Results tagged “vicki pettersson”

When I think about what it takes to be a writer, multiple ideas immediately come to the fore—long hours slumped over a keyboard, deleting of numerous characters and insertion of countless others that may survive, the solitude of being left alone to tell a story that others will read in solitude to enjoy, and the aggravating unknowing knowledge that the story might come together and yet might not.

But I’ve discovered for myself finally that there is so much more that goes into it.

The hard way.

It took me a total of twelve months to write the first draft of The Dark Thorn, my contemporary fantasy that takes place in Rome and Seattle and weaves Arthurian Legend, Celtic Mythology, the history of the British Isles and the history of the Vatican. To me I felt like it should have been wrapped up six months earlier by some internal deadline I can’t even begin to explain. By the time I entered the final four-month stretch, I poured my heart into it. In the morning I wrote for Suvudu, usually only eating a very brief breakfast of wheat toast, before then jumping into the book. I would write until late afternoon and by that time I had the shakes from no lunch. After a good dinner out somewhere I would write some more at night before going to bed and begin anew the next day.

Once I finished the first draft, I felt good about it—but something was not right.

I thought it had to do with the book. I thought it had to do with my main character, Bran Ardall, who seemed devoid of personality. I gave the book to Terry Brooks, a close friend and someone I knew would not pull any punches. He read it right quickly. I soon received his comments and suggestions, and while very positive I still had a lot of work to do to make it a “great” book—and I of course want it to be great, not just good.

I spent a solid week thinking about nothing but his thoughts and how I could improve upon The Dark Thorn. I barely left the apartment. I kept away from friends and family as I mostly had for four months. Why the hell did I feel so terrible? Why had it taken me so long to finish the book? Why did I feel like my entire life had crumbled and I had nothing left?

It wasn’t the semi-rejection of the last twelve months of my life. After the first three of fifteen or so rejection letters on my first book, I had overcome the resentment and anger that usually surfaces from such denial.

So what was it?

As it turns out, having asked advice from Patrick Rothfuss, Vicki Pettersson, Tobias Buckell, Chris Evans, Jacqueline Carey, Robert V.S. Redick and Peter V. Brett, it is something that most writers deal with.

In the almost thirteen years I’ve been working in the publishing industry, that time spent frequenting publishers and bookstores and websites and writers’ lives, I’ve learned a great deal about the business of publishing—from editor in chiefs to readers.

The saddest truth I’ve discovered in all of that time from readers is this:

• There are a lot of people in the world who consider themselves writers.
• Few of those people actually finish a novel.

You would think with so many sitting down with a pad and pencil or before a keyboard that there would be more people completing what they have started. It isn’t the case though, at least from what I have seen. Every day I receive emails from fans of established authors broaching the subject. Those email discussions go something like this:

• “How do I get published?” the curious emailer asks.
• “Have you finished your book?” I write back, already knowing the answer.
• “No, I haven’t,” the curious emailer responds. “But I just want to know how to get published.”
• “When you finish your book,” I reply with, I have to admit, a snarky grin on my face, “I will help place you on the path to getting published.”

99.9% of the answers are similar to that very simple exchange. And despite my very sincere offer of helping those people get their work in front of agents and editors, only twice has someone written me back after completing their book. Twice! Out of thousands of emails I’ve received and responded to.

The sad part of that equation is that many people don’t know what it feels like to finish a novel.

And oddly, from what you will read, maybe they are the lucky ones!

Yesterday I finished the first draft of The Dark Thorn, a book I am calling an “urban quest fantasy,” as it has elements of urban fantasy and high fantasy thrown together in a hybrid incorporating Celtic mythology, the history of the British Isles, the history of the Vatican and Arthurian legend. Having finished one book before, I am also aware of the amount of work still needing to be put in. There are scenes that need to be rewritten. There is an overall line edit I need to complete. There is a query letter to write and rewrite until perfect. There is a summary and an outline I should create in case I am asked for them. There is a marketing platform I should put together to show why and where my potential sales will come from. All important.

While that forthcoming work hangs upon me, I am still giddy with the realization I finished my second novel. When I wrote the last word of the book and saved the file, I sat back in my chair, stretched, took a deep breath, and all other ills in my life went away. I had done it. I had finished it. There was not another word to write. A complete story had been saved on my computer—and backed up elsewhere. I left my apartment to visit my favorite watering hole. I didn’t take my laptop for the first time in a year. I had a glass of wine. I sat and watched the USA beat Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup Qualifying soccer match and didn’t feel guilty about not working on a story centered around other characters. After all, that story was finished!

But what is it like when an already published author finishes a first draft?

How do they feel?

What goes through their head?

I asked several of my writer friends last night what they feel upon finishing a first draft. Here is what they had to say:

Those responsible for the NY Comic Con asked several of us here at Suvudu if we’d be interested in moderating a panel or two. The one thrown my way was the Author Round Table: Sci-fi / Supernatural / Fantasy Authors Gather To Talk Influences. I knew half of the writers already and the other half I had been wanting to meet for some time. It made sense to accept—despite having never moderated before and being scared to death of it.

I did say “yes” though. After all, Frank Herbert said it best:

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.”

So I went. And had a great time!

The authors of the Round Table who helped make it work were: John Birmingham, Peter V. Brett, Alex Irvine, Jeff Somers, Kim Harrison, S.C. Butler, Tamora Pierce, Vicki Pettersson, Carrie Vaughn and Jackie Kessler.

“Wow!” you say exasperated. “That’s a huge panel!”

“Yes,” I say with a sigh. “Huge.”

This was easily one of the harder things I’ve had to do—and I’ve survived cancer so that gives you some idea! The participants were great and if not for them it wouldn’t have gone as well as it did, but the amount of people on the panel really made this a difficult one to navigate through. Most panels are between 3-5 people usually. I had double that with 10. My instincts kept wanting me to start a real discussion, throw some gasoline on the fire and see what happens, but a discussion like that we simply didn’t have the time to do properly.

In the end, however, this panel worked and was a huge success. The seats were full, people were standing around the walls, and the authors all mostly behaved themselves. Afterward numerous people from the audience came up to say thank you. The panel was more amusing than I thought it would be and I learned some things about those authors I probably wish I could forget! Ha!

And as Tammy Pierce wrote me a few days after the event:

“You did a great job, wrangling a panel with so many authors and still managing to get questions in at the end! I had a great time, and wanted to say so in person.”

She made my day. Watch the 2009 NY Comic Con Author Round Table!

Part I of VII:

For the rest of the hour long panel with these fine authors, continue onward and watch the other six parts!

Vicki Pettersson is an up and coming star of the urban fantasy and paranormal romance fields, where not all is what it seems, women wear leather and kick butt by wielding stilettos, and the line between good and evil blurs to a shadowy gray.

Vicki’s third book, A Touch of Twilight, spent a couple of weeks on the New York Times extended bestseller list. It only took two books for her third to be a huge success. Her fan base grows by the day. I have no doubt this beautiful and talented writer from Las Vegas will keep delivering great stories and better sales!

And, as a web designer, I love her website!

Below is Five Questions with Vicki Pettersson. Enjoy!

Suvudu: When did you start writing? Why do you write?

Vicki Pettersson: I started actively writing fiction when I was twenty-six. Prior to that I dabbled. Afterward, I was obsessed.

I write because it keeps me sane. Other people do yoga or journal or buy really expensive shoes. I tell stories. And as hard as it can be, I love the day to day process of being a working writer — the repetition of getting to the page every day. The discipline. The schedule. Maybe because it’s something I can control, and there’s really so little in this life that one can. But it’s creative, I get to do what I want, and the sense of accomplishment is enormous. So many people think of seeing their name on the bookstore shelf when they think of being an author, but anyone who does this can tell you it’s not about being an author, it’s about being a writer. And writers write. Every day.

S: Describe your writing day? How many words/pages do you write a day on average? Breaks? How much time do you spend editing and how do you go about it?