Relying on Community
I've been engaged in so many projects that I really haven't had time to revisit my GR blog. But I'm between drafts, and I can't work on my album until later, so here we go.
Over the past year, I've realized the importance of the online writing community. Barring one bizarre episode on the Amazon ABNA Community, I've never experienced anything other than positive reinforcement and help from the writers of the Internet.
Last month, while I was finishing up a project (Burn All the Bodies), I checked my Twitter feed one morning and discovered that Pitch Wars was starting up again. I'd participated once before, and although my pitch did not make it past round one, I received excellent feedback. So I decided to give it a go with my new WIP, Bonesaw. And it worked! I received excellent feedback on my pitch, and not only did I make it to the agent round, an agent is currently reading the first fifty pages of Bonesaw.
While it's no guarantee that I will become an official 'agented' writer out of this, I couldn't have even gotten to that point without the online writing community, not to mention the fact that the feedback on my work inspired me. As everyone trying to self-pub AND find an agent knows, writing is brutal. I often feel like I'm casting around in the dark, or stupid for even trying to get my stuff read, but when validation like this comes around . . . its awesome. I am so grateful.
On top of that, seeds that I planted in the spring continue to take root. In April, I embarked on a month long Library Tour of the CRRL branches. Just four Saturdays setting up my table, making connections, and selling a few books at a time. Because of this, last week, the CRRL asked me to be a part of their Local Author meet and greet, where I will have a chance to talk to some thirty other local writers and perhaps even sell or distribute my books.
More cool things:
* The Fairfax County Public Library system accepted A Knife in the Back and YOU WILL BE SAFE HERE into their collections.
* I received the cover art for Burn All the Bodies (drawn by Bri from Itty Bitty Press, another local business).
* And I'm finally almost done with a music project I started in January. My end, at least. The next step is asking some of my local violinists/strings maestros to overdub my synth strings parts.
Viva Community!
www.jamesnoll.net
Over the past year, I've realized the importance of the online writing community. Barring one bizarre episode on the Amazon ABNA Community, I've never experienced anything other than positive reinforcement and help from the writers of the Internet.
Last month, while I was finishing up a project (Burn All the Bodies), I checked my Twitter feed one morning and discovered that Pitch Wars was starting up again. I'd participated once before, and although my pitch did not make it past round one, I received excellent feedback. So I decided to give it a go with my new WIP, Bonesaw. And it worked! I received excellent feedback on my pitch, and not only did I make it to the agent round, an agent is currently reading the first fifty pages of Bonesaw.
While it's no guarantee that I will become an official 'agented' writer out of this, I couldn't have even gotten to that point without the online writing community, not to mention the fact that the feedback on my work inspired me. As everyone trying to self-pub AND find an agent knows, writing is brutal. I often feel like I'm casting around in the dark, or stupid for even trying to get my stuff read, but when validation like this comes around . . . its awesome. I am so grateful.
On top of that, seeds that I planted in the spring continue to take root. In April, I embarked on a month long Library Tour of the CRRL branches. Just four Saturdays setting up my table, making connections, and selling a few books at a time. Because of this, last week, the CRRL asked me to be a part of their Local Author meet and greet, where I will have a chance to talk to some thirty other local writers and perhaps even sell or distribute my books.
More cool things:
* The Fairfax County Public Library system accepted A Knife in the Back and YOU WILL BE SAFE HERE into their collections.
* I received the cover art for Burn All the Bodies (drawn by Bri from Itty Bitty Press, another local business).
* And I'm finally almost done with a music project I started in January. My end, at least. The next step is asking some of my local violinists/strings maestros to overdub my synth strings parts.
Viva Community!
www.jamesnoll.net
No comments have been added yet.
