Saturday, September 21, 2002

I Just Flew Through The Last of A Tangled Web

...and boy, are my arms tired!

Yes, Cats and Kittens, the first draft of A Tangled Web is written. I even made the new chapter outline. Yeah, team!

Tomorrow, I will give the last two chapters a final read through and then send it on its way to Rogue Publishing for the publisher's revision comments and a playtest.

:-)

Friday, September 20, 2002

ALMOST Done

I wrote and typed up chapter 7. Chapter 6 is basically written, although mainly in outline form, and is ready to be fleshed out and typed. I should be able to finish up the final bit of writing on Chapter 6 and do both chapters' revisions tomorrow. I may hang onto them for another day after that just to double check them, but they should definately both be sent this weekend. The final outline will be a piece of cake to whip up and then.....

I'M DONE!

Thursday, September 19, 2002

Long Awaited Rejection

I sent my short story "Things That Need Pounding" to Short Stuff for Grown-ups magazine on 11/17/01and they just now sent it back with a note "Not for us at this time" on my cover letter. Such a long wait for such a curt answer. Such is the life of a writer.

Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Building Schematics Done

Now I just need the text for chapters 6 and 7 and an updated Table of Contents and A Tangled Web is complete!

Trolling for a publisher

I searched the 2002 writer's guide for mystery publishers. I'm giving the agent query (to Kimberley Cameron) more time before checking for other agents. While I'm waiting for her response, I intend to submit Complimentary Murder to publishers. The only larger publisher in this year's guide that said they would consider unagented manuscripts was Forge, so that is my target.

They respond in 4 months and want to see the first three chapters and a synopsis. I want to revised, one last time, the entire manuscript, but I will focus on the first three chapters and sent that and work on the rest while I'm waiting to hear back from them.

I prepare for this final go-round on the manuscript I have been reading a lot of mystery novels lately, especially the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George and the University of Michigan mysteries by Susan Holtzer. Both are excellent and humorous.

Tuesday, September 17, 2002

The Diagram is done

and sent in.

Blogger is not updating my Blog, so a bunch of entries will hit at the same time well they get on the ball and fix it.

JTAS Rating :-)

My article featured in the last issue of Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society was rated a 3.66 out of 5, with 50 subscribers voting. I'm very pleased. I think this is my highest rating so far. I think the readers prefer background info to adventure stuff (which is what I prefer to write). I feel more secure now about considering proposals for a Traveller suppliment.

Monday, September 16, 2002

Another One Bites the Dust

The Web of Conspiracies chapter is sent now. I still need the diagram for it before it is done-done. I have the diagram on paper, now I just need to draw it on the computer and make a gif or jpg file. Some goes for the building schematics. Then the last two chapters are all I need for finish off the first draft. I am staying on schedule and should have it all turned in before the end of the month.

Sunday, September 15, 2002

Making Good Progress

I've competed and e-mailed the chapter on the NPCs to Rogue along with the revised 'Adventure Begins' chapter. The Web of Conspiracies chapter may need a little bit of tweaking, but shouldn't need much. I hope to get it checked and sent in tonight. Time permitting, I may even start sketching out the diagram and building schematics that I wanted to have done and e-mailed by Wed.

Pant...Pant...

Let me catch my breath. I just powered through the last of the NPCs chapter. It's all typed up, spellchecked and printed. I'll give it a couple read throughs/revisions tomorrow and e-mail it in. I also plan to add to and edit the Web chapter and hopefully get it out this weekend as well.

The first part of next week will be devoted to making a map of the Cranston Building and a diagram for the Web chapter. Then I need to make a few minor revisions to the Adventure Begins chapter and send it in. The last couple of weeks of September will be devoted to the Cranston Building and the Fallout chapters and then I am done. And for once I am staying on schedule!!!!

I know...I know...

I should be working on A Tangled Web right now. I have made progress on it these past few days. I have more than half the stories and roleplaying notes done for the NPCs. I still need to finish those up and make two security guards NPCs.

I have been surfing the internet a little looking at more RPG writing guidelines. I know I promiced myself as soon as this RPG game was done I would take a break to finish my revisions on Complimentary Murder and work on the first draft of PSI Emergency. Gurps Traveller suppliment wishlist is calling my name though. I may have to do a proposal or two for them. Plus, I enjoyed writing for the NAGS Society game and for Pariah and could envision myself working on more suppliments for them.

Well, I'm not doing any of it until the current work under contract is complete and submitted, so back to work!