In about twenty hours, I will be sending out queries. I can't believe that I started this process a year with just the story for DARK FOREST. Like that little fledgling (click to see that cutie better), I had the germ of an idea. Now, it's full grown. It hopped around the yard for awhile, gathering strength while it was fed. Shed a few feathers along the way. Managed to hop from the ground to top of the fence. Then fly from the fence into a tree. Now, all the excess feathers have been shed. It's full grown and ready to take flight. How corny was that analogy? I needed an excuse to show you pictures of the cool wildlife in my yard and it fit with the writing process so there you have it.
I'm laughing as I prepare myself - Excel spreadsheet to meet my super anal needs down to every last detail about each agent and their agency. Query letter that has been written, rewritten, rewritten some more, ditched, written, rewritten, shared with published friends who have rewritten...but maybe it could be just a bit better. I've gone over my first thirty pages again and again. Trimmed the fat (or shed the feathers, in keeping with the above analogy). My Crit Group has helped tremendously. I am strong. The story is strong. It's ready to go.
Or is it?
I have a close friend who was getting ready to query last month. She kept hedging. I told her, "Just do it already!" Her story was more than ready. She needed to get it out there! I couldn't understand why she kept going back and forth and back again.
Now I do.
I probably could have queried a week ago. I'm nitpicking, which means that I'm stalling. This is scary stuff people. I've been hoping around on the ground being fed by people who know more than I do. I gathered the courage to get up on that fence and see what was out there. With more coaxing, I was able to make high up in that tree. The view is GLORIOUS! But it's a big, scary world out there for my little tiny book.
Jumping. Flapping my wings as hard as I can. And seeing where I can land. Wish me luck!
What about you - where is everyone in the writing process? Have you had help from others? Anyone ready to push you off because you are stalling?
Go for it Jennie!! And stay the course, regardless of what happens.
ReplyDeleteIt's terrifying! I sent out about 10 queries a while back and got back some terrific feedback from agents. I'm revising (what I thought was a finished story!) based on their information. Hope to query again in the summer :)
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! And the Excel sheet will help a lot. You're so ready to hit send!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting! Take the plunge, Jennie. You're ready. You can do this! :)
ReplyDeleteI will push you off the ledge! Go for it! Submitting is a long, slow process, you might as well get started.
ReplyDeleteooo!!! I'm SO excited for you, honey!!! Best of luck, and I can't wait to hear about all the good things happening w/DARK FOREST!!! ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!! Keeping fingers and toes crossed.
ReplyDeleteI revised my book seven times because I was stalling. I knew I was ready, just like you know you're ready. Because it's scary! Right now you're still in Safe Land, because your ms. isn't out there yet. Nothing bad can happen if your ms. isn't out there yet. But... nothing good can happen, either.
ReplyDeleteYou already know I'm rooting for you. Sending you MASSIVELY good vibes!
Go on, Jennie. Go conquer the world with your query. And I'll be waiting here to listen to how you did it :)
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