1. Happy Exhaustion
The Sundered is complete at 105,000 words, and I am as sleepy and happy as it is possible to be.
<- See that kitty? That’s me.
Next, of course, comes the Big Edit, which will hopefully trim at least 5,000 words and help me to tighten the query. After that comes the synopsis, then more query-editing, and then- if all beta-readers think it’s ready to go – I will begin the agent-hunting process.
Crazy stuff. Exciting stuff. I love this job.
On the business side, agent Rachelle Gardner explains why agents have submission guidelines gently and yet firmly – an excellent post. But I do a lot of business posts. It’s time for something more personal.
2. Getting a Little Personal
This post, by amazing author Lilith Saintcrow, made me cry. “If I Had Listened” hits a lot of issues I and others have. I hope this uplifts you the way it did me.
Along those lines, though quite a bit harsher, is this short article by E. B. Moore: Baby-Boomer Warns Women. It’s funny that a little part of me snarled and snapped in denial until this line: “remember your loved-ones who master a Wii can easily program a washer.” This is true. This is powerful. Writing is my job, regardless whether I have to get another outside the home. I can allow other people to help me around the house. It doesn’t make me a bad wife.
Then we have this post, which is something I find myself dreaming of: when someone reads you your novel. I have close family who told me my writing was boring, that it had stupid characters, that it lacked “a major villain like Sauron and therefore nobody will like it.” I’ve been told a lot of things, including outright lies. Someday, I hope my family won’t be able to put down my writing. I hope it inflames their imaginations the way my favorite authors do me. Whether or not it ever happens, I will keep writing. My worth as a writer does not depend on their opinion. What’s more: it never did.
3. Tada!
Speaking of imaginations, this ad is beautiful. Artistically, unspeakably beautiful. I know it starts a little hoky, but trust me – it’s worth a watch. And to counter that, this is the infamous Verizon-Twilight commercial. Haven’t see this yet? HILARITY. OF. THE CENTURY.
Last but not least, here is the current query for The Sundered:
The only world Harry has ever known is covered with black water that kills.
Human survival hinges on the telepathic enslavement of a powerful alien species known as Sundered Ones, but overuse is leading to Sundered extinction. Desperate, Harry’s family searches for a mysterious item called the Hope of Humanity, which legend vaguely claims will repair the Earth and make it once more hospitable to human life.
Any human can claim a Sundered One. It merely takes mental discipline and willpower – but Harry has never seen a Sundered like Aakesh before. Aakesh is powerful enough to conjure matter out of thin air and so brilliant he nearly escapes, which isn’t supposed to be possible. Harry is even more confused when he’s told the Sundered Ones are planning a world-wide revolt and human genocide. Aakesh counters by claiming the Hope has nothing to do with humanity, but is tied to Sundered One survival, and if it is destroyed, all Aakesh’s people will be as well.
Harry still doesn’t know what the Hope is or where it’s hidden, but this decision won’t wait for him. He must choose who to trust and who will live or die – assuming, of course, that he can find the Hope before that choice is made for him.
That is clearly going to need tweaking, but it works for a start. Live well, my friends!
