In the Trenches

Letters home from the querying trenches by a weary writer, describing the travails of flogging a manuscript.

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  • In the Trenches: Catching-up

    In the Trenches: Catching-up

    Perhaps I have already spoken about it among the other issues I have discussed in this blog but I am woefully behind in my reading. Specifically, I am behind in my reading for the particular genre I am writing.

    Long ago, I used to devour fantasy books, and I do mean devour. Between grade school and graduating high school I could read a 300+ page book in a night. I was avid to the point of rabid in relation to reading. And, in particular, I read fantasy. 

    I started with The Hobbit and quickly moved on. Xanth, you remember those. The Belgariad when it first came out. The first Mercedes Lackey, if I have those in the right place in my memory. Et cetera. 

    I hadn’t noticed how radically my reading habits had changed until recently. I discovered the change as I started to look for comparables for the novel I am attempting to interest folks in representing or publishing. I realized I hadn’t picked up a fantasy book in a decade, maybe more. 

    What? Seriously? Well, dang. I guess so. 

    What had I been reading? Lots of history, western european, eastern european, Russian, American. I even squeezed in a couple of histories involving the Panama canal. Scanning my shelves I see whole sections on pandemic history: influenza, plague, yellow fever, polio, tuberculosis. Ya know, like most people do. <ahem>

    What else was there? Lots and lots of sociology and politics. A fair number of modern biographies were in the mix. Loads of books on textile history, knitting and other fiber arts. 

    And classics. I certainly went through a ‘classics’ phase. And then more modern writers like Angelou and Morrison. 

    So, in all my reading there had been very little fantasy. I hadn’t even read George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series. Still haven’t read most of it. 

    So, now I am playing catch-up just as quickly as I can. It’s a challenge to cram a decade and a half of reading into a few months, that’s for sure. But this is where I need a bit of help. Ya ready? 

    What are, in your opinion, the most important fantasy reads of the last two decades? I will happily give them a look-see. And, seriously, thank you.


Blog Posts

  • In the Trenches: A Note on Noting

    In the Trenches: A Note on Noting

    In the Trenches: A Note on Noting I have a habit of annotating my manuscripts. Thoroughly. But, just how far is too far?


  • In the Trenches: Eye Opener

    In the Trenches: Eye Opener

    In the Trenches: Eye Opener Taking a bit deeper look at the types of inboxes you can find in Query Tracker. Probably working up to an essay here, but unitl then, a few thoughts.


  • In the Trenches: Jon Taffer and Organic Chemistry

    In the Trenches: Jon Taffer and Organic Chemistry

    In the Trenches: Jon Taffer and Organic Chemistry Some days writing is a breeze. Some days writing is a chore. Anyone who tells you they adore being a writer 24/7 is either lying or they aren’t really a writer.


  • In the Trenches: Lost in Limbo

    In the Trenches: Lost in Limbo

    In the Trenches: Lost in Limbo Yeah the last few days have not been good and that’s an understatement. Between the physical health and the mental health problems it’s not a pretty sight.


  • In the Trenches: Take Two!

    In the Trenches: Take Two!

    In the Trenches: Take Two! I dedicated a year to learning my craft, a process which is in no way finished. Fingers crossed as I try this again.


  • In the Trenches: Motivation-less

    In the Trenches: Motivation-less

    In the Trenches: Motivation-less Attempting to herd the pieces of a new essay into line.


  • In the Trenches: An Ill Advised Note to Neil Gaiman

    In the Trenches: An Ill Advised Note to Neil Gaiman

    In the Trenches: An Ill Advised Note to Neil Gaiman There is a great image of Neil Gaiman floating about the internet. Hold on. Let me go find it….


  • In the Trenches: Friendly Questions

    In the Trenches: Friendly Questions

    In the Trenches: Friendly Questions Disappointment properly applied can lead to advancement.


  • In the Trenches: Data Head

    In the Trenches: Data Head

    In the Trenches: Data Head Data is good. I’ve been data mining into the QueryTracker timeline feature.


  • In the Trenches: Forward

    In the Trenches: Forward

    In the Trenches: Forward Finding the right formula for your query can be a frustration, especially when a major step is, wait.


  • In the Trenches: Inventing Quicksand

    In the Trenches: Inventing Quicksand

    In the Trenches: Inventing Quicksand The phrase ‘rich world building’, if that isn’t the ultimate invitation to do, and over do.


  • In the Trenches: Cutting Bait

    In the Trenches: Cutting Bait

    In the Trenches: Cutting Bait Knowing when to cut your losses and watching how others approach the question… “Is it time?”


  • In the Trenches: Little Strokes

    In the Trenches: Little Strokes

    In the Trenches: Little Strokes In 6th grade I learned the phrase “Little strokes fell great oaks.” I’ve never found it more applicable than in querying.


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