Writing Resources

Two Negative Sales

Recently I learned that a publishing company that produces several magazines is likely going under. This means that two stories I had contracted with them will not be printed (as well as a third that I had revised significantly for an editor). Now I have to go and find a new home for them. So far there doesn’t seem to be anything appropriate, so they might sit in purgatory for a few months.

This is the second time that one of these stories has actually been bought (with the magazine later folding)… it is earning a decent chunk of income without ever seeing print! I fear it might be some kind of cursed fiction that slays magazines that accept it.

Also, a novel that I submitted and have been waiting for a while on (and thought was making an impression, given the length of time it was under consideration) turned out to never have been received by the publisher (despite their sending me a confirmation e-mail that it had been received.) So that was a tad disappointing.

In other news, the new novel is coming along well except I realized a while back that I’m actually writing two novels (or one really long one). I’m going to continue with the plan to finish it but it will take much longer than originally planned. This definitely means that the next Lazy Designer book (on Writing, Character, and World Building) will be delayed until next year. I’m also plotting a new novel that I’m incredibly excited about… but I won’t actually start putting words on paper for that until next year too. I also have a strong concept for a sci-fi short story but I might not write it… I’m really trying to stay focused on longer work.

This school year will also see my writing time significantly impacted. It had looked as if I were gaining a full day of writing each week but my wife is transitioning from part time work to full time, so I’ll actually end up with less writing related time and more kid related time. I think it is a fair trade off, considering that next year both kids will be in school full-time (and by then probably won’t want to hang around with me anymore, anyways).

Well, that’s it for this update, and wow, it has been a month since I last posted. I think for the time being, given that I’m so busy with the kids, writing, and the game prototype, that I’ll try to keep to just a couple short status updates a month. I’m thinking Tuesdays will generally be writing related and Thursday, game related — assuming I get my work done for the day. We’ll see how that goes.

Former lead designer at BioWare (Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights). Creator of Raiders of the Serpent Sea.

2 Comments

  • James Paten

    Wow, Brent! That was quite an update. You certainly have been busy.

    Is this next Lazy Designer book set to be the last? Or is there one more on the books?

  • Brent Knowles

    James,

    Always busy, yep. There are 2 more Lazy books planned — the Story one and then one on Being a Design Lead… basically about management and team leading. I’d like to have both of those out next year.

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