Close!

My current book Case of the Missing Look-Alikes has found a home. I will say more in a few days. Aren't teasers fun :) The following title Case of the Mouse Trap Legend is going to the same home, along with the subsequent title Case of the Misplaced Art.

More to come!

Crazy

Call me crazy, but I refuse to quit this thing I've dubbed the, "query hamster wheel." I'm either insane, or a glutton for punishment. It's entirely possible that there's a third choice, and I believe in my writing. If it's the latter that's driving me, then, one day, I shall have a phenomenal agent representing me who will sell my book.

Writing is my identity. It's in the air I breathe. If I don't believe, then who will.

It will happen.

Long Shot

I read someone's blog a bit earlier regarding the lousy stats regarding writers landing agents, a subject I've thought long and hard about the last few months. Why, you ask? Because, this fellow writer has some excellent points, many of which I've mulled over, wrestled with, and finally come to grips with, that's why. The road to publishing is not an easy one, and anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves, or knows nothing of the publishing world. Even the best of the best have struggled to find an agent, and I'm speaking of JK Rowling and many others. Yes, even the likes of her were turned down by a few agents prior to landing one. All you need is one agent, and if you read the submission page on many agent web sites, there's the caveat that if you've been self published, they don't want you. Therein lies the one and only reason I've not gone that route and I'm continuing down the agent hunting path.

I'm gutting it out folks. I believe in my currently completed novel as well as the one that's underway, even if the odds are not in my favor.  Without sounding arrogant, my talent is in my favor. 

If I don't believe in myself, no agent or publisher will. It has to begin with me and my beta readers.

The Muse is Always Right

It's always good to check and see who's friends with whom when developing plot twists, right? Right. As in North Korea being friends with Russia.  Strange bedfellows, once upon a time, but no more. My Muse was going in one direction, and per usual, decided to tack on something additional.  Being the perfectionist I am, naturally I had to check it out, even though I already knew the answer. I'm also a political fiend. I could hear my Muse laughing. How gauche! The Muse can be tough to work with, at times, but I couldn't do without her. Or, is it him? I honestly don't know.

I do know the Muse is always correct.

Trust the Muse.

Agent Quest Rolls On!

The quest for an agent continues, in a relentless manner.  It's not in my genes to quit, nor should it be in anyone's, if you believe in your story. Therein lies the key: If you believe. And believe you must, as this is not an easy business.  If it were, we'd all be published.  Granted, not everyone is a talented writer, and no, I'm not by any means tooting my own horn.  I'm going by what I've been told by my beta readers.  Unless every single one of them is a liar! No, I didn't pay them to read! And, yes they made suggestions, which I took.  I also worked with an editor, who, by the way doesn't particularly care for mysteries.  I did that, purposely, because if I could capture their interest, then I could draw in that audience. As it turned out, they not only liked the book, but it gave them a more objective view of the setting and the characters, something I hadn't considered.

I'm also going by the rejection letters that I'm receiving, and they're positive.  Not one of them has said to quit writing. Quite the opposite.  They've all said to continue on the path of searching for an agent, that I will find one.  And, yes, they've been personalized.  I find that to be highly encouraging, and discouraging at the same time.  It's tough, but I intend to keep going, since it tells me that I will find someone who is the right fit for me. That's what I want, an agent that's in like with this novel and the next as much as I am.

Stay on the query hamster wheel, people! It's worth it!

Beta Readers are Golden

Beta readers are my most valued resource from the beginning of writing my novel, straight through to the end.  I suppose each and every writer has found the best method for themselves, but I've no idea where I'd be without this golden crew of varying opinions.

The first order of business I had to learn, was accepting criticism in the spirit in which it was given. If I was going to grow as a writer, I needed input, and it couldn't come from between my ears.  Granted, my muse is the finest in the world, however, there are checks and balances.  Hence, my beloved beta readers!

For example, as I'm underway with the second in my detective series, I'm finding an interesting situation-that of the re-introduction of my characters from the first novel.  I had one reader go through the first chapter, and he had no problem with it.  Of course, he'd read the first book. So, I had someone else read it, and she said she wanted to know a bit more about the characters.  We both simultaneously said, "Read the first book!" 

It was a great point which led to an interesting discussion of how readers select books, either online or in bookstores.  The gist of one may not interest the reader, whereas the other might, but the reader needs to know about the characters without boring other readers who are following the series. The job of us writers is to keep the introduction, or re-introduction of characters as interesting as we possibly can.  A challenging task.  I like challenges.

Thank goodness for my beta readers!

Query Hamster Wheel

Apparently, I've coined a new phrase-query hamster wheel!  It sounds much better than query hell, imho, anyway.  Besides, even with as cold as it is, hell is exceptionally hot.  And during the summer, who in their right mind wants to be there?  Wouldn't you much rather be on a wheel, spinning around, and essentially getting nowhere fast?

I knew you'd agree with me :)