And So It Goes

Well, things seem to be progressing in my very busy summer.

So far on my list of things to do, I’ve done–some things. Yup.

Here’s my list just for August:

August to do list:

• Finish contest painting
• No really, FINISH CONTEST PAINTING
• Cry
• Finish commissions in my queue
• Probably take on more commissions because I hate myself–
  –but also because I like getting paid
• Finish edits (really this was supposed to be the tail end of June, but became early august)
• Send out review copies of novel to designated readers
• Kick my query letter into shape
• Cry some more because query letters suck
• Do my first round of queries
• Drink coffee to function
• Start rough draft of new novel
• Go to a con and be a dork
• Probably run into walls at the con because I can’t see anything in costume
• Spend at least one entire day wallowing in self-pity
• Drink more coffee SO I CAN SEE SOUNDS
• Struggle to keep house clean
• Feel bad because the house is a mess
• Do some personal art to feel better
• Get insanely stressed out over personal art
• Threaten to throw something art related out the window
• Cry dramatically
• Read some books or something

So, as you can see, I’M DOING GREAT. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

This week in particular has actually been pretty big for me. I got edits finished on my novel The Feather, and sent out full copies to select readers. While waiting on feedback, I took a ‘mostly there’ query letter, and decided to give The Query Shark a try. I’ve been reading Ms. Reid’s blog while heavily editing my query, and I’m hoping through her paid crit service she can help me clean it up even more.

Meanwhile I’m still working on my contest painting, and commissions. I’ve got a con adventure coming up this weekend that I’m really looking forward to.

I’ve been keeping up with my various art accounts and almost daily patreon posts as well.

I’m also 6k into my newest novel, which features falconry with gryphons a la Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I’m pretty excited for this new novel, as it’s my first standalone. I’m hoping to finish this draft by early September, and roll right into edits, querying no later than this time next year. Considering it took me 6 years (two of continuous work) to finish The Feather and get it query ready, I think one year for this new novel is reasonable. I’ve learned a LOT about editing in the last year and a half.

Anyway, that’s my update for now. I’m really wanting to start rolling out blog posts more frequently again like I used to. Especially to document my journey through the publishing slush piles.