Tag Archive: agent


I’ve Been Working on the…

Filed under: Uncategorized — 2 Comments
June 28, 2012

Hello Everyone.  Sorry for the long delays between posts.  I’m still sharing my laptop with my wife, plus my new job has been keeping me very busy.  I was supposed to have 2 days off in a row this week, then I was told that I had to come in on one of those 2 days to get more training.  Wasn’t happy about it, but I understand the reason.  The trainer is going to be leaving shortly and our time together is drawing to a close very quickly.  HOPEFULLY… things will become a little more steady and regular in a couple of weeks and I can schedule myself to work on my blogging.  So please be patient.

 
In the meantime, I have been able to get some work in on novel #2 “THE SHIP”.  Currently it is sitting at about 65,000 words still, but that’s because I had to go back and look over some earlier portions of the book and do some serious cutting and re-editing.  I’m trying to aim for about 120-140,000 words for the first draft.  The final draft will come in under 100,000 words.  So why the high count you say for the first draft?  Simple, the way I write I want to get the main story down and all the characters on board, as well as all the most interesting actions sequences.  Then when I go to work on the 2nd draft, it’s to start cutting down the word count to something more manageable and acceptable to any potential agents/publishers.  For new authors you have to keep it below 100,000 or even 80-90,000 words to even get considered.  You don’t have a track record of proven sales behind you to get them to cut you some slack on the length.  Look at the length of the first Harry Potter book compared to the later ones and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

 

Also, I love editing my work to see how many times I repeated the same idea since it takes me weeks and months to complete a story.  I have a nasty habit of coming up with the same idea or concept in several different places of the book.  So then I have to decide where does it work the best or at all.  So keeping the draft down to 120-140,000 words is much more manageable to edit for me.  My first novel “THE BRIDGE” was a real monster when I completed the 1st draft.  That one weighed in at 198,000 words.  Then I went and did my research and found out about the length it should be.  If I recall correctly I found a quiet corner in the closet and sobbed hysterically for 2 hours.  Cutting 100,000 words was not easy but I did it.  AND it was worth it.  The final draft that I sent to the agent was much leaner and better paced than the 1st one.  Plus it’s gotten their attention and I’m just waiting for further word on it and what happens next.

 

Oh, I also just recently found out on another front that we’ll be moving soon.  Probably towards the end of July so packing has also been keeping me occupied as well.  I hope to post  here again in a week or so and I’ll give you all another sample of novel #2 “THE SHIP”.  Until then, take care everyone and thanks for reading.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

And Now… a Status Update About My First Novel “THE BRIDGE”

Filed under: Uncategorized — 4 Comments
June 9, 2012

*This is copied from my other blog “Musings of a Creative Mind”.  I’ve duplicated it here because I know I have different readers between the two blogs.  I hope you all understand and enjoy this entry.  Thank you.*

Okay, I know I kept a lot of you in suspense this week about what’s been happening on with my manuscript that is in New York.  Well, I followed up on it earlier this week and learned that it was finally looked over.  Now the way the agent who has it works is as follows.  She has recently hired a number of junior agents who do not represent clients yet, but read over manuscripts and decide whether they were good enough to pass on to the agent herself for review.  This weeding out process helps her out immensely, because she gets so many submissions and had built up a bit of a backlog.  My MS for “THE BRIDGE” had been in that backlog, which was why it took so long to hear back on it.
And the verdict is….
My very first manuscript is going to be sent on to the agent herself to read and considered for representation.  Now, the agent asked if I would like to see the comments and feedback from her ‘readers’ in case I wanted to make any edits before the manuscript gets to her.  I said I would.  I’m very curious to see what people had to say and where I might be able to improve the novel before the agent herself gets a look.  This is vitally important, because the first viewing of a manuscript is like making your very first impression with a boss or someone who you really want to impress.  And since I’ve never had anything published before to show my skills or a track record of success, so showing the agent a fully edited manuscript is a very important first impression with this agent.  So that is why I asked to see the comments and get the chance to do a few more edits before she gets to see it.   So now I’m just waiting for the comments and input so I can begin those edits.  After that, I will be sending the new draft to the agent and waiting for her to read it and get back to me.
As you can see, the road to being published the traditional way can be a long and winding one.  And it still doesn’t guarantee I’ll be accepted and taken on as one of her clients, that is still up to the agent.  But even if I fail this time I have options.  So do you my friends.  There is the E-book route, but one of the difficulties with that is promoting the novel to get the word out is entirely on you.  Now if you have a good network of people who can help spread the word and wish to go that way, more power to you.  But make sure you’re putting out the very best version of your piece.  Get someone who really knows editing to go over it with a fine-tooth comb first.  Remember, instead of making a good first impression with an agent, you’re going to be trying to make a great one with the public who you want to love your book.  Be careful, take the time to get things done right.  Don’t rush just so you can say, “Hey, I’ve got a book out there…”  Make sure it’s a great book and that the grammar, the characters, the plot, everything is just right.  An agent can help you make sure all of that is taken care of and that you’ve come out with a fantastic product.
That’s all for now.  In the meantime, I will be working on the sequel to “THE BRIDGE”, which now stands at 65,000 words and is 2/3’s of the way done.  I’ve tentatively titled the sequel “THE SHIP” and takes up with two of the characters from the first novel, along with two sinister beings who survived from the first novel.  “THE SHIP” also introduces a new threat that is far more dangerous than either of the two sinister entities stalking my main characters.
Until next time, keep writing everyone.
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment
%d bloggers like this: