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Post by Stacy on Sept 25, 2009 1:11:58 GMT -5
I've been thinking about this a lot. I am so totally and completely in love with Valley. And as we get closer to the end, I'm dreading publishing the epilogue. And I'm thinking about what to do next. Do I write a non-Sims version? Or do I start another Sims 3 story, maybe redo and finish my Sims 2 story A Faustian Bargain? Honestly - I liked Grace (the main character of AFB) and all, but... Lilith and Jason and Seth are my life. And Sarah is starting to look pretty interesting too. (Yes, there's a bit coming up where we get to hear from her.) And the ending does not allow for a sequel. But well - let's just say that on the political compass I am very far down and to the left. I'm not really that comfortable with capitalism and its rules. I am also a deep introvert with social anxiety. And can't forget the neuroticism. So I read stuff about getting published, and it's all very daunting. So much talking to people, so much dealing with rejection and editing, so much profit motive. I'm definitely more of a Kafka or Emily Dickinson than, say, a John Scalzi. Reading his stuff about writing as a business definitely puts me off it. But I love my valley and I don't want to leave it. I'm happy there. So incredibly happy. On the other hand, I think that Sims stories have spoiled me. I'm so used to using pictures. What if I can't convey what's in the pictures in text? Heh, I suppose I could try to find an artist to partner up for Valley the graphic novel. But no - it's mine. My precious. I don't know. I suppose I could try writing it out as a full text non-Sims story. What's the worst that could happen? It sucks a lot and I cry and stay in bed for days and then eventually start on AFB, the Sims 3 version.
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Post by girlyesterday on Sept 25, 2009 2:18:26 GMT -5
The decision is up to you. But ask yourself this question ...
Have you finished telling the story of In the Valley of the Sun? If you answer no to this, then it's quite obvious that you're not ready to move on to a new story and that there is another story for the Valley that is lurking somewhere inside of you waiting to get out. If that's the case, I say, 'Go with it.'
You say that it doesn't allow for a sequel. Fair enough. How about what happens to someone left behind after all is said and done, someone who knew Lilith. Maybe tell a story from their perspective. It's hard to say when we haven't reached the ending yet so I don't' know what is going to happen.
Did Jason really die in that fire? Maybe his ghost is restless if he did die. If Lilith survives, will Jason's ghost find a way to try and communicate? Were things left unsaid between them that need to be wrapped up?
Another idea is maybe do side stories that branch off the main storyline after you've finished the current storyline. What was Lilith's boss doing before she died? That sort of thing.
(Just tossing out some random ideas).
There's no reason you can't make a text only version work. Think of it this way, text only stories have a certain amount of freedom when it comes to description and events that can't be achieved in the game. Even without pictures, your story would still read fine to me. And half the time, I just go ahead and read the narrative while waiting for the pictures to load anyway and then go back and reread it with the pictures displayed.
Do you want to write another Sim story? You have to ask yourself this question. If the answer is yes, then you have your answer.
As far as publishing goes, I've read all the articles I want to read on the subject. It is daunting, the way they tell it. The thing with publishing is that writing becomes a business. The publishing houses want to make a profit and they take stories that will make them the money they want. Unfortunately, that's part and parcel of publishing, business goes with creativity; which isn't always a good combination.
The second thing is that not everyone is going to like your work. Can you handle bad reviews or editors telling you they hate this or that character and you need to cut them from the storyline? Can you handle having to send off a MS to each publishing house without any guarantee they will accept your work? Can you change what needs to be changed to be published?
These are the questions I am constantly asking myself. I have no easy answer for you or a magic pill. All I can say is that it's a lot of hard work with a lot of alone time and deadlines. You are bascially not doing anything else but writing that book and if you work, you do it after the kids are fed, dinner's been cleared away and you have about 1-2 hrs left before you have to go to bed.
The life of a writer isn't an easy life, but for those who succeed, it's a rewarding life.
The bottom line is, every writer who succeeds does so because they aren't willing to give up, even in the face of ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred rejection letters. That's the key to publishing, not giving up and believing in yourself.
I hope that sheds some light on the publishing question. I've had to discover a lot of this myself through trial and error and I can tell you, getting a rejection letter is not easy - it hurts and sometimes it blows - bad. You end up crying to your partner, going through a bout of depression and you start to doubt yourself, a lot. But then you pick yourself up, go to the keyboard and start again.
Editors reject your stories for a lot of reasons; wrong time, they just didn't like it, they don't connect with the characters, it's not what they're looking for right now, whatever. Just remember, it's not a personal attack against you or your writing. It's just not what they want at that time.
Okay so I didn't mean to write an essay here.
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Post by Stacy on Sept 25, 2009 22:29:55 GMT -5
I read your latest post on your writing blog - and commented on it.
Then I looked around sites like Lulu and Word Clay. Gah.
Then I went and cried. Yes, #1 Crush describes how I feel about Valley as well as how Sarah felt about Seth.
Then my husband noticed me crying and we talked.
I love him more than Jason loves Lilith.
He said that I should just go ahead and write it and see how it comes out. If it's not novel length, there are publications that are interested in novellas and short stories. If it's novel length, there are smaller publishing houses that focus on niche markets.
And he actually pointed out that the aforementioned John Scalzi published his first book online.
I will write it. I will write it and then I'll see how it goes from there. Worse comes to worse I'll put it somewhere where you guys can at least read it if you want, and that'll be enough.
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Post by girlyesterday on Sept 26, 2009 0:43:32 GMT -5
Your husband is correct. Even if it isn't novel length, there are markets for short stories. Some are in Print Magazine (you're in the US right?). The US have a lot of print magazines that publish short stories on a regular basis and I don't doubt there would be one for the genre you want to write in.
Also, there are e-zines online that are always accepting short stories. Some pay you in cash, others pay you in web space for your story. It just really depends what you want.
I think you should write it, regardless. It sounds like something you passionately want to do. So do it and don't be discouraged.
Think of writing sim stories as a stepping stone into the writing world. If you're really unsure how you will go without having to relay I pictures, I suggest visiting a few writing prompt sites and doing some quick pieces as exercises.
Also, try just writing a scene from valley disregarding pictures. Just write it, read it out loud and see how it sounds. Get your husband to read it too.
I say read it out loud because I've found, you can really hear whether a sentence works or not when you do that.
It's good you have a supportive partner. That really helps.
I did the same thing when I first read Irvine's article on publishing. I was both devastated, a little discouraged and highly upset; but I don't regret reading it or being told point blank what to expect.
I can keep an eye out for a few of those e-zines I mentioned. I had a huge list of them at one stage but I've had a few computer changes since then.
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Post by mdpthatsme on Oct 15, 2009 17:51:58 GMT -5
I deal with this all the time. I want to publish one day. I know that, but I am not good at taking criticism, never have been. I will have to learn one way or another.
My grandfather has been trying to get published for a long time and gives me tips and tricks to help me along the way. We edit each other's work. I see things in this age. He views things in his generations. We some way convert our work to better both ages. However, I write fantasy and he writes realistic or historical fiction. We'll never see eye-to-eye on that one.
When it comes down to completing a story. It's hard. You have to conclude, tie up all loose-ends, some times end character's lives. And, as I can tell, you're very emotionally evolved with your characters, as I am. Nonetheless, I usually know the endings of my stories when I begin them. So I face the truth as it hits me in the face.
Although, the story will end, it doesn't mean the world has to, if you get what I mean. Take for instance, Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling ended it, but she's now starting a new series that is set in the Harry Potter world, but does not have the same characters.
I do the same thing in my stories, however, all mine are connected to the BIG manuscript in some way, even as Sims.
Soooooooooo, you know you have to end your story, one way or another, it's never pretty, trust me. It just has to be done. You can always continue through other ways. I prefer the same world different characters way....maybe a lot of years later and others looking back. But I write strictly fantasy so anything's possible in my worlds.
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