[Abyss]

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Hey that's better than 'stop sending us this crap'

Did they tell you what an acceptable wordcount was?

[QuickTidal]

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 05:47 PM, said:

 Tiste Simeon, on 25 January 2016 - 04:48 PM, said:

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

That sucks but from what I know about writing, it's to be expected. You just got to keep trucking!

I'm going to submit it regardless. I can't compromise on the length, but the writing may sway it (though I'm realistic about the prospect of success there). If he dies, he dies.

Getting rejected sucks...but remember that Stephen King has a nail in his closet where he would spike rejection letters...and eventually had to change it from a nail to a spike to allow room for them.

The point obviously being that all you need is to strike a chord with ONE person, the right person. Everyone else who rejected it can go suck it when you get published!

[Solidsnape]

So after 2 weeks of job hunting and not a sniff in response, I apply further afield. A lot further afield.
I get bites straight away, phone hasn't stopped all day.

Thing is one's in bloody Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The other in Rugby. They're both great jobs in their own way.
The former being only a 18 month temp position (which I'm fine with) that pays really well and is piss easy work that's all been done before. So a break from my usual stress at work.
The latter is not so well paid, though still above industry standard, and is more of challenging role methinks. But, it's closer and its weekend shift. So more time at home less at work.

So these are my best leads. That's what's messing with my groove.
That even though they seem like good opportunities, they will both entail accommodation for a few days/night every week, travelling time and time away from my family.
Seems too extreme.

I have persuaded a mate of mine who is a very good hand in his trade, to accompany me and try to share costs and whatnot. But wether or not we'll both get a start at the same place is doubtful.
So many risks....

This post has been edited by Solidsnape: 25 January 2016 - 06:47 PM

[Maark Abbott]

 Abyss, on 25 January 2016 - 05:50 PM, said:

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Hey that's better than 'stop sending us this crap'

Did they tell you what an acceptable wordcount was?

This one said between 70-150k words.

If SK had a spike, was he an Inquisitor?

[Mezla PigDog]

 Solidsnape, on 25 January 2016 - 06:46 PM, said:

Thing is one's in bloody Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The other in Rugby. They're both great jobs in their own way.
The former being only a 18 month temp position (which I'm fine with) that pays really well and is piss easy work that's all been done before. So a break from my usual stress at work.
The latter is not so well paid, though still above industry standard, and is more of challenging role methinks. But, it's closer and its weekend shift. So more time at home less at work.

So these are my best leads. That's what's messing with my groove.
That even though they seem like good opportunities, they will both entail accommodation for a few days/night every week, travelling time and time away from my family.

I live near Ampthill. If you drive you could commute to there from accommodation in Bedford or Milton Keynes. You could get something pretty cheap there if you have low standards! Well cheap for Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire anyway. Accommodation rates in these parts are tied to how close they are to a train station for commuting into London.

[Solidsnape]

 Mezla PigDog, on 25 January 2016 - 07:22 PM, said:

 Solidsnape, on 25 January 2016 - 06:46 PM, said:

Thing is one's in bloody Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The other in Rugby. They're both great jobs in their own way.
The former being only a 18 month temp position (which I'm fine with) that pays really well and is piss easy work that's all been done before. So a break from my usual stress at work.
The latter is not so well paid, though still above industry standard, and is more of challenging role methinks. But, it's closer and its weekend shift. So more time at home less at work.

So these are my best leads. That's what's messing with my groove.
That even though they seem like good opportunities, they will both entail accommodation for a few days/night every week, travelling time and time away from my family.

I live near Ampthill. If you drive you could commute to there from accommodation in Bedford or Milton Keynes. You could get something pretty cheap there if you have low standards! Well cheap for Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire anyway. Accommodation rates in these parts are tied to how close they are to a train station for commuting into London.

I'm looking right now!! Haha. Yeah I can find a place for around £100 per week in Bedford.
Also, yes, I'm cheap.

Well I'll have to see if I get an interview, then I can pop down and get a look at some places maybe.
Thing is, as much as I'm reluctant, the situation up here is getting worse every week. Small sub contract companies are going under, and bigger "safer" companies are paying off one after the other. The area will be saturated with people looking for jobs.
I may have no choice but to flee to the Midlands.

Thanks Mezla. I'll let you know if I have any area specific questions.

[worry]

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Remove all the cusses.

[worry]

Try sticking an actual minnow somewhere within the manuscript.

[Gust Hubb]

So in happy (ish) news, divorce petition finally signed and notarized. Will be hopefully filed tomorrow.
Really crashed her boat though, so I come home to find her lying in bed, my youngest hopping around her and my eldest locking himself in the bathroom because he crapped his pants... She did feed them, so not totally incapacitated, but not happy that her coping (or lack thereof) mechanism is irresponsible. I don't look forward to seeing what it means in the future if she sinks lower...

[Tsundoku]

 Solidsnape, on 25 January 2016 - 09:36 PM, said:

 Mezla PigDog, on 25 January 2016 - 07:22 PM, said:

 Solidsnape, on 25 January 2016 - 06:46 PM, said:

Thing is one's in bloody Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The other in Rugby. They're both great jobs in their own way.
The former being only a 18 month temp position (which I'm fine with) that pays really well and is piss easy work that's all been done before. So a break from my usual stress at work.
The latter is not so well paid, though still above industry standard, and is more of challenging role methinks. But, it's closer and its weekend shift. So more time at home less at work.

So these are my best leads. That's what's messing with my groove.
That even though they seem like good opportunities, they will both entail accommodation for a few days/night every week, travelling time and time away from my family.

I live near Ampthill. If you drive you could commute to there from accommodation in Bedford or Milton Keynes. You could get something pretty cheap there if you have low standards! Well cheap for Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire anyway. Accommodation rates in these parts are tied to how close they are to a train station for commuting into London.

I'm looking right now!! Haha. Yeah I can find a place for around £100 per week in Bedford.
Also, yes, I'm cheap.

Well I'll have to see if I get an interview, then I can pop down and get a look at some places maybe.
Thing is, as much as I'm reluctant, the situation up here is getting worse every week. Small sub contract companies are going under, and bigger "safer" companies are paying off one after the other. The area will be saturated with people looking for jobs.
I may have no choice but to flee to the Midlands.

Thanks Mezla. I'll let you know if I have any area specific questions.

Ampthill? Google Maps tells me that's just up the road from Luton! I say go for it!

http://www.news.com....9796beb08a86440

EDIT:

Scrolling around I find a place called "Bishops Itchington"???!!!???

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 26 January 2016 - 02:01 AM

[Gnaw]

 Mezla PigDog, on 25 January 2016 - 07:22 PM, said:

 Solidsnape, on 25 January 2016 - 06:46 PM, said:

Thing is one's in bloody Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

I live near Ampthill.

Easy solution. Mezla probably has a couch. Just like AirBnB.

[Abyss]

 worry, on 25 January 2016 - 11:15 PM, said:

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Remove all the cusses.

That. Also rewrite all the sex scenes as "they banged.".

[Gnaw]

Marvin Minsky has died. One of my heroes.

[Tsundoku]

 Abyss, on 26 January 2016 - 03:11 AM, said:

 worry, on 25 January 2016 - 11:15 PM, said:

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Remove all the cusses.

That. Also rewrite all the sex scenes as "they banged.".

Nonononono, you have to do it all "50 shades" style.

[Maark Abbott]

 worry, on 25 January 2016 - 11:15 PM, said:

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Remove all the cusses.

Book is now 10k words

Dammit worry

[Maark Abbott]

 Tsundoku, on 26 January 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

 Abyss, on 26 January 2016 - 03:11 AM, said:

 worry, on 25 January 2016 - 11:15 PM, said:

 Maark, on 25 January 2016 - 03:57 PM, said:

First rejection. My length was too much*!

*Not but I do get it, 203k words for a debut is pretty heavy. And hey, rather an upfront 'it's too long for us' than to dance the dance of dancing, right?

Remove all the cusses.

That. Also rewrite all the sex scenes as "they banged.".

Nonononono, you have to do it all "50 shades" style.

Ehmmm, well. They're more like R. Scott Bakker meets Cannibal Corpse when they happen. It's very romantic. Red is romantic.

[Mezla PigDog]

 Tsundoku, on 26 January 2016 - 01:59 AM, said:

Ampthill? Google Maps tells me that's just up the road from Luton! I say go for it!

http://www.news.com....9796beb08a86440

EDIT:

Scrolling around I find a place called "Bishops Itchington"???!!!???

I don't like looking at the map where I live as it shows me that I have wound up living in the middle of a triangle of Bedford, Luton and Stevenage. All soulless towns with absolutely nothing positive going for them at all. It was NOT part of the life plan! London sucks the life out of everything around it so all that is left are dull towns and ultra expensive villages. The first pieces of operation "Return To The North" are being subtly moved into position since I can do my job from anywhere (I think, haven't asked my boss) but Mr PigDog has a counter plan of "Return To Wales" that must be undermined. I have the secret weapon of a sister interested in babysitting up t'North.

[Mentalist]

Squinting at my monitor, trying to read scanned copies of hand-written memos dating back to 1979.

I have a feeling I may have to take work home tonight.

[QuickTidal]

 Mezla PigDog, on 26 January 2016 - 09:03 AM, said:

 Tsundoku, on 26 January 2016 - 01:59 AM, said:

Ampthill? Google Maps tells me that's just up the road from Luton! I say go for it!

http://www.news.com....9796beb08a86440

EDIT:

Scrolling around I find a place called "Bishops Itchington"???!!!???

I don't like looking at the map where I live as it shows me that I have wound up living in the middle of a triangle of Bedford, Luton and Stevenage. All soulless towns with absolutely nothing positive going for them at all.

Even though I'm a Canadian, I can vouch for this partially. We stayed in Luton for about 24 hours (because it was cheaper than staying in London). There is not only nothing AT ALL to do there...the one restaurant NEAR our hotel was so full that we would never have gotten a seat (I think they told us at least an hour wait to start...and as a restaurant it was nothing special either)...and we ended up eating at the sketchy Subway in the bottom of a sketchy theatre-mall-type place...and the sub sandwiches were only "okay"...AND when I asked for Sub Sauce on mine (which I later learned is only a Canadian thing), the Luton-ite behind the counter looked at me like I had two heads. We were never more excited to leave on a plane from a location in our lives...

Bonus Fun Fact Related to Luton: We saw Johnny Briggs (Mike Baldwin from Corrie) in Luton airport and I thought that was so cool...only to have to explain to my wife and her sister who he was and why he was famous...and I got as far as "he ran an underwear factory called Underworld..." and had to stop because of how ridiculous I sounded.

[Tiste Simeon]

 Mezla PigDog, on 26 January 2016 - 09:03 AM, said:

 Tsundoku, on 26 January 2016 - 01:59 AM, said:

Ampthill? Google Maps tells me that's just up the road from Luton! I say go for it!

http://www.news.com....9796beb08a86440

EDIT:

Scrolling around I find a place called "Bishops Itchington"???!!!???

I don't like looking at the map where I live as it shows me that I have wound up living in the middle of a triangle of Bedford, Luton and Stevenage. All soulless towns with absolutely nothing positive going for them at all. It was NOT part of the life plan! London sucks the life out of everything around it so all that is left are dull towns and ultra expensive villages. The first pieces of operation "Return To The North" are being subtly moved into position since I can do my job from anywhere (I think, haven't asked my boss) but Mr PigDog has a counter plan of "Return To Wales" that must be undermined. I have the secret weapon of a sister interested in babysitting up t'North.

Plus you've got me, Brood & Stone Monkey for babysitting too! You've met us all multiple times, you know how responsible we are!