To be mid-thirties and still getting toys for Christmas…magic.
(Thanks, Mom! :))
And that video is what I’m feeling like in these young months of 2013. In a good way. Slappy…but happy.
I know it’s been a looong time, and if you’re still with me, I love you for your loyalty. Thanks for havin’ a monkey’s back. And now I hate to inundate you with a laundry list of all I’ve been up to, but we’ve got some catching up to do since my last post.
First of all, I discontinued my writing services as a web content writer. This isn’t to say I wouldn’t take on new projects, just that I’m done with the old and not presently soliciting new. Should any fall in my lap with no douchebag-SEO-guy strings attached and the content requested sounds meaningful and fun, awesome.
Second of all, I’ve since then thrown myself into my editing work and recommenced my querying process—for my first manuscript, yes, but also some short stories I’ve had lying around and collecting dust on my hard-drive. It’s been a much more pleasant process since my discovery of Duotrope. Why in hell has it taken me this long to know about it? If I’m at least still one step ahead of you, allow me to expound my new-found knowledge: the site allows you to filter through a comprehensive listing of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry markets (~4,500 of ’em) based on your criteria (e.g., genre, word count, etc.).
In any case, it’s been a lovely time getting reacquainted with my shorter pieces of fiction, but, alas, I haven’t been doing much new writing lately. For shame, I know, but I’ve been editing multiple manuscripts back-to-back. My workload in this respect has significantly increased since agreeing to assist with editorial direction on fresh acceptances as well, which is much quicker turnaround apiece but still a crapload of reading, analyzing, and plan writing.
I don’t know, maybe I kill myself too much over them, but I care, gol’ damn it. I know it’s not my name that’ll be attached to a book in the end and that it’s usually very different from my own writing, but I strike up lovely little synergies with these authors, and, in the end, a lil’ piece of me is in that book. I’m there in spirit, existing in the syntax and idea development. I might be the reason a description really enhances a setting or character, or that POV is third-person limited and not omniscient. I might be why that villain exhibits vulnerability rather than a caricature of evil intent. I might be the one blasting a hose of cold water on the fiery libidos of two love interests, asking them to please keep it in their pants until at least the next chapter. Or I might be why lush summer gardens fade to blustery winter landscapes when the original time frame doesn’t sync. And perhaps I’ll be why an adult paranormal novel becomes new-adult contemporary, as I reduce characters’ ages to something commensurate with their behavior and situations…and save the world from one merman story at a time.
And I will always be why a writer feels good about his or her work in the end. Because for as much grunt work as I can take credit for, it ultimately has to stay in keeping with the author’s vision and style. They are the ones who provide the clay to work with. As two of them recently emailed me:
“[T]hank you so much for the kind words. As someone with the fragile writer’s ego, I appreciate them!”
“Just wanted to thank you for all the wonderfully encouraging comments and smiley faces. As a writer […] there have been many moments when I reread my own stuff and thought, ‘this is terrible.’ I can’t tell you how gratifying and inspiring it is to view the parts you particularly enjoyed as I revise.”
It’s such a special collaboration to be a part of, and I look forward to (hope for) the opportunity to experience this process from the other side someday.
As for someone who already has walked that wild side of publication for her second time now, I’d be remiss not to close on the very happy news of my sister’s latest book! Divine Temptation—a paranormal romance and Nicki Elson‘s second novel—is fresh off the presses as of last week:
Maggie Brock has everything under control…until an angel shows up in her bedroom.
God speed to this good read!
And now—with a *slap* *slap* to both of my cheeks—time to happily get on with my work. 🙂
The Fallen Monkey 
April 5th, 2013 at 13:07
I had a conversation with one of your authors recently, and she fully understands exactly how lucky she and her stories are to have YOU. You excel both skill- and caring-wise and I hope every author you get cherishes how special that combination is — and rare.
Thanks for the shout out for the book. I can’t wait till I’m doing the same for you. May your queries go forth with many blessings upon them!
May 29th, 2013 at 09:59
Thanks, sis! How pathetic that it’s only taken me…two months to respond to comments? I need to get disciplined with this blog again. 🙂 Anyway, I very much appreciate your blessings–I’ll take ’em…I need ’em!–and will try to get motivated for another round of querying. In the meantime, your kind comments on my editing are a massive morale boost. THANK YOU.
April 5th, 2013 at 13:15
Ah – there you are, my dear! Of course I still am, too! So great to hear everything is going well for you and you keep going the patch of an Editor. I can only imagine how great and constructive it would be to work with you.
Hope you’ll keep us updated in the future. I need to admit that I have finished my english speaking blog by now so I guess I cannot complain…
Ooh, but by the way – am going to release a short story I recently wrote, based on my first novel. Kinda “prequel”, and because it is short, I have translated it into English. Currently it’s with my editor-friend for sanity check. But if you are interested to read at some stage, of course I would be happy to get your opinion. 🙂
Glad to have you back. xxxx Eva
May 29th, 2013 at 09:56
Hello! Yes, I was quite heartbroken to see In All the Write Places come to an end. 😦 I do hope Facebook and your German-speaking platforms inspire a high level of reader engagement, though, and that your books/writing is going strong! I’m hardly ever on Facebook (and don’t scan through it very comprehensively when I am), but I did see the other day you had pneumonia?? I hope you are feeling well now!
And are you kiddin’? I would love to read your story, so please do pass that on sometime! And thanks as always for being ever-faithful to the sporadic Monkey. 🙂
May 4th, 2013 at 23:19
Oops — looks like I’m about a month late, but it’s good to see you blogging again. Reminds me of the good ol’ days. =] Duotrope is great, but since they started charging for their services, The (Submission) Grinder is greater = FREE! Whip those manuscripts into shape, and get them out where they belong.
May 29th, 2013 at 09:52
Now it’s my turn to be a month late–on my own blog! So I obviously don’t judge how quickly someone gets to my posts…that you still visit the Monkey at all is flattering. I’m sorry I haven’t been quite the blog reader/commenter, though as one legitimate excuse, I have previously encountered problems leaving a comment on your blog; I think my browser has issues with that platform. Anyway, it is indeed like the good ol’ days–the band’s gettin’ back together, man! 🙂 Thanks so much for popping by and giving me the heads-up on The (Submission) Grinder!
May 6th, 2013 at 12:07
Hey, nice to see you back…though I am a month late to comment on this, I’ve hardly got time to read other’s blogs, so I do apologise for my late response. Glad you’re still writing, and congrats to your sis!
I’m still writing myself, though the novel writing is going slower than what it took to build the Great Wall of China, but hey, you can see the wall from space now, so hopefully, my turtle-like speed for my novel, will be one day rewarded lol
May 29th, 2013 at 09:47
No apologies necessary for a late response–obviously, since now I’m responding almost a month late! Doh! I neglect the Monkey so badly! In any case, it is so good to hear from you, and I’m very, very happy to know you’re still writing. Speed be damned–write at the pace you’re able to. At least you’re writing, right?!
May 31st, 2013 at 09:32
Yeah, I too, am hardly around to comment on blogs, and I hardly post on my own blog, but hey, at least we’re writing, and you’re right, speed be damned, the pyramids weren’t built in one day and all that lol
Decided to edit my original novel with Julian, before trying to continue with the mess that is my current WIP
May 31st, 2013 at 11:59
Julian! Yes, give that boy the attention he deserves. 🙂 So is your WIP along similar lines, or are you taking it in a different direction?
June 10th, 2013 at 19:09
Julian deserves all the attention, he already gets lol.
Well, since I wrote that comment to you, I’ve decided to take Julian’s original already written novel, and edit it, as I realise, it is a bit of a “prequel” to what I am now writing…so I’m doing that. Both novels, have Julian in them, of course lol 🙂