The novella, set in the new-to-everyone-but-me Adam’s Name universe, is finally finished.  Three rounds of editing with Nikki and a character name update later, and it’s a MUCH better work.

Seth, Susan, and Sol. Julia and Jonah. What was I thinking?

The way that things are shaping up, the cover art will be the professional debut of an up-and-comer. More news as the details are sorted out!

For Too Dimensional, from 9 February.

Is it a revolver, or is it a gun that takes a magazine? I’d always pictured it as a more modern magazine pistol, but Nikki says she’s pictured it, through all the rounds of editing, as a revolver. It doesn’t make much of a difference until Jonah goes to shoot it.

Which means this needs to be specified when the gun is introduced, so the reader isn’t thrown out of the story when they find out it’s not how they’d imagined it.

Older revolvers do not have hammer blocks, let alone manual safeties, as I understand it. (Gun experts, please pardon my quick Googling. Your knowledge and opinions are more than welcome in the comments!) So, depending on the gun style, I will need to rewrite several bits, or not.

I have consistently referred to the gun as a pistol throughout, I think. Yup, either “gun” or “pistol” or “handgun.” I like the idea of the gun being as old as Adam. Revolvers, while certainly still being made and improved upon in the modern day, strike me as an anachronism. So, if I’m going to stick with a pistol that takes a magazine, I’m going to need to be more specific about it as soon as the gun is introduced.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that my upcoming release, Too Dimensional, has been delayed due to an additional editing pass or three.

The good news is that the first story set in the Adam’s Name universe is nearly through that process.  After that will be the commissioning of a cover image, and then release!  I intend to put it out for free on DeviantArt and Reddit, and make it available for a nominal fee in both electronic and paper versions.  My goal, as always, will to make it as convenient and enjoyable to read as possible.

Tally ho!

A quick note as to the state of ongoing projects.

• The Adam’s Name kickoff story is in line to be edited by the great and powerful Nikki.
• It’s in line behind The Remembrance, which, post-edit, is heading for a rewrite and submission to an agent.
• The Glass Crown is still coming along. I’ve finally found the groove for Chapter 11, and it’s full of revealed plots and machinations! Much like Clue, but with less Tim Curry running around.
• I’m assembling both permissions and completed posts to assemble and complete a sequel to Todd’s Story. This one is also coming along nicely.

This has been your writery update. Please proceed with caution. Don’t walk under ladders. Smell the milk before you pour it. Don’t take wooden nickels.

From my writing journal on 7 September, 2012:

The prologue is about Adam’s creation. It cannot set up the tension of the story, as the conflict between Adam and Walter is setting, where the conflict between OMGSPOILER is the actual story. Re-ordering the story to put these two closer to the front is a good idea, but am I going far enough? Should the creation myth introduce the Adam POV chapter?

This would allow the reader to get to know Jonah, Julia, and Sol while having Adam be introduced as part of the scenery, as he should be. But would that be too much Adam at once?

The creation myth belongs outside of the main narrative. It doesn’t work inside the story, unless they’d discovered OMGSPOILER. So, it can’t be added to the Adam chapter.

It comes down to whether the prologue helps the reader to understand and get into the story, or if it serves only to confuse the reader.

Also, I need to determine what it is about the minor characters that connect them to Adam and OMGSPOILER. They have to have no strong link to the main characters in their stories, or to the worlds in which the stories are being told.

Or, that’s how they have to start out when they meet Adam. Who knows what will happen between then and when they OMGSPOILER. Running into Adam has all kinds of unpredictable results.

I have a choice to make about the first Adam’s Name novella.

I can either go the traditional publishing route with it, or I can self-publish again.

If I think that the work is good enough, once the edits and rewrite are done, I have the option to  begin navigating the slush piles of the markets publish novellas. If I think that the work is not quite good enough, but as another step in my journey toward professionally publishable, I can self-publish, as I have in the past.  If I get a bee in my bonnet about the traditional publishing industry vs. building my audience through non-traditional publishing, I have the option of creating another project or two with Lulu (trade paperback, ebook). If I go that route, there are some things to consider:

Cover artist – I’ll need a cover. Unlike past books, I have a more specific idea of what I want on the cover, and what style of art I’d want used.  This would require a commission, most likely. I’d love to support an artist in this way, that’s for sure.

Professional editor – No matter which route I go, I’d want the piece to be professionally edited.  I could contract out for this, which might be a wee bit expensive, but I think it would be more than worth it. There’s also the option of my wife, who has two associate degrees, one in literature and one in writing. She is looking to be an editor professionally, and this might be a good feather in her cap.

Why do I keep putting things in hats?

If I self-publish, I’m going to need some cash, at least for the cover art. Kickstarter might be a good place to go to raise some funds, with copies of the novella, possibly also a chapbook, as rewards. I’d need to see if there are any details, tax wise, about how I need to represent myself (person or LLC or something) to make sure that I don’t end up losing the money that should be going toward the Kickstarter purpose.

Definitely needs some thought.

I have completed a full first draft of Adam’s Name.

This deserves a superhero pose, complete with cheesy schmuck grin. I’m doing it right now, you just can’t see it. It’s GLORIOUS.

It took three or four attempts over a span of about six years, but it’s done.  I did it.  For the fourth time, I got to write THE END.  Glee, I tell you, glee!

Adam’s Name will become the moniker of a series of what will probably all be novellas. So, the book itself needs a new title.  I’ve had a suggestion to name it after the main character, which I’m seriously considering. The first chapter or so has already been written for the second book, which means that it’s time to outline.

Of course, I can’t move forward on that just yet. I’ve got a full blown novel that I’ve been neglecting like it’s sanity in politics. The Glass Crown has seen new words for the first time in over a year. I’m hoping and praying that I can keep this momentum going strong, because a fifth iteration of those two magic words would make me even happier.