A Week in Writing #140

Okay, this was the week that really wasn't, at least as far as rewrites go. The plan, as always, is to work on the rewrite for Familiar Stranger and other things as well, but the other things sort of took the day and the nights this week.

Once again, I have a very small window of time every day and this week that little slice was taken up with Powers Squared. We have a new colorist for Issue #3 and she was sending us pages every day to look at. Not complaining about the work being done, just that every page has to be looked at and with the editor and that takes time out of the day and time away from Familiar Stranger.

Add to that the artist sending us one inked page and two layouts and one penciled page this week and that's more time devoted to the comic book. Again, so happy to see the work, but in addition to the review, there is the follow-up email that has to be thought out, considered and written, all of which is part of the process. There is a fine line between being critical and crushing someone's creative spirit so words have to be chosen carefully.

At one point on Sunday morning, we had a layout and a pencil from Issue #3, a new colored page from Issue #3 and the last page from Issue #2, all being done by three different people. Then there was some paperwork to be done: an addendum to one agreement and a Copyright Assignment for the logo.

I did manage to write a review this weekend for Of Human Bondage (1934), a film we watched as part of our Friday pizza and movie night. Sort of managed to squeeze in 2352 words in between errands and household duties. We're also trying to pull the house together for a graduation party in two weeks, so writing time is at a premium. We're probably also going to have to curtail movies in the theater until after the party as well.

Did publish a new Saturday morning review, Cafe Society (2016). While I usually shy away from films the company I work for is involved with, I made an exception for Woody Allen. I had seen the film in theaters when it was first released but wanted to give his film a more in-depth review, so I waited to publish it.

Did not hear back from the agent so I'm pretty close to writing that off as a failure. Did Not Respond (DNR) is the saddest thing when it comes to queries and it especially hurts when someone has requested a full manuscript and can't be bothered to return your emails. The takeaway here then is that you really have to research agents and not to simply trust that sites like Submittable have vetted them at all. Why is it always the ones who show interest in my work that I have to scrutinize the most?