Not My Strong Suit

I'm not so good at writing about myself.

I get hung up on the formality of it. Especially in the confines of something as important as a query letter. That's right, I'm working on a one-page document that I'll probably agonize over more than anything I've ever written. All 'cause this is my first impression. This is the only shot I get at these agents.

One page. Three paragraphs. That's all I've got to get this right. To snag the right agent's attention. Thank God I know people who are good at marketing, well, anything. I imagine that when I get an offer from a publishing house, I'm going to hire a few of my coworkers to be my publicists. Kid you not - I think some of them could sell anything to anyone.

So as I sit on my computer, going over and over my query while "Idumea" plays on repeat, I just wonder if it's worth it. Sure, I know whenever End Game hits the world and I market it properly, it's gonna get devoured. I know there's little out there like it. That's not me trying to be arrogant. The story God gave me is awesome. The world just doesn't know that yet.

In the past three weeks, two of my closest friends finished all five books of the End Game thread. They both offered resounding enthusiasm on how I chose to end the series. I can't even properly describe how great it is to have feedback from three very different people and to have them all come around and very honestly tell me what they did and didn't like. (An aside, but I do have awesome friends. They're so brutally honest with me that I can't help but trust them when they tell me things like, "I loved your books.")

Despite me literally trying to avoid writing the query (I just don't like how complicated this formula is! I always feel like a robot when I'm writing the third paragraph about myself), I've had nothing but encouragement to push forward. Three customers have asked me what I write and talked with me about what I do outside of work and two of my friends have attacked me - in a good way - about how they feel about my books.

I kind of have no choice.

I'll sleep on my query for tonight. I always see things better with fresh eyes. So tonight I'll continue to slowly chisel away at one of the histories and then tomorrow I'll hack at my query again. Then I'll go to work, talk nonprofit, then I'll go back to hacking at my query. Then I'll write up some website stuff, then I'll go to work, then I'll work some postcard design, then I'll attack my query, then I'll have a day off and apparently go to Asher's so my mom's life is complete.

Happy adventuring everyone!

Currently Writing: 1/8 of Zero Point
Currently Listening to: "Idumea" by the Millikin University Choir

Day 3

Today I pitched to two editors. Yesterday, I pitched one.

They all want the first 50 pages of my book.

Not only did I discover that I'm the youngest person at this conference, but I'm also only one of two that has had all three editors request a part of our manuscript. The guy in charge of our group thinks my book is highly sellable after I gave him a little more information regarding the series and was able to - thank God for this! - keep Tilion.

Aside from some name changes that I'm kind of okay with, everything is the same. My characters are all in place, the setting is fine, and best of all, I haven't had to bastardize my story for the sake of the greedy market. (Yes, I did just say 'bastardize'. No, it isn't a curse. It's a proper use of the word in its definition.) Although I'm sure to get some push-back on my established back story - because it's Biblical - I think that I'll be able to spin it well enough that if and when my book is published through one of these houses, they won't scream and run and hide.

That's my hope anyway.

So this conference has been highly helpful for me. Not only has it validated that my book is highly marketable, but it also has given me a solid pitch, more confidence in the writing world, and best of all, I now have absolute faith in God that He's working in me the way He needs. Despite my occasional kicking and screaming.

To all my fellow aspiring writers, I would recommend you take the opportunities you have to branch out and stretch yourself. I know it isn't easy. I nearly got sick the first day because of my nerves. But, once you survive it (and you will), you will be wiser, stronger and far more confident and prepared for the task you have placed in front of you.

You have only begun your journey.

Happy adventuring :)

Currently Writing: Nada. The plan? After New Years, I attack Genesis and ensure it's battle ready and then I send it off to agents. 'Cause saying in your query that you've already got houses biting for it will make me a shining coin among world beaten pennies.

Currently Reading: Brisinger by Christopher Paolini

Currently Listening to: "We Three Kings" by Stephen Curtis Chapman

Random Aside

I forgot how much I really don't like Ted Dekker outside of the thriller genre.

Yesterday I picked up Green and began to read it. In the first chapter, I nearly groaned out loud. It's not that he's not a good writer. It's just, I don't know. I guess I don't like his allegory. It actually makes me feel off-set and not at all comfortable. Narnia, the Grey Havens - they left me with the feeling of protection/perfection/peace. Dekker's allegory always 1) bored me to tears 'cause the plot twists were neon lights you saw 18 miles out (or in my case, 1/2 a book into the 3 book series), and 2) seems like it should be heartwarming but is really just kinda...weird.

I dunno. I may be singing a different tune when I officially finish Green. It also kinda bothered me that literally in the first paragraph of the introductory page he basically compared himself to Tolkien and Lewis. Like I said: their allegory I love. His, not so much.

But goodness, I loved Three and Adam. They were terrifying, but wonderfully written and portrayed. Those were twists I didn't see coming. Personally, I think he should stick to the thriller realm and leave allegory to others (not me, just others. I'll write a post about my feelings on allegory some other time).

In other news, I've about a week left till the conference. Only two days left until the holiday shop to promote my book, and only a few weeks until Christmas. The next few weeks are kind of like a snowball falling down a hill. Soon it'll be me stumbling over myself in an attempt to not fall smack into the concrete.

Happy adventuring everyone!

Currently Writing: I'm teetering between Arthur and the new story. I think I'll be veering a hard left and shooting for Arthur. 'Cause I really want to get to Thor.
Currently Reading: Green by Ted Dekker
Currently Listening to: "What Child is This?" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Outside the Comfort Zone

So today I was checking my emails (because I have like, four), and discovered I've been accepted to register for a writer's conference in New York City. It's a pretty hardcore one. It's basically four days of me sitting in front of editors and pitching my book.

When I applied for the registration (that's how selective this is: I had to apply to be allowed to register), I didn't expect to make the cut. For one reason or another, I thought I wouldn't be good enough. Either my age or inexperience or whatever was going to limit me in the mind of whomever was choosing the participants this year.

I'm freaked out of my mind! Because I didn't expect to make the cut, I didn't prepare at all. I have about a month, but still. This is the kind of nervousness that chews at my insides and makes me quiver when no one's looking. This isn't where you go to get praise or to get a pat on the back. This sort of conference is where you go and have editors of high end houses sit down and say, "Why should I back your book?"

Now I'm busy mapping out my money and seeing if I can spare $600 for the four day excursion. It's in mid December too, so getting the time off of work will be...tricky. I'll probably have to sacrifice a lot to get the time off, especially since I need a huge chunk of Christmas off 'cause my family's going to Florida.

I have a lot of praying to do to determine if this is the right step to take. I have a few days to figure this out and determine if I can swing the conference. A part of me really wants to do this. The scared child part of me wants to run away screaming.

But I guess this is how it is. I need to have confidence in my book and in my characters. Being published through an actual house (HOLY WOW), would be amazing. I mean...who knows what might happen.

Sometimes, I feel like my life is the one scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indy needs to step into the unknown (literally), before he can find the Holy Grail. This is one of those times where I have no clue if there's a rock ledge to stand on, but I guess I'll step out anyway.

The beauty is, even if I fall, God will catch me. That's always a comfort. Kinda makes me wonder why I shouldn't just take the step. Can't lose anything, right?

Happy adventuring everyone!

Currently [re]Writing: Unity
Currently Reading: Hood by Stephen Lawhead
Currently Listening to: "Ascencia" by Jo Blankenburg

P.S. - You would think I had been searching for the Holy Grail this afternoon. All I wanted was my Chocolate Mocha coffee made by Gevalia. And every store I went to that had power carried every other variety they made, but not mine! I had to settle on something that cost like, four dollars more than I was expecting to spend. This Godiva Chocolate Truffle had better be worth it.