Amanda Hocking

I finished Switched last week, and I think it turned really good. I started the sequel, but I haven’t gotten very far. I think I need a little break. I’ve been writing almost continuously since January, while also reading and editing my own books, and reading a few other books. So my heart just isn’t in it this week, I guess.

I’ve been working on Aether a little bit, tho, the third book in the Blood Approves series. Finished a new chapter the other night, and that was good.

Right now I’m just obsessing over getting things published. I hate how I’m required to wait about everything. I understand how hard and irritating it must be to be an agent. I remember the first book I wrote (not completely terrible, but not any good either) and those ridiculous query letters I sent off. I had no idea what I was doing, and I’m sure so many other people are the same way.

I’ve also read stuff from people who thought they were writers, and the work is barely legible. I’ve read really good stuff, too, so I’m not knocking anyone in general. I just know that agents have to sift through thousands of letters of poorly written, incomplete, random diatribes. And on top of all that, I’m sure they find hundreds of half-way decent to really good books that they have to choose from, since they don’t have the resources to represent every single good book that crosses their desks. I understand that, and I empathize with their plight, and try to add to as little as possible.

But I really want my book published, and I think it’s good enough. It’s complete, edited as best I possibly can at this point, and it’s entertaining. I did tons of research and was open to criticism. I’m not a perfect writer, and anywhere I can improve, I should improve.

And at the same time – I have read published books that were much worse than mine.  I don’t understand how that happens. There are some things that are matter of aesthetics. I personally don’t understand why everyone raves about The Old Man and the Sea, and I once got in a heated debate with my grandma (who is very well read) because I think Catcher in the Rye is brilliant and she hated it. They’re both well written books, but they’re not for everyone.

My book IS for everyone. Who likes urban fantasy/young adult/romance with lots of 80’s references and pop culture anecdotes. (Is it shocking that my hero came of age in the 80’s and turned into a vampire in 1994 – the greatest year of all time?)

The fact is that I’m going to keep writing whether or not I get published, and my writing is going to improve. I really hit my stride this past year, and it’s only going to get better from here. I understand that.

Lou Diamond Phillips told me to never give up on my dream. I think he was making some point about how he is living the dream (this said unironically while sitting in the jungle where Janice Dickenson pees and his last movie being Carnivale debuting on the Sci-Fi channel and the only way anybody knows who he is is from movies he did over twenty years ago). But the this is, Lou is right, and not just because I’ve had a crush on him for most of my life or because I really love The Big Hit. It’s beacuse you can’t give up on them.

Someday I’ll suceed. I would just enjoy it more if it were sooner rather than later.

I’ve written over 30k words in five days. Am I published yet?

“Switched” is awesome. I really enjoy it. Finn is a bit more archetypal, but I think Wendy is less so, so it evens out.

Jack was a very different hero from the ones I was used to, and I did that on purpose. He was clumsy and funny and charming and not the most attractive. Finn is smooth and strong and brooding and intelligent. But I like them both equally.

That would be a fun love triangle.

But not today. Not any day. “Switched” requires no vampire assistance.

All I am going to say is that my new book is called “Switched” and it’s flippin awesome. It’s NOT about vampires, either, but it is an urban fantasy. And it’s pretty fancy.

I will also say that Zachary Quinto is gosh darn sexy. That’s not entirely related. Well, not at all, really. But… oh well.

I wrote 11k words tonight, and I am proud of that achievement. I have at least one sequel in mind, but I’m not really sure if I have anything beyond that. Either way, this is gonna be awesome. I think this has a chance at success cuz it’s an urban fantasy not about vampires. And some people are sick of that.

I don’t know. I’m trying things. That’s all I can do.

And even if nobody else likes this, I do.

While that seems mighty obvious to everyone that there is no magic hand that just sweeps in and makes all you dreams come true, it gets to easy believe/hope that one might exist. After you’ve done the hard work of writing the book, you assume that you can just sit back and relax and someone will just take it from there.

And when then wasn’t the case, my initial reaction was to sob and assume that there was something with wrong with me and give up. Somebody rejected me for a reason, and that reason must be that I’m the worst writer ever. I should never be allowed near the written word.

Is this true? Doubtful.

It wasn’t until I saw Mark Hoppus giving advice to Pete Wentz about what up and coming kids needed to do in order make bands happen that it finally hit me. He worked his ass off to get where he was at, and he is far more charming than I am. Maybe better looking too. So again, I thought that it was easier for him.

And you know what? Maybe it was. But chances are, I’ll never have to travel all over the desert in a van with two other hot sweaty dudes so people will read my book. I’ll never be booed offstage. So there. I have some things going for me.

He said there was no magic hand. Making good songs (or writing a good book) is only a small part of the battle. And in the end, it’s not even the most essential part. (I’m sure you’ve read and heard terrible things. You know being good isn’t a requirement to getting an agent.) But I have a good book. So I’m already ahead of the game.

So for the past six months, I have been working my ass. I have been doing ever concieveable thing that can do. Starting with writing an actual good book that has a definable market. I’ve learned a lot. The most important thing is that I can’t take it personal, I have to work hard, and pissing and moaning has never helped anybody with anything.

I have definitely grown up in the past six months, and that reflects both in my book and my work ethic. This WILL happen. It’s only a matter of time, and I’ve got time. So here we go. I am my own magic hand.

I think the next novel I write will take place in the 80’s. I am obsessed with that decade. I just think it would be so awesome to turn on the radio and here it. And make mix tapes. And see John Hughes in theaters. And watch Golden Girls. (RIP Bea Arthur 🙁 )

Tonight I watched Family Guy and there was a reference to Silence of the Lambs and I almost wet myself with glee.

I finished re-editing my first book for the last time until someone professional does it. It’s good as I can humanly make it on my own. And I’ve read it twenty times in three months, so I’m ready to take a break from reading it.

I need to go back to working on third book, but I haven’t felt like it cause I’ve been working so heavy on the first one.

This is really hard. I’ve worked harder on this than I have on anything else in my entire life, but I’m going to continue working hard on it until I get what I want. If I never get what I want, then I guess I’ll just work hard until I die.

But I’m toying around with the idea about a superhero book. Maybe I’ll have that take place in the 80’s. Or would that be too Watchmen-esque? I’d also like to write about a unicorn. But how the hell do you write about a unicorn? I don’t really know.

Oh well. I’ll figure it out before I write. But right now, I’m just working on this one. And hopefully, this will turn out well. Soon.