Good morning, Readers.

So... my stomach has been terribly fragile of late.  I'm not quite sure what's going on, but I feel like I've been hit by a bus today, and my stomach is playing a particularly brutal game of tackle rugby with itself.

I'm staying in today, hoping that I don't inconvenience anyone at work too much.

I always feel SO guilty when I skip work due to illness.  I mean, I'm sure they're all happier without me there, curled on my side and cursing the heavens, with the threat of needing a washroom really quickly hovering over the air.  But still, I always feel so badly that I'm not at work.

It dates back to my retail days, I think, where if I didn't work I didn't get paid.  As a university student, I really needed to get paid, so I'd drag myself into work regardless, and serve people looking, sounding and feeling like death.  Despite having worked this job since 2010, am on a salary, and have a few sick days year that I can use, missing work still always stresses me out.

Hopefully, if things start to improve, I will be able to get some non-paying work done.  I have episodes of Nights at the Round Table to edit together.  This seems as good a time as any to get that done.  I also have with me the manuscript for The Third Prince, so I can write some if I'm feeling up to it.

But first, bed.  I'm tired and I want sleep.

​Ciao.

Good morning, Readers!

Well, Daughters of Britain is away with the first Beta Reader.  They kindly accepted the duty last night, and now have the manuscript to tear to shreds.  I have to admit, I'm pretty excited about it.  I'm really eager to see what she thinks.  It might prove to be a very disappointing story, and that I'm the only one that likes it (because, you know, Celtic Studies nut).

Once I get her comments back, its yet another round of edits, then off to Beta Reader Two.

Beta Reader Two is busy as hell, though, so I expect that he won't be able to get to it for a while after I send it to him.  Once I get his notes back, it's another round of edits, then off to Beta Reader Three.

When he's done with it, it's yet another round of edits and then, finally, I submit the manuscript.

So, to recap the submission process for those who are still unsure, I write a manuscript.  Once finished, I make three editing passes before filing the thing away for about a month.  I make a final editing pass before sending it to the first Beta Reader.

That's four edits before the Beta Reader.

Then there are three more rounds of edits (one after each Beta Read), for a total of seven.

Seven edits.

Depending on the state of the manuscript, several of those seven edits could be quite extensive.

Seven edits.

I take my writing seriously.  I want to produce the best books I can.  This is why it takes me a year to publish a book, even if I've written three in that time (oh 2013! You were such a productive year!).  I don't want to rush it.  I want my books to be good.

And still, even after all of the edits, I still find typos and mistakes once the books are published.  Granted, they're usually quite small and not a big deal.  Still, upon finding such errors, I throw a very small hissy-fit, and then go fix them for other printings.  Still, it gets incredibly vexing when I find those errors!

So, it's seven edits before it even gets to submission.  Provided that the manuscript is acquired, there will be more editing (notes from the in-house editors of the publishing company will be headed my way), before the book goes to print.

Anyway, this was all to say that a lot more work goes into writing a book and getting it published than many people think.  It's also why I price my self-published books the way I do.  I don't just crank out the titles.  I work bloody hard to produce them.  It's not out of this world for me to expect to earn a living wage for that hard work.

Bear that in mind next time you grumble about buying eBooks.  For less than $10.00, you're getting something that took between eight months and a year of hard work to create.  Frankly, that's a steal.

Right, now I have to turn my attention to writing a blurb for Sky Road Walker.  If you hear screaming, that's just me trying work through my vexations.

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

There is so much going on behind the scenes right now, I don't even know where to begin!

I'll start with the simple stuff.  I'm almost done my final editing pass of Daughters of Britain.  I'll be sending that to my first Beta Reader probably tomorrow.  Then I can concentrate on all the other stuff I need to do.

Most pressing after the editing, is trying to write a blurb for Sky Road Walker.  That comes out in October, and October is always closer than I think it is.  I'd like to get the blurb done and out of the way before the end of March.  I hate writing blurbs so very much!  I'll go through and reread the book in the hopes that it might inspire something epic.

Expect much groaning and gnashing of teeth in the next few weeks.

Also, I did a non-writing related interview for my good friend Jen.  You know, the awesome woman behind the awesome game Blush.  It's about demi-sexuality.  You can read that here.

​On other, much more cryptic news, I will be making an announcement soon that blows my own mind.  Yes, it has to do with my writing career.  No, I haven't a publishing contract (yet).  It's something else, and I don't want to make a big announcement until the other party announces.

With this new thing, and with being able to go to Ad Astra, and it looking like I'll be able to attend When Worlds Collide, I no longer feel like I'm a hamster on a wheel - working like hell and getting nowhere.

The thing is, I've been struggling for so, so long to try and make something of myself in the writing world, that now that I'm starting to see the fruits of my labour (great reviews, the ability to go places, this new thing), I'm feeling really, really suspicious of it.  I can't tell you why.  It makes no sense to me either.

I've worked really bloody hard on this career.  I have a lot more hard work to do if I ever want to get somewhere, but the ball is starting to roll.  And I'm sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I feel like I'll wake up tomorrow to find out it was all a ruse... that everything will vanish in a single puff of smoke.

The thing is, I've worked hard and the logical part of my brain is telling me that this small gain, this little thing, is something I deserve.  Because I worked hard.

There's another part of my brain telling me that I don't deserve any of it and it'll all go away in a depressing instant.

Is it a small part of a latent imposter syndrome?  Is it because of my anxiety?  Is depression screwing with my head?

I don't know.  I'm happier than I've ever been with my writing career.

And still, still, I'm sitting here, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

On that note, I have to finish the edits.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

So I have some excellent news (for myself, at least).  This year, I will be attending Ad Astra in Toronto.  The convention this year is 29 April - 01 of May.  If you're in the Toronto area, and want to meet up, I will likely be doing April's meetup in Toronto, so come down to the hotel for dinner and drinks!

You can find all the details of the convention on their website.  Check it out.  I've heard only good things about Ad Astra.

Last week, I was offered a ride up with a bunch of awesome writers from Ottawa, and, after a long, hard think, I decided to take up their offer.  I would be a right fool to pass up on such an opportunity.  I sent them a confirmation, and then went ahead and registered this morning.

So, Ad Astra it is!

I will not be on any panels (at present, in any case) and won't be getting a table to sell.  This year, I'm going merely to observe, mingle, and learn.  If I like it well enough, I may look into getting a table there for 2017.

I'm super excited about this.  My first out of town speculative fiction convention!

I'm still dead set on going to When Worlds Collide as well, since that was the one I had set my sights on for this year.  I'm making arrangements so I can afford the plane ticket out.  I may just be able to swing it.  We'll see.  It depends quite heavily on the kindness of others.

One day, I'll be able to decide to go to a convention and just go.  As of right now, however, it all requires extremely careful budgeting and trying to get it done is quite stressful.  

I am determined, however!

So, yeah.  If you're in Toronto in the middle of April, keep an eye out for me!

I have more editing on Daughters of Britain to get done.  Off I go to work!

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

It is the final week of February.

I know, I know.  I'm being obvious.

Still, it's the final week of February, which means I am un-retiring Daughters of Britain for a final edit before sending it off to Beta Reader no. One.  This marks the final leg of the journey to submission... if you consider the Beta Reading circuit a single leg, rather than six (Beta Reader-me-Beta Reader-me-Beta Reader-me-submit).

That starts today, which is good.  Hopefully it won't take me more than three days to get through the manuscript.  There shouldn't be any need for any rewrites, so that's a plus.

Because I'm in a rush to get this manuscript out and submitted, I will be foregoing a lot of painting time to get this thing edited and sent to the first Beta Reader.  I'm kind of excited about submitting this one.  I like this manuscript, even if it is historical fiction, rather than fantasy, science fiction or horror.  It would be really nice to see it in print.

Human continues to do well.  I have currently ten ratings on good reads, and four of them are five star, four of them are four star.  I think that's something to be proud of!  If you've read it, and you are on Goodreads or Amazon or something, do please leave a review.  Not too many people I know pay attention to reviews when selecting a book, but it helps so much with the algorithms which makes these books visible.

But only do it if you want to.

Right, I have to get started on my editing.  Happy Monday, everyone!

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

This week has been a complete wash when it comes to my creative endeavours.  With the exception of the video I edited together Tuesday night, I haven't been able to get much done.  I blame the holiday.  Give me one day off, and my brain decides to take the week.

I suppose it's not a bad thing, really.  It gives my mind some breathing room, and a small break from all the sadness of my current story.  Sort of... the story goes on in my head, repeating scenes until I get them out on paper.  For example, I just had a scene pop into my head of an adult Cai, putting someone in their place.  Deservedly.  That's going to be a fun scene to write when I get around to it.

Anyway, the break has set me back roughly nine thousand words from my target.  I've decided that this is acceptable to me, mostly because even if it wasn't, there's nothing really I can do about it, so I won't stress overmuch.

I figured I might take a weekend or two one day soon and make it up.

(Speaking of weekends, this is a quick reminder that Saturday night is the first meet-up of the year.  If you aren't coming to the archery, don't fret, we'll also be doing the regular dinner and drinks.  Newsletter subscribers, check your emails for the details.)

I'm going to spend most of today not writing, but that doesn't mean my brain isn't working.  It's a whirlwind of thoughts and ideas all swirling around in my head in a cacophony only I can hear.  The thing with my brain is, I always have new ideas - new scenes of a novel, new seeds of stories, new ideas for paintings, old ideas for paintings, old story ideas I never developed, ideas for new ways of story telling, on and on it goes...

If I don't get those ideas out, if I don't make room in my mind for all the new things, they remain in my head.  They do not fade.  They get more persistent.  They start yelling, a shriek over the din of all the other things in my mind.  Sooner than you might think, these ideas overwhelm all, leaving me more or less unable to function, until I get these things out of my mind and onto paper (or the digital equivalent).

Sounds dramatic, doesn't it?

It kind of is.  I forget what I'm doing during the day.  I zone out.  I forget to eat... of if I've just eaten.  I forget about my appointments.  My brain becomes scattered and useless...  My ability to human is hugely impacted if I have too much stuff in my head and not enough on paper.

Essentially, my creative life is a struggle to keep things in balance, or, at least, balanced enough so that I can adequately function on any given day.

This brain noise is one of the reasons I love martial arts as much as I do.  It gives my brain something to focus on.  For two to three blissful hours a day, five days a week, my brain shuts up and concentrates on something else.  It's so nice to be able to shut my brain up.

Not even sleep manages that (I have some really trippy dreams sometimes).

This week has been difficult.  There was no training Monday, as it was a holiday.  Tuesday's training session was cancelled due to the snow storm (51cms in a day is not to be snuffed at), so I was stuck with my brain for the entire evening.  Wednesday was alright, though I was teaching, which gave me too much time for thinking.  That's never a good idea.

I'm hoping that tonight will get me to that special place... the place where my brain quietens, and I don't feel quite as crazy.

Anyway, I'm off to plan my next series of paintings and to find the perfect music to accompany the video I will make with them.

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Remember when I mentioned that I was working on a YouTube video for my own personal channel, one that was more artsy and had more to do with my writing and my art?  Well, since training was cancelled last night due to the snow storm, I went ahead and edited it together.

Here it is:

I'm really pleased with the music in this.  I think I found the perfect piece.  The best part is that it's completely free and royalty free (thank you, Kevin MacLeod!).  I've credited the piece in the video and in the video description, but there it is again:

"Ossuary 5 - Rest" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For those of you just starting to follow this blog, you can purchase any of the art you see in the video (and other pieces besides) here.

Right, well, yesterday was a terrible day in which I got nothing done.  I'm off to try and do better today.

​Ciao!