Windswept, evaluation and the likes

[wiseheart]

Got last year's evaluation results of my work.

I came off over 80 per cent, which belongs to the "very good" category, so unless our idiotic government manages to come up with any new "reforms", I guess I might be able to keep my job for a while. Joy. No, really. It is what it is, but it's work, and it pays the bills, for which I'm grateful. At my age, finding a new job would be extremely hard.

I wish they would still let us retire at the age of 55, as they used to do during the previous regime. I'm turning 55 next month, and I'd welcome the chance to have proper time and peace to write. After all, that was what I always wanted to be: a writer.

Unfortunately, over here, for that you'd either need excellent contacts or disgusting amounts of money. I have neither of those. So, after writing for the desk drawer for decades, I fell into the fanfic trap, for which there's at least a chance to be put up on the internet - even if I'm not one of those immensely popular authors, there are a handful of people who read my stuff faithfully.

I'd love to write some original stuff again, but after having "licked blood", as the Germans would say, the thought of writing for the desk driver depresses me. It might be megalomaniac, but I'd just love to see my name printed on the cover of a book. And not just as the translator; I've done that, and it was a warm, fuzzy feeling when my students discovered said books in awe in the gift shop of Pannonhalma Abbey - but it's not the same.

I could go back to the Grand Fantasy Epos(TM) and try to rewrite the couple of hundred pages that I lent to someone and never got back. Of course, the whole thing would need a thorough overhaul, and I'd do it, if I had the slightest chance to see it published. But rewrite and then type up 1,500 pages for nothing - that's a luxury I cannot afford right now. I could put it up to FictinPress.com, in fact, two or three chapters of Book One are already up, but since it's in Hungarian, the interest is practically nonexistent.

Currently, my only other original stuff are the snippets of the "Windswept" universe. I tried to rework the intro according the suggestions of stevie_carroll in the recent days, during which I've discovered a fairly old version of the first page written up somewhere, that doesn't match the newer concept at all. But I kinda like it, too. So I'm a bit uncertain what to do... not that it would matter. Getting something published in English would be even more impossible than in Hungarian.

So, that's it about original writing, I guess, at least for the present. If I live long enough to retire, who knows...

Comments

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
Good that they think you are doing your job well! Hopefully it will lead to them letting you do more of the actual teaching! :)

I understand what you mean about original writing - it is very hard to write stuff without the hope of the kind of feedback that can come in fandom. Although if you link it, I'd like to read anything that is in English. (Sadly my language skills aren't up to reading in Hungarian) :)

One possibility if you get it finished for publication instead of publishing is to get it formatting as an ebook for sale or free on any of the various sites that allowed it. (I know it is probably too technical for you to do yourself, but if you get to that stage I might be able to do it for you (well, I know from prodding things that I could do the technical stuff, it is the time, energy etc), or some one else might)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)
I'll come back to you when I have anything in presentable shape. No worries, I don't expect it to happen any time soon.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

There are still markets out there for SF and fantasy short stories, if you decided to try your hand at that. I think you're more likely to get published in English Hungarian than in Hungarian because more books get published in English.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Ummm... I'm really not sure what you mean with that last sentence. Sorry. *ducks*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

That's because I typed it wrong then edited it wrong. Very tired at the moment. I meant: it may be easier to publish in English because more books are published in English.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that your evaluation turned out so well! I'm not surprised -- you clearly work very hard and care that the kids actually learn things -- but it's still good to seen to be doing good work and to have that acknowledged. Well done!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely encourage you to write more original fiction and submit it to the (mostly US) indie publishers that are springing up all over the place.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if I knew how to do it and if I had a native speaker brave enough to go through the stuff with the fine-toothed comb to eradicate all grammar weirdness...

Edited for abovementioned grammar weirdness. *sighs*

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

It's worth following call_for_subs to get ideas about what the little publishers are looking for, and also the review blogs so you can see who's publishing similar fiction right now.

As for editing, you may get lucky find that tiny publishers are sometimes happier to work with you at weeding out the weirdness if you have a really strong story. Or they will, at least be inclined to refer you to someone who can help.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Frist I'll have to produce some sort of story, though, haven't I?
*is doubtful about that*

In any case, I've got a birthday gift for you, Hobbit-style: I finally got my act together and rewamped the introduction to the Windswept universe. Look up the latest entry; it's somewhere on the bottom of the page by now, most likely.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll come up with something wonderful, if you decide that's what you want to do.

And thanks. I'll go look a little later, when I have fewer distractions.