Seriously, I have no idea how many writing update entries I’ve done.

(I know, I could like, look it up, but whatever…)

So, on the novel front:

I have 8 literary agents I’m either waiting to hear back from, or waiting for their ‘I don’t respond if I’m not interested’ window to expire.

That makes 33 rejections – not counting the 2 publishing companies – (so, 35, if I’m being annoyingly pedantic, and really, when is pendant-ism not annoying?) – for the novel I’ve been trying to sell for, something like the last 5 years or so.

(Ok, a little longer than that, but, much like the complete list of rejections, the number’s probably higher, but I can’t be arsed to figure it just now.)

I often have the, “Well, do I just give the fuck up?” thought.

It’d be easier.

But I don’t think I can, for a couple of reasons:

1) I’ve had some seriously good feedback from one of those publishing houses. Like, the editor I sent it to really loved it and wanted to publish it, but couldn’t get the rest of the editors on board, because there was a similar concept property already in their production pipeline.

[And – editor at Angry Robot Books who shall remain nameless until they want to be named – if you’re reading this, I wrote the sequel. It will blow the back of your head off.]

2) Most importantly, I believe in this book. And its sequel.

It’s not because this book is my baby, or anything like that.

I’ve torn it apart, reworked it, rearranged it, had my beta readers go to town on it with baseball bats and bike chains, and then reworked it again. Hell, I’ve even paid to have the thing professionally edited.

Real money. A bunch of it. (Six months of savings for my poor ass.)

That’s how much I believe in this book.

No, it’s not my first novel either. It’s not even my second. With some qualifiers, you might call it my third, but that’d be pushing it.

I’ve tried to learn to write good query letters. Since I’ve gotten no feedback on those, I can’t say if I managed it, but I did the research and the work, and that matters.

So, eight left.

Eight people left to hear from to see if I can get representation for this thing I sincerely believe people will enjoy, and want to read more of.

Eight.

And what do you do after that?

What do I do?

Self Publish.

(well, start saving up for the cover art and formatting charges, but after that…)

I have a friend who has been asking me why I haven’t self published before now. She’s been asking me for most of the last five years. I’ll tell you what I told her:

I have a full-time job and didn’t want to have to be all of the things traditional publishers pay someone else to be –

PR specialist

Editor

Copy editor

Proof reader

Artist

Jacket designer

etc…

I didn’t want to wear all of those hats. I just wanted to write, and talk to people about my work.

I wanted the rest of that time to let the weirdness in my head off-gas and condense on the page.

Time to stare off into space and dream about, whatever.

And maybe a couple extra hours of sleep a night wouldn’t hurt either.

So, by the end of May, I’ll know for reasonably sure that I need to get my head measured and fitted.

Because this thing is happening.

I started writing this blog to create a platform for my writing. Got on social media for the same reason. In truth, I don’t post enough to really use that as a spring-board.

Not yet anyway.

I’ve thought about starting a Patreon account.

Basically what stops me is: what extra content will I give my patrons?

If I figure that out, it’ll be a go.

(Yes, I’m open to suggestions. Feel free to comment below.)

I’ve done a lot of research, for the last year and a half or so. I still have a bunch to learn about going this on my own.

It’s nice to think at least some of you reading this will be going with me on that journey. I’ll try to keep the updates regular and interesting.

To Recap:

Before Memorial Day, I’ll be able to cross the remaining eight off my list.

By sometime in June, if that is the case, I’ll have figured how I’m moving forward.

Of course, I’ll be back here to tell you about it.

Thanks for reading.

[Long walks are always better with company.]

Until next time…