Titles aren't my favorite things, and neither are subject lines...

[kassidy62]

Because it's sometimes hard to come up with the right one, is all.

The zine is done. I have two left out of 100 for sale. I ordered a small 2nd run in case I need them - 25.

And now it is time to get back to that novel of mine. Yeah, the one that was started in what, 1999.

Funny, I know people could knock out the word count I have so far in a few months. This one has been through a long journey, stops and starts. It's a vampire novel, a modern one. I've not read half the vamp lit out there, especially with the explosion of vampire romance novels, but I think it's different. There are questions posed in it that I feel are important. And it's not silly, which is the trap that vamp novels can so easily fall into.

I was part of a writing group, once. It was a small group, and all of them were friends in RL except for me and another. I offered a crit about a sensitive sex scene to the group leader and she was *not* happy. I didn't think it was that bad a crit, but who knows? I've learned to be a *little* more careful of how I phrase things since then. It was never meant to be anything other than helpful - I really don't get my rocks off on critting for the sake of being overbearing or superior. But long story short, I left the group. I let it get to me, badly, and I pretty much quit the novel when it was 3/4ths finished.

Since then I've done the fan fiction (still love it), but I need to do this. I have fan fiction bunnies whispering in my ear, because I don't turn so easily from one focus to another. But I *think* this novel is worth trying to turn the focus. I think.

I'll see, won't I?

Comments

[cynatnite.livejournal.com]

Vamp novel sounds intringuing, Kass. Good luck with that. Normally, I'm not into that sort of genre, but have recently started reading a vamp trilogy by Nora Roberts. So now, I've got vamp on the brain.

I've got a script I've been rewriting for a good three years now. It started out as a short story and have been steadily expanding it since then. Getting away from fanfic writing for a while is something I like doing. It really makes a difference as well as reading other fiction and nonfiction novels.

I like how you edit and how you keep me thinking on ways to improve. I like having the best of both worlds when someone is critiquing my work. I want the honesty plus a little assurance to give my ego a boost. LOL

Congratulations!

[keri1006.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, Kass! That's the fastest sell-out of a zine run I've ever heard of. You are definitely the future for SH zine publications.

And I think you'll do a great job on your novel. Vampire stories are hugely popular, and I'm thinking with your writing style and talent you'll nail it perfectly!

Good luck! I'll be buying a copy.

Re: Congratulations!

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Keri, man, that makes me feel so good, you saying you'd buy a novel from me that's not even S&H related. Thank you very very much for that and for your support:)

Funny about the zines - they went from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds, right? Now they're 0 again now that I've ordered more, weird. But hey, at least I have some for the coming weeks - I'd hate to tell someone I'm out so early, you know?

Re: Congratulations!

[keri1006.livejournal.com]

Of course I'd buy your book! I'd be thrilled to buy the pro work of a talented SH writer. I have all of Terri White's pro books, so I'd sure as heck buy yours!

I think you made the right decision on doing a reprint. You had wonderful buzz and word of mouth and that won't stop. You'll sell them.

Re: Congratulations!

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Does Terri write under her ff name? I like what I've read of hers lots and would be interested in her pro books, too.

Re: Congratulations!

[keri1006.livejournal.com]

Yep, all the books of hers I have are under Terri White.

[aesposito.livejournal.com]

Oooo, definitely work on that vampire novel....."urban fantasy" (ie, vampire, werewolf, etc) lit is very hot right now according to my favorite anonymous book agent blogger raleva31. She's awesome in other ways too, in that she posts examples of really bad book queries, laughable plots, cliches to avoid in books, etc....

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Aud. It's just hard when you've got a ready-built support group for fan fic, which I do have to a degree and at this point. Pure self-motivation is harder for me to get with, which is not good, really, since I need to be totally self-motivated for this.

When I do a zine I know I have an obligation that other people are depending on me to get it out, so I'm much more likely to get it done in a timely manner.

[lolabobs.livejournal.com]

your writing group experience sucks - I get that it's difficult to be told something you've written doesn't work - but then, why join a writing group if not for the assistance you get from crit and suggestion. Okay, if someone said - 'that's cr*p, doesn't work at all and you have no talent' - it would be hurtful (to say the least!) -but (and I don't imagine that's what you said at all!) helpful, constructive criticism is surely why you're in a group in the first place?

It's a shame that it put you off your own goal for a while - hopefully you can take up the reins again.

'zine - FAB! - I'm trying to save it for when I have to go away next week, but it's difficult to resist and I keep on dipping in!

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're liking the zine - thanks so much for the People, interview, too:)
Where are you going next week? Nosey. Or is that nosy?

[lolabobs.livejournal.com]

glad the people arrived in the end - it reads a little bit like a cheesy drama of the week at times, but still an amazing amount of detail considering the nature of the subject matter.

Next week - I'm off on a training course (specific tasks when case managing sex offenders - as I've been 'managing' them for some time now it will be interesting to see what I *should* be doing!) - in Mildenhall in the middle of nowhere (but next to an RAF base....)

[moondroplette.livejournal.com]

I'd flip to see where you go with the vamp premise. I love your writing (still working on a FB note for Draw the Line, btw - it's hard to pick out bits and pieces when the whole thing is one big oompf of pretty), and would absolutely read original work by you. I do hope something comes of this ambition :)

(vamps are double bonus points, of course - ♥ them so much I even managed to write a term paper on vampires [& sex] for one class back in college)

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Ah, Moon, I'm just floored. Thank you so much for saying this. I *love* vampires, LOVE LOVE LOVE them. "Near Dark," anybody? (and why on earth would they do a REMAKE!)

Speaking of feedback, you've got a great little story in the SHarecon zine, so I too owe feedback. I really enjoyed it - you'll get a note from me in the next couple of days on it.

And just saw the new update at Roundup. That place is going to be a favorite of mine - there's this great mix of (sometimes weird) news bits and then I can get these quick links to new stories and vids without going through the enormous amounts of emails generated through some of the groups - I'm really happy you've got this LJ up and running. I've referred a couple of folks to it already.

[moondroplette.livejournal.com]

People do remakes because they want MORE VAMPIRES. duh. :)

Thanks for your kind words about the zine story too! It was a first for me in a lot of ways, and I was hella nervous about it :)

And yay, I'm glad you like the Roundup! ♥ It's turned into a pet project more than I thought it would (I know I'm totally a nerd for posting all those weird related-but-not-really links, but I figure at least one more person besides me might be interested...), so I'm so happy you're finding it useful and such :)

Hey...

[devilshole.livejournal.com]

...just thought I'd let you know I friended you and that I'm librathree, compartmentalizing as ever, so you won't wonder who this stranger is who's only friended you and the AS&J comm. :)

Re: Hey...

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Hey you, compartmentalized person. Are you trying to make my life more difficult??? Glad you friended me:)

Re: Hey...

[devilshole.livejournal.com]

I can't help it, it's the way my brain works. I'm hoping to force myself to post some AS&J fic soon. :) Got the bug, you know how it is. :)

[zebra-three.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience in your writing group, had a similar experience just not in a writing group that had me re-think what to say to people to not offend them (not that the things I said were offensive, just probably something the other didn't want to hear). One should think that they want constructive criticism to improve the writing, sometimes it just makes me think they just want to hear how great the stuff is they write and now what you really think about it and whether you have some serious constructive things to say that could make the author a better writer *sigh*
I love vampire novels, just not the trashy romance stuff that kept spreading like fungus a couple of years ago. I love the ones that are cleverly written and take the subject seriously. So good for you to have you back on your novel project, my own sci-fi novel project is still on hold (and that probably since 1999 since it got killed by the fan-fiction bunny which in turn then got killed by the art muse *gg*)

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'm still struggling not to let my original fiction muse get crushed by the fan fic muse, so I know what you mean.

I used to paint and draw a bit in college (I went back as an adult) - it's all creativity and makes you feel good and puts you through hell;)

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

Hi hon - if there any zines left (I am assumng this is your somewhat darerkfic SH zine), I'd like to order one. Is there more info about the zine contents and pricing/ordering?

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

Thanks and hope you enjoy it - it's a big book.

I hear Bascon was a success - wonderful:) I attended my first con ever, SHarecon in October. Loved it.