Submission Time Again

My most recent finished work is titled, The Healing House.  It's a 105,000 word contemporary romance.  I've started the submission rounds (one reason why I haven't done a blog entry in 11 days).  I submitted first to three top agencies who only want query letters at this phase.  All three typically provide a fast response.  I queried them on 1/27.  By the next day, I'd received rejections from two:-(.  Still waiting to hear from the third.

I both love and loathe this process.  I love it because of the thrill.  There are so many possibilities.  Someone among my list of agents might actually like it.  This book might just be the one.  The one that allows me to write for a career.  The one that gets my name out there.  And dare I say, the one that changes my life.  I like my life, mind you, but I have no doubts I'm ready for a career change.

Now, on to why I loathe it.  Rejection, plain and simple.  Nobody likes rejection.  Nobody.  If taken personally, it can be emotionally damaging and life altering in a different sense.  Some people give up because of the rejection.  I vow never to be one of those people.  At the very least, it makes you doubt yourself and the current product.  I admire authors who persist, like Kathryn Stockett, through years of rejection on the same novel.  In the past, I've simply moved on to the next feeling it could only be better.

I will take you along on this journey with me by giving you weekly updates of my progress.  We'll see how it goes;-).  If you're in the query process too, please share.  I want to hear about your experiences.

Happy Blogging Anniversary to Me

I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of my blog.  A momentous year for me.  I remember this time last year, thinking about it but having no idea where to start.  One year later, I feel a little more confident.  A little more comfortable in my pink stilettos.  But there's still a long way to go.  A lo-o-ng way.

Let's talk about audience for starters.  Probably my biggest challenge.  I still haven't found one.  I was thrilled when I started getting 50-60 page views but soon realized it was just through advertising spammers.  Something I still don't really understand.  I would like an audience of other aspiring authors.  I would love for this blog to be a place where we share experiences and help each other through this daunting process of entering the publishing world.  That's my ultimate goal.  As I've said before, I spent years researching things.  Years finding sites I trusted and felt weren't trying to steer me wrong.  I've spent those years learning what agents are reputable and have stellar reputations versus the ones who possibly aren't so professional.  This is not the place to call out names for the latter but I think it's nice to laud the ones who've been proven great.

I also want to share the feelings of being a new writer.  The sometimes bone-crushing disappointment that comes with rejection and the elation of a positive word from an agent.

I have a lot of wants and desires for this blog and still a long way to go.  Inevitably, I hope to be able to say to a group of loyal readers.  Guess what!  I just got a publishing contract!  I want you guys to share similar experiences with me.  In the meantime, I'll continue to blog about the roller coaster that is the writing life.  Hopefully, you'll be there to read it and share in my sorrow and happiness.

Happy Anniversary to me!

The Narrow-Minded Reader

Shame on me!  I learned a very good lesson this holiday season.  For so long, my focus has been very narrow-minded when it comes to the types of books I read.  Love?  Check.  Humor?  Check.  Happy ending?  Check.  These have traditionally been my must haves when choosing a book to read.  The happy ending part is not easy to tell, unless you stick to traditional romance.  Venture outside that genre and you're at-risk.  Because of this, I've avoided a lot of really good books in recent years.  I guess you could say it was the Message in a Bottle effect.  I read that one years ago and was devastated at Garret's death.  Why Nicholas Sparks?  Why-y-y?

I've ventured out of my rut a bit lately.  I read some interesting books over the summer not focused solely on a love story but rather friendship.  I enjoyed these too.  I read Gone Girl.  Definitely not a humorous love story but loved the writing.

So, over the break, I read the Hunger Games trilogy.  All three books in a matter of six days.  We'll ignore the fact I got absolutely no house work done and nearly starved my children.  Just kidding about the starving part.  They're old enough to feed themselves;-)  I LOVED these books.  Really loved them.  Suzanne Collins is truly gifted.  I lost myself in her writing and lived the characters for those six days.

So, again, shame on me for waiting so long to read a truly great series from a fabulous author.  Learn from my mistakes people!