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So, I finished a novel. Now what to do with it?

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tsstevens Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did from Reading tropes such as Righting Great Wrongs Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: She's holding a very large knife
Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did
#1: Jan 12th 2019 at 1:37:39 PM

Over the past two years I had been hard at work on a novel and last week I had finished writing it up properly in Word 2016.

The Truth of the Matter covers the stressful time of being persecuted for a crime the main character did not commit. The other work, Black & Blue was the last title I believe, on a Original Australian woman in the Western Australia police, that is still very much a thing but this is what I had focused on. It's raw, angry, as close to how it really is as I can make it.

So...now that it has gone from being hand written to transcribed to text to a proper presentable format, what do I want to do with it? I could take it to a publisher. I could try and eek out critique and ways to improve it. Or I might even just release it for public domain.

Were I to put up, say, the first few chapters might that be worthwhile doing? Sharing the first ten odd pages, seeing how people might get a feel for the story?

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#2: Jan 12th 2019 at 4:21:04 PM

Have you considered self-publishing, say through Amazon?

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
tsstevens Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did from Reading tropes such as Righting Great Wrongs Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: She's holding a very large knife
Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did
#4: Jan 12th 2019 at 4:41:32 PM

I guess what I am looking at chasing up is now that I have largely finished self editing and the like, should I see if a publisher would be interested in releasing it in book form? Might it be better to look at putting it up myself for people to read online?

The basic idea of the story is to try and get across the pain a false accusation causes. For the benefit of anyone interested I would be happy to give a preview of the first several pages to see, at the very least, if I had been successful in putting that message across as the reader...hmm, reads through. In fact if anyone would care to read the beginning of the book I have included it below. No sense in being coy at all.

It basically runs in diary form, the main character's wife recounting just how difficult a time a police...fishing expedition for want of a better term, trying to find something that can be pinned on a suspect while refusing to provide any information beyond, "You Know What You Did." Below for anyone who would like to read is the beginning of the first The Truth of the Matter novel, Inadmissible.

January 27th 2018

I was never the religious type that was something I'd always left to Tabitha. Yet here I was on the freezing frost covered morning a, beautiful morning that the cloudless go I promise to lead to a beautiful day, thinking her the church with locked up to keep people out. On some level I could understand the reasoning of the people who own it but on the other hand could not help but think that for people of God, of religion, to turn their back on everyone who needs refuge, needs help, for supposedly good people to do it only reaffirm my religious views or lack thereof. Not that I can hold myself to such high ideals maybe, a smoking drinking young woman who has wanted to kill in the past, try to, tried to find the means to avenge my wife. The church might not find favor with her either despite her belief in God, not liking what she did or what she has been claimed to have done or her relationship to me. Even if she was guilty, which I know it's not true and Tabitha was innocent of what the police or the court say she did I still love her, which is why I was here today despite my feelings towards the church. This was where Tabitha wanted to be and why I was here to see her now. I even bought a bottle of Jinzu, Japanese gin with sake and flowers as I recall, Tabitha’s favorite, again one of the things we differed on but I loved her just the same even now. With the drink in hand and staring up at the closed church I suddenly noticed a patrol car and knowing that I might look to them a drunk trying to break in ran off towards the graveyard, fighting back the resentment for how they unfairly persecuted us. How they gave no apology after what Tabitha did, not even when my wife was found to be innocent, too late. No remorse, no justification for how much they pushed or how much they got it wrong. The police may push the line of only doing their job but that was what was said at Nuremburg. That was unkind but after what they did they can push to line of doing the right thing all that like but just the same as a church what they say and what I see are two completely different things. But at last the cop had moved on and I was now where I would finally see my wife after all this time. With one more look around for pork and seeing the coast was clear I walked across the frosted grass, the sun already melting the ice. I could almost hear Tabitha tell me off for being scared of the police. She would understand of course, at the same time she would have wanted me to stand up to them like we tried before. Then I saw her and I reached into a pocket for the fresh batch of pills the doctors prescribed to me, following the temptation to just down the lot and let nature take its course but Tabitha wouldn't want that and I somehow found the strength to see her. Mixing the tablets with the alcohol might not have been bright but Tabitha would have no grounds to complain after what happened. I intended to knock back half the bottle before leaving the rest for her but I only managed two or three mouthfuls of the Japanese gin before feeling it have an effect. She deserved it more than I did and poured out the rest of the bottle for her. I had not seen her since she took off that one night and didn't come back. I couldn't brave seeing her when the cops arrived, told me what happened, didn't apologize or admit they were wrong of course, nor when the courts found her innocent. I couldn't see her at church before. But now I could not brave at any longer and had to see her, what was left of her, the marble that indicated where Tabitha law now that I saw it for the first time made me think she was better off now than she was at the end. That may sound cold but desperate for Tabitha was a wreck and it was tearing us both apart. Had it been me instead of her I would want the same, she did want to same and even after I came to terms with seeing her break down and cry or lash out or still carry the guilt of not being strong enough or smart enough to save her. Perhaps the worst was seeing her second guess herself or rationalize her innocence, guessing that there would be NSA satellites or Homeland Security wiretapping or some hacking, she would be stupid to act out but nothing either of us said or done made a difference. Looking down at Tabitha’s headstone I really wanted to be down there in the ground with her now. Instead I slumped against her grave in exhaustion for what seemed an eternity.

Ashes to ashes Dust to dust Farewell old friend

One year ago, January 27th 2017

They came in like stormtroopers, I don't care how offensive that term is, demanding we let them in before presenting a search warrant for any computers or phones we may have had. Tabitha tried to be the good girl and let them do what they want, which in hindsight had been helpful but I came out firing, spitting chips. Australian term, didn’t I say? I’m Australian, married to Tabitha Logan, motorcycle enthusiast and television buff and recently laid off and invasion of our home was the last thing she needed. I told them same sex marriage is legal now despite what some still believe and…oops again. I'm a woman, you're talking to a woman. Amanda Stevens Logan and I am of the sadly terminally unemployed, no family, no future, all I had was Tabitha, like her I did not need this and demanded answers, which none of the three detectives were willing to provide. I was no saint and neither was Tabitha but what the cops were doing here now, they had no grounds to be here that I could see and when she began acting scared after passively letting the detectives take everything, that was had. So when they wouldn't even let me get close to her, try and comfort her, I guess I wasn't too smart in wanting to lash out and one of the detectives must have noticed and tried to grab me, push me back. I thought it reasonable use of force to slap the hand away but next thing I know he’s yelling about assault police. Tabitha looks like she wants to try and protect me but being that must bigger and taller of us there the other two detectives tried to stop her but to my surprise also spoke to the one that wanted to arrest me, tried to talk him down. Tabitha was shaking at this point and I cannot remember much until they left but nothing was said about what the police were looking for, Tabitha signed for everything the police took. She was clearly in a state of shock and kept asking why this was happening and one of the detectives seemed to be sympathetic but gave no explanation as to why they had a search warrant, why everything was taken. When the police finally left I asked Tabitha why there would be any grounds to be searched. I had never seen her so scared and knew right away that she would need a lot of help and support to get through this. I did ask if there is anything to be concerned about, foolish I know, and she freaked, was adamant she had done nothing wrong but I could not get any more than that out of her. Tabitha was just that distraught as I was, it would not have been wise for me to push further so I then thought to ask Tabitha what if anything she wanted to do. She looked so shocked and lost, I wish there was something that could have been done to help her but she pushed me away, saying she just wanted to be alone. I didn't want to leave her, knowing she would need if not want me maybe then someone to look after her. Were you to look at Tabitha you might think she is this big tall scary woman but the truth is she struggles a lot, wants to take care of herself and others and, I don't know, burns herself out over it all. She needs help, especially now, and would often push it away and only look for it when it was far too late but then Tabitha got up clearly confused and out of it after that raid and said she needed something, anything, to try and take her mind off of what happened. As if! Tabi would dwell and obsess over it and keep it to herself but she would need to talk about whatever it is the police were looking for. Tabi was just far too stunned, far too out of it to do anything, by rights so was I but still I guided her to the car, feeling so numb so I could only imagine what she was going through. I put her in the car, both of us in a stunned silence, drove Tabi to the local shops where I watched her wonder in a daze until she finally mustered the courage to buy herself some smokes which she started going through on the spot. I must confess I was tempted myself to smoke and drink into a stupor but I did do something else that was rather foolish and asked Tabi if she had done something wrong. Her reaction was to lose the plot completely, screaming denials after she collapsed, rocking back-and-forth. I had to intervene when she started punching herself in the head and tried to get her out of there but it was no use. Tabi was a wreck over what the police did and all I could do was try and be strong for her until she got it out of his system and I could get her home.

January 28th 2017

We had been watching television and video for the past day, the physical copies we were left with rather than the downloads that Tabitha and I had purchased while trying to cope with what happened. But we could not eat or drink, we tried to sleep together but could not comfort each other to where we could do so. In fact Tabi had not moved from the couch, all she did was smoke where she lay and stared at the screen, clearly trying to hold it together. Just as I am and I was, impossible as it was to even try. Tabitha kept trying to figure out what exactly the police thought she had done wrong, trying to reason and rationalize what happened while I tried calling the police for information, lawyers, legal advice, letting tabby on a phone where she begged for help but were refused by everyone. I got the terrifying impression from all I spoke to that we were already pre judged to be guilty and were being made to suffer. Tabi could not handle being rejected at all and I found myself questioning how this could possibly happen and again I foolishly asked but Tabitha could not explain, again falling to pieces as she tried. And at that point I knew something had to be done and phoned an ambulance thinking that she had to be admitted into accident and emergency because of a breakdown. Was not overstating it, again Tabi was punching herself in the head and lashing out when I tried to intervene. This was all heard on the phone as well as how distraught we both were and I caught that they were on their way but I could not keep on the phone and leave Tabi to keep on acting the way she was. Out of fear she would really do herself damage I tried yelling at her, shaking her, but it was no use. She was shaking like a leaf and didn't know that she did anything wrong, it would horrifying seeing her this was. As it was when a couple who must have heard us and came to the door demanding answers. In the state I was in I told them what happened, cursing the pig dogs over what they did, then the paramedics arrived with me still trying to help Tabi, still trying to explain now to the doctors how we were both going through a meltdown. Tabitha suffer from them at times she gets overwhelmed and…well like this and I react in a similar fashion, it's full on Rain Man, hysteria. The medics when I told them the situation replied it may be delayed reaction to the police raid as little sense as that made except that what happened was only just now starting to sink in. Somehow they're able to control Tabi, console her enough to let them help her to the ambulance before seeing if I needed to go with her. As if it wasn't evident with just one look at me and with my explanation they allowed me to travel with Tabi, try to calm her down along with one of the medics in the back. As we traveled he admitted to not being qualified to give any advice on our circumstances but encouraged us to try not to stress and said how the police only took the computer and if it was something more serious they would have done more. That seemed to resonate with Tabitha, at least it helped calm her down somewhat, at least she was able to be talked to, reasoned with, until we reached accident & emergency where they helped us in. Tabi tried reading, watching the TV while we waited to be seen it was showing something about harder penalties for computer crime. The police going on a rampage to cover up earlier failings, and she got very stressed about it and had to step out which I could sympathize with as it was about the worst thing to see at the moment and seeing her like this I don't know whether to try and help like I had been before. Or leave her to work through it herself. I just felt so helpless about it all and knew Tabi was the same, knew that if she had any idea about is she would not put herself through all this, would not put me through this. I could not make head nor tail of it all except that Tabi is begging for help, for answers, but none were forthcoming. She came back in wondering where when there would be a doctor who could see her as and again explained our situation, repeating what the medic said when we were brought in. The nurse assured I said it would be soon and the minutes seemed to tick by like hours, Tabi was clearly not coping nor was I and that I think could be seen and sympathized with because we didn't have to wait long until we were admitted through. Tabi attempted to say just why we're so distraught but was plainly in no fit state to do so, I doubt my frame of mind was any better but I was able to talk about the police raid, the accusations made, how we had done something wrong on a computer but they would not give any details. How lost we both were for an explanation and how to cope. The reply we were given was the same as we were told before, try not to stress and take in the threats as at the moment it was just an investigation. Into want we had no idea and the police would give us any information. On that I suppose there is not much that could be said but it was no help, asking the impossible and doing it are two completely different things. The medication would help though, Tabitha asked about Anti-depressants but the doctor said they would take weeks to kick in and we needed something that would work now so he instead prescribed us a drug called diazepam to calm us down but the problem being is it can be addictive. And that is a thing to lie at the feet…trotters if you will, of the pig dogs. I feel no shame in saying that, no shame at all, we are innocent and this is how badly the dogs are affecting us. Raiding our home, taking our stuff, throwing out these accusations of being criminals and we have no idea what we're supposed to have done that was wrong, all the stuff we did online was legit. We were given the script and a follow up appointment as well as booking for us to call a forensic psychologist to speak to. Tabi was quite enthusiastic at the idea as well, as well as this she had a massive lot for her to get off her mass…she was up to chatting to professional help, from work to chastisement for her views. She seemed to be coping a little better, haven't gotten the help we both need, and I asked for a cab to take her to the chemist and then home. Hopefully now we can figure out just what is going on.

Edited by tsstevens on Jan 12th 2019 at 11:42:36 PM

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#5: Jan 12th 2019 at 4:52:42 PM

The proper place for that is the constructive criticism thread. There is a waiting line. We really shouldnt penalize those people who have been waiting patiently for their work to be critiqued: why dont you go there and put yourself in the que?

As for publishing, that is really hard if you dont have a few short stories published in magazines already. Self-publishing is a kind of entry-level activity these days- it gives you (and prospective publishers) a sense of how well recieved your writing style is with a target audience.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
tsstevens Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did from Reading tropes such as Righting Great Wrongs Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: She's holding a very large knife
Reading tropes such as You Know What You Did
#6: Jan 12th 2019 at 5:56:46 PM

That's the proper place for it? Okay sure I'll take the matter over there for critique while I've given some thought to how I would like to go about what to do with it, thank you.

Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours
crazysamaritan NaNo 4328 / 50,000 from Lupin III Since: Apr, 2010
NaNo 4328 / 50,000
#7: Jan 13th 2019 at 6:19:42 PM

Or I might even just release it for public domain.
Publishing for free isn't the same as releasing to public domain. You can retain copyright even if you're freely distributing the work.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.
Sharysa Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Jan 17th 2019 at 2:04:00 PM

Crowdfunded publishing is actually a thing now, and it's vastly easier than traditional publishing. Trying to get readers so it can actually be PUBLISHED is the hard part, though. Also, you have a lot more control over your cover-art concepts (either making one yourself or asking someone to make one for you), so no Contemptible Cover issues here.

The two websites I use are Inkitt and Inkshares.

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