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Friday, February 26, 2010

For the last week I've been sick and not felt up to doing much toward writing or even much toward living and doing my regular stuff as a mom of 4, and a wife of 1.
I have been able to read however. I've devoured 6 books in the last week since I got them at the library for a grand total of 2,502 pages. Man were they delicious.

I have discovered lately though, that ever since I started seriously writing, I've noticed a change in my reading.
I've noticed errors in published books, like some small punctuation, or an extra word thrown in that may have been missed in the many edits and revisions that writers, and editors do. It gives me a bit of hope to know that other writers are just regular people too.
I also notice things more than just the story. I look at descriptions, the way the words make me feel, how much dialogue there is compared to another book I've read, whether I like first person or third person point of view. I still love to read and escape into another world, but I think I have a little bit of understanding of how much reading agents and editors do and how good something will have to be to catch their attention.
Got lots of work to do.

I'll sure enjoy doing more "reading" research for improving my craft. See how others do it, and how to make mine work too.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

More rejections.

I have received word back from the agent who requested my partial. It's not right for her. I also got an email rejection too this morning.

I'm not too worried about that. I know other great writers were rejected many times. Some more, some less than me. And now some of them have best sellers. Maybe I won't be as successful as they, but I will have success. I will get a book out there and people will read it.

Maybe it won't be this first one. Maybe it will be my second, third, forth.....or later, but one day I will get one out.

Wanna know why???? Cause I'm not gonna quit. I'm gonna keep on going. You'll see. I'll show you. :)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Being the ref of your own mind is weird.

I have 2 stories that are in my mind fighting for attention.

On is a lighthearted middle grade written from the viewpoint of an 11 year old boy. I'm working on getting his voice just right. Gotta do some remembering and observing of boys that age. I'm also going to the library tonight to get some books written about or for boys.

The other is a little more dark about what the world is like for a few teenagers after their world is mostly destroyed.

I know totally opposites. But they are both in there demanding their due. At least I'm not obsessing about the first book I've been querying about.
So trying to referee two stories will be interesting. Hopefully they will keep in their separate pages and not try to join each other. That wouldn't flow very well.

I've always been pretty good at multi-tasking. We'll see how well I can do it when it comes to writing.

Monday, February 15, 2010

I feel like a writer.

A friend of mine just announced that a publishing house has asked to publish her book!!!!

That is so exciting. I'm glowing with excitement for her accomplishments. I feel valued as a writer because someone else I know is being recognized as a writer.

I know someone who will be published. I'm making connections with other writers, I've joined a writers chapter here in my town, I've had other writers read some of my work and offer me feedback. It is improving me every day with everything I do related to my writing.

I AM A WRITER! I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, ever since 2nd grade. The reason I started writing was because I wanted to get credits to renew my teaching license. But never did I think I'd become a WRITER. I have hopes and aspirations to become a published author, but for now, I feel great about being a writer.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I'm a dreamer.

I dream about things that have been on my mind. I figure its a way for me to sort through my thoughts even when I'm asleep. I never stop over thinking things.

The dream I had last night was about the partial I've got out to an agent. I dreamed that she sent me an email with video in it about all the things that were wrong with my story. She gave me some great pointers and told me how to fix it all. When I woke up this morning, I was ready to come down and get right to work on fixing my errors. Then I started thinking about what she had told me and realized that the problems she pointed out, didn't exist in my story. She told me that my main characters love interest was evil and all wrong, but that isn't the way it is at all.

I haven't gone back to the story yet today, but I will go to it again with new eyes and see if my dream is telling me I've got to fix it somehow, or if it was just one of those dreams that get your worries out so you can move on.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Moving on to the next project is hard.

I've been trying to write. I really have. I started on a new project so I could let my first project sit and simmer while I'm waiting for responses from some agents I've queried. But I can't leave the first one alone.
When I finished it in October, I spent a week or more going over it and over it making sure I didn't have any errors that were so obvious it would prove me to be a lousy writer. I found a handful, fixed them, read it again, fixed some more, then again and got so tired of my story I didn't want to read it again for awhile So I put my pride in my pocket and queried away.

Got lots of rejections, enjoyed the holidays, and ignored my story for 2 months. When I came back to it in January, I read it again with fresh eyes. At times and in parts of the story I alternated between really loving it and knowing that I'm a genius, to thinking who in their right mind would want to read this crap.
The crap parts were always the same, so I'm working on fixing them, but trying to do it slowly to make sure I don't take out any good parts.

I also have 3 or 4 other story ideas I've been toying with, and one I've actually started on not to mention the sequels that could follow my first, because it could definitely be extended. But as I get going on the one I've decided to work on, I keep wanting to switch to another idea and see where it goes, while at the same time wanting to focus all my attention on perfecting my first.
I've just got to get going on the second one I've begun and let the others flow when the time is right or I'll never get anything done.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I sent out my first partial!

I went to the post office today to mail the first 30 pages with a synopsis and SASE.

It was a little butterfly in the belly inducing. I have submitted the first 10 to 15 pages before that were pasted in the email with my query letter, but somehow doing it snail mail made it feel so much more intimidating.
I wonder if that was because she said it sounded interesting and requested it, whereas the other ones wanted the 10 to 15 in the initial contact.

I've read on other blogs and comments from writers that its hard to send out your pride and joy, your baby, if you will, to someone who won't love it as much as you do. I agree with them. I hope she loves it, but know it won't be the same way I love it.

She'll be able to see all the flaws I have there. Me on the other hand. I'm like a mom that can't see the misbehavings of my precious children (who are mostly perfect by the way). I've gone over that manuscript so many times, I know it by heart.
Even though she'll see it's flaws, I hope she can also see it's potential, and want to work with me to help me perfect it.
Here's hoping

Monday, February 1, 2010

I've got someone kind of interested!

I've been sending out query letters to many many agents. One at a time of course. I've looked up what they like on their web pages to make sure my book fits into one of the genre's they represent. Most of the replies have been a polite "no thank you" or "I'm not the right agent for your work," or "This is not a right fit for me."
I'm ok with all of the rejections, The very first one hurt, the second... not so much. By the 30th or more, its more of "I knew that would be coming, lets see what the next one says."
Now, I've come across something I'm not familiar with. I've got an agent that said: "Sounds interesting, Send me the first 30 pages and a synopsis."
NOW I'M PANICKED.
I've been looking into finding the right format for submitting the work. What size font? Do I need headers? or footers? If the sentence isn't complete on the 30th page, do I leave it unfinished? or add the rest of it??
I want to make it the best I can in appearance, but I've also been going back over it and reading it over and over and over again to make sure I don't have any stupid little errors. I'm also trying to make sure it catches her attention so she'll ask to see page 31 and on....
I'm hoping for the best, but I'm also being realistic about it.
Each one of these little steps will make this the best project I can get it.
Hope I've got a good start.