The One Thing

I am learning that while publishers will forgive some weaknesses (pacing, length, even a few technical errors), the one thing they cannot work with is poor character design.

And it makes sense really.

As a first-time novelist, I have many thousands of things to learn about writing a book, and I can take criticism--I can. But as my many (very patient) editors have torn The Wielder apart, the one thing they couldn't really help with is, you guessed it, character design.

How could they? They had no idea how to 'fix' the people I wrote about. It isn't their job. It's MY job to people my little world with likable, believable personalities.

It's odd, really, because as a mystery writer, I'm usually very good at characters. But I think when I wrote Wielder I made the 'New World' my main character. Oops. The setting should never be the main character--unless you're writing a travel-log.

The moral of the story? If you can't write a good character--don't bother. That doesn't seem like a positive, encouraging moral, does it?

Okay, let's try this: characters drive the story--end of story.

My book is a YA fantasy about jewelry and "magic" powers, right? Sort of, but that's the filling. (yummy cream filling, but still just filling)

It's really about three young cousins, each with their own neurosis, who learn to trust each other and understand that if you don't choose your path, life will choose it for you.

Good to know.

But do you see why, if the characters are poorly written, everything else falls apart?

And this is why I just spent the last month and a half painstakingly rewriting each of those three cousins and giving them life and sparkle.

Now I just have to cross my fingers that I can write interesting, likable characters.

Here we go again. :)

Still Waiting

It hasn't been a month yet since the book went out and (of course) we're still waiting. It took me a few weeks to stop thinking about it constantly. Another few days after that before I could really feel the creative juices flowing. And now I've finally reached the point where I can enjoy writing again.

You know, I've read writers' accounts where they say "Just keep writing through the slumps!" or "write every day, even if you don't feel like it." That's fine, if that helps you.

That didn't work so well for me.

I write because I love to. In the weeks following the submission, I didn't love to anymore. I needed a break.

I did, however, do a lot of reading. I DO recommend that. Reading keeps your thoughts on the written word while allowing you to rest your brain.

I'm back to work now, but I'm working on other projects:
Three other novels ideas and the outline for Book 2

I'm excited to hear about The Wielder, but life goes on. I'd rather the Editors took their time and made a thoughtful decision about my book (even if it means rejection), than rushed through and rejected it without a decent reading.

The your time, Editors! I've got plenty!

Submission--Round 2

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.

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!

Rewrite...again

Yes, the manuscript is being read, as we speak, by staggeringly famous publishers. And yet, I'm still editing.

I'm not waiting to hear about how it's not ready. I'm fixing it now!

Anyway, it'll give me something to do while I wait for their feedback. Yes, that's all I'm expecting at this point. I hadn't looked at the book since we sent it out a month ago and now that I'm skimming it, I see so many weak spots and characters. Why would any of them take it in this condition?

Much to do.

Mostly it's character issues. Pacing can be adjusted with editor-help. Characters are purely an author's problem. If I can't write an interesting character, I'm doomed.

So back to the drawing board. Two of the main characters need major overhauls and two of the minor ones need tightening. Fortunately, I know what I want to do with them.

Now I just have to go and do it!

The Agent

My agent, Stan, isn't the most experienced, but I knew that when I signed on with him. He doesn't live in New York and he hasn't been doing this his whole life.

So why did I want him as my agent?

Because he loves my book. LOVES it. He's passionate about it and believes that it will be HUGE!

It doesn't matter that he's probably wrong. Or that it may be years before my book finds a publisher.

I have an agent who's willing to fight for your right to read it.

Stan is great and I will be a published author because he'll get me there.

Find an agent who loves your work! This is the most important qualification they can have!

The Abyss of Rejection

My first manuscript was sent out on November 16 to six publishers. Six TOP publishers. When I found out which six wanted to see it, I danced around the living room with my two boys. They had no idea why we were dancing, but they joyfully joined in.

About a week ago, I got my first rejection. It's not important who they were--what's important was my reaction.

Was I expecting rejections? Yes.
Did I know most first time authors get many (even hundreds of) rejections before they are accepted? Yes.
Did I do the research and realize this publisher wasn't likely to want my book anyway? Yes.
Were they polite and give constructive criticism? Yes.

Does any of this make me feel better? No.

Well, I should say not at first. After the rejection sank in and I pulled myself out of the dark abyss of "I'm a terrible writer and I'll never try THAT again"--yes, the facts made me feel better.

I have read about many experienced and successful authors' rejection-agony. Their only advice? Keep writing.

So, after I learned that even Jane Austen and Shakespeare had harsh (and mistaken) critics, I pulled out my next manuscript and got back to work. I'm still aching and I'm utterly terrified to find out what the other five publishers think of my novel, but I'm still writing.

I only hope that the next five rejection letters are gentle and helpful, though I recognize that they're all going to send me back into that depressing abyss. I'll get out of it again and again, because I love what I do.

My first novel may not be very good yet. But, the more I write the better I'll get.

So, onward and upward!