So, here's the plan:

For the next month while I'm still working days, I'm going to jump on this like I was still in grad school. Mondays and Wednesdays for three, solid hours a piece. Tuesday, Thursday squeeze in an hour or two. Devote Saturday or Sunday as needed. By the time school lets out, I want to be done with the first part of the book. Through chapter 9 (which might be the new chapter 7) would be ambitious, so I guess that's what I need to aim for. As for this week: I want to rewrite chapters one and two. I know that that is feasible; it's just really hard for me to figure out how much time certain tasks might take beyond that.

There are parts later on in the book that my wife and Copperhead think need very little rewriting. However, I know that the set of chapters right after the first two need huge, global changes. Still, this shouldn't be like draft 2 where I'm completely rewriting every word. There should be significantly more sections that I can hold on to in their entirety (otherwise, what progress would I be making?). For one, a focus of this draft is to cut it down to about 25 chapters and 150,000 or less. Taking things out is always easier than putting more in. I do have new material that needs to be inserted, but not in the form of scenes or characters or action (with a few small exceptions that are usually taking the place of something longer and unnecessary). Instead, I have the challenge of implementing changes that will span the entire novel (for example, I had the main character using a device called a hand that was basically a super-fancy iphone - the technology level should be way beyond that so I've come up with two ideas for far-future tech to replace that).

There will be times when I need to rewrite a chapter. There will also be times where I can rip out a few sections, tweak it up and give it a nice, polished once over and move on. That's the unique challenge of this phase of the novel writing process, and I just don't know how long this is going to take. All I can do is get started. Chapters one and two, here I come.

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm an unpublished novelist.

Enjoy!

I know that's not the way a writer should think. I should be telling myself, keep churning stuff out and eventually you'll get published. Not just because that's what they tell you in writing workshops, but because I've seen it work in the few pieces I do have out there. It's no fluke that I've had mostly flash fiction published when flash fiction is the majority of what I write (excluding the novel). But putting in time to write longer stories, and a lot of them since that is most likely what it will take, just doesn't fit my current situation. Sure, I'll be devoting a lot more time to the novel, but in the end the pay out will be so much greater. At least, that's how I feel. Is it naive to think that my first novel will get published when it takes me so many tries to get a good product out of shorter works? I tell myself that in a way it's not my first novel because I'll have created so many drafts of it (and radically different ones at that), but I do the same thing with short stories and flash fictions and I have more of those sitting around my hard drive than I do in the pages of magazines.

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm an unpublished author.

The reason for this lies in the biggest news of all. My wife and I are expecting...TWINS! That's right, Mary is due in the middle of August with a pair of identical babies (don't know the sex yet). We were trying, but for one. This is such a huge surprise, because twins runs in neither of our families. We are very excited, but this brings with it a whole new host of incredible challenges. We may need to get a new, bigger house. We always said our little townhouse would work through one kid but we'd have to move when we had the second. They say if you want to make God laugh, make a plan.

Well I guess I'm going to be making God laugh some more. Here's the plan: regardless of all else, I must complete the third draft of my book in the next twelve months. This will keep me on target of completing a draft a year (the past two years I've been good at this). I think I want to see my book published by 2015 at the latest. This gives me time for several drafts and time to shop the work around to publishers and agents.

To make this happen I would like to hear back from my readers about the book by March 10th. That is the week of spring break for both my college and the high school where I work (how convenient!). I think this is reasonable. Two months for them to finish reading and let me know what they think (but y'all tell me if it ain't). That way I can use my week off to look over what they have to say, develop a revision strategy and maybe hopefully even get the ball rolling on writing. It's important that I start before my summer vacation. Because of the way the college schedule works, I'll be able to take two semesters (spring & a six-week summer session) before high school lets out for the summer. After that, I'll have almost two months all to myself before school starts again and before the babies come to try and complete the third draft of my book. I know that if I jump in cold-turkey, I won't be able to go from not writing to writing eight hours a day with any semblance of efficiency.

So, spring break, middle of March, I begin work on the third draft. Readers, please I beg of you, let me know what you think! I need your help. While it will surely be a struggle to find time to write while working and attending graduate school, I will fill my spare time with revision. If it's important you make the time, I've heard people say, and this is most definitely important. I figure if I can knock out a few chapters before summer and get some momentum, I'll have a receipt for success. While the end of this year may be the ultimate deadline, the hidden deadline is before the twins come and life gets really, truly crazy.

The folks over at Every Day Fiction take the top-rated story from any given month and do an interview with the author on their blog, Flash Fiction Chronicles. For an e-zine that barely pays their writers and is definitely drawing stories from struggling up-and-comers, I think this is a great way to give a little extra back to those whose work is well-received. At this point, it's all about getting my name out there, and what better way than to be interviewed on the blog of a well-known e-zine, boasting about how awesome my work is. TOP-RATED! WOO-HOO!

I'm very excited about this and extra proud of the piece, so pop on over and give 'em both a gander. Thanks to all who rated my story so highly!

I'm Eric and according to those links I've posted, I'm a published author.

Until next time, (and I'm hoping next time will bring some very cool news) I'm Eric yada yada yada.

First and most importantly, I got published again! HUZZAH! I got the acceptance letter today for another one of my scifi flash pieces. It will be featured on Every Day Fiction either next month or the month after. I will definitely keep everyone updated on this. I'm very excited to have another one of my pieces on their highly successful web-zine. The last one I had with them sparked a torrent of comments from their readers.

The second bit of news is that I am almost done with the second draft of my novel. I know, better news, real news, would have been that I am done with the second draft, but that's just not the case. With the new job and the onset of football season (Go Bucs! FREEMAN FREEMAN. C'mon Seminoles, don't do me like that....) I'm just a very busy man. I'm a very happy busy man, but writing is very much on the side for the moment. Not that not I'm not making some progress. I am. Only four more chapters to go. Ish. I finished one just the other night. I'm way behind schedule, I know. The chapter a week thing is just out the window at this point, but I am getting one day every two weeks and I'm trying to pick up the pace. I'd to have it done by Halloween so I can spend November and December on some short stories, but I can't make any promises. Not to my readers or myself. It'll happen in its own time. It's just nice to know that I'm still making some progress elsewhere. I definitely need to write some more flash stories, because I'm pretty much out-of-stock. Now that's a good feeling.

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm an unpublished author.

It's really cool, but yes, this is probably going to slow things down some. I am happy to report that I just finished another chapter in the ole book and though I am over my self-imposed deadline I will be getting it done as soon as humanly possible. My wife keeps telling me to look forward to next summer when I actually won't have to work (my old position required me to teach all summer). And she's right. I will get to write next summer. I've already set it aside in my mind as third draft time with the space in between then as time to work on my neglected master's degree and review comments from my readers (and if I'm super on top of it, write a short story or three).

All is good. I'm doing something I enjoy, I'm getting to write still and now I have summers free. This will happen in its own time. I'm not putting it off. Time to write or reasons not to, it's still up to me to make this happen. And I will. Don't count me out yet.

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm an unpublished novelist, but a published short story writer.

Progress on the novel, unfortunately, has slowed. I completed the twenty second chapter a few days ago, leaving me eight or nine to go. If I had gotten one a week done per the original plan I'd be done by now. I think that's what really stings. However, knowing my time has been going to other writing projects, especially ones that yield a paycheck, has really lessened that sting. You have to take the good with the bad, as they say, and I can only crack the whip over myself so hard.

My short story, "Mustang," is now available in the July issue of Thematic Literary Magazine. The issue is themed Independence and can be purchased in print for $7.00 or you can get a digital copy for $4.50. The link is here:

In other news, I seem to have landed a freelancing gig with a new magazine to be based here in Tampa, but distributed nationally. The magazine is tentatively titled Electric Vehicles Magazine. Click here to see the placeholder for their website. There may be a name change in the near future and who knows whether this magazine will succeed or not, but for now I have an assignment and the promise of legal tender following my efforts; therefore, they have my full support. I'll keep you updated on this exciting new adventure as well. Now, back to the novel!

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm an unpublished writer?

Fortunately, my tutoring side job has come to end and I've already read and done notes for the next two chapters, I just have to carry out my plan. It's possible. This thing is going to get done. It's just a matter of when.

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm an unpublished author. 

Then, just now, I got an e-mail from an e-zine I've praised before on this blog, Every Day Fiction, and they too want to publish one of my scifi flashes. This one, titled "Blood Oath," will appear on their website sometime in the next two months. I love getting responses from them because their editors and slush readers always write several sentence of criticism each. Turns out an acceptance is even better; five members of their editorial team commented on my story! If you're a writer and in need of a break from the form rejections, submit to Every Day Fiction.

So, with the novel still underway, it's safe to say I'm getting some legs under me publishing-wise. I'm going to try to find some time to write more short fiction or at least finish some of the many stories I have that just need some tidying up before they're ready, but I have to give the novel my full attention if it's ever going to get done. Most likely I'll build up my supply of short fiction between this draft and the next.

There is one other issue. Though I have not yet been paid for my work, I now have a variety of credits to my name, including a story coming to print. Is it time to change the name of this blog or start a new one altogether? "Eric: Published" is lacking much. "Eric: Unpublished" is cute, and might do in a pinch, but this is something I'll have to give more thought. I have to say, it's a fun problem to have.

Until next time, I'm Eric and I'm teetering on the edge.