Things that are happening:
- LOVING Erin Danehy’s young adult steampunk-ish fantasy manuscript. I don’t want to jinx it with any crazy predictions, but it’s good, y’all. Really good. Definitely shelf-worthy, if you catch my drift.
- Querying, and thus rejection. Yes, I got my first rejection from an agent today. I was disappointed because she seems like a great agent, but I didn’t take it personally or anything. I just turned around and sent 3 more queries out. That makes a total of 10, which I think is a good “resting place” for now.
- Drinking Airborne. Yesterday my lymph nodes started to feel swollen and uncomfortable, so I think I might be battling a cold or something. No fun.
- Itching to write! (Note: This is a totally different kind of disease, which I never try to fight.) Last night I took the prologue and first chapter of my young adult supernatural manuscript to my writing group, and they were extremely complimentary and encouraging. It’s such a great feeling, that high you get when you realize that something you’ve written has really pleased people. But! I already put that book aside to work on a different book. And then I put that book aside to work on this new one. And this new one is still in the planning stages! So: I want to write, but it’s not time yet. Boo. Hopefully this weekend I can scratch the itch…
Things that are not happening:
- Planning the new book. I mean, it was happening, but I hit a snag. Last night as I was falling asleep, I thought of a huge problem with my new world, and I have yet to solve it. Grr.
- Thinking of good blog ideas. Obviously. I keep wanting to talk about the progress I’m making on my new book, but oh yeah, see #1 above. Sigh. Instead I may post the last of the short pieces that I wrote at the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, since I haven’t managed to place it into any magazines for publication.
- Your face.
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I always plan my books when I’m going to bed. That’s where I get some of my best thoughts, although I’ve lost a few by the next morning. I look forward to bedtime b/c I can deconstruct some of the problems I had while writing that day!
Do you think you’ll be able to resolve your snag in good time? If not, are you considering putting this book on hold to work on one of the other ones? Or is your heart only in this NA book? I’ve stopped manuscripts because of snags. Sometimes it means the death toll for that book. Other times, it’s proved very beneficial.
• Recent post by Sonja: In which I bide my time
Hee hee. “your face.” You crack me up.
I’m definitely having a sort of blog block too, or rather my next post slated to go up is a little heavier material than I usually write… so addressing those nagging inner demons is taking a little time. I’m sorry it’s happening to you, but also glad that fabulous writers aren’t exactly immune.
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Rachele-
Oh I know what you mean about losing stories! I have a bedside notepad, but still sometimes I’m too lazy to roll over and scribble things down… :P
Sonja-
I think I can resolve the snag (and may have already…). As for my heart, well, I think it belongs to all my books; it’s my focus I’m attempting to shepherd. :P I want to finish this one, but then there are 3 others I may go back to afterwards (while querying this one). 2 YAs, 1 NA/YA.
(Of course, NA is really just A… So I don’t know what an A/YA book really is… o_O)
“Sometimes it means the death toll for that book. Other times, it’s proved very beneficial.”
{nods} There have been a couple ideas that I thought I killed, when really I just needed to give them some time and space (and chocolate and flowers — they like when you suck up :P) to resuscitate.
RTW-
:D
Fabulous writer? Pssh!
I hope you don’t totally give up on that adventure/fantasy book. Sounded really fun! Don’t worry about the logic of the universe, get all of your thoughts on paper. That’s what second drafts are for!
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Good on you for putting three more queries out there straight away. Smart move and much more productive than sulking (like I might do). Am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
• Recent post by Amanda Kendle: Florence’s doorbells inspire me in the short story direction
Jon-
Haha, good point, thanks!
Amanda-
I will probably start sulking after all 10 rejections come in… :P
Don’t you know: all good ideas come when it’s bed time. Always! ; )
Good luck on your queries and your new WIP(s). ; )
• Recent post by Kimberly Franklin: Oh no, not more answers…
Oh, I hate planning. I know that without it, the story will just peter out, but it’s still always a struggle to force myself to do it.
• Recent post by TatteredSpinner: Coolest Plant on this Planet – Or Any Other
I got a rejection last night, too. Just gotta take those things in stride.
LOVE steampunk…have to check out your friend!
• Recent post by Lindsey: Meh Monday, for REAL
You mentioned me! My book! SQUEE! I have been mentioned by a wildly popular and lovely blogger/writer I deeply admire. (Look at all those adverbs and exclamation points! I think we both know from where they were removed. Cough.)
The husband has told me that if I don’t turn around your comments and start querying in a week, I’m crazy. So yes, probably will have to do that. Your querying-ing inspires me as much as your terrific comments do! :)
*whistles and hurries off to work*
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Don’t post it!! I have faith you’ll place it someday.
TatteredSpinner-
It IS a struggle. One I normally don’t bother with. But that hasn’t turned out to well so far, so I decided to really push myself to plan this one. Ugh. :P
Erin-
MORE MORE MORE! GO GO GO!
Celeste-
Aww, alright. Maybe I’ll send it to a few more places then…
I know that feeling when you just want to write but so many other things keep getting in the way. But oh, what a wonderful problem – so many ideas, so many projects, so much excitement. I know it can be frustrating when you can’t get down to business but at least you have tons you want to write and are not mucking about in the mud wondering if you’ll ever find inspiration again.
• Recent post by Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist: What writing is like
Well you have more happening than not, so I’d say you’re on a good track. I haven’t been able to get more than a sentence down on paper so far this month, which is terribly annoying.
• Recent post by Les: More time please
Rebecca-
I agree: it’s definitely one of those good problems to have.
Les-
Aw, keep at it! I’m sure you’ll break through. And then I will get to read more excerpts! Me want excerpts!
my face is SO happening.
I am not a multi-tasker like you! I write one thing at a time, but it’s so hard to resist those story ideas…especially when someone tells you that they’re so good they’d buy them. ;)
I’m going to give you back your own advice, “You can’t think your way out of a writing block, but you can definitely write your way out of a thinking block.” hehe.
• Recent post by Sarah: Don’t stop
It’s not easy to submit, and then get rejected. Hang in there! A lot of agents say perseverance is key (Along with joining a critique group and A LOT of editing).
• Recent post by Theresa Milstein: Jaws and Claws and Junk
Sarah-
Well YOUR face is happening, but I didn’t know you’d be reading! :P
And I shouldn’t be a multi-tasker. It’s sort of an excuse not to focus on/finish any one project. (For me – not necessarily all multi-taskers!) But yeah, it IS hard to resist a project when people are so clearly enthusiastic about it…
Theresa-
Yup. I’m already on-board with those last two (crit group and editing) so that leaves perseverance… Here I come!
Congrats on submitting to agents, Kristan! And hang in there. I am on my umpteenth revision and so not looking forward to it, but I think Theresa is right that it takes a lot of perseverance!
Umpteenth? Oy. Good luck to you too!
LOL, number #3 in the last section…:P
I understand the writing itch. I keep going back and forth between my current WiP and my last WiP and don’t know which to focus on. Probably the current one since I think my critique group would grow irritated with me for switching on them again.
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