Well, slowly but surely I'm making progress. I don't have a meter but I have updated the word counts on my side bar. 4K to THE CAPTAIN'S HOUSE and wonder of wonder another 3K to REMEMBERING YOU.
Yes, I had a breakthrough the other night as I was trying to sleep. I couldn't get Genna out of my mind. She refused to talk to me so I decided to talk to Uncle Sally instead and find out what was up. And boy howdy did Uncle Sally talk. He wouldn't shut up! I finally figured out a way to segue through the rest of the week before the 4th of July party. And O.M.G. am I a brilliant writer or what? (I know everyone, it's coming back, it's coming back.)
I was having such a hard time with Tony and what to do about him. I'm sorry but I think I'm really going to make him the villain. Okay, maybe not so much a villain but a real jerk-face. Only we won't find out about it until the last chapter. See, that's what makes me brilliant. I also have to tweak the night of his conversation in the car with Genna and that will set up the whole third act. TA DA!
And I've decided I'm in love with Pete, Genna's new hottie. He's so nice, and cute, and sexy in his Pearl Jam t-shirt and Celtics jogging shorts. But wait, there's intrigue and disaster brewing at Billy's Beach Bar the night of the 4th and well, wow, Pete's not going to be happy. We'll see what happens won't we. And yes, next week I will be posting excerpts again so stay tuned. I'm changing the day from Thursday to Wednesday just so you know.
In other news, I had a post written for Wednesday about all the crappy crap I'm going through with the query out on MASQUERADE and Bad Blogger posted it while it was in draft mode. Crazy thing that Blogger. Only one person read it and she emailed me with a lovely note saying how I shouldn't give up. And I'm not. And I'm not posting any more blogs filled with 'poor me' either. I just don't want to. I'm so sick and tired of getting rejected, and you guys probably are too so, no more. (Although I just have to tell you, I did send out 6 more queries Tuesday afternoon and I received a rejection in 14 minutes. That's a new record for me.)
I also received feedback from my first beta on MASQUERADE and there was nothing wrong with it. She said it was totally fantastic and I really didn't have to do anything to it. I'm waiting to hear from the other two beta's and see what they say. (And just so you know, I worked my a$$ off on the revisions for MASQUERADE to make sure it was perfect. This first beta knows Regency so I'm not bragging when she said there was nothing wrong with it. And let me tell you how warm and fuzzy I am right now. It's not the book, it's the agents. I'll blame it on them.)
And here's a piece of interesting news...I found another agent who sounds just wonderful and I sent her my query yesterday afternoon. Last night after supper I received an email from her wondering if my book was strictly Regency (are you ready for this) or did it have sex in it? I gave her the rundown of make-out sessions and told her more or less the story was more a mystery surrounding Penny's father and how Penny and William are trying to find true love amid all the mistaken identities. Tune in sports fans to see if she rejects it.
Tomorrow I'll get my head together and pass out the awards I've been hoarding. As you know I haven't been in a celebratory mood these last few weeks but with the breakthrough with Genna and feedback on the Regency, my world is bright and shiny again.
Have I told you how much I love you all? You guys totally rock my world with your uplifting comments and blog love. I hope I'm living up to my end of the bargain. And if not, smack me.
Oh, and I've been toying with the idea of doing another picture post -- who would be Genna & Tony in the movie version. I've got to find some people but I have an idea of who they might be. Hmmmm....
So, that's all for now my lovelies. Have a wonderful weekend, eat some great food and try and get some more on those word counts.
35 comments:
Well, I don't know anything about this story, but I do love your enthusiasm! I also love the Pearl Jam t-shirts, since I am going to see them next week, yay!
Ted -- I think Pearl Jam was subconsciously in my mind from reading your post the other day. I love this story, hence the enthusiasm.
Don't give up. That 14 minute rejection will make a great story some day.
Wish you could go! (Hope they don't cancel for some reason...)
I'm thrilled to see your enthusiasm back! Mine's slowly building again. Always wish you the best, chickadee.
Inspiration always seems to come to me as I'm trying to fall asleep too!
Alex -- It doesn't beat Terry's though, he had one in less than 5.
Ted -- I wish I could go too!
Christi -- Thanks Dearest. I'm glad you're coming back.
Matthew -- Oh, don't you just hate it. I lay for HOURS plotting and scheming when I know I should just get up and write it down.
Yep, someday you and Steve (King, of course) will be telling stories at a conference, and the crowd will ooh and aah over your 14 minute story. And Steve will say, "Geez, and here I thought I had the best story."
I'm so glad you had a breakthrough with Genna and Tony! Pete sounds lovely...I heart Pearl Jam. :-)
I heart PJ, too... but that's not why I decided to comment.
I love the idea of posting who you think would be right for playing the roles of Genna and Tony. I've never thought about that before in my WIP's, but I'm going to give it a go! :)
I'm liking Pete now too. Any guy in a Pearl Jam t-shirt is gonna turn my head!
I received a rejection in about fourteen minutes once too. So annoying. It does make me think that some agents don't even read them.
Your optimism is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy afternoon. I love to hear breakthrough experiences! I think the key is keeping your head in your book, even when you aren't actually writing it. This is my problem with my WiP. I've taken a few steps back, and now I don't remember what I was doing with it. The story got lost in my memory. But, I think that's a good thing. I believe better story threads are in my head, waiting for me to think them into existence. It's just a feeling I have.
I'm excited for you, Genna, Tony -- and ESPECIALLY for Pete! You know I'm rooting for him! Write on, sista!!
((hugs)) Have a great weekend :D
That's great news on the agent and the beta!
Have a great weekend!
i love how we can have love interests all planned out, but then, when we start working with them, it turns out their assholes and the real love interests are someone completely unexpected.
I love when stuff like that happens in my writing.
also, i too, read your draft post, but didn't get a chance to comment before you took it down. I wanted to tell you that even if you have to put masquerade in a drawer, it doesn't have to stay there forever. You can always take it out of the drawer and dust it off.
Keep up the great work and keep remembering how brilliant you are - that kind of attitude will take you far!!
I also love the excitement you have for your manuscript and characters. Love it!!
Ha. Nice to know I still hold the query rejection record! Hey, it's *something*.
I am nearly done with your ms and while the genre is NOT my cup of tea, the book is wonderful. Seriously. You WILL get it published. Here's hoping that agent gets back to you and is satisified with the sex or lack thereof in Masquerade.
omg YAY for the agent email!! i hope it turns out to be even better news! :D best of luck with all your final revisions, love!
sounds like you've got a killer MS on your hands!! :D
Summer -- I love your dream of me and Steve on the same stage. It's fun!
j.m. -- It's totally fun to do. I did it with Masquerade and although a little trying, made the book so much more real.
Joanne -- Oh, she read it, she addressed it to me by name. I guess that says something for her.
Nicole -- That's what happens, you get so full of your story your brain turns to mush. You then need to step away for a little while so it can sort itself out. Happy Weekend.
Jennifer -- I'm hoping so on the agent. I've checked my email 6 times since I got up this morning.
Sarah -- You are too sweet. I'm coming to that same conclusion about Masquerade myself.
Jaydee -- I love this story! And as for being brilliant, that's more a false sense of bravado more than anything. Really, truthfully, I'm more of a sniveling, driveling coward.
Terry -- I know, when I got it I wanted to email you. Thank you for your compliment on my book. I told you you would like it.
Tahereh -- Thanks, I hope she requests something, anything. My gut is that she will but my guts have been wrong before.
So cool your characters talk to you!
Sounds like you are making so much progress!
Crossing fingers and toes on the agent thing!
That's great about the Agent query! *Positive thoughts sent in your direction* :)
LOL, glad I'm not the only one who has characters that want attention. LOL. I'm an award hoarder too. Way too too too much accumulation of awards. I think I'm just going to have to ignore their snickers from my side bar and tell them I have more important voices to listen too ... hmm
I'm so happy to hear that you're in a better place, Anne. I PROMISE I will get reading on "Masquerade." Things have been crazy lifewise recently but I will try to piece myself together for you.
I hope you have a great weekend, lovey!
Wow, you've gotten so much done! So many things are coming together for you, I can just feel it in this post.
Yay you! Is there anything better than a writing epiphany? Seems like so much of writing is fumbling around trying this or that to see if it works. It's so awesome to suddenly KNOW where a story is going. So glad things are looking up.
Hope your weekend is perfect!
Sounds like things are on the up, Anne! Yay for everything that's happened this week - characters talking, agents writing, it's all good. :)
Have a great weekend!
You go, girl. Have a great weekend yourself. I'm taking a break from writing and cleaning the house this weekend. I can only neglect it so long.
Stephen Tremp
Wow - an email from an agent that has actual words written specifically for you and about your book? That has to go down as a close encounter of the second kind!
Congrats on the break through. Isn't it just grand when that happens? And oh my gosh! Is it almost the 4th of July?
Betty -- Characters talking to me is one thing, it's when I talk back it becomes a problem!
DL -- Thanks, I need all the energy I can get.
Jessica -- I used to be so good about posting and giving them away the second I got them. I long for the good old days when I wasn't nuts.
E. -- Take your time. I'm not in any rush. Happy weekend to you.
Elana -- Hopefully soon. Hopefully.
VR -- Now I just have to write it down before I lose it. But I gained another 1300 this morning so it's all good.
Talli -- Let's just hope they go ALL the way up! Happy Weekend!
Stephen -- When the dust bunnies are bigger than the cat, you know it's time to clean.
Elaine -- I know huh? I almost fell out of my chair. She hasn't written back to tell me she wants a partial but I can ever hope.
G.~ -- Yes, it is almost the 4th of July, well for Genna & Tony anyway. Us too I suppose.
Anne,
I love how you relate to your characters, even loving the hottie! That's the sure sign of a writer who CARES about characters & that's what would make me read your book. Much as I enjoy your blogs, I'm curious to read more.
I'm glad another agent is interested. I hope she asks to see more, and, if not, there are always other agents and of course publishers.
Have a productive weekend -- sure seems like you're on a roll now! :)
Don't you just LOVE writing breakthroughs? (!) They're such a rush and a relief.
I was team Tony, but Pete in a PJ t-shirt (and sweet), well, I'm now on Team Pete. :)
How you're working on all the different writing projects at once, I do not know. My head would explode. But I'm so happy that you are having such a productive week.
(I love Summer's story for you and Mr. King, all BFF's and stuff. ;)
Happy Weekend, love!
Lisa -- The problem I have relating with my characters is I think of them as real. Yeah, I know, sounds like I'm off the deep end. Thank God I don't have any friends down here, otherwise they'd think I was batshit crazy.
Lola -- See I knew you'd come around once you saw Pete in that T-shirt! Summer has a very VIVID imagination. Happy Weekend.
Ed -- Well, what else would I call Tony? I mean several names come to mind but this is (mostly) a PG-13 blog. And you know, you're right, I've been hanging on to all those rejections in my inbox, I'm going right now to dump them out. Maybe I've messed up my own Karma.
...you're spending time in the shoes of your characters...actually losing sleep over them.
That says something...whispers of good times on the forefront.
Good for you, Anne...and as long as you're speaking of Pearl Jam's older work, all's well:)
Funny story about the whole 14 minute rejection thing, but even though it's a rejection it's just another peg on that ladder of success.
As for your excerpts, I can't wait to read them on your blog! I'm looking forward to it. :)
Lastly, write on and never give up on the dream! Oh, and good luck with your agent!
I love having breakthroughs!! And you'll find the agent who's right for you. :)
That's great about the agent inquiry! Can't wait to hear what she says. :)
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