Ups and Downs

Living Well

Yes, I'm happy about my mystery, although it was only a bite, not a contract, let alone a sale, but it was something.

Today, I got an e-mail from an editor telling me (about yet another of my manuscripts) she loved my dialogue and characters and the story made her laugh. BUT, chick lit is a VERY crowded market and ghosts are overdone and yada yada. Now what? I even suggested the dead dog go back to earth instead of the protag. Too far out, I was told. Actually, I knew that when I sent it. Frustration does funny things to one's brain.

Now what? I'm getting yet another critique partner to brainstorm with. Let's see, at my age, by the time I'm 95, I may just get a contract with an agent.

Oh, cheer up, will you!

Okay, I don't have cancer, and I have all four limbs, and I have full use of my faculties...sort of...yes, life has been good to me.

And I've been working in my gardens again, putting in tiny papaya plants I grew from seeds I took from a delicious red papaya I ate a couple of months ago. I've also got flowers, kale, spinach, bok choy and marigolds started. I even put down a new layer of pine needles and the gardens---front, back, and sides---look terrific.

So shut up and get back to writing!

Besides, writing and publishing are two different processes. I write because I love to and have to (even if I have to keep reminding myself of this!), not because I'll get rich or famous doing it.

Okay, enough complaining and analyzing--so back to writing. You, too. Or reading, as the case may be.

Carolyn

Am I In Heaven or What?

Hurrah! I finally got an agent interested in a mystery I wrote a couple of years ago. You won't believe how many incarnations this story has gone through. First, it
was written from the viewpoint of a female P.I. When no one wanted it, I made her paraplegic. No dice. Then I changed her into an old nursing professor. Still no bites. Agents and readers kept saying it sounds old-fashioned. No wonder. That's exactly how I pictured my protagonist.

Then I "got it," and changed it to a historical (or is it an historical?) novel set in the 1930s.That fixed it. Sort of. The agent liked the premise and wanted me to tighten the writing and throw out all back story and descriptions and stick to narrative and dialogue and no inner musings. I did that and now she wants to see the whole manuscript. THE WHOLE MANUSCRIPT!

Things can't get sweeter than that.

Now I just have to go through the other 300 pages and tighten it up. That'll only hurt for a little while and then I'll send it off to postofficeville and wait. And pray!

Send me some angels, will you?

I may need them.

Keep reading and writing...

Carolyn

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I can't believe I haven't blogged in nearly a month! Time does pass. Do you think I've been on vacation in Hawaii, or lying in bed eating bon bons?

Nice images, but the truth is I've been chained to my computer, writing, writing, writing. Well, that's not exactly true. Mostly I've been revising. I got a couple of positive responses from agents and so I've been polishing, polishing, polishing those 10 pages or whatever they requested, and finally sending them in.

I keep telling my students that writing is mostly revision, but it still astounds me how true that is.

Keep reading and writing!

Carolyn