Writing Research Pitfalls

I've posted numerous entries regarding doing your research.  I've talked about the good sites out there and instructed you to research and then research some more.  Occasionally, during all that well meaning analysis, you come across something that sends you off the rails.  This happened to me just this week.

I have my favorite blogs I follow.  Everyone in the blogging world does.  Late last week, I was catching up on posts on one of the most highly regarded blogs out there and I stumbled across one involving a Q and A with a popular agent at a highly respected agency.  This agency has been on my radar for a really long time, so of course I read with great interest.  The agent was funny and likable and I enjoyed the piece thoroughly.  However, about halfway through, one answer to a question really shook me.  She was asked how much time she spends reading queries and what kinds of things make her reject without even reading the entire thing.  She had some understandable reasons and then she mentioned a plot she'd seen too many times before.  She practically quoted what would be the blurb of my current work word for word.  I sat there stunned.

What do I do now?  I'm halfway through this thing.  I've toiled away for hours and maybe worst of all, I really like it.  It's as close to the real me as I've ever gotten.  It feels natural and it feels like my story.  Do I quit because of one popular agent's comments?  Do I keep going with the possibility it's a colossal waste of time?  Do I assume mine will be different?  That it will be the one that really stands above the rest?

I've pondered these very questions multiple times the last few days.  Finally, I came to my conclusion.  I keep going.  She's one of hundreds of well-respected agents out there.  I may even reach out to her for the hell of it and somehow make it work to my favor in the query.  There are lots of avenues I could take, but giving up on it doesn't seem like the best one right now.  Also, writing anything is better than writing nothing.  As I've said before, practice makes perfect in writing too.  Keep going.  It's all I can do.

Now, I just have to find the fire for this story again and type away, no matter what this agent might have said.  It'll force me to be more creative.  Hey, just trying to be positive here;-0

Song I'm enjoying today.  Highway Don't Care, by Tim McGraw (featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban).  I just really like this one;-)