Category: Writing and Poetry
Seeking an Agent
I just finished my coaching call with Mark Malatesta and I am excited to make the decision to publish traditionally. Mr. Malatesta was very positive about the manuscript and did not have any criticism of the actual writing. He stated several times that it is well written and had good dialogue, pacing and action.
My challenge now is to take the tips and information that he shared with me and develop a better query letter and synopsis. I have the Best Selling Author list of agents and will begin to send out query’s as soon as I work out some kinks. I feel validated as a writer and my energy to move forward just got a huge boost!
He shared so much information and strategy and it makes sense. One example is that I had suggested that I would start with a middle grade book and then go to YA which would not work well from a publishing standpoint. Each genre is pitched differently and agents would want the series to move slowly into that transition. I will keep at least one more book in middle grade due to his advise.
Paying for a coaching call and all of the tools and information has been a great way for me to continue this journey. It might not work for everyone but I feel like I am on the right track for my book and that feels Great!
Now I have a query letter to rewrite so back to work.
Book II
I have all of these ideas swimming around in my head for the second book so I took the initiative and started writing it on Monday at our local write-in.
My protagonist is working as a counselor at church camp and falls for a bad boy. After making up her mind to let her defenses down she learns a difficult lesson and struggles to regain her ground and her faith.
Most of us have had that moment when we wanted something so bad that we sacrifice what we stand for, and Sela, (my protagonist), finds out that even those who are chosen to lead can fall and sometimes fail.
Sela’s admission that she went about things wrong, will lead to her getting involved with her guardian angel and others to help, Chad, (bad boy) to hopefully break free of a dark angel. Meanwhile her friends, Emily and Zach’s romance is blooming. Emily is beginning to be able to catch glimpses of her own Guardian and struggles to share her experience with Zach who is also wondering if he is going crazy because he keeps seeing something out of the corner of his vision that resembles an angel.
The “Angel Brigade,” is unknowingly coming together and may soon learn what God has in mind. Maybe Gloria and Victor, (angels from book 1),will even be called to help in some of the adventure!
Wish me luck!
The Waiting Game
I have decided that there is no reason to engage in this game. I refuse to be stagnant while I am waiting for answers on my first book. I will continue to write and develop the characters for the next book and or educate myself on writing and publishing.
I watched a video today that changed my entire perspective on Literary Agents. It was accessible to me through a weekly e-mail from Mark Maletesta. The video was a interview with several agents and it helped me to see that they are really interested in the success of their clients and the crafting of great books. I am not so intimidated after watching these people talk about the changing face of publishing and selecting books that will successful.
I was also encouraged to listen to their dialogue on blogging and the importance that it has to promote an authors books and voice.
I have been afraid to really write anything about my book because it is not published yet but there are some creative ways to promote books before publication. My particular book series begins as a (MG) middle grade and jumps to (YA) in the second book. I want my characters to mature with the reader.
Middle grade will be a challenge to promote because the readers are not as engaged in social media. They are not likely to buy a lot of online books or e-books so the author must promote the book through schools, local libraries and book stores. I have found some resources that helped me to gain perspective: teenreads.com, youtube, booktubers.
Memorial Day
Andrea Poem A little nostalgic as we come to the Memorial Day Weekend. Eight years ago we lost my beautiful daughter Annie. I want to share a wonderful gift that we received at that time.
After Annie’s wake, several people ask me to give them a copy of a poem that I wrote for her baby book. It is not a stellar piece but it was special to her and to us. I went to the computer and began typing and for some reason, I couldn’t get the margins to work. I hit center and typed and the result was incredible. Click on the green, Andrea Poem, at the top.
I had prayed that God would send me a sign that Annie was okay. Tulips were her favorite flower. This was only one of the tulips that came our way.
God Bless each of you as you remember your loved ones and the fallen soldiers over the Memorial Day weekend.
I worked and worked to find a way to show the poem in color but it kept wrapping the text. I am going to post this and hope that when you click on the link at the top the poem will magically give you a link. Crossing my fingers. This post was meant for Memorial Day but as this is my journey and journeys are sometimes adventures it is a little out of order.Andrea Poem
Woot, Woot!!
Finally! I sent my completed questions to Mr. Malatesta and will schedule a coaching call as soon as he has a chance to read it. I am very excited to be closing the gap from writer to author. Everything that could happen has seemed to slow the process down but it just makes each moment sweeter.
Now I am going to concentrate for a couple of days on food and relaxation over the fourth of July weekend. A great time to reflect on how much we appreciate our Veterans and active military.
When Life Gets in the way
I have been A.w.o.l for awhile because of family issues but this week everything seems to be falling into place. My editor is going through my manuscript again after corrections and I hope to schedule my interview with Mr. Maletesta.
We make all these plans but life happens and working around being a wife,mother, business owner and aspiring author can get a bit hectic.
I did write something for memorial day but it will not post the way I want it to so it is sitting in drafts. I attended a really great writers group on Monday and I was inspired to “get it done”. I am thankful for the experience of the people in my little corner of the world and that they are willing to share with those of us just getting started. I expressed my feeling of being so exposed when I posted the link to my blog on facebook and the group was very supportive and gave me ideas about how to set up a separate page just for my writing. In the end I think I just have to get over feeling like I am so exposed and own my passion. I said that I thought it would be easier when I was published and one of the other writers said, “Do you have a blog?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are published.”
I have never thought about it that way and it was definitely helpful.
Sooo, I guess the real problem is in my confidence. Most of my facebook friends are friends and family and it is hard to put myself out there. I do not have a problem when I am on twitter, or anywhere that I am relatively incognito. One of the other members shared an excerpt from her book in progress and she was so emotionally charged and hot when she finished sharing. We had a discussion about her reaction and I didn’t feel so alone. We are passionate about our work and sharing is exciting but terrifying. I will forge ahead and continue the process. Sometimes life will hi-jack me but it will not stand in the way. I believe there is a purpose for every poem I write and that the inspiration for this book did not come from me alone. He has a hand in all that I do.
Editing
Yes, editing, and editing, and editing some more. That is where I am, in the process. I have a friend who is a Comp. teacher and she is editing my book, synopsis and query. I am working on the second book while I am awaiting the completion of the first.
I am anxious to talk to Mr. Maletesta and make a firm decision as to whether I will self-publish or try for a traditional publisher.
I tried unsuccessfully, (about a dozen times) to add a Memorial Day post but I could not get my poetry to cut and paste to the blog and keep the integrity. I tried to type and color the poem as it is but never got it to work. I finally decided that I need to upgrade to have that option.
I am also listening to other authors and reading suggestions every day. I had no idea there was so much to learn.
I am posting a link to my writing, at writing.com. If anyone would like a peek, the poem I wanted to share for Memorial Day is, “Andrea Nicole.” When I was having trouble getting it formatted, I centered it and it took the shape of a tulip which was Annie’s favorite flower. That was the first of several assurances that God was indeed taking care of “my girl.”<b>Write On @ <a href=”https://www.Writing.Com?rfrid=hairchick” target=”_blank”>Writing.Com</a>!</b>
Have a great day!
Wind song
I thought this poem would be appropriate for the Kansas weather today.
Whispering secrets heard, as she passes through the trees,
Fluttering, shaking, caressing, thousands of shimmering leaves
Cooling the brow of the farmer, whipping up dust devils in the fields
Bringing the scent of rain and hope of better yields
Blowing the sail full to bring a catamaran to dock
Lifting the skirt of a young girl’s frock
Flag gently waving with a breath of air,
Or billowing wildly with a gust and fanfare
Dancing on the pavement, leaves crisp and brown
Swirling high in the air, slowly spiraling down
Holding the magic of a trains’ lonesome notes,
Carrying a memory as the song floats
Oh! the fury of the fierce hurricane gale
Or the spinning and churning, spitting tornado’s hail
She soothes us , cools us, her repertoire has no end,
This blustering, gusting, breezy thing called wind
Life Moments 