In gaming news/the development world:
I've been shocked with great news in the Games Industry twice in the past week. The first was the return of Richard Garriott to his roots with his new game project on Kickstarter.
Then, secondly this news bit about my other favorite legend in MMO game development history, Brad McQuaid. He has gone full circle, and is now back on EverQuest after twelve years away from the game that blew the online gaming industry into the cosmos.
This news, coupled with the forthcoming of Elder Scrolls Online, Camelot Unchained (Mark Jacob's new game) and EverQuest Next unveiling, it's truly an exciting year for me. Especially now that I've meshed myself in the industry I loved to follow so closely growing up. If you see a ton of fanboy esque posts over the next number of months, I apologize in advance, but I know it will be impossible to contain the excitement that this brings bubbling to the surface.
In the writing world:
I've been refining the first draft of my book, and am down to three final plot points to write through, and have been studying up on the various publishing options available. I've yet to make a decision as to which way I would like to go as of yet, as there is so much information to sift through and so many more questions to find answers to.
I made it out to meet Mr. Brandon Sanderson at a local book signing, and got some absolutely great advice from him. I put forth the question, "When you were starting out, how did you go about finding an agent, or approaching publishers with your first manuscript?"
This was his response:
"When you 'finish' the first draft of that first manuscript, write something else for a while, and then come back to the draft with fresh eyes. At least a month later, and read through it from start to finish. Never write a sequel when you are starting out. I wrote thirteen books before being published, all stand alone books, no sequels attached to existing works/universes."
He then went on to talk about his experience with publishers, and recommended the folks over at Jabberwocky Books
He offered a plethora of other great advice & direction. In closing, I leave you with this last bit of advice that was shared. Oddly enough, I felt this kind of applies to Game Design as well:
Learn what camp you are in as a writer
- Exploratory
- Exploratory writing is usually for those that like to just start writing and see where the story goes, without much of a game plan or set path for the story to take.
- Out-liner
- Out-liner writing is more for those that like to know where the story will start and end, as well as what important people/places/things will appear throughout.
Brandon's POD Cast can be found here.
