Why Write?

A few days ago I was asked why I wrote BRIDGER.  Why I wanted to go through the process of trying to become published.  I hadn’t even thought about it before the question came up.

It just happened.

The characters came out of nowhere, and I wrote their story down.  I had no previous experience, and nothing to qualify me to write it.  I just did.

My original beta readers. They'll kill me when they see this.

Then, I gave it to friends to read, because I figured someone else might as well be put through the torture of reading my nonsense if I sat at the computer THAT long to write it…

…but they liked it.

My friends told me it was fun.  I didn’t believe them.  So I gave it to random people.  Yes, I did indeed corner a sixteen-year-old on a four hour flight and beg her to read my manuscript.  At the end of the flight she asked for me to send her the rest.

At that point, I knew I wanted to try to be published.  I loved watching my friends

It got much, MUCH worse.

(and random plane girl, who will forever be near and dear to my heart) squeal and yell and throw my MS at certain points.  Okay, so it was a SERIOUS pain to pick up all those pages my best friend tossed unceremoniously on the side of my bed as she read through my loose MS.  But hey, I’d do it again.  She enjoyed the read.  :)

The reactions to my MS encourage me to write.  Good, bad, ugly.  They encourage me.

Then, yesterday I held an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) for the first time in my life.

I got shivers.

It wasn’t even mine, but oh – em – gee. I could feel the excitement of holding something that was going to be out in your local Barnes & Noble and Borders come June.  It was amazing.

Why, you ask?

Because an author just like me sat on their computer and typed away, then hacked away, then retyped and revised until their eyeballs were about to pop out.  Then, when the product was as good as she felt it could be, she probably had to hack at it again.  But through the process, a book was born.  And I was holding it in my hands.

EEEEEEEEK!

Super excited about the 1st draft of BRIDGER.

Really?  If I got THAT excited about holding someone else’s baby about to go to print, I’m pretty sure I’m going to pee my pants for my own.  It excited me even more to create the best book I can possibly create.  The end result of holding my own ARC?  Then my own, really printed novel?  Oh Lord.  There’s gonna be a serious party thrown.  :)

That’s what excites and encourages me – what encourages you to write?

2010
04/17
CATEGORY
Ecouragement
Musings
Slush
Writers
Writing
YA
5 comments

Making the Most of Being in the Slush Pile

SLUSHPILE: Looking for a needle in a field of haystacks, and having to tell each stalk it's not the needle that you're looking for.

Querying.  We all gotta do it.  At some point, we ARE the slush.  But hey, why not embrace it?  I mean, I think being a grape slushie would be okay…right? :)

Being in the slush is what you make of it.  You can take the query rejections to heart, or you can learn from them.  You can become bitter and give up, or you can become resilient and continue to forge a path for yourself.  It’s really up to you.

Margaret Stohl, co-author of Beautiful Creatures, was part of #YALitChat‘s MADE

Beautiful Creatures

FROM AWESOME night 1 of chatting.  She said something that was really good.  No, I mean really, really good:

“Advice for ya writers: no such thing as a bad book. just a bad draft. you’re not done yet.”

You hear that?  Just because you haven’t gotten the response you want, doesn’t mean your idea isn’t good.  Keep cracking at it, making it better.  That’s the only way we grow as writers.  You’re not done yet.

So there’s some advice from an author who has one book out, another on the way, and is creating the third. Not just any books, either.  DANG GOOD BOOKS.  So listen to her.  :)

Other words of advice?  Here’s my take on the query end, in no particular order:

Don't query until all systems are GO. Really.

-DON’T QUERY UNTIL YOU’RE READY. Writing the first draft and querying is not the brightest idea.  Writing HALF the first draft and querying is even worse.  You never know what the agents will request of you, so why not have everything prepared, just in case?  Having a clean MS to send when they request your full looks good on your part.

-A QUERY CAN BE LIKENED TO A FIRST DATE. Yep, you heard me.  Would you go out with a guy you’ve been crushing on for ages in sweatpants, no makeup, and a ratty t-shirt?  Probably not.  You want a good first impression.  You have roughly three…I repeat,

Don't be that guy. Do your homework, have things prepared.

THREE paragraphs to prove why Agent X, Y, or Z should do business with you.  In the end, it IS a business deal.  They want to eat.  They’re not going to take a book they don’t think they can sell.  Moral of this one: make your query impossible to turn down.  That’s the way you’re going to get requests.

-SEND WHATEVER THE AGENT WANTS, EXACTLY LIKE THE AGENT WANTS IT. Yes, it’s important.  I’m still shocked that my agent, Dawn, didn’t come find me and beat me over the head with the hideous package I sent her.

Got everything they asked for? Double check.

Whatever the agent wants, you send it just like that.  If they want the MS on purple paper, dang it, go buy some purple paper.  Following guidelines is something that is necessary in this business.  If you get an agent, it’s not the first (or last) time there will be guidelines.  Get used to it.

-DON’T TAKE REJECTIONS PERSONALLY. This goes back to the business end of it.  You can’t take rejections personally.  I queried 57 agents, had 11 no responses, and 8 requests for my MS. Do the math.  That’s 49 declines right off the bat, not

Agents need writers. Writers need agents. Not all are going to mesh together. That's why there's more than one to query. :)

including the ones that potentially could turn the material I sent them down.  Mathematically speaking, that’s an 86% rejection rate. I have heard it said that this industry is almost a 99% rejection rate.  If you get a rejection, you’re in good company.  We all have.  The difference between the ones who make it and the ones who don’t?  The ones who have the strength to keep trying. :)

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO WHILE YOU’RE WAITING?

-Start a blog (it’s got to be more interesting than this one here!)
-Make a website (once you’re agented, you are responsible for the marketing of yourself.  Your agent is pushing your book, but you have to make youself visible.  Start building your platform now.)
-Join a critiquing group (going over others’ MSs and sharing yours can help you catch things you wouldn’t otherwise see.)
-Get another hobby (wait, we can have more than one? Scary, I know.)

I hope this helps someone out there.  I know it’s all been said before, but I thought I’d add to the peanut gallery on this one.  :)  Until next time, keep writing, and HAVE FUN WITH IT!  :)

2010
04/15
CATEGORY
agents
practice
Queries
Query
Querying
rejections
Slush
Slush Pile
Writers
Writing
YA
3 comments

A Heartfelt Attempt for Encouragement

Halfway through my last post, I decided my next post would be some pointers based on my own experiences and what other awesome authors and agents have given me.  Then, yesterday happened.

Myra McEntire, Saundra Mitchell, Kirsten Hubbard, and Hannah Mosk have already given their opinions on the frustrating turn of events, so I don’t need to go over what has already been said.  But, unlike Ms. McEntire, I want to clarify something.

I have an agent.  I’m not yet published, and my book is not yet on submission.

Taking a position could have repercussions, but I hope that if I share my opinion respectfully that others will see that there is no need to be afraid.

Bullying is bullying, period.  That was said yesterday by Saundra Mitchell.  I have to agree.  It doesn’t matter who is doing the bullying, whether it’s on the middle school playground, high school, or online venue.  Bullying at any age is unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances.

Ghandi once said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.” I think he knew what he was talking about.

Having a position of influence is something that we should take care of.  Professionalism is something we expect from those in higher positions, and although some days it is easier to retaliate than to take the high road…the high road is the one that will always lead to better results in the long run.

Now I’m not diminishing Bonehead McGee’s actions.  However, playing into their brash behavior only brings more reason for them to feel that way.  At least, that’s how I have always thought things happened.

I’m hoping that the publishing industry can learn from this.  There are enough of us that don’t condone bullying.  We need to be willing to stand against the bullying, because if we don’t…we’re no better than the ones doing the bullying.

Anyway, that’s my two cents and moving forward, I’d like to take the opportunity to also point out that Mr. McGee was in the wrong.  Every agent that I contacted was very polite in their decline.  Every single writer thinks they have a great story.  If we didn’t, why would we write?  We as writers need to understand that our stories will not resonate with everyone.  Even published authors do not have every single person reading their books.  That’s why there are genres, niches.  We strive to fill those gaps, and hope that our story can resonate with an agent, then with a publisher, then with the mainstream public.  We dream.  Sometimes those dreams are fulfilled and others they are not.  We as writers need to display professionalism on our end, so that the people we work with will display professionalism with us.  It is a cycle.  It is something we all must work on.

Other than yesterday’s events, I did want to have a fun post about different things we can do as writers to make the querying process less painful, but I feel like that would diminish the purpose of this post.  I think I’ll wait for another day, but I hope that this post is taken as a heartfelt attempt to encourage all sides to display professionalism on all levels.  My experience in the industry thus far has been an incredible one.  People are willing to help.  I have never been more impressed with others than I have been with the authors that took a stand yesterday.  My hat is off to you strong, brave ladies.  I hope that as writers in all stages of publication join together, we can see that our industry is one of support, excitement, and encouragement.

2010
04/14
CATEGORY
agents
Dumb Moves
ohmigoshdidthisreallyhappen?
Queries
Query
Querying
Writers
Writing
YA
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The Best News EVERRRRR!

This would be me. With brown hair. And clothes that somewhat match. :)

I HAVE AN AGENT!  You heard me.  I. Have. An. Agent.  I’m still “SQUEEEE”-ing over 24 hours later.  I am so excited!!  I haven’t come down off of cloud 9 yet, and I doubt I will for at least another 24 hours. :)

I am now represented by Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary.  :)  Super excited about this.

In an attempt to put the numbers down so I don’t forget them, I’ll post them here.  I began writing BRIDGER December 11, 2009.  I finished my first draft early January.  It was roughly 4 weeks of straight writing that Ashlyn & co. became real for me.  Then, I joined YALitChat.  Met amazing people.  Still meeting them.  Revised once (NOT ENOUGH…trust me…I’m shuddering at what I sent Dawn still), and began querying (another DO NOT DO…which I learned AFTER the fact.  I cannot

Bam.express enough to do. your. homework. before. querying. It mighta helped a bit…hah) agents.  I had a couple I was hoping would respond, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much.  I queried Dawn Jan. 23 and received a request for a partial Jan. 29.  I think I probably keeled over in excitement.  I can’t remember.  Musta hit my head on something.

Now, here’s where it gets funny…at least, now it does.  Not back when it happened, I assure you.  I had NO clue on etiquette as to how to send partials, fulls, etc. (I smell my next blog coming out of this one…).  Therefore, I sent her my partial bound, double sided, via Fed-Ex.  Ummm, I can imagine the eye-rolling that ensued after receiving my

Facepalm

I had a palm imprint across my dome for 2 days after that display of noob-ness.

package.  Dawn explained that I was an idiot (not really, she was SUPER cool about it, actually) in an email, and explained what I should do in the future.  ::Facepalm:: on my end.  I’d effectively ruined my chance with an agent before it even began, I thought.

However, Dawn is a kind soul, and apparently took pity on me.  She read my partial, and on Valentine’s day she requested my full.  Needless to say, I was shocked.  This time she reminded me to only print on one side, not bind it, etc. etc…so I did everything she asked.  Except, she requested only the remaining pages.  What did I do?  Send her a literal FULL copy.  Again, I’m sure the eye rolling was immense.  I know it would have been if it were me.  What was there left to do on my part but a DOUBLE facepalm.  Oh yeah, I busted it out.

One just wasn't enough.

So I waited.  After all, I had my MS out to other agents, and I wasn’t planning on hearing from Dawn in the next, oh, eon or so.  I’d effectively screwed that one up.  Although she was an agent I was hoping to hear from, I was pretty sure that one was over and done.

Imagine my surprise when I received an email April 8 from her, asking to plan a time to chat the next day.  I do believe I died when I read it.  :)  SO excited.  Could it be?  Could it really be?  I couldn’t let myself get too excited.  Maybe it was a late April Fools’ joke.

I asked the amazing and wise friend of mine, Georgia McBride, what she thought.  She said SQUEEE!  (Or something like that.  I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard Georgia squee…but I like the word and it’s fun to type.  Forgive me, Georgia.)  We discussed purchasing victory shoes if this was the moment of truth.

Going to bed that night, dreams of sugar plums danced in my head.  Hah.  Kinda.

Those don't look like sugarplums. They look like candy. We'll roll with it.

More like dreams of someone besides my mom thinking I had a good idea for a book.  That’s way cooler than sugar plums any day in my opinion.

Anyway, yesterday morning I received the call that I had hoped I would get someday…a call from a real, living, breathing agent.  (Are there other varieties?  I

I'll take a wax Obama as my agent, please. Thanks.

think it might be counter-productive to have anything but a living, breathing one.) Not just ANY agent, either.  It was Dawn.  The roller-derby-ing, volunteering, flat out uber-awesome agent.  Um, cool.  :)

After chatting for a bit, she said she knew that I might need time to think it over.  Hah.  I said, um, can I just say yes now?  Lol.  She laughed and said sure…and the rest, as they say, is history.  So, somehow, through my ridiculous blunders, I managed to procure the agent I thought I’d lost from the get-go.  How awesome is that?!  It goes to show never count anything out!

I’m super excited to say the least.  Celebrations ensued.  I screamed and scared my poor, sleeping Great Dane.  I then went to the mall and bought a pair of victory shoes.  Oh yeah, you heard me. Victory shoes.  All white Nike Shox.

Sweet, sweet victory shoes, in all their boing-y glory.

So that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.  It’s been about 5 months since I first thought up Ashlyn, and I can’t believe things are going so well.  I would have never imagined how amazing the writing community is, how supportive people are, and how willing to help other writers and agents are.  It has been a constant learning experience, and I’m loving every minute of it.

What’s next, you ask?  Time to get on it and finish revisions on BRIDGER!  Finish college with a quickness, so that I can focus solely on my writing.  That’ll be nice.  Get to know Dawn and learn more about this side of the process.  I’ll keep you posted on how things are going, and hopefully give insights to how to avoid ridiculous blunders (such as causing multiple facepalms to a single prospective agent) and share links to other great writers and agents who have great nuggets to give as well.

No, not these kinds of nuggets. Although McNuggets are good, too. :)

This journey has been so much fun, and although I have a long way to go, I know it’ll be as fun as these first few steps have been.  :)

In the meantime, why don’t you go check out the blogs of Dawn Frederick, Kathleen Ortiz, Query Shark, Emilia Plater, Colleen Lindsey, and/or Rachelle Gardner?  Don’t stop writing, and don’t stop believing that you can find an agent for yourself.  :)

(Cue the Journey music…NOW!!)  :)

2010
04/10
CATEGORY
agents
ohmigoshdidthisreallyhappen?
Red Sofa Literary
Writers
Writing
YA
YALitChat
5 comments

Are You Working Out Your Writing Muscles?

In fear of sounding like some cheesy infomercial, here goes nothing.  Stick with me, kids.

When you want to excel in something, what do you do?  You train.  You work out.  You get opinions and coaches and help any way possible.  Think of Olympic athletes.  They didn’t just roll out of bed one day and think, “Heck, I’ll go run the 100m dash and win gold tomorrow.  Lemme call mom and get her a plane ticket.”  If they did, I promise I’ll eat my shorts.  Seriously.  Salt, pepper, you name it.  You know why?  Because it didn’t happen.

Ya gotta start somewhere...

No, they trained.  They trained HARD.  It was a long way to reach the Olympics.  Why, then, do we as writers expect writing to be any less difficult?  Why would we think we could do it on our own?  If you have no opinions, no critique group, nothing, how is your writing getting any better?

Now, if you’re like me, you had absolutely NO clue where to go for assistance.  You didn’t want to show up to some random book group and be the only normal person there.  (You think you’re normal now. Wait until you’re writing your book.  Trust me, you’ll cross to the dark side with us…bwahahahahhaa…ahem.)

For those of you that are like me, online groups are the best thing to happen since…well…books in general.  If you write YA (I’m partial), PLEASE take the time to go check out YALitChat.  I am so serious when I say that YALitChat is a goldmine of information.  There are loads of amazing people willing to help you.  There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain.  Also, if you want to see some agents who have led me in the right direction (At least, I think so…could still be out in left field and don’t know it) per their blogs, check out Janet Reid, Colleen Lindsay, Rebecca Gardner, and Kathleen Ortiz.  

The amazing thing about the writing industry that I’ve found is you are able to surround yourself by amazing people.  Unpublished writers, published authors, agents…they are all there to help you.  You can create connections and get great feedback from writers who are working toward the same goal as you.  All you need to do is reach out.

The other thing is we hear of the quick make-it-to-fame stories, the ones from the first MSs that just flew up the book charts (ie Harry Potter, Twilight, etc.).  Sure, it happens, but we also need to be realistic.  Working on our craft, we can only get better.  Don’t expect to whip through your first MS and become an millionaire off the first draft.  Don’t query agents telling them your book is going to be “the one” that trumps HP, Twilight, etc…because they’ll probably laugh right there.  If you’re new, like me, we have to run our courses and take the time to educate ourselves before we jump into the fray.  Otherwise, what is going to come from it?  Us feeling pretty bummy due to the fact that we received form rejections and the agents having wasted time reading our queries that weren’t ready.  We can eliminate that by working at our craft, practicing, and getting stronger.   There’s no shame in slow and steady…especially if the difference is becoming a better writer and landing an agent because of it.

So what’s stopping you?  Pride?  Nervousness?  Just flat-out don’t where to begin?  We’ve all been there.  But what’s stopping you from flexing your muscles, becoming a stronger writer, and writing the book you’re capable of?  Because if it’s just you…

2010
02/08
CATEGORY
agents
critique
practice
Queries
Query
Querying
Writers
Writing
YA
YALitChat
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Querying is hazardous to your hair.

You got the right stuff, baby!

It has been so much fun to write BRIDGER.  It was even fun to write, rewrite, delete the entire thing, rewrite, then click “send” on the queries I e-mail out.  Now as I wait for the proverbial “I would love to read your manuscript!” I find myself convulsively checking my email on my phone (Verizon might have let one get through the cracks, you know?) and hoping to get that “Yes!”

Jessie Harrell commented on Twitter today, and I had to laugh because her comment was spot on.  She said that when you receive a rejection, part of you thinks “I know this is good enough…” and then you get the request for a partial/full and you think, “Oh crap, this isn’t good enough!”  I’ve been there.  I’ve been thinking that a lot lately.  I’ve gotten rejections, but I’ve been okay with it.  Thankfully growing up I developed (much to my detriment many would say) a thick skin and a ridiculous, stubborn personality.  Tell me I’m not good enough.  I’ll go back to the drawing board and make it better!  I enjoy the challenge, and this, my friends, is a challenge.  Be the best writer you can be.  Write a book that agents can’t put down.  I’m up for it.  :)

As for the “Oh, crap,” part: I’m there right now.  :)  My baby is out to a few different agents and every day I am editing the MS just to make sure it’s perfect…again.  And again.  And again.

I'll need a wig soon, thanks.

And then I think to myself: “Megan, you fool, who the heck is going to like this?  Are you serious?”  Which is about the time I convulsively check my email one more time.

Forget the fact that my mom liked the book.  She lies.  All moms lie.  They have to – they’re your MOM, for crying out loud!  Of course they’re going to lie.  Just like when you brought home that horrible, horrible finger painting that was supposed to be her, but it looked like the dog instead?  Yeah, that one.  It stayed on the fridge forever, just like a Picasso painting.  I’m pretty sure moms like anything their kids do.  It’s genetically engrained in there.  For that reason, I’m holding out for a less biased opinion.  ;)

Now for suggestions from an unknown author.  You know you want ‘em (act like you do…okay maybe don’t.).  What do I do now that I’m in the wait until you pull your hair out because you’re so anxious to hear something phase?  Here’s so suggestions from one unknown to another:

-Start a blog (It’s got to better than this one!)
-Have you made a website?  Try it out!
-Start writing another MS
-Join #YALitChat and meet awesome people
-Get a hobby (like you have time with all that worrying to do, right?)

Am I crazy?  Maybe.  But, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this query madness.  This is so much fun, don’t get me wrong.  Maybe I’m masochistic for saying that.  I’ve always been a little odd.  However, life is an adventure.  This portion of my adventure is so rewarding.  Every time I get a request for a partial or full, I’m a little closer to finding the right agent.  A little closer to submitting my work to publishers.  A little closer to needing a wig from sending my MS to another agent to review.  Waiting is oh so evil.  It hurts my roots.

I think this one would go with my eyes.

You know what?  As much as people say they hate the querying process (and I do, I promise), I think it’s good.  We appreciate the small successes.  We encourage one another through it.  I have found some really neat people through this and I am thankful I decided to write BRIDGER.  This is a great experience, and I’m sure it will continue to be amazing in the future.

Now excuse me while I go buy a wig.

2010
02/05
CATEGORY
agents
For a laugh
Musings
Queries
Query
Querying
Writers
Writing
2 comments

What an unknown author does…besides hope and pray they eventually become known, that is.

FIRST OFF! If you are new to writing and want to know if your query is on point, Kathleen Ortiz of Lowenstein Associates is having a query contest! Check out her blog for details and follow her on Twitter!

ALSO! SourceBooks Fire is holding a contest for the first 250 words of your YA novel! Check it out here and enter to win a ton of cool prizes!

*BACK TO OUR REGULAR NEWS CAST*

Boredom got the best of me today.  I also had a few random clips sitting around due to the fact that I have a Flip Ultra HD at my disposal.  I watched Debra Schubert’s amusing “First Vlog EVAH!” and got the idea to make my own. Watch and shake your head.  It’s really not all that exciting.  Just wait until I post my cinnamon challenge or something like that.  ;)  Enjoy. (Or not…I don’t have high expectations.  Hah.)

Afterwards, go check out my friends that starred in the video, Beth and Laurel. Say hi to Debra and Georgia on Twitter or find us at #YALitChat!

2010
02/02
CATEGORY
For a laugh
Musings
Vlogs
Writers
Writing
YA
YALitChat
2 comments

Woah dude, I wear hats.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying “Wearing many hats” or something to that degree.  Jack of all trades, etc., etc.  You know what I mean.

I wear hats. Way cool hats.

Anyway, what I’m saying is I wear a lot of ‘em.  Hats, that is.  And you know what?  I’m totally loving it.  Each and every minute of it.  Well, at least the minutes not devoted to college.  That’s one hat I’m looking forward to passing on to some other poor, unsuspecting soul.

Seriously, today was pretty cool.  I was given the opportunity to intern for Georgia McBride, author of the Praefatio series.  I’m going to be working alongside her with her ning network, #YALitChat.  I’m super excited about it.  I think it’ll be a great learning experience and I can’t wait to meet all the great writers on the site.  There’s a lot of talent there.  No joke – if you write YA, get your butt over to the site.  There’s no excuse not to.

Other than that, you might be wondering what I do.  The better question is what DON’T I do?  I feel like I’ve done a little of everything I can get my hands on.  I love it.  Right now, I’m wearing the following “hats”:

-Store Operations Manager at Verizon Wireless (seriously, buy a phone from me.  It’s how I’m funding my college and ability to eat.)

-College student

-Aspiring writer

-Intern for Georgia

-Super Spy Ninja  (Oh yeah, it’s true, folks.)

8 hours of writing later...

What is my favorite hat, you ask?  Really?  Is there any question on that??

I’m really enjoying the journey through this writing process, and I think it’s been a great blessing.  I hope all of you writers out there embrace the fact that you are CREATING awesome things.  Enjoy it.  Learn as much as you can and become as good as you can possibly be.  And, if you write YA, come hang with Georgia and I.  We’d love to meet you.  :)

2010
02/01
CATEGORY
Musings
Write comment

This is the first post.

So, this is my blog.  This could be embarrassing.  Actually, not really.  It won’t be any more embarrassing than what I do in real life, so I suppose you can just count on my ridiculous transparency here in cyberspace as well.  Buckle up, kids.  This could be a bumpy ride.  :)

As for what this is?  I think any writer wants to be see their blood, sweat, tears in a bound version, sitting on a shelf at Barnes & Noble, Borders, or any other bookstore.  I mean, we writers seriously type, type, type away.  The we delete everything we wrote and type again.  Then we think we’re done, but we’re really not because while in the shower, we’ve come up with a mastermind idea.  Our eyes then glaze over after seven hours of staring at the screen.

natural state of being

My MacBook is connected to my body at this point.

Then it happens.  You become so emotionally involved in the world you’ve created that you refer to yourself as the MC by accident when telling someone about the story.  Who, me?  Psssh. Never.

Once you cross that threshold of writing because you’re bored/it’s amusing/whatever, to writing because you hope someone else might enjoy reading it, it happens.  I think it happened to me when my best friend, Beth, threatened to not talk to me if I didn’t finish Bridger.  Now, I’m pretty sure she would have still talked to me…but I’m also pretty sure it would have been incessant pleas to tell her what happened to Ashlyn & co.  As much as I loathe hearing about Joe Jonas and Hanson (the men in her life.  kind of.), I also didn’t want to hear about me having to write more.  Plus, I wanted to see if I could finish a book.

I could.

I did.

Beth and Laurel beta-reading Bridger

Bridger was a distraction from college finals that got wildly out of hand.  I was encouraged to try my hand at writing from a friend, so I figured it had to be more fun fleshing out fictitious characters than writing out lesson plans.  I obliged, and over the next month Bridger was created.  I’ve handed my MS out like candy to anyone willing to read it.  I was surprised to find that people enjoyed it.  It made me feel warm and fuzzy and all that jazz to see people becoming emotionally attached to my characters.  That’s about the time I realized this was way too much fun.  With others encouraging me, I decided to try to find an agent for Bridger.

Beth annihilated my MS. Took forever to put those pages in order again.

Bridger is now being sent out to the “wolves,” aka literary agents.  :)  I’ve been amazed by the support and encouragement I’ve found amongst readers, writers, literary agents, etc.  The whole industry seems to be one big community, which is so much fun to experience.  Being able to interact with other writers through venues such as #YALitChat and Twitter has made me excited for what could be yet to come.  Agents are accessible, down to earth, and some are flat out hilarious in their Tweets on what not to do while querying.  (Colleen Lindsay instantly comes to mind) There are so many agents out there willing to give you a nudge (or a shove if you’re looking at Query Shark‘s blog) in the right direction.  It’s been educational and fun so far.  :)

Do I have an agent yet?  No.  I do, however, have a few agents reading my material.  You can bet your favorite book (or first born child, whichever), that I’ve crossed every crossable appendage I have that one of them will enjoy it as much as I do.  I don’t think my mom’s opinion counts, so I’m holding out for the confirmation from a more outside source.  :)

Anyway, long story short, this blog will follow my hopeful adventure into the :fingers crossed: publishing industry.  That way, if anyone else ever wonders what this crazy business is like, well, you’ve come to the right place.  That is, providing I get anywhere. Otherwise you’ll just be reading a crazy woman’s rants.  But hey, that might be fun, too.  :)

You don't even wanna know.

More to come.  For now, go check me out on Twitter, at my official webpage, or read the first draft of my novel on Authonomy.  Please feel free to leave comments…I love meeting new people!

The Curdinator

Me. In a hat.

2010
01/30
CATEGORY
agents
Musings
Queries
Query
Querying
Writers
Writing
YA
YALitChat
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