Between books. Time to play in the garden!!

There is so much to learn about Indie Publishing.

I got my first "no" this morning from this round of querying. Ugh! I'm not sure I can handle all the "nos" it takes to try for a "yes". #writingcommunity

When I'm writing we are all in this together! When I'm querying, you are all my competitors. #amquerying #writing #writingcommunity

Sometimes being an unpublished writer feels like volunteer work. It's for a good cause but it doesn't pay anything. #writingcommunity

Querying book 1 in the afternoons. Editing Book 4 in the mornings. Letting Book 3 sit for a while before another round of edits. Sometime I need to work on my query package for Book 2. #amquerying #writingcommunity

It's time. I am querying The Archivist! 80,000 word adult science fiction! #writingcommunity #amquerying

Writing Journey: Part 9 Writing down my thoughts and questions provides clarity. There is no better way for a philosopher turned sci-fi writer to answer big questions than putting my thoughts on paper. #writingcommunity #sciencefiction #writing

Writing Journey: Part 8 I always wanted to write a utopian novel, building a society that lives together in peace. You have to start with shared values. Then, you have to factor in human nature. There's the rub. #writingcommunity #Sciencefiction

When you think about it, isn't every book a mystery? #writingcommunity

When you think it's done but you find yourself rewriting the first page. #writingcommunity #writing #editing #sciencefiction

Writing Journey: Part 7 If you thought your little colony was the last bastion of humanity, what steps would you take to ensure your survival? It's cultural engineering! #writingcommunity #sciencefiction #writing

My Writing Journey: Part 6 World building in sci-fi is Culture Building. It is philosophical and sociological. If you leave Earth to start again, what kind of world would you create? How do you ensure you don't repeat the mistakes of Old Earth? Will it endure? #writingcommunity #writers

I would rather write than edit. #writingcommunity

My Writing Journey: Part 5 When I retired, I turned to writing science fiction to continue asking the big questions. One book I read ended with a massive exodus of colony ships from Earth. Ended? To me that was the beginning! So that is where I started. #writingcommunity #writing #amquerying

My Writing Journey: Part 4 That book began by asking if we should have a sort of prime directive to make our choices. Medicine begins with First Do No Harm. Star Trek has a prime directive. Do we need one and what would it look like? #Writingcommunity #writers

My Writing Journey: Part 3 After teaching for over 30 years and asking students how they should make ethical choices, I wrote a book to try to answer my own questions. It is a Socratic dialogue among friends that takes place around a fire pit since that is where the best conversations take place.

My Writing Journey: Part 2 I began with short stories about the patients I met and the difficult issues they faced. It was cathartic. Later, I used creative writing to explore bigger issues, like whether there are limits to scientific inquiry. I used Shelley's Frankenstein to explore modern issues.

My writing journey: Part 1 I am a retired philosopher (can you ever really retire from philosophy?) and write to explore more deeply the themes and issues I found in my work. Specifically, I taught Medical Ethics and did ethics consultations in the hospital. #writingcommunity #writing #amquerying

I have a first draft waiting on me to get back to it for a serious edit. Reread the first page and thought "that's really good!" Excited to get back to it! #writingcommunity #editing #writing

I end each writing session preparing my thoughts for the next day. Then I sleep on it. #writingcommunity #writers

On C57, they found a world where everything had a price. Access to the intergalactic trading system would bring major technological advances to The Plots, but it could threaten their agricultural society and their values of cooperation. Blackrock. #questpit #Q #SF

On C63, they created a cooperative society. Everyone shares the work and everyone shares the harvest. That society and its values endured for almost a thousand years. When the archivist uncovers how the council ensured their success, he will face the test of truth over stability. #questpit #SF #Q

The original colonists built their world to avoid the conflicts that led to Earth's destruction. After a thousand years, The Plots endured with the guidance of the archivist and the council and the belief that as the last bastion of humanity, their success was paramount. #questpit #Q #SF

The archivist is forced to re-examine the beliefs he grew up with, beliefs that shaped the colony. As he digs further into the archives, he uncovers more than just history. He learns the council has preserved the values of the colony through deceit and manipulation. #questpit #sf #Q

Editing is underway on Book 3 of my Archivist Series. I have mostly rewritten the first 4 chapters to address my editor's concerns. It was a good week of work. Hope to get into the details of the next part in the coming days. #editing #writingcommunity #writing

Woohoo! I just completely rewrote a reimagined version of chapter one. It may not seem like much but I'm feeeeling goood! #writingcommunity #writing #editing

My favorite comment from my editor: I felt I had a friend in your MC throughout the book. #writingcommunity #editing #writers

I know some people will completely re-write a chapter or novel. I'm trying but it's so hard. #editing #writing #writingcommunity

Your reminder for today… #writers

When you're told to put away your novel and come back later for another edit, they are right. I thought it was finished. Now I'm making it better. Soon. Soon. #writingcommunity #editing #writing

Overall, 2024 was a good and productive year for writing. -Finished Book 3 of my sci-fi trilogy. -Wrote the first draft of my mystery novel -Participated in my first writer's workshop -Connected with several other writers 2025 is my year for editing and finding an agent #writingcommunity #writing

Happy Solstice! #writingcommunity

Hoping someone had a more productive week writing or editing than I did. #writingcommunity

A successful week of editing Book 1 (The Archivist). A few chapters left to go, then on to editing Book 2 (Blackrock). Feeling pretty good so far. If only I could write a pitch that would draw the attention of an agent. #editing #writing #writers #writingcommunity

“The Secret Among the Stars”, Book 3 of the Dread Naught Trilogy, will be released DEC. 25TH! Kindle preorders are LIVE and paperbacks will also be found here: a.co/d/7RQRTEQ PDF will be available here: captain-ventris.itch.io #BookSky #Author

Sometimes when I'm editing, I forget to edit and just read. Today, I read four of my early chapters just enjoying the story. I guess that's a good thing? #writing #editing #writingcommunity

My favorite recent writing quote: If you want to destroy the world, it takes a novel. #writing #WritingCommunity #writers

Although I agree with the sentiments expressed by many in my writing community, I do not want my algorithm to be shaped by politics. So I may like your comments without liking your comments. I need a refuge. #WritingCommunity

It was a good week of editing. Always more that could be done but I'm improving the book every day. #writingcommunity #writing #editing #writers

When I write, I sit in the library. The same seat every day. When I edit, I I sit in the library in a different seat. Anyone else have similar writing habits? #writingcommunity #writing

I'm editing this winter. Trying to polish four books. My sci-fi trilogy and a mystery. What's everyone else working on through the cold months? #writing #writingcommunity #editing

Hello my friends! I write science fiction with political and philosophical themes. I am currently polishing my Archivist trilogy and in early edits of a mystery novel. I'm seeking representation but holding off on my queries until Spring. I'm happy to join you all here.

I'm trying to explore recent comp titles. I'm looking for suggestions for sci-fi books that involve political and sociological intrigue and philosophical questions in the context of space colonization. Not hard science. No aliens or warfare. Any ideas? #writingcommunity #writers