NaNo and Query Updates

I've been sick off and on the past few weeks, so haven't sent any more query letters after the first 4. I have received 2 rejection letters so far. That's expected, so I'm not terribly disappointed. When I get up into the dozens and dozens of letters sent, then I might start getting disappointed.

I went to a NaNoWriMo kickoff party last weekend. A bunch of people in St. Louis got together to talk about writing and whatever. No actual writing was done, as you're not supposed to start until Nov. 1. I met some new people and got ideas for keeping the writing going, even when you're totally stuck. It was a good time, and I look forward to the weekly write-ins during November (when people get together to write or discuss what they're writing.)

I've thought and thought about the idea I had and was planning to write. I have been unable to come up with a even a bad plot line to go with the basic idea. So, I scrapped that one for now (it would have been a mystery type novel.) I had another idea waiting in the wings thanks to my trusty "idea" file. I write down plot ideas, images, character sketches, whatever catches my fancy, for later use. I freewrote about this new idea to see what kind of genearl plot idea I could come up with, and was pleased with the results. This will also be somewhat of a mystery novel. I've never written anything mystery before, short story or otherwise, and have read some, but not a ton of, mystery novels, so this will be a nice change and interesting experiment.

In 28 hours I will begin my quest for 50,000 words in 30 days.

Querying Again

I sent 4 query letters yesterday. These were to some of the big names I dearly want to hear from. Ann Brashare's agent, Meg Cabot's agent, Laurell K. Hamilton's agent. I want Ann Brashares agent. Her's went via e-mail, the autoreply said expect to hear back within 3 months. Wish me luck.

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month. It's every November, and the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. That's about 1700 words a day. Don't edit, just write. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece, the goal is to just write. In December you can go back and edit and make it better. I'm going to do it this year. The Moonlight Cafe is done, and I'm stuck on Discovering Family, so no better time to try it. I have a general, basic story idea that's been floating around in my head for over a year, so I think that's what I'm going to work on. I'm very excited about it.

Writing Day, Edits Complete

Today we met at Mary's for our monthly writing day (though we didn't meet at all in September.) I was excited to have time dedicated solely to writing. I haven't worked on my novel at all since the last writing day. I haven't been in the mood for it. But it's so close to finished, I knew I just needed some dedicated time with nothing else to do but write. Today is exactly what I needed. I finished the edits I had listed for it. Sylvie read my novel and gave me the manuscript with her comments, and I finished the edits she suggested. Now it is complete. Tina, Sarah, and Mary are still going to read it, and I'm sure they'll have some great suggestions and I'll make some more edits when they've read it through, but it is at a point with which I am very happy. If I changed nothing else in it, I would be satisfied. I'm ready to start sending it out to agents. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up the momentum for that. The sooner I get it out there, the sooner I can hope to get out of corporate america. I know it will still be a long time (most likely) until I can afford to live on my writing alone, but once it's out there at least I'll have a better chance at it.