The Terry Pratchett Prize, Round Two...

[Jan Van Quirm]

14. The shortlisted entrants and winner’s names will be available on http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk from 31st March 2013 and 31st May 2013 (as applicable).

I think there's no way we'll hear anything much until later on in March, even if we're put in the shortlist sifting...

 

[Quatermass]

14. The shortlisted entrants and winner’s names will be available on http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk from 31st March 2013 and 31st May 2013 (as applicable).

I think there's no way we'll hear anything much until later on in March, even if we're put in the shortlist sifting...

You'd think they'd email us on receipt of the novel, as a courtesy. :| Y'know, to let us know that our novels haven't disappeared into the ether.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

Well that's big brash printing houses for ya - luring us new talent into letting go of our oeuvres with promises of 20K publishing deals then letting us know our place by ignoring the hell out of us for 12 weeks or more before we know whether we even got off the starting block

Only 8 more weeks to go now... ho hum! :shifty:

 

[michelanCello]

Is enough time to give us some more to read...

 

[Quatermass]

Or to write.

I'm making progress on one particular novel. The rewrites are very frustrating, but I'm getting to the point where I think the finished novel will be better than its earlier iteration.

I'm determined to have at least one finished novel, other than my TP Prize entry, by March 31. Why? If I'm on the shortlist, then it means that I have novels ready for Transworld Publishing, just in case they do come a-calling, even if I don't win the TP Prize. However, if I am not on the shortlist, then I can immediately farm around my finished novel(s) to other publishers. I'm not sure when or even if I can farm around my TP Prize entry if I don't win or even make the shortlist, there's nothing in the terms and conditions. :think:

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

I'm doing much the same Q, only I'm still on Chapter 1 and doing a ton of research on the side as I'm using a genre fusion approach this time with SF&F and a smattering of weather-eco themes :ugeek:

However, I'm also working on an anthology project for short fantasy/creative short stories with other writers, which I'll be looking to self-publish later this year. Is nice to be doing something practical - if anyone on here likes to write original fantasy shorts (no fanfic) then check out my other forum and join the project!

 

[Quatermass]

I am currently concentrating on one project: a near-complete rewrite of one of my first novels. I've made it less meandering, more streamlined. And this draft I am working on, once complete, may not be the fully completed novel, but the basis to add bits to.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

keep chipping and polishing away at it Q! :clap:

My chapter 1's maybe going to make 1 perhaps 2 trilogies with an option on a prequel series which (depending on how the research does) may be more SF-based Still lots of ideas that need nailing down firmly though

 

[michelanCello]

Sounds all exciting Don't push it though, Q - you should finish the novel because you think it's ready and done. If it's good, they'll want to publish it either way, if it's in March or in September...

 

[Quatermass]

keep chipping and polishing away at it Q! :clap:

My chapter 1's maybe going to make 1 perhaps 2 trilogies with an option on a prequel series which (depending on how the research does) may be more SF-based Still lots of ideas that need nailing down firmly though

Yeah, this project is intended to be part of a series too. Dunno how many sequels (maybe three offhand), but there's definitely a prequel. I actually rewrote my original version of the first book because I didn't feel excited by it enough to want to write sequels. Plus, this version answers some questions that I never got to ask in the original version, making it better...

 

[Quatermass]

Oh...my...god. I am but two chapters away from finishing my current draft of that book I mentioned. This draft, while rough around the edges, will be to my satisfaction. 75K words. A bit of a comedown compared to the 140K of the original version, but this version is a lot better, a lot less clunky, more streamlined, and I want to write the sequels!

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

:clap: keeping yourself motivated is half the battle!

 

[michelanCello]

Sounds good

 

[Quatermass]

Finished! :dance:

This calls for celebratory music!

 

[michelanCello]

Can we have a sneak-peak?

 

[Quatermass]

Can we have a sneak-peak?

No. Sorry. I have a thing about posting examples of my work online. So please don't ask, because my refusal may offend.

Actually, I started a new novel today. It was, albeit distantly, derived from one I attempted to do for the TP Prize. I've taken the main character and part of the setting, but that's it.

 

[michelanCello]

No offence taken, I understand

 

[Quatermass]

Only two and a half weeks to go... :|

The anxiety is killing me...

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

:angry-chillpill: Full empathy in this antipodes for you Q - at least we'll know whether or not we have another 3 months of nail biting by April Fools, or can just puddle off to recover in the time-honoured way... :angry-banghead:

 

[Quatermass]

:angry-chillpill: Full empathy in this antipodes for you Q - at least we'll know whether or not we have another 3 months of nail biting by April Fools, or can just puddle off to recover in the time-honoured way... :angry-banghead:

Two months. I think that the actual winner(s) announcement is at the end of May.

But yeah. At the moment, the well of my creativity has dried up, and the only thing that gives me pleasure at the moment is playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. And I had...what, three books being worked on? Those have gone down the crapper PFQ. I don't even have the motivation to do revisions on that book I completed... :|