Matthew S. Rotundo's Blog, page 9

Progress Report, in which I discuss how it’s supposed to work

The story seeds I was given for the Codex Halloween Contest appear to have germinated.  I think.  Which is to say, I have an idea.

It’s little more than that at this point, but hey, it’s a start.

To be honest, I’m not even sure it will work as a story.  But that’s the thing about ideas:  they usually sound kinda stupid in the early stages.  It’s only after you dress them up with characters and plotlines and such that they become something cool.

That’s the way it’s supposed to work, anyway.  We’ll see.

Write Club updates:

Five days to a personalized bounce from Urban Fantasy Magazine.

Eighty-eight days to learn, after querying, that Crossed Genres never got my submission.  Sigh.

Movin’ on . . .

Current Music: "Shakedown"--Bob Seger

Progress Report, in which I get back into the swing of things

When you’ve returned home after a long trip, getting back into harness can be, shall we say, a bit daunting.  I don’t really know where to begin.  But I’m a creature of routine, and my routine includes these progress reports.  So I figure I might as well start there.

It is perhaps needless to say that I didn’t get any writing done while in London and Paris.  But boy, did I see a lot of cool things that could be story fodder.  Like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

Who knows?  Some of this stuff might someday find its way into my fiction.

In the meantime, though, I’ve done some database updates and caught up on some correspondence, and my next project beckons.  The Codex Halloween Contest is running again, and this year, I actually have time to participate.  New verbiage, ho!

Write Club updates:

A tier two bounce from Fantastic Stories of the Imagination.  Response time, 5 days.

And an apologetic, personalized no from an agent on a requested full.

Ah, nothing like rejections to get me back into the swing of things.

Onward.

Current Music: "Spit You Out"--Bullet for My Valentine

And now, an interview with your host (me)

So the blog’s been dark for a while.  Sorry about that, folks.  I was kind of in Europe.

But take heart; I’m back.  I still have lots of catching up to do, and I suppose some kind of report on my travels is to be expected.  For the nonce, though, please to enjoy this little interview with me at OSFest, courtesy of Zorra Reed, she of Sirens Trinity Productions.

In it, I discuss Alembical 3, the way I’m wired, and karaoke.  As one does.

There.  Hope that tides you over.

Current Music: "Streets Cry Freedom"--Badlands

Progress Report, in which I collapse in a heap

A funny thing happened while I was taking one last pass through “The Winter Palace,” scouring for typos or other infelicities—OSFest 7.

Panels.  Seeing old friends.  Making new ones.  Eating.  Drinking.  Readings.  Making merry.  Staying up way too late.  Getting up way too early.  Even getting interviewed.  (!)  And then collapsing in a heap when it was all over.

In other words, it was a con.

Right.  So now I need to finish up that cleanup draft, and get ready for Loncon 3.  Which, you know, is in London.  Eep!

Write Club update:  A request for a partial from an agent.  Response time, 3 days.  Hmmm . . .

And I’m out.

Current Music: "Pain and Sorrow"--Joe Bonamassa

The 2014 Rotundo World Tour Rolls into OSFest!

This weekend, it’s the next stop on the 2014 Rotundo World Tour—the Omaha Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival, aka OSFest 7.

Here’s my schedule:

Friday, August 1st

Character Building - Steps to take when constructing engaging characters in a novel, manga, or comic. Learn how to create memorable and real characters.  (6:00 pm, Iowa Room)

Saturday, August 2nd

Hard Rocking SF – Panel discussions on SF in rock music including bands, lyrics, and cultural influences.  (11:00 am, Missouri Room)

Mining for Story Nuggets – Where and how to get ideas for short stories and novels.  (2:00 pm, Colorado Room)

Writing 101 – Learn the basics of what you need to know to get started as a writer.  (5:00 pm, Colorado Room)

Sunday, August 3rd

Matt Rotundo Reading – I’ll be reading from “From Earth I Have Arisen.”  And remember my motto:  come for a treat, stay for a tale!  (12:00 pm, Fireside Readings)

Dates, times, and events are subject to change.

Do stop by and say howdy.

Current Music: "One World"--Dire Straits

Progress Report, in which you might need some sodium chloride

A quick 8300 words on “The Winter Palace” rewrite brings Magic Meter to that most magical of places:

And that’s that.  I think this little bird is ready to leave the nest.

I gotta be honest, folks:  I like this one a lot.  Like, a lot a lot.  Of course, given that I’m the worst judge of my own work, you should take that with a rather large block of sodium chloride.

A final snippet:

At the secret door, rock in hand, she hesitated, torn in an agony of doubt and fear.  She was only a little girl.  How could she be expected to do this?  It was so wrong . . . and at the same time, it had to be her, and no one else.  She had climbed thornfruit trees, had braved the catacombs.

And for my next trick . . . um.  I don’t know.  Need to think of something.  If anyone has any ideas, do let me know, will you?  Thanks in advance.

Write Club update:  A tier one bounce from an agent on a novel query.  Response time, 26 days.

On to the Next Big Thing.  Whatever that may be.

Current Music: "Try a Little Tenderness"--Three Dog Night

Progress Report, in which I do not ask for your approval

Business travel and a metric crapload of familial obligations last week = meager progress on the rewrite of “The Winter Palace.”  But such progress as there was, I submit forthwith for your approval:

OK, I’m not really asking for approval.  It’s just an expression, folks.  Go with it.

Anyway, hoping for better progress this week.  As always.

Your snippet:

“The Nayeed—”  Jessica stopped herself before she said anything more.  She’d been on the verge of asking if it was true that the Nayeed had built the Winter Palace, but Father would demand to know who had told her that.  She licked her dry lips.  “Father . . . are the Nayeed all liars, like the snakes?”

Father exchanged a glance with Mother.  “They . . . one must be careful with them.  They do not love northerners.  But not everything they say is a lie.”

“Not like snakes, then?”

“No, not like snakes.  But you still stay away from them, all the same.”

No updates for Write Club.

And I’m gone.

Current Music: "Superhuman"--Velvet Revolver

Progress Report, in which I contemplate the possibility of producing moose drool

Finished my read-through of “The Winter Palace,” made my notes for the rewrite, and have actually embarked on same.  There’s even a new Magic Meter to mark the occasion.  See?

Most of the revision work on this one needs to be done at the beginning, and even that isn’t really all that much.  Truth is, I’m pretty happy with the story.  It needs only a few tweaks, methinks.  If you’ve been reading these progress reports of late, you’ll know that comes as a refreshing change of pace.

Of course, it might still be so much moose drool.  Occupational hazard, that.

Your snippet:

“It is a great secret.  You must promise not to tell anyone else.  If the king’s soldiers ever learn of it, or even your wise father, you would never be allowed to play there.”

“I promise, Gan.  I won’t tell anyone.”  She would have no trouble keeping the secret, since he was probably lying, anyway.

Write Club updates:  A couple of form bounces from agents on novel queries.  Response times, 10 days each.

Back to the word mines . . .

Current Music: "Locomotive"--Guns 'n' Roses

Progress Report, in which manuscripts fly

Database updates, story submissions, and other Writing Related Program Activities last week.  Given that my short story inventory has been steadily depleted over the years (a consequence of focusing on longer work), it rather surprised me that I still had so many manuscripts in need of homes.  Who knew?

Well, off they go, to make their way in the world.  Fly, my pretties!  Fly!  Fly!

So the desk is cleared (sort of), and I’ve begun a read-through of “The Winter Palace,” in the hope that it, too, may soon fly.

Or, you know, get shot down.

Speaking of which . . .

Write Club update:  A tier one bounce from Read Short Fiction.  Response time, one day.

Fly, my pretties.  Fly.

Current Music: "Rock Me to the Top"--Tesla

Progress Report, in which I venture once more into the undiscovered country

Once again between projects, which means catching up on Writing-Related Program Activities, as Jay would have called them.  First up was getting some novel queries into the world.  No, not for Apocalypse Pictures Presents, but for Wet Work.  Believe it or not, there are still some agents out there who haven’t yet had the privilege of ignoring me.  Well, for some of you in the undiscovered country known as Agentland, that long-awaited moment has come at last.  Enjoy.

Next up, I need to arrange beta readers for Apocalypse Pictures Presents, take care of some overdue correspondence, and then take one more pass at “The Winter Palace.”  I’ve been keen to send that one to market, but just haven’t had the time.

And at some point, I need to figure out what my next novel will be.  A lot of writers will tell you that their heads are full to bursting with story ideas, but mine . . . isn’t.  I figure that I had too much brainspace devoted to APP.  Now that I’ve freed up some room, perhaps the muse might grace me with her presence.

Either that, or I’m completely written out.  What are the odds?

Write Club update:  Since I’m a couple of days late with this report, I might as well mention that one of those agent queries has already been shot down.  Response time, two days.

Hey, it beats getting ignored.  Kinda.

Laterz . . .

Current Music: "Xanadu"--Rush