The Terry Pratchett Prize, Round Two...

[Quatermass]

Submitted my entry to the TP Prize.

 

[Tonyblack]

Submitted my entry to the TP Prize.

Best wishes, Q!

 

[Quatermass]

Submitted my entry to the TP Prize.

Best wishes, Q!

Best wishes not needed, but duly appreciated. But then again, I get the feeling that, come March 31st, I'll have the exact same reaction that Rimmer had in Red Dwarf: Trojan when, despite telling Kryten that he was ready to accept a potential failure in his astronavigation exams, he reacts...badly to the actual failure.

I get the feeling that I'll be yelling the same thing at the computer screen.

"CAN YOU NEVER EVER SUCCEED AT ANYTHING, YOU USELESS RANCID CANCEROUS SACK OF SICK?!"

*bangs computer screen with hammer repeatedly in a fit of rage*



But seriously, I am in with a chance, I hope.

Still, good omens today. I've sent off my TP Prize novel, I finished reading I Am Legend, and I finally got the Doctor Who Big Finish audio story I had ordered, Zagreus. Four Doctors, three epic episodes, two pierced hearts, and one seriously [EFF!]ed up story.

 

[Dotsie]

Well then I will wish you good luck, whether you want it or not

 

[Quatermass]

Whether I want it or not is irrelevant. I still appreciate the sentiment, even if wishing luck is a load of dingo's kidneys.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

:clap: Respect for getting it finished and mailed away Q

Sure you stand a good chance of getting into the final cut (which I hope I do as well ). Just getting something that far is great experience even if it doesn't happen this time - you now know that you can belt a first draft out if nothing else!

Mine's nearly there (32K words now) and I have the 'culmination' down finally, so hopefully the sewing up bits will only take a couple of days

 

[Quatermass]

:clap: Respect for getting it finished and mailed away Q

Thanks.

Sure you stand a good chance of getting into the final cut (which I hope I do as well ). Just getting something that far is great experience even if it doesn't happen this time - you now know that you can belt a first draft out if nothing else!

Don't talk to me about The Final Cut. My mum's just been watching the three adaptations of the House of Cards books. I'll have nightmares of Francis Urquhart blowing me up in my car and blaming it on the IRA.

And keep in mind, JVQ, that I have written before. This isn't my first novel to be written, it's just the first one that I'll (hopefully) have published (the rules state that you can't have published a book before, but nothing about having not written one). And my book took about 32 drafts of varying stages of completion. In fact, my first completed draft was also, barring some editing, my last one. And BTW, that was a good one for me. One book took over 59 drafts in one particular iteration before I was, initially, satisfied with it (I've recently decided to revisit the story, and revise it, changing most elements of the story, but keeping the themes and characters). And the one I was initially doing for the first TP Prize is currently up to 149 drafts, with two full drafts that aren't satisfactory. Ironically enough, elements from the initial versions of that book ended up in the book I've now submitted, particularly certain characters.

Mine's nearly there (32K words now) and I have the 'culmination' down finally, so hopefully the sewing up bits will only take a couple of days

...Wait, what? You need to get it to 80K words minimum.

Well, anyway, good luck, JVQ. And here's hoping. You don't have long left, so keep going.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

I left out the 1 - it's 132K words I just have to keep a lid on how much more I write

I forgot how literally you take things :shifty: I meant a completed draft for submission for publication - and you're right about the 'not published' clause. I've got various writings I've done online only that are complete but I haven't submitted for publication in or out of competitions. I think the qualifying factor for publication is if it's had an ISBN (so for sale in print/download) :think:

Yeah - it's this one

6. Each entrant warrants to the Publisher that:
(a) they have not previously had a full length novel written or co authored by them (under any name) published under a valid ISBN; and
(b) their Novel is original to them, does not infringe copyright or any other intellectual property right and does not defame or invade the privacy rights of any third party, or infringe any other legal rights, regulations or laws.

So that keeps us both eligible and legal as we're unpublished

 

[Quatermass]

I left out the 1 - it's 132K words I just have to keep a lid on how much more I write

I forgot how literally you take things :shifty: I meant a completed draft for submission for publication - and you're right about the 'not published' clause. I've got various writings I've done online only that are complete but I haven't submitted for publication in or out of competitions. I think the qualifying factor for publication is if it's had an ISBN (so for sale in print/download) :think:

Yeah - it's this one

6. Each entrant warrants to the Publisher that:
(a) they have not previously had a full length novel written or co authored by them (under any name) published under a valid ISBN; and
(b) their Novel is original to them, does not infringe copyright or any other intellectual property right and does not defame or invade the privacy rights of any third party, or infringe any other legal rights, regulations or laws.

So that keeps us both eligible and legal as we're unpublished

Sorry, I do get literal. Still, it could get worse. I could very much avoid the Christmas spirit in a clinical manner.

"And that, Charlie Brown, is what boredom is all about."

But you're right about the complete draft. Problem is, getting a draft that I am satisfied with (and thus publishable) is very difficult. Thankfully, I use a computer rather than a typewriter, or the pages I have typed would probably have made a few hundred bog rolls by now.

Oh well, on with the motley. And then off with it, because I look ridiculous in a motley.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

Thankfully, I use a computer rather than a typewriter, or the pages I have typed would probably have made a few hundred bog rolls by now.

That's one of Terry's fave short stories/anecdotes - when he was first published/made the best sellers list his publisher laid on a tour of the WHSmith (big book store/stationery chain in the UK) national warehouse where they made a big thing of showing him their shredder and pulping plant - where all the unpopular and therefore unsold books end up... :shifty:

As an ex-journalist he wasn't too impressed since most of his work at that stage used to end up as yesterday's fish and chip wrappings anyway

 

[Quatermass]

Thankfully, I use a computer rather than a typewriter, or the pages I have typed would probably have made a few hundred bog rolls by now.

That's one of Terry's fave short stories/anecdotes - when he was first published/made the best sellers list his publisher laid on a tour of the WHSmith (big book store/stationery chain in the UK) national warehouse where they made a big thing of showing him their shredder and pulping plant - where all the unpopular and therefore unsold books end up... :shifty:

As an ex-journalist he wasn't too impressed since most of his work at that stage used to end up as yesterday's fish and chip wrappings anyway

Or bird cage liner. Or toilet paper for the rustic, or the desperate. :|

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

You heard it here 1st!

Finished it bar an initial read back and off to the editors. 135,680 words

Off to bed now - way too late here! :shifty:

 

[Quatermass]

You heard it here 1st!

Finished it bar an initial read back and off to the editors. 135,680 words

Off to bed now - way too late here! :shifty:

'Nuff said.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

Fank 'oo

 

[Quatermass]

Better hurry up with the last bit of editing, though. It's only a bit over two weeks till the deadline, and doing it at the very last minute won't end well.

Here's hoping.

 

[Quatermass]

Mother[EFF!]er!

Not long after I've sent off my entry into the TP Prize, I've just found out that one of the biggest Aussie publishers, Hachette, is now open to unsolicited manuscripts, and apparently has been since March! [EFF!]! :x

The only consolation is, the only book I have in publishable condition ATM is the one I submitted for the TP Prize. I am currently rewriting heavily the one I would have submitted, and am working on another. :think:

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

My editor's been busy and finished them already! :clap:

Mother[EFF!]er!

Not long after I've sent off my entry into the TP Prize, I've just found out that one of the biggest Aussie publishers, Hachette, is now open to unsolicited manuscripts, and apparently has been since March! [EFF!]! :x

Exploit all openings and doorways... :twisted: leave no stone unturned... GET WRITING/POLISHING!!!!!

 

[Quatermass]

My editor's been busy and finished them already! :clap:

Mother[EFF!]er!

Not long after I've sent off my entry into the TP Prize, I've just found out that one of the biggest Aussie publishers, Hachette, is now open to unsolicited manuscripts, and apparently has been since March! [EFF!]! :x

Exploit all openings and doorways... :twisted: leave no stone unturned... GET WRITING/POLISHING!!!!!

I can't (exploit openings and doorways), not until I know, one way or another, whether or not I've made the shortlist for the TP Prize, or else I may forfeit the prize. Unfortunately, by that time, Hachette may very well stop accepting unsolicited manuscripts.

However, I've been trying to write since I finished my TP Prize entry.

I have several projects:

1. My original attempt for the TP Prize back in 2010, now changed into a somewhat different work. Currently working on it.

2. Science fiction saga, intended to be the first part of a series. Although I had a completed novel ready, I realised it was not as good as I wanted it to be, so I scrapped it, and have started work on a new story with the same characters and plot concepts. Currently working on it.

3. Fantasy (modern). Several drafts started, currently at conceptual stage for new draft. Might need to keep on hold due to a few similarities to TP Prize novel.

4. Fantasy. Several drafts started, still trying to think of a decent angle.

5. Postcyberpunk story. Several drafts started, currently at conceptual stage for new draft.

 

[Quatermass]

It's depressing looking back at what the previous TP Prize managed to do. Out of 500 entries, only 6 got chosen for the shortlist.

 

[Quatermass]

Less than a week to go...