Phew...why didn't anyone warn me that trying to get published would be so much work? Finally finished my synopsis and now need to re-read and edit the entire submission package. Writing fiction has become pretty easy (hint: that doesn't mean that I'm any good), but writing a query letter and story synopsis is just hell. Plus trying to edit the beginning--the introduction to the rest of the book--down into 10 pages of action-packed, thought-provoking prose is just impossible.
Anyway, I've done the best I can...hopefully that's enough.
In other writing news, I am going crazy over this fellowship. I applied months ago, and am supposed to find out absolutely no later than mid-April. I know that there's no chance I got it, and that it's still way early to expect to hear...but I'm losing my mind.
Bennett Fellowship committee, if you're reading this, please pick me!
And in actual book news, I'm oscillating. Half the time I think my book is pretty damn awesome: a good first installment into what will hopefully become a great trilogy; the other half the time I think it's a hodgepodge of unoriginal ideas and is utter CRAP. I hear this literary bipolar craziness is normal...but makes me nervous about my writing.
The only thing that comforts me is that for every scene that needs to be rewritten (or banished to the bowels of hell) there's another that feels genuine and is (at least for me) pretty absorbing.
Caution: self-aggrandizing wannabe-author on the loose.
Anyway, this blog is far too stream-of-consciousness-sans-content to be allowed to continue. Good night Neverland!
Working Title: Bryn & Mer: Traditor
Word Count: ?
Writing Mode: ptfo
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Burn, burn, burn
Just got done with my writing for the day! I went back today to do a bit of editing...there were a bunch of things I neglected to put into writing, despite the fact that they were in the back of my mind. The perils of rough drafts!
Anyway, went back and noted that John the Fox, a minor character (at least in this book) suffers from diabetes. While he has almost no bearing on the story in Traditor, in the next, as-yet-unnamed installation of Bryn & Mer he will be a major character...and his disease essential to the story. I knew he was diabetic when I wrote his part in Traditor; but at the time, just didn't know how to fit it in.
I also need to note that Jonathan, the young Dissenter, has siblings--which is one of the major reasons he joined the Dissenters. His family was killed/disappeared, leaving him (at 15) as the sole caretaker of his younger brothers and sister. Rather than be taken into State custody he ran, falling in with a group of street children before joining the Dissenters. I'll flesh this out more fully in the second book, but I at least need to hint at it in this one.
Also in the middle of attempting to submit Traditor to a publisher. Need to write a synopsis (NIGHTMARE), as well as edit my excerpt and query letter. Hope to get this done soon, though part of it depends on how long it'll take my friends (and hopefully a former teacher) to read through my submission docs and get me feedback.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be in a meeting right now, so I need to jet! Laters!
Working Title: Bryn & Mer: Traditor
Word Count: ??? I swear I'll update this one of these days...
Writing Mode: Inspired
Anyway, went back and noted that John the Fox, a minor character (at least in this book) suffers from diabetes. While he has almost no bearing on the story in Traditor, in the next, as-yet-unnamed installation of Bryn & Mer he will be a major character...and his disease essential to the story. I knew he was diabetic when I wrote his part in Traditor; but at the time, just didn't know how to fit it in.
I also need to note that Jonathan, the young Dissenter, has siblings--which is one of the major reasons he joined the Dissenters. His family was killed/disappeared, leaving him (at 15) as the sole caretaker of his younger brothers and sister. Rather than be taken into State custody he ran, falling in with a group of street children before joining the Dissenters. I'll flesh this out more fully in the second book, but I at least need to hint at it in this one.
Also in the middle of attempting to submit Traditor to a publisher. Need to write a synopsis (NIGHTMARE), as well as edit my excerpt and query letter. Hope to get this done soon, though part of it depends on how long it'll take my friends (and hopefully a former teacher) to read through my submission docs and get me feedback.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be in a meeting right now, so I need to jet! Laters!
Working Title: Bryn & Mer: Traditor
Word Count: ??? I swear I'll update this one of these days...
Writing Mode: Inspired
Thursday, March 7, 2013
These are the Times New Roman of Our Lives
I don't know why it is that I have no trouble whatsoever meeting deadlines for my writing, but I have a devil of a time keeping up with this blog. Maybe it's because I can see my story in my head whereas this is just a sort of forum for keeping myself on track. Maybe it's because I tend to write and write in whatever time I have available, scribbling away until I drop. Kinda hard to turn your mind to a blog when you're emotionally (and, depending on how my hands are feeling, physically) wiped.
Anyway, I figured I'd better update again! I've been doing quite a bit of editing, as I'd like to get the first three chapters in good enough shape to send to an agent. What stinks about that, of course, is that the first three chapters are nowhere near my favorite part of the book. A friend suggested that I send the first three chapters, as per the agent's instructions, and then send a more compelling section as well. Maybe put something in my cover letter saying: "here are the first three chapters, but I feel that this section is more compelling, so I'm including it as well. If you can only read one, and you're willing to give me a little leeway, please read the 2nd selection."
Who knows. This publishing business is a mess! I can't send directly to a publisher, as none of them seem to accept unsolicited manuscripts any more. Instead, I must find an agent. But there are ten hundred thousand agents, and even if I could find one I liked who seemed sane/dedicated/trustworthy, it's incredibly unlikely that they'd pick my work...if they even read it. I found one agent who I like quite a lot, and am going to send the first three chapters over...but it all seems so pie-in-the-sky.
I guess the entire endeavor of writing is rather pie-in-the-sky, though. Finding an agent, getting published, finding an audience for your work. Even the fellowship I applied for is pie-in-the-sky...and speaking of, I'm going mad waiting on their letter. I know I won't be chosen, but somehow until I get that letter in my hand I can't stop myself from holding out some hope. Mid-April is when they said we'd know. So far away...and yet so frighteningly close. The thought of being selected as the Bennett fellow is a dream. A year of focusing exclusively on my writing, while helping kids get started on projects of their own...it'd be magical.
Don't think about it, Amy. Don't get your hopes up for something that you have only a 1 in 1,000 chance of getting.
And speaking of writing, I should use what little is left of my lunch break to work on it. Until the next blog!
Working Title: Bryn & Mer: Traditor
Word Count: TBD pending today's writing
Writing Mode: Reflective
Anyway, I figured I'd better update again! I've been doing quite a bit of editing, as I'd like to get the first three chapters in good enough shape to send to an agent. What stinks about that, of course, is that the first three chapters are nowhere near my favorite part of the book. A friend suggested that I send the first three chapters, as per the agent's instructions, and then send a more compelling section as well. Maybe put something in my cover letter saying: "here are the first three chapters, but I feel that this section is more compelling, so I'm including it as well. If you can only read one, and you're willing to give me a little leeway, please read the 2nd selection."
Who knows. This publishing business is a mess! I can't send directly to a publisher, as none of them seem to accept unsolicited manuscripts any more. Instead, I must find an agent. But there are ten hundred thousand agents, and even if I could find one I liked who seemed sane/dedicated/trustworthy, it's incredibly unlikely that they'd pick my work...if they even read it. I found one agent who I like quite a lot, and am going to send the first three chapters over...but it all seems so pie-in-the-sky.
I guess the entire endeavor of writing is rather pie-in-the-sky, though. Finding an agent, getting published, finding an audience for your work. Even the fellowship I applied for is pie-in-the-sky...and speaking of, I'm going mad waiting on their letter. I know I won't be chosen, but somehow until I get that letter in my hand I can't stop myself from holding out some hope. Mid-April is when they said we'd know. So far away...and yet so frighteningly close. The thought of being selected as the Bennett fellow is a dream. A year of focusing exclusively on my writing, while helping kids get started on projects of their own...it'd be magical.
Don't think about it, Amy. Don't get your hopes up for something that you have only a 1 in 1,000 chance of getting.
And speaking of writing, I should use what little is left of my lunch break to work on it. Until the next blog!
Working Title: Bryn & Mer: Traditor
Word Count: TBD pending today's writing
Writing Mode: Reflective
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