Russell's Writing Blog

About Me


I'm 46, Married with two sons. This blog will document my attempt to get my children's novel published.
Enjoy the blog. To comment on any of the posts, just click on the title of the post you want to comment on.  Play nicely!

Showing Tag: "pandora wolfe" (Show all posts)

The ups and downs of the search for an agent.

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, In : Agent update 
Today has been a very mixed day in dealing with literary agents.  One of them came back last night saying that she had liked the idea but had not "connected with the voice" which I think means that she doesn't like my style (the precise opposite of the comments the last agent made) so the book wasn't for her.  She was very nice about it and I was grateful she'd taken the time to read it (she got back after four weeks which was good going), but I'd be lying if I said I felt great afterwards.

An...
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Letting the train take the strain

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Saturday, February 16, 2013, In : Writing update 
Spending the week touring Northern cities for the day job, I feared I'd get no work done but on the train I actually got the time to finish the first draft of the second Pandora Wolfe book plot - approx 60 chapters plotted out.  Got a long weekend this week, so I intend to try and pull it into some semblance of order, change the timings of some events and ensure the pacing is right. Once that's finished, I'll start the writing proper. By the way, the working title of the sequel is Pandora Wol...
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Paranoia and Progress

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, In : Writing update 
A month after sending my manuscript I succumbed to my inner OCD which kept saying "I bet they never got your email and you're waiting in vain" and emailed the agent to check it had arrived (while being clear that I wasn't checking on progress or being pushy).  They got back straight away and said it had been recieved and was in a queue, so I can relax.

On the plus side I haven't been idle and have continued plotting out book 2 - up to chapter 34 so far. I've invented three new magical items fo...
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The power of shame.

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, In : Writing update 
Another productive evening.  Despite coming home feeling like an arthritic octogenarian from my first couple of gym visits of the year, I sat down and immediately cracked on with the planning.  A couple of hours later and I had another 3 chapters plotted out which is enough for one evening. 

I'd originally thought the blogging, the facebooking etc would prove a massive distraction from actual writing (and so it did while the novelty of constantly hitting the refresh button to see the extra li...
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Finally, some progress.

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Monday, January 7, 2013, In : Writing update 
Maybe it's just the fact that I had my first day back at the day job, perhaps it's because I went for my first run of the year today, quite possibly it's just the potential embarrassment of blogging yet another day of time wasting but whatever it is, I actually did enough work on the second book today to feel like I no longer have to hang my head in shame.

I'm still at the planning/plotting out stage, which is my least favourite bit (if you don't count proof reading - something my volunteer re...
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Another update

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Saturday, January 5, 2013, In : Writing update 
The new year is well and truly here and I've decided I'd better crack on with the work on the second Pandora Wolfe book.  I've read that publishers and agents like you to be well on with a sequel because almost all book deals are for at least two books.  If someone reads and likes your book, they want to be able to pick up a sequel fairly soon before they lose interest.  Besides that, I've got a story to tell and I need to get it down on paper or it'll drive me bonkers.

I've plotted out an ove...
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Hello and welcome!

Posted by Russell Sanderson on Friday, January 4, 2013, In : Introduction 
Well, this is my first foray into the blogosphere. Congratulations on finding the site and I hope you'll find it interesting.  I've spent the last two years writing and polishing my children's/YA novel, The Chronomancer's Daughter and now I've decided to blog my progress as I take the long road to try to get it published. 

First, a little background. I'd been writing on and off my whole life and have even completed a couple of novels, though nothing that was ready for publication (I can admit...
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