It's all about spies be killin' spies, know'm say'n?

Aw, daaaaang!

How long did it take you, from initial idea to 'completion'?

How much research did you do and if you'd share how hard/complicated was that for you?

Also are you 'done' or in editing/review mode now?

Are you self publishing like amazon/smashwords/etc or trying to get a publisher if you didn't already?

If self publishing are you looking into cover artists to do a cover or looking into whipping something up yourself?

Sorry about all the questions I write a bit(sci-fi) and haven't managed to finish anything like a goldfish I get distracted by this and that. So much to do and so little time.

Well, every day I warm up with a little writing exercise. It could be anything, including posting rants on DU. Even though I have a long-term project I'm working on I thought I needed to make some money to help out the hubby. I need to check the diary to be sure, but I think I started about three-four months ago. It started with a unique idea for a character and I took it from there. What started as a writing exercise to flesh out the character just kept growing. Sometimes I was really bored with what I was watching on t.v. so I entertained myself by expanding on the story.

Research was easy with google searches (I'm sure I need to do a better job with the flight times and type of planes) but for the most part, what made the writing so easy was that I lived the experience through the character and I didn't even know what was going to happen from one day to the next. I sometimes woke up with anticipation in the morning just to find out.

Cannot tell you how many items and things the protagonist/anti-hero encounters comes directly from items close to home or personal things that meant something to me at one time.

I am now giving the draft to my high school nephew to copy edit and format for submission as I begin the process of writing the proposal. My nephew, like many kids his age is upset about not finding work, but he is gifted when it comes to writing so I offered him the job. win-win. Though I have my sister checking out some chapters in case they're too harsh for him.

Anyway, I'm clearing off the cork board and looking forward to my first rejection letter. I'm really going to be disappointed if I don't get at least twenty of them in the first two months.

it is technically a first draft.

I know that feeling of discovering as you go. It's intoxicating. Unless you're a very experienced writer though I would advise getting someone who knows what they're doing to edit it. It's vital to have other eyes. I say this as someone who's done a lot of editing of others' work and had others edit mine.

Good luck with the rejection letters. They an tell a whole tale in and of themselves. Got any leads on good agents for your genre?

The other piece I had been working on was a non-fiction which required kid gloves. I'm putting the resource information on the net (hint: see signature) After working on something so heavy for several years, I was ready to cut loose and write something light.

Frankly, it's a good first draft--for me. I did go over the first half several times to make sure I laid the right foundation, so it's been edited several times, piecemeal.

Tomorrow I'll probably get the Writer's Market book and start highlighting the agents that would be interested in the genre. But I think i should write the proposal first. I have a few ideas. It might help me find the right niche, because it's not a typical spy book. Not a typical mystery either.

Get the Deluxe Edition. It comes with the online access code. The price on Amazon varies, but it is usually only five bucks or so more for the Deluxe Edition from Amazon than the regular version costs at retail stores. It's well worth it.

Appreciate the info.

I've got a trilogy in the works. The first one is done but I'm held up by the cover art. The other two are my priorities and they're on the way but it will require some more photography (adult daughter nude with no naughty bits) before they can be published. I've got the photo for the first one but I'm not satisfied with the mask for the title and author. Register the domain for the title of your book. Seriously.

Or are you saying that you have a publisher, but are waiting on the cover art? Or, are you saying that you're self publishing?

I don't have the lingo down yet.

Oh, and do we get an idea what to look for if we want to read your book?

As for my first book, it's here for $1 - http://www.amazon.com/The-Goblin-Booker-Forest-ebook/dp/B005GEZJ4M

I'll buy it this weekend when I have time.

I think and talk, but never have the stick-with-it ness. I admire you!

Love your handle.

Can't wait to hear the details.