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Posts Tagged ‘waiting game’

Publishing Delay

Posted in Editor, Publishers, revision, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 8, 2015| 1 Comment »

A_Woman_Reading_Papers_At_Her_DeskIt’s no surprise that the lady helping me self-publish my first novel has gotten sidetracked with other projects and life itself.

We lost about three weeks in our timeline, but are now back on track. She provided me with the formatted manuscript, and included her own edits for the first half.

When I re-read my story, I found about a dozen places that needed to be returned to my own voice. She agreed to make the adjustments with very little resistance, but brought up two scenes that didn’t sit right with her. I saw her point, and have provided a revamp to take care of her concerns.

And so I’m waiting for her to get back to me with her second half edits, which I will then review and make further adjustments if needed.

In the meantime, I approached a recently-opened bookstore in a nearby town to ask about scheduling my book launch in their upstairs space. Before they will discuss that possibility, their buyer needs a ‘readers copy’ of my novel to determine if they will stock my novel in the local author section. If that decision is positive, then the events lady will discuss a possible book launch.

So many details, but I’m getting close!

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Manuscript Submitted to Publisher

Posted in Editor, Publishers, tagged , , , , , , on August 20, 2015| 2 Comments »

red send buttonWell, a few minutes ago, I pulled on my big girl panties and hit the ‘send’ button.

After months of working with my editor to fine-tune the writing, firm up the plot, and deepen the characters, I’ve sent my story along for the final phase of preparation before publication.

Nothing to do now but watch for the galley proof to arrive. My final opportunity to make sure everything is in its proper place. That nothing has been dropped. That nothing has been added or duplicated. That all eyes are dotted. That all tees are crossed. Forgive my bastardization of those two letters.

While I wait, I guess I’ll turn my attentions to my next story…sigh.

 

 

 

 

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Contest for Unpublished Authors

Posted in Contests, tagged , , , , , , , on August 30, 2014| Leave a Comment »

fingers crossed behind bckWell, the contest for unpublished authors was moved forward by two months, and closed to new entries yesterday. Within the coming month, the editors on staff will read through the submissions and select their three favorites. These will be passed up to the owner, who will request the entire manuscripts from those three authors. 

Wouldn’t it be thrilling if I were chosen as one of the final three?

All I can do now is make final tweaks and wait for that hoped-for call to ring my phone. 

Of course, I have begun working on story #2, along with the plot issues that come with any new project. My victim is fleshed out, I know how he’s done in. I even know who does it. And I know who is falsely accused. But I haven’t figured out the why yet. Can’t get too far into the story until that major component is created.

And so my waiting game begins…my fingers are crossed!

 

 

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Contest Closed…sigh

Posted in Contests, tagged , , , on May 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »

waitingMy intentions were good. Two contests for unpublished authors loomed in front of me, but both required that my story be completed before I send off the required number of pages to each. Not a total surprise. What if they picked me??? I’d have to submit the entire manusript without delay!

And, so, I’ve been working with determined dedication to finish that final revision…dump the overwriting, be sure the strongest verbs are in place, eliminate those nasty buggers ‘just’ and ‘only’ and ‘then’ .

When I logged onto one of the contest websites…which had opened on May 1, and would not close until the end of June…I got a sinking feeling when I read the notice that the contest is closed! They had received the maximum number of submissions in a little more than a week. Slam, bam, thank you, ma’m.

Imagine my disappointment.

However, I did not dispair! On Friday, I submitted my pages to the second contest via registered mail.

I’d be happy to end up in the finalist pile. But ecstatic to be chosen as the winner.

Cross your fingers! Cross your toes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Choose Your Pitching Agent

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »

three women sepiaAn email arrived inviting me to choose my top three agents for the pitching session at the Crime Bake Conference, sponsored by Sisters in Crime New England and Mystery Writers of America during the weekend of Nov 8-9-10.

This year, the organizers are offering eleven agents and editors for our selection process. Bios for them all are provided on the Crime Bake website.

And so my analysis began! I read each bio to discover what sub-genre that agent is seeking at the moment, and their experience in the publishing industry. A follow-up exploration of each corporate websites with a browse through their most recently published authors solidified if they seem to be a good match for my mystery/romance story.

I settled on my top three, registered my picks via the online form, and will now wait until I register at the conference to find out which one is my assigned agent.

The pitching session will take place on Saturday afternoon during the conference weekend. Those authors who are participating will be collected outside the pitching room, and herded in as a group to spend our five minutes in front of the pour assigned agent. If all goes well, and my pitch includes enough of a hook, the agent may request more of my story. Wouldn’t that be encouraging?

Cross your fingers!

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Agent Email

Posted in Agent Review, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on February 3, 2013| 3 Comments »

In my inbox this morning sat an email from an agent I recently queried. She represents another cozy mystery writer in the Sisters In Crime organization, and was recommended to me by another agent.

My fingers paused above the file, not sure if they wanted to open it or not. Would I be lucky and get a hit on nearly my first try? Or would she tell me ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ ???

After several minutes of debate, I hit the enter key and zoomed in on her words like a starving writer…only to be disappointed. Her rejection said my hook was not sufficient to interest any of the editors she knows.

Big sigh.smiley face maybe next time

I’ve been told by both my writing groups that I’ve written a good story, so I’ll be pulling down my how-to books about query letters and improving this one paragraph description by echoing the tension and frustration of my main character.

On a positive note, the only way is up!

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Agent Update

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on February 21, 2012| 1 Comment »

It’s not good news… sigh.

It’s not bad news… sigh, again.

After three months of waiting, I finally received a response from the agent who’s been holding my first three chapters since November. She advised that she’s no longer accepting new clients.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Hitting the jackpot my first time out was a slim-to-none chance.

So now, it’s back to the drawing board, so to speak. A writer friend has given me the names of three publishers who do not require an agent. Unfortunately, one of them is closed to submissions until August.  The other two advise 12-16 weeks to respond to my submission.

On a positive note, that time frame will expire by the time the Cape Cod Writers Center conference occurs in August. They will be offering a “Pitchapalooza” of agents. Think of it as speed-dating! http://capecodwriterscenter.org/

Off I go to prepare my query letter for publisher #1… wish me luck!

 

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Follow Up with Agent

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on January 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Well, its been two months since I emailed my first three chapters to the agent from CrimeBake. Because of the holidays… Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years… I decided it was only fair to allow her extra time to read those chapters and get back to me.

I’ve been nervous about asking her… do I really want to hear what she has to say?

But I’m telling myself I’m totally prepared for her to tell me that my story is not quite what she’s looking for. Not many writers hit the jackpot first time out.

My fingers are crossed. My toes are crossed. So how much time do I allow for her to answer? How soon to follow-up on a follow-up?

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