Rewrite Resubmit

You beat the odds and got a full request from an agent. You jump for joy, clap to yourself, throw your fists in the air until you realize someone might see you. At least that's what I do. Then you wait to hear back to see if your dreams are about to come true. You get the awful rejection and your world seems to cave in on you. That's been my experience so far, but recently I didn't get a rejection. I got a Rewrite and Resubmit with some amazing feedback on ways to improve my story. It wasn't an offer of rep but it was reassurance that I didn't totally suck.

I was so excited, still am. I dove into revisions. I deleted scenes, added scenes, basically trashed the entire first chapter. It was the biggest revision I've done since I started writing seriously five years ago. I sent it out to my CP's and then did even more revisions. It took a little over a month to get it to the point where I felt it was ready to be resubmitted. Then I had to hit the send button.

Hitting send on a query is always a difficult thing for me. I reread the email a hundred times, hover over the send button all while giving myself a pep talk to just click the dang  button already. This was worse. Much worse. Having an RR is a good feeling. A great feeling. Once you hit that send button that's it. You wait to see if you move on with your dream or if you wind back up at square one. It could go either way. One step forward or two steps back. It's terrifying.

With a few pep talks from my CP's and several from myself, I finally hit send. I think I hyperventilated after, but it was done. Sent. A little bittersweet, but proud of what I accomplished. I now have a much stronger manuscript and I got to spend more time with my two favorite characters. (Shh don't tell the others.) 

So while it is a terrifying experience, it is one of the best I've had in this crazy writing world.

Have you had an RR? How'd it make you feel? What is your best experience since you jumped into this crazy world?

Happy Unofficial Last Day of Summer!

A Saturday Quote.

Today's quote is an oldie but a goodie :) My mom sent me an email this week and all it said was:

Some writers/agents would consider it a cliche, but in the moment the familiarity of the phrase, coming from my Mom, was the comfort I needed. It was perfect.

What are some of your favorite sayings/quotes?

Brittany Booker Literary Agent Answers Your Questions!

Ever have a question you wish you could just ask an agent directly? 
 

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!

Hop over to Cassie's blog, where her awesome agent, Brittany Booker from the Corvisiero Literary Agency, is answering questions. 

What are you waiting for?

More Good News!

Lately it has been nonstop clapping, fist pumping all around excitement. I have more good news. A little late on it, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to acknowledge two very awesome people. Kelley and Jen have landed themselves an agent with their collab ALREADY THERE! Click their names to read their stories.


I was one of the fortunate people who got to read this awesome story, watch it's transformation through rewrites, and I can honestly say these two deserve all the good that is coming there way. I can't wait to pick it up off the shelf of my local bookstore. I'll also be a crazy person insisting all the people in the aisle next to me need to read about Lucy and Charlie.

Congrats girls! You rock and so does your book. Can't wait for the world to read it.

Can you push the writer in you aside when reading?

Have any of you read Fifty Shades of Grey? Awhile ago I succumbed to the hype and dove into all three books.

The first page in, my writer self took over. The main character Anastasia describes herself in a mirror, which is a known no-no according to every agent blog I have ever read. There were also several other no-no's within the first chapter and even more in the first 100 pages. All of which stuck out like a sore thumb.

I'm not going to rip the books apart because this is not what this post is about. I actually enjoyed the books. Really liked them to be honest. I pushed my writer self to the back of my mind, as hard as it was, and just read without analyzing. The story itself was interesting and I wanted to know what happened to make Christian Grey the way he was. It held my interest and I read the three books in less than a week.

So I'm curious. Can you turn off the writer in you when reading? Or is it so strong, no matter how hard you try, you just can't? Have you ever stopped reading a book because it went against everything you have learned as a writer? And if you care to share what book?

Celebrate Good Times. Come On!

I pulled another disappearing act, but so much has happened in my writing circle (actually it's more like a tree with a hundred branches) I have to take time to acknowledge it.

First off, I'm sure most of you already know but just in case you don't, Cassie snagged herself an agent! *throws confetti* And now the world will have a chance to fall in love with Zak and Zoe. I already have and for those of you who have not read HOW TO DATE A NERD you are in for a treat. No that doesn't sum it up enough. You are in for a brownie sundae with extra hot fudge, sprinkles, cherries and everything else that can be put on ice cream. So if you haven't yet, hop over to her blog and give her a big chest bump!

Second, Kelley is getting published! (Again I'm sure you all know) Sapphire Star Publishing picked up her awesome book FRACTION OF STONE. *claps and throws fist in the air* I still remember the first time I read her first draft and I couldn't put it down. I was glued to my laptop, needing to know what was going to happen next and how the story would unfold. It will be released March 7th and I can't wait to buy it. Hop over to Kelley's blog and give her a big congrats and high fives!

Like I said so much has happened and it has been one clapping, fist pumping celebration. I'm so excited for both of them and can't wait to see where their writing career will take them.

And in other news, Cassie and I just finished our collaboration and I am so pumped about this story. If you haven't seen it in our WIP tabs here it is:

Title: King Sized Beds and Happy Trails
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance 
Word Count: 55,000
Progress: Out with CP's
A collab with the awesome Cassie Mae about two best friends who discover their feelings for each other on a senior ski trip.

It's fun and in the words of Cassie smexy! 

Okay it's not finished completely, but we did write 'The End' and did our own critiques so we are on our way.

Any good news come your way while I've been MIA? Or just in the writing/blog community?