How Do You Know When It’s Good?

I’ve just finished my fourth full length novel. One that will be sent to my agent.

Soon.

I never have a problem writing the books. I always tend to go over my word count and need to do a fair amount of trimming. I’m getting better at this, and for this particular story, I managed to stay around the projected word count I had set for this project.

I never have a problem coming up with storylines, interesting characters or settings. And somehow it all seems to come together to make what I think is a good book.

But how do I know?

I am my own worst critic. I’m fortunate to have several people I rely on for opinions once I’ve finished a book, and I have some wonderful critique partners to help me along the way. But as we all know, this is a subjective business. We don’t always all agree on what works and what doesn’t. So it’s difficult, at this point, staring at a manuscript that says THE END, to know whether it truly is the end.

Do I go back in and search for scenes that could be stronger? Take out more extraneous words, tighten and tweak again and again, or do I simply trust myself?

This is where it gets tough. I don’t think I’m quite there yet. I don’t really know if what I’ve written is good enough. Just because I like it doesn’t mean my agent will. And, as I have learned, just because an agent likes it, doesn’t mean a publisher will.

And so it goes.

Have you reached this point in your career? Are you still plagued with self-doubt, finger hovering over the send button? Or do you know when what you’ve written is good enough to send out? If you do, how? What qualifies as ‘finished’ in your mind?

I’d love to know your thoughts. Meanwhile, maybe I’ll go look at that manuscript one more time.

When Your Agent/Editor Says The “R” Word, (And They Don’t Mean “Ready!”)

Before I was published, before I had an agent, I really didn’t know what to expect once I passed the first level of ‘wannabe writer’, and actually had someone far more knowledgeable than I was about all things publishing, looking at my work. I was more concerned about actually getting past that level. Didn’t much care what happened afterward! Boy, was I in for a surprise.

Having somebody who works in publishing (freelance editor, editor, agent) and knows their stuff rip your book apart go over your manuscript and kindly suggest ways to improve it, is an experience to look forward to. No. Really. Sure, I’d had numerous critique partners go over my manuscript, but only a few of them had gone on to be published and they were still getting their feet wet too. They lacked experience.

I’m very fortunate to have an agent that is more often than not, willing and able to invest a significant amount of time reading her clients manuscripts, making notes, looking for ways to improve the book in hand, and, in some cases, suggesting revisions. Before the manuscript even hits the desk of an editor.

Pretty special, I think. But okay. Let’s be honest. You’ve just spent the last ten years several long and painful months of your life writing this book. It’s pretty awesome if you do say so yourself. This is the one. You just know it.

And you never want to see it again until you’re holding it in your hands and it has a bright, shiny cover holding all those pages together.

Revisions.

Seriously? Dude.

The first time this happened to me, (yes, there have been other times. Several.), I kind of freaked out a little. Oh, fine, I freaked out a lot. I wasn’t quite sure what it meant. I knew it meant my agent didn’t hate the story or she wouldn’t bother trying to help me make it better. But what had I done wrong? I thought I was getting there, really. Thought this one was pretty good. I immediately ran to my library of all the how-to writing books in the world, read them over again, ordered more books, and a year later I was ready to tackle those revisions.

I’m kidding.

I do own how-to writing books, but honestly, I’m still trying to figure out the whole concept. No, what I really did was take my agent’s advice and breathe. I took a day or two, or however long I needed, to read her notes. Think. Ponder. Percolate. I kept telling myself that this was not, was not, was not, a rejection of the manuscript. My story was still alive, still breathing, it just needed a little CPR. In some cases we had to get out the paddles, but I digress.

Repeat after me:

Revisions are a good thing. (I have brown sandwich bags in the back if anybody needs one). And let’s face it, once your manuscript eventually catches the eye of an editor who likes it enough to take it to committee and they like it enough to take a chance on you, guess what? Yes, you’re right. They’re [more than likely] going to present you with a few pages of revision notes. Back to square one.

Remember how, when you first started out, first declared your burning passion to the world and hollered from the highest mountain top (or closest ant hill) “I am Writer, hear me roar!”, and a couple of your wiser writer friends took you aside, (after they finished laughing), patted you on the head and told you the first thing you needed to do was take one little orange pill a day and start growing that rhinoceros skin?

They weren’t joking.

As a writer, you will be faced with a myriad of disappointments. Rejections. Bad reviews. More rejections. Bankruptcy and eventual homelessness. This is not an easy road. Even though the thought of delving into your story again, looking at it with new eyes and a fresh perspective kind of makes you want to vomit, don’t. Celebrate. Go shopping. Have a glass of champagne or your beverage of choice and let yourself breathe.

Revisions are a good thing, remember? You can do this.

And so can I.

I asked several of my writer buddies at various stages in their careers to tell me how they feel when faced with  the “R” word:

“Bring it!” – Katie Ganshert - author of WIldflowers From Winter, Waterbrook Multnomah, May 2012.

“Hooray, she likes it! (I’ve had the R word – Rejection – more than the R word – Revision)” Sue Harrison – author of The Ivory Carver Trilogy and The StoryTeller Trilogy.

“I’m odd, but I tackle them right away, because I cannot bear to let them be!” Mavis Duke Hinton – author of I Am Dachshund, OakTara Publishing, June 2011.

“I always panic at the sight of them. Always. I wonder how on earth I’ll ever get them done. Usually I let them sit for a few days and then I take a breath and dive in. One change at a time…! Always, the story is better for it!” - Courtney Walsh – author of Scrapbooking Your Faith.

“Revisions are emotional. It’s not easy to take pieces of your writing apart. But once you realize you’ve pieced them back together, better than before, it’s delightful.” - Joanne Bischof – author.

“Yay! I’ve got a shot at this. Now to get busy and revise!” - Keli Gywn – author of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, Barbour Publishing, July 2012.

“It does get easier with each book. I used to dread them, but now that I’ve just finished edits for my third book, I’ve had a change in outlook and attitude. I’m learning to embrace edits and revisions because, after all, they only make the book stronger.” – JoAnne Durgin – author of Awakening and Second Time Around.

So what about you? Wherever you are in your publishing journey, how do you feel about REVISIONS?

Have You Ever Waited For Something?

Of course you have! We all have something in our lives, perhaps daily, that we need to wait for.

Writing is all about playing the waiting game isn’t it? If you’d like to read about waiting and learn a bit more about me, please join me over at  The WordServe WaterCooler  today.

And now I’d like to do a bit of a roll call. Since this is a new blog, I’d love to know who’s stopping by. So introduce yourself and answer these questions if you would:

Reader or Writer or Both?

Favorite genre to read/write

Favorite author/s

Do you read exclusively in one market – ABA/CBA – or do you read from both.

If you’re a wrier, what are you working on right now?
And finally, what’s on your reading list a the moment?

A bit of housekeeping – on Fridays, as I stated, I’d love to feature our CBA authors. If you are an author and you’d like to be featured here on a Friday, please let me know!!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Check back on Friday for a visit with author Richard Mabry!