OOC - the World Tree novel

[sythyry]

(Sythyry will be back in a couple days.) If all goes well, I’ll have finished a fair draft of a World Tree novel soon. (Predictably, for a gaming novel, it’s a love story, concerning three Herethroy who were married as children and have to figure out what to do about it as adults. Some other things happen too.) The setting and the style are a lot like Sythyry’s story, except that there is an actual plot and all like that. It’s a fairly low-key story: the world isn’t saved ‘cause it’s not in danger, the villain is performing her villainies for an excellent reason, and the characters sometimes go for weeks and weeks without risking any injury more serious than a scolding. It also needs a title, but that’s another matter. Anyways, now I want to know what you recommend that I do with the thing. Honest opinions this time, if you please. I’ll go back to begging for flattery later. . . [Poll #117006]

Comments

[vik_thor]

«g»
Yes, this is a late comment.
I'm reading all of Sythyry's enteries chronologically, and came across this.

1) Do y'all have an agent? Did WorldTree originally go through an agent, or just directly to Padwolf? I don't know exactly how this type of stuff normally goes, if the big publishers prefer it go through agents or not. While you would probably (maybe?) get better pay/distribution through the large publishers, it would also probably take longer, since it would have to work it's way through slush piles...
Maybe a medium sized one like WhiteWolf?
(I had a hard time getting the WorldTree book in the first place...)
Self publishing/web only should only be very last resort.
As others have mentioned, maybe try short stories set on the WorldTree to some of the magazines?

2)Illustrations: obviously, your not planning on doing this as a comic book. I don't know how much say you as author would have in illustrations, esp. cover illustration, even more esp. if done through one of the big publishers.
Chapter or section illustrations would be good, since you would have better input into them.

3) I read almost constantly, in one form or another. Fairly good at picking up inconsistencies, misspellings etc. I HATE it when I come across problems in books from major publishers. Not all that often, but you would think with as many ppl. as would have read it, something like their instead of there would get caught before publishing. (I don't remember what book, or if it was specifically that homonym grouping...)

Have you ever read Always Coming Home by Ursula K. LeGuin?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

No agent. Padwolf is very small; I don't need an agent there. I doubt that it would do well in slush piles: furry gaming fiction has two strikes against it to start with.

(Sorry about any trouble getting World Tree -- in fact, what kind of trouble? Not that we can currently do very much about any troubles, really.)

I have just finished my first World Tree short story, and I will sling it around shortly.

Authors in big presses have next to no say about illustrations. With Padwolf, I could surely get furry artist friends to illustrate it.

I'll keep you in mind next time I think about getting readers... which had best be soon.

I've read Always Coming Home, and in some ways it was inspirational for World Tree. (Not for the stories set there, which are just fiction.)

[vik_thor]

I doubt that it would do well in slush piles: furry gaming fiction has two strikes against it to start with.
«nods» That's why I thought of WhiteWolf. Course, since you've already known to Padwolf...

(Sorry about any trouble getting World Tree -- in fact, what kind of trouble? Not that we can currently do very much about any troubles, really.)
«shrugs» Had originally ordered it through Amazon.com, they said 1week first, then 1 month, then 2 months, then they cancelled the order.
Ended up getting it through RabbitValley.
Got it in time for MFF2k1.

I have just finished my first World Tree short story, and I will sling it around shortly.
Wheee!!!
You'll let us know when accepted and where, I assume?

I've read Always Coming Home, and in some ways it was inspirational for World Tree. (Not for the stories set there, which are just fiction.)
«nods» Has a similar feel.
I've only played one game of WorldTree, at MFF, but reread the book a few times. I really like the setting.