Writing Update #6

Actually, over the years, I have no idea how many writing updates I’ve bombarded you all with. It’s probably closer to sixty than six, but who’s counting?

This past summer, work had taken me to Ethiopia (twice), Kenya, and Chile. While I got to meet new people and learn about different cultures, traveling definitely disrupted my writing routine. Not that I had a very strict writing routine to begin with, mind you. I’m one of those writers who has to be “in the mood” to write. So for me, writing anything of length happens in big, weekend spurts – if at all. Sometimes I manage to write something during the work week, but that’s rare.

Regardless, I had ambitions of writing some while I was away. I mean, I was (more or less) trapped in a hotel room for weeks on end trying desperately to sleep when it was dark outside (and not during our conference meetings).

But take note, I was desperately trying to sleep.

Travelling abroad had horrendous effects on my sleeping patterns. Essentially, I didn’t get any. And apparently, sleep deprivation does not inspire me to write.

My new story count for this year is woefully low. I think I have two new stories that I can confidently say are done. One I posted here, and the other is in revision mode. I’m disappointed, but maybe I’ll write like a fiend for the rest of the year. We’ll see.

Upcoming Deadline

Whether or not I have anything to peddle to the world, you might. So I thought I would alert you to Angry Robot Books’ upcoming open door submission period. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ve already seen this. But if you haven’t…

Each year, or rather, each year the editors at Angry Robot decide to bare their eyeballs, Angry Robot opens their virtual doors (not their real ones!) to aspiring writers around the world. If you are unrepresented by an agent, this is your chance to get published.

And it truly is a good chance. You should take it. My writing buddy, Pete McLean did so a year and a half ago, and now his debut novel, Drake, will be hitting the virtual streets in January 2016! You can even pre-order the book on Amazon.

Isn’t that amazing!

I know, it doesn’t seem all that amazing to you. As far as you know, it’s just another book about to be released into the wilds.

But know it has taken years for this to come to fruition.

Back in 2012, I released a little anthology called The End – Visions of Apocalypse. Remember that? Well, one of the stories in that collection was written by Pete McLean. Oh, and guess what? It featured a drunken protagonist named Drake and his fiery side-kick, The Burned Man. Folks loved that story! So much so, Pete decided Drake’s tale had to be told in full. Over the subsequent months, Pete wrote a novel. I beta read Drake a year and a half ago. And while I read, I knew it was a winner. When Pete saw Angry Robot’s open submission call, he sent in Drake. And now it’s gonna be published.

Yes, it may seem like a long shot, and the odds are against you, but they have to pick someone’s book, don’t they? Why not yours?

Angry Robot’s 2015/2016 Open Doors Submission Period:

Begins: December 1st, 2015

Ends: January 31st, 2016

Until next time, check out their submission guidelines and prepare your manuscripts!

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