Processes of Reading and Writing

I received something in the mail this morning that brightened my entire day: a book. It was a thank-you gift from Kristine Kathryn Rusch. It has gone into my reading queue, and hopefully it won’t be too long before I get it read.

I read books in an odd way (well, odd according to most people I know, maybe some of you share my eccentricity). I don’t wait to finish one book before moving onto the next. On average, I read three books at the same time. Usually I read two fiction books and one non-fiction. I do this because I read according to mood. I don’t just feel like reading, I feel like reading something in particular.


For example, here’s my current batch:

Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson

Writers of the Future, Volume XX

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Second Edition, edited by Douglas C. Giancoli

Normally the non-fiction book is for my own general edification, but seeing as I’m neither a scientist nor an engineer, it’s probably obvious that I’m doing some technical research for a specific, work-related reason. It’s actually one of my fiancé’s old textbooks (I’m guessing from his undergrad studies).

Sometimes my fiction books are separated thematically, but this time they’re separated by story length: a novel and a baker’s dozen short stories or so.

I also write like I read, which can be a major problem some times. I don’t read cover-to-cover before starting something else, and I don’t write from concept-to-polish before beginning a new project. And again, it all has to do with mood. I fall in and out of love with themes, and stories, and worlds and have to have somewhere else to vacation to for a while. This means I’ve got probably a half a dozen stories sitting between the writing and editing stages, and at least two dozen that have been temporarily abandoned at the outline stage.

Now, luckily this doesn’t translate into me not finishing things. I do. However, this can create inconstancies in voice and style in manuscripts I leave half finished and then come back to. Also, if I don’t have a complete vision for the story and I move away from it, I have a harder time taking up the reigns again.

So, I’ve been really fighting against my natural tendencies lately. I’ve been trying to force myself to work on one thing at a time, only letting myself get distracted enough to make notes on new ideas. I wrote my WotF finalist story in three straight days (editing took waaaaaay longer), and I had the entire story crystal clear in my mind before I wrote the first word. Both of my first readers said they could see a big, positive difference, and apparently so could KD Wentworth. I’m doing my best to stick to this new process, but I’m still fighting with it. Some stories are working with me, and some insist on kicking and screaming.

Hopefully one day my process and I will become one.

~Marina

Writers of the Future Q2

Well, I’ve been keeping a secret for the past couple of weeks. My quarter 2 entry into the Writers of the Future contest earned one of the 8 finalist slots. I was so excited when I got the call (which I missed, I noticed I had a voicemail from an unknown number), my hands were shaking. I never expected to make this sort of progress so soon into my submissions. Hopefully it’s not a fluke!

And now I’m stressing over the final results. Gah.

Anywho, good luck to everyone else on the list, and congrats to the semi-finalists and honorable mentions!

And this is the “interest” in a story I mentioned. Luckily I was able to sort out the byline problem before the list was published.


~Marina

Rusching Around

Kristine Kathryn Rusch has the first installment of her business blog up, called “The Business Rusch.” The title was my brain-child and I’m utterly pleased that she liked my suggestion enough to use it.

She and her husband, Dean Wesley Smith, are extremely successful writers not only because of their skill with prose and god-given imaginations, but because they know the business of writing inside and out.

I read their blogs regularly, and Rusch’s Freelancer’s Survival Guide contains invaluable knowledge for the would-be entrepreneur. Because that’s what writers are: in business for themselves. Perhaps the reason the myth that “you can’t make a living writing fiction” persists is because so many people fail to learn how to sustain their business. The potential to make a living is there, but they don’t know enough about the business to keep the revenue flowing.

Just a thought.

Ms. Rusch’s blog can be found here: http://kriswrites.com/

~Marina



Rejections (goal of 100): 4

Note on Names

Hello again,
Alrighty, I've wavered back and forth on this for some time. I began submitting stories without knowing what I wanted for my byline. My maiden name is Nelson, my to-be name is Lostetter. I've finally decided I want to write under Lostetter, at least in the SF field. Problem is, I think I might have a little issue with a current submissions labeled Nelson… Let’s say some interest has been shown. Hopefully they’ll let me change it if something fruitful develops. Serves me right for not making up my mind.

~Marina

Let it begin!

Hello!
I’ve been encouraged by several people to begin a writing blog. Though a great idea, I didn’t start one until now for fear no one would read it. But, of course, like most forms of communication, including fiction writing, the words are really more for my own benefit than others. Here I can muse about my growth as a writer, and if others find it interesting and chose to read it (or even better, comment on it), then that’s great too.

So, who am I? I’ve never been good at talking about myself, but here goes:

I am a twenty three year old university grad (degree in Greco-Roman history) with aspirations of becoming a professional freelance fiction writer. I’m lucky enough to find myself in circumstances where I can dedicate myself full time to this career path, and have been for the past year.


My primary focus is on Science Fiction at the moment, with a few Fantasy and Horror/Thriller tales thrown in the mix. I have no desire to put myself in a box when it comes to creativity, however, and in the future I’m sure I will explore a plethora of other genres.

I write all lengths of fiction, but the manuscripts I have out to the markets right now are short stories and novelettes: 2,500 words to 13,000 words in length.

I began submitting my short stories to the markets in December of 2009. I start with the top pro-paying market and work down with the philosophy that this is the best method to discover where I lie skill-wise. I subscribe to the idea that “cream rises to the top,” (Thank you K.D. Wentworth). Top stories get published in top markets, and there is no magical wall that keeps new writers from breaking into the business. I am responsible for my own successes and failures. If I’m not cream yet, though, no worries. Writing professionally is all about learning. Doing anything professionally requires practice and education. My skills are constantly evolving, and there is no shame in being an unpublished aspirant.


I look at this as my business. I am as dedicated to it as any nine-to-five. I get up and go to work every day, increasing my inventory of sellable items.

Ah, seems again I haven’t been very good at revealing myself. The above is essentially Marina the Author, not Marina the Person. I don’t give myself away so easily.
Hmm, ok, I love purple, chocolate, and getting paint all over my studio.

So, I intend this blog to chronicle my adventures in writing and (hopefully) publishing. Thanks for stopping by!

~Marina


P.S. There’s an old “supposedly” that says on average authors get 100 rejection letters before their first professional sale. So, to test that theory I’m keeping a rejection count. Today that number sits at: 4

P.P.S. This is probably a temporary blog. I have a web domain that a certain someone keeps saying he will set up for me, but as he is being delinquent in his fiancé duties            [ ;-) ], I'm delving into the blog world on my own.