Tuesday, March 3, 2009

February Reflection (sort of)

I'm feeling a bit like spring cleaning. I received word last night (a message that was supposed to reach me in December) that The Last Days of the Springdale Saints took another hit (and that was after a full request).

This one's going down in flames kids, and I'm going to gut it like a fish. Seriously, I'm cutting half the book. I'll keep the good parts and see if I can string it back together into something meaningful.

But last night, I finished draft one of The House Eater. Yeah, it's not plural anymore. There's only one Eater...and it doesn't even consume houses, just people. And dogs, cats, toys, books, paperclips, carpet, earthworms, homework, deodorant...well, you probably get the picture. It doesn't like fire though...or siblings with telepathic abilities.

I'm going to cheat and start in on revisions immediately, at least for the first third of the book. I changed some pretty fundamental plot elements as I wrote, and I want to square them away before putting it aside for a month or so to "age".

February saw a few acceptances including one of my favorite-titled pieces, "Lullaby, Little Monster" to Champagne Shivers. This tale marks the third appearance of Pete Archer, hobo/book dealer extraordinaire. I wrote the bulk of The House Eater in February (about 30K of a current 37) and hammered out two short stories ("Dancing Lessons" and "Come Out and Play"). After fixing a little of The House Eater, I'm going to dive into the land of short stories for a couple weeks, and then start on the vivisection of Saints.

(sound effect: snapping of surgical gloves)

Let's go to work.

11 comments:

Jamie Eyberg said...

Good luck with the revisions. I am dreading the revision process I am going to have to undertake and, of course, if you ever need a spare pair of eyes. . .

Aaron Polson said...

Thanks Jamie. I think I'll cruise through once with these eyes, and straighten some bits first...make sure I didn't make too much of a mess of things.

Anonymous said...

I'm very excited for you about The House Eater. Many congrats!

Cate Gardner said...

Congrats on your acceptances, on finishing the first draft of 'The House Eater' and commiserations on your full reject.

Aaron Polson said...

Barry - It should be all right after some tweaking. I'm pretty stoked, too.

Cate - thanks, and the full reject was probably a blessing, to tell the truth.

Katey said...

I feel you on thinking the rejection was probably a blessing, weirdly enough. I've not had it for a full yet (got one out now, different book, is there any way not to be nervous?), but I got this one really complimentary partial reject that completely changed the way I thought about telling the story. They still hurt, but sometimes it's definitely for the best. That book is so much better now that I've gutted it.

Which is a needlessly long-winded way of saying I feel you. (Almost.)

But congratulations on the House Eater, and good luck with the revisions! It's a month of revision for me too.

Fox Lee said...

Hears the glove and immediately thinks of you giving prostate exams to your stories. Not sure how that would work ; )

K.C. Shaw said...

Congrats on finishing The House Eater! It sounds really intriguing!

Ouch to the rejection of the full, and good luck on the revisions/vivisection (revisisection?). That's how I felt when I got The Weredeer back, and I've only made one pass through and it's already a stronger book (I think). Sometimes a timely rejection is better than an acceptance.

Aaron Polson said...

Katey - fingers crossed on your full. Personally, I have plenty-o-work.

Natalie - my stories might like that a little too much.

K.C. - I'm with you there. I hate to admit it, but yeah, in some ways a rejection can be better. (for the right reasons)

BT said...

Been a busy boy.

Sorry to hear about the full rejection, but glad to hear you picking the thing up and getting on with it rather than allowing it to weigh you down - part of the biz and the way you're handling it is very professional.

I'm happy to add my eyes to Jamie's if you ever feel the need.

House Eater still sounds cool, even if it is now singular. There's always the chance of cloning in the sequel. Well done on the acceptance at CS as well.

Nat - I had the same thought...

Robert said...

Congrats on finishing the first draft. It's such a great feeling, ain't it?