Blogging My Novel: Didn't You Used to Write?

A year ago I sent out 17 queries for my middle-grade novel in hope of agency representation. Seven were rejected on sight, seven disappeared into query oblivion, but three had the desired effect: a request to read part or all of my pride and joy. It took over nine months for the final rejections to trickle in, but arrive they did. I'm apparently a "writer with real talent" and my story is "well crafted" with "many possibilities," but given the current "economic climate" they have had to make a decision that they "may regret." Not to appear ungracious but @#$&!

Starting my BSc in Elementary Education put my planned revision of Gone on hold. Swamped by sixteen hours of class for two semesters in a row, I slept less, ate more and drank way too much caffeine. Needless to say, I finished the year with honors and withdrawal.

Days after my final exam I was asked by one of my professors to help her write a textbook of case studies.  Over the ensuing two months I wrote ten cases, including six to nine study questions each.  Again, Gone was put aside.  Stalling am I? Maybe...

With only 3½ weeks to go before the start of school, I'm running out of time. Should I submit Gone to publishers as is? My gut reaction is no. I know it would benefit from more depth. So its off to the revision chair tonight. I'll be posting a tally of my hours. I'd like to put in five before Friday.  The scary thing about this is that I'll be writing new stuff to add, not revising the old. I always find that a tad intimidating and I don't have my Birks to steer me straight. Ach! So can I do it? Revise and submit before the start of term? 

We'll see... 

Gone as an Applet

An interesting answer to the question, 

"So what's your novel about anyway?" 

The image above was created by software that analyses how often a word is used in a given text. Note how large the word 'like' is in the image above. It makes me wonder if my use of similes is a bit heavy-handed.  Perhaps it isn't, but it's worth a look. Thanks, John, at Manner of Speaking, for reminding me of this fun, web-based tool. 

Make your own Wordle applet at http://www.wordle.net/

Blogging My Novel: Back in the Game

No more excuses: it's time to find an agent in the grand ole USA. If you've not been following the saga, let me bring you up to speed: I had two British agents very interested in my novel. One recommended some revisions which, in the end, they liked very much. A second agency read the revised manuscript and liked it, too. But when they heard I was moving state-side, both highly recommended I find representation here. Grudgingly I've moved back to square one, though I have to admit, it makes sense.  

Researching agents and publishers to find the right fit takes time. I spent a half hour in the doctor's waiting room today pouring over the 2006 Children's Writer's & Illustrators Market. Over the next five days I hope to send out five queries. With Mouse home in the morning, that may be the most I can manage. We'll see. I kind of want to find my toaster, too.  I sent off a query less than an hour ago and it's already been rejected. Got to love technology... Onward ho!

(Addendum: track my submission progress in the sidebar. The risk of public ridicule always keeps me on my toes! Oh, and I found my toaster. Five years does not do good things to crumbs.)

Blogging My Novel: Square Peg, Round Hole

The verdict is in:

Dear Mighty Mom,

Many thanks for your patience while we considered the revisions to Gone and for your enthusiasm in completing them.  "The Supreme Head Honcho" and I both read your revised draft and there are many aspects of your writing which we enjoy.  You took note of our suggestions and the revised version of Gone is more satisfying than the previous draft. 

 

Thank you, also, for letting me know that you are relocating to the U.S.  I think that the combination of the floundering economy in the UK, some ongoing concerns that Gone might be difficult to place for a British audience and your move conspire to suggest that it would be better for you to seek representation in North America.  I wish you the very best for your move and the very best of luck in your search for an agent and publisher.

Sincerely,

Your Close-but-no-Cigar Agency

Reply received 37 days, 16 hours, 21 minutes after submission.  Kind, appreciative, but still a rejection. 

Ouch.

Blogging My Novel: Basket Weaving 101

There are three major steps to any creative process: 

1. Conception
2. Creation
3. Crafting

Most great ideas never make it past conception. Transforming a concept into something tangible takes courage. First drafts are invariable disappointing if not nausea-inducing. Reshaping that first creation into something worth sharing demands both humility and tenacity. It can take years. Really. All this for a proverbial egg that may never reach the basket of Amazon, Chapters, or Barnes and Noble.  

Do you have it in you? Likely. Don't underestimate yourself. 

Getting one's work out into the world deserves a similar amount of effort. You are trying to find another person who will care about your creation as much as you do.  Take time to learn about the publisher or agency that could one day be representing your work. 

1. Research their interests and reputation.
2. Relate to them professionally and in accordance with their guidelines.  Give every indication that you've completed step 1.
3. Respond to their requests promptly.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 as often as necessary.

I've come to think of it as basket weaving, this hunt for representation.  It's a deceptively difficult, potentially boring, yet highly essential skill.  As for my novel, I've just had another request for a full manuscript.  Yippee! There's hope for my egg yet!

Blogging My Novel: The Long Wait

It's been over a week since I submitted my latest draft for consideration and the wait has only just begun. The hardest part about any wait is not knowing when it will end. To mitigate this pointless anxiety, I keep a record of my communications with a spread sheet. This allows me, at a glance, to know to whom I've submitted what, when I've sent it, and what their response was--if any. Here's a nearly illegible glimpse of my 2006 record: 

It was a rough, yet reasonably successful first year: thirty-two ego-wracking rejections and three publications. 

Based on past communications with this agency, I don't expect a response on my current submission for another two weeks. Of course, that won't stop me from checking my inbox multiple times a day. I'd keep my fingers crossed if it didn't make typing impossible. Wish me luck... and patience!

Blogging My Novel: Revision Rigors

I spent all day Monday reading my book, pen in hand, and all day Tuesday typing revisions. Truth be told, I like it...perhaps a little too much. I'm questioning whether I had enough perspective coming into this.  How can I be done so soon? I must be missing something. I expected to find some glaring plot thread left flapping in the breeze, but didn't. I'm convinced it's there, but I'm just too creatively myopic to see it. This is when I wish I could temporarily erase my memory and read the book as if it were written by someone else. It's a shame I can't put those eyes in the back of my head to better use. 

The scariest thing about this is that I may finally be in a position to write something new. Aside from blogging, this novel has been my only creative outlet for a quite a while. The blank page scares me a bit, but in that I'm not alone. I've sent off the latest draft, so now there is nothing left to do but wait. Hopefully I'll get some more great insight as to how to make the story stronger. This writer will take all the help she can get.

Blogging My Novel: 25,0000 Words

It was late afternoon today when I clicked 'recount' and saw the magic number for the very first time: 25,000! My novel is now officially 50% longer than it was three weeks ago. I am a bit shocked, to be honest. This past September I thought it was done. Sure, there was some opportunity to polish, but the bulk of the work was finished. Then I was told it was a bit short--I believe the exact expression was 'rather slight.' Could I see making it longer? Little did I know...

As much as I love a tally, it's time to stop counting. Word count is rubbish without quality. I'm just glad to have this hurdle out of the way. I'll be working chapter by chapter in reverse order, searching for ways to deepen the story without slowing it to a death march. At the end of this week it will be tucked away for the holidays, to be revisited in the dawn of 2009. In the meantime I'll be blogging like there's no tomorrow.

Who knows? This might just work out!

Goal: 25,000 words

01 Dec - 25000 !!!
28 Nov - 24077
27 Nov - 23365
25 Nov - 21637
24 Nov - 20641
21 Nov - 19938
20 Nov - 19356
18 Nov - 18901
17 Nov - 18363
14 Nov - 17260
13 Nov - 16930
12 Nov - 16777
11 Nov - 16632

Blogging My Novel: Leaping into Draft 7

In case no one noticed, I fell off the blog wagon last week. I spent all day Monday and half the day Tuesday re-reading my novel and reviewing all the criticism it's received in its current state. I figure I read the bloody thing six times in two days--enough to challenge anyone's resolve. Tuesday afternoon I boiled my intended revisions down to seven tidy bullet points and sent them off to my 'interested-but-not-yet-representing-me' agent. That night I slept like the dead. The process of revision had begun.

What makes me so anxious about this draft is that what Draft 6 lacked can't be fixed with a few lines of funny dialogue or the odd omitted detail. Increasing a manuscript's length by 50% requires a major plot twist. It's like taking a two act play and squeezing in a third halfway between intermission and the grand finale. It's enough to make my brain cramp just thinking about it.

I am happy to report that sitting down to work is less painful than the anticipation of it. In only four partial days I've already boosted my word count by over 10%. More importantly, though, I think I've found the plot twist it needs. It came to me Friday night while cooking pork chops, go figure. I don't have all the details yet--doh, there goes that brain cramp again--but a year ago at this time I didn't have a novel.

Well, that's just about enough writing for one day. Always a sucker for public ridicule, I'll be posting a tally of my progress in the sidebar, so be sure to check in.

Warding Off the Rejection Fairy One Draft at a Time

I've received what one might refer to as a request for unrepresented revisions. They like my novel enough to ask to see what else I can do with it. There's no guarantee they'll produce an offer once the revisions are done, but I'm at least out of the slush pile. In this mouse-seeks-cheese game of children's literature, this counts as one baby step forward. They've also asked to see what else I've written--another step. Yesterday's excitement is giving way to abject fear today. I'm sure once I get into the thick of it, my apprehension will dissipate, but until I do I'll be trembling here in Corsier.

Blogging My Novel: Rejection Reflection

Number of agents approached: 8

Number of queries completely ignored: 2

Number of rejections on query: 2
(My sincere thanks!)

Number of rejections on query plus partial manuscript: 2
(Again, thanks for taking the time!)

Number of requests for partial manuscript from query: 1
(Can I wash your car?)

Number of requests for full manuscript from query: 1
(Can I paint your house?)

Number of rejections after reading full manuscript: 1
(Since your rejection was so nice, I forgive you...but I won't paint your house.)

Number of requests for full manuscript after reading partial: 1
(I can make a mean stew. You hungry?)

and finally....

Number of agents upon whom all hopes are hanging: 1
(Come on! You know you want it...)

The Full Scoop

Last Friday morning found me in the back seat of a Kangoo, my feet straddling the hump, on my way to the south of France. I was about to participate in a weekend workshop on character development and lacked the one essential ingredient -- a character. My mind was not a blank, but rather an indiscernable mix of expectations, responsibilities and laryngitis. I tried to tell myself that it wouldn't matter if I came home empty handed. The food would be good and the company, outstanding. What more could I ask for? A novel?

We arrived in Argeles by late afternoon, checked into our hotel, then set out to explore the village and maybe even steal a glimpse of the sea. We trawled the narrow streets of the old town, pointing out our favourite buildings, the old men congregated on park benches, and the places we'd shopped the year before. We tried to find the sea, but failed. At seven o'clock, we headed to the studio--our creative space for the next two days-- and shared an aperitif on the rooftop terrace before heading out for dinner. Our workshop was officially underway.

At 8 a.m. Saturday morning, the group, now six, headed back to the studio where a beautiful spread of breads, pastries, ham, cheese, and fruit awaited us. My mind had begun to clear despite not having found the sea. Perhaps it was the gambas? In any case, when we set down to work, a character sat down with me and dared me to write him down.

So I did.

Over the next two days, D-L Nelson guided us through ten different exercises to better understand our characters. We role played, wrote dialogue, staged artificial scenes, and even killed our characters off, all in the name of good fiction. It was a weekend that exceeded all expectations: the food was amazing, the company, fantastic. And the sea? A bit cool but who's complaining. As for a second novel? It's too soon to tell.

Maybe...

Seeking 007

It's no secret that I've spent the last two weeks agent hunting. It has been both an enlightening and frustrating process. It takes an inordinate amount of time to learn about an individual agent, amassing such details as their literary preferences, their needs and expectations, and the working relationship they have with their authors. You can therefore imagine how bloody discouraging it is to reach the conclusion that one's work and said agent are not a good fit. Tick that one off the list and it's back to square one.

The truth is this: it's simply no good for anyone to spew manuscripts aimlessly into the world. Agents and publishers end up with unwieldy slush piles and authors end up with carbon copy rejections that inevitably dent their self-esteem. At the very least, I hope my current process yields some constructive criticism. Just to share, here is my current check list for agent suitability:

1. What genres do they represent and what are their current needs? If the answer to this question isn't clear from the agent's blog or website, I send a brief email to inquire. I don't send a query because they take too long to write well. Agents can smell form letters like my dog can smell horse dung.
   
2. What books inspire them? Did they grow up reading the same books I loved? What are their current favourites? Who do they currently represent? If they grew up hiding comic books in their math book and despised Blubber, there's a good chance they won't like my book.
3. How do they write? In the past year I've come to love a good blog. Because of the more casual nature of blogs, you can get a real sense of a person. Are they respectful? Do they have a sense of humour? How do they negotiate on behalf of their clients? What is their involvement in the revision process? I've come to respect the advice of many agents whose blogs I follow though may never submit to.
   

So how do you get the ball rolling and get to know an agent? The best way I've found is by attending writing conferences where agents are on the faculty. Short of that, here are a few sites that can also help:

Agent Query
Publishers Marketplace
The Association of Authors' Representatives
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

I've also discovered Cynsations, a wonderful blog by fellow SCBWI member, Cynthia Leitich Smith who has interviewed countless agents and authors in the children's book industry. Great work, Cynthia!

So that's it, my advice, for what it's worth. Care to share any of your own?

Book It!

"Go on. Just book it!"

I was lying spread eagle on a floating trampoline when I heard this expression for the first time. The bizarre floating entity upon which I was sprawled was attached to a nearly identical instrument of torture by a five-meter, green inflated tube. A small group of teenagers, both male and female, were taking turns trying to make it across without falling into the lake. Upon careful observation, it appeared the key to success was a combination of agility and speed, neither of which I possess. I can barely bounce on one spot without falling, hence my moment of repose. 'Book it,' apparently meant 'go fast.' Ha. There is absolutely nothing fast about a book.

The girls started school on Monday which has allowed my novel to come out of hibernation. On my return from Canada, a large white envelope awaited me: the feedback from my SCBWI writing partner. Her leading comment read as follows:

I really think you've done it with this draft! Time to start sending it out.

Great! Of course, she included constructive criticism as well, but her intro made it much easier to swallow and incorporate.

So now I'm sending out queries--yet another learning experience. In case you are as novice to the whole process as I am, I suggest you check out agent Nathan Bransford's blog. I'm in the process of reading his back-posts on how to compose a query. His blogging style is relaxed and funny, but his recommendations are highly professional.

As for my queries, I've had some responses already, not all good, but so far my emotional armour is intact. I've sent out one partial manuscript and one full, so I'm well on my way. To be honest, I'd like to start writing something else. The real question is, 'What?'

Hmm... Where's a giant floating trampoline when you need one?

Blogging My Novel: Draft 5 Complete!

First of all, thanks so much to all of you who cheered me on. It's been a rather intense week. I'm not used to spending so much time just me and the old laptop. I can hardly believe it's done--even chapter 14, which was a complete nightmare. I've written a children's novel. Whoopee!!!

Now what?

It's time to send it off to my SCBWI critiquing partner. She'll give it a once over before I zip off copies to the agents who seemed to like it so much back in the spring.

Eek. I can almost smell the rejections already.

Draft Five Total: 26 hours

Friday, July 4 - 3.5 hours
Thursday, July 3 - 3h
Wednesday, July 2 - 4h
Tuesday, July 1 - 3.5h
Monday, June 30 - 2.5h
Thursday, June 26 - 1.5h
Tuesday, June 24 - 1.5h
Monday, June 23 - 1h
Friday, June 20 - 1.5h
Thursday, June 19 - 2h
Monday, June 16 - 2h

Blogging My Novel: The Home Stretch

So, this is it: the last frenetic burst of revision before the summer holidays. The girls are attending a week of ballet camp which leaves me with lots of time and no excuses. I'm up to Chapter 8 of 15, over half way, but the hard part is yet to come. That said, I'm imposing a blog ban until Friday PM. Incessant prodding via comments is encouraged. Remember, we writers are needy!

Novel? What Novel?

Above is my first crack at a Mighty Mom Meez. She's supposed to be flying 'super-hero-style' around the room as if seeking out the latest source of mischief, but apparently the code's too long. Figures. Instead she looks like she's feeling a bit guilty for not keeping up with her novelling goal. Perhaps that's more accurate.

Beautiful Minds

These five women, plus one who couldn't be here, make up the Birkenstocks, my little writers' group. Every two weeks we meet at each other's homes to critique, eat, then critique some more.
If my novel ever makes it past the slush pile, they will have been a huge part of getting it there.

Have a great summer, ladies. Write on!

Blogging My Novel: Draft 5 --The First Step Is A Doozie

For reasons too numerous and equally too pathetic to mention, Draft 5 will begin tomorrow, a week behind schedule. The good news? I read Draft 4 and it didn't make me want to run screaming into the neighbouring field of wheat.

I'll be tracking my revision hours instead of my word count this time around. My goal? An average of two hours per weekday until June 27, when the girls finish school. Should I appear to be slacking, public ridicule via comments is encouraged.

Want to know what I'm working on? Read an excerpt here.

Blogging My Novel: The Six Month Check-up

So how goes the great Canadian children's novel--this century's answer to Anne of Green Gables, where, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret meets CSI Edmonton?

Uh...Let's just say, we're on a break--the good kind.

Breaks are essential to the creative process. Just because I whipped off two drafts of my novel in the space of four months, doesn't mean such a pace is required, nor remotely effective. By the end of Draft 4 I'd lost both my concentration and objectivity. I didn't like the way the last third of the manuscript read, but I hadn't the mental energy to figure out why. That was my signal to give it a rest. I've continued to read it chapter-by-chapter with the Birkenstocks, but I'm otherwise letting it be, keeping their comments for the big day when I print it in full and read it, cover to cover. And when will that be? Tuesday, June 3rd. I've ordered my coffee already.

So what am I doing with all this free time? I'm submitting queries and stories to children's magazines, researching biogas and crime scene investigation, proof-reading a friend's novel, critiquing another's, and teaching Madelaine to read. I'm also filing health claims and, if I stop blogging now, I might even clean my desk. Thank goodness June 3rd is just around the corner!