Well, the manuscript fell into the hands of editors at five exceptional publishing houses yesterday and now begins the big wait. Last time we sent it out we waited 2 months only to find out none of them had read it yet!
So, here we go again.
You know, the minute I found out my agent had sent it off, I just KNEW the book was garbage. I KNEW I had no business submitting anything. It didn't matter that my agent was in love with the book or that only 24 hours before I was very happy with it.
This self-doubt disease drops in every time I commit myself to something. It lasts about a day.
So now, having recovered from that temporary pity-party, the question is what to do with myself for the next few months.
First, I think I'll take a few days off and nurse this blasted cold!
Then, when I get the writing itch again (expected in the next few days) I'll begin a first draft of book 2 "The Healer". Of course this means research, outlines, character reviews, and deciding on a fabulous, irresistible beginning.
I love my job!
With luck, I might be able to get a good start on book 2 before we get the next round of replies. Heck, I might even have a full draft before we find a publisher.
The most important thing to do these next few months is keep busy and remember why I write--because I have to. I'm addicted.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Death of the Research Babies
One of the most painful parts of the editing process is cutting what they call "your babies".
For some this means sections or scenes that they love. The writer enjoyed creating it and believes it to be the best work they have ever done--yet some critic wants them to cut it for the sake of the work as a whole.
I don't mind that. I cut the scene without regret--saving it elsewhere for another project someday in the future. No problem.
For me "babies" are the parts I researched. And I don't mean thirty minutes of Googling. I mean weeks, if not months, of reading, interviewing, and detailed note-taking.
Hundreds of hours of my life spent learning about the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, plus military protocol and modern weaponry. Why did I learn all of these things? For a prologue that was scrapped because it "had nothing to do with the rest of the book." True? Yes. Was I right to toss it? Absolutely!
But I am left with a slight ouch when I think of the time I put into it.
Other topics I lived and breathed for no reason at all?
Photography
French grammar
The Louvre
The funniest part? As painful as these lost "babies" seem, it's so worth it when you see the finished product and realize how much better it is without the researched gunk.
My manuscript is still, yes STILL, doing the rounds with publishers. But I just finished trimming it down and we're sending it out fresh and new this week. I don't know if it'll sell this time. You can't know for sure until it happens.
But I'm proud of my book. It's beautiful. It's magic. Before I cut the "babies" away, it was good. Now it's something special.
Let's see if we can convince a publisher that I'm right!
For some this means sections or scenes that they love. The writer enjoyed creating it and believes it to be the best work they have ever done--yet some critic wants them to cut it for the sake of the work as a whole.
I don't mind that. I cut the scene without regret--saving it elsewhere for another project someday in the future. No problem.
For me "babies" are the parts I researched. And I don't mean thirty minutes of Googling. I mean weeks, if not months, of reading, interviewing, and detailed note-taking.
Hundreds of hours of my life spent learning about the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, plus military protocol and modern weaponry. Why did I learn all of these things? For a prologue that was scrapped because it "had nothing to do with the rest of the book." True? Yes. Was I right to toss it? Absolutely!
But I am left with a slight ouch when I think of the time I put into it.
Other topics I lived and breathed for no reason at all?
Photography
French grammar
The Louvre
The funniest part? As painful as these lost "babies" seem, it's so worth it when you see the finished product and realize how much better it is without the researched gunk.
My manuscript is still, yes STILL, doing the rounds with publishers. But I just finished trimming it down and we're sending it out fresh and new this week. I don't know if it'll sell this time. You can't know for sure until it happens.
But I'm proud of my book. It's beautiful. It's magic. Before I cut the "babies" away, it was good. Now it's something special.
Let's see if we can convince a publisher that I'm right!
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