Throwing in the Towel...

[mighalpern]

Liz:
a quick suggestion. 
My dad and I did this 45 years ago for our first RR
we had a shelf unit that was 8 feet long about 3 feet tall in the garage.
we hinged a 4X8 sheet of plywood to the top edge, attached folding legs and had a layout that could stow out of the way( and for you that could mean Cat safe)
had it for several years, actually made wiring under the layout very easy. fold up, wire away.  could still bring the car in and because it was away from the wall we had mountains that didn't get crushed
Just a thought.  N scale is so small that you can create a lot in say a 2x6 piece.
Miguel

[Englewood]

I too have cats that enjoy walking on the layout. I just decided to model the desert. No trees for the cats to eat! And you can't get too crazy with the details because they can easily be knocked down. I ended up with an easy to maintain layout that didn't take too long to build.

[ljudice]

BTW, you know about SSScat????

[conrail1973]

When I was modeling in HO scale, I became so overwhelmed with planning the ideal layout that I got rid of everything I had.  After a few years with remorse, I picked up a 30"x80" HCD, and I planned a small N scale industrial layout.  It's still a work in progress, but I'm running trains!  I'm glad your planning a smaller layout, and I would look at getting rid of those excess cars because I'm always moving cars if they don't serve a purpose on my layout anymore.

Thanks,
Adam

[nuno81291]

I got fed up trying to plan the dream layout that I hadn't touched a model or built anything in over a year, decided to sketch out something simple and build a shelf in HO since I am recovering from a hand injury I am very heavy handed still and cannot handle working with N (and I am 25 and a pro guitarist....) nothing wrong with dreaming but that shouldn't hold up what you can achieve now. Perhaps if the HCD or roundy-round isn't your style you can aim for a switching layout or some other module approach that could be integrated into an ideal layout down the line...either way MRR is always a game of compromises unless you have a ton of free time and a boat load of money!

[Kisatchie]

BTW, you know about SSScat????

The name looks familiar, but I don't know what it is.


Hmm... does it have
anything to do with
rocket science...?

[Mike C]

The story is about a wondrous, rare human mutation that gives the person the ability to "see" the past and future. It also vastly improves their morality. With my manic depression interfering with writing it for months at a time when I was depressed, it took me over 20 years to write. I have 3 complete books ready, plus the final book presently under construction LOL.


Hmm... Kiz won't let me
read it... Wonder why...

Have you tried Asimov or Analog science fiction mags ?  They run some stories in multiple parts and publish a lot of unknown writers .

[Kisatchie]

Have you tried Asimov or Analog science fiction mags ?  They run some stories in multiple parts and publish a lot of unknown writers .

I think they'd have a problem with the length of book one - 550 pages long. It would probably take them years to run it all.

Since I've already queried a couple hundred agents without success, my next step trying to get published is to try the publishers directly. We'll see how that goes.


Hmm... bet it'll be the
Hindenburg disaster all
over again...

[Philip H]

I think they'd have a problem with the length of book one - 550 pages long. It would probably take them years to run it all.

Since I've already queried a couple hundred agents without success, my next step trying to get published is to try the publishers directly. We'll see how that goes.


Hmm... bet it'll be the
Hindenburg disaster all
over again...

If you read Barry Eisler's blog about his post-CIA writing career he talks a lot about publisher choice. He's firmly on the side of do it yourself as both an e-book and publish on demand soft cover. He's been well received and his novels are making him good money. You might want to read his blog before you invest time in an approach that won't work.

Either that or break it up into discrete novellas and try Asimov.

Also, do you have any short stories you can send to contests etc? A few wins might get you some name recognition.

And Miss Dee, with respect, telling Kiz his publishing career is a disaster isn't helping.

[Specter3]

I did that with HO scale and didn't have trains for about a year before I started building Ntrak modules in a build it and they will come mentality. Couldnt start a local club but did set em up when the wife was out of town. Built this for my daughter. It is only running layout in house. I still have modules and get to occasionally work down in the dungeon on them. Got back into the workforce this January and have not had time for anything since. Buildings come off and are stored separately. Rest folds up into wall.

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[Rossford Yard]

The story is about a wondrous, rare human mutation that gives the person the ability to "see" the past and future. It also vastly improves their morality. With my manic depression interfering with writing it for months at a time when I was depressed, it took me over 20 years to write. I have 3 complete books ready, plus the final book presently under construction LOL.


Hmm... Kiz won't let me
read it... Wonder why...

Sounds like it needs more sex to be a best seller...LOL.

You got some good advise here.  I may start another thread on the posted idea of whether bigger layouts mean more happiness. TBH, I don't think so, and I have a mid size layout.

[Kisatchie]

And Miss Dee, with respect, telling Kiz his publishing career is a disaster isn't helping.

Hmm... but it's true...


NOT HELPING, DEE!

[cjjd6901]

Look at me...  My temporary layout turns 10 this year!  Your "now" layout can become part of a bigger dream layout later if you plan ahead.

My temporary rowdy round will turn 12 this year.  I believe she is  a keeper.

[MichaelWinicki]

I think they'd have a problem with the length of book one - 550 pages long. It would probably take them years to run it all.

Since I've already queried a couple hundred agents without success, my next step trying to get published is to try the publishers directly. We'll see how that goes.


Hmm... bet it'll be the
Hindenburg disaster all
over again...

If you do not find a publisher, I'd consider taking the first book and splitting off the first couple chapters into E-books.  I'd then create a simple website and Facebook page, which sets the "world" for where my stories take place. 

I'd give the first couple ebooks away for free, in exchange for an email addy.

Then start offer the remainder of the first book as an ebook for a reasonable price.

Start building a following, generate some cash and then see about self-publishing.  If the ebook fans start to embrace it, then you'll begin to have ink-on-paper folks desire it also.

[OldEastRR]

550 pages is a looooong novel..... try reading it aloud (to yourself, or cat), starting with the first chapter. It may sound much different to you aloud than in your head. It's a trick I learned as part of a writer's group. It helped me condense and sharpen my writing.