Come join me in the IWSG group created by Alex Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of each month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html
Benson's familiar words to Mordecai and Rigby from Regular Show ring in my ears, "Get back to work, or you're fired!" My words to myself, "Get back to writing; vacation's over." I'm back to my old writing self, somewhat. The kids start school in a few weeks. Feel free to join me in singing these words, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."
Don't get me wrong. I do love my kids, just not in my face the entire summer, eating all of the food in the house like rabid racoons. I admit, the more I hang with my homies (my teenage sons) the more I write the funny, the unexpected, the real-life stuff that makes MG my fave genre.
As you know I'm on the path to securing an agent for my upper middle grade mystery. It's funny how you can feel worthless after a few rejections. Even when they say, "It's not you, it's me." I know this field is so subjective, but it still stings. I try to remember all great authors have been rejected. Then things can quickly change. It feels like I won the lottery when I got one partial and two full requests! In the meantime, I'm going to enter Brenda Drake's #PitchWars. You should check it out if you are interested in getting an agent. It's for finished adult, YA and MG manuscripts. The 75 mentors choose one person to mentor their ms over a two month period.
So, I tried finishing my YA thriller set in Chicago (I will finish it!), but then the idea for my next mystery, the second in this series, hit me in the gut like a football tackle. I'm loving where this story is headed. If you see me stalking my sons, it's for research purposes. I seriously can't make this stuff up.
I hope you have enjoyed your summer. Do you have a fear of rejection? Are you back to work--writing? What are you waiting for? Oh, yeah, the kids...to leave the house. Gotcha!
Hi Jennifer!! Happy Wednesday. I think we all have a natural fear of rejection, but I also think we sometimes tend to take it too personally. Sometimes rejection is not a rejection of "us", if that makes sense :)
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to tell myself that:) I understand more about rejection, when I compare it to my favorite reads. Not everyone has the same tastes in books!
DeleteHeh, my kids are still young enough that going back to school doesn't change the daily routine. Not to mention I'm stuck at work during the say anyway. I don't get much progress done with my writing, but I manage a little bit each day. That's good, right?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the partial and full requests! That's awesome! I hope it goes well for you.
Loni
Yes, a little each day!! And I remember when my boys were toddlers. Now, they're in high school. I have to admit, I like them way better as teenagers;-)
DeleteBy coincidence I am posting here from IWSG but I am also a mentor for Pitch Wars this year (though not for middle grade). Best of luck there! Also, very cool that you also write thrillers. I think real life experiences really help enhance a story.
ReplyDeleteHere's my IWSG post for August
Awesome! I will check out your post. This will be my fist time entering Pitch Wars. Thanks for taking the time to be a mentor! I can't get enough of thrillers--movies and books--so I thought I'd write one. But I got sidetracked by my inner MG voice...
DeleteRejection stings, doesn't it. Hope you hear some good news from the agents who have your partials and fulls.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does. And thanks!!
DeleteHope you have time to finish all of the projects once the kids go back to school.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing Guardians last week, I know rabid racoons also tote guns, so I hope your kids aren't that rabid.
I haven't seen it yet! I must have sensed that raccoon reference;-)
DeleteI LOVE the title of this post. I think I'll copy it and make a post for my writing room! HAHAHA. Great words for the procrastinating writer.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I give my boys credit. If you need a laugh or are writing MG, I encourage you to watch Regular Show on a regular basis;-)
DeleteSounds like you're doing a wonderful job with your writing. I'm singing with you. Glad school will start soon.
ReplyDeleteHee hee. Staples (years ago) had a back-to-school commercial. The dad is flying past his kids on a shopping cart and the song is playing in the background;-) Thanks!
DeletePitchwars was what got me multiple requests and finally my publishing contract, so I say, go for it. Such a great contest.
ReplyDeleteI've seen your name floating around the #PitchWars feed on Twitter!! Yeah:))
DeleteYou have? Aw. I feel so loved. =)
DeleteKids make life just that little bit more busy .. But they are a joy... And loaded with inspiring writing material hey!? The pitch wars sound interesting..thanks for that i might have a look. Xx
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of moms who celebrate the start of school. Your books sound like such fun - it's wonderful to feel you're headed in the right direction, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty awesome that you got requests! You must be doing something right. Just hang in there until you find the right fit. It's so cool that your inspiration comes from hanging out with your sons.
ReplyDeleteRejection does sting. I think it has to do with how badly we want to get our stuff out there, and then there's a roadblock. Congrats on your requests.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the requests! But I can't join you in celebrating the end of summer. I'm a teacher, and this time of year marks the end of long writing sessions. I still write, but the sessions are squeezed in before and after school.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your summer is full of inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteI have a spreadsheet for every manuscript I've written since '08, and I always highlight in green that one "yes." Keep at it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm the opposite as a teacher. I got so much writing done in the summer and in a few days everything will slow down considerably--teachers come in a week early.
It's the natural rhythm of our lives that dictate when we write and when attend to other things, like our kids our homes, our hygiene. All take bits of time. All must be valued for what they bring to us. I sometimes am surprised that my best ideas come when I'm not writing. I think that's my brain's way of thanking me for giving it a break.
ReplyDeleteSometimes ideas lure us away! For some reason once I've started working on something else, I have a hard time going back. I don't know why!
ReplyDeleteMy kids go back to school in three days. I plan on getting back in the swing of things with my writing when they do!
ReplyDeleteDuring any other summer, I would be feeling the opposite from you -- dreading the return to school and furiously writing through each and every summer day -- because I was a teacher. Summer was my writing time. But I left the classroom in June for good.
ReplyDeleteSo now I'm like every other writing mom I know -- waiting for the kids to go back! I'm a little worried about how I will adapt to the change. Hopefully I won't go stark raving mad as a "full time writer."
we love regular show at our house too - i have 3 boys, and two are teens - endless gross and funny material to use!
ReplyDeletehere's to you getting a mentor! good luck!
and i'm very excited to have school back in session!
Kids have been back at school here for a couple of weeks (and eldest stepdaughter now back at college). Always strange to have that silence at first, but I'm definitely making the most of it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck in Pitch Wars. I'm not looking for an agent now, but I entered the other year and got through to the first round although no further. Just that was a buzz and it was a lot of fun! I think you should treat it as a fun learning experience more than anything.
Best of luck with Pitch Wars! I know it is discouraging when you hear back from an agent and the response is some form of "no". But- it is wonderful that you keep trying, because it really is subjective. I always think about all the times JK Rowling was rejected and the author of The Help was rejected over 50 times before she found the right agent (but I am hoping you have a much shorter wait than her). :)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
~Jess