I can’t believe it’s been a year since I last posted. I’ve been busy getting my book finished and edited and am currently querying after close to two years of work.
Querying is not for the faint of heart which I’ve said before. I value the feedback I might get at the same time I dread the rejection letters. With each new letter I send a prayer and a wish for a miracle. While I love my novel, I realize it will take a special person to see me and my novel for what we are. A promise of things to come? An interesting idea for a mystery?
I know I love what I do and want to share it with everyone far and wide.
There are moments of self-doubt. I admit it. There are days when I wonder why on earth I’m still doing this. I remind myself I’m barely into the process of submitting queries. That’s not that many rejections. Yet. I found my group in Facebook that has touched my heart and uplifted me, and best of all… no drama. One of the things they suggested when I came to them with my heart in my hands and my shoulders hunched, and they embraced me and let me know it’s okay.
They encouraged me to cry and to let it out. That it’s all a part of the process, they remind me of Steven King and JK Rowling and the insurmountable odds they faced, and the sheer volume of rejections they too received. I find my soul revived and my spirit buoyed by their unwavering support and affirmative words.
The truth of the matter is this may never happen for me. Traditional publishing may not be the path that I’m supposed to take, and I have to come to terms with that. I have to be okay with that. For today though, I choose to press on. There are revisions to make to a query letter, and there are many, many more agents that have not yet heard my name.
I choose to celebrate. When I reach 25 rejections, I will find something in which to treat myself. I have chosen to bear my soul to these 25+ people. I have dared to dream something for myself that I didn’t even know I wanted. Something I didn’t think I could ever have.
It’s three days until Christmas and I’m taking a much needed break. I’ve been at this for three months non-stop. I’m at the query stage as I await the edit. Most agents are closing up shop for the remainder of the year.
Instead I’m choosing to give my mind a break. I’m not even looking at the second in the series right now.
I’m choosing to focus on my girls and hubby as we celebrate Christmas and as we close out this crazy year.
We’re looking ahead to the coming year with optimism and enthusiasm.
There’s a lot in store for us this coming year. Hoping for a book deal. Our family will be moving this summer into early fall. Fingers crossed we’ll see the end of Covid.
I may or may not write anymore this year. I’ll have to see if something occurs to me.
We have been out enjoying the holiday lights in our area. It’s an enjoyable time where we’re in the car together and enjoying it.
I decided to work on my research for getting published tonight. To say I was in over my head is the understatement of the year. There’s so much information out there that I can’t even begin to sort it out. I found several sites that were helpful in helping me see through the fog. I’m learning just what it is I’ve gotten myself into. I will persevere though. I’m determined to see this through.
I’m cautiously optimistic that Giving Cheek will be published and hopefully the ones to follow. It’s the dream I never dared to dream. The dream I never knew I even wanted. The dream that was just that, a dream. Now that I’m making strides and going for what I want it’s daunting and scary and exciting and nerve-wracking. If I had any fingernails left to bite off they would be gone, but they came off when I began telling Analee’s story a couple months ago. 😉
I’m so excited about this whole thing. I can’t believe it’s me doing this. I signed up for a Writer’s Digest class on the whole publishing thing and hoping it will give me insight on where to go next. I’m hoping it will guide me in the right direction to begin the querying process. I’m simply waiting for the last Beta reader as well as my editor to come back to me. It’s hard because I know this is a busy time of the year, but I’m so ready to move on and make that leap.
She’s always beside me, her 18 years are showing in that, I’ve become her anchor. She feels safest when she’s next to me. I’m her ears since she’s losing her hearing. She’s my baby.
For two hours I was tempted to pre-empt the remainder of editing and participate in the current madhouse that is #PitMad.
I’m waiting on two more beta readers, my editor, my brothers review, and by husband’s review.
I wanted so badly to be able to submit something tomorrow and see what happens. I even came up with my 140 character pitch as well as an extended one.
I thought about it late into the night and I just decided not to do it right now. My query letter isn’t ready. I have to wait and see what my Beta readers have to say. I want this to be the best it can be for presenting, even if that means I have to wait until January to submit.
In the meantime I’ll read through it again and work on the next in the series.
My husband and I got these ornaments as a representation of us. We’ve had them for close to 15 years. His is the mirror ball and mine is the hot red pepper.
Well, last night I accidently began my second novel in the series. Whoops! I prefer to think of it as being proactive, so I can mention in the Query Letters that a second novel is on the way.
I love writing. I love the research process and the chance to be creative. There’s so much going on in my head and it gets to spill out on the paper in the form of a story. It’s great!
Didn’t mean for that to be dual meaning, but it really is. Specifically, for me, today it means I begin gathering ideas for my next novel in the series. I’ve gotten the first one out to Beta Readers as well as the Copy Editor. I’m exhausted from trying to narrow down my Query letter. I have to take it in spurts otherwise I get so overwhelmed by it.
For now that means brainstorming ideas for the the second book. It’s fun because my mind never stops. Coming up with the murder is the easy part it’s everything else that is the challenge. Ha!
The leaves are out in splendor right now. We’ve reached the tail of their color. Makes me sad. I love the Fall.
Pamela Kyel 