My serious phase continues apace -- to the point that I might be embracing the ethic a little too wholeheartedly. For example, I have not allowed myself to stop and eat dinner until after 10 pm. And last night, I found myself propped up in bed writing elevator pitches for my no-longer-finished novel and my wonderful WIP. At 4 am! Needless to say, I drank gallons of coffee this morning.
Back to that no-longer-finished novel, no-longer-titled Hybrids Taste Delicious, which has racked up 27 rejections thus far. Some feedback gelled with the niggling doubts in the back of my mind, so I decided a rewrite was in order: a younger protagonist and a different slant to the story (more comic, less weird). Still, I wondered, with that number of rejections, had I already messed up? Perhaps I should shelve my darling first novel and forge ahead with my WIP.
But then... I read an inspiring interview with soon-to-be-published YA author Cindy Pon, who queried 121 agents!!! Making me realise I am a complete and utter lightweight. So. Come January, I will don my army fatigues, hook up with my SAS buddies, and adopt Cindy’s mantra: “Query and conquer!” To which my platoon will chorus: “To infinity and beyond!”
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Hard Work and Inspiration
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8 comments:
Can you fit in a little kick ass?
If you're intent on daring and winning, you may as well go the whole hog.
Hopefully, I'll be at the querying stage some time soon too. What fun it all sounds.
After NaNo I intend to do a little rework of my MG book as well.
Good luck with yours. :)
Natalie - thank you. I’ll try! ;)
Whirl - no kicking ass because my Very Special Air Services Platoon does not use physical violence -- mainly mind control. ;)
And... good luck!
Cate - with this rewrite, my former YA novel becomes a middle grade/tween.
Lots of luck with yours, too! :)
(Let’s hope we all get a packet of luck for Christmas.)
YOu should read Bob Mayer;'s blog. he's all about Who Dares Wins.
Definitely keep believing in the book! But definitely start thinking about the next one too--if only so when an agent signs you and then says, "What else you do you?" you can tell them about your awesome new project too. :)
(er, that should have been, "what else do you have?", of course)
just doing some late night surfing after researching on imperial concubines! imagine my delight to come across this blog entry. thank you, mary! QUERY AND CONQUER!! /bootay shake!! =D
Travis - thanks for that! I’ve checked out his website and bookmarked his blog. What an interesting and inspiring person! :)
K.C. - that’s good advice, thank you! :)
Cindy - I love, love, love QUERY AND CONQUER!! It is exactly the right attitude. Mottos and mantras are so helpful for improving confidence, focusing the mind, and calming nerves. When I used to do back-to-back pitches and presentations for my design business, I would chant SELL, SELL, SELL!!! Tacky, I know... But it worked! :)
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