Writing Life February 13, 2008

Writing Update:

Things are going squishy on me — I’m trying to get into book two, but with the computer dying and then breaking and then shipping and then waiting and then shipping back, I feel like (ok, I’m not) getting any where fast.  BUT, I have about 200ish rough pages.  I write looooooooong and tighten and edit, so that means I’m about a 1/3 of the way done with book 2 (writing it that is)

 

I am kind of excited about it because at the end of book one, my CP said “I have no idea how you’re going to make book two have a dark moment between them.” *insert sound of my evil laughter here* Don’t worry little one, I’ve ripped them apart but good!

Querying away as well. I have several partials out there still and am excited about several of them. Here’s hoping!

Writing Update:

You can only work on a book so long before you have to send it out into the world. A goal was set and now the rewrites/edits/polishing segment of this writing life is in full swing. The goal is to finish-finish (not just finish), research homes for the ms and send out some queries.

My Chasing Buddy Jessica and my CP Ann have all gotten on board with the 10 Queries by 4/19 mission. 

Golden Heart - Nov 30, 2007

Got my Golden Heart entry sent off just in time. Things kept dying and people kept disappearing. It took 5 computers, 3 printers, 2 memory sticks, 1 copier, 1 computer whiz kid and 6 people totally in a 7 hour period to get that thing in the mail - geesh.

It also underwent some major surgery. 3 Chapter re-written from scratch. The first one that got tossed and redone, Jessica was kind enough to say something along the lines of “It’s totally different, I don’t know what you did. But it’s tighter.” YEAH. I hacked off 26 pages to make it to my strongest hook. Edit - polish - chop - edit -polish chop - edit - polish - chop.

I felt like the Rather, Rinse, Repeat on the back of a shampoo bottle - except no one ever repeats. Pleases, do they think we’re stupid enough to use twice as much of their product just because they told us to?

I’ll admit I’m excited, but probably not for the reasons you think. I’m not expecting to final, but I learned a TON doing this. I can hit a deadline. I can tighten down to a necessary page number. I can learn to chop things I love that are unnecessary. I can edit. I can sift critiques and hold on to my voice. That’s a ton of learning. I can’t wait to keep going.

I just want to add, to my update a CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GOLDEN HEART ENTRANTS (especially Jessica Heartlette) - YOU’RE ENTRY IS YOUR SUCCESS.

Rejected - Oct 5, 2007

It really is amazing how much this felt like a slap. My first rejection. The truth is, it would have been easier (maybe) if it was a random agent I hadn’t heard so many great things about in an agency I really wanted to work with.

The other thing I learned:  the thing I loved about briefly querying - is that her rejection was all of two lines long. I was hoping for a little feed back, beyond the great this, great that - I just didn’t love it.

So, the search begins in earnest now.

Partial & Synopsis sent  - Sept 18, 2007

Now I know the pain they’re talking about. Stayed up allll night with MamaDivine and Lovely Girl Lanie (yes, your name just grew). After 18 attempts at making a book fit on 2 pages, these two saved my butt. And then, to top off the amazingness of Divahood - Diva Kristen CP’s that puppy first thing in the morning.

I think Synopsising (work that new word) must be like child birth. It’s painful and you swear you don’t need another book if it means going through that - but the pain fades and the joy returns - of course, I’m talking from vicarious experience here.

The Agency notes a 8 to 12 week turn around on MS’s so, it’s waiting again.

The waiting, the waiting, the waiting. . .OH LORD! The Panic - A partial request - Sept 17, 2007 

This was completely unexpected - first manuscript / first query - but I’m sure I’ll be learning a lot from the experience.

I DID IT!!!! I SENT MY FIRST QUERY TODAY - Sept 12, 2007.

I think I’m going to be sick. 

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow

There are days when that more often than not describes me - especially with what I’m working on right now.  I’m living in the world of a YA Fantasy - and I like it there! My characters struggle with everything that challenges us here, but have their own set of problems created by the world they live in as well.

Worldbuilding is my newest toy. Every time I think it’s complete, something new comes into scope. A friend said to just let the world be more of a reflection of our own world. After a lengthy discussion explaining how different their world is, so it couldn’t just be HERE & NOW with different people and place names, I received a blank stare. And promptly gave up trying to explain.

Right now I’m working on a Tri-Lunar calendar (I’ll admit, it’s killing me and if you’re an astronomer or astrologer, and wouldn’t mind humoring me, drop me a line, please!)

Today’s research (pretend I update this every morning) is to design the city 1/3 of the story takes place in – there’s too much movement within the walls to not have a clear, consistent picture of where things are happening – how fun is that?

I’m finding my new world is, sometimes frighteningly, clear in my mind. I dream about it in such vivid displays of shapes and colors that, when I awake, it is for those first moments of the day more real than the room my bed sits in. There is so much beauty available in your own mind. Letting it challenge the pain that resides there as well to create a world you want to write about.