What writing-related ‘firsts’ have you experienced this year?

[jongibbs]

I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some great writing-related ‘firsts’ this year.

FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED
My debut novel, Fur-Face, came out as an e-Book from Echelon Press in June.

FIRST BOOK-SIGNING (SORT OF)
I put the various formats of Fur-Face on a CD so I could take part in book-selling events, starting with the Ocean County Library Book festival in

Comments

[martyn44]

Signed my first novel sized contract. 2011 looks interesting, in a non-Chinese sort of way.

[jongibbs]

Excellent! What's the novel called and when does it come out?

[martyn44]

It is called 'Whitechapel' and it is due out in eBook form (at first) from Morrigan Books sometime in 2011. You'll be hearing more when I know more (only signed the contract yesterday and am waiting for my editor's first thoughts)

The name should be a giveaway about the subject matter, only I have a somewhat different take on who Jack was.

[msstacy13]

You know, I think I did actually hear something about this.
Okay, not in the New York Review of Books, or anything like that.
I think someone on my flist mentioned it.

[msstacy13]

Since you ask, and since I like using

,
1. saw (and held!) my own book three times this year. (That is, three different books, although I had to resort to Lulu.)
2. Saw a story of mine published online. (The hardcopy anthology won't be 'til next year.)
3. Saw one of my books on the amazon wishlist of a complete stranger
4. Saw my name in the acknowledgements of another author's book
5. Gave autographed copies of my books to people who wanted them*
6. Gave a public reading of my work
7. Completed a work in excess of 80,000
8. Took a WIP beyond 120,000 words
9. Rec'd a review copy of an anthology to review, and reviewed it.
10. Bought and read an ebook for the first time.

* Which reminds me of a teaser from an episode of Cheers.
A kid tells Sam his younger brother is dying of leukemia,
and that he wanted to give him a ball autographed by
Carl Ystremski, but couldn't find one,
so he decided that if Sam signed a ball,
his brother wouldn't know the difference.
So Sam signs a ball and gives it to the kid,
who looks at it appreciatively for a moment,
then frowns and says,
"Not

[jongibbs]

120,000 words? That's a long book. Did you manage to prune it back or maybe even split it into a two-parter?

[msstacy13]

I think it will be over 300,000 by the time I'm done with it.
If (dare I say when?) I find a publisher,
I'll discuss the possibility of breaking it into a number of smaller books,
since that would probably be more profitable.

I'd prefer having a single volume that stands comfortably
between Les Misérables and War and Peace,
but we don't always get everything we want.
:)

[jongibbs]

It's not just the profitabilityismness of it, I think there's a sort of economic batch quantity type thing, which limits the number of pages in a book too.

[pgiunta]

First novel published, Testing the Prisoner from Firebringer Press. http://www.firebringerpress.com... )

[jongibbs]

Those book signings are fun, aren't they? :)

[ideealisme]

2010 was a productive year for me after 2009 hell.

Being accepted twice and published once (second time will be next year) in a very prestigious international magazine
Having a short story in a sci-fi / fantasy anthology
Having another flash accepted for a fundraiser book
Being selected along with three others for a monthly reading by a very well-respected American international short story writer
Starting yet another novel yet this time being truly determined to see it through and plot the damn thing properly

[jongibbs]

Sounds good. I hope your 2011 is even better :)

[david_bridger]

My first book published too (followed by contracts #2 and #3).

First book promotion blog tour.

First daughter-wedding in September (followed by second daughter-wedding in October).

It's been a big year! :)

[jongibbs]

Lol, I suppose if you wrote your own speech, the daughter's wedding counts as writing-related :P

[david_bridger]

I wrote both of them, so yes! :D

[jongibbs]

I hope you passed them by your critique group too ;)