Fiction Writers tracker thread

Allen Stroud · Nov 3, 2013

If we're updating this, worth noting the following:

1. John's complete draft is with Fantastic.
2. Drew's complete draft is with Fantastic.
3. My complete draft is with Fantastic.
4. Andre Czausov (Nvmb3rth30ry) logged onto the forum today.
5. Elite Chronicles/Reader Crowd - worth talking to some of the people involved to see what's going on? Think your sheet is doing it a bit of a disservice.

Darren Grey · Nov 3, 2013

Made a few updates, took out some subjective comments. Good spot with Andre!

The Flying Gribble · Nov 25, 2013

Kate logged into her Nosy Parkers circle over the weekend. Very busy with work, confident that on target for March release and hoping for draft before Christmas.

Darren Grey · Nov 26, 2013

Cool, thanks for that update!

One thing that I should note is that this tracker sheet does measure writers somewhat by their communication, which isn't necessarily a reflection of their activity.

Darren Grey · Jan 16, 2014

I've given the writers tracker sheet a bit of an update again, a year on from when most of the crowdfunds finished. Drew is now pretty much complete, others still have some distance to go but are reliably getting there. Andre and Boz have clarified their situations a bit, and whilst they're very behind they at least are still determined to make something of it.

There's a pretty clear division between the top 7 and the rest, I must say. Bravo to those that have done well this year! We'll see at least 7 great Elite books released in the coming months

drew · Jan 16, 2014

Darren Grey said:
I've given the writers tracker sheet a bit of an update again, a year on from when most of the crowdfunds finished. Drew is now pretty much complete, others still have some distance to go but are reliably getting there. Andre and Boz have clarified their situations a bit, and whilst they're very behind they at least are still determined to make something of it.

There's a pretty clear division between the top 7 and the rest, I must say. Bravo to those that have done well this year! We'll see at least 7 great Elite books released in the coming months

Great job Darren, not quite accurate for me though. Probably better to say 'Submitted to Frontier, awaiting feedback'. Michael's in receipt of the manuscript, but I haven't received feedback yet. He was due to start reading it at some point this week.

Cheers,

Drew.

ps. And good call on the starmap.

Andrew Sayers · Jan 16, 2014

Darren Grey said:
I've given the writers tracker sheet a bit of an update again

Oh good - I refer to that now and then and was starting to think it had been abandoned.

But, erm, are you sure Drew hasn't logged in since January last year?

Voyager_NL · Jan 16, 2014

Hi Darren,

To my recollection Cmdr. Boz once anounced the title of his book to be: "The Cost of Exploration".
It will be difficult to confirm with him but it might be something to add to your list.

Thanks for the update and good to see so many are on track. All the best wishes to the ones falling behind! Don't give up, if at least you give it a try when you can. I've got 34Euro invested in the bottom 4 books so no big worries for me. Backed almost all of them, except for Dave Hughs's.

Just wondering: if Allen could let us know what he thinks of the qualilty of T. James's book. No spoilers please. Just his impression.

Cheers all!

Darren Grey · Jan 16, 2014

drew said:
Great job Darren, not quite accurate for me though. Probably better to say 'Submitted to Frontier, awaiting feedback'. Michael's in receipt of the manuscript, but I haven't received feedback yet. He was due to start reading it at some point this week.

Whoops, sorry - I think I got confused with your editor feedback.

Andrew Sayers said:
But, erm, are you sure Drew hasn't logged in since January last year?

Ah, curse you, oh inevitable march of time!

Voyager_NL said:
To my recollection Cmdr. Boz once anounced the title of his book to be: "The Cost of Exploration".
It will be difficult to confirm with him but it might be something to add to your list.

I've seen that before but wasn't sure it was official. I put it in anyway. Likely Andre will change his title as well.

Allen Stroud · Jan 16, 2014

Voyager_NL said:
Just wondering: if Allen could let us know what he thinks of the qualilty of T. James's book. No spoilers please. Just his impression.

Tough question.

If I said 'its amazing, you must read it', I provoke smiles all around.

If I give a qualified response in any detail, then as I see it, I'm betraying the confidentiality of my working relationship with the writer. I certainly wouldn't want an editor of mine posting views, positive or negative, prior to the piece being finished.

Any other options wouldn't be doing the work justice.

Apologies, but I'm going to take the fifth...

EDIT - Which isn't to say it isn't amazing... or is... or... either or... whatever...

Darren Grey · Jan 16, 2014

Well personally I don't think Allen would agree to put his name down as editor on a piece if he didn't have faith on it being good

drew · Jan 17, 2014

Allen Stroud said:
EDIT - Which isn't to say it isn't amazing... or is... or... either or... whatever...

Don't take a job in marketing!

Cheers,

Drew.

T. James · Jan 17, 2014

Voyager_NL said:
Backed almost all of them, except for Dave Hughs's.

Just wondering: if Allen could let us know what he thinks of the qualilty of T. James's book. No spoilers please. Just his impression.

Cheers all!

First, thanks for backing the book.

But, nah, I wouldn't read it. It sucks.

Back to reality: I'm very conscious that people have backed this book upfront, with no more than assurances that it'll be worth reading. All I can promise is that I'm doing my level best to write and produce it to the highest quality. (I know, another assurance.) But something a little more concrete: it's an official Elite: Dangerous novel, and Frontier won't let it passed the approval process if it's crepe (as the French would say).

Other than that, there's links to some of my writing online in the forum signature below. If you're curious as to what I can do, then this may, or may not, help.

Cheers,

TJ.

Selezen · Jan 17, 2014

I've only just noticed this thread. The google spreadsheet made me have to go hunting for my google password... ;-)

Great idea though. If you want, feel free to update my progress. Currently looking at about 67,000 words and about 1/3 done. At this stage I can't definitely say that I'll manage the April release date but I'm still plugging away, spending about 4 hours a day on it (despite protests of absence from the missus!) about equally split between writing a section and reviewing/editing a different section.

Voyager_NL · Jan 17, 2014

Thanks guys for your answers.
TJ I think you can rest assured with such a trustworthy editor/proofreader.
Basically I was just trying to pry loose a reaction from Allen. It isn't that I wasn't convinced of the quality everyone is producing. FD won't let that happen indeed.
So I guess we're OK.

T. James · Jan 18, 2014

Voyager_NL said:
Thanks guys for your answers.
TJ I think you can rest assured with such a trustworthy editor/proofreader.
Basically I was just trying to pry loose a reaction from Allen. It isn't that I wasn't convinced of the quality everyone is producing. FD won't let that happen indeed.
So I guess we're OK.

Allen? He's a class act - it's why I asked him to be editor.

I have to get the book... everyone has to get their books by Michael Brookes and David Braben. I'd rather face Cerberus and the Minotaur.

drew · Jan 18, 2014

Voyager_NL said:
Thanks guys for your answers.
TJ I think you can rest assured with such a trustworthy editor/proofreader.
Basically I was just trying to pry loose a reaction from Allen. It isn't that I wasn't convinced of the quality everyone is producing. FD won't let that happen indeed.
So I guess we're OK.

I think Frontier will have a strong eye for quality based on previous experience (i.e. the amount of red ink I got just on the synopsis!). David and I were debating the habitability pros and cons of stellar spectral type and orbital inclinations at one point... !

Cheers,

Drew.