Failure NOT an Option!

Today, we have a special treat! YAY! My pal, Christi, is hosting the blog! ... Take it away ...

 

 

First, I’d like to give a big thank you to my critique partner, Margo, for allowing me to host her blog! I truly appreciate her sharing her readers with me as I celebrate the release of my debut novel, Along the Way Home.

Failure Wasn’t an Option: How it Took Me 13 Years to Sign a Book Contract

Publishing is a tough business and not for quitters. While right now I’m happily thinking of how to best promote my debut novel, it took over THIRTEEN years to get to said happiness.

Yes, it took me thirteen years to go from, “Hey, I’ve got a really great idea for a book!” to signing the publication contract from Astraea Press.

And there were plenty of times during those thirteen years when I considered quitting. Considered that maybe I didn’t have it in me to go the long haul. Considered that maybe the process was just too hard. Considered that maybe my story idea was stupid and no one would want to read about a family’s adventures and misfortunes on the 1843 Oregon Trail. Considered that maybe to get published I’d have to compromise my beliefs.

But, even though over those thirteen years there were plenty of days, months, and even years when I didn’t write at all, there was always a little voice deep inside me, rooting me on and saying “Don’t worry. Right now you’re dealing with a lot, but when things calm down you’ll get back to this story.”

So, I listened to that little voice while I was pregnant with our twins in what turned out to be a high-risk pregnancy that forced me into two months of complete bedrest. I listened to that voice when our twins were born one month premature. I listened for the next two years while I was buried in diapers, toys, drooling smiles, potty-training, and tears of exhaustion and joy. 

I listened to that little voice while packing, unpacking, and then packing up again through a total of four out of state moves (Washington to Minnesota, Minnesota to Montana, Montana to Washington, and then Washington to Oregon).

Then, once our twins were two years old, that same little voice helped me to eek out five minutes of writing time here, another five minutes of writing time there, until lo and behold, my twins were five-years-old and I’d finally finished my book.

And then I realized that my book was horrible.   

But that same little voice was still with me, now saying, “Ok, you’ve got a lot of work ahead, but you FINISHED and that’s something to be proud of. Now get to work on making it BETTER.”

So I did. I went to my very first writing conference and realized there were people just like me, striving to write until they got it right. I made some great writing friends at that first conference.

Now, armed with my own little voice and a few writing friends with actual voices, all of whom were giving lots of encouragement, I ripped my book apart and revised it, from the first word to the last…SIX TIMES.

Then I found a local writing group and two critique partners (lots of love here to Margo Kelly and Artemis Gray!) who showed me I had a lot more work to do. So I revised it again…TWO MORE TIMES.

Then, I went to the Willamette Writers Conference in August of 2012. Conferences are expensive and I could only afford one of the three days, and getting that money took holding a yard sale. But, my husband and entire family are very supportive, so clutching my yard sale proceeds in one hand and my query letter in the other, off to the conference I went.

I met more amazing writers, got requests for partials from three of the three agents I met with, and then drove home with my dreams soaring—dreams that were quickly dashed when I got rejected by one of the agents and never heard back from the other two.

But still, that little voice inside just wouldn’t let me quit. I revised my query letter until it shone, showed it to everyone who would look at it, revised it TWENTY more times (no, I’m not kidding) and then one minute after I put my twins on the school bus for their first day of second grade I began querying in earnest.

A few months into it I had around forty rejections, but I also had six agents and three editors (Medallion Press, Tor/Forge, and a small press) reviewing requested partials/fulls, an R&R offer from an agent, and an offer pending from another small press.

Then, it happened.

I was rejected by an agent who called my book lovely and sweet, raved about my writing and the storyline, but ended with the statement, “…let your characters engage in sex and describe the sex. As it stands, I’ll pass. Put the sex in and I’ll take another look.”

I assure you, I have thick skin when it comes to rejections. I’ve racked up my fair share since I began querying, and normally took them with a grain of salt (and chocolate—lots of chocolate), but this one really bothered me. I understood if a rejection was based upon my writing style, the likeability of my characters, or a flaw in the storyline—but to be rejected solely on the basis that I choose NOT to include sex? That one didn't go over well.

So much so that I finally decided it was time to query the one publisher I’d had my eye on for months. A publisher that cares not only for the authors, but for the kind of work they attach their name to. I'd discovered Astraea Press before I started querying in September and really liked the stance the owner, Stephanie Taylor, took against unnecessary sex.

During a 2011 interview, Six Questions for Stephanie Taylor, she made the following statement: “…Astraea offers a safe haven for good books where the focus is on the STORY and not the sex”.

I sent off a query to Stephanie at Astraea Press late one afternoon, and woke up the next morning to an offer! And it was my birthday too!

I immediately pulled my novel from consideration from all the others who were reviewing partials/fulls/had offers pending, because I believed so strongly in Astraea Press, and the niche they’ve carved out for themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

I hope my brutally honest story inspires you to never ever EVER give up on your dreams!

How do you keep writing/pursuing your dreams when it gets tough?

Kate Davis is intrigued when her father reveals his dream of starting a horse ranch in Oregon Territory. Settlers out west value a strong woman, and though she manages the financials of her father’s mercantile her competence earns her ridicule, not respect, from Virginia’s elite society.

Jake Fitzpatrick, an experienced trail guide, wants land out west to raise cattle and crops. But dreams require money and he’s eating dandelion greens for dinner. So when a wealthy businessman offers double wages to guide his family across the Oregon Trail, Jake accepts with one stipulation—he is in complete control.

Departure day finds Kate clinging to her possessions as Jake demands she abandon all he deems frivolous, including her deceased mother’s heirlooms. Jake stands firm, refusing to let the whims of a headstrong woman jeopardize the wages he so desperately needs—even a beautiful one with fiery green eyes and a temper to match.

Trail life is a battle of wills between them until tragedy strikes, leaving Jake with an honor-bound promise to protect her from harm and Kate with a monumental choice—go back to everything she’s ever known or toward everything she’s ever wanted?

Advance Praise for Along the Way Home

…author Christi Corbett unfurls an unforgettable epic romance inside of an epic Western adventure. Beautifully crafted, this debut novel is a tender journey of the heart as well as a treacherous journey of many miles.

Eve Paludan, author of Taking Back Tara (Ranch Lovers Romance series)

 

A breathtaking account of courage and adventure along the Oregon Trail.

Jillian Kent, author of The Ravensmoore Chronicles.

 

A dash of action! A touch of intrigue! Loads of sweet, clean romantic promise…

Reid Lance Rosenthal, Winner of 15 National Awards, #1 Best Selling Author of the Threads West, An American Saga series.

 

About Christi

I’m addicted to coffee, sticky notes, and the Oxford Comma. I live in a small town in Oregon with my husband and our twins. Our home’s location is especially inspiring because the view from the back door is a hill travelers looked upon years ago as they explored the Oregon Territory and beyond.

 

Along the Way Home is a Sweet Historical Romance. It released in ebook format on June 11, 2013 and will be available in print July of 2013. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand, Astraea Press (my publisher),OmniLit, and several other retailers.

 

When I’m not writing I love chatting with readers and writers alike. You can find me in one of the following locations:

Email: christicorbett@gmail.com

Blog: http://christicorbett.wordpress.com

Twitter: @ChristiCorbett

Facebook: Christi Corbett—Author

....

Thanks, Christi.
 
Check back on Friday for MY review of Christi's book. :)

Focus on the Next Point

My daughter and I were watching the Olympics -- men's volleyball, to be specific -- and one of the commentators (I don't know who it was) said something interesting when one of the teams argued a point lost.



photo source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1261643-olympic-volleyball-2012-team-usa-will-shine-in-unfamiliar-underdog-role 



He said something like: "Well, if they don't let that point go, they'll lose the next one also."

I paused, because this is SO TRUE to life. If we are focused on the point we just lost, or the rejection letter we just received, or the bad review of something we've written ... we will lose the next point and/or pitch, too.

Let's let go of the past and focus on the next victory.



photo source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120731/sports/707319805/photos/AR/ 



Pull Yourself Up by the Boot-Straps

Who knew I was so addicted to my blog? ACK! When blogger had technical issues for awhile ... I could only think about the update I wanted to post NOW regarding yesterday's post. But, since blogger removed yesterday's post (will it ever come back?), an update seems dumb.

And yet, I MUST!

I wanted to let you all know that I've pulled myself up by my boot-strings ... or is it boot-straps? I tried to google the origin of the phrase, but I typed in boot-strings and smiled at the results:

I suppose, I could use *those* boots to lift my spirits. YIKES!

So, then, I googled boot-straps, and had much better success for my intended purpose!

Well, okay, I might not ever be seen wearing pink cowboy boots ... but I would definitely be seen wearing hiking boots:

I might even own that pair of hiking shoes, with the "boot-strap" on the back heel. Hmm. And you thought that strap was just to help you pull your shoe on!! Nope.

Now, the origin of the phrase is debateable ... but the point of the phrase is to empower yourself to do something that seems utterly impossible.

If you'd like to know more about the history of the phrase "pulling yourself up by your boot-straps" check out this great post I found:
History of the Phrase

Otherwise, simply know that I've recovered! And to toy with another phrase ... what are you supposed to do if you fall off a horse/bicycle/swing? Get right back on!!  So, I've already sent out over ten new query letters to agents.

Thanks for all of your support and all of the virtual chocolate. I ate it all and didn't even gain a pound. Nice. Too bad computers don't have a "scratch-n-sniff" application! Wait ... maybe that's a good thing.

Do you own any shoes with boot-straps?

REJECTED: please send chocolate

Get out the red ink pad and stamp that manuscript: REJECTED! REJECTED! REJECTED!

(Can you tell I've gone two whole days with NO chocolate of any kind?)

Does one kind of rejection feel differently than another kind?

Yes.

I know, rejection is rejection. But, frankly, while receiving a rejection based solely off a query letter is disappointing ... it is no big deal compared to receiving a rejection based off a full manuscript request.

And, I promised myself from day one, that if I ever had a full ms rejected, I would pay attention to the feedback of the agent and make appropriate changes. And, I have done this. But, how do I know what to do with a response that says:

"...while I enjoyed what I read, in today's highly competitive marketplace I can only take on projects I am passionate about--and unfortunately, I just didn’t feel the level of engagement here that I would need in order to represent you..."

I know, I *should* think, "YAY! I'm getting so much closer to getting an agent!" But no. Instead I think (and understand this entire rant could possibly be due to lack of freaking chocolate), "I suck. This is taking forever. I'm so frustrated."

But, I will tell you ... the only thing more frustrating than this type of rejection is receiving NO RESPONSE at all. I would chose the disappointment of a rejection any day over no response at all.

So, a big thank you to all of the agents who take the time to actually respond to writers.

I will not quit. I will keep sending query letters. I will find the right agent for me.

I will. I will. I will.

Please send chocolate as soon as possible.

DETERMINATION

Oh my gosh. That last post was so depressing, I almost think I should delete it! How do we change our own attitude?

...by making a choice...

I'm a positive thinker by nature, and I don't care how hard the query process becomes...I will not quit. Why? Because I am a writer, and because I am determined.

So, I will be my own Tigger--and spring back!

Definition of DETERMINATION (from www.merriam-webster.com)


1a : a judicial decision settling and ending a controversy b : the resolving of a question by argument or reasoning

2archaic : termination

3a : the act of deciding definitely and firmly; also : the result of such an act of decision b : firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end

4: a fixing or finding of the position, magnitude, value, or character of something: as a : the act, process, or result of an accurate measurement b : an identification of the taxonomic position of a plant or animal

5a : the definition of a concept in logic by its essential constituents b : the addition of a differentia to a concept to limit its denotation

6: direction or tendency to a certain end : impulsion

7: the fixation of the destiny of undifferentiated embryonic tissue

See determination defined for English-language learners »

Examples of DETERMINATION

What he lacked in talent he made up for in determination.

The new instruments allow for more precise determination of the size of the tumor.

The document will be used for determination of ownership.

First Known Use of DETERMINATION

14th century

Related to DETERMINATION

Synonyms: decidedness, decision, decisiveness, determinedness, firmness, granite, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, stick-to-itiveness

Antonyms: hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation
 
So, what will you be today? Determined or Hesitant?

I Stopped Reading at "Unfortunately"

On Monday evening, I told my family that I would be busy Tuesday working my Stampin' Up! business, and that I wouldn't be home when they returned from school and work. Pretty sure they all nodded and said, "Okay, Mom."

Maybe... "Okay, Mom" = "Whatever. I'm busy and not really listening to you anyway."

So, Tuesday afternoon, my sweet daughter called me on my cell and asked, "Where are you?" Well, of course, I lovingly reminded her of our conversation the previous evening. She responded, "You never said that." Well, of course, I did, but nonetheless...

"Anything else?" I asked her.

"Yeah. One more thing," she said. "Why did you write a letter to yourself?"

"I didn't."

"Well, there's an envelope in the mail with your handwriting on it that is addressed to and from you," she said.

"It's just another rejection," Eeyore said.

"How could you possibly know that?" she asked.

"Open it up and read it outloud."

"Thank you for giving us the opportunity to ... blah blah blah ... Unfortunately--"

"You can stop reading now," I said.

"But I'm not even half way through the letter!"

"Trust me," I said as she mumbled to herself quickly reading.

"Oh...oh...I'm so sorry, Mom."

Whelp, it's okay. I stopped reading at "unfortunately" ... at least I tried to. Truth be told I read the rejections in their entirety. Usually more than once. Then I log it in my excel file.

The real bummer, is when you PAY to be rejected. I wish all agents accepted email queries. It's a bummer to spend money on postage, paper, and envelopes to be rejected.

I need a little less Eeyore this week and a litte more Tigger.

Any words of wisdom to spring me out of my rejection slump?

Query Letter Rejections

Rejection SUCKS makes us stronger.

Here's your link for the day: I love Mary Kole's blog. :)

In addition to the link above, you can click on the tag "rejection" on Mary's side bar and read a lot of great posts on the topic.

So, in theory, "personalized" rejections are a good sign. I get that. Intellectually. However, emotionally, those personalized rejections are agonizing because it feels like... oh... so close... but not quite...

I've been getting a lot of those personalized rejections lately. Which, don't get me wrong here, I am very grateful to be moving up the query ladder, and I am especially grateful for ANY response at all, but sitting on this precipice is making me dizzy.

How's your query process going for you? Are you getting more responses addressed "Dear Author" or are you getting some personalized responses?

Know Your Market

During the day (some days) I sell Bernina Sewing Machines. I love it. It's fun. And, that's what I did all day Friday. However, I'm constantly thinking about writing, and Friday, I couldn't help but compare first time shoppers to first time writers.

Many times, a first time shopper will come in to look at Berninas. Why? Because they are the best. (Seriously, Consumer Reports ranked the Bernina 440QE as the #1 sewing machine in 2010.) Just saying... Anyway... (I easily get sidetracked...)

So, first time shoppers come in because they want to buy a machine, but often times they will see the price tag and nearly faint right there in the store. Why? Because they had NO IDEA a sewing machine could cost $12,000. (That's right. I did not add an extra zero, but that is for the top of the line model 830.) Now, granted there are also entry-level Berninas that cost $649 (on sale right now, a real steal!) and Bernettes (I like to call them baby Berninas) that are as low as $149.  But, many people see the $12,000 price tag and walk away thinking, "Oh, man. I can never do that." They didn't research the market at all first, and left prematurely because they were caught by surprise.

How does this compare to the first time writer?

Often, first time writers will think, "I'm gonna write a book!" And, they (we, us, me) jump right into it and write the book. But, then when the writer shops it around (queries agents), they are disappointed no one wants it. And, then many times, these writers will quit shopping because they are caught by surprise and don't understand the industry.

Furthermore, many writers don't research and study the market they're writing for and/or the business of writing.

We need to research, ask questions, learn, improve, and keep shopping around until we find just the right fit for ourselves and our ms. Maybe the $12,000 machine isn't right for us, but maybe... it is. Maybe we need to save the money first (learn our craft and build our skills).

Does this make sense only in my brain?

Money Making Opportunities

Another job offer just came my way. I should be excited. Right?

No.

Because the only job offer I want is from an agent and a publisher. I want to be a traditionally published author. I don't need a six-figure offer. I'd be happy with a much smaller advance enabling me to do what I really want to do: write.

But, I was just offered a job that has huge money making potential. Working full-time (maybe more). If I accepted it, I would need to quit my other fourteen-gazillion part-time jobs and it would cut into my mom-time with my teenagers.

And it would cut into my writing time.

Yesterday, I received another rejection on a full manuscript. She said she just didn't love it as much as she hoped she would.

Do you work full-time? When do you find time to write? Do you have kids, work full-time, and write? How do you balance it?

Jaded? or Guarded? or Concerned?

Saturday, I received another request for a full manuscript from an agent. YAY! Right? Then why am I not jumping up and down for joy?

Have I become jaded already from the number of rejections I've received (but... I've *only* received one rejection on a full... so far).

Or am I guarded because of the rejection I received on the full ms. Does a rejection on a full mean the writing isn't good enough and I should stop sending queries and revise and improve more? Or does it just mean the one agent didn't like it? Oh my.

Or am I concerned because what if this agent likes it, really really likes it? And she offers me representation? Then what? I've worked so long and hard to get an agent... do I know what to do if one actually offers me representation? Should I start researching and planning for THAT big event?

Or do I just have a chemical imbalance... a mental disorder... hormone swing?

Ack. This waiting. Not knowing. Hoping. Revising. Writing. Hoping. And not knowing is taking its psychotic toll on me today.

Maybe I should just go take a shower and then go sell some Bernina sewing machine at Quilt Crossing today.

What do you think? Do I need to be medicated?

Hang in there!

Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.

Helen Keller

You're FIRED!

Well, you see... I hooked up with a second critique partner last week. My first critique partner is so AWESOME (shout out to Miss Melissa Dean!) and gives such great feedback, I figured, a second partner would make things twice as helpful... right? WRONG!

She fired my sorry butt yesterday. Ouch. Well, can't say I'm terribly sad she fired me. I can only say I was terribly sad at the very mean things she said in the "dismissal" letter. Sheesh. People. Words actually are sticks and stones, and they actually can hurt! Oh my.  She basically said my writing stinks and I'll never get published. Okay. Whatever. Your opinion. But, one of the purposes of a critique partnership is to HELP each other. Hello!?

So, anyway... I could rant all day about this (but I did that yesterday). Ha. So, I will learn from it and move on. But, my research has made it clear that many published authors wish they would've gotten critique partners earlier in the process. I'm determined to be published, so therefore, I will follow the advice of those who've traveled this road before me.

Done ranting.

Janet Reid, Literary Agent

Last night I enjoyed a fantastic dream...

Janet Reid, superstar agent, sent me a telegram (first clue it was a DREAM!). Her telegram read something like this:

Dear Margo. stop.
After seeing your blog. stop. And reading your short stories on your website. stop. I have reconsidered. stop. I made a terrible mistake rejecting your query. stop. Please send me a full right away. stop. Actually, forget the full. stop. I've enclosed a contract. stop. I want to represent you. stop.
Sincerely. stop.
Janet Reid, Literary Agent. stop.

HA Ha ha.

Then I woke up and checked my email...

Four new Viagra emails, but nothing from Janet or any other literary agent. *sigh*

If you'd like to read my short stories, check out my website:
http://www.margokelly.net/

If you'd like to know more about Janet (aka the Query Shark) visit her blog:
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/

Coloring outside the lines...

Great post today (as is the case MOST days!) on Kidlit.

Mary writes, "When a first-time novelist “colors outside the lines” in terms of novel craft or structure, I don’t give them the benefit of the doubt that they’re a mad genius and that they’ve totally revolutionized the novel form. I assume that they don’t exactly know what they’re doing yet."

If you'd like to read the entire post: http://kidlit.com/

Perfectionist?

Great post over on: Jane Friedman's "There are No Rules" blog.


I often joke that I'm a recovering perfectionist currently in a treatment program.

While writing the first draft of my first manuscript, I had a daily, hourly, sometimes minute-by-minute mantra. "It's okay if my writing sucks, just get it on paper. Just get it on paper."  I think "just getting it on paper" is crucial for the first draft of any manuscript.

There's a time and place for perfectionism, and that's during the revision process. I've gained a new respect for the process of refining, improving, and polishing the manuscript. Little details and big plot arcs need to be looked at and cleaned up for the manuscript to be great.

However, there has to come a point (this is where I am now) that the writer has to realize everyone who reads the manuscript is going to have a differing opinion and revision suggestions. The writer (ME!) has to decide when the manuscript is "finished" and start the query process.

I know several writers who have never submitted their work to an agent because they don't want it rejected or because they think there is still room for improvement. That's where perfectionism becomes a hinderance.

Pick a different "P" word. Switch to persistence and leave perfectionism in the closet.

photo credit: paradiseclosets.com

Following the rules (choke, gag, cough)

I'm not sure an unpublished writer who follows all of the "rules" will ever get published. Seriously.

I finished my young adult novel back in July and began the query process. I was consumed with following the "rules" of proper query letter writing... I read and researched to learn the best ways to write it, submit it, and follow it. Rejection. Rejection. Rejection.

Then I found a series of posts on The Guide to Literary Agents' Blog. The series featured actual queries that snagged an agent. The agents commented on the query letters and explained why they were successful. I noticed a trend. Most of these letters didn't follow the "rules" I had found. I also noticed that many of the agents commented how the letter stood out from the rest of the slush.

I scratched my chin and thought, "They stood out because they didn't follow the rules and because their voice really shined through."

I rewrote my query as though there were no rules. I didn't limit my word count. I didn't limit my paragraphs to three. I didn't start by introducing the genre or the main character.

I sent the query letter out to eleven agents on the eleventh of November, at eleven p.m. HA. I'm actually serious... although, it wasn't premeditated. I figured, my favorite number was eleven. I should take advantage of it, right?

Well, either the number eleven worked for me, or breaking the rules did, because eleven days later (I KID YOU NOT!) on the 22nd of November, an agent emailed me and asked me for the full manuscript. Well, it's been more than eleven weeks, and the ms is still with the agent. She's been busy selling books (which is a good thing, yah?) and so she hasn't had a chance to get to it yet... patience is not my virtue.

So, I sent out a new batch of query letters. This time I tried to conform the letter to more rules. Rejections.

I'm going to write a new letter this week focusing more on the spirit and voice of the book. I'm going to break the rules again and see what happens.

Now, I meant to cover one more thing in this post, but since it's so long I'll save it for another post. While I think it may be necessary to break some rules to get noticed... I think other rules need to be followed. Oh, and one more topic for a future post... Who's writing the rule book and what makes them the authority?

Paltry...

An email I received today:

"Dear Author,


... A form rejection is a paltry return for the time and effort you put into your work ..."

Ha.

At first I stopped on the "Dear Author" part (an immediate sign of rejection - - why continue to read?) but I track my query letters and responses in an excel file, and so I read on to see who the letter was from.

This response related to a query I sent in August 2009. Yup. Paltriness.

What's worse than a response that takes six months? No response at all. What's worse than a "Dear Author" salutation? No response at all.

So...

I say, "Dear Agent, Thank you for your tardy and paltry response. I appreciate the time it took you to cut and paste your form rejection and send it to me."

Really, in all sincerity, I do.

And, I like the word paltry. :)

Another Tootsie Pop for the jar. I'm good.

Clicked "Send & Receive" Again!

Sometimes I don't even wait thirty seconds before hitting the "send/receive" button again. Sounds obsessive, eh? Well, I have an agent reading my finished manuscript titled "Manifested" right now. Her website says I should wait eight weeks before following up with her. Well, Sunday (that's two days away) will be the eight week mark.

As the mark draws closer, I keep thinking, "Surely, today will be the day I hear back from her." So, I click send/receive, again, in my Outlook Express. Nothing. (Well, there's other "stuff" that arrives in my email of course, but there's only one thing I'm really looking for in that inbox!)

Of course, most "success stories" tell how the agent PHONES the writer if interested in the manuscript. So, when the phone interrupted our family dinner this week (multiple times), I hopped right up and said to my family, "It could be my agent calling!" Nope. Not her.

Not yet!

So, Monday, I will write the dreaded follow-up email. Yes, dreaded. Why? Because so far, when I've written the dreaded follow-up email for previous query letters, an instant response followed: "Not interested."

Which amazes me... could they have not typed those two words weeks earlier and put me out of my misery of waiting? Sheesh.

Well, I should stop typing this post so that I can go click send/receive again. Maybe this time there will be an email from her. Maybe...

I need to sharpen my axe.

So, I wrote a book called Manifested. It's great (yah, yah, in my humble opinion).

While I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, I'm certainly not the dullest; and better yet, I know how to sharpen my axe. Meaning: whatever I don't know, I research and learn.

I honestly thought I had adequately researched the writing, revising, query-ing, and publishing process. However, the scary thing is, the more I research, the more I realize how much I don't know.

This whole process is like putting a puzzle together, but the pieces are constantly in motion. Each time I get a new piece to the puzzle and figure out where it belongs in the big picture, the other pieces have moved again. Oh my.

Most recent realization: my word count is too high. When I originally researched word counts (back in February 2009) I did so based on general adult length books. I did not realize when I started down this path that I was writing a Young Adult book. Thanks to great websites like Kidlit and Guide to Literary Agents, I've come to realize that there are different word counts. Duh. Furthermore, thanks to Kidlit, I've come to realize that many of my rejections may have been based on my word count alone. Sheesh.

I'm off to sharpen my axe ...




Here's the Kidlit post on word count: http://kidlit.com/2009/11/13/manuscript-length/
Here's the guide to Literary Agents post: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/CategoryView,category,WordCount.aspx

Eating

Well, the blog header suggests that I love to eat. So, let me tell you about the food item closest (physically) to me. Tootsie Pops. Yup.

In my quest for a literary agent, I would update my family by hollering, "Got another rejection!" My daughter, who has a great positive attitude scolded me one day and said, "Mom, you need to use a different word. If you focus on the word 'rejection' you'll get more rejections." So, I thought about that. Of course, I do NOT want more rejections. That sucks.

So, I was thinking about how many agents a writer (specifically ME) has to go through to find the right match.

Which in my head, immediately made me think of food - and how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Hmm. Strategy formed. I now have a jar next to my computer and a file in Excel. Everytime I hear back from a prospective agent with anything less than a "YES" I count it as one of the necessary licks to get to the center of the literary world. I add a Tootsie Pop to my jar and notate it appropriately in my Excel file.

Then, when I am actively working on a project, whether it be a short story, writing exercise, or my next novel, I get to eat as many Tootsie Pops out of the jar as my creativity and self esteem require.