Good day thinking machines, biological or artificial!

In this update I want to talk about editing, but first; a message to fellow Nerdtacular attendees.

NERDTACULAR 

If you’re attending Nerdtacular in Utah later this week, seek me out. Come shake my hand. Be one of the first to see the first finished model of Koalemos, one of the main characters from The Life Engineered. More importantly, if you pre-ordered your copy before May 31st, drop by the TadShop to get your free, signed robot art print and bask in my awkward show of gratitude.

On Editing

I’m currently in the middle of developmental editing. This is usually the most ego-punching step in getting a book to print. It’s at this stage that I have to listen to the suggestions and directions of a seasoned professional and accept his recommendations with detached professionalism. No matter what he tells me, I have to keep in mind that we’re both working to make this into a better book.

So far, my editor, Cleete is knocking this sucker right out of the park. I agree with almost every recommendations he’s made so far and everything reads better after I’ve applied his changes. What makes this a process both difficult yet rewarding though is that I’m learning a lot that will make me a better writer for the next book.

In case you’re thinking that the edits are just a long list of ‘change this’ and ‘this isn’t right’, let me show you a sample of what the first page looked like.

As you can see, it’s not all bad. Not only do I learn what not to do but just as importantly, I’m learning what to do more of.

I already love The Life Engineered but once I’m done with this process, I think we might have an excellent book for you guys and gals to enjoy.

Thanks again for your support.

Oh… before I go; just received the first sketches for the new cover of The Life Engineered. Already it looks better than the current cover. Very exciting stuff. 

 JF 

Happy Monday fellow sentients, 

 I had every intention of writing an update filled with optimism and ‘joy de vivre’ this morning. Things were looking bright and the world had nothing but sunshine and chocolate in store for me. That is, alas, until half of what I had been working on all weekend literally came part in my hand.

However, I refuse to admit defeat. I will remain optimistic and will focus on the positives and they are plenty. If you want to know what went wrong, scroll down below. I want to update you guys on what’s going right.

• We’re getting a new cover! My friend Eric Belisle has agreed to create an updated version of the cover art for The Life Engineered. Not only is Eric an unreasonably talent artist who’s worked for the likes of Paizo Publishing and Wizard of the Coast but he was one of my original test readers on the book and was a fan from the first draft. He gets it and I have no doubt he will do the story and mood of the book justice. Seriously, go check out his work here. Also, hire him. Or just throw money and compliments at him.
• Editing is going at a steady pace. I get to improve the existing material but also add in a few new things like a glossary and a couple of descriptions here and there that will help flesh out the universe better for you, the reader.
  
• The model for Koalemos, aside from the issue described below, is moving along. I’ve started painting the main body and though it’s till rough the results are promising.
  
• Nerdtacular is coming quickly. In a little less than a week and a half, I will be flying to Salt Lake City to attend this little convention. A lot of you guys are from the Frogpants community and many of you will be at Nerdtacular. Seek me out and I’ll have a little something for you. Indeed, not only will you get a signed print of some robot art, but you’ll get a chance to win the model I keep referring to in these updates.
  

Before I go into the negatives, let me thank all of you once more for your support. I want to extend a special thanks to those who have recently pre-ordered The Life Engineered. It’s humbling to see people be this interested in my work.

JF

So what went wrong?

I spent a good part of Saturday sculpting the legs on this model of Koalemos that I’ve been working on. It’s been a difficult task but i got them to look somewhat as I envisioned they should. I painstakingly assembled said legs and set them to make molds. This is a two part process that takes a lot of work and requires a lot of attention. I even took the time late last night to verify that the process was going well and satisfied, I went to sleep.

I am not defeated. If trying to be a writer has taught me anything, besides how to write, it’s not to quit. Perseverance, repetition and pig-headedness are all part of the process. Each time, I learn a little more. Each time I grow.