I've made some goals for April.
Rock Gods and Scary Monsters needs some work. I felt like it was finished, but it isn't nearly as tight as The House Eaters. Different kind of book, sure, but The House Eaters moves along. It has mass and momentum. I want to rework the beginning of Rock Gods and give it a "grabs the reader by the throat and doesn't let go" opening. I'm also toying with the idea of listing a song from Elliot's playlist with each chapter. His ex-girlfriend is going to show up, too, acting as a bit of a siren. The book is definitely high concept (effects of war on the family, bildungsroman, all that), and I want it to be as sparkly as possible.
So I want the book finished by the end of the month. I'd like to start querying in May.
On the short story front, I have one flash that needs to be edited and sent and one short story I'd like to release to the wild in the next few weeks. According to my resolutions, I need one solid short story written this month. I think I can handle that. If I have time, I may start tinkering with a new work of longer fiction. This one is straight horror.
The bottom line: I want to refocus on longer fiction. I will see a book in print someday, but only if I do the work to make it happen.
14 comments:
You and me seem to be walking along the same line. I'm trying my best to shelve shorts for the moment (I had 2 rejected yesterday and I've just left them in my inbox to be fixed at some time later in the year) and concentrate on books.
I just think it's time. I can't see myself writing short stories for the next twenty years, at least, not exclusively.
I can't see you having to write stories for the next twenty years. I really do think you're going to make it, Aaron. I like to think I have a good gut feeling for these things (plus I've read your work).
until the reading public changes its habits there is no money (not significant anyway) to be made in shorts. I find this to be unfortunate, but the nature of the industry at this point. We best get cracking on those books.
Cate - ;) Thanks. I hope we all make it. There's plenty of room out there in writer-land.
Jamie - Too true. I'm finding short stories harder and harder to write.
Short stories are like crack!
Same here...I haven't written a short in a while, and I don't want to start new ones until I finish D1 of my full length. I tried multi-tasking, it just seems to push everything else a little further behind.
Natalie - too true...hard to shake the addiction
Jeremy - Once I start on a longer work, I find it best to push on through...otherwise, I lose the "voice"
It's funny; I'm kind of coming at it from the other end. Books come easier for me, and I'm just now integrating shorts to fill in gaps in writing time. I wonder why that is...
Carrie - Maybe we all just need a change? Flex the ol' brains a little.
I've got lots of ideas for books, and WILL write them someday, but for the time being I want to try and "hone my craft" so to speak, maybe find "my voice." Once I feel I've polished my rougher spots, I'll tackle a book in a year or so. I know the time will come when writing short stories will be the exception and not the rule.
Good luck on the revisions! Seems like a lot of folks are focusing more on longer works right now. I approve. :)
Jameson - Writing shorts is the best way to go as far as polishing one's craft. Just my opinion.
K.C. - you're a bad (good?) influence...
I'm terrified of starting the book. Chapter One has had me at a standstill for a year and a half. Yikes.
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