no idea how many people write fantasy, but I expect it is in the tens, or even hundreds, of thousands. I expect a good many of them also have writing styles that are easy to read, and should those of us who read fantasy but get a chance to read what they have written we would enjoy those stories, too.

In the writing group I have joined there is a man who is writing a book in which Dwarfs are the main characters. I'm not so into Dwarfs. Stereotypically (in fantasy) their personalities are too gruff for me. I prefer the gentleness of Elves and Fairy Creatures (when they are portrayed as gentle and in tune with nature). But he has a good premise, and he shared his first chapter with us back in February. I think it's going to be a good story, and I think he is going to tell it well. Will it ever be accepted by an agent or publisher? I don't know. Hope so.

But I need to be honest. If it were only about getting my stories into the hands of readers the solution is simple: self-publish on the internet. Only the honest truth is this: I would very much like to be paid for my stories - at least those I consider epic in nature. And that is where my doubts arise. It's one thing to write with an easy style, and produce works people enjoy reading for free. But what about when it requires money? Are they still interested?

Perhaps those few people who know me might be willing to fork over the twenty or thirty dollars required to buy a new book these days. But I don't know that many people. Not who have money anyway. So somehow I have to convince strangers that my writing is worthy. That is done via query letters submitted to agents and editors.

A good salesperson goes into a meeting confident (or at least showing confidence). They hold to this even amidst heavy evidence of opposition. Like the lions of the African plains, they often fail to make their kill/sale. That's the way it is with writers. Only sometimes I think it's a h*lluva lot easier for a lion on the plains to pull down a buffalo than it is for a writer to secure a book deal with an agent or editor. Lions get to hunt in packs. Ultimately, writers are on their own.

What a scary place to be.

Well, I'm the one who thought playing in the Big Leagues would be fun. If I can succeed, it will be.

NOTE: Willie Mays went hitless in his first 35 at bats when he joined the Major Leagues. He sat down on the bench one day - after striking out AGAIN - and started to cry. The manager came by, patted his shoulder, and assured him he would do all right. Willie Mays made it to the Hall of Fame. Wish I had been a baseball player.

What to Do Now

So. The book is completed and I have written a first go at a query letter. When I am ready I will send to Evil Editor so the Minions can have at it. As much as they have helped me in the past I do not look forward to the ordeal. I suppose it's like an athlete in training camp. They don't relish the idea of the punishment they are about to go through, but without it they will never be ready for the season.

The problem there is that there was just a post for a book which has treason as a significant issue. Treason is what Traitor's all about. I'm thinking I should delay in posting the query until at least April.

Anyway, I'm finding myself thinking about Book II, The Prophecies of Madatar. I confess this is my favorite book of the Saga. It introduces two characters who become pivital to the entire series. Also, it happens to be a fun book, despite the fact there is actual fighting and war. The stakes are higher, but that only makes Khirsha that much more fun to write. He is about to get a crash course in male-female relationships. (Why is it I have to correct my spelling of female every frikkin time from F-E-M-A-I-L to F-E-M-A-L-E? Talk about going postal. Cheesh.)

So I'm wondering if I'm doing myself, the Saga, Book I, Book II, and who knows who/what else a disservice by moving on to Book II before I even have a working query for Book I? The last time I did that I wound up with a mess. I finished Book II in the spring of 2007. In 2008 I tried getting Book I published, only to learn it was dead before it left the gates. But there's a lot of work to be done with Book II. For one thing, It is over 180,000-words. Even assuming Traitor is published as is, that seems like a high word count for a second book. I should probably drop at least 30,000-words. It's a rough draft. That should be no problem. Right?

But should I even be working on it? That's the question.

A New Mythical Creature

My son has been writing his own fantasy story over the past week. Every so often he gets inspired and writes. Only now that he's older, his stories are no longer just a few paragraphs. His current work is over 10,000-words. I haven't read any of it because he hasn't presented it yet. But clearly it is a fantasy work.

I know this because he asked for help in scanning a drawing he made of one of the creatures in his story. I won't post it now because I don't have his permission, but I will describe it.

It kind of looks like a lion, except it has ridges like a komodo dragon along its back, and the end of its tail is spiked like the stegosaurus?. Not sure which dinosaur had the spiked tail, but you've seen it, I'm sure. It has a mane that looks like fire and sharp claws on each of its four feet.

The creature is called, A Wulgad.

The Muses have been having fun with Son of late. He's been inspired to learn keyboards without any help from a teacher. (We just don't have the money.) But he's getting good. He can play reasonably quick with few errors. He does know how to read music. And playing the tuba gave him an inside track on learning the bass cleft.

He also draws, although not so often anymore. But he drew the Wulgad himself. He also created a comic series of stick people which now encompasses several notebooks. I try to get him to draw on drawing paper, but he likes the spiral bound notebook paper. Well, I'm not going to discourage him.

Music. Drawing. Writing.

I'm kind of proud of him. I'd like to believe he inherited at least some of that from me.

Coming to it Again

In all likelihood I will finish the latest revision of Traitor this week. Possibly today or tomorrow.

Normally, this would fill me with joy because it would mean I can move on to the next book. That is also written, but needs to be cut down significantly. So I'm looking at a major rewrite again.

But I won't be able to move on to the next book when I finish. I will still have two problems: Traitor will be more than 130,000-words. I am told that for a new author, that is means "dismissal out of hand". Any agent or editor who sees a book that long by a first time author will immediately reject it without another thought.

Only there is a problem with that, too. The query letter.

I hate them. Query letters are a combination of begging and persuasion. I'm no good at either. When I beg, people respond by telling me to "get the h*ll out of here". When I try to persuade, people respond by telling me to "get the h*ll out of here".

I've seen examples of "bad" query letters. Then I've seen how they have been punched up to be "good". And you know what? I really can't see the difference. I suppose it's like diamonds. I can't tell a fake from a real, but experts can.

Maybe it's like wine, or cheese tasters. They can tell imediately which sample is better. All the same to me. I'm no connoissuer - of wine or query letters.

I make what I believe to be a very good lasagne. Yet I know if I served it to one of those television chefs they would probably spit it out. You see, I used pre-grated parmesian cheese from a cardboard tube. You've seen them in the grocery store, I'm sure. Kraft? I've heard some of these chefs speak with great disdain over this.

That's the wall which looms before me. The chasm I have to cross.

I don't know how.

Crap.

A Lot Going On

I keep thinking about all of the background elements I have let slide the past few months. I think I finished with determining where all 7,400+ people lived every year of their life, but I'm not sure. I know I haven't finished with the military. That is critical if I am ever to make Tavaar's life into a real book.

At the same time I have Book I - currently titled, A Traitor in the Midst - to refinish. By the way, I have yet to have anyone tell me how that title grabs them. I've gone through so many titles that others hate I'm kind of shy about believing I've got a good one.

That I have a good book I do not doubt. That the book is interesting and fun to read I do not doubt. That an agent could sell it to a publisher I do not doubt. That a publisher could make good money off it I do not doubt.

So what do I doubt?

My ability to sell it to an agent when I finish it again. Damn query letters. I wish query letters were living things. I just might commit murder.

I can't sell. I just can't. It has nothing to do with how much I believe in the product. As soon as I'm supposed to convince someone else something is good I lose all enthusiasm. My focus leaves the product and turns to, "Who in the h*ll am I to be trying to convince this person/these people of anything?"

In the meantime, I still have to finish Book I. When I do then, perhaps, I will return to background work.

On-Line Status at Risk

Just a heads up. My computer is sick. Here's the post.

Something Worth Reading, I Think

I am not going to make one of my regular posts here today. Instead, I am going to refer you to something I posted about on A Voice in the Wind.

For me, it is a very moving story I read just this morning. Maybe it touches me more closely because my own mother has cancer, but I don't think so. I think it is a moving story no matter what.

If you have the time, at least read the link to the story I read. You have a good day.

The Blahs

That's what I've got. The blahs. And right now I don't believe I have any readers for this blog, so I think I'll just pass today other than to say: I've got the blahs. Pity. If there is anyone actually reading this, let me know and I'll add the next installment. I think it's about Tavaar's relationship with Shello. Whatever.