Weekend Update

So, yeah, it's not officially Saturday. But this Saturday looks officially busy, so consider this the update for week one.

I thought perhaps I should talk a little bit more about myself; after all, if I don't, who will?

I mentioned last time that my books neither proselytize nor preach; and that don't. My short stories, however, do. A lot, sometimes. Some of them don't, and the theme is nice and difficult -- perfect for college courses. Others are, let's say, better suited to youth group Bible studies. I really let the muse flow in my short stories; or, if not my muse, my frustration with certain aspects of the world. My books, being fiction, are much more... constrained.

Along with writing, I go to college (which should be evident from my banner) and I work at a bike shop. Like, a pedal bike, "ching ching" on the sidewalk bike shop; not the local Harley-Davidson. I like biking, whether road or mountain; if the pedals are turning wheels to propel the earth beneath me, I'm happy. I have been working nearly full time during the summer, but now that school is starting back up on Monday, less time at the shop. My boss is thrilled.

So, then, my weeks can be pretty full; but then, whose isn't. And I'm not saying all of this to provide an excuse for why my book is only a couple hundred words longer than it was a few days ago, even though it is. I'm just saying.

But something I didn't consider when I began writing about seventeen years ago, is how hard it is to break into, not just the published world in general, but into Christian Fantasy Fiction. I mean, you'd think with Lewis leading the way (at least to most people's memory, forgetting Tolkien and Macdonald, because who really remembers them these days anyway) it would be a little easier; but have you ever seen the Christian section at a book store? Not promising for the likes of me, I must say. Finding an agent to query is being as hard as it probably normally is to find an agent to represent you.

Not saying I don't have leads; I'm just falling slightly short of time to pursue the leads. I have some great leads, even. Super-excited for them. But one doesn't just fire off a randomly-worded query the moment one finds a prospective agent. Oh no; careful research must be done to see how to approach the agent, like a hunter stalking a particularly bashful deer. One must tread softly, and appear to blend in; use some good scent, like skunk pee; then, when you're in range, BAM! -- that's how you land an agent.

At least that's how I'm doing it. I'll let you know how it goes. Gotta go!


P.S. Agents queried and word count are virtually the same; which is why this relatively uninformative post script is where the promised ultra-informative post script should be. Thanks for reading.

Let's Get Serious!

It’s time to get serious, folks. For me, not necessarily for you (though maybe you need to get serious about something too? Hmmm....). So, hold me accountable; I’m on a journey, you see, a journey to get published. My wares so far is a fantasy fiction novel, with above ten publishable (I think, anyway) short stories that I’ve gathered along the way. While querying agents for that book, I’m also beginning to work on a second novel.

So here’s the plan: each week I give you an update on how the second novel is progressing, and how the search for an agent/publisher is progressing. I’ll also talk every now and then about what issues I’m working through as I write, both great big metaphysical issues and smaller technical writing issues.

So, a little about me to kick things off: the object of my books, as a Christian writer, is to neither proselytize nor preach. I’m not trying to bring my readers to Christ, or trying to teach Christians to better reflect Christ, though that may happen anyway. My books, being fantasy, are to merely illustrate Christian morals and ethics in action. Kind of the way TV shows these days supposedly reflect culture at large (though who influences who is a discussion I won’t get into here), my books are going to reflect what Christian culture should be. Whether or not that’s what’s in the world is, well...it’s not, by and large; at least not what most of the country sees on TV. How accurate a reflection that is, is, well...it’s not, by and large.

So here’s the format: sometime before the end of the day Saturday, each week, I post up something like what you’ve just read. At the end, as sort of a post script, I give figures; namely....

Word Count, Book Two: 530 (though this figure is a bit squiffy since I’m in the process of moving the first chapter back a bit in time; I actually have over 5,000 words of book two. Book One is at 102,000+ words.)

Agents Queried, Book One: 6

Agents Rejected, Book One: 5, with one no-reply for a total of six (I am just kind of starting out...)

And away we go! May we all find success on our journeys. See you again by week’s end.