For the last few weeks I have been wrestling with GATD and not finding the experience consoling. I am so desperate to meet my self-imposed deadline of the end of June that I have not thought about much else. As a results of my very slow progress (lots of editing, not much forward movement) I have only got to 25,000 words.
Temptation!
In this period, the resurgence of right-wing, racist/xenophobic politics has made me feel more politically engaged, additionally the resignation of a number of Labour councillors, creating vacancies and seats to be fought next year, has made me think "Surely I could do better than that!". A lack of progress, feedback, response and a general sense that my books are still "not good enough" had been lapping around me, making me decidedly despondent. However, I seemed to be absolutely excelling myself in political arguments. Clearly there was an alternative career to be considered.
It would be quite immoral to go into local politics for the money - on the other hand, the attendance allowance would be a lot better than nothing - which was what I was earning recently. And they would certainly get their pound of flesh out of me. So, I have joined the Labour Party - with the intention of turning up at the next open meeting - to see what I can see.
I also know that my fantasy careers are often grim and unpleasant - after all, I might not get elected/selected, and the horror of having to argue with stupid people, and getting to grips with all aspects of local authority business would be at best slightly dull and probably mind-freezingly tedious. Nevertheless, in something of despair about the writing, I decided that if I didn't "get an agent" or better, the prospect of publication by the end of December I would definitely put myself forward as a local councillor.
Query agents
Last night, as it was the New Moon and according to my Steiner practice of sowing at New Moon, I sent off 2 submissions to US agents. I wondered about the second one, I found a rather ugly woman who looked likeable - but she was very insistent she didn't want any "Christian" content - now The Ash Grove is not a religious novel - but it definitely does have "Christian content" in the broadest sense of the word - since the hero is a clergyman. And he does pray occasionally. And take services. So, although I liked the cut of her jib I thought I was wasting my time, so I moved on to the next one on the list (these are Tweets from Literary Rejections with details of agents who are looking for writers). I found a woman at a large NY agency I'd looked at before, although I hadn't looked at her before, but I noticed she was keen on historical novels. So I sent it to her too. Last night I received an automatic reply from the first agent, and this morning I saw an email from Foreword, so I assumed that it was their automatic reply - I opened it, to check, and saw a two line email which was conversational and intelligent commenting on something I'd said in my letter and saying "I like your writing so send me the whole thing as a word document."
GOBSMACKED
Actually, it was more like this
Now, my inner critic tells me that The Ash Grove's pace and quiet unfolding will make her lose interest by chapter 3 - but...what this has done is restored my faith in myself - briefly. It also means that I don't have to become a Labour Councillor - and that I can carry on writing for a bit longer. When I last had an agent interested it kept me going for ages, and certainly gave me the essential dose of self-belief that kept me going. I am really interested to hear what she will say - because no one has read TAG apart from me and Mark - despite a number of kind friends taking it away with them.
GATD
Due to this delicious event I have freed myself from GATD angst, and given myself a day off, in the course of which I have done one good, useful thing, and then devoted myself to pleasure. M and I went out to lunch at Peens, and I had 2 large glasses of wine, did some shopping, went to the Albion had a cool drink on the terrace, left my shopping there, then had an ice cream at Morellis (chocolate cookies and raspberries) - and couldn't finish it - it was too much! Then I did some shopping and came home, and I am ludicrously happy still, even though I am convinced Jen K will turn me down. But a US agent - if she took me on and found a publisher...the sales potential is much bigger in the US... just hope they wouldn't want the sequels too soon. Anyway, I will try and do some GATD work - it might be months before she gets back to me!
Temptation!
In this period, the resurgence of right-wing, racist/xenophobic politics has made me feel more politically engaged, additionally the resignation of a number of Labour councillors, creating vacancies and seats to be fought next year, has made me think "Surely I could do better than that!". A lack of progress, feedback, response and a general sense that my books are still "not good enough" had been lapping around me, making me decidedly despondent. However, I seemed to be absolutely excelling myself in political arguments. Clearly there was an alternative career to be considered.
It would be quite immoral to go into local politics for the money - on the other hand, the attendance allowance would be a lot better than nothing - which was what I was earning recently. And they would certainly get their pound of flesh out of me. So, I have joined the Labour Party - with the intention of turning up at the next open meeting - to see what I can see.
The Isle of Fannet: my manor and the glans of Kent!
I also know that my fantasy careers are often grim and unpleasant - after all, I might not get elected/selected, and the horror of having to argue with stupid people, and getting to grips with all aspects of local authority business would be at best slightly dull and probably mind-freezingly tedious. Nevertheless, in something of despair about the writing, I decided that if I didn't "get an agent" or better, the prospect of publication by the end of December I would definitely put myself forward as a local councillor.
Query agents
Last night, as it was the New Moon and according to my Steiner practice of sowing at New Moon, I sent off 2 submissions to US agents. I wondered about the second one, I found a rather ugly woman who looked likeable - but she was very insistent she didn't want any "Christian" content - now The Ash Grove is not a religious novel - but it definitely does have "Christian content" in the broadest sense of the word - since the hero is a clergyman. And he does pray occasionally. And take services. So, although I liked the cut of her jib I thought I was wasting my time, so I moved on to the next one on the list (these are Tweets from Literary Rejections with details of agents who are looking for writers). I found a woman at a large NY agency I'd looked at before, although I hadn't looked at her before, but I noticed she was keen on historical novels. So I sent it to her too. Last night I received an automatic reply from the first agent, and this morning I saw an email from Foreword, so I assumed that it was their automatic reply - I opened it, to check, and saw a two line email which was conversational and intelligent commenting on something I'd said in my letter and saying "I like your writing so send me the whole thing as a word document."
GOBSMACKED
Actually, it was more like this
Now, my inner critic tells me that The Ash Grove's pace and quiet unfolding will make her lose interest by chapter 3 - but...what this has done is restored my faith in myself - briefly. It also means that I don't have to become a Labour Councillor - and that I can carry on writing for a bit longer. When I last had an agent interested it kept me going for ages, and certainly gave me the essential dose of self-belief that kept me going. I am really interested to hear what she will say - because no one has read TAG apart from me and Mark - despite a number of kind friends taking it away with them.
GATD
Due to this delicious event I have freed myself from GATD angst, and given myself a day off, in the course of which I have done one good, useful thing, and then devoted myself to pleasure. M and I went out to lunch at Peens, and I had 2 large glasses of wine, did some shopping, went to the Albion had a cool drink on the terrace, left my shopping there, then had an ice cream at Morellis (chocolate cookies and raspberries) - and couldn't finish it - it was too much! Then I did some shopping and came home, and I am ludicrously happy still, even though I am convinced Jen K will turn me down. But a US agent - if she took me on and found a publisher...the sales potential is much bigger in the US... just hope they wouldn't want the sequels too soon. Anyway, I will try and do some GATD work - it might be months before she gets back to me!
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