Waiting is the hardest part.

     So, if you have been following my posts, you have been along for the fun ride of trying to write a book and get it published. Since I had no experience before this, I thought that pretty much writing a book was all there was to do. As you may know by now, I was wrong. After you write your book, you get some people to read it, then you re-write it all over again. Then, unless you are incredibly gifted, you get yourself an editor and tear it down once more. Then you get some more people to read it and after that, correct anything you want changed.

     After that harrowing ride, you have to find a publisher. First, finding a small press interested in your type of book is hard. There are many small publishing houses out there. They don't all publish your type of book though. Many want children's book, Young Adult stories and non-fiction seems to be the biggest draw for them. Some of them are very precise in what they are looking for. Some only publish stories from the region they are in. Some only want Gay/lesbian/transgender stories. Some are interested in multicultural, some only business. You get the idea. So after spending hours on reading the latest copy of 'The Writer's Market' and scouring the internet, you have a surprisingly small list but you are ready to go. Time to get a publisher interested in your book.

Again in my ignorance, I thought this would be a pretty standard thing to do. Not even close. Some publishers want query letters first, some want the complete manuscript, some want only 2-5 chapters. Now bear in mind an editor reading your submissions gets pretty angry when you haven't followed their submission guidelines, so you don't want to mess anything up. But the differences continue. Some want your name on each page, the next one may want page numbers, the one after that may want both or neither. I have seen guidelines specifying different font sizes and different spacing. The only thing each one has agreed on so far is the margin size. Now to further confuse the matter, a few editors want a blurb about your book, like the back cover. Some have said a summary under five hundred words. Another asked for a five page synopsis.

This all makes for a bewildering time trying to get everything right for each editor at the different publishing houses. You would think there would be an industry standard, so you could get a package ready to send it out to a few publishers easily. (Oh I didn't mention some publishers accept manuscripts if they are the only ones you send it to, others are okay with multiple submissions) Alas, there is no rhyme or reason. Now please don't misunderstand me, that is not a complaint. It is just the way things are and there may even be some great reasons behind it, that as a writer I am not privy to. I am just sharing on how much time is really spent on writing and how much time is spent untangling the red tape for new authors.

When you send it out, most places will have a brief list on response times. So let's say they ask for a query letter first. You can normally expect a response in four to six weeks. Then if they like the letter and you send the complete book, you can expect another three months waiting time before hearing back from them. Lastly, lets say you are incredibly blessed and they agree to print your novel. You can expect to wait from one year to eighteen months before it is published.

So in summation, it's hard work trying to get something published. I have not even started about getting your name known, book trailers, blog tours, marketing, etc. Those will be other posts along the way. But in the mean time, as frustrating as it can be, as crazy as it can be, it is still one of the most exciting times of my life and I wouldn't trade it at all.

Be the first to see the 'Wolf Song' book trailer!

It's here! It's finally here! The pre-publishing book trailer for wolf song is out, and let me tell you, I have spared no expense. (Link on bottom of post.)

Okay, now it seems people are turning more and more to book trailers to let people know they have a novel out for sale. I have to admit, I like the idea, I do; 1 part pride and 2 parts marketing. But I ran into a few problems, namely; expense, expertise, and well, trying to stick out from the growing crowd, when wanting to make mine. 

So what's a first time novelist to do? I watched many book trailers, all very professional looking with the book cover and impressive royalty free music in the background and I thought, "Hey I don't even HAVE a book cover yet but I still want people to know my book will be coming out soon."

So I sat and I thought. Being much better at one than the other, the process took a little time but finally I had a check list for making my own book trailer.

1) Way too much time on my hands. Check
2) A budget that included three crumpled dollar bills and the remains of a paper clip, burning a hole in my pocket.
3) A friend with an I-phone. (That was an important one, I can not stress that enough)
4) A willingness to be on YouTube. (I can't believe my first YouTube video and I am not even getting arrested in it! You lost the bet Grandma, I believe you owe me $5!)

So having said that, here is the way before it is published, Wolf Song book trailer. Feel free to share it with your friends one one condition, it is understood that Frank Smith publishing can not give you the 2:50 of your life back. Enjoy it. It was meant for a laugh and just a way to remind people there is a very cool book that will hit the streets this year.

http://youtu.be/I-cNBvBaxtA

Wow time flies...

Not only has the New Year come already but the first month is almost over. Where does the time go? The book is finishing strong and should be out of editing in about 1 week. Then the real fun can begin by sending out query letters and summaries to publishing houses. This is the first step on the path that I hope will lead to my book getting published.

What I am working on, for the blog, is getting some independent writers to answer a series of questions. I would like people to see what goes on during and behind the scenes of writing a book. Not only will this open some of you to the whole revolution that the e-reader has spawned, but hopefully you might find a book or two that you might not have seen without it. I will keep you posted as I find out more information.

Lastly I would love to ask you, dear reader, a question at the end of each topic I write You can post answers in the comment section if you like, I would love to hear what you think. I promise to answer each one myself in the next topic.

Today's question; how important is it to follow your dreams? Are dreams meant to be acted on, or savored and stored up? If it is important, how are you following yours?

Having your cake and edit too.

Okay, so enough with the bad puns. I couldn't help it, but it is apropos to the post, as you might see a bit further on. If you have been following me on Facebook or my blog, you may know that I am at that magical time; that wonderfully tremulous span of getting my book edited. I figured as a debut author, I would share my thoughts on this part of the process. Those of you who have been through this may sympathize and those of you who are pioneering their way for the first time may get a few tips on what to expect.

Let me tell you what I expected; First, the wonder. The beauty of finally being able to share your child with someone else. Finally the chance for another person to acknowledge the pure awesomeness of your writing talent. You will, after months or years, get that first glimpse of the critical acclaim you have been striving for and craving. (Admit it liar! You just worked your posterior off. Slaving ALONE for days on end, with no one else. You know you want it. It's okay to admit it at this point. You are set to bask in the adulation you deserve.)

What you will get in reality however, is far different. You will receive, for all that aforementioned hard work and struggle, the equivalent of a swift kick to the groin. What is going to add even more to the delicious irony of it all is; you're going to pay for it too. (Add maniacal laughter) I mean it, hard earned cash, to get told you have all the leet skillz of an eight year old Kalaharian Bushman seeing the English language for the first time.

A pretty smart guy named Splitter once told me about the editing process, "At this point you have a great story, NOT a great book." I should have listened but I succumbed to the one inborn affliction I can not escape, I am a man. That means, I have gonads and sometimes they are so large they actually block out my hearing. Gonna have to trust me on that image if you suffer from severe gonadial bereftment syndrome, (Or girl for short.) I get the trademark on that BTW.

I went into this with all the wide eyed wonderment of a child at Christmas and came out with all the shaking and self revulsion of anyone who paid to watch, "Human Centipede" in the movies. (Please add in the groanings of Side-show Bob here)

I am NOT knocking my editor. I actually have the best one I could have hoped for; supremely talented, endlessly upbeat and just basically an angel of a human being, to put up with my bottomless question pool and newbie status. She is doing EXACTLY what I paid for, which is make my good story into a great book that will engage more people than I would have on my own. The problem lies within my own soul. Editing is NOT a trial for those weak of self image or backbone. For me at least, I had to adjust my view from inward, my skills and my talents, to outward, expanding the books potential readership and thereby earning me an even greater reward.

Every time you get back a chapter that you thought was incredible, with all the nit-picking little notations AND all the glaring errors you over-looked, is not an indictment on your talent. It's a chance to take something that's beautiful and make it shine brighter than anything you could have hoped for. The problem on this, is all with you and not your editor. (As a note; there ARE bad editors. Those who don't respect your 'voice' in telling the story, those who are fascist and demand their way or the highway and trample your vision as an author. Even those who simply don't do their job well. Those are for a different post.) This is just for getting your expectations correct.

After I got over my initial dismay, well disguised between gruff guffaws and silent tears hidden in the bathroom and blamed on cat allergies, I found something out; my editor was right. This process that I thought was solely designed to strip me of any lingering testosterone, was actually making my book a better story and vice-verse.

So if you are at that point now, buck-up snowflake. It's just a small sharp kick sending your gonads/ovaries straight into your esophagus. Then it's an eternity of a polished, much better work of art, presented to the public for their consumption. You can do it. I know you can. I can't wait to see the diamond you have, after coaxing it from the beautiful rock you started with!

By the way for anyone interested in a great editor, you can find some info on the person I have been blessed to work with here;

http://theeyesforediting.com/

Knock twice and ask for Amy.

A little about 'Wolf Song'

For years I had an idea running around in my head. I wanted to write a book about vampires and werewolves. But years later when I finally started the story, it was no longer easy to say you were writing about vampires. The question now-a-days is; 'Which vampires?'

There are so many different types out there, love-sick, angst ridden ones, a type that is almost like an alternate life form that evolved along with us, those that were turned by some disease or experiment, etc.

I didn't want any of those types. I needed old school vampires!  So I went back for the arch-type I wanted. Back past the sparkly love-sick ones, back past the homo-erotic Ann Rice vampires. Till I got to the silent killers in the night. These were the embodiment of evil with no shred of compassion, preying on humanity for their own desires. They were the ones called, "The Prince of Darkness." Foul creatures returned as the undead with incredible powers and a malevolent will to turn humans either into food or lackeys. (Anyone old enough to remember Renfield from the earlier Dracula stories?) These were the ones I inhabited my novel with.

The werewolves have a great back story and I tried to make it believable. No more, "It was a curse that turned him into a lycanthrope." With new technology and scientific enlightenment, we get better answers than the superstitions of ages past. An honest and hopefully believable take on these powerful beasts.

Mostly I wanted action. The type that I would plunk down a great deal of money to see in a movie. I wanted suspense, burning questions that are answered later in the book. Along with hate, betrayal, redemption, sadness and fight scenes. Not, "Ohh you punched me." but scenes that would draw on the unbelievable power of these titans that walk among us. Wall breaking, sidewalk shattering fights, as age old enemies attempt to destroy one another in the modern day.

I have posted a sample, in a tab beneath the blog title called, 'Wolf Song' Sample.

Come along and join: Jon, Aldus, Father McTeague, Dr. Beaumont and the Vampire All-father and his 'family' as a single incident spirals into a cataclysmic fight for the survival of thousands.

 As always, thanks for letting me ramble on. I really do think you will enjoy the book, I would love to 'hear' your comments!

Hey, what's with the title of this blog?

Someone asked me today, why I called my blog, 'Finite Language'. I guess I forgot I'm the only one who would understand that. I always liked to write, even when I was a teenager. I never dreamed I would write anything other than poetry, simply because I have the attention span of an over-sugared hamster.  However, I did take some pride in the the way I could manipulate words. I thought I was pretty sharp actually. Until one day, in my late teens, I ran head first into real life. Someone I knew very closely, experienced a heartbreaking tragedy.

Suddenly the language I was so proud of, seemed to shrink both in the ability to convey what I wanted and its importance. I was abruptly aware of how very small words can be, how paltry they are when it really matters and how limited they always were, although I never saw it.

So I guess the title is a way to remind myself of a few things. First, pride. There are always going to be times that challenge you to open up beyond what you believe. You can accept that and learn from it, or you can become a pig-headed fool. It's good to remind ourselves, that we are not as smart as we think we are, nor others a dumb as they seem to be. Second, words are finite. Yes, with words you can inspire, horribly wound or even change a life, but there will always be a time when the simple touch of another human being will be a thousand times stronger than your words will ever be.

So that's it in a nutshell. The title is just a reminder to be humble, even if the book takes off beyond my wildest dreams, and to not forget there are times when actions definitely speak louder than words. It's good to be a dreamer, but don't forget to be a 'do'er' also.

The next post, I'll tell you a little about 'Wolf Song' and hopefully pique your interest.

The best advice on writing that I can give you!

     Over the last few months, as I talked to people about writing a book, I noticed a few reactions over and over again. The first was support. I am very thankful that so many people have allowed me to talk about writing and my book 'Wolf Song'. It's not easy to listen about anyone's past-times, especially when you're not involved and yet almost every person I talked to was great. They were open and obliging every time I brought it up, and still are even today, as the book sits with an editor getting ready to be sent out to publishers in an attempt to get it printed. I can't tell you how heart-warming and helpful this has been and how much it means to me.

     The other reaction I got a lot is, "I would love to write a book."  So many people have said the same thing, that it surprised me. I didn't know how many people enjoyed writing and reading, it was an awesome discovery for me. Invariably after telling me how much they would love to write, people would ask, "How did you do it?" Now if you are set, I'll give you the best advice I can, on how to be a writer. Are you ready? Here it is; write.

     Wait, what? You're joking right? Nope, not at all. That, in a nutshell, is the best advice I ever received about being an author, and I am passing it on totally free of charge. Here it is again, write. Write on your computer, long hand, jot a few lines or paragraphs, just do it. It doesn't have to be great but it does have to get down on paper or saved on the computer. You can always go back and erase, change or edit anything you wrote, so don't be stingy. No one needs to ever see it if you're not satisfied in the end, so don't be shy either, just write.

      People love to make themselves seem bigger, it's a human trait I think. They will tell you about secrets and formulas and things like that, don't buy into it, not for writing, not for anything. Let's take dieting as an example, only because most of us have some experience with that. Every month, if not week, there is a new fad or bandwagon to jump on. BILLIONS are spent on these secrets and 'new' knowledge every year, but here is the truth of the matter. You don't need to cut carbs, eat only fruit or copy what some emaciated Hollywood celebrity heard from some Indian guru. Again free of charge, here is the only dieting secret you need. To lose weight you must burn off more calories than you take in. Period, end of story, save your money. Here is a link to a story about a nutrition professor who lost 27 pounds eating twinkies and other snacks ONLY. How did he manage to do that? He burned off more calories everyday than he took in. For those who find this impossible to believe, here is the story:

Diet professor loses 27 pounds

Just as with dieting, so is writing. The only way to be an author is to write. There are no tricks, no gimmicks, I would even say that for the greater part of us, there is no inborn talent more than you already have. It's just write, write and write some more, until you get better and get in the habit of doing it. Time is the hard part, I know,  but look at it this way; just like a slow water leak can add up over days and months, so will your words. No one says your book has to be finished in a few months or even years! Scribble a few notes between feeding and bathing the kids, or on your lunch break or those few precious moments of quiet before you go to sleep. You can do it, or anything else if you want, you just have to take the first steps!

Also a few last words. This entire post, as small as it is, is over seven hundred words. Just do that number over and over again, or even less, and soon you will have a novel.

And lastly, if you are trying to write, lose weight, train for another career, etc., I know you can do it. I know it won't be easy, I know you will struggle but I know you can do it, because I believe in you.