Into Chapter Three

On page 47 and over 13,000 words, and still no title for my historical novel. But John Dunn will have a title. I'm thinking the title should have the word Zulu in it somewhere or somehow. So something like Blood of Zululand. That might work. or High Road to Zululand. That's kind of catchy. I do want to get away from things like John Dunn of Zululand, or the White Chief of Zululand, because those are taken.

I'll keep thinking. Meanwhile, I'll keep writing, too. But today most of my time was spent reading the books I have on the man, and serfing the net in research mode.

Not sure if that forum is going to help. So I emailed Dan Dunn. He's a direct descendant of John Dunn. He's a tour guide over there in South Africa. Hopefully he'll respond with some positive vibes and some info I could use. We'll see.

Community of Writers

As part of the Virtual Tales publishing experience, I was invited to join the Virtual Tales Contributors Group, which is sort of like a fraternity of authors, all of whom are published by Virtual Tales. It's really an exclusive membership, because if you are not contracted by Virtual Tales, as I understand it, you are not able to join.

Anyway, it's like a forum kind of setup, just like you have on the Absolute Write Water Cooler, which, btw, is one of the most helpful forums I have ever used. I've talked about it before, and I hope any author seeking representation or publication refers to it.

Now the Virtual Tales Contributors Group will be my source of information and advice, but I will still be dropping in on the Absolute Write Water Cooler now and then. It's the one site where anyone can go and feel like a writer, even if you're not published. Heck, you can go on there and feel like a writer, even if you never wrote anything. That's how great that site is.

As for the Virtual Tales Contributors Group, it's something that helps you along as a first time published author, like me, without feeling like an outsider. It's cool, especially since I've already made a connection with another author. Interestingly, it was from Absolute Write that we first made contact. Yes, authors really are some of the most helpful and honorable people with whom I have ever had the pleasure to know. Not once have any writers reduced themselves to petty behavior, in my experience. I think it's because we don't compete with each other. That's a great point.

Fellow Writers

Well, it's Christmas eve, and I feel the Christmas spirit. But one of the reasons I feel it is because I feel that I'm a part of the writing community! I have never been a part of something so selfless as being a writer.

Sure, teachers, also, are a great community. They go out of their way to help fellow teachers in their schools and/or districts. But there is just something about writers. I have received so much help from other writers who don't even know me. All they know is that I claim to be a writer, and it's like they bend over backwards to offer advice and help.

Check it out. You've got writer/agent blogs like Nathan Bransford, one of many who helps uncounted writers and aspiring writers in their writing and publication journeys.

There are other writers, too, like Victoria Strauss who goes out of her way to help anyone in their quest toward publication.

These are just two of so many more I would love to tout. The people in the writing world are some of the greatest people on the planet. I truly believe it.

Moving Along

As most people know, the publishing process is a long one. I'm moving along pretty well right now, with two completed and polished manuscripts being considered by some pretty decent publishers.

But not just any publishers. I've found that in the writing business there are some absolutely great people, and then of course you have the other side of the fence. Scammers, they're called. People who take advantage of authors desperate for publication, and then take their money, as a result.

That's why I promised myself, as I've said before, that I won't spend a dime to get published. So if any contract, be it a Literary Agent's or Publisher's, calls for me to pay them, I walk away.

Some great online resources are Writer Beware, Preditors & Editors, and Absolute Write. These websites help authors discern which agents and publishers are good ones, and which ones are bad. One of the most wonderful people with whom I've had the pleasure to converse is Victoria Strauss. She's an author and she runs the Writer Beware website. She also chimes in a lot on the Absolute Write Forum.

If you have any doubts about an agent or a publisher, she will go out of her way to help you. People like Victoria Strauss make me believe in the greatness of the human condition. Thank God for people like her.