Trying to Find a Groove in Twitter
Okay, so I’m on Twitter. For whatever that’s worth. And it’s pretty cool for the most part – lots hilarious people out there, lots of inspirational tweets. Cool stuff, good time killer when I’m waiting on something at work.
But I just can’t seem to get the hang of it myself.
I’ll be bluntly honest: one of the main reasons I’m using it is to get some publicity drummed up for Like Glass when it gets its UK release in November. And one of the main ways I’m trying to do that is by trying to keep this blog updated and post links on there. What I’m having trouble with is getting a connection with people on there, actually communicating – networking, if you will – with the followers I have.
I don’t want to just spam people’s timelines with links to my blog. Even in my short career on twitter I’ve “unfollowed” a few people who do nothing but market stuff. That’s not what I’m looking for. I’d like to start actually talking to people, get feedback, pick their brains and have them pick mine. Get dialogues started, conversations that may lead somewhere or nowhere.
But what to talk about? I don’t want to be entirely mundane, and fill the world with “At work now,” “Going to lunch now” type posts. Too boring. And if I write about the two topics I’m most passionate about (at this time, anyways), software development or writing, then I’ll probably attract only writers or coders and leave out the rest of the world. And, alas, I have very little commentary on world events, and on the rare occaisions I have anything witty or poignant to say, it generally takes much more than 140 characters to say it.
Ah well, it’ll come in time, I’m sure. Only been on it a few weeks, so it’s not like I can expect to take over the world. Well, I can, but I’ll probably be somewhat disappointed.
Anyways, I’m going to lunch now.
Catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Update on Like Glass and Shattered
First off: its official. Like Glass and Shattered will be published by HandE Media, a publisher based in the UK. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but now everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. (I’m posting this from my phone on my lunch break, or else I’d add a link to their site – I’ll try to remember to do it later.) As it stands right now though, we’re still looking at releasing Like Glass this fall in the UK, and bringing it back to this side of the Atlantic in 2011.
Shattered will most likely be released about a year after, but don’t hold me to that – I’m actually in the process of rewriting Shattered pretty much from scratch. The original draft of the story … well, let’s just say its decent, but it isn’t something I feel worth releasing. The story, I feel, is good, but it deserves more respect than I gave it initially.
I need to get back to work, so I’ll catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Like Glass Editing – Round 1 Finished
Almost finished running through the first edits for Like Glass, and I’m stoked. Very few changes – not counting ‘translating’ from US to British English (most of which seemed to be replacing ‘z’ with ‘s’, as in ‘realizing’ to ‘realising’). Very exciting to get it back from a ‘real’ editor and not have to rewrite the whole book…
Now, if only the same could be said for Shattered. Don’t get me wrong – they gave me a lot of great feedback and ideas, but there’s a ton of work that needs to be done to it and not a lot of time to do it in. I think I’m up for vacation at work here in a couple of months; I’ll have to see whether or not it’d be a good idea to spend that on editing or save it in case the wife and I try to take a ‘real’ vacation of some kind.
Anyways, I need to get back to finishing up the edits. Catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Like Glass and Shattered To Be Published
Well, I haven’t written a whole lot on what’s going on with Like Glass in a while, and that’s mainly because I’m trying to learn from the mistake I made last year when I first thought I might have a publisher lined up. Namely, I started talking about the book getting published, then the deal fell through and I felt a bit like a jackass for getting so excited about it.
This time around, I’d promised myself I’d wait until everything was signed, sealed, and delivered before I made any kind of a fuss about it.
That said, I love setting myself up to look like an idiot, so I’m going to break that promise to myself 
Here’s what’s happening (keep in mind that this is still preliminary, though most of the details have been worked out as far as I’m aware):
1) Like Glass will be published by H and E Publishers in the U.K. with a release date set for November 25th, 2010. (In an earlier post, I’d said it was going to be 2011; they were able to fit it into next year though.) A U.S. release date is pending, but it will probably be about a year after the U.K. release.
2) Shattered will be published by H and E Publishers, though no details regarding the release have been set. Odds are (and this is just a guess — this hasn’t been discussed at all) it’ll probably be released in the U.K. a year after Like Glass, and in the U.S. a year after Like Glass is released in the U.S.
3) If I can ever get around to working on Broken Peaces, the third book in the series, H and E will probably handle that one too. Since this book hasn’t even been written yet, don’t expect any release details any time soon.
I don’t have any other details worth giving at the moment, but I will post what I can whenever there’s something worth posting.
Need to get back to having a lazy Saturday, so I’ll catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
A Spark Arises
Well, the old fires are starting to spark up again. Maybe it’s because it’s nearing November, which as any writer who’s spent any reasonable time online can tell you, is NaNoWriMo. Maybe it’s just the changing of the weather — colder days seem to draw out the creative juices a little better for me for some reason. Or maybe it’s just because I’ve taken enough time away from it that I’m starting to miss it and get tired of coding all day again.
Regardless of the reason, the writer in me is starting to stir around again, and I’m once again fleshing out ideas for Broken Peaces. Of course, I’ve still got to get Shattered up to specs, but I think most of Shattered is pretty solid. It needs some clean up — there’s a lot of typos and a lot of stuff that could be worded better — but it’s … well … solid.
The main thing I’m having a bit of trouble with right now is how to come up with a story that can top the drama in Shattered. Like I said quite a bit last year, Shattered is a lot darker than Like Glass was. A lot darker. I was re-reading the last third or so of the novel today, wanting to bring myself back up to speed on that world so I can dig into Broken Peaces, and I was pleasantly surprised at it. It’d been a long time since I’d looked through any of it, let alone the tail end where things really go to hell, and while I’d remembered the genera idea of the plot (i.e. who does what to whom and for how much), I’d forgotten the overall gist of it. It’s kinda like the difference between just hearing a song’s melody and hearing the song with the full band behind it.
Anyways, I’ve got a couple of decent ideas for things that could … well … go wrong. And let’s face it: stories where things go right are pretty boring — something has to go wrong in order to get your interest. The girl has to dump the guy. The aliens have to invade. The super villain has to have his plot to destroy the world unless the world governments are going to pay … one million dollars (where the hell is the Dr. Evil pinky-to-cheek emoticon when you need it?). Otherwise, it’s a yawn fest.
And for what it’s worth, I already know how Broken Peaces is going to end. It’s just a matter of getting there — the journey’s the best part.
It’s going to be interesting to see how I’m going to pull it together though, now that I’m working full time at a job I actually enjoy. When I wrote Like Glass, I was working from home, so I could write while I had some down time. When I wrote Shattered last year, I was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. Where I’m at now though, I couldn’t take the time off, nor do I even really want to — the job’s actually pretty good.
That probably also has a lot to do with how I’m looking at Broken Peaces and why I’m having such a hard time getting my brain fired up for it. I’m in a much better mind set than I was when I wrote Like Glass, and worlds better than when I wrote Shattered. Now I don’t quite have the same emotions to build from, so getting the juices flowing is going to be a lot different this time around than last time.
At least there’s one thing in my favor for this: I’d never planned on Broken Peaces being anywhere near as dark as Shattered. Probably not as dark as Like Glass either, but definitely much lighter than the last venture into Rob’s world. So that should make it a bit easier to get going. We’ll see though.
Well, I’ve got about three weeks to get things in order before NaNoWriMo starts, so hopefully that’ll be enough time to get the fires lit properly and get some good ideas flowing.
In the meantime though, it’s nigh on bedtime, and I’ve got a couple of projects due at work in the next couple of weeks, so I’d better start heading along. Catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Exhausting Weekend Over in Time for the Work Week
Whew… Finally have a few minutes to breathe. Been a busy weekend, but we’re finally moved. Well, mostly moved, I should say — there’s still some odds and ends at the old house, but everything important is here. Which means my laptop, the internet connection, and the bed. Oh, yeah, and the wife and the cat and dog. I guess they count too
The new house is definitely different. No garage, which means I don’t get my morning coffee/cigarette/laptop combination. And it also means that Chloe is going to be spending more time as an outside dog. I have mixed feelings about that. I mean, it’s great she gets to be outside and get some fresh air, but it’s El Paso. Even in the shade around this time of year, we’re talking 95+ degrees. Of course, the other option would be to make her a completely “inside” dog, but you know how dogs can get when they’re left to their own devices. The minute you walk out that door, they have all their friends over, drinking your booze, ordering dirty movies…
The place is smaller than where we were too, but that’s not that big of a deal — just took a little creative decorating (hey, who the hell else has their own dresser in their office?) and we got it all taken care of.
Other than that, just been worrying about work lately. There’s a project that needs to get done this week — and it’s a group effort, not just me — and if it doesn’t happen, then it appears I’ll have much more spare time to work on my next novel. Can’t say I’m terribly crazy about the idea, but at the same time I can’t really go into details about it. Suffice to say it’s one of those situations where it just ain’t fair, but there ain’t a damned thing you can really do but cross your fingers. (I’ve been trying that, but it makes it a bitch to type, which is a rather large job requirement for a software developer.)
Let’s see… Novel stuff… Ok, no recent news regarding Like Glass, but the publisher’s a little busy at the moment. The told me they’ll be able to focus on the book later this year, maybe start talking contracts next year. A little disappointing, but what can you do? Besides, I’ve got plenty else on my plate at the moment and not having to worry about the novel is a bit of a nice break. I’m also still throwing around ideas for book #3, minor sketches and a scene or two, but nothing that’s really catching my eye. Maybe the change of scenery will help with it.
Anyways, I’m exhausted and I need to shave and shower and all that happy crap. Catch you on the flip side…
–Matt
Another Day In Paradise
Okay, got up way too early this morning for a Monday, but it’s all good: one of the downsides of trying to work with someone in the UK is the ~7 hour time difference, but over the years I’ve become more of a morning person than I used to be. Coffee is my friend, and it’s a friend I cherish deeply.
Nothing really to report on the publishing deal yet, except for the fact I’ve discovered how different mailing addresses are in the US vs. those in the UK. The publisher wants a hard copy of Like Glass, and the other day I tried to start an order from Amazon to get an idea of how much it cost. Fifteen minutes later, I think I might have gotten it to accept their address, but I’m a little leary of sending it out. For roughly $50 total (w/ S&H), I’d really rather not take a chance on it coming back and having to send it again.
Also, I’m wanting to discuss the options we might have available for working on Shattered and Broken Peaces together — those are the other two books in the Like Glass series. We’ll see what happens with that. Not really getting my hopes up, but hey: stranger things have happened, right? At least Shattered is technically finished. It’s a mess at the moment, but mainly because I haven’t had any need to work on it (and I’ve had more pressing issues to deal with, like “real” life). If there were interest in it, I could probably have it polished up to a pleasant shine in a couple of months. Broken Peaces, now… that would take a little time. But hey, even if we signed the contract today, Like Glass wouldn’t come out for another couple of years, then Shattered would have to make it’s rounds, probably a year or so after Like Glass, and then we’d have to worry about where the final book in the trilogy is.
Aside from that though, things are trucking along. Work’s getting … interesting, to say the least, and quite hectic as project deadlines loom.
The missus and I are moving — did I mention that? Nothing major, just moving across town. Cheaper rent, and I’ll be a little closer to my old stomping grounds. Longer drive to and from work, but you can’t have everything, can you? Gonna get that taken care of this weekend — thankfully we’ve got some movers lined up, and that’ll make things a lot nicer.
Other than that, just another day in paradise. Need to start getting ready to get back into the grind, so I’ll catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Like Glass Update
Okay, don’t have much time so I’ll try to make this quick.
It’s been a while since I really said anything about Like Glass (that’s my novel, if you don’t know). I’ve been trying to move on, focus on work and “real life” for a while. Things have been moving a little bit in the background though, and I thought I’d share some of the details as to where it’s going right now.
Actually, “where it’s going” is interesting enough in it’s own right. It’s “going” across the Atlantic to England, where a British publishing company has decided to pick it up. Right now, they’re currently looking at a UK release of 2011, with a US release of 2012. That gives me the warm fuzzies — I’m going to be an internationally published author before much longer
It’s still really early in the game though — nothing’s been signed or anything, just “verbal” (well, email) discussion about it — so I can’t really say much of anything else. But trust me, I’ll keep you posted as things happen (either on here or on Facebook — look me up if you’re on there, and if you want to “friend” me, add a personal message to let me know you came from my blog or else I might not accept if I don’t already know you).
Alright, need to run to work. Catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Early Morning = Time to Post
Damn, I’m really not doing that great of a job of keeping up with this thing, am I? 
Been a month and a half since my last “post”, which was just a JavaScript tip, and my last “real” post was a week before that.
Well, I can honestly say that things have been really hectic around here for quite some time, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be calming down anytime soon. Hell, I’m only posting now because I woke up at about 5:30 this morning, and I was able to get all my Facebook games out of the way with time to spare before I go to work.
Things are, as I said, pretty damned hectic right now. The Mrs. and I are moving (once again), which is always fun. I’m running two projects at work that need to be done last month, and I’ve got two more on the back-burner, where we’re waiting for some consultations to finish up. Once that gets done, I’ll be working on four projects. Throw into the mix the desire to try and keep up some semblence of a home life going, as well as the Facebook games I mentioned above, and I’m surprised I get any sleep at all.
No time for writing with all of that, of course, but trust me: it’s always in the back of my mind. I’ve thrown around tons of different story/novel ideas in the past few months, but none of them really seem to stick. Of course, they may all have turned out to be great projects to work on had I just sat down and started them, but of course I didn’t and none of them would stick after the fact.
That’s been one of the things I’ve tried to keep in mind — if there’s something I really want to work on, some idea that really sounds fantastic, then the idea just won’t leave me. It may fade out now and then, but it’ll always come back. I haven’t had any plot ideas that do that for me yet.
I’m sure they’ll pop back around when the time is right; at the moment, I’ve just got too much else on my plate. Or, another way of looking at it: I’m not quite as motivated to work on anything just yet. Last year, when I decided to work on Shattered (the sequel to Like Glass that I may-or-may-not ever release), I hated my job and wasn’t doing terribly well, psychologically speaking. This year, I actually like my job, and I’m in a much better frame of mind to boot. At the moment, I’m fairly content with my lot in life, and I don’t see any reason to put the kind of pressure on that’s required to toss out a novel.
Of course, that’s subject to change without notice…
Oh, and by the way, there’s a slim chance that there might be some news regarding Like Glass over the next couple of weeks. I’m not counting any chickens yet, but I want to throw that out there for you. And I’ve learned my lesson from past experiences: you will hear absolutely nothing more until everything is completely confirmed on all sides (although I may explain what’s going on if things fall through). So, stay tuned for that.
Anyways, I need to start getting ready for work. Catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
Some Explanation Seems In Order
Okay, I’ve gotten several emails about yesterday’s news, and I want to set some things straight and explain some other things.
First, I’m not quitting writing. Not at all. At most, I’m taking a bit of a break at the moment. I know I quit at least once a month; this isn’t one of those times. February’s almost here, so you won’t have to wait long
Second, I know that giving Like Glass away for free pretty much reduces the odds of it ever getting picked up by a publisher to roughly nil. That’s something I discovered the hard way – even just self publishing it and charging people to read it pretty much shot down most possibilities of it getting picked up. Yes, there’s still a chance a publisher or an agent would take it on, but there’s a better chance I’d win the lottery tonight – even without buying a ticket.
Now, I want to explain a couple of things, not the least of which is why I’m so pessimistic about getting a publisher or an agent. It’s really simple: I’m not a salesman. I’ve never been a salesman, and I don’t want to be a salesman. That’s a part of the writing industry you can keep; I want absolutely no part of it, and if it means I’m stuck writing software the rest of my life, well, so be it.
That’s part of the reason I’m releasing Like Glass for free as well – I can’t sell it to save my life, so I’m not going to sell it. If you want to buy a copy, it’s still available on Amazon. I’m not going to ask for your money though.
Having self-published the novel to begin with, I made an already Herculean task nigh on impossible. It’d take someone capable of selling igloos to Eskimos to get an agent or publisher interested in the novel, and I’m not that person. Again, I don’t want to be that person. Sales and marketing suit some people perfectly, but those are two things I refuse to do any more (other than spamming my status on Twitter and Facebook).
What does this mean for Shattered? I don’t know, in all honesty. I may self-pub it as I’d been planning on doing. Maybe some publisher or agent will come across Like Glass and find enough interest to take Shattered on (not likely). Maybe I’ll just release it for free too, get it out of the way so I can focus on something else. I’ll have to sleep on it, and see what kind of interest Like Glass stirs up.
If anyone else has anymore questions, please feel free to ask. I’ll respond as quickly as possible. Thanks!
Catch you on the flip side.
–Matt
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