News!

First, I wanted to share an update on my writing.  I've finished my manuscript and have it out to beta readers!  This thing has taken me 3 1/2 years to write.  Granted, I had lots of stops and starts, but I'm proud of it.  And I've started my next writing project.  Haven't figured out all the details yet, but I'm excited about the concept and to be writing again.  :)

Secondly, baby #2 is on his/her way!  We are very excited, though my son (20 months) is totally oblivious and will be in for a surprise come August. ;)  I'm determined to get a lot of writing and alone time with my son before then.

That's about all the news in my neck of the woods.  Anything going on in yours?

A Manuscript's Journey: Part III

Oh.  My.  Goodness.

I started working on my manuscript in September of 2009.  Which may seem like a long time, but sometimes I went months without touching it.  I finished my first draft in August of 2010.

Or so I thought.  January of 2011 I started over.  From scratch.  I cried about it, but it was a necessary thing to do (according to agents' opinions and my husband as well.).  My story needed to change from first person to third.  My villain needed to be more villainous.  I needed to up the stakes.  A lot.  And so that required a rewrite.

So, thanks to ROW80, I determined to have my rewrite done by May of 2011.  Since I had already laid out a foundation (a weak one, but a foundation none-the-less) for the past year in a half I figured that was doable.  There were days I wrote a lot.  And there were (more often than not) days I didn't write at all.

BUT....

I'm happy to report I DID IT!  I finished my first draft of the brand spanking new manuscript!

Whoo hoo!

Now, I'm off to relax for a few weeks before touching the manuscript again.  Then it'll be revising time.  But now--it's celebrating time!

And just for those who are curious, take a stroll through my writing journey so far in these three posts:

A Manuscript's Journey: Part I

A Manuscript's Journey: Part II

The King and I Face Revision

Manuscript's Journey Part II

Did you miss A Manuscript's Journey Part I?  Find it here!

So, the verdict is in.  My story, The Kennedy Renaissance, was not requested for publication.  But I did get an incredibly encouraging critique letter.  She listed four issues she had with the story that she thinks I should work on.  Otherwise, she said "I thought this was a cute story, a good idea, and written in a fun way. You have good metaphors... [that] makes your writing stand out in an original way. It's an easy read, it kept me interested and I enjoyed the experience while I read.  I hope you will keep working on this story, as you have an original way of writing and a pleasing voice."

I'm so happy to know she liked it, though she thinks it needs work.  My problem is I don't agree with the issues she sees with my story.  So I don't know where to go from here.  Maybe I'm clinging too hard to my ideas that'll never fly with a publishing company.  Or maybe another publishing company will have totally different ideas and think my story is fine just the way it is.  Dilemmas.

Either way, I'll give my story another run through, seriously reconsider the issues she found with the story, and continue the querying process.  Let the fun continue!  

And a chocolate fest begin. ;)

A Manuscript's Journey

The intro to my manuscript--and my raspberry tea in my "Cool Writer" glass ;)

It was September 22nd, 2009 that I started writing my story "The Kennedy Renaissance".  It was originally titled "My Creative Masterpiece" until I could come up with its current title. ;)  There were days I would type like a mad woman, the ideas thankfully flowing.  Then there were weeks or even months where I didn't touch the story.

I was teaching middle school English at the time and it was a rough school year for me.  I was also pregnant, so I would come home from work tired, take a nap or just relax, pushing my story aside.  But I wouldn't have traded that school year for everything--it made me a stronger person and inspired this story!

After my son was born in June, I knew I wouldn't be returning to teaching for a while, so I wanted to do more with my time than just be a stay-at-home mom.  Plus, I think I was born to write. ;)  So, it was back to the story.

In August, I wrote every single day.  It was wonderful!  I got so much of the story done.  And I entered a writing contest...to submit the first three chapters of your manuscript.  I liked the prize--all the entered entries would get a critique. How awesome is that!  Then three winners would be chosen to submit a full manuscript for possible publication.  I just entered for the critique, I honestly didn't think I would win.  But I did!

So then I frantically began revising.  All of September and half of October, that's what I was doing.  Editing and revising.  Ok, lots and lots of editing and revising!  The story needed some major work before I could even dream of sending it to a publisher.  Then I had lots of doubts.  And fears.  But the story has been completed!  It's not perfect.  I know it'll need to be edited again at some point.  But I'm proud of it.  And it's on it's way to the publisher.  We shall see what happens.

It has definitely been a journey.  Over a year of doubts, fears, writer's block, triumphs and successes.  The story has gone in so many directions it's ridiculous.  I can't even fathom how much time was spent on this story.  But overall, it's been a wonderful journey!  I wouldn't trade any moment, even those times of self-doubt, writer's block, and rewriting entire chapters.  And I know the journey's not over!  Thanks for joining me on the journey. :)