Thursday, July 30, 2009

Just keep trying...

My next query has been sent to Firebrand Literary. I must have spent three full hours revising the letter. We shall see...

If I don't have a coffee, I would never be on the part of finding an agent. I tried to get something done today, and with two kids and three animals, it is impossible. Interruptions just come with the mom job. Anyway, the coffee allows me to stay up until 1 a.m., so I can accomplish something.

I tried to read the draft of my query today, because I got stuck on two lines and was ticked I couldn't figure out what to write. I must have read the same sentence fifteen times before giving up and waiting until 9 p.m.

Despite the funny hours, I love what I am doing right now! Now, if only I can make it my job!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

First Rejection...

I have decided to document my submission process for my young adult novel. Part of me finds this cleansing and part of me just wants to keep track of where I am submitting, since I can't stand maintaining spreadsheets.

Within 24 hours, I received my first rejection. I submitted a query letter to the Nelson Literary Agency, and received a nice canned, "nope."

I have been trained to take criticism, it's part of being an artist and graphic designer. I received over a dozen rejection letters when I submitted, "Through Endangered Eyes." (TEE)

Rejections still hurt, whether I am used to it or not. I remember when I was submitting TEE the first time and thought the one publisher I chose was PERFECT! When I received that rejection letter, ugh, it felt like someone has spooned out part of my heart.

Well, here I go again. I got a similar feeling about this agency. I thought, after reading their Web site and blog, "why would they not take my Young Adult (YA) novel, it is PERFECT!" Ha! That kind of cockiness will get me no where.

I really love my YA and my heroine. I believe that it is a good book. I want to prove to those that don't think I can make it as an author and artist, that I can. I want to prove it to myself too, but the doubting mustafa's are really putting the fire in my belly.

So, I am off to put myself in another vulnerable place over the next couple of weeks. I will be submitting to at least six agencies and just as many publishers. ---Sigh, may the force be with me.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Emerald Cage

Before my battery runs out on my computer, I thought I would start to track my process with my latest writing project.

I completed the first draft of my Young Adult novel, Emerald Cage (working title,) last week. It is around 60,000 words and I had such a blast writing it.

I started writing my outline on Mother's Day of this year. The story has just flowed for me. I have been so surprised at how quickly it moved from my mind to pages.

I am almost done with my edits of the first draft and have polished the first three chapters. It is all in preparation of submitting to agents and editors. This genre is a whole new world for me.

I submitted to an Agency in Denver and will now start the waiting game.

I have to believe that I can do what I love for a living. I want to be a writer and an artist. My goal is to be successful enough that I don't ever have to be an employer or an employee again. I can work from home, at my own hours and pace. Doesn't that sound fabulous?