Hi Hoku,
My sister loves writing plays; she writes them and then, through her day job as a drama teacher, gets her students to perform them. I guess that's one way of combatting the lethargy!
I'd do the same if I was teaching English Literature instead of English as a second language... Slip a bit of my own prose in there and see if anyone noticed... *grin*
But, being as all of my students are teeny tiny children I can't really pin it down as an option. I teach at Greenfield Bilingual school in Collonges. It's dead easy work, so I get to keep all my brain for myself (once I've overcome the sheer fatigue that each day with attention-seeking kids brings!). I was teaching at Lyon 1 last year, medical professionals. Teaching adults is awesome but all the prep. time was cutting HUGELY into my writing time. Plus there was a slight problem in that the uni didn't pay me until the very end of the academic year! Couldn't be doing with that kind of financial strain this time around! How about you, where do you teach our awesome language? And have you ever had the pleasure of seeing your students perform your work?
Anyway! I've been actively seeking agent representation ever since I finished book one in spring. But no joy *sniff* Then I started reading texts on how to actually write as a professional so I'm self-editing now in the hopes that subsequent agents will take me a little more seriously. I'm a bit crap though - I love huge, rambling, descriptive narrative (Tolkien echos, I think!) and, apparently, that's not what sells unless it's done in a very specific, non-exposited way. So I'm kind of re-writing. The second half of book two is currently on hold! I'm also going the competition-with-publication-as-first-prize route. This one competition (UK Authors) gives you editorial feedback and analysis on your first chapter, which was massively eye-opening. So I'm fixing all the things they said were wrong and putting in more of the things they said worked well and I've got a list of other comps to enter when it's done. My biggest problem area, though, is my synopsis - I just can't seem to say anything succinctly and concisely in a 300-500 word limit! But my novel is 120,000 words long! How am I supposed to do it?!!
If I'd've known just how difficult this gig actually was.....!
I'm fully forcing myself to get my real work done after school hours now because I've decided to bite the bullet and quit teaching after this academic year and become a full-time writer.... I am silently screaming in fear. Having a deadline like that, though, has really helped me focus. Not least because I'm so going to need some money coming in from somewhere!!
Thanks so much for your offer of reading my stuff, that would be immense! I've locked the first two chapters of my re-write now, and just locking-off the third... They're my main concern because that's what agents want to see before they decide whether or not to represent you. Which you probably already know, sorry! I, too, would be more than happy to return the favour and read some of your plays, or any of your branching-out experiments! I'm not a playwrite so I'm not sure how well I can critique, but I reckon I can certainly put some of the stuff I've been learning recently into action! Plus, a step outside of my comfort zone would likely do me a world of good!
My email is
[email protected]
Perhaps we can exchange, read, and arrange to meet up to discuss? It would be great to speak about writing with another writer!
Speak soon,
Maria.
