Help! What do I write next?!

I've been a very lazy boy and haven't put any effort into pitching the last novel apart from a couple of tentative queries a few weeks ago. I got a nibble or two, but no cigar. Now, having given the novel one more going over, I'm ready to start querying seriously.

In the meantime, I've recharged my batteries after not writing much of anything for a while, and I'm ready to have another go. Problem is, I can't decide what to write next. I've got four pretty solid ideas (actually, I've got more, but these are the one I want to tackle) that I'm torn between. Two are deliberate attempts at something more commercial, while one is very dark, and the fourth plays into my own personal interests (it's got guitars in it!).

So, I'd like some help. I'm looking for some volunteers to read the short 'pitch' I've written for each and see which one, if you were in a book shop, you would take to the counter. If you'd like to take part and earn my eternal gratitude, just email me at info@stuartneville.com (or leave an email address in the comments) and I'll send you back a link to where you can read all four.

I'll see how it goes, but if people think that's too much kerfuffle sendng emails about, I'll post the link temporarily in the comments trail.

Hooks, Book Trailers and Chapter Thirty-Six

I've finished the first revision of the new novel. It's not so much a second draft, as draft 1.1. I tweaked a few early points to tie in with what happens later in the novel, but I'm probably still too close to it to make a substantial rewrite. It therefore needs a dispassionate eye to find the weaknesses I'm blind to at the moment. Two kindly beta readers will shortly be receiving their copies to scrutinise.

There is one thing I know I have to rewrite, though. Specifically, chapter thirty-six. This should be a frightening, exciting chapter, but somehow it falls flat. If it stood alone, it would be fine, and it works as part of the overall plot, but in the context of events before and after on the time line, what should be heart-thumping stuff is just kind of ... meh.

I need to find a new angle on it, but nothing is coming to mind, so I may let the beta readers have at it to see how they feel about it.

While nursing a mystery foot injury (I don't know how I did it, but it hurt like hell) I took some time to rustle up a query hook for the novel. As I suspected, it was much easier this time around than it was for the last novel, simply because the premise is so much stronger, and the story has a real spine. At some point over the next day or two I'll post it over at the Crapometer, where it'll probably get trashed! :)

Also, just for the sake of experimentation, I've been messing about with making a book trailer for it. So far, it looks pretty cool. I'm not sure what purpose it serves, seeing as the book isn't published, but I thought it would make an interesting exercise.