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Interiority

I found out it is much easier for most readers to get inside the MC’s head if the story is written in first person. It is simpler to write emotions and reaction and get inside the characters head. My story is in third person limited and, although I have the physical and dialogue reactions to get the reader to know what my character is feeling, it is much harder to get inside their head. 

My editor gave me feedback on a scene wanting more interiority. So I did some research and read some of my favorite third person stories and I think I have figured out what I need to do. In my goal to lower the word count, I sacrificed some much-needed interiority. I thought what my character said and did would speak loud enough to communicate how he was feeling. I was wrong.

Now it’s back to the beginning to fix the problem spots.

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Prepping for Querying

The dreaded query letter. I have made a few drafts before but I’ve finally nailed one down and sent it out to my editor for critique. I’m crossing my fingers I’m close to the final draft.

The query letter isn’t everything, though. If you are set on getting published via the traditional route, you probably already know there are a couple other pieces you’ll need to finish before you start emailing literary agents: the synopsis, and the extremely polished first 10 pages of the manuscript. After researching, agents may request a synopsis of varied length, depending on their preference. I have plans to write a 1-page and 3-page synopsis to cover my bases. They may also request pages from your manuscript (anywhere from the first 1 page to the first chapter). 

Polish, polish, polish. That is my mantra right now. I am looking over everything at least a dozen times. I read it aloud. I have a friend read it for errors. Better safe than sorry. I will do everything in my power to give my story a fighting chance, even if that means holding off another few months until I feel confident in every last word I plan on presenting to potential agents.

This is my dream. And I’ll be damned if I put out anything but my best.

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I have a puddle at my command when I need an ocean.

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Creating my Story

Unlike some writers I have known, my storyline was a struggle to figure out. I didn’t dream up the concept, things didn’t fall into place naturally, and I didn’t know where I wanted it to go. I have put a great amount of effort, and even more time, into the plot and characters. 

Why was it so hard? Because this is my first book. 

Creating a book is far harder than the essays I learned to write in college. I had been taught the elements of a story but when you write things on such a grand scale, things become increasingly more difficult. I first started writing by the seat of my pants. With no outline and only vague ideas of the major plot line, I found myself stuck and frustrated nearly every day.I did not thrive like this, some people may but it wasn’t for me.

I created an outline; an in-depth outline for every scene. Writing was smoother after this. When I did get stuck in a scene, usually problems with dialogue, I would take a step back and create a detailed mini-outline for the conversation. 

If I looked at my current outline seven years ago, the only thing I would recognize is the MC’s name. Nothing in your story is set in stone. Things can change as easily as you want them to, and for me, all those changes, no matter how difficult it was, was a change for the better. Now that I am better equipped, I hope the next book won’t give me as much trouble.

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Getting Over the Fear

Every step closer I get to querying is as equally exciting as it is frightening. I have been told by family, friends, beta readers, and my editor that my writing is good--that the story is good, Any critique I have been given, I have taken to the fullest extent and revised my manuscript thusly. But you never truly know if your idea is good enough...if your talent is good enough until you get that agent. Maybe it’s different for some writers. I envy those who have unwavering confidence in their talent. I need to strive to be more like that, I guess. I shouldn’t have to wait for an agent’s approval to tell me my story is good for me to believe it, but that is where I’m at. All I can do in the meantime is put my head down and continue to chug along. A busy mind has less time to worry. So, for now, I will submerge myself in my work.

Does anyone else struggle with this? What do you do to overcome these fears?

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First Post

I am a writer. At least, that’s what I think I am. I write every day, therefore I am, right? An author, though, I am not. Not yet. Ask me in a few years. I started Tumblr to document my progress on my manuscript, along with a few other things in my life, but for now, I’ll focus on the book.

Seven years ago I came up with a story. After many years of touch and go, I finally managed to piece together a rough draft. It sucked. When I say sucked, I mean, cringing, red-in-the-face embarrassment while I reread it. Now I know this is a common occurrence. Recently, I have taken to writing full-time. I finished the second draft, sent it to beta readers, and, from there, took it to an editor where I revised the entire story two more times. 

I’m in a good place now. I think. I hope. After receiving my editor’s last notes, I have been combing through the story, cutting out words to get below the 100k word count most agents prefer of a YA Fantasy. Only 462 words to cut until I see the sweet, sweet number 99,999.