What's a writer to do?

Until you're published, you're at the mercy of the plethora of advice you receive from writer's groups, critique partners, workshops, conferences and "experts". I don't think I could be more confused if I tried.

Here are some examples:

1) Genres. Two weeks ago, Deidre Knight, while answering questions on Charlotte Dillon's RWC Loop, said Paranormals are HOT, selling really well. Historicals are cold, hard sells, if you write Historicals it has to be fresh, new and exciting. This week, Judy Jackson on the AskAnAuthorAll RWA Loop said Paranormals are on the way out. That what's being published now were bought 1-2 years ago. Don't add in a paranormal element if you think that will help you sell. It won't. Historicals are making a come-back.

Confused yet?

2) Queries. Linda had an agent send her an e-response to a query today. In it, the agent said she shouldn't mention how many manuscripts she's written. The agent said it leaves her guessing why the other manuscripts aren't sold. Authors (pub'd and unpub'd) on several loops I'm on, have all said to mention a manuscript isn't a first work - that some agents won't even look at first work, assuming you haven't put in your dues or haven't developed your skills. So should you mention it's a 2nd work? Or 3rd work? Just not a 4th or 5th work???

I'm confused.

3) Agents. According to Judy Jackson (again), ". . .beginning agents take about to break in authors. Mid-career agents take brilliant newbies and established authors. Pinnacle agents take brilliant newbies and established authors about to break big. In short, THEY ALL take brilliant newbies."

So how do I know if I'm brilliant? Do I assume I am and query top agents, or shoot lower and target begining and mid-career agents?

Even more confused.

Gloria Gaynor's lyrics are echoing through the vast empty space that used to be my brain. (Recognize that from Marina's Bane? Love that line.)

So, here's how my weekend went:

Linda and I were discussing her work, and a manuscript she's toying with rewriting. Casually, off the top of my head, I said, "Yeah, I would love to sit and rewrite parts of Wait For Me, up the suspense, etc." After all, it's THE story that got me writing, not my first manuscript, but the one that has been in my head the longest, the one I always come back to. Of all my work, it's probably my favorite, but my least suspenseful. I have grand ideas of ratcheting up the suspense, adding more intrigue. BUT, I'm in the middle of Science of Silence, so those grand plans will have to . . . Wait . . . For . . . Me . . . and a better time.

Sound like a plan? Sure.

NOT!

This whole conversation took place on Sunday. Monday morning I got a request for a partial on Wait For Me. Could have knocked me over with a stick. I sent out queries on this last fall. Had a few partial requests, but nothing else. This particular agent (big one in NY) apologized for the delay, but said she really wanted to read it. Um...ok. Now I'm in trouble. I'd decided to shelve WFM for the time being and come back to it when I have more time. Lo and behold, this request comes in and now I'm faced with the dilemma...rework it now, or . . .Wait . . For . . . A better time.

Well, what do you think I'm doing?

Mmhmmm...reworking until my eyes feel like they're going to explode. After basically rewriting the whole first three chapters, I'm seriously thinking starting over wouldn't be a bad idea. However, now that I'm into it, I'm determined to keep going. I will get through this...I will get through this...I will get through this.

Unfortunately, Rita's going to hate me because of this rewrite. She loved the original version (all 150K words of it!...Ok, let's be honest...the very first version was more like 174K words - See Linda, 125's not looking so bad anymore, eh?). But what she's really going to hate is that I've taken a good guy and turned him into a bad guy. Not only that, but he dies in chapter one! (I'm really, really sorry, Rita. But he had to go. I hope someday you can forgive me!)

So, all is well here. I made a decision to rework WFM and put SOS on the back burner. Sam and Ethan are not happy about this, but they're just going to have to deal with it for the time being. I will get back to them.

Unfortunately, it won't be for awhile. Tuesday I got a request on Marina's Bane. An agent wants to see the first half of the book. Two requests in two days on two different manuscripts...ay ya ya. Feeling a little overwhelmed here. Not that I'm complaining, but...

So, over the past few days I've been bugging my cp's, over-stressing, yelling at my kids, and basically pulling my hair out by the roots. Remind me again...why did I pick this career?

Oh, yeah. Because it picked me.

Now, get off the darn blog, Elisabeth, and get back to work!

I've got to figure out a way to work this into a book!

Aside from being a beautiful spot, the history is fun. Way back when, whalers used to drag their catch into the bay and slaughter them. The bay got its name because the water would turn red from all the blood.

Oooh, I see a murder plot forming...

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!)

Just because it inspires me.

I hate 'em. Actually, I hate three of them. And they're all related to me.

I conveniently forgot I'd ordered cookies since my darling nieces live an hour south of us and we rarely see them. I honestly thought I'd dodged the cookie bullet for another year. Stupid, stupid me. Now, I can avoid the Easter candy. Cakes and homemade cookies don't do a number on me. But set out a box of Girl Scout cookies and I'm doomed. And what do I now have sitting on my kitchen counter? Four, count 'em, four boxes of those damn cookies calling my name. (Okay, honesty here, there's only three left because I just couldn't help myself! Samoas should really be illegal in this state. Too addictive.)

So, as you can guess, not much writing done here today. Between my screaming children and those damn cookies calling my name all day long, I just couldn't concentrate. And until they're gone, my diet's just screwed. So much for trying to lose that remaining baby weight.

Oh yeah, and four more rejections today. (Four must be my unlucky number or something.) I hate mondays. But one agent who isn't taking unpub'd authors encouraged me to submit to another agent - included her card and everything. I guess that's promising.

Persevere on...

I can think of more colorful words, but don't want the cuss-police on my tail. So I'll just take a page from Tick Calvert and say, "My life sucks."

Heard from Kern today. I'm now in the mood for chocolate and wine...and possibly tequila. So what does that mean? Pass. No reason why. No explanation as to what caused them to request the partial, no reason as to why they didn't want to see the rest. Just a beautiful form EMAIL rejection. Fabulous. Now THAT makes me want to write.

And what really burns is that they kept my SASE, and now I'm out 37 cents!

Grrr...

Writers are supposed to have thick skins. I do. And now I'm going to go bathe my sorrows in a Corona...

Inspiration for today.

Hello out there...

First Post. Wow, I think maybe I've figured this thing out. Thanks to Linda for pressuring me into this. Peer pressure always works on me. Does that mean I have no backbone?

Still waiting to hear from Kern on requested partial of Marina's Bane. Biting fingernails...

Sent out 12 queries last week. No responses yet.

Wrote an entire chapter in wip, Science of Silence. Too bad it's like chapter 12 and I'm only in chapter 4 now. But progress is progress.