So sometimes I think about writing a book and trying to get it published. This is something I've thought about for years and years, well before I discovered zentangles. I've tried a few stories, but I've never convinced myself that I actually want to wade into the treacherous waters of the publishing industry.
Especially just for a little glory, and even littler money. I've got freedom and lots of people to share my work with. Who needs the publishing industry?
But still. The idea persists, and lately, it's been persisting more than usual. This iteration of lunacy has me dwelling on the idea of what would happen if a Humgruffin met a Humgriffin (look at those vowels!) in a zentangle-inspired illustrated novel. Probably a kid's book. Or maybe young adult. Or just something very hard to market, lol!
These two are creatures spun wholly from my head, that I've used inmy art and have written short (very short) stories about. If interested you can see the art. The humgruffin's story is there, but I'm not sure if I still have any of the Humgriffin stories anywhere online.
This is a quick sketch of a Humgriffin I'm considering for that book:
The main reason I'm posting this is because I may be a little slower in posting new patterns. I'm going to let my muse play with this idea for a while, without it being pulled away. I'll do zens--probably with lotsa little humgriffins and humgruffins for practice, but not so much the tangle patterns. Just in case the story pulls together.
Though it will probably never happen. Most likely not.
But ya never know.
You have a great idea. My advice to aspiring writers is to just do it. One easy and fun way to do that is through the National Novel Writers Month which starts Nov. 1. It is 30 days of sheer writing, inspiration, and downright word craziness that does work. i know people who have gone on to be published. Check it out at nanowrimo.org
ReplyDeleteRita, thanks for the link! Unfortunately, my November is super uber busy already with retreats, dinner parties and the like. Still flirting with the idea though.
ReplyDeleteSandra, much as it saddens me to hear of any slowdown in your pattern posting, you have already shared a life time's worth! Great to hear new ventures are tugging at your heart. I love the idea of writing a book (I do my digital art in series, many of which are the illustration to blurbs I am always threatening to fatten out to full, linked stories). Admittedly, I have no thoughts or desires of publishing it. Haven't gotten over the hump of writing it. Wishing you and your Muse some good times :)
Hmmm. I'm not seeing the response I gave yesterday. Ignore this, if it looks like I posted twice.
ReplyDeleteRita, I done the nano 2 1/2 times. I had to drop out the 3rd time because of illness in the family. Might not be a bad idea this go round. I don't think my book would need as many words as even the minimum (60,000 isn't it? I forget) but finishing the word count isn't the real goal. It's getting the book writ.
Kim, Nano's fun, and really your progress is only between yourself and yourself. You can share it with others, for encouragement and solidarity, but nobody is watching. It does help you to write something every day, even if only a 100 words. And that's better than nothing.
Really, the only difference between writing to publish and just for the writing is that you have more limits if you are going to publish. You need to decide your audience and find out how many pages books in that genre usually have. With an illustrated book, you usually create a mock-up book to show how the pages would be laid out. In truth, it's the mock-up book that I look forward to doing. But I figured if I've gone that far, I might as well throw it out into the waters and see if anyone bites. Maybe.
Both my parents were writers and in a way, so am I. They were published, For me it's only been on line and personal readings. It's scarey, but so what?
ReplyDeleteI would encourage you to try. You will invest your time and creativity, but very little money (unless you self-publish), so why not?
I will be rooting for you.