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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.

I just came back from Residency at Seton Hill University today. It was nice to have an uneventful flight after the interesting week I had.

First off, I apologize for the lack of updates while I was there. About a couple of days in, I began to feel under the weather, which culminated in a visit to the urgent care on Saturday morning. It took only a couple of seconds for the test to come back positive for strep throat, but thankfully I was prescribed some meds and now I’m feeling better. My main problem now is my wife insists on asking me who I was kissing to catch it.

The Residency was enjoyable as ever, and meeting all of my friends always gives me a rush. Being surrounded by so many writers can in inspire in ways you can’t expect. Since there were a lot of things that happened, I’ll spread out some of the more significant events and lessons I learned through some of my blog entries over this week.

Lastly, while I was sitting in bed for most of Saturday there was one thing that kept popping into my mind: Was there any way I could do some work during the time? I found I lacked the energy to leave the room for the most part, but I’m curious if any of you have some tips and tricks for keeping productive while being dogged by the bug d’jour? Feel free to post some of your ideas in the comments.

I’m done packing and I’m read for the flight out tomorrow morning. I’ll be posting some of my thoughts on what happens during Residency here and there, but I may be posting infrequently during the next week. Things will go back to normal after I get back.

And for you other Writing Popular Fiction students, I’ll see you tomorrow at the opening reception!