World Con Panel: Perseverance

with Tim Waggoner, Richard Lovell, Eldon Thompson, David Manusek, and Laura Ann Gilman

Formula for persevering; Stubborness plus ego plus goal equals perserverance

To be an author, you need a high tolerance for discomfort and uncertainty. This can wear you down.

You should be thinking long term. Finished? Publish? No, wait. Take time.

Don't listen to everything everyone says.

It's hard to make a living as an author. You need a day job and you need to persevere with your writing. Perseverance is also necessary for the long term career. There will be the grind of "I have to write this."

Make sure you take a break every day, but also write every day.

While you have to writing, don't think it is only onerous. Writing is a joy.

Treat each day as unique. Don't focus on past failures. That is good advice for everything. Shake it off. Be done.

Continue on in the face of rejection. Remember every career has its ups and downs. Be diverse and flexible.

Don't sweat the things you can't control, like rejection, bad reviews. Move on. As something is released into the world, don't obsess on it. It now has it's own life.

Some stories about the most frustration moments in career.

Tim: My agent disappeared after 18 years.
Eldon: Dealing with Hollywood.
David: Hollywood.
Richard: Rights trouble and idea trouble.
Laura: Having a good story rejected for good reasons.

Stories where perseverance paid off?

Eldon: Selling my favorite book!
David: Writing a story in twelve year intervals.
Robert: Long time to publish a story.

Tim: Remember, dreams can come true.

Keep up your ego and keep working.

How do you know your ego hasn't clouded your judgment? Beta readers. We write alone, but we do not work alone.

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.

The Next Big Thing

I've been tagged by Fran Wilde to do The Next Big Thing, a post about one of my WiPs.

So, without further adieu,

1. What is the title of your work in progress?

The title is Abigail Rath Versus Blood-Sucking Fiends.

2. Where did the idea for the book come from?

I've seen a lot of movies about fearless monster hunters, and I had this thought: What would it be like to be a kid whose parents were fearless monster hunter? This book is about that.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

This is a middle grade fantasy. In some places it spans into horror, but since it's for younger kids, I'm not trying to make it too scary. At least until the stakes are high. No, that was not a pun.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I would love to get Christopher Lee to play Lee Christopher. Yup, it's that obvious. Reginald Rath would be Hugh Laurie. Pauline Rath would be Emma Thompson (with an American accent). And the kids? Well, there would have to be a nation wide talent search for Abigail, Vince, Marty, Coral and William.

5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of the book??

Abigail Rath wants to impress her parents with her natural monster slaying talents, but discovers that humans and monsters co-existing is much more complicated than she thought.

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will be seeking representation for Abigail Rath Versus Blood-Sucking Fiends, as I do for all of my projects.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

One month. It was last year's NaNoWriMo project. Currently I am in the third rewrite.

8. What other books would you compare this story to in your genre?

Would you believe Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Because there is a group of friends that work toward a common goal. And these three series: the Gilda Joyce series by Jennifer Allen, the Theodosia Throckmorton series by R. L. LaFevers, and the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Hammer and Universal horror films. My husband Bryon, who has a great interest in and a vast knowledge of this unique kind of camp. My friend Steve, upon whom the initial portrayal of Reginald Rath was based.

10. What else about this book might pique your readers' interest?

Well, I plan five of these, each a spin on a particular monster. Much of the action in the book takes place at a roller rink. I get to talk about vampires and sparkling. And I'm learning how to be Californian for the book.

***

You know Fran tagged me. Go check out her site above.

And I'm tagging:

Miranda Suri
Absent Post

Matt A. Hughes

Christopher Kastensmidt
The Elephant and Macaw Banner Post

Catherine Evleschin
Rivers Still Run

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.