Alexandra Atman's Blog

Because Amazon has a mind of its own, my YA sci-fi book, ANTI, went live today!

Drumroll! Confetti! Chants of joy!

ANTI is a young adult (with crossover appeal) science fiction book with a cast of villains doing awful things for good reasons. Love and hate relationships, enemies-to-lovers, cool robots, evil robots, space trips, and a total AI takeover. Fun times, everybody.

Please note that I’m serious when I write my baddies: these people are wicked, and everyone is pointing a weapon at somebody else, foe or else, from beginning to end.

Please also note that I have zero interest in long tech descriptions. ANTI is an accessible sci-fi book, with well-developed characters you haven’t met before, and one hell of a great story (I know I’m saying this, but I have proof other people have said it too :P).

It would mean the world to me if you read it! Check it out via Amazon.

It’s been forever since I last posted here. “But, why was that?” you wonder?

The pandemic destroyed my will to talk about silly stuff on the Internet. I was busy doing the changes every agent who read my book wanted, plus a couple of R&R’s (revise & resubmit). When I noticed somebody would change my book until it’d somehow become the story of two sponges monologuing on a sink, I decided to publish it independently and let it be what it is. SO HERE WE ARE! My book will be published on July 16!

LOOK AT MY BOOK’S GORGEOUS, BADASS COVER PLEASE

ANTI is a young adult (with crossover appeal) science fiction book with a cast of villains doing awful things for good reasons. Love and hate relationships, enemies-to-lovers-to-????, cool robots, evil robots, space trips, and a total AI takeover. Fun times, everybody.

Please note that I’m serious when I write my baddies: these people are wicked, and nobody will turn out to be a surprise cinnamon roll.

Please also note that I have zero interest in long tech descriptions. This is an accessible sci-fi book, with well-developed characters you haven’t met before, and one hell of a great story (I know I’m saying this, but I have proof other people have said it too :P).

I’ll be running several giveaways and have priced the paperback and eBook particularly low—because I’m also an avid reader who’s here for the readers!

It would mean the world to me if you enjoy it.

Link to order via Amazon: Buy ANTI

Read the description to check if you’re into my stuff:

Negara was supposed to be a utopia.

This is where the robots were made.
Where machines cater to every whim.
It is also where the powerful plunder the streets as their droids build bridges, erect buildings, and bend civilization to their will.

Seventeen-year-old Georgina Madalo is hell-bent on becoming a space pilot and getting the heck away from this mess. Her problems? First, a tyrannical mother who created a sentient artificial superintelligence. It can control the robots, that’s for sure. But it’ll also control everything else, including, you know, Us. The humans on a planet run by giant droids.

Next problem? The infuriating, inconveniently charming Ceriel Droksik.
The country’s star robotics engineer, Ceriel stole her mom’s AI and plans to release it—even though that’d pretty much render humankind obsolete. No big deal. Just the robot apocalypse, dear.

Too bad Georgina and Ceriel love to hate each other, and their relationship sits somewhere between “I’ll cut you” and “It’s complicated.”

Tasked to retrieve the dangerous AI, Georgina will discover the truth. Alien war fleets are scouring the galaxy, and Earth has hit their radar. Ceriel believes Negara’s robot defenses and the AI to control them are the population’s only hope for survival.
The math: Georgina could let the robots run the show, defeating the aliens and saving everyone—and in doing so, turning humankind into the robots’ prey and losing any hope of leaving Earth.  Or she could stop the AI and risk humans fighting the aliens on their own.

Fun times, everyone.

Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com

Well, guys, sometimes you gotta do things yourself.

Because you can control the timeline.

Because you can control the process and most of the result.

Because, otherwise, nothing will happen—and fuck that.

It applies to everything: don’t wait for permission or approval. Do your absolute best, pour your heart into that something, and greenlight your own stuff.

This cryptic post is about resuming the blog, updating this into a proper website, and paving the way.

I feel like I blogged last an eon ago, which isn’t a lie: it’s been over six months since the last time I wrote anything for this website.

And that’s good, because the past few months have been a bit rough—what with the pandemic never ending, my betas flaking, and my queries falling flat.

I imagine all writers go through that “why can’t the world see that this book I poured so much effort, love, and time into deserves attention?” phase.

I’m sure we all feel lonely and tired every few weeks.

What eats at my heart is the certainty that, in particular, my YA Sci-Fi is something else, something that should be out there.

I’ve received so much positive feedback for it.

I know in my heart it is a diamond… why can’t I cut it right?

I’m coming back to the blog so I can talk (probably just with myself) about the process of writing, editing, and trying, with all my heart and strength, to land an agent. My goodness, I never thought capturing a stranger’s attention was this hard. Side note: if taken literally, “landing an agent” is such a bizarre image.

I’ll edit as much as I can. I’ll query again. I’ll keep trying and adapting. I’ll keep dreaming, and hoping, and asking whoever is listening to please, please, give my work a chance.

This is good. 2020 ended, and most importantly, the pandemic’s end is in sight.

According to my country’s vaccination programme, I can get my shot from April onwards.

Half of me is relieved and thinking of a summer traveling, because you’d better be sure I’m gonna travel as much as I can as soon as this crap pandemic is over.

The other half of me is already mourning the marvel of working from home. Man, I really need to get myself a fully remote job. What a joy. So relaxing. The life I want. This freedom and chill is so unique and precious. I know not everyone enjoys WFH. I know that for many being home 24/7 is a nightmare. And I hope that they all can soon go back outside and reclaim every bit of freedom (and even safety) they can.

Now, to the main subject: 2021 agenda and plans.

Much of my 2020 agenda went right to the bin, but I still made progress and managed to finish my drafts. This means I’m starting the year FRESH AND FREE, BITCH.

So, this is what I’ll be up to draft-wise:

January:

Query!Read a few booksResearch settings of TTM and HWM for editingStart editing TTM

February:

Query!Edit TTM

March:

Query!Finish editing TTMSend TTM to betasStart editing HWM

April:

Query! – PausedEdit HWM – LolStart writing LW – I don’t even remember what this isEdit TTM

May:

Finish editing TTMWrite query letter TTM Write sinopsis TTM Start editing HWM

June:

Query TTM Keep editing HWMStart writing LWResume writing A2

July:

Query TTM Finish editing HWMKeep writing LWKeep writing A2

August:

Write LWWrite A2TTMHWM

September:

Write LWWrite A2 TTM HWM

October:

Query HWMQuery TTMEdit LW

November:

NaNoWriMo

December:

Query TTMQuery HWMEdit LW

I’m aware NaNoWriMo is as widely hated as it is beloved. Who likes it? Those who participate and find in it the motivation needed to draft at the speed of light. OK, at the speed of sound.

Maybe just to write as much as possible.

Now, who hates NaNo? Many people, for many reasons. In yet another one of my many unpopular opinions, I’d say that the majority of people who hate NaNo are those who unfortunately can’t commit the incredible amount of time it takes to win it, or those who simply enjoy writing slowly but steadily. And listen, that’s understandable: I barely make it to the 50k, and to achieve that wordcount, I sacrifice my social life and a decent amount of sleep. What I’m trying to say is: I get it if you hate NaNo. I’ve hated it too, but I also love it, because thanks to it I’ve written two books I love.

Whether people are ready to accept it, NaNo can be a powerful motivation and boost our productivity, if anything just because of the thrill and the sense of achievement, especially for us unpublished writers who have no external deadlines—yet. It’s not about the 50k, but about creating a writing routine, becoming more disciplined.

If you’ve never participated and are doubting: try it. What’s the worst that could happen? Not making it to 50K words? But then maybe you’ll make it to 10k, 20k, 30k! Isn’t that already a win?

You can always do it in secret, record your progress and see how it goes. Again: NaNo isn’t really about winning, but about coming up with an effective writing routine. Have fun, and give yourself the chance.

I have no clue why I haven’t blogged lately.

Maybe it’s the pandemic. What else is there to talk about except crazy politics, pandemic, vaccines, social distancing, pandemic, pandemic, meh? IDK, guys, this year just feels like wasted time.

Many friends of mine went on vacation during the summer, but I wasn’t bold enough to follow suit. Or selfish enough? Do you also find yourself judging people for trying to keep a resemblance of normalcy during this crappy time? I’m torn between: ‘WHY ARE YOU POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPREAD?!’ and ‘GOOD FOR YOU! HAVE FUN! KEEP THE HOTELS AND LITTLE BUSINESSES RUNNING!’

It’s hard to judge the situation, let’s be honest. But I’d rather not potentially contribute to the spread. It’s actually easy, cheap, and boring. Quite boring indeed.

This is why I’ve been forcing myself to write and edit even when I feel like I would just rather sleep or watch reruns of the cat therapist on TLC.

Can we talk about productivity-shaming? It’s a thing. I’ve seen it on Twitter. And I get it, but also, can we not tear apart one another over everything? I see so many dark things on Twitter I often wonder WTH do I keep my account. Well, maybe because I suck at Instagram. Yeah, it’s that.

Anyway, I’m one of the terrible people who have managed to write and edit during the pandemic. In all honesty, it’s kept me sane and focused, even content (all things considered).

My contemporary book is almost ready, mostly thanks to an eager beta reader whose love for the material has been incredibly motivating and it’s got me editing like a machine. It is refreshing to have someone read your work and appreciate it for what it is, not only for how it compares to their own books and what they would have done with the concept/ideas/words. Am I a bit ragey today? I AM. Don’t ask me why. There’s not even a reason. I’ll blame the end of summer for absolutely everything I post until March 2021.

Back to the subject, I’m also almost ready to query my YA sci-fi book, and will take the rest of October to edit my YA fantasy novel. November will be all about NaNoWriMo, for which I have what I consider a great idea. (Aren’t they all amazing until we start editing?)

How have you guys been? I’d really love to talk a bit more here. I love the quietness of the blog, but I also crave connection. It’s the pandemic, isn’t it? Where’s our safe and effective vaccine?!

Since I’m finishing editing that book I’ve been editing FOREVER SO FAR, a number of questions and tasks have popped up in my head, including but not limited to:

Girl, you need to rework your query letterAnd also, when will you finish editing your other two manuscripts?Because you have to finish writing book 2 of the sci-fi thing you’ll query soonAnd start a new draft of whatever comes to mindWhile also working on your graphic novelOh, don’t forget to start cooking an idea for NaNoWriMo which, in case you forgot, it’s in three monthsAlso, do you even have a consistent platform? It’s time to create and promote your brand, gal.

I love how my brain is such a chill place.

But the truth is, I have to manage all that if I want to make of this bullshit year something more than a time of fear with no places to go or the possibility to see family and friends.

If I can’t go on vacation, hang out with people, or have much fun, at least I’ll try to be productive. Tit for tat*

(I’m sure that’s not how people use that expression, but here we are.)

So yeah, we’ll see what I come up with. Most likely, I’ll have to leave my beloved anonymity.

*Sheds a single, happy yet vaguely stressed out tear*

Hey, hey, hey, guys! I’m feeling obnoxiously hyper today, all positive for whatever reason.

Maybe it’s because after months struggling to get much done, I got my groove back, and I’m PRODUCING big time.

FINALLY, and against the odds (read: my own procrastination and laziness), I managed to finish editing my sci-fi book (for the umpteenth time, yeah). This doesn’t mean I’m ready to query, it just means I have to type in the changes AND get ready to query. But since that’s relatively less time-consuming than going through the manuscript, let’s just call it a win, shall we?

Now, I can finish my WIPs (a fantasy book plus a contemporary one) and… well, start editing those. BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS DESPAIR! I’m also writing the sequel to my sci-fi book. I just missed those characters terribly, don’t judge me. However, I’m taking it easy this time around and giving myself enough room to discover the story as I go.

Because I want to try to do my most, I also started working on a graphic novel with a friend, and men, that’s already so joyous.

It’s been kinda challenging doing much during this motherf-cking pandemic, but I’m trying–and that’s better than nothing, isn’t it? Tell me it is.

For a very, very long time, I’ve felt insecure about my writing. I’d enumerate the reasons, but right now, that feels like giving them power, and this post and this day are all about flipping the switch an empowering myself. I firmly believe I will reach my writing goals, I will get my books published, there is no obstacle but instead, a clear path towards whatever I decide to achieve and do.

Words have power, and I’m done downplaying my own ambitions or buying into the fear.

I’ll edit steadily and do my best. Whatever happens next, will be a reward. I’m sure of that.