About Cherie M. Priest

Tiny Godzilla since 1975

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  Do you listen to music when you write?

  0 0 Generally, no. I find it distracting. But a lot of people love it - and make up playlists for various projects. Sometimes I do compose a playlist, but it's usually just for giggles - a list of songs that I feel capture the vibe of whatever I'm working on. But I don't listen to them while I work. They're for other people, not me. Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

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  Write drunk; edit sober?

  2 0 No booze while drinking or editing, apart from the occasional glass of wine. But never more than one while working. Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer and comment »

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  Since you're a part time editor, are you able to catch most of your grammatical mistakes yourself?

  0 0 Grammatical mistakes? Sure. Continuity errors? Not at all. I do a lot of dumb stuff - like having a character lose her keys, then let herself into her car with them two pages later. For example, in an early draft of Bloodshot, I had a drag queen take off her shoes three times in one scene. Thank God for having a second set of eyes on my material. I don't know what I'd do without my editors. Wait. I would look like a moron, that's what I'd do. Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer and comment »

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  Who and what do you like to read in your free time?

  1 0 Heh :) I read a lot of nonfiction, and very little fiction - not because I don't like fiction, but because I can tell myself I'm researching when I read the true stuff. I have so little free time for reading that I have to make it count from a multi-tasking standpoint. At the moment, I'm wrapping up The Devil and Sherlock Holmes (essays from the guy who did the Lost City of Z) and starting up one called The Murder Room (I think?) about the Vidocq Society. Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer and comment »

• Follow Following 1 Write drunk; edit sober? lesfuqua asked Cherie M. Priest in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago 1 Answer by Cherie M. Priest…

• Follow Following 1 Since you're a part time editor, are you able to catch most of your grammatical mistakes yourself? libraloco asked Cherie M. Priest in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago 1 Answer by Cherie M. Priest…

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  Boneshaker was full of cool tropes, and it looks like Dreadnaught will be too. What's next?

  3 0 Next will be a Hunley version 4.0 submarine book about Andan Cly and his crew having a damp misadventure in a Texian-occupied New Orleans, plus Bonus! guerrilla warfare, other assorted historic pirates, and a mixed-race madam who moonlights as a Union spy. It's called GANYMEDE. After that, I'm not sure yet. We're still mulling over a couple of different projects. It might involved a zombie Sasquatch. Or not. We'll see! Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer and comment »

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  So I'm 180,000 words into the first draft of a scifi novel. What the hell do I do when I finish it?

  2 0 Well, I've got a minute, so here goes: First of all, finish it. As a new writer, you won't get anywhere trying to sell an unfinished project. So start there. And then move on to the following. Thing #1: That's a huge draft for a first novel. You will have better luck trying to sell something smaller, more like 100-130K words. Split it into more than one book, if you need to. Not trying to cramp your style, just trying to be genuinely helpful, rather than merely supportive. Thing #2: Pick up a copy of the WRITERS MARKET from Writer's Digest. (Or one of the other similar reference volumes, though WM is probably the best reputed.) You can get it in the reference section of any bookstore worth its salt, or find it at the library (but make sure you have the absolute most recent edition - as there's a lot of turnover in publishing). Read it cover to cover; don't skip the articles. That book will teach you how to write a query, create a proposal or synopsis, who to approach, how various editors and agents want to see the material presented, who is accepting submissions and who is closed to them, what you can expect once you send your query off, and more. Thing #3: When you've picked a batch of people (agents or editors, though I recommend starting with agents), the internet is your friend. Swing by Preditors and Editors, a crowd-sourced guide to publishers and publishing services that is less formal than the WM but no less helpful. Drop by the SFWA and make sure there aren't any known issues with your chosen editors, publishers, or agents. Thing #4: Follow directions. Check an agent/editor's website and submit material EXACTLY as they request it. If you spy discrepancies between the WM and the agent/editor's personal page, go with what's on the website - as it was likely composed by the person in question, and not submitted via an assistant or other employee. Thing #5: Be patient. Publishing moves at the speed of molasses heading uphill in January. Do not pester the editors or agents if you have not heard from them, unless you've waited well past their estimated response times - and then, be polite. Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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  If you were a kitchen utensil...which one would you be???

  1 0 Well, I often compare my brain to a slotted spoon ... Cherie M. Priest answered in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago Answer and comment »

• Follow Following 1 If you were a kitchen utensil...which one would you be??? Jonathan Solis asked Cherie M. Priest in Visiting Authors about 1 year ago 1 Answer by Cherie M. Priest…

• See all of my 0 Questions , 53 Answers and 11 Comments