Posts from — October 2008

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After taking some time to make sure the query letter was perfect (as well as taking a small break from it all) I’ve sent off the first query to the first agent on my grand list of agents to query.  I have 29 identified that I feel would be interested in my work and have what is needed to get it sold. Over the next week I’ll be sending more queries out and then the worst part of this all starts: The Waiting Game.

The most insidious part of The Waiting Game is that there isn’t just one waiting game. There are at least THREE!  For example, the first one comes when you send off your initial query and then wait for a response.  The second when the agent responds to you requesting the first 3 chapters of your work and/or a synopsis.  The third is when the agent requests your entire manuscript for review.

And the particularly joyous thought is that your manuscript can be rejected at ANY of those previously mentioned stages!  It almost wants to make you start drinking, doesn’t?

I think I’ll go have a coffee now.

In the first part of this series, we talked about how you can write while in your car.  Now that we have the What, it’s time to focus on the How.  Selecting the right digital recorder may now seem like a big task.  You can find some out there in most Big Box stores for $25.  But then you’ll have a device where the only way to get your notes off of it is to replay and listen to the tiny speaker hoping to whatever deity above you can understand what you said.  Here are some things to look for when selecting the right digital voice recorder:

• Stereo Microphone: Make sure the recorder has a stereo mic.  This will give you a higher quality recording so you can better understand what you said at that time.
• Two or More Hours Recording Time: Most people looking at the specifications will see high recording times, but watch out.  Make sure you get a recorder that will record at least two hours at its highest quality settings.  Then if you need more time you can switch the recorder to a lower quality setting and get close to double the time.
• PC or Mac Interface: Your digital recorder should have the ability to interface with your computer so you can off-load all of your recorded notes for archival and transcription purposes.  Now for my Mac friends, you may have to use a more expensive recorder in order to get Mac support, but it will be worth it since whatever software that comes with the recorder will be able to convert the compressed format the recorder uses into Mac-friendly audio formats.
• Uncompressed Audio: This isn’t a big deal, but for maximum flexibility, you want to get a voice recorder that can record in uncompressed audio.  This makes it easier to use your notes on systems that don’t support Windows-only audio formats which are popular on most recorders (WMA is a prime example).
• Expandable Storage: Some new recorders now have the ability to accept SD cards.  This is a great capability to have because then you can record on the highest quality settings you can and then simplly switch out the SD card for a new one. If you go this route, make sure you get a couple of SD cards also.

You might be wondering how much will this cost you?  The good news is a good digital voice recorder can be purchased in the range of $45-$100.  For example, I use an Olympus DS-2 Digital Voice Recorder, which has most of the features above except for SD-based storage.  I also selected this recorder because it came with Mac-compatible software. Olympus has several models which will work with the Mac.  You can also look at Sony’s recorders but I tend to prefer Olympus since they do not force you into using a proprietary recording and external memory format (ATRAC and Memory Stick respectively).

If you still don’t want to put down that much cash and you have an iPod then you can purchase an accessory like Griffin’s iTalk Pro which turns your iPod into a stereo digital voice recorder for about $29.  The only caveat is that the quality sometimes can be spotty unless you hold it close to your mouth.

Whatever you end up using  just make sure it doesn’t distract you from the road.  If you find yourself wrapped up in a scene, then you may want to pull over and finish it off.  But, if you’re like myself and can talk while driving, then you’ll be able to use this wasted bit of time to churn out even more writing.  You could even use it as your scheduled writing time since it’s a lot easier to transcribe what you said that creating it.

Time to take a drive!

[Originally appeared at Writer’s Roundabout]

You’re probably looking at the the title and thinking “What? Writing while I drive? Do you want me to get killed?” No, I don’t wish you ill (unless you cut me off, then I may feel differently).  But I would like to talk about using some of the most unproductive time you have other than sleep: commuting.

When your driving you’re paying attention to the road, but what about those times you’re sitting bumper to bumper and you can feel the minutes ticking away into oblivion.  Why not use this time to write? Now even when you’re bumper to bumper you don’t want to necessarily take out a notebook or laptop and start banging away at whatever project you have going on.  You need to keep your eyes on the road, so you’ll need to equip yourself with the one tool that will open up this time to you: A digital voice recorder.

We’ll go more into what is a good digital voice recorder, but for now let’s talk about what kind of writing you can do on the road.  Here are some things you can do to put this normally wasted time to work for you:

• Brainstorming: Why not use this time to come up with article or story ideas?  Listen to your radio and let the ideas flow. Although this time, instead of trying to remember it, you’ll have it recorded and ready to go when you reach your destination and hit your computer.
• Research Notes: You can use this time to think about what you need to complete in order to write your article.  Leave yourself a note that you need to finish research on the world’s largest Kiwi.  Ramble on about possible names you want to find out the meaning of for your serial killer nun.
• Write Dialogue: Do you have a scene that’s bothering you?  Or did something in a song you just heard inspire a new one?  With your handy voice recorder you can act out the scene from the comfort of your own car.  Try an make your voice sound like your characters.  Don’t worry if you sound ridiculous, you’re alone.  Although I wouldn’t recommend doing this while you have your children/friends/significant other with you. They might think you’ve finally lost it.
• Write an entire scene or article: If you want to do more than dialogue, go ahead and write the entire scene.  Know what you want to say for an article? Go ahead and talk it through! You can then transcribe it the next time you get in front of a computer.

With your handy voice recorder by your side you can do most anything you could do in front of a computer.  It’s a great way to use this time which could otherwise go wasted cursing at other drivers.  And think of how it would reduce road rage.  You’d be too busy to get mad!

So now you’re ready to get in your car and write, but have you thought about your voice recorder?  Just what do you need to make sure your brilliant article on penguin conspiracies makes it to your publisher?  Because while there are plenty of inexpensive recorders, the last thing you need is to find yourself scratching your head trying to figure out what you said when that semi was idling beside you.  In the next post of this series, we’ll go into what sort of digital voice recorder you should look for.

[Originally appeared at Writer’s Roundabout]

I know it’s been a little short of updates here, but that was because I just finished my manuscript on October 5th. It was a big milestone for me and something that I’ve been working on for the better part of a couple of years now lays atop my desk complete.

It’s been sent off to the readers and now I have to move on to the next part of my graduation task list: The Genre Essay.

Now, those of you who know me can attest to how much I loath essays. Most of the time I view them as busy work set upon my by a professor who has nothing better to do than make me waste my time. This time though I think it’ll be different. After all, it’s an essay on something academic in genre I love so much: science-fiction. Maybe it will be interesting instead of mind-numbingly boring I don’t know. But, it’ll be interesting to find out.

Also on the plate is looking for a literary agent. I’ve polished off my synopsis and now I need to craft the dreaded query letter. That damned letter is like writer’s kryptonite. I find it hilarious that most of us have no problems putting out a multi-book opus which has the potential to sell millions of copies, but then we’re afraid of writing a little letter that might top out at two hundred words. That will be what I’ll be focusing my efforts on after having scoured the Writer’s Market Agent’s guide earlier in the week.

If any other science-fiction writers out there have an agent they love and is looking for authors, please contact me because I’m definitely looking for that right agent to grow with.