Okay, so, once a month is better than nothing, right? I promise that I will get the hang of blogging. It would certainly be more fun if someone besides myself were reading it, though.
So, where did I leave off? Right... I finished the book and sent it off to an agent. The one agent that I really really wanted to like it. Guess what? He did!
We went through my manuscript in detail and I went back to the drawing board to...ugh...EDIT. Honestly, it's a nasty little four letter word. Every bit as bad as those that lead to a mouthwashing of soap. The idea is to edit the manuscript down and "clean it up" so that it's polished enough to send to an editor at a publishing house.
I know...editing for the editor was confusing to me too. Kind of like cleaning the house before the cleaning lady gets there. Anyway, Mom and I went to work. (Did I mention that my mom is the driving force behind me and the very best editor I know? Seriously. Best. Mom. Ever.)
At the insistence of Bill the agent, I took my time. Three weeks later, we'd shaved ten thousand words, deleted a few scenes, beefed up the dialog and ended up with a MUCH smoother story. Bill was right on every single one of his suggestions. I guess that's why he's a sought after agent!
So...here I sit, waiting (3 weeks and counting) for Bill to re-read the manuscript and let me know if it's edited well enough to send to the editor. I should have an answer from him by Monday. I'm not sure that I've ever been quite this nervous about something, and that's coming from someone who overcame panic attacks to make a career out of being on live television.
Really. What do I do with myself? I've cleaned the house and done the laundry (totally over those two things, by the way), I've read seven books (no lie), I've even figured out Facebook and turned into quite the FB stalker, sending friend requests to anyone I can think of. I've caught up with my girlfriends, attended Spencer's lacrosse games (ok, so I sat in the car and watched because it was freezing!), and revived our long overdue "Friday Night Dance Party in the Kitchen".
I shudder to think of what might happen as I endure this last week of waiting. I'm seriously thinking about cutting my own bangs. Someone stop me?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Today is a ten!!
Today, for the first time ever, my horoscope was a ten. (gasp!) I know, right? Have you ever seen a ten? It suggested that I get out there and try something new. Sooo...I'm blogging!
It's funny, I've been a professional writer for all of my adult life and I really can't think of anything interesting to say. I suppose "blogging" is an aquired taste?
It's good for me though...it forces me back into the real world. For the past twelve weeks I haven't lived here, in the real world. I took a vacation from my family and friends and I moved to Planet Perfect. It's a little bubble of an existence known only to those happy souls who write fiction. As a first time novelist, this was my first visit to Planet Perfect. It's a place where the unbelievable and the impossible are the rule, not the exception. A place where the good people get their happily ever afters and the bad people get exactly what's coming to them. A place where love reigns supreme and hurt and disappointment are only the means to a happy ending. A place where laundry doesn't pile up and kids don't get hungry. Taxes don't need to get done and phones don't need to be answered. Nobody yells "Mom! He hit me!" and dogs don't interrupt your writing by crapping in the middle of the floor...
My trip to Planet Perfect ended a few days ago when I finished the final chapter of my very first novel. (100k words later...Whew!) I cleaned the house for the first time in...well, I won't say how long. Same with washing my hair. I actually made dinner tonight too...and I'm not even cranky! I'm sure my family thinks I'm dying of cancer or something and just haven't told them yet.
Well, it's getting late. More tomorrow? I think that's how this works. It's like a little diary, right? Available for all of humanity to read. Huh. I'm going to press "publish post" now. I have no idea what will happen next. I'm scared. What if it lands in every email inbox on the face of the planet? That would be just my luck... Nite.
It's funny, I've been a professional writer for all of my adult life and I really can't think of anything interesting to say. I suppose "blogging" is an aquired taste?
It's good for me though...it forces me back into the real world. For the past twelve weeks I haven't lived here, in the real world. I took a vacation from my family and friends and I moved to Planet Perfect. It's a little bubble of an existence known only to those happy souls who write fiction. As a first time novelist, this was my first visit to Planet Perfect. It's a place where the unbelievable and the impossible are the rule, not the exception. A place where the good people get their happily ever afters and the bad people get exactly what's coming to them. A place where love reigns supreme and hurt and disappointment are only the means to a happy ending. A place where laundry doesn't pile up and kids don't get hungry. Taxes don't need to get done and phones don't need to be answered. Nobody yells "Mom! He hit me!" and dogs don't interrupt your writing by crapping in the middle of the floor...
My trip to Planet Perfect ended a few days ago when I finished the final chapter of my very first novel. (100k words later...Whew!) I cleaned the house for the first time in...well, I won't say how long. Same with washing my hair. I actually made dinner tonight too...and I'm not even cranky! I'm sure my family thinks I'm dying of cancer or something and just haven't told them yet.
Well, it's getting late. More tomorrow? I think that's how this works. It's like a little diary, right? Available for all of humanity to read. Huh. I'm going to press "publish post" now. I have no idea what will happen next. I'm scared. What if it lands in every email inbox on the face of the planet? That would be just my luck... Nite.
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