The Waiting Game, Round 1

You may have noticed a length of time has passed from my last post. That is - if you are even still following this blog. To tell you the truth, there simply hasn't been much to talk about. Then it hit me - yes there is. In the absence of Kringle news, there has been a topic that I've become rather an expert at. And it's something every writer eventually will get to know - many times in their career.

I'm talking about The Waiting Game. And this is round 1:

Agent? Check. Manuscript in agent's hands? Check. Now what? You wait. Back up a bit. My agent is a former editor and has a very hands on approach. Perhaps yours doesn't? I guess this post doesn't apply to you then? Yes it does! Even if you hand in the most perfectest of manuscripts (yes I invented a word there; how clever of you to notice) you will still be playing this game at some step in the process of getting the MS to your readers.

So agent has it, agent is editing it, but agent has 40 other clients too. Oh yeah, and a life. Oh yeah, and queries that keep coming in. So it takes time before agent can edit and get me notes.

And what do you do with the time? How do you cope while your baby is away at summer camp without you?

As you all know, I wrote a fantasy book and there are a total of 9 in the series. However I don't think it's wise to invest the time to write book 2 until book 1 is sold. I already have detailed outlines for all 9, so there is really no work to be done on Kringle at the time. I already have not 1, but 2 websites up and running. I have a facebook page, a myspace page, a linked in page, and 3 twitter pages. My social networking needs are more than filled. I even wrote a second children's fantasy novel, which agent can't touch until he's done with Kringle.

Yet there are still many hours in the day, aren't there? Those that follow me, know I'm also a filmmaker, though I haven't made a film in 3 years. The waiting game has been quite productive.

I've already written, and begun production, on my first feature film, Gone - a scifi thriller. And if that wasn't enough, I'm almost done with the 1st draft of the script for my second feature film, another scifi thriller called In2. We'll begin shooting In2 in February. Needless to say, I've been a very busy boy.

So what do you do with your time playing The Waiting Game? Well, that's ultimately up to you. I suggest you get off your ass and keep working. You might be surprised with how productive you can be.

Okay - it's time for tea.

Cheers,

Jason