Now what?

So, a few procedural notes.  I just added a new link to the Linkety Links - located to the right of your screen (*striking a Vana White pose).  It's called Pub Rants and it's a blog by the Nelson Agency, a literary agency I am slowly developing a crush on.  Not only do I love their client list - I love the story of how the agency got started - with a dream - like most amazing things do.  Special shout out to my writing buddy, Ros, for the point in their direction.

Also, I LOVE this week's quote of the week (also to your right).  I'm going to put it here so it will forever remain on this page:

“The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

Sigh.  I love that.

Well, folks, today is the one week anniversary of completing my first draft.  I took the weekend off... sort of... my husband printed out my manuscript and I walked around clutching it in a giant Manila envelope wherever I went.  I really don't have a coherent rationale for this.  I just wanted to be close to the physical manifestation of the imaginary characters in my head (I told you it wasn't coherent).  My writing instructor from the Writer's Center, Barbara gave me strict instructions to let it breath for a few days before I started the re-write.  She actually sent me a list of things to do (or not do) that was all in bold caps so I felt obligated to listen (she is also a published author who has had film options for two of her books so she knows what she is talking about).  The instructions included stepping away from my manuscript, researching agents and starting to write my query letter (Grooannnnnnnn, can I just tell you how anxiety inducing the query letter is for me!?).  She suggested that in the interim, I should send my manuscript to people I trust and wait for them to get back to me.    I sent Part I out but I am putting some final touches on Part II.  I am now up to 245 pages (at a little over 71K words).  Some parts just needed a little Botox... you know, spaces and cracks that needed to be filled in?  I am proud of how it's coming along.

Another new battle is finding a title.  I have had two children and titling my book is BY FAR more difficult than naming them.  Thank God they are still too little to take offense to that.  I keep hearing "when you know, you know" and "it will just come to you" but so far it hasn't.  Just when I think I have decided on a title - something clicks and I practically lunge at my computer to take that heinous set of words off the top of my manuscript!  I think it's so difficult because unlike the names of my children, I care a great deal about what other people will think.  If I am fortunate enough to get my first book published, this will be the title that draws people to my pile of paper at the bookstore - or lures readers into clicking the "buy" button on the Kindle edition at Amazon.  No pressure but SO MUCH pressure. 

My novel is a story of a new adult navigating his way through his early twenties trying desperately to escape the pain of his past while redefining who he will be in the future.  He makes some horrible (disgusting, despicable) mistakes in an effort to forget his past and they all catch up with him in a way he didn't expect.  He is self destructive, self involved but sexy and tragic.  Really your quintessential bad boy.  How do you embody that in a few words?

What I do know is I need to get it together! I have a book to market and having "block" about the title? Ain't nobody got time for that!.


Love and Light,
Faye