Saving the Day...again.

How very interesting. I am fast coming to the conclusion that, with very few exceptions, agents know what they are talking about. Not that I doubted Stan's abilities, but it isn't always easy to admit I missed something. I'm sure other writers will agree with me here--the instinct is to defend our work. Every blasted word. And sometimes they really, really need to be blasted.

Now, as it happens, I like critiques. I want my book to be the best book ever and that means having other people tear it apart from time to time.

And yet. I'm finding that as this book reaches it's full potential I am more and more inclined to defend it. In the last year I have ripped it apart and rewritten it at least four times (NOT exaggerating) and I don't regret a single rewrite. I haven't written one book--I've written five! Go me!

Well, the last time I sent my beloved manuscript off to Stan, I firmly believed this was it. IT! I was done. Oh, he might have a few notes here and there, but it was finally something I was insanely proud of. I loved every scene and adored the new ending.

Imagine my chagrin when Stan informed my that while my story and writing was top notch, my characters (most of them) seemed a little too "the same". WHAT!? Impossible! NO! They were perfect, unique, and exactly right!

And then I calmed down and thought it over reasonably.

Well, I decided, assuming he is correct (and I had a horrible, nagging feeling he was), what am I going to do about it?

The answer? Buckle down and edit once more.
The result? Characters that make me laugh out loud and sparkle all over the page! WOW! I didn't even know what I was missing!

Chalk this one up to Stan 'The Amazing Agent'--saving the day again!

Forcing the Mood

Well, sure enough Stan had some comments on the manuscript. Some I didn't agree with, but most were too good to pass up. It's not going to be a complicated edit (thank goodness!), but the work is going rather slow.

Why? A reasonable question with a strange answer. I find that most of the time I adore writing--can't live without it--but there are certain things that affect this feeling and one of them is pregnancy.

Ah ha! The truth comes out--I'm expecting my third little bundle of joy this summer!!! We are thrilled, you bet, and the timing is perfect. We just bought our first house and have settled in nicely, the kids will all be about two years apart (just what we wanted), and I'm even reasonably comfortable this time around (an absolute miracle!)

Unfortunately, something in my particular pregnancy hormone cocktail kills any desire I have to write. I CAN write, of course, (at least, I think I can...hmmm, if I can't, I don't want to know) but I find I'd rather read just now than anything else. I'm craving my book collection as much as, if not more than, chocolate or pickles.

So where does that leave my plans for The Wielder? Oh, I'll do it, never fear. It's not complicated and it's got to be done. It just might take a little longer than I'd like. Well, it's a small price to pay to add another darling to my brood!

All right, I'm off to bury myself in that manuscript. Catch you when I come up for air!