David Drazul's Blog - Posts Tagged "sitrep"
Writing Has Resumed
I finally seem to have made enough progress processing my father's death that I'm able to write again. Obviously the real world events of 2020 didn't help to move things along. While terrible things are still going on, it seems that on a personal level I've been able to turn the proverbial page.
Over the summer, I was inspired by a status update I saw here on Goodreads to write this short story. The idea rattled around my brain, but I wasn't able to write it up until the week after Christmas. It's titled "Staking Sunflowers". It's 2,100 words long and has sci-fi and horror elements in it.
My wife and kids read it and gave their approval. A reading group here on Goodreads has given it positive reviews, too. After a few edits, including tacking on a darker ending, I've started reviewing markets that it might work for. First submission and rejection happened yesterday, so I must keep looking. In the meantime, now that it's out of my head, I can get back to working on Gateway.
Over the summer, I was inspired by a status update I saw here on Goodreads to write this short story. The idea rattled around my brain, but I wasn't able to write it up until the week after Christmas. It's titled "Staking Sunflowers". It's 2,100 words long and has sci-fi and horror elements in it.
My wife and kids read it and gave their approval. A reading group here on Goodreads has given it positive reviews, too. After a few edits, including tacking on a darker ending, I've started reviewing markets that it might work for. First submission and rejection happened yesterday, so I must keep looking. In the meantime, now that it's out of my head, I can get back to working on Gateway.
2022 Begins
Wow. I haven't posted anything here in a year. I guess I better sum up writing news for 2021.
"Staking Sunflowers" is in submissions limbo. It was rejected by six markets in ten weeks. I took a break from trying to find a home for it for about six months. It's currently in the slush pile of a seventh market.
In October, I submitted an old essay that I'd written about the birth of my son, "Birth, Not For The Squeamish," to a contest. I should find out the result this month. Some would argue that a writer should never enter these contests because they charge a fee. They're probably right, but getting published is easy for them.
I edited two books: one for one of my long standing clients, the other a referral. I've been wondering if I should make the investment in getting professionally certified.
Writing for Gateway got off to a good start at the beginning of the year, but then life got busy. Returned to it late in the fall until the holidays got in the way. 45,000 words. Judging where I am compared to the outline, I think that's 2/3 of the way.
That's all for now. With any luck, it won't be another year before I have an update.
\_/
DED
"Staking Sunflowers" is in submissions limbo. It was rejected by six markets in ten weeks. I took a break from trying to find a home for it for about six months. It's currently in the slush pile of a seventh market.
In October, I submitted an old essay that I'd written about the birth of my son, "Birth, Not For The Squeamish," to a contest. I should find out the result this month. Some would argue that a writer should never enter these contests because they charge a fee. They're probably right, but getting published is easy for them.
I edited two books: one for one of my long standing clients, the other a referral. I've been wondering if I should make the investment in getting professionally certified.
Writing for Gateway got off to a good start at the beginning of the year, but then life got busy. Returned to it late in the fall until the holidays got in the way. 45,000 words. Judging where I am compared to the outline, I think that's 2/3 of the way.
That's all for now. With any luck, it won't be another year before I have an update.
\_/
DED
Mid-2022 Sitrep
Gateway... is up to 49,000 words. I was making some pretty decent progress (for me) then the weather warmed up and I had to get to work on outdoor projects: powerwash and re-stain the deck, chainsaw those 20" diameter ash logs, split and stack wood, spring maintenance on roof and gutters, etc.
The essay didn't place in the contest, and "Staking Sunflowers" was rejected by its seventh market. Haven't bothered trying to shop it to an eighth market or any of the other short stories because I haven't gotten over those feelings of futility.
Back in March, I took a class entitled "Fearless Writing", based on the book of the same name. It helped me to see what's been blocking my attempts to write (me) and showed me how to dispel those thoughts and get back into the flow. It's not an overnight cure; I have to keep working at it until it becomes automatic. But it made me feel hopeful, which isn't something I typically feel.
\_/
DED
The essay didn't place in the contest, and "Staking Sunflowers" was rejected by its seventh market. Haven't bothered trying to shop it to an eighth market or any of the other short stories because I haven't gotten over those feelings of futility.
Back in March, I took a class entitled "Fearless Writing", based on the book of the same name. It helped me to see what's been blocking my attempts to write (me) and showed me how to dispel those thoughts and get back into the flow. It's not an overnight cure; I have to keep working at it until it becomes automatic. But it made me feel hopeful, which isn't something I typically feel.
\_/
DED
Another Two Years Later
Finished writing Gateway To Empire! Now to send it off to my alpha readers.
I have a lot that I'd like to say about the journey to get to this point, but I'm conflicted as to how to say it. I can't find the words right now to balance my disappointment that it took me so long to get it done with my pride that I got it done and like what I wrote. But that's the man I am.
I have a lot that I'd like to say about the journey to get to this point, but I'm conflicted as to how to say it. I can't find the words right now to balance my disappointment that it took me so long to get it done with my pride that I got it done and like what I wrote. But that's the man I am.
Gateway to Empire in Print
Gateway To Empire is now available in print!
Non-Kindle eBook Delay Explanation
I had every intention to get Gateway To Empire published in other ebook formats besides the Kindle, but those plans have gone awry. Previously, I used Smashwords to publish all of these myriad other ebook formats, but they were purchased by Draft2Digital (D2D). I discovered that they use a different formatting program than Smashwords.
I attempted to get this done in February, but I struggled to get the D2D software to properly format my manuscript. After weeks of frustration, I decided to take a break. Days turned to weeks turned to months. My attempts this month to try again have met with failure.
In the help section FAQ, here's what I found:
If I format my file myself, will it look exactly the same when you convert it?
No. Ebooks are a reflowable format that allows the reader a lot of flexibility in how they consume content. Draft2Digital's automated conversion process will strip out things that force formatting to be one exact way—embedded fonts, extra line breaks, empty pages, footnotes, or anything the system considers unnecessary to the final file.
I'm not trying to do anything fancy. I just want to get paragraphs to align, a particular quote to be indented, and the information pages (ISBN page, Other books by..., etc.) to line up. So I'm at a loss. I guess I'll keep pounding my head against the D2D wall.
The thing is: I really wanted to get all of the ebook formats set up so that when I contact indie book reviewers I can offer them copies in any format they might want. But now, I can't.
If anyone has any suggestions for alternatives to D2D, please let me know in the comments.
I attempted to get this done in February, but I struggled to get the D2D software to properly format my manuscript. After weeks of frustration, I decided to take a break. Days turned to weeks turned to months. My attempts this month to try again have met with failure.
In the help section FAQ, here's what I found:
If I format my file myself, will it look exactly the same when you convert it?
No. Ebooks are a reflowable format that allows the reader a lot of flexibility in how they consume content. Draft2Digital's automated conversion process will strip out things that force formatting to be one exact way—embedded fonts, extra line breaks, empty pages, footnotes, or anything the system considers unnecessary to the final file.
I'm not trying to do anything fancy. I just want to get paragraphs to align, a particular quote to be indented, and the information pages (ISBN page, Other books by..., etc.) to line up. So I'm at a loss. I guess I'll keep pounding my head against the D2D wall.
The thing is: I really wanted to get all of the ebook formats set up so that when I contact indie book reviewers I can offer them copies in any format they might want. But now, I can't.
If anyone has any suggestions for alternatives to D2D, please let me know in the comments.
More eBook Formats for Gateway to Empire
Well, it took far longer than expected, but Gateway to Empire is now available in other ebook formats besides Kindle. If you want it on the Nook, click here. For all other ebook formats, head over to Books2Read.com and choose your preferred platform. But if print is still your thing, well, there's that too.
And when you're done, a rating or a review would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
\_/
DED
And when you're done, a rating or a review would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
\_/
DED
