Day Twenty- To Blog or Not to Blog

   I started blogging last year because a literary agent suggested in her newsletter that all good little writer wannabes that wanted to make it in the publishing world should have a blog to build up their readership.
   And not just any sort of blog but one with actual readers. And lots of them.
  I'm sure someone forgot to tell her that if you're spending time on a blog then you're not spending time writing novels. And if you can't get your novel done than what is the point in having a blog to build up readership before you're published?
  I bet she gets confused with time travel stories too.

  When I was first trying to get published, you just needed to make sure your query letter was professional and didn't contain spelling and grammar errors; for some reason agents start to doubt your ability as a writer if you send them a letter that has tons of errors.  :)
  This was on top of a lot of stringent rules that had to be followed or they wouldn't even acknowledge your existence.
   Sort of like don't feed agents after midnight, don't get them wet, and no bright lights. Otherwise, sane and normal agents turn into angry agents that like to say things like, 'What? You actually thought you could write?'
  
   Then they started demanding a list of previously published works. I sigh heavily since my publications had only been published locally. This gave me a slight edge, but no more than say the Postal Carrier that brings them their mail.

   And then they wanted blogs. So I started one. And I called it 'Just the Other Moment; because life is made up of moments interwoven together to form life. My life. 
 Plus, Just the Other Day was already taken which was my first choice.

  Well, this agent didn't sign me on even though at first she was interested in my work. Didn't even tell me why she didn't want to represent me. Just a no thank you after all but keep on following your dream. It would have been nice to know why she decided against it. But sometimes rejection by agents start to sound like bad relationship breakups, 'No, it's not your writing. It's us, we just are looking for something else. But don't worry, it's not you."

   This was a major disappointment that took three different things to get over.

    One: lots of hugs from Abu and a reminder that I'm the best Mom ever and she loves my stories. (I love it when kids are young. They are so unconditional.)

     Two: A reminder from Bean that I can't give up because I never let her give up on anything and it wouldn't be fair if I could and she couldn't. Ah, it's the 'I'm a role model since I'm a parent' thing.

    And Three: A stern warning from Hero Hottie that I wasn't allowed to give up and what could he do to stop my tears because nothing else he was saying was stemming their flow.
    "Just tell me you think I'm good enough to succeed...Someday...At something...Preferably writing." I cried, wondering if there was something wrong with me to pick a path in life that requires you to be constantly rejected just to reach small goals. Yes, I'm crazy because I'm sure there are things easier in life than writing. Like teaching high school math. Or running a restaurant. Or working in customer service.
    He interrupts my moody thoughts with his gruff reassurance. "Yes. You are. A good writer. Now stop crying. We aren't going to worry about silly agents that had dreams of being writers and didn't make it so they're dealing with the pain by shooting down other writers."
     "Are you saying I'm going to end up being an agent?" I cry harder. Oh, I don't want to be an agent.
     "No. But can I get you some chocolate?"  He's sounding quite desperate at this point and ready to call the agent on the phone and yell at her for making me cry.  This makes me feels better, that he's willing to face the mysterious creature they call, an 'literary agent' and tell her off. I turn down his offer of assistance in battle but I willingly take the chocolate.


    But a few days later I decide that since agents wanted to see blogs than I was going to make a blog. What I was going to write about I wasn't sure. Or how often. Or how to obtain readers.
    I dove headfirst into 'writing a blog' thing, almost expecting it to bring agents to my doors. After all, they were the ones who had demanded it.
    The door was sadly silent. But not my email, it continued to fill up with rejections.
    I kept plugging away at my blog, surprisingly building up a readership...from around the globe. I may not be published but I've been read internationally. It's an awesome and weird feeling.
   Now I enjoy having a blog. It's challenging. Especially when I try to write a new blog every day in the month of December. What was I thinking? Grin.
   But I have to thank my readers. For reading my writing. For enjoying it. For encouraging me with their kinds words. I would have quit by now if it haven't been for those kind words. Thanks.

   Now, agents want you to follow them around to every conference they attend and try to get their attention that way. I think I'm going to worry about improving my writing instead.
   And I rather see where this blog takes me than spend endless hours worrying about ways to capture the attention of a literary agent. 
   So perhaps having a blog wasn't my idea but I'm glad started one.

Monday Musings...

        I have some experience with the publishing world. I was raised around writing and books. It's in my blood. Or at least in the genes. I have worked for a small publisher before, watching them acquire manuscripts, edit, edit, and edit the material some more. Check references and facts. (It was non fiction.) And arrange to have the artist paint the cover. It's a process and the office was always stacked with papers, books, manuscripts, letters, and post it notes. Computers faced the windows and when the editor grew tired of reading, she would look out onto the valley before her.

      I love being there, surrounded by words. 

      Which reminds me of a question that hero hottie asked me the other day. We were driving, just doing mundane stuff, the sort of stuff hero hotties have to do outside the realm of romance novels when he asked me if I liked the way words looked. I was a bit surprised by the question, just because I had never given it a lot of thought and certainty hadn't talked to anyone about it, but yeah, I love the way letters look. I like their shapes and I like how when you put certain letters together you get wonderful patterns of shapes. It's visually pleasing. I love how when I write and read, the words sound in my head, making pictures and stories and feelings. Words are amazing. 

      How awesome is it that we can do a little scribble on the paper (or digital scribble with different fonts) and we create ideas and stories and happiness? What else is so simple yet so intense. Wouldn't our world be boring and monochrome if we didn't have the written word? It would sure make blogging difficult. And how would people text? 

     Once we learn how to read, I think we take it for granted but it is a precious gift. One that everyone should receive. And readers are great for writers. It's a symbolic relationship, you can't have one without the other. 

      And now if I could just achieve my dream of getting published. It would be the coolest. But rejection hits me square in the emotions again and I have to focus on why I like to write. And it's not to please an agent that has vastly different views on life than I do. I write for me. And hopefully to inspire a reader. I just have to find an agent that shares similar views. 

      Keep writing.

Monday Musings...

The wait...It's agonizing. Every time I check my email I hold my breath, wondering and hoping, fingers crossed in anticipation. 

On October 7th, I sent out ten queries to ten different agents regarding my young adult fantasy novel, Keraynn Healer of Carvada. It took most of the day to accomplish this deceptively simple task. First, I had to research which agencies and which agents were looking for a story in fantasy. I hoped I picked the right ones. Then I crafted a catchy query letter trying to draw attention to my characters and to hook the agents into my story. I avoided the boring details about me or how much my sister enjoyed the book. I introduced myself and basically went right into the story. 

Once I had this completed and edited, I edited again. Always, always read something more than once. I will read something five times and still miss a grammar mistake. You want it to be as perfect as possible. Make sure your spelling is correct and grammar is accurate. 

This is followed by addressing it personally to the agent you're seeking to reach. And make sure their name is spelled correctly. Take the time to write a professional, catchy and short query letter. From rumors on the internet I hear it helps reel in the attention of agents. So far, I have noticed I do at least receive rejection emails back, so it must help generate some attention. Actually I have received personal rejection letters from agents that were at least thinking about taking on my writing. This is a much better feeling than the worse rejection letter I ever received. This one was a form letter, with both spelling and grammar mistakes. It must have been written by an intern, never even making it to someone that could make real decisions. That was a downer. 

Since my agent quest began I have already received two emails back, regrettably informing me that the material wasn't right for their office. Do I feel disappointed? A bit. Do I keep trying? Absolutely. 

In the mean time. I start on my next project because a writer has to write. And no query letter, rejection email, or agents that don't understand what they're missing are going to stop me. :)