Guest Post by neo_prodigy Author of Hollowstone
The Longshot That Could
For all intents and purposes I shouldn't be here writing this guest post discussing my upcoming novel, Hollowstone. Because for all intents and purposes, Hollowstone shouldn't have happened. But fate obviously had other ideas and few surprises to boot. As I would learn repeatedly throughout my journey.
While I couldn't understand why at the time, I knew Hollowstone was going to be something special. Looking back on the journey, I now realize that the story behind the story is a large reason for that.
Hollowstone was penned during a crossroads in my writing career. While I had achieved moderate success with short stories and articles, I was eager to take my craft and career to the next level. That year I learned about the National Novel Writing Month challenge which takes place annually in November. The idea is that with 50,000 words, you’ve either completed a novel or have written a good portion of it. Famous novels that are roughly 50K include Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Great Gatsby.
Write 2,000 words a day. The plan was sound, on paper. But when working two jobs and in the process of moving, writing 50K words was going to be more than a challenge. But something was driving me to finish Hollowstone. And by hook or by crook, I did exactly that. I'm still not sure how given all the obstacles.
For all intents and purposes, winning my first NaNoWriMo shouldn't have happened.
Despite the many positives Hollowstone has going for it, I was repeatedly told that novel featuring minorities as the main characters would never sell. "The gay characters weren't 'gay enough,' the black guy acted too white." "Why did you have to bring up homophobia?" "Silly Denny, racism isn't THAT bad." "People aren't that racist."
With this being one of the worst economic periods in history, markets and publishers are closing up shop left and right. I was told, now is not the time to be original. I have to go with trends and with what's selling. I submitted to market after market only to receive rejection or no response at all. After awhile I felt punch drunk from banging my head against a brick wall trying to make a break for myself.
For all intents and purposes, I should've resigned and given up. A saner person certainly would have done so.
Time passed. It had been nearly a year and I hadn't heard from any publisher in months. I was at another crossroads. I was unhappy with the job I was in at the time, I was stuck in a town that I desperately wanted to escape. I wanted to travel abroad, I wanted to gain new experiences and some new skills. I wanted to make a lot more money and save up in the hopes of leaving the states for good. I was looking at the military with the aims of becoming an Air Force officer. It seemed fate had other plans. Approximately two weeks before I was scheduled to sign my enlistment papers, and editor from Parker Publishing contacted me and informed me that Hollowstone had been accepted and they were eager and excited to publish it. The timing of it was too significant to be a coincidence. It was as if fate was intervening and informing me of my purpose to be a writer, an artist and a storyteller. Since that time, I've received other offers and writing opportunities. As Hollowstone's release draws near, I'm honored and humbled by the buzz and interest it's been generating.
For all intents and purposes, I shouldn't be writing this guess post for one of my favorite blogs. I should be in the military en route to becoming an Air Force officer. For all intents and purposes, Hollowstone shouldn't have happened. And yet...here we are.
I suppose there's something to be said about fighting for what you love and never giving up. With enough skill, heart, wisdom, courage and an indomitable drive, sometimes you can beat the odds and achieve something special, the impossible even.
Not bad for a longshot.
For all intents and purposes I shouldn't be here writing this guest post discussing my upcoming novel, Hollowstone. Because for all intents and purposes, Hollowstone shouldn't have happened. But fate obviously had other ideas and few surprises to boot. As I would learn repeatedly throughout my journey.
While I couldn't understand why at the time, I knew Hollowstone was going to be something special. Looking back on the journey, I now realize that the story behind the story is a large reason for that.
Hollowstone was penned during a crossroads in my writing career. While I had achieved moderate success with short stories and articles, I was eager to take my craft and career to the next level. That year I learned about the National Novel Writing Month challenge which takes place annually in November. The idea is that with 50,000 words, you’ve either completed a novel or have written a good portion of it. Famous novels that are roughly 50K include Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Great Gatsby.
Write 2,000 words a day. The plan was sound, on paper. But when working two jobs and in the process of moving, writing 50K words was going to be more than a challenge. But something was driving me to finish Hollowstone. And by hook or by crook, I did exactly that. I'm still not sure how given all the obstacles.
For all intents and purposes, winning my first NaNoWriMo shouldn't have happened.
Despite the many positives Hollowstone has going for it, I was repeatedly told that novel featuring minorities as the main characters would never sell. "The gay characters weren't 'gay enough,' the black guy acted too white." "Why did you have to bring up homophobia?" "Silly Denny, racism isn't THAT bad." "People aren't that racist."
With this being one of the worst economic periods in history, markets and publishers are closing up shop left and right. I was told, now is not the time to be original. I have to go with trends and with what's selling. I submitted to market after market only to receive rejection or no response at all. After awhile I felt punch drunk from banging my head against a brick wall trying to make a break for myself.
For all intents and purposes, I should've resigned and given up. A saner person certainly would have done so.
Time passed. It had been nearly a year and I hadn't heard from any publisher in months. I was at another crossroads. I was unhappy with the job I was in at the time, I was stuck in a town that I desperately wanted to escape. I wanted to travel abroad, I wanted to gain new experiences and some new skills. I wanted to make a lot more money and save up in the hopes of leaving the states for good. I was looking at the military with the aims of becoming an Air Force officer. It seemed fate had other plans. Approximately two weeks before I was scheduled to sign my enlistment papers, and editor from Parker Publishing contacted me and informed me that Hollowstone had been accepted and they were eager and excited to publish it. The timing of it was too significant to be a coincidence. It was as if fate was intervening and informing me of my purpose to be a writer, an artist and a storyteller. Since that time, I've received other offers and writing opportunities. As Hollowstone's release draws near, I'm honored and humbled by the buzz and interest it's been generating.
For all intents and purposes, I shouldn't be writing this guess post for one of my favorite blogs. I should be in the military en route to becoming an Air Force officer. For all intents and purposes, Hollowstone shouldn't have happened. And yet...here we are.
I suppose there's something to be said about fighting for what you love and never giving up. With enough skill, heart, wisdom, courage and an indomitable drive, sometimes you can beat the odds and achieve something special, the impossible even.
Not bad for a longshot.