I am such a coward.
No - really I am. Or at least I feel that am - especially when it comes to my writing.
You wouldn't guess it by looking at this blog. It's stuffed full of posts, ranging from the informative to the downright silly. I started this blog back in late September with a very specific end in mind: to somehow pave a way - or at least part of the way - toward my future writing career. Build a platform. Get my name out there. And so on.
I knew it would happen gradually. These things do take time, after all. And I should add that I've had a marvelous time building up this blog, and have no intention of slowing down. However - while I love posting all these helpful tips and anecdotes on writing (next Agent Tweets episode coming up tomorrow, by the way), it is supremely easy for me to hide behind my teacherishness and serve up little mini-lessons by the dozen.
The big omission? Anything pertaining to my OWN writing.
Now, please know - I am not changing horses in midstream, nor intend to fill this blog with my own delusions of adequacy. As Daniel Swensen so perfectly said it in his blog post yesterday - blogging is really about others, not yourself.
But part of that involves giving of yourself. In a writer's community, that means going out on a limb with those skills you profess to have.
So, after a bit of quiet and good-natured heckling from friends (you know who you are), I've decided to branch out a bit more with the writing blurbs. I've decided to at least occasionally participate in Six Sentence Sunday, in which writers are encouraged to share a six sentence blurb from the more riveting corners of their work-in-progress. I've also decided to join in the fun with Lillie McFerrin on her blog, with her weekly 5 Sentence Fiction challenges.
For the moment, however - as a token of good faith that I will not permanently use this blog as an extension of my composition and history classrooms - I hereby put forth the following summary of my current work-in-progress. Consider this a down payment of literary transparency to come. :-)
Castle 8
The Underground has been quarantined for centuries, running on the impersonal laws and mechanical system of a “big brother” tyranny that dissolved long ago. Crippled by earthquakes, mired in darkness, victimized by gangs, the Underground is on a path to self-destruction. But the Swackhammer brothers – math genius Greg, illiterate poet Errol, cannibal safe-cracker Finn and the illegally-born March – know there is something more beyond the Underground, that life hasn’t always been this way.
Severed from all history, literature, music and culture for so many generations, no one in the Underground has the least idea how to save, let alone rebuild, their world. The Swackhammers are thrown headlong into that mystery, as they scramble to escape the Underground and recover what was lost – at whatever cost to themselves.
Anyone else out there doing Six Sentence Sundays? Five Sentence Fiction?
Is the "book blurb" anything that sounds remotely interesting to you?
Let me know!
I've wanted to do Six Sentence Sunday's but I never have...perhaps I should start with you lol
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! I probably won't do every Sunday, but I do plan to do one this coming Sunday. :D
DeleteI can personally attest to the fact that "Six Sunday" has resulted in a lot of both traffic as well as interaction to my site. Folks browsing the S3 list are -looking- for new stuff to read and get hooked on. It really doesn't get much better than that.
ReplyDeleteNo, indeed! Will definitely take the plunge. :)
DeleteI've been thinking about doing Six Sentence Sunday for awhile, but have been held up due to nerves. (People could say mean things about my baby!) Time to take the plunge!
ReplyDeleteI will join you in that! Maybe if we all jump in the deep end together....
DeleteI didn't really know what Six Sentence Sunday was...I know a few bloggers do it, but I thought you had to be invited.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone just do it, just title it Six Sentence Sunday and there you are?
Like Mari, I suppose I worry if I could let go of my 'baby' enough to do it!
By the way, love the sound of your book, sounds good!
DeleteAnyone can do it! It's just a matter of going out on a limb. :)
DeleteThanks so much! I'm working very hard on it.
Your blurb is interesting! I love dystopian fiction :D
ReplyDeleteWhile I resolved a while ago to post extracts from my own works every week, I have to admit that every time I did it, I felt like I was in one of those OMG I'M NAKED IN PUBLIC nightmares. Maybe I'm just not ready for it. But I hope it works out well for you!
I like to think of it as being POSTdystopian fiction, but that's probably me just being all snarky and uber-protective of "my baby".
DeleteAnd don't worry - you'll be ready to go out on a limb, sooner or later! (Hopefully sooner! I think you're a fab writer.)
Thank you :3
DeleteAnd of course, post-dystopian it shall be! Your baby deserves to live in its proper genre, forgive me for generalizing ;)
Sounds like a very interesting concept. Is this the WIP that won you the first sentence on WriMos FTW?
ReplyDeleteI faithfully participate in Five Sentence Fiction every week. I really enjoy it and I would recommend it for sure!
I know how you feel, sometimes I feel like I'm hiding too. Good luck and let me know if there is anything I can do to help :)
It is! The winning sentence was actually to the sequel --- which is now looking like it will be the second half of this book instead. I don't know. Still studying some structural problems. Editing this sucker is going to be a big ol' bear.
DeleteThis entry here is the first I've heard of Six Sentence Sunday. Something to keep in mind this next week!
ReplyDeleteI started my writing blog for much the same reason as you; to get my name out there, build some networking, followers, that kind of thing. I haven't been very diligent, unfortunately.
I would certainly consider it!
DeleteAnd yes, the consistency with the blog takes work. Sometimes I wonder about all the hours I pour into mine; but then I look at the amazing extended family of writers that I've discovered as a result, and I know it was the right path. I love my Writing Empire!
I think it is natural to be self conscious about our writing. I am glad you decided to post this blurb. Your story sounds very interesting and definitely peeked my interest. I also participate in Five Sentence Fiction. I really enjoy it. It is a great way to share our writing and everyone is so nice.
ReplyDeleteI"m glad to hear you say that! I hope my short fiction blurbs will also meet with lots of nice people. :-) I honk self consciousness is something that every writer has to deal with, some of us will always have to deal with it. It's that naked-in-public feeling, like Dasia said.
DeleteI thought I was being nosy clicking on the "you know who you are" link. Ha X) I'm so glad you have ditched the incognito stuff... I do like the non-teacher side of you ;D
ReplyDeleteI am so glad! I would hate for you to be terrified of me all the time. ;-) (haha)
DeleteI'm so glad you shared this "blurb" as I have wondered what the heck it is that you are toiling away on over there (where? over there!). The underground world and its citizens sound fascinating and you are such a skilled writer, it is bound to be a gripping read!
ReplyDeleteOh, well then I'm sorry I didn't share sooner! I hope it will be a gripping read....eventually. Right now it has lots of little plot problems I'm trying to correct. I will, however, put the opening six sentences out for Six Sentence Sunday this weekend, so be watching for that. :-)
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