Once again, I realize that it has been so very long since I’ve updated this blog. But, alas, that may be the case during the summers until my children get old enough that they both start disappearing off to camps and friends houses and such. Every spare second I’ve had this summer I’ve thrown myself into writing. And if I’m not writing, I’ve been reorganizing my house, which is quite the task in and of itself. (and, um, Pinterest). But the work I intended to do during the baby nap wound up taking me far less time than anticipated today and so here I am (until such time as I head off to build blanket forts with Kid A).
Before I say anything else, I would just like to give everyone the heads up that Miss Hill’s second book, Possession, will be available in two weeks. If you all read Bound (which I’m assuming you all did), you know that this is big news. It’s a great read and you should all go and mark your calendars. I’ll wait.
Done? Excellent. Well, then, onto my own writing updates. I have finally, as of today, pretty much finished my query letter and synopsis for Darkness Bared. Each of these took me several complete do-overs, but I have them at a point now where I think I’m okay with them. I just have one reader left to look over the synopsis and then I’m fully out of excuses. I’ve also compiled a short (thus far) list of agents and once I’ve contacted those I’ll be hunting for more. A very exciting but nerve-wracking process, this. If you need me, I’ll be celebrating under my couch.
The relatively minor writing event that brought me to my blog today happened just now, and is the reason that I have a bit of time on my hands to update. I don’t want to give too much away here, but I will say that my intention today was to read through the first three chapters to see if I should cut the first and work the details that happen there through the next two. The reason is that chapter one is told from a specific point of view – the POV of the original protagonist who wound up stepping aside to another character by the time the novel was complete. (I may be a pantser, but that one even surprised me). As such, my novel opens with one character, but my query and synopsis focus on another and that concerned me. So I first asked my readers. A few told me it might be worth considering, chopping that first chapter. But the reader who wanted me to keep the first chapter was absolutely vehement. I got emails with capital letters and curse words. Nonetheless, I figured I should read through it and go with my gut. Chapters 1-3 are about 30 pages, so that was my plan for this afternoon.
Two pages in, decision made. The chapter stays for the time being. I like it too much. I was drawn back into that world almost immediately. If an agent or editor suggests cutting it later, I’ll be more than willing to have that discussion, but for now, it is staying put.
And with that question answered, I can move ahead with absolutely no more procrastination. Excepting Pinterest, of course. Nothing sucks the time out of my day quite like Pinterest. 🙂
Fictional Impulse 