23
Jul
The contract is signed, sealed and on it's way to Lyrical Press.
So now what?
I know I need to get myself an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number) from the IRS. The more I read, the more confused I get. Whee… such fun.
Then I have to register copyright in the US. It works differently in the UK. Copyright is automatic, but the burden of proof lies with the author. If you want to make sure, you can special mail your work to yourself, date stamped, naturally. Don't open it. If you intend to do more than one, make sure you know what the content of the envelope is.
I would suggest to mail it to yourself with the work's name as a reference on the mailing label. While this only proves the work was in your possession at a certain date, make sure you keep relevant information like drafts etc safe.
I'm printing off the original draft and stick it in an envelope with the final draft, as well as write the story to CD, and add a printout as well. A nice little archive box should do the trick, and I can put the contract in there too. 
While I wait for things to start rolling, I'll be working on the next book. This time a futuristic which I originally planned to submit, but I wasn't happy with the ending.
If you really want to keep up with my more personal stuff… you can head to Thinks to Keep, my personal blog.
We've been talking about writing habits, over at Passionate Critters. (My critique group)
Mostly about revision, but also writing in general. Harper did a very nice blog post about it.
There are different habits, different ways of doing things. None of us are the same, we all have our little quirks. Little things we like to do. What works for one person, might not work for another.
Personally, I'm a night owl. I do my best writing at night, way past midnight usually, slurping a tepid (or cold) cup of coffee that has sat on my desk so long, I forgot it's there. (I used to work in IT. Cold coffee is… not unusual.)
When I concentrate, when I'm in the story, I don't see or hear anything else. You could probably rob me blind while I am that deep into it, I wouldn't notice. Well, not until you tried to take my computer. I'd probably murder the burglar for interrupting the flow.
To concentrate, I often fiddle with little strips of fabric, roll it between my fingers while my mind goes into overdrive. For some odd reason the feel of the fabric helps me to focus.
I go outside, stare into the darkness while I have a cigarette (yes, filthy blah blah…) and my characters usually have a conversation in my head while I do it. If there is a particular pose I want to convey, I try it out, see how it would look or feel. My neighbors probably wonder about me. Oh well.
I write everywhere. There isn't a second of the day when I don't write — even if it's just in my head. I get incredibly annoyed when I have something I need to put on paper or screen, and I can't. Boy, do I ever!
But if you watch me — I won't write a word. Not even one. I will wait until everyone is out of the room, because I can't stand having someone watch me. It drives me nuts when someone does that.
Yep, weird.
That's me, you may well have your own habits.
So how do I revise?
Pretty much the same way. I don't have set formula. I don't do it chapter by chapter. I read my stuff many, many, times though.
Over and over. Sometimes just for pleasure. That's when I find things, when I read it as a reader, not as a writer.
I step away for at least a week before I revise. I won't open the file, won't read any of it.
Then I read it again and hopefully notice those odd bits that don't work, or the ones in the wrong place, or where the pace slows down, or… you get the idea.
I cut words. Sometimes just one, sometimes entire chapters. If I get bored reading it, then so does anyone else. Out it comes.
What I don't do is throw that stuff out. It goes into another file.
I look for duplications. I sometimes say the same thing twice, using different words. In fact, I do this a lot.
I look for repetition, words I use a lot, phrases too. Unless it's a trademark of the character, it comes out.
You could say I have a habit of culling my habits.
6
Jul
I’m working on the next novel, while I peddle the completed one.
No matter how disheartening the rejections are, it will not deter me from putting fingers to keyboard.
I write in my head all the time. There isn’t a time when I don’t hatch a story, dabble with scenarios, dialogue or scenery. I can’t not write. Even if no paper is to hand, my mind works in overdrive.
I recently met Katherine Howe, and she referred to it as "Telling myself a story."
I think that’s a good way of putting it. It’s what I do. It’s what a lot of writers do. (By no means all, but probably most.)
After that, you just put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, whichever you chose.) and write it down.
Easy!
What could possibly stop you?
Life. People. Everything.
Everything can get in the way of penning that great story you’ve been telling yourself.
So what can you do?
You can set yourself low goals, achievable goals.
Holly Lisle (http://www.hollylisle.com) has a little challenge going at the moment. You set your own goal, you get AFK days… stuff like that.
There used to be "Sven" (70 Days of Sweat) but I have no idea what happened with that. It’s kinda dead, over there.
If that kind of thing gets you plugging away — go for it.
Do what you can.
50, 100 or 1000 words a day – whatever you can add, it all makes that wordcount grow. Don’t beat yourself up over writing slowly. Not everyone has the time (or the willpower!) to write 5000 words a day.
So the moral of the story is…
Keep at it, and you’ll get there.