Happy Monday everyone! First up, I’d love to thank the awesome Cristina for having me as a guest blogger over on her blog: Once Upon a Time. Pop over and take a look 😀
So, as most of you probably know, I went to a small conference in Tulsa, OK over the weekend with two of members of my crit group. The conference was pretty awesome. It was small enough that I didn’t feel too intimidated, and large enough that it felt worth the trip.
They had a publishing panel for questions about publishing and a great historical fiction panel led by Ron Hansen. He was a really good class teacher. I think the agent panel we went to was more for people who’ve never really looked into querying or agents before. It was a little underwhelming, just because we already knew more than we got told, but it was still a great writery atmosphere to be in.
When I registered for the conference we had the option to submit 4-5 pages to an editor for a 15 minute one-on-one. I finished the 3rd book in time to revise/edit/polish the crap out of my first five pages, which are now no longer a prologue, but a scene in the first chapter. After I sent them off I panicked. Don’t we all? Those typical questions wouldn’t leave me alone – Why did you submit that? They’re going to tell you to start from the beginning.
Yes, my brain is always that negative.
What I was hoping for was that the editor would tell me: Hey, you have an interesting premise and show some promise, but you need to concentrate on A, B & C (probably D, E & F too) and fix this up. Keep at it.
What I got was this:
She asked me what the 5 pages were a part of. When I told her it was a trilogy, she asked me if they were all written and where was I in the editing/revision process. Then she asked if I’d approached any publishers or agents yet. To which I, of course, answered no – I wanted to start that after I got revision done.
She then proceeded to show me the 2 things she’s stumbled on. And the thing was, this was a line I’d laboured over and never been quite happy with. They were the only 2 things she wanted reworked. Then she flipped to the last page and pointed at the end and told me: I want to read more. You need to query this as soon as you can, and let me know when it’s published.
I think I sat next to her for about ten seconds without knowing what to say. And for anyone that even remotely knows me – that’s a long time for me not to talk. I was so happy relieved I almost cried.
Now – I realize those first five pages are polished to hell and back. I think I did twelve go overs on it. The rest of the manuscript is no where near that level of polish. I’m not anywhere near where I need to be to query this manuscript. But the point is – I can be. I can get it there.
So many people have read those first five pages. My 2 fabulous alpha reading friends, my entire face to face crit group, my husband… They all told me the version I submitted was good (and you should have seen the original draft *shudders*). But when a person who has no vested interest in you whatsoever tells you your work is good and to query? That means so much more.
Right now, I feel very validated as a writer. It’s easier for me to grasp that with a lot of hard work, maybe I really can do this. So whenever I feel that doubt, I’m going to come look at this post and remember. Talk about motivation 😀
And so ended my Fantastic Weekend. No, we don’t need to mention the migraine from hell that tried to explode my brain through my skull on Sunday. We’re ending the weekend on my fabulous Saturday Editor One-On-One!
How was your weekend? And how do you feel about your writing when friends and crit partners tell you it’s good? How do you feel about your writing in general?
Oh, and if you haven’t read my 3rd Campaign entry, and don’t mind horror – please go Read it and if you like it vote for #18 here
LOVE this post! It truly is great motivation! Congrats and here’s hoping you can get the first book polished and submitted to her as soon as you can! Can’t wait to congratulate you on your Book Birthday! 😀
Haha yeah, we’ll see. I still have to fish around and see what agents even represent what I write before I send it off. And of course, I need to finish revisions which is going to take months lol. But yes, great news indeed 😀
K.T.,
It’s good to hear you had such a positive and rewarding experience at the conference! I’m hoping to start that circuit up next year and get some crushing blows to my face about my first five pages (“lol what is this crap” kind of blows to the face). We’re constantly trying to validate ourselves as writers, make sure that we’re doing the right thing for our creativity.
I’m so happy to hear this news for you. Congratulations! (BTW, I’ll send you that crit group info soon! I’m hoping you’ll want to take part — it should (hopefully) be a helpful experience for us all!)
Thanks, Rance 😀 I was rather surprised, but pleasantly so. Well, that’s the exact same thinking I had, so we can face our crushing blows together 😉
(Ooo crit group would be great to see. I think it’d be great to know what genres everyone works on. I’m excited. Read KLL’s blog post yesterday 😀 – I have a face to face group and two crit-friends online I’ve known for years. So this one will probably be the last one for me 😀 Or I’ll have no time to write! )
What a fantastic experience that must have been. We like to think we’re on the right track, but isn’t it lovely to have it confirmed?
Yeah, it was. I wasn’t expecting it, and while I don’t automatically think OMG I’m the best, I do think of it with – OMG I can whip my writing into a state of ‘this is good’. 😀 Overall, a great experience.
wow, how awesome is that? congrats, lady! what great motivation to get down and dirty with those edits, not that you need motivation, you rock at getting writing done 🙂
Thank you hon! (And thanks for having me over on your blog today!) Yep, there’s no finer motivation. I’m feeling really pumped, just want my headaches to go away lol.
Motivation is still key to getting stuff done. This has really helped.
Congratulations! 🙂 That’s awesome.
Thank you 😀 I’m really stoked. Just have to keep working hard!
That’s great news!! It’s wonderful to get such positive praise for something you have worked so hard on. Keep up the good work! I’m very proud of you! xo
So true, you now how long I’ve wanted this… I’m so excited to know that if I put in a hell of a lot of work, I have a chance 😀
Well done, that’s great! See, you totally rocked it 🙂
😀 I didn’t expect it but I’m happy I got it lol 😀 Thanks!
How awesome to get that kind of validation! Go forth and query if everything is as polished as those pages!
Sadly, it’s not yet that polished haha! Just the first five are… but at least I know how far I have to get the rest of it.
That’s AMAZING! Congrats on the super-awesome feedback! Forge ahead so the rest of us can read it soon too. 🙂
Haha 😀 Thanks hon. I am, I’m finding myself really picking at the manuscript now – not that I didn’t before, but you know… just because I want it as good as those five pages!
I am so thrilled for you. You not only got some great advice but the encouragement to publish your story. Apparently, you DO have a knack for this writing thing 🙂
Thank you for sharing. It’s the good news that keeps things moving along.
Thank you! I’m thrilled too – thrilled is a very good word actually. Yeah, I know anyone can write if they try hard enough, but knowing of that and KNOWING that, are two entirely different things. I’ll share any good news I can!
There’s really nothing better when you get positive feedback. I’m in those revision stages and every time I receive an email from a critique partner I jump up and down in my seat as I open their email, getting all anxious and excited for what they might say.
Wow! what a fantastic experience for you. Go you!
I popped back here because I saw you won the second round of the campaign, congrats, amazing writing and well deserved. Happy Halloween.
Thank you for popping over. The conference was great, adn I had a lot of fun with the 2nd challenge – although now I try to insert synchronicity, oscitate and miasma into EVERTYTHING lol. Happy Halloween!