Book people,
Another week and another five things. Here’s what’s going on:
- Making it Ugly – I am within spitting distance of finishing up Brambleword, my middle grade fantasy. One of the last things to be done after going over the draft countless times is to force my brain to look at it differently. This means changing the font size and casting it in the ugliest font I can find that is the furthest from my go-to favorite Garamond. Comic Sans is popular for this, so I’ll be giving it a shot. I’m off to the printer tomorrow, and hope to stick a pin in this thing by next week.
- Looking for Agents – After a lot of soul-searching and research, I will be looking at agent representation for Brambleworld. So while I keep polishing, I’ve been doing research to find the right fit. Materials are nearly read, consisting of a package of query letter, sample pages, synopsis, and whatever else is requested. My plan is to send out the first batch before the upcoming literary festival. Stay on target.
- Mountain Words – The literary circus is coming to town! I am excited to volunteer for the festival this year to give back to the community. As I was a writer-in-residence for Mtn Words last year, I am eager to help where I can. I look forward to listening to some good speakers and walk away with some motivation.
- Mayuary – In the “if you know, you know” category, the weather has been variable. Sun, snow, sleet, hail, and high winds. May is a variable time to be in the high country. I like to think of things as either dog weather or writing weather—rarely both.
- Be Kind, Be Supportive – As a parting thought, whether you are a writer, a reader, or just a human being. Remember to lift up the people around you. This is on my mind as I near the end of my MFA program at Western Colorado University. My cohort has been fantastic, and I hope we all stay in touch as we (re)emerge into the world
Happy reading, happy writing. -phil
