The first queries were weird

I have never almost puked over the thought of hitting “Send” on Gmail. Until yesterday. And I hate Excel with the fury of thirty volcanoes, but that’s a different dread. In my nervousness, I put it off for a while, until I realized I needed to do it. I had to send out the first…

2020

As probably 90% of Earth’s population, I was slightly panicking about the impending beginning of a new decade, thinking I’ve done nothing with my life so far, regretting imaginary and real decisions I respectively imagined and actually made; wondering, “what the fuck next?” The truth is, the past ten years were fruitful, interesting, invigorating, and…

Gathering the courage to query

Man, I remember a year ago when I tried sending out a handful of queries for the first time ever. A year ago. That’s the time I’ve spent editing this book once again (HUGE * HERE. SEE BELOW POST). It’s been worthwhile, though, because I’ve grown as a writer and all that blahblahblah but, mostly,…

I should be editing

But first, I need to perform some sort of power rant. That’s a thing, I promise. Can’t explain to you how it works, I’m just a firm believer in the power of the scream. And this is me, screaming into the void of my blog that I’ll start editing my sci-fi book for the final…

Eyes on the prize

I’ve been feeling off as of lately. A bit afraid. Rather uncomfortable. Too anxious. And I know why. Here’s a list, because lists are my tenth favorite thing on Earth: I’m still editing my sci-fi book. It’s been almost a year (wow, how and why is this taking SO LONG?). I’m tired. But then I’m…

When we visit other worlds

In reality. And in books. I just returned from my first trip to the US. The biggest surprise was how different the culture is when you are there, in comparison with the image you might have from movies, music, and other cultural products. All in all, it was fun, exciting, slightly surprising, and revealing. I…

I want people to read my work! But what if they hate it?

And other sentences we obsessively say in our heads. I mean, I really would love for people to read my books (in the plural, because I now have written two books! Can you believe it? I can’t). I’d be elated if, when reading my stories, people happen to enjoy them. “Enjoy” is a bizarre word…

Believing in me

I’ve been asking myself, why do I write books? For me, of course. Writing is fun: I can make up stories, people, settings, locations, situations. So, if I do this for me, why do I bother to edit, work with beta readers, and plan on querying and pursuing traditional publication? That is, why do I secretly…

Free mind

I have heard myself utter the words hundreds of times. “That thing I achieved? It was nothing!” “Was it cool to go and do that all by myself? Not a biggie!” I know the reasons why I sometimes opt for making myself look small, sound more uncertain than I am, seem less proud of many…

The loneliness of writing

I don’t think I can accurately explain what I mean when I talk about the loneliness of writing. It is linked to the fact that “nobody expects/needs/cares about the stories I write. It is all the same if I stop, isn’t it? Who cares (besides me)? Why do I do this?” I’m an ambitious person,…