If you can accept losing, you can't win...Vince Lombardi

Several years ago when I first developed the idea for, The Wonk Decelerator, I originally thought of it as a short story. I sent it to a paying magazine and they promptly rejected it with a form letter. I looked at the story and decided I could make it better by adding an additional POV. I added in a couple of scenes and kept the story within the guidelines (just barely) of another paying magazine--the biggest sci/fi magazine out there. Again I received a rejection form letter. It made me angry. My story was better than anything I had seen in either of these magazines, yet they didn't want it! The problem was now my story had become too large for any other paying magazines that I could find. So I prayed about it. I never accepted these rejections as defeats.

After I prayed about it I came upon a publisher who was looking for good novellas--I felt I fit pretty well with this publisher's philosophy so I got back to work on the story. Well, Wonk wasn't quite big enough to be considered a novella, so I started seeing it as a bigger story. I added a prologue from the bad guy's point of view and then I worked on developing other characters, particularly Gravian Endrenicus and giving him a slightly larger role. As I made these changes I began to see novels springing up concerning these characters. By the time I had finished the rewrite to novella from a short story, I was planning 5 more books and called it the Guild Saga.

When I began submitting The Wonk Decelerator as a novella, I also submitted it as book 1 of 6 and I never deviated from that. Along the way two publishers who were interested went out of business and I got one rejection. I learned to use rejection to my benefit with a story I believed in. This has been the most valuable lesson I've ever learned as a writer--use rejection to grow. Use adversity to make you better and stronger. By the time I found the right niche for my story the story had grown leaps and bounds. It started out as a good story and today I believe it is much more than that. I found a home for it and now I will accept nothing less than best seller status. Well, that's going to take some doing, but I'll keep at it until that happens, just as I kept at getting a contract.

The key is never accept defeat. Never accept going backwards. Mixed with faith and prayer, you become invincible. A cool thought.

Thoughts on Writing Successfully.

Recently I signed my third book contract in a little more than a year. It took me a bit to realize that the most important thing I can do as a writer is to write consistently. This has become my motto, no matter what, write! That’s why I am where I am. I keep at it and I don’t quit.

I started my fourth novel and was having a problem connecting to the new storyline and characters. It seemed all kinds of things arose to keep me from my story—self doubts, busyness, writer’s block, laziness; but I knew from experience there is one thing that will work for me: no matter what, write!

I kept writing even though I didn’t feel the story yet, didn’t feel like doing it, couldn’t get my brain around it. But here’s what happened. I kept at it and one day suddenly one character says to another, “You’re the one that sees through walls…” and instantly this character got real to me--then the story settled down in my head.

I firmly believe that just keep working is the best advice we as writers can follow. Just stick with the thing and it will work out. You’ll see; that idea will become a rough, will become a second draft, and then will become a contract. If you get a rejection, just keep writing. If you get a contract, just keep writing.

Don’t quit. Keep working! It’s not really about how talented you are, but whether you’re up for the fight!

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Great info on agents

A discussion on getting an agent (sci/fi horror) that is more than excellent: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120135

Please remember to follow my blog if you haven't already.

Current Projects

I have taken a hiatus from the Guild stories for a bit. I'm currently working on my Sci/Fi, Horror novel, THE DARK, and the first in a string of short stories aimed at the paying markets called THE ENEMY, probably to be followed by one of my FRICK short stories about brothers by the same name--sci fi and funny (I had a Jack Frick story published many moons ago called Telepio 690 and I want to expand on the idea).

Here's a small excerpt from Telepio 690:

He pressed a button on the Telesleeve and closed his eyes.
"You are tuned to Telepio 690. Gar Mega's popular choice for Telephathic communications. Please specify type of communication desired..."
"Video," Jack murmured.
"...and type of video desired?"
"Entertainment."
Jack's mind became filled with vivid , life-like images and sounds.
"Channel 3, please."
Channel 3 was playing a soap opera. It was a low-budget off-world show that had a wide assortment of beings from all parts of the galaxy in starring roles...

(now an excerpt from the soap opera he's watching with his mind)

...Centairians have a habit of, when one head is speaking, letting the other gaze about aimlessly. Erf was doing this. She (his human wife) became annoyed with him.
"Pay attention when I'm talking to you."
Erf's second head swung in line with the other obediently. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.
"I know all about that little Endorian tart you've been seeing after your games (he's a two-headed sandball player)! How many others are there?"
Erf looked as though he'd been caught with his paw in the cookie jar. Music began to rise within an accusing crescendo, an indication that a commerical was impending...

Return of the Crimson Witch scheduled release

My third novel, Book 3 of the Guild saga, Return of the Crimson Witch is now under contract and scheduled for a late summer 2014 release. First round of edits in February.

Coming in early to mid 2014 (hopefully), Return of the Crimson Witch

My third novel, Return of the Crimson Witch, Book 3 of the Guild Saga is with my editor and should be available in a few months. This is book 3 of 6 and far and away the most action packed of the series so far. In case you're interested, these are the titles of the 6 Guild books:
                           The First Trilogy

Book 1: The Wonk Decelerator (published)

Book 2: The Late, Great Benjamin Bale (published)

Book 3: Return of the Crimson Witch (with editor)
                               
                           The Thad Cochran Novels

Book 4: The Wonk Wars

Book 5: Vengeance is Mine

Book 6: The Technophobes

Problems with release of ebook: The Late, Great Benjamin Bale

My second book, The Late, Great Benjamin Bale has run into some kind of snag for the release of the ebook. The ebook is available at the following links: http://www.etreasurespublishing.com/the-late-great-benjamin-bale-by-john-joseph-doody/ and at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/363513. It will be available any day now at B&N, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, ITunes etc.. Of course it's also up in paperback at my publisher and Amazon. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but there has been a serious delay.