Writing Conferences and Presenting to Agents

I haven't bothered to write her for a while because there are only just so many ways to say, "I'm still revising.  Pardon the dust."  But over the weekend, I went to a League of Utah Writers conference that was amazing and really got me back on track with writing.  For several months now, I've been working on revision of my adult novels based on an editor's and fellow writers' feedback, much of the time putting it off by doing other writing.  I know I need to get serious about that and get it done. 

But the morning of the conference, I had the thought that not spending a little extra money to present to a publisher or agent would be squandering a sterling opportunity. I don't make it to the conferences often.  Before I could doubt myself, I submitted a request to meet with an out of town agent who was looking for manuscripts for her agency.  Middle grade manuscripts.  That's when I thought of the series I have mapped out but that, other than the first two books, have simmered on the back burner while I beat my head against my romance novels. 

Now, I've sent off materials to agents before.  I've presented to publishers and agents at conferences on occasion, and nothing has ever come of it but a polite thank you and a we'll let you know if we're interested.  But I figured why not?  I've already gotten League feedback on the first two books of the Doomimal series.  My kids love what I have so far and are always making more suggestions for my next stories.  It was worth a try. 

I was a bit disheartened when two freelance editors pointed out all the flaws in the first chapter at that conference, but I was already committed, and the agent had tacked on an extra time slot just for my last minute arrangement.  I forged ahead and met with her, not expecting much. 

My spirits sunk a bit lower as she informed me I was thinking in terms of the wrong genre, that it's not middle-grade as they usually work with but early chapter books.  It turns out middle grade fiction now concerns itself more with darker, more teen or adult issues and tends to be longer than my research suggested and than my manuscripts were.  A story about kids and their pets facing off with some mysterious dog of war and her magical army of animals just didn't seem like middle-grade material like I thought.

But then she also told me she thought my concept "had legs" and could go places.  For the first time in my life, an agent invited me to submit my manuscript to her agent who works with middle-grade.  It's no guarantee since its target audience is a bit younger than their usual, but it's a definite opening, and after I rework the manuscript according to the feedback I've received (as quickly as possible), I will act on this opening.  It feels like I'm standing at the cusp of something big, something I've dreamed about since I was constructing picture books for my sisters out of scrap paper as a kid. 

I can't celebrate just yet, but this feels like a good thing.  A very good thing worth a blog.  There is definitely something to be said for conferences and for taking advantage of every opportunity available to get your work out there. 

Back into League

Along with the feeling of being just too overwhelmed to write much, I was also stricken with the absolute inability to stare at other's writing, as I do with League of Utah Writers.  I know I need to help others just as they help me.  I truly missed some of these stories and some of these writers.   But then there are those pieces that are just so painful that it's hard to push myself to read.  Even then, though, I know they need help.  They need outside eyes to help them see those issues they can't see when they're too close to their own writing.

Then again, I know my own writing has such issues.  Very few writers write so perfectly the first time that they don't need the help of fellow writers to see the weak characters, the slack narrative, the data dumps, and the poor dialogue snippets that sound great when they write them in the first place.  I know I need League as much as they need me.  I highly recommend other writers seek out a group like this.

I did it!

Last week, I said I was going to get my major rewrite of my manuscript done.  I worked hard over this last week and one day late, I got it to the editor for recommendations.  I've rarely felt that satisfied as when I finished that.  Few things are quite as tedious as that kind of revision, switching from first to third person.  I know it still needs work.  I got further suggestions from another writer, some of which may match what I hear from an editor.  But I won't mess with any of it until I have it all sitting in front of me.  Then I'll use what works and get it submitted [again] for possible publication.  If this next publisher passes, I'm back and forth between independent publishing and a small publisher.  I don't mind the idea of going indie, though it would be nice to have the name recognition of a publisher for at least my first one.  

Meanwhile, I'm kind of at a loss as to what I should work on next when it comes to writing.  I'd love to just write, but I know that manuscript's sequel/spin-off needs work, too.  I've just been so single-minded for around two months that I haven't been into anything else for a while.  It does feel nice to know I have choices.  It's a good place to be.  

Determined

This is it.  This has to be it.  I have to get my manuscript done.  So much of my soul has been consumed by stressing about getting this manuscript done.  I have yet another due date I set myself to get the editing done, to submit it to the editor.  I remember something my master's thesis advisor told me: there's good, and there's done.

It was disheartening when I received more feedback from the person who has been reading my manuscript.  And it sounds like she straight up doesn't like it.  At the same time, I know there are people who do like it.  She's clearly not the target audience.  I have to accept I'm not going to please everyone.  I will take her feedback and use it as much as it fits into my vision of my story.  But not now.

Right now, I need to finish what I started in turning the whole manuscript from first-person to third-person.  I need to make it as good as it can get in a handful of days.  Then I need to send it to the editor.  I can take their feedback and hers and polish it as much as possible before I send it in for publication...again.  It's still far from done, far from perfect.  But my plate is filling up quickly.  If I don't get it done now, it may be months before it gets done.  I can't keep dragging my feet.  I have to get this done.  Someone out there needs my tale of healing, the story of a woman trained in helplessness fighting her way to self-confidence.  I need to get it to that person.  And the next step is this: getting it done and to the editor.