On Days Like These...

...I really wish I didn't have to keep a full-time job. Because I have a new project I'm working on that I'm so excited about, I can't focus on anything else. I just want to stay home and write, write, write! But alas, I must have drinks with a client tonight. (That sounds like way more fun than it actually is.)

Client interaction gives me anxiety. Part of it is because I'm pretty introverted. That, and I feel like the more I write, the less interesting I become outwardly. Because so much of my brain gets eaten up by these ideas. (Especially this sparkly new idea!) And I can't exactly...uhh...talk about my aspirations for publication with a client who pays me to do another kind of writing altogether. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't go over too well...

I Can't Quit You

Did you ever have one of those exes (this applies to ex-boyfriends in particular; it could apply to ex-girlfriends, too--but I don't have any experience with that) that have break-up radar? Like, they're not really good for you but they're oh so hard to get over. And when you finally start to get over them and move on with your life--BLAM--they come back full force and suck you back in.

Writing can be like that, too. Just as a hypothetical example (ahem), say this weekend I came up with a brand new idea. And this idea was so shiny and sparkly, it made me question whether I should keep moving forward with any current project. And then, in the eleventh hour, my current project pulled ahead by a nose.

That's all I'm going to say on that topic, except that I'm a bundle of nerves today and every time I check my email (about every hour or so), I want to throw up. In a potentially good way.

Dedication...and Then Some

A friend of mine finally got to celebrate the launch party for his book's publication two weeks ago. I say finally because he's been working on the book for 10 years.

Let me say that again: 10 years.

He's a music writer--hip-hop, specifically--and it's a non-fiction book. So sure, he had to spend a lot of time doing research, collecting interviews. And yeah, even though his book had already been purchased by a publisher 5 years ago, he had to work a day job. We were lowly proofreaders together at the time. Meanwhile the guy is a freakin' genius with words. And all this time he was working on rewrites, edits.

So finally R-day has come. (That's Release day). 10 years of research, interviews, and taking crappy proofreading jobs in the meantime. And I'm so darn proud of him. This is the kind of book that is incredibly niche; who knows, maybe it will pick up a cult following. But I can tell you, none of that matters to him. He believed in it--you don't get through 10 years working on a project banking on what other people will think about it.

Once the Hubs is done reading our copy of, I'll be picking it up. You should, too. It is the byproduct of true dedication, and it shows.

And as an aside: yeah, waiting 6-8 weeks for a query response? Not so bad.

In the Meantime

So I bet you're wondering if I've heard any good news on the query front for Charm Bracelet.

Well, I'm right there with you. The other day I got one of those automatic "we received your query, please allow 6-8 weeks for our response."

Wow, it took me just about 6-8 weeks to write the first draft of CB. (Uhhh, I know that sounds pretty good, but let me stress the words FIRST DRAFT. It took much longer to do the rewrites, change a main story arc, and completely re-do the ending.) This time frame doesn't surprise me; I know agents have a lot on their plates, and more and more people are deciding they can write books so the slush pile is ever-growing.

But man, that's a lot of time.

So why am I not freaking out, checking my email every 5 minutes? (Okay, okay. I check it 2-3/day. I am slightly neurotic; I'm a writer, after all.) Because I've been BUSY. First of all, as I mentioned before, I'm transitioning to a writing position at my day job. Which has been pretty awesome. Not so awesome are the hours, or the fact I sometimes have to do work on weekends. Which by the way, I am not paid for. One of the downfalls of being on a set salary. Although having medical insurance is cool and all.

And then, I am making great progress on my gothic untitled novel. By "great" I don't mean crazy huge word counts, but I think it's really quality stuff. And I'm really enjoying the story. 

And then, tomorrow I'm volunteering at Liberty Humane Society, playing with some kitties and pups that could really use some love and affection.

So the moral of this story? When you're in the dreaded query process, keep so freakin' busy you don't have time to THINK about it. Oh, and also--make sure to spay or neuter your animal to help control the unwanted pet population. (not to go all Bob Barker on you. Does anyone even get that reference?)

Remiss

Wow, I'm embarrassed to even look at when the last time I posted was.


So I'm officially a copywriter at my day job, and no longer an editor. For those of you just catching up, I work in advertising. And I was worried that doing writing 50 hours/week would steal some of my creative "juices" from my fiction pursuits.


Guess what? I think it's actually helping. Before I used to have trouble writing on weeknights and would be a weekend warrior. Now I actually find myself settling into bed with my notebook at night to jot down scenes. (This is normally my reading time, so needless to say I am quickly falling behind on my reading. I STILL haven't finished all of my Christmas books.)

And on a completely unrelated note--I caught myself staring unashamedly at people on the subway the other day. So wrapped up in observing/making up stories about them, I didn't even notice when they caught me out. Let's just hope I wasn't talking to myself without realizing it. Although I'm sure that will happen some day soon...

The Fun Stuff

Finally ready to start querying agents for CB! That's right, the manuscript is ready. I think. I hope.

As terrifying as the query process is, I actually think it's fun at the very beginning. You know, when you send it out, full of high hopes and dreams. Before the soul-crushing phase begins.

And I know that a truckload of soul-crushing is on it's way, so just let me have this one day. One day to enjoy the thrill of sending off my baby into the big wide world of literary agencies.

Query Time

I recently tinkered with my query for CHARM BRACELET. Since Marlowe's voice is kind of wryly funny, that's what I initially went for in my query. Except I think it was setting a skewed expectation for the tone of the book as largely comedic. And while there's definitely funny bits--well, people actually die in it. Unfortunately for them. So clearly some not-so-funny bits. I think the new version gets that across better. Have a looksie.

Marlowe Thomas is gifted, but not in the way most people think. Sure, her 4.0 grade average comes easily. And she’s one of the top gymnasts on the Devil’s Den High School varsity team. But Marley’s really special talents are ones she can’t put on her college application essays. Unless Georgetown is now offering courses in divination and telekinesis.

Marley’s halfway through her junior year, and she just found out she’s a witch.
So she’s going to tackle it like she does everything else—with hard work and diligence. Except there are the distractions…

Gabe Connelly is aloof and cautious, while his brother Fin thinks being a witch is all fun and games, no toil and trouble. Despite her overachieving personality, Marley gravitates toward fun-loving Fin after Gabe refuses to help her learn the Craft.

Until things get serious.

It began with the suicide that left the medical examiner scratching his head; and then the murders followed. All connected. All unexplained by modern medicine. Meanwhile, the entire cheerleading squad is acting like a bunch of brainwashed puppets. But who’s pulling the strings? Turns out, there’s another witch at school; one whose motivations are considerably darker than scoring beer underage. One by one she’s picking off the people she holds grudges against. And Marley is one of them.

CHARM BRACELET is contemporary YA—in the spirit of Mean Girls with a magical, murderous twist. The manuscript is complete at 55,000 words.