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zapfogldorf

zapfogldorf

Love Stephen King. I'm trying to get as many of his books in hardcover as I can. So far so good. I have 30 of them (not all hardcover unfortunately) but at least I have them. I'm trying to get into reading some John Saul and Dean Koontz too. Seems I'm a loyalist though. Anything King and I'll read it!

Someone asked what I do for a...more »
  • Saskatoon, SK, Canada
  • member since Friday, January 5 2007

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Public Notes

  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    I do have to focus. There's so much to do, so much to think about, it's a bit overwhelming. Things are very hectic! I am getting more feedback from friends and other writers about The Reach, and everything is good so far. So that's making me happy.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    I haven't heard anything from my agent, but then again, the book just went out to his list on Wednesday. We probably won't hear anything for another week or more.

    As for new writing, I'm working on a short story for an anthology, and trying to get my head around a novel, which is in the very early stages. After the PW review, I think the chances are much better that I write the sequel to The Reach too.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Yeah, that's true. :) You try not to get too wrapped up in it, but it's impossible not to be impatient waiting and wondering what might happen.

    Glad to hear you're progressing. A character bio is really important, and even if you don't use the actual words. It helps tremendously in understanding the person and why they would make certain choices, and it helps you remain consistent throughout.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    All those questions are good ones, but can't be answered until the deal is struck--every deal is different. Some deals would include a clause right in the contract that I would write the first draft of the screenplay. Others, I might not even be part of the process. TV or big screen would depend on the studio and their plans. It's all a crapshoot. Vague enough for ya? :)

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Thanks. :) The first (and possibly most important) thing this review might do is get some film interest. Inquiries are already pouring into my agent, but I've been down this road before so I won't hold my breath. We'll see!

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Awesome! Good for you. Glad to hear it. Just keep going, one page at a time, and before you know it you'll have a big pile of papers and the story will be flowing again.

    I am very excited tonight because I just got word that THE REACH is getting a starred review in the next issue of Publishers Weekly. This is a big deal and should lead to a lot of better things down the road. Here's a blurb from the review:

    "Kenyon (Bloodstone) shifts smoothly between '80s-style supernatural horror and modern-day science thriller in this superb sophomore effort...readers, left breathless, will hope Kenyon makes good on hints of a sequel."

    It's a mass market paperback release...I won't go into too much detail as to why, but basically, these days unless you're a name that can sell a ton of hardcover copies, it'll actually hurt your paperback bookstore orders to have a hardcover in limited release (or one that doesn't sell much). But I'm guessing we'll have a limited HC now, after the mass market is released...

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Glad to hear the rest of Bloodstone worked for you. Their relationship was the toughest thing to write about, because it was a tightrope in terms of getting the tone and mood right. Readers had to identify to some extent with both, and they had to be blindsided by the reveal--if they saw it coming, it would be a disaster. From what I've heard from readers, that was successful. I'm glad to know it worked for you too.

    I had great fun with the letters, actually. In researching I learned a lot about that time period and read a number of old letters and texts. The language isn't exactly right, but it's pretty close, I think.

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Letting go of that idea of perfection is tough. I'll tell you, at least for me, I'm NEVER satisfied at the end. The process is usually very similar: you start with a great idea, everything flows, you can hardly get the words down fast enough. Then more ideas spring up and neat little twists and you're so excited because this is going to be the one that finally comes out perfect--the book you always wanted to write.

    And then, usually about a third to half the way through, things start to bog down. You can't remember something you wanted to do. The characters are flat. There are too many loose ends. Something that seemed logical now seems so stupid you can't believe anyone will buy it for a second. The plot is dead. You can't stand to look at the keyboard.

    When this happens, you can do one of two things: either walk away defeated and discouraged, or just put your head down and plow through it. The nerve to do the latter comes with experience. I KNOW things always get better, and I know the work is better than I think it is (just as I know that it's not as good as I think when things seem to be going well). I just have to try my best to ignore those voices in my head telling me it's not good enough, and keep going.

    By the end, you usually go through this a couple of times or more, and whenever I type "then end," I never have that feeling of satisfaction I'd hoped for. Part of that is because a first draft really isn't finished. There's a lot of work still to be done. But it's also what drives me to write another one, to try to get the next one just right--and that, I guess, is why I've kept going for so long.

    The creative process is similar with most things. I do graphic design as well, and I sketch. I usually go through similar ups and downs with those efforts. I imagine you probably do as well with your designs--the only difference is, you've been doing it long enough that you have the confidence to keep going.

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Oh yes, they certainly do. If you've sold well, your agent will get you more of an advance and better terms. If they haven't sold well, you might not get offered a contract at all, or if sales are mediocre, they might offer a contract but at the same or less of an advance.

    Sales are the single most important thing in this business, and it can be brutal. If your first novel tanks, it can be harder to sell a second novel than it was to get that FIRST contract. Sales data is shared across all publishing houses, so they all know how you've done. Bad sales are the kiss of death, and writers are on a very short leash.

    Well, I'm glad to have your support, for sure. I'm no celebrity, but I do love writing and I love people reading what I wrote. My career is at its early stages, and could certainly go either way at this point. Everything depends on sales for Bloodstone and The Reach, so everything you do to spread the word helps me tremendously! The Reach is out on November 25, PRIME should be out from Apex in May, and The Bone Factory will be out in July.

    I know the feeling you're describing when trying to write, and the difference between you and me is really nothing more than the fact that I pushed through that feeling and kept going, wrote pages even if I thought they sucked, just got one page down at a time. I had plenty of days where I felt like a lousy writer and felt like giving up (heck, I still have those days), but if you really love the writing process, you keep going.

    But that's it. You have to love the writing itself, the process of creating something and making it your own. That has to be job one, because if you're writing just to see your name in print, you won't get there. Most successful writers are writers because it's a compulsion to them, something they feel the urge to do whether or not anyone ever reads one word.

    What different kinds of design work have you done? I know you mention it in your profile, but I don't think we ever talked about specific jobs or clients.

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    It's a new contract. Generally publishers deal in one, two or sometimes three book contracts, so there's the opportunity for both parties to negotiate again the next time around.

    I love your enthusiasm! RIDING has a long way to go, though--this is just the submission process, my agent still has to sell it. No guarantees there... :)

    What do you mean, you're not author material? What kind of attitude is that????

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • bobcowan

    bobcowan says

    how can you read so many books at once??? yikes!
    i am listening to dexter on cd. so far, so good.

    holidays have been great. spent 9 days in california and have done some camping/cabining/relaxing. it's been great. can't wait for retirement! :)
    sounds like your holiday was good too. that's great!

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • bobcowan

    bobcowan says

    so i read nearly the first half of "the ruins' today, which for me is quite the accomplishment as i read slowly and it is 500+ pages.
    i am hooked! it's awesome!
    did you read or just holiday all last week? :)

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • zapfogldorf

    zapfogldorf says

    How are things going for you?

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • zapfogldorf

    zapfogldorf says

    I'm stuck... I know I shouldn't be but I'm having a heck of a time making people up. The depth that I need (or at least think I need) just isn't coming. And in the meantime, the rest of the story has stalled. I have to tell you Nate, I'm pretty discouraged about it.

    What should I do?

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    then you're definitely smart to take your time, develop and flesh out your characters, and put down every detail you can. It's easy to lose track of things when you're 250 pages in, and your sketches will keep you focused.

    You could take some classes, but in my personal experience, you learn as much or more from reading and taking apart great books, and writing, writing, writing. If the class you take is a good one, fine, but there are a lot of them with bad teachers and terrible students, which will only drag you down. I'd look at evaluations if you can, see if any published writers have come out of the course, and look at the teacher's credentials.

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nate Kenyon

    Nate Kenyon says

    Are you writing a short story, or novel? Makes a big difference in the level of detail with all this stuff.

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • bobcowan

    bobcowan says

    I would say David Gale slow. It just builds slowly but surely.

    I read Bag of Bones and liked it. Never read the others, just the first chapter of "the cell" in a magazine or online or something.

    The Zombie book is written as a series of interviews that an interviewer has done with people all over the world after the zombies have run amuck for years. It is a clever devise I thought...very well thought out.

    Have you ever read anything by David Sedaris? Frick, he is FUNNY!

    posted 4 months ago. (