What Writers Do

[cathschaffstump]

And now...

Rejection from Denise Shannon.

sonyamsipes is sending a contract soon for Hulk Hercules.

And this:

I read 130 pages or so of your book. There is definitely something compelling about these two boys who are children, but speak like grown men. as well as the curse, demons in the form of animals, and the dark tone that pervades the whole story. But for me, it was a bit plodding, and I'm afraid young readers would find it even more so. Unless you can move things along a bit more quickly, I'm afraid it's a pass.

Followed by this from me:

I usually don't ask this question, but, given the unless statement in
your message about the pacing, I wonder if you would be interested in
seeing a faster paced rewrite of it? If you are, I'd be happy to send
it again after tweaking it a bit.

Followed by this:

I am definitely open to reading a revised version. As I said, there were
certain aspects to the book that I found compelling. So, feel free to send
it to me when you are finished.

***

This changes a lot. I'll finish and send off Sister Night, Sister Moon, then get back in the saddle with Substance of Shadows. This agent is worth courting, given her agency and connections. This is VERY good news. Not necessarily the easiest or the best news, but good news. I think it may sound familiar to many of you who have landed an agent, especially frost_light. I consider this a rock moving up the furthest I've ever had it up the hill. At any rate, good news I think.

At the same time, there's the Hulk Hercules book, so soon it may look like I have plenty of writing to do in my spare time.

I'm putting off plans to send out more queries until after the revision of Substance is done and I've sent it back to Agent A. Agent B is still out there with a partial.

Keep taking rice cakes and sake to the gods of publishing. It seems to be working. And send me A LOT of caffeine, 'cause I still gots the day job, so I'll need energy.

Catherine

PS Will talk about Fantasy Matters some too. It was very, very good, and I got to see some cool people. I could go to conferences like that every weekend, but I would turn into a well-educated sleepy zeppelin.

Comments

[rhonawestbrook.livejournal.com]

Good for you girl, this is awesome news!!!!!!!!

[thebluelady.livejournal.com]

Very cool! Sounds like a start into something good.

[scieppan.livejournal.com]

Congrats, that's great news!

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

good luck to you! Congrats:)

[frost-light.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that sounds familiar :)

I think it's great. There's no downside to it, IMO, because the worst-case scenario is that you get more feedback from an industry professional on your novel. Of course the best case scenario is that this agent loves the revision and signs you, which is what I will cross my fingers for, naturally. But it's good either way, because you'll be making your book better.

[acusa-dora.livejournal.com]

Very good news! I'm excited about seeing the changes.

[m-stiefvater.livejournal.com]

Good luck and this is good news. My only advice is to push those revisions as far as you can (you can always go back to the old version later). I was given advice early on when I was submitting my novel and I just didn't push the suggestions hard enough in my revisions. A year later, what they said sunk in and I was able to really take the ms to the next level and got it published.

So grab that bull by the horns and make her glad she left you an opening!