Hello!
Somehow it's been two years since I last posted on this blog, which is crazy. I figured it was time I posted an update for anyone who stumbles upon this blog or might be curious what I've been up to.
Since the last time I posted, I sent out a bunch of queries, got engaged, received a revise-and-resubmit from an agent, planned my wedding, quit my day job, got married and went on my honeymoon, packed up everything I own and put it in storage temporarily, started freelancing, traveled across the country and back again, helped my sister plan her wedding, repacked everything and drove it (and our cat) to our new apartment in California, unpacked everything, completed the revisions, resubmitted to the agent, and received an offer of representation!
Of course, all of these exciting changes in my life happened at once, which meant the revisions took much longer to complete than I would've liked. Luckily, the agent hadn't forgotten about my book, and I signed with her at the beginning of June, just three weeks after resubmitting.
For those who wonder what happens next after signing with an agent: more revisions! :) Which is awesome because I'm super-happy to have an editorial agent who is committed to helping me make the book as strong as possible before we go on submission.
Showing posts with label writing updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing updates. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Another Nice Surprise
Click here to see the winners of the August Mystery Agent contest on Operation Awesome. :)
Monday, August 12, 2013
Contest Update
Monday, May 24, 2010
MSFV
How do you get agent requests for two different manuscripts before you query either one of them?
Post something on MSFV.
http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-secret-agent-24.html
http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-kiss-33.html
And only one of these was actually part of a contest. :)
Post something on MSFV.
http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-secret-agent-24.html
http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-kiss-33.html
And only one of these was actually part of a contest. :)
Friday, April 16, 2010
First pages
First pages of three of my WIPs:
YA paranormal, 69,000 words (finished; one full out with agent):
1. Seth
I was halfway between the school and stadium, waiting for the crowd to thin, when I saw her. Somehow out of all the faces I never spoke to, I always noticed hers.
That familiar expression was there. The one I recognized because I felt it so often myself. Lonely, but resigned to the loneliness.
Tonight it was mixed with something else. Frustration, I thought.
It made her seem vulnerable, fragile in a way the subtle sadness didn’t.
I expected her to head into the stadium, walk within a few feet of where I stood. I braced for that. But she turned away, went back across the parking lot. Not to a car, not even into the school. She just kept walking, right out to the sidewalk.
I didn’t realize I’d moved too until I was halfway across the lot. Sometimes the pull was like that, out of my control.
But this wasn’t that, or not just that.
This was curiosity and concern. This was me being stupid, crossing lines.
I stopped, clenched my fists, reminded myself what carelessness could do. Then I followed her anyway.
I couldn’t talk to her, couldn’t know her, but I could make sure she got wherever she was going okay.
2. Holly
Sometimes it seemed like my life was one big dance, only the choreographer forgot to give me a part. That was how I felt that night, when I couldn’t find the pre-game barbecue, couldn’t find anyone – stuck on a stage, alone, with nothing to do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YA paranormal, 63,000 words (almost finished w/fifth draft):
1. Owen, 2:04:48 p.m.
I hated this part.
The bell had rung exactly four minutes and 48 seconds ago. Which meant I had twelve seconds to get through the next door. But I was a hundred yards away, the hall was too crowded for me to run like a normal person, and with honors calculus, I had little hope someone would show up later than me to slip in behind.
Perfect attendance record, gone. Not that anybody would’ve given me a certificate.
I skidded toward the door. Closed of course. Mrs. Harper always closed the door. Like she worried someone would want to spy on her lesson. Not likely. Except, well, for me.
Three weeks and three days without a missed class. Not bad, but nowhere near last spring’s stretch – seven weeks and two days. Lots of art classes and two P.E.s. That’s what I got for challenging myself this semester. And drinking two cokes at lunch. I knew better than that.
I couldn’t pick up Mrs. Harper’s monotone through the thick walls, but I stuck around for a few minutes anyway, hoping for a straggler. No luck.
Of course it had to be this hour I got stuck. The worst hour. The last hour before the seventeen I had to spend alone. Maybe I’d go out tonight. I hadn’t gone out in a while. I peeked out the nearest window. It didn’t look like rain. Probably safe.
But probably wasn’t good enough. I’d have to check the weather. I practically drowned last time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YA contemporary, 54,000 words (on third draft):
Chapter 1: Summer
His music is too loud. Not exactly a problem, except that it’s louder than mine. I jack up my iPod, but my tiny portable speakers don’t have a chance of drowning out the noise.
Especially since my speakers aren’t just competing with music, but laughter, splashing, screams. Fun. That’s what’s on the other side of the fence.
My phone buzzes and skitters across the swing’s seat, Amber’s name flashing on the Caller ID.
I catch it at the edge and flip it open. “Hey.”
“What’s all that noise?”
“A party.”
“You’re having a party and you didn’t invite your best friend?”
“Not me, the neighbors. For Ryan’s graduation.”
“I thought you went to his party the other day.”
“I did. That was the family one, the adult one, the boring one. This is the one for his friends.”
“Two parties. Sounds like a scam for extra presents.”
“Pretty sure that was the point.”
“Tell Ryan congrats, and that I’m stealing his idea when we graduate next year.”
“Can’t. I’m not there.”
“Why not?”
“Wasn’t invited. Guess cause I got lumped into the invite with my parents for the other one, they left me out of this one.”
“You got the crappy end of that deal.”
I pick at a loose string in the swing’s seat. “Whatever. I probably know more of his parents’ friends than his, since they’re my parents’ friends, too. So what’s the plan? Am I going there, or you coming here?”
“Um, actually, neither. Max’s parents took his brother camping, so . . .”
YA paranormal, 69,000 words (finished; one full out with agent):
1. Seth
I was halfway between the school and stadium, waiting for the crowd to thin, when I saw her. Somehow out of all the faces I never spoke to, I always noticed hers.
That familiar expression was there. The one I recognized because I felt it so often myself. Lonely, but resigned to the loneliness.
Tonight it was mixed with something else. Frustration, I thought.
It made her seem vulnerable, fragile in a way the subtle sadness didn’t.
I expected her to head into the stadium, walk within a few feet of where I stood. I braced for that. But she turned away, went back across the parking lot. Not to a car, not even into the school. She just kept walking, right out to the sidewalk.
I didn’t realize I’d moved too until I was halfway across the lot. Sometimes the pull was like that, out of my control.
But this wasn’t that, or not just that.
This was curiosity and concern. This was me being stupid, crossing lines.
I stopped, clenched my fists, reminded myself what carelessness could do. Then I followed her anyway.
I couldn’t talk to her, couldn’t know her, but I could make sure she got wherever she was going okay.
2. Holly
Sometimes it seemed like my life was one big dance, only the choreographer forgot to give me a part. That was how I felt that night, when I couldn’t find the pre-game barbecue, couldn’t find anyone – stuck on a stage, alone, with nothing to do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YA paranormal, 63,000 words (almost finished w/fifth draft):
1. Owen, 2:04:48 p.m.
I hated this part.
The bell had rung exactly four minutes and 48 seconds ago. Which meant I had twelve seconds to get through the next door. But I was a hundred yards away, the hall was too crowded for me to run like a normal person, and with honors calculus, I had little hope someone would show up later than me to slip in behind.
Perfect attendance record, gone. Not that anybody would’ve given me a certificate.
I skidded toward the door. Closed of course. Mrs. Harper always closed the door. Like she worried someone would want to spy on her lesson. Not likely. Except, well, for me.
Three weeks and three days without a missed class. Not bad, but nowhere near last spring’s stretch – seven weeks and two days. Lots of art classes and two P.E.s. That’s what I got for challenging myself this semester. And drinking two cokes at lunch. I knew better than that.
I couldn’t pick up Mrs. Harper’s monotone through the thick walls, but I stuck around for a few minutes anyway, hoping for a straggler. No luck.
Of course it had to be this hour I got stuck. The worst hour. The last hour before the seventeen I had to spend alone. Maybe I’d go out tonight. I hadn’t gone out in a while. I peeked out the nearest window. It didn’t look like rain. Probably safe.
But probably wasn’t good enough. I’d have to check the weather. I practically drowned last time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YA contemporary, 54,000 words (on third draft):
Chapter 1: Summer
His music is too loud. Not exactly a problem, except that it’s louder than mine. I jack up my iPod, but my tiny portable speakers don’t have a chance of drowning out the noise.
Especially since my speakers aren’t just competing with music, but laughter, splashing, screams. Fun. That’s what’s on the other side of the fence.
My phone buzzes and skitters across the swing’s seat, Amber’s name flashing on the Caller ID.
I catch it at the edge and flip it open. “Hey.”
“What’s all that noise?”
“A party.”
“You’re having a party and you didn’t invite your best friend?”
“Not me, the neighbors. For Ryan’s graduation.”
“I thought you went to his party the other day.”
“I did. That was the family one, the adult one, the boring one. This is the one for his friends.”
“Two parties. Sounds like a scam for extra presents.”
“Pretty sure that was the point.”
“Tell Ryan congrats, and that I’m stealing his idea when we graduate next year.”
“Can’t. I’m not there.”
“Why not?”
“Wasn’t invited. Guess cause I got lumped into the invite with my parents for the other one, they left me out of this one.”
“You got the crappy end of that deal.”
I pick at a loose string in the swing’s seat. “Whatever. I probably know more of his parents’ friends than his, since they’re my parents’ friends, too. So what’s the plan? Am I going there, or you coming here?”
“Um, actually, neither. Max’s parents took his brother camping, so . . .”
Monday, November 16, 2009
Writing Update
This is way overdue. Since the last time I posted an update, I've written the first draft of a brand-new novel (contemporary YA, no paranormal elements), almost completed the third draft of a novel I started around this time last year, and revised another based on some feedback I received from an agent.
I'm especially happy with the changes I made to that book. I wish I would've discovered the solution sooner, but it just took time and distance and a fresh perspective to make what the story needed obvious to me. (I have no idea what number draft this is. I've thought it was "finished" so many times before that I've lost count.) Fortunately I've been querying in little batches, so I still have plenty of places to send it. So far the feedback has been positive -- my brand-new first page was chosen as a runner-up in the most recent MSFV Secret Agent contest. Being chosen as one of the finalists was exciting, but mostly I'm happy to have finally gotten the story and my characters to where they were supposed to be.
I'm especially happy with the changes I made to that book. I wish I would've discovered the solution sooner, but it just took time and distance and a fresh perspective to make what the story needed obvious to me. (I have no idea what number draft this is. I've thought it was "finished" so many times before that I've lost count.) Fortunately I've been querying in little batches, so I still have plenty of places to send it. So far the feedback has been positive -- my brand-new first page was chosen as a runner-up in the most recent MSFV Secret Agent contest. Being chosen as one of the finalists was exciting, but mostly I'm happy to have finally gotten the story and my characters to where they were supposed to be.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Quick Update
Long time since I posted. Some day I will get better about this.
Progress on my current WIPs:
WIP #1 - Finally finished the revisions (and finally have a first page I am happy with). Planning to start a new query round soon.
WIP #2 - Finished first draft and letting sit for now. Sequel to book above. (And started the 3rd book, but trying to ignore these characters since I have other things I should be working on instead.)
WIP #3 - My primary Sven project. Finally finished first draft (way past the 70 days) and have started the second draft. I'm really happy with the first half of this book, but the second half has a few holes and several plotty things I'm probably going to change. I know basically what I need to do though, so hopefully getting the book into shape won't take too long.
Also, I've read a lot of wonderful books lately. If you haven't read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, you must. I had put off reading these despite the many recommendations because the basic premise (a world where everyone has plastic surgery to look pretty) didn't sound all that interesting to me, but these books are amazing. I devoured the entire series within days. I love it when I find books like this that I can't put down because they are just that good. So happy-making. I would say more, but I don't want to be spoilery, so you'll just have to read the books for yourself.
Progress on my current WIPs:
WIP #1 - Finally finished the revisions (and finally have a first page I am happy with). Planning to start a new query round soon.
WIP #2 - Finished first draft and letting sit for now. Sequel to book above. (And started the 3rd book, but trying to ignore these characters since I have other things I should be working on instead.)
WIP #3 - My primary Sven project. Finally finished first draft (way past the 70 days) and have started the second draft. I'm really happy with the first half of this book, but the second half has a few holes and several plotty things I'm probably going to change. I know basically what I need to do though, so hopefully getting the book into shape won't take too long.
Also, I've read a lot of wonderful books lately. If you haven't read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, you must. I had put off reading these despite the many recommendations because the basic premise (a world where everyone has plastic surgery to look pretty) didn't sound all that interesting to me, but these books are amazing. I devoured the entire series within days. I love it when I find books like this that I can't put down because they are just that good. So happy-making. I would say more, but I don't want to be spoilery, so you'll just have to read the books for yourself.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Update
I really don't update this blog often enough.
WIP current total word count - 55,029
Final Sven word count - 44,410
So, I didn't reach my Sven goal of 60,000 words or finish either of the WIPs I'd hoped to complete during the 70 days of sweat, but that's okay because I'm really happy with the progress I did make and I know it won't take me long to get the last bits done on both of those first drafts once I get back to working on them.
So what have I been doing instead? Revising, revising, revising and more revising. On a novel I thought was finished and perfect last summer. But after entering my first page in Miss Snark's First Victim's Secret Agent contest last November, I decided to make a few revisions to the beginning, which then required some revisions throughout the rest of the first chapter, which then led to more revisions and...you get the idea. I'd been planning to put off working on this until after I finished the first drafts of my other WIPs, but after entering another Secret Agent contest and getting more feedback, I started making changes and I've been stuck in Revisionland ever since. This is a good thing though. The book is stronger, and it really does help to have had some distance from it. Although I've rewritten the first page somewhere around oh, 10,000 times by now, and I'm still not completely happy with it. I missed getting into the latest Secret Agent round because I was still fiddling with it by the time the submissions filled up, so I may just post it here in case anyone is interested.
WIP current total word count - 55,029
Final Sven word count - 44,410
So, I didn't reach my Sven goal of 60,000 words or finish either of the WIPs I'd hoped to complete during the 70 days of sweat, but that's okay because I'm really happy with the progress I did make and I know it won't take me long to get the last bits done on both of those first drafts once I get back to working on them.
So what have I been doing instead? Revising, revising, revising and more revising. On a novel I thought was finished and perfect last summer. But after entering my first page in Miss Snark's First Victim's Secret Agent contest last November, I decided to make a few revisions to the beginning, which then required some revisions throughout the rest of the first chapter, which then led to more revisions and...you get the idea. I'd been planning to put off working on this until after I finished the first drafts of my other WIPs, but after entering another Secret Agent contest and getting more feedback, I started making changes and I've been stuck in Revisionland ever since. This is a good thing though. The book is stronger, and it really does help to have had some distance from it. Although I've rewritten the first page somewhere around oh, 10,000 times by now, and I'm still not completely happy with it. I missed getting into the latest Secret Agent round because I was still fiddling with it by the time the submissions filled up, so I may just post it here in case anyone is interested.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Update
Wow. Didn't realize it had been quite that long since I posted.
A quick update on my progress:
WIP total: 48,463, Sven total: 37,845
Not sure I'm going to make 60,000 by Jan. 26, but I am still hoping to finish this WIP. A week off at Christmas to visit family slowed down my momentum, but I've figured out what needs to happen in the rest of the story (more or less) so I should be able to get this done.
I also started tearing apart and re-plotting an older WIP. I'd always planned to go back and rework this project at some point in the future (not right now), but last week I had a sudden burst of inspiration and ended up writing about 3,000+ new words and slashing about half of what I had before. I'm removing a major plot thread and several characters, while keeping my main characters and the basic story the same. Getting this in decent shape will require a lot of work, but I know exactly what changes I need to make now and I'm excited to get back to this story as soon as I finish up the others that need my attention first.
A quick update on my progress:
WIP total: 48,463, Sven total: 37,845
Not sure I'm going to make 60,000 by Jan. 26, but I am still hoping to finish this WIP. A week off at Christmas to visit family slowed down my momentum, but I've figured out what needs to happen in the rest of the story (more or less) so I should be able to get this done.
I also started tearing apart and re-plotting an older WIP. I'd always planned to go back and rework this project at some point in the future (not right now), but last week I had a sudden burst of inspiration and ended up writing about 3,000+ new words and slashing about half of what I had before. I'm removing a major plot thread and several characters, while keeping my main characters and the basic story the same. Getting this in decent shape will require a lot of work, but I know exactly what changes I need to make now and I'm excited to get back to this story as soon as I finish up the others that need my attention first.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Progress
Sven progress: 18,684 (total word count: 29,303)
I'm a little behind due to Thanksgiving, but I'm hoping to make up for it this weekend. I would love to have this draft done before Christmas, which is possible, maybe, if I don't let myself get distracted with other things. The trouble is, I have several WIPs that want my attention right now, and sometimes it's hard to force myself to ignore those and just concentrate on this one.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Well, those are only some of the questions to be answered as this story goes on. All good stories hide behind a tangle of questions, and it isn't easy to find out their dodges. And this story certainly has a mind of its own. But...if you ask the right questions it will whisper all its secrets to you. A story like this is a very talkative thing."
-Cornelia Funke, Inkdeath
I finished reading this book (the 3rd in the trilogy) tonight. If you haven't read the Inkheart series, I highly recommend it.
I'm a little behind due to Thanksgiving, but I'm hoping to make up for it this weekend. I would love to have this draft done before Christmas, which is possible, maybe, if I don't let myself get distracted with other things. The trouble is, I have several WIPs that want my attention right now, and sometimes it's hard to force myself to ignore those and just concentrate on this one.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Well, those are only some of the questions to be answered as this story goes on. All good stories hide behind a tangle of questions, and it isn't easy to find out their dodges. And this story certainly has a mind of its own. But...if you ask the right questions it will whisper all its secrets to you. A story like this is a very talkative thing."
-Cornelia Funke, Inkdeath
I finished reading this book (the 3rd in the trilogy) tonight. If you haven't read the Inkheart series, I highly recommend it.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
I love Sven
So I've been completely slacking on the blog posts, obviously, but not on writing.
Total word count for the challenge so far: 15,533, not counting some rewriting/editing on a separate WIP.
I'd completely underestimated how helpful a challenge like this would be, but having a specific goal and deadline really seems to be working in getting me to sit down and write. Hopefully I can keep it up.
Total word count for the challenge so far: 15,533, not counting some rewriting/editing on a separate WIP.
I'd completely underestimated how helpful a challenge like this would be, but having a specific goal and deadline really seems to be working in getting me to sit down and write. Hopefully I can keep it up.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
70 Days of Sweat
I've just signed up for this writing challenge. The goal is 60,000-100,000 words by Jan. 26.
http://70daysofsweat.com/wordpress/
I'm aiming to get 60k total to finish the first drafts of two of my WIPs.
Starting word counts:
WIP 1 - 47,300
WIP 2 - 10,615
http://70daysofsweat.com/wordpress/
I'm aiming to get 60k total to finish the first drafts of two of my WIPs.
Starting word counts:
WIP 1 - 47,300
WIP 2 - 10,615
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