Woo-woo, I am back on the query track! After cinching my story ending to a better close, and hacking off another 6,000 words, I am back to querying! Well, after I re-write the dang thing. I decided my revised story must have a sparkly new query to go along. So, who wants to write it for me? Ha ha 🙂
Friday
ShaNoWriMo word count: Zero, its over, kaput, deleted. My heart wasn’t into the sequel for my story. Instead, after stewing over the ending of my story for months, I finally thought of a better way to end it.
I feel so relieved! Now I’m going back through the story to shave off more words, and stitch in threads to pull the story to a proper close.
Excited to start on the next story whispering in my ear. Happy weekend!
Criticism
ShaNoWriMo word count: same as yesterday. Unmotivated today. It was nice out (nice here means not raining) and I wanted to take a walk. Love the crunchy leaves and smoky air.
Plus I spent time reading all the entries from Miss Snark’s Secret Agent contest. Peeking at the comments on my entry with one eye opened and teeth clenched-yikes! No, it wasn’t that bad, but criticism is hard, and good. Throws me right back to art school days when each assignment we created had to be critiqued by the whole class, in front of the whole class.
It’s funny how you think of something to write, and you think you are so clear with your words, and then people don’t get it. Oh well, I guess that’s why I should be in a critique group. Anyway, kind of having one of those days where I feel like I need to toss the story in the trash because it must suck. Tomorrow I’ll feel different.
Today I did get a very personal rejection that made me smile and feel hopeful.
Tuesday
ShaNoWriMo word count: 2,941
Tuesday night, and only a little while before V starts. That’s a new show on abc, if you didn’t know. I loved the original show in the 80’s and watched it faithfully in high school/junior high, I can’t remember. I am not a real sci fi fanatic, but I’m always intrigued by movies and shows where people are on the menu. (JAWS is one of my favorite movies) I remember the original V where a girl discovered a giant fridge, full of dead bodies, hung up like salamis. Sorry to gross everyone out.
Back to writing. I’m trying hard to not get bogged into editing, and just writing fast. My characters were very entertaining today, making me laugh my fool head off. Also trying to avoid my inbox and forget about the queries I’m waiting on.
My kids’ Halloween candy is in the pantry, a foot away from my computer. I have been a pretty good girl-only stole a few pieces today!
ShaNoWriMo word count: 2,095
Half of those done today, and probably half of those will be deleted or re-worded. I am trying to be about speed right now and then go back and edit rather then edit each paragraph twenty times before I move on.
Me and my sis entered Miss Snark’s First Victim’s Secret Agent contest. Kind of scary to have your stuff posted for the world to see and brutalize! Oh well, only the first 250 words!
Dark too early! I just want to crawl in bed and read! I have no books, Amazon didn’t deliver today 😦
Have a great week!
Happy Sunday
First day of ShaNoWriMo (my version since I can’t commit) = no words tallied yet. if I get any writing done tonight I’ll post tomorrow.
But today I did manage to make beef stew (Yes! Dinner for at least three nights!), take down the Halloween decorations, run to Target to see if I wanted any of their 50% off Halloween decor (I bought a set of pumpkin lights), and query another agent.
Productive day so far.
Have fun, all of you NaNoWriMo-ers!
Grrrr
Well, careful what you wish for. Yesterday I just wished for some news. Today i got it-two more rejections. Grrr. Time to send out more queries.
I feel left out, not participating in NaNoWriMo. I just can’t commit so I decided to do my own version, and I am calling it ShanNoWriMo. I’ll post the word count on my new WIP each time I post.
Good luck to everyone doing it!
Monday
Waiting. So hard. I don’t know what to do with myself. I have gone a week now with no rejections or news of any sort.
Since it is Halloween week I expect my inbox, and my mailbox to be full of treats. I hope everyone else’s is as well!
Thanks for the books you recommend!
I am happy to go into the weekend without anymore stinky rejections in my inbox! Thank you to whomever it was that recommended ‘Hooked’ by Les Edgerton! I started reading it yesterday, and it explains so well the importance of the beginning of your story. I think, based on his advice, that mine is on the right track, (of course I could edit more but ask me if I really want to) but my new WIP definitely is not. I’m only 4 pages in so its okay.
I recommended Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater to the lady on the radio today. She is obsessed with Twilight and was sad about finishing the 4th book. I emailed her, suggesting this book since it is story about forbidden love and werewolves. I never thought I’d get a reply, but she did, very excited over going to look for Shiver over the weekend. Made me smile. This DJ has sons in college and her favorite book is YA. I love it.
Apples and Optimism
Bummer, I got a big rejection today, the worst yet. It was only on a partial, but this agent had actually called me, I’m sure to reject me. When I told her I had rewritten what I sent, then she asked to see it. Came back in the mail today with a "not working for me…I know you’ll make the right connection" (to another agent?).
On the upside, one of my little students (I teach kindergarten) brought me an apple the size of a newborn’s head! She picked it this weekend in an orchard, in a town about 200 miles away from me. The funny thing is that this town is the setting for my next story, which I FINALLY started writing today (Hey I have two pages!)
I like stuff like that. Yes, I read a lot into things, but maybe that is optimism, I hope.
shannon grogan, young adult author 