The Dreaded Partial...
That should be a good thing, right?
Sheesh...one would think so.
But add some self-doubt, a sprinkling of fear and toss it all together with previous rejected partials, and you have a writer who is second guessing everything she's ever done.
Ugh...enough obsessing already.
I received a request for a partial. Woopie, yahoo, yadda yadda yadda. Not getting excited here. This particular agent has rejected each of my other manuscripts after a requested partial. Obviously, something about my query letters draws her attention. And consequently, something about my first chapters turns her off. Hence why I'm not overly excited about this one. Therefore, I've spent the majority of the day questioning my first chapter. Is it strong enough? Is there enough suspense? Enough of a hook to make her want to read more? Should I include the prologue...is it even necessary? The questions go on and on. I'm driving my cp's nuts, I'm sure!
So today I polished, hacked, sliced, added, polished some more, read and reread until my eyes are bulging. I think it's safe to say I'm sick of chapter one! And after much debate, I've pretty much decided that I will include the prologue along with chapter one and call it good. I like it, so there. Thhththt!
On a positive, no rejections today. That's always good. :) And my cp, Carol, sent me info on another agent just north of me. Will have to check him out.
And Science of Silence is making progress. Finished chapter four (finally!). Now moving into five and the dreaded dinner (I'll save that for another post!)
Sheesh...one would think so.
But add some self-doubt, a sprinkling of fear and toss it all together with previous rejected partials, and you have a writer who is second guessing everything she's ever done.
Ugh...enough obsessing already.
I received a request for a partial. Woopie, yahoo, yadda yadda yadda. Not getting excited here. This particular agent has rejected each of my other manuscripts after a requested partial. Obviously, something about my query letters draws her attention. And consequently, something about my first chapters turns her off. Hence why I'm not overly excited about this one. Therefore, I've spent the majority of the day questioning my first chapter. Is it strong enough? Is there enough suspense? Enough of a hook to make her want to read more? Should I include the prologue...is it even necessary? The questions go on and on. I'm driving my cp's nuts, I'm sure!
So today I polished, hacked, sliced, added, polished some more, read and reread until my eyes are bulging. I think it's safe to say I'm sick of chapter one! And after much debate, I've pretty much decided that I will include the prologue along with chapter one and call it good. I like it, so there. Thhththt!
On a positive, no rejections today. That's always good. :) And my cp, Carol, sent me info on another agent just north of me. Will have to check him out.
And Science of Silence is making progress. Finished chapter four (finally!). Now moving into five and the dreaded dinner (I'll save that for another post!)
posted by Elisabeth Naughton at 4:46 PM
6Comments:
Keep writing, your work sounds intersting.
I can so much relate to self-doubt and fear! Everything you can do is trying to forget about it and plug forward. I'm sure your first chapter is sparkling now and I hope the editor will see, too, how good it is.
Um, I meant, the agent. Best of luck!
Great! You turned on comments from nonblogger people. Love your pictures. And I can so relate to the self doubt and second guessing yourself. Hang in there and keep plugging away!
Congrats on the request, and don't stress too much. Too much stressing leads to too much editing, which leads to editing your voice right out! So get that puppy in the mail. Good luck!
Listen to Larissa! We can polish too much. You will be just fine. I have faith in you!
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