Pink Think: “In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
I finished (what was technically)the third draft (even though my computer file said fifth) of my YA suspense novel Ghost Moon Night at 5:37 Saturday morning. My husband’s alarm clock was due to go off at 5:40 because it was a snowy morning and he anticipated a slow crawl to work. So I just waited for him to wake up, told him “It’s finished,” and took my turn at body-warmed sheets. Two hours later I got up to get my boy ready for his scout training.
I’m telling you this not to ask for pity, but to give you firm proof of my neurosis/obsession as a writer, which my husband has first-hand knowledge of. But heck if I was going to go to bed still not done!
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Don asked me what I was going to do now that I am done with this draft. Since that time I have…
First of all, slept. I slept something like 12 hours on Sunday, which is my most favorite day of the week as a writer because I can guilt-free sleep in and not even think writing if I don’t want to.
Then I gave my draft to a few people to look over, so I don’t humiliate myself too much when I query agents again. If there are major changes involved, I might just decide to call this one a casualty, and move on, so I am hoping this is really a viable, saleable product.
Next, I have begun re-researching agents again. When I first shopped around my second draft to agents last fall, I mainly went with those that accepted e-queries. Why? Because I wanted an answer immediately. This time, I’ve compiled a list including those that prefer snail mail. There is something about physical pages that makes it a real product.
Absolute Write has been a great resource as well as Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. And I just have to rave about what a great (and cheap) help Google has been on agents that aren’t listed in the latter.
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This is my story pitch for my 65,500 word YA suspense novel Ghost Moon Night set in 1950s Philippines:
Seventeen-year old Antonio Pulido is possibly the worst person to help his Philippine town get rid of its ghost moon night curse.
After all, he steals and lies, and he’s not above cheating his employer to get his coveted record player. Still, the lure of a cash prize to break the curse is too hard for Antonio to resist. So he enlists the help of his best friend who plays coconut basketball, a tomboyish girl who dislikes him, and a water buffalo named Cupid who snorts when happy. Will Antonio’s quick wits – and his sidekicks – be enough to break the curse…before the curse breaks him?
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While waiting for feedback, I have redirected my attention to rewriting my YA historical novel Girl From Gurian. I rewrote the first chapter from third person to first person, and I kind of like it.
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