Pink Think: “There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.” – Francis Bacon
Photo from writersunlimited.com
Eureka, I found it! I found a boxed copy of nearly 300 pages of a historical novel set in 18th century Spain I wrote I few years ago called The Spanish Exile. The box was languishing in the basement.
As this was my first real attempt at a novel (but not my first draft), I read it with cautious optimism. To my surprise, I liked it. Sure, it might not be Pulitzer quality, but it had elements that I enjoy in a good book: a dashing hero, danger, romance, swordfights, villains, real history as backdrop, royalty, and hair-raising escapes. Best of all, it made me laugh and the passages sounded “real”. Why ever did I abandon this project?
Maybe because I thought, as a first novel, it didn’t deserve to see the light of day. Maybe because at a writer’s conference, someone said if the two protagonists do not end up together, she would be very disappointed. Maybe because I got distracted by other projects.
Whatever the reason, I have begun querying agents about it for the first time. Although not an expert, I feel like I am more savvy now about querying, so in some ways I am glad I didn’t shop this around earlier.
***
While I query this novel, I am wondering if I should keep writing this multicultural story that has been rattling in my head for so long. What prompted this hesitation was author Aprilynne Pike’s post on writing goals (Hi Aprilynne!).
What do I really hope for as a writer?
I want to see a book I’ve written on a bookstore shelf.
I want to see my name on proverbial author klieg lights (i.e. not be obscure).
I want my writing to be able to finance splurges like a nice guitar and trips abroad with my family. (i.e. make good money)
I want to illuminate life through my fiction.
So I questioned whether or not my Philippine stories would help me achieve #2 and #3. I grew up there but also have spent more than half my life in the U.S. now, so I really could just write about the American experience. Part of me says, the Philippine angle is part of my makeup and is what makes me unique. Part of me echoes an agent that judged my first 250 words in an online contest, paraphrased: I am not sure there’s a market for this setting.
Which actually is the reason I resurrected The Spanish Exile. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to find a manuscript I feel like I could shop around without having to still write it!
***
I asked my 14-year-old daughter why she reads the books she does (fantasy and horse books). She said a fantastical setting for a story is easier to believe in than say, zombies in the Philippines (because the Philippines is a real setting). I want to write a book my daughter can really enjoy, but I must admit, fantasy has never been my cup of tea. Even though horsey books have a devoted market (I am the mother of a rabid fan) and I know more now than I did five years ago as a newbie horse owner, I don’t know if I will truly enjoy a writing career built around horses (I am not horse-crazy.)
***
So many thoughts, jumbled in my mind, foremost is: Which way do I go from here to achieve my goals?
Follow