Redreaming the Scene Dream

I’ve been editing the first three scenes of my manuscript based on critiques that I’ve received. In fact, one scene is totally new and I really like it. However, I feel as though the first scene will never be quite right. And the now-third scene is puke-a-rific. I am still not satisfied with it. I think I’m going to have to delete it and rewrite it completely. It’s got some good stuff going on, but there is something not quite right–maybe it is the setting. Redream the dream, right Mr. Frey?

Anyway with some of it, I like the pared down, simplified version. But in some ways, it kills me to slice out bits that I really liked or that my crit partner said was funny. I want funny to stay, but it isn’t helping move the story forward. I am so emotionally committed to some of these descriptions or backstory bits that I don’t want to give them up. But I must. It is for the good of the whole. My god, it sounds like I’m operating on cancer or making war-like sacrifices.

So I am redreaming the dream and hopefully I can make the voice stronger, keep the story unique, move the plot forward in a smoother manner and keep my story standing above the others. 

Agent Chat a Roaring Success

Last night’s AQ agent chat with Michael Bourret of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management was fabulous. In one hour he succinctly fielded over 40 questions! We had over 47 lovely, ever-so patient guests who really made moderating this chat a dream. Thank you to Michael for taking time at the end of his busy day and thank you to all our wonderful guests who came armed with brilliant questions (many of which I had been wondering about myself).

Michael rocked it!

And we all only got a little bit crazy towards the end. But I think it could have been the cake I was serving.

Anyway, I learned lots and managed to keep all the balls in the air. Go cowgirl!

Now I get to read the transcripts and see what really happened! Keep posted for information on September’s upcoming chats.

Patience

It always comes back to patience, doesn’t it?

In Jackson Pearce’s chat the other night, she touched on patience. Patience to wait before sending out your ms–make sure it is good as it can be. Listen to your crit partners. Make those changes. Wait. Look at them again, then send. Look for those pitfalls. Fix them. Keep listening to the feedback, keep distancing yourself from your work.

Keep plugging!

Join us for the agent chat with Michael Bourret tonight. 8pm eastern.

Fabulous Agent Chat Coming Down The Pipe!

There will be an agent chat on AQ. Be there or be square! Or at least left out in the cold, dark night.

Who: Literary Agent Michael Bourret of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management

What: A friendly chat where he answers aspiring writers ever so eager questions.

Where: Agent Query Connect Chat area. (It is free to join, so go for it!)

When: Monday, August 25th at 8pm eastern

Why: Do I really need to tell you this? If so, go watch some TV instead. I mean, come on! An agent answering questions and letting you into the deep dark secrets of publishing! Well, maybe I can’t promise deep, dark secrets, but well, a girl can dream…

How: Join AQ and enter the chat at the appointed time. I’ll be there to instill calm in the chaos. 

Looking forward to it. See you there!

Upcoming Chat with Author Jackson Pearce

Another chat has been scheduled over on AQ (Agent Query).

So if you’re hanging out eating a bag ‘o’ chips on Friday night and mindlessly flipping through videos on YouTube, pop over to AQ and chat with writer Jackson Pearce. Her YA book As You Wish will be published by Harper Collins in December of 2009.

If you’d like to pick her brain on how to make it or even just to hear what it is like to be awaiting the release of her hard work, join AQ (it is free) and stop by the chat this Friday at 7:30 pm Eastern.

On a related note, I popped over to Debutantes: Feast of Awesome and added my two cents on who I think would win in a fight of Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girls) vs. Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice). Honestly, I think it would be a draw. If you want to hear why, pop over and read the comments. It’s a pile of fun.

 Blair Vs. Elizabeth 

Speaking of fun, I finally got a chance to sit down with a mocha and two hours to myself to bang away at my keyboard. I was adding a scene in and it was SO MUCH FUN!! I love to write. I’d almost forgotten the rush of drafting out a new scene. It was hard trying to get my two characters to fight with each other. They kept wanting to make amends. Maybe the fight scene wasn’t a good idea. I’ll send it to my crit partner once it simmers for a little longer–we’ll see what the flavours are like in a day or two.

God, I love writing.