It's the beginning of June and that means it's time for Kirsten to look back and tell us what went on last month. And maybe it's time to change the series title from The Querying Trenches, Kirsten...? * * * * So now I have an agent, it’s all going to be a smooth-sailing, dream come true, happy ever after stuff … Right? Sort of ... My agent, Felicity, is totally brilliant and lovely. Her editorial suggestions all make perfect, intuitive sense. All I need do is: Streamline the first chapters so we get into the action more quickly. Include a happy ‘before’ scene so we can see how far the protagonists fall. Feed in one of the sub-plots gradually - rather than an info-dump at the beginning.
Then a final polish and off to the publishers. Easy-peasy. This, of course, is what I should have done: 1. Read through my notes 2. First draft of changes 3. Edit and polish changes 4. Celebrate
This is what actually happened: 1. Brilliant! All makes perfect sense. And there’s actually very little to do *goes shopping* 2. It’s all so blindingly obvious I should have thought of it myself. What sort of writer am I? Felicity must think I’m crap. I think I’m crap *jet washes patio* 3. *Opens laptop. Closes laptop. Colour-co-ordinates wardrobe* 4. So, this is what they mean by ‘The Fear’. I can’t do this. I don’t know where to start. Oh God. And now Felicity’s going to be sorry she’s signed me up. It will be the shortest agent/ writer relationship in history. Everyone will laugh at me. I’ll have to move continents … 5. *Binge-attempts African countries quiz. Now know exactly where Burkino Faso is. V useful for future WIPs. Not that will have agent … * 6. * Eats body weight in chocolate* 7. *Chocolate hangover* 8. Maybe Felicity will make the changes for me if I ask really nicely. Maybe she could be co-author … 9. *Attempts quiz of 2013 USA baby names. Useful research for future projects. What kind of name is Genesis anyway?* 10. This is a disaster. I really need to get started 11. *Opens document and cracks on* 12. All this slashing and burning and killing darlings is very therapeutic. 13. It’s reading much better 14. This is fun! 15. *Celebrates with a Curly Wurly* 16. This new chapter is tricky. The word count is going up … 17. So this is what they mean by The Fear … 18. *Repeats cycle again* 19. *And again* 20. *And again*
Somehow, though, I’ve culled 7,000 words, added the new chapter and am midway through feeding in the subplot. So, maybe it doesn’t matter how you do it, so long as you get on and do something. Onwards and upwards! I hope you’re all having a magnificent June.
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This was such a fun read but also so uplifting, because, however you approach it and however long it takes, you are DOING it!
It must already have been a fab story for Felicity to want it, and you, so have faith in yourself and your ability. ❤️ Now you are just making it brilliant too!