I did it! I wrote The End on the novel I have been writing for far too long.
My goal was to finish in 2011 and I finished the edits and sent it out to my patient critique group just before midnight New Year's Eve. Aren't deadlines wonderful!
I went back and checked the computer and my first meandering attempts at this story about Greenland were written in the fall of 2008. If I had known it would take so long, I'm not sure I could have stuck with it.
But here I am ...done. At least with a good- almost second draft. I have been reworking it along the way as my critique group has given me feedback- not exactly the easiest process, but it seemed to work for me. I think I needed the feedback to help me focus and give me confidence to keep moving forward.
Now comes the next stage - sending it out. I have been stalling for a good month - writing an Author's Note -that is needed to really understand how much the story is rooted in history - and a good query letter.
Stalling... But finally, I just did it - spent a whole afternoon personalizing my query and hitting that send button. Started with 8 agents - the ones I would swoon over and sweat nervously if I was in the same room. Now I'm supposed to start something new and not check my e-mail every hour. Right! This is a very strange profession.
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I predict great things for this story!
ReplyDeleteHi I found your blog on the Toad Hall. I have Danish background and have written and illustrated picture book about a Nissa elf...you know about them right?
ReplyDeleteAnyway I thought since you are in the Scandinavian world you might have some suggestions of publishers that might be interested in a Christmas book about Nissa? There is such interest of Scandinavian American's for their children and grandchildren to have roots type of materials.
Your house at the coast sounds wonderful! My husband is a musician.
www.johndoan.com
Nice to meet you! I am going to the SWBWI in Washington this weekend. Are you?