There’s Nothing as Humbling as a Great Opportunity

Yes . . . I know I said I wouldn’t be blogging about anything except revising, but the title for this one just hit me like a brick falling from the sky (without resulting in unconsciousness), and so I just had to write it.

For most people, being told by an agent that you really respect that they loved your work and want to read more of it would be a great, wonderful, experience. Sane, rational, people don’t break out in a sweat and start hyperventilating. Not that I did that. Well, much.

It’s just that I’ve worked so long on my novel, and now that I’m coming to the part where I have to submit it, I’m scared. One of my writer friends said in a yoda-like voice “You should be.” Thanks for that.

She’s right, though. Being scared means I’ll stay humble and make sure that the manuscript is as good as I can make it. While I’m happy to have a great opportunity to possibly land an agent that could sell my book to the right people and help me with my career as a writer, I’m staying humble. After all, so many things could happen. The agent could say no. The agent could say yes, but then she might not sell the book. The agent could say yes, then she could sell the book, and then maybe no one buys the book.

See? I’m waaaaaaay humble.

Deep in Revisions

I’m deep into revisions of my Prana Island novel, and so my blogs over the next several months will be about where I am in the process. An agent has requested my manuscript, which is wonderful, but I don’t want to give her any reason to say no. So since I’m buried in the revision process I decided to share a little bit about what it’s like.

I’m back to rewriting my first chapter . . . again. I don’t want to know what draft this is (the tenth? twentieth?). I just finished rewriting it after going to a retreat, and then I sent it to be critiqued. I received some very detailed feedback, but that means more work. Another draft. I’ve got to stop procrastinating and get to it. The comments basically were cut (or move) some of the exposition, and tighten the whole thing. I can do this.

Writing isn't a Solitary Activity

I once thought that novelists sequestered themselves in their offices (preferably with a roll-down desk with an old-fashioned typewriter), spent a few months relentlessly typing their manuscripts, and then just before succumbing to exhaustion delivered the priceless sheets of paper in a pristine white box to their eager editors.

Instead I write wherever space and time allows—on my kitchen table, at Starbucks, a diner—and though I prefer my laptop, I’ve written scenes on post-its while at work before. And that whole thing about sending a draft to an eagerly waiting editor? Uh, no. It’s more like sending a chapter or two to my critique group or submitting the first chapter for critiques by professionals, followed by intense rewriting. And then more critiques followed by more rewriting.

And I’m personally glad that writing isn’t the solitary activity I once thought it was. Novel writing is a stressful task, and I’m glad to have support not only from my husband and friends and family, but also from people who are going through the same stresses as I am. There are things I can discuss with my writer friends that I know non-writers just won’t understand. And when it comes to celebrating the successes or getting past a rejection, there’s nothing like drinking a glass of wine with other writers who know just what to say and what not to say.