Tag Archives: TNWSY

Second Guessing

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[Before I begin...for those interested, here's my query! And the first 250 words! And the title! I didn't "win" this contest, but I made it to the top 25 which is awesome in itself. I'd love to hear what you all think.]

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Querying. Is. Hard.

I knew it would be – every writer does – but I wasn’t prepared for it to be as engrossing as writing the actual book. I’ve been rejected a few times already, which is fine. I’m still going, still processing, still sending queries out. But like I said – it’s hard.

I think my biggest problem is second guessing myself. It’s smart to query agents who represent what you write. It’s smart to target those who have worked with similar books. But there’s still that…on a pedestal feeling, I suppose. I find an agent who represents YA contemporary romance. I look at their client list. I find authors I love. And then I feel…not worthy. As if my book doesn’t compare at all to those other books. As if it’s not as good.

Of course I shouldn’t feel that way, but sometimes it happens and I just skip that agent. When I shouldn’t. I should send them an email because, really, what’s the worse that could happen? I receive another rejection? Fine!

It’s easy to second guess. It’s much harder pushing through. So, today I’m doing just that. I’m querying those agents who represent similar books that I love. And perhaps I’ll be rejected, but that’s completely fine. At least I tried, right?

What are some things you’ve second guessed yourself about? And how did you power through? 

 

Show Up

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You know that quote “80% of success is just showing up?” I feel writing is similar. Success is just doing it in the first place. In regards to that, I just read a great post by author Allison Winn Scotch about writing. Check it out here.

I think it’s the same once you’re done writing the book. After you’re done, you have to do something with it, right? So I am! I’m not going to chronicle all of my queries and requests and rejections. That’ll just be annoying. But I will state one bit of success I’ve had thus far. My query has made it to the second round of a contest judged by two agents. There are 25 finalists in total. Six will have requests for full manuscripts, and quite a few will get critiques and comments, or even partial requests. Honestly, while I’d love a request, I’m just really excited about the critiques. I’ll know what I did right, did wrong, need to improve on. That way I can send a better more prepared query out next. It’s a learning process, no?

Once the contest is closed, I’ll link over to my entry. I’d love to know all of your opinions.

Edits

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First page of "Dharma Bums." Editor's comments in pencil. Kerouac's comments in red.

Here’s a fun fact for you: when Jack Kerouac wrote Dharma Bums, he wasn’t touring the country or in a small apartment in New York City, he was living here in Orlando. My library actually has the original DB manuscript, edits and all. It’s really remarkable to see.

What I found to be hilarious, though, was how Kerouac actually rejected most of the edits suggested. There’s actually a page where he wrote “Viking Press changes that I rejected.” How crazy is that!

I’ve discussed earlier how I actually love getting critiques. Sure it hurts somtimes, but that’s good. Because I know the people who are editing are helping the book, not hurting me. And that’s my ultimate goal, isn’t it?

I say all of this because…the editing phase is finally done on TNWSY. I sent out my first query yesterday. I’m nervous, of course, but also extremely excited. I know there will be rejections, I know there will be hard times, but I also know I worked hard on the book, and I’m excited that it actually turned into something. Something someone might see one day.

Wish me luck!

Listening to Characters

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I’ve read so many articles where writers described how their characters talked to them. How the characters led the story and made decisions of their own. And I thought it was so cool. I wanted that to happen. I wanted my characters to come alive and be something more than 2D ideas. But every time I wrote, it never happened. I realized later it was because I never got to know them enough to allow them to come alive.

As I wrote TNWSY, I had a general idea of how the book would start and end. I had a beginning fleshed out and finish line all of the characters were running towards. But as for the middle, there was just a bare skeleton guiding me. Sure, I had ideas of what would happen to get them from point a to point b, but never real concrete plans. I was scared, of course, that I wouldn’t figure it all out.

But as I approached an undecided part, I found scenes coming to me. Not always easily, but they came quickly and excitingly. My characters decided they didn’t want to stay at a party, instead they wanted to go out. They told me where they should go, they led the story. And it was absolutely amazing. Even my ending, the one I previously plotted, was changed. They thought it was too cheesy, of course.

After I finished, I went back and re-read it. Starting with the first chapter, I noticed how out of character some quotes were, how unauthentic. That’s how I realized my characters had voices. As soon as I realized that, I knew I was on the right track.

That’s not to say my story is perfect or even complete – even right now I’m finding new things to change and add. I’m just saying that, despite it never happening before, it is possible for characters to come alive. It’s amazing and crazy and, well, magical. They create stories of their own, and, as a writer, it’s our job to just catch up.

Writing a Book

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So, I wrote a book. Crazy, right? It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years. Years. I’m the kind of person who does everything to get what they want. If I want a new job, I do everything in my power to get one. (And, so far, it’s worked rather well.) If I want to get in shape, I work out regularly. (Okay, this usually only lasts for, like, two weeks…but I try!) Creative writing has been the only thing I’ve been…more reserved about. I’ve had a ton of nonfiction articles published (See: my last job), but fiction? Never. And it’s always been my goal. And year after year I’ve pushed it to the side, in fear of, well, failing.

But not doing anything essentially made me fail.

So this year I participated in National Novel Writing Month. I figured if I had a deadline, as well as other people working towards the same goal with me, I’d do it. I didn’t just think I could conquer it, I knew I could. And I think it was that insane determination that helped me through. Because 27 days later…I completed my first novel. All 51,000+ words.  Honestly? I’ve never been prouder. I actually cried as I typed the last sentence. CRIED.

But obviously, that’s not the end. Writing something in 27 days means it’s far from perfect. So that’s what I’m doing now – making this book perfect (or, manuscript perfect at least). I self-edited it once, checking the grammar and spelling and ensuring everything made sense (at least to me). After, I sent it to two friends who I knew would offer insightful critiques, as well as an unbiased reading.

And it was so scary. These girls are my friends, I know they’ll be kind, but the idea that someone else is reading my creative writing is absolutely frightening. Someone is meeting my characters, envisioning my plot. The work is officially not just mine anymore, it’s living in the minds of others.

What if they didn’t like it? What if it was bad?

So two nights ago, my friend Katie came over with a ton of critiques. She commented on what worked, and what didn’t. She corrected some more grammar and said I used certain words too much. (Which, I do.) The thing is – the comments didn’t hurt as I thought they would. Yes, she’s saying some parts weren’t great, but I took the critique and used it to better the draft. I didn’t take it to heart, instead I took it to the pen. Or the computer, moreso, because I knew if something didn’t work for her, it wouldn’t work for other readers. And I want other readers to see it. I want them to enjoy it. So even though it hurts to change my book, I know it’s for the best. So i’m doing that.

But on the plus side, she actually liked it. And I couldn’t stop smiling for days after hearing that.

The is a long way of saying that I’ve written a book. I’m going to be working on it a lot now, and eventually searching for literary agents to hopefully represent me, and it. I know it will be a long process. I know it will be a hard process, but I’m ready. I want to take my writing out into the world. I want people to meet my characters and see what they’re like. I want people to experience their lives.

And I’m going to do everything in my power to get this done.