Today we're taking a break from my constant chatter (LOL!) because I have the pleasure of hosting J.P. Dailing! He is married to author Jennifer Acres, so they're a married writing duo like me and Deek. #Represent!
His novella, Urban Legend, releases soon! Join him as he hosts an awesome Facebook party to celebrate (deets in the post!)!
His novella, Urban Legend, releases soon! Join him as he hosts an awesome Facebook party to celebrate (deets in the post!)!
Approaching Publication
Three 'C's For
Managing the Beast
Self-publishing is a voracious,
bloodthirsty beast, and don't let anyone tell you different. I love the beasts
though. I want to feed them, cuddle with them, and spend my life raising many,
many beast-babies. It'll be a fulfilling life, but not an easy one. The beasts
will never be domesticated, are near impossible to tame, are vaguely
conceivable to house-train, and even simple survival of each one is a victory.
I'm surviving my first beast
right now. Urban Legend is a YA urban fantasy novella series
where a young teen orphan, Rylee, begins to manifest illegal magic that
captures the attention of the heir to one of the ruling houses within the
Vampirum and a government agent for the US Department of Mysticism and
Metaphysics. The idea for this series has been coalescing for several years,
and now it is finally finding life as my debut book. I'm so excited for Urban
Legend's release on August 23rd that I am throwing a Facebook Launch Party with giveaways and live streams and a lot of fun in one place.
During the course grappling with
the beast, I discovered the three main pillars of my process which can either
act as stepping stones if respected or roadblocks if not: Creativity,
Consistency, and Community.
Creativity
The hardest kind of creativity
for me isn't coming up with a fresh new story or unique take on a well-loved
trope, but getting the stupid manuscript finished. The first draft is hard
enough; once the mess is on the page, it is a nightmare that can only be
vanquished by the nimblest of wits. "How can I get this character more
accessible?" "What can I do to fill this plot hole?" "How
can I make these chapters work without tossing two week's worth of work?"
"Is there anything I can do make this not horrible?" These kinds of
questions raced through my brain every time I sat down do to write and it was
ticklish to find ways to hammer down the right answers. Plus if the work isn't
hard enough, there are plenty of adulting issues that can crash the party.
House-sitting, getting wisdom teeth pulled, and dealing with being rear-ended
are a few examples (and all happened to me within the last couple of months).
It's like playing 3D sudoku where the result will never come out perfect and is
actively trying to murder you with a personal grudge. But the trick is to keep
one step ahead and (leading into the next part) keep hacking away.
Consistency
Consistency in writing is key.
The words are not going to be good all the time, sometimes the muse isn't
talkative and what results resembles a half-digested owl pellet. That's gross
and disturbing, but par for the course. Losing a week here and there of writing
due to personal crises, day-to-day adulting, or just needing to take a break to
avoid burn out can stall productive momentum. (This isn't to say we writers
shouldn't have breaks. Breaks are absolutely essential. No one can pour from an
empty cup). We are creatures of habit. What we do over and over again, we excel
at. For writing to be more than a hobby, it must be a routine, part of my day.
My best work has always come through maintaining my schedule. No one wants to
drive a car that works really well sometimes, then dies just as often. We'll
choose the reliable vehicle that we can trust, even if it looks like it went
full speed through Godzilla's digestive tract.
Community
Nothing can be created inside a
vacuum. We need to live to express life on the page and we need to have
connection to connect with readers. I'm primarily an introvert and, aside from
rare exceptions, people tend to tire me out. Not in a negative way; using a
phone uses the battery and I need a place to recharge. Yet humanity isn't a
collection of lone wolves. We are a pack. I've never felt more excited or alive
or more confident with my writing than when I started building my community.
Not a network of authors and readers that could help me further my career mind
you, but a collection of awesome people I interact with who make me feel happy
by exchanging silly gifs or Hamilton references on twitter. I've been spoiled
by my beta readers who gave me honest opinions about my work and allowed me to
become better. And my wife is the absolute best. She encourages me when I'm
down and tells it like it is when my story isn't working. She is my partner in
every sense of the term (yes, even in crime). It's too easy to homogenize ideas
within yourself. Go out and mix it up a little. You'd be amazed what the
results end up being.
Is there a beast you've been
wrestling with, or wanting to set free from its cage, or is it still an egg and
you fear what might hatch? Go for it. It'll be a monumental effort, possibly
violent, always dangerous, and in the end one of the most precious elements of
your life. Art shapes the artist who creates. Go forth and show the world what
you can do.
J. P. Dailing
Great post! Love this quote: "The first draft is hard enough; once the mess is on the page, it is a nightmare that can only be vanquished by the nimblest of wits."
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