I can't really call it a first draft, though, because I edit while I go. I know, they tell you not to, but I can't fight my style. IT'S WHO I AM. And I'm not apologizing. I even sent it chapter by chapter to my crit partner - LOVE YOU, KIMMY!! - and have already incorporated her suggestions as she sent them back to me.
The good news is that although it took me almost six months to write (except I didn't touch it for two of those months), it will not take long at all to polish it. That means that shortly, like in a couple of weeks, I will start the querying/waiting game. Then I will have tons of time to dedicate to you beautiful people in the blog world.
Okay, okay, you caught me withholding information. I'm embarrassed to tell you this, but I knee-jerked and sent out four queries already. Two came back as full requests. (Squee!!!!!) Yes, I may have blown my chances by querying before the dust settled. I'm telling you: I KNOW THIS! But did I mention that I can't help myself? Because I can't. Again, it's who I am.
So tonight is going to be an all-nighter while I reread the whole book from beginning to end. Then off it will go to my two full requests. Pray that I will stop the querying madness until I have a few more betas read. Really, you'll have to pray hard. Because I'm psychotic about this kind of stuff.
Anyone else out there a knee-jerk queryer? Do you think less of me now? Sigh. I need to join Alex's Insecure Writer's Support Group...
32 comments:
Congratulations, Laura! Sounds like you're getting success with it already.
OMG! I knew, just KNEW this would be a story that they snatch up!!! Believe me, as I said, it is so close that you don't have to fret about sending it out. Take a few days and clean it up, then send it! WOW! I feel like a proud Momma!!!
A woman of uncontrollable urges, what's wrong with that? Good luck with the next stage (at this rate you'll be published by next week).
mood
Moody Writing
Bravo, you! OMG two full requests. You SO rock, Laura. I am totally excited for ya.
WHO told you not to edit as you go? Slap them down.
Every writer's style is different, and lots of people write recursively and edit/revise as they go. I certainly do. Congrats on the full requests, and good luck!
Congratulations, Laura! Two full requests off that bat is nothing to scoff at. In fact, it's INSANE. Good luck!
Congrats Laura!! This is excellent news. I'm laughing at the querying. I'm afraid to send them out to begin with and you do it right away. Lol
Congratulations for finishing your manuscript!
Congrats on finishing and on your full requests! But now I'm worried for you b/c that was a really bad thing to do LOL. Few first drafts are ready to be seen by an agent. But I wish you best of luck!
Congrats! Two full requests just means - a few more all-nighters. I know I have sent a query or two on what I considered a final draft but still rushed to tighten up the manuscript - just in case something happened. I call that worrying not knee jerk querying - but maybe they're the same thing.
Congratulations on finishing! I use to query before I should, but I'm older and maybe wiser now.
I should be older and wiser. I'm just not. LOL!
Well, success with the query, at least. Thanks for the congrats!
Aw, thanks, Kimmy!!! You should be proud. You're such a great support :)
Ha ha, I'm definitely that - a woman of uncontrollable urges. LOL
Thanks, Joanna! I was feeling more regret than excitement at first, but now that I've reread the whole thing, I think I'm okay. Thanks for the support!
You are my kind of woman!! Thanks for the uplifting words :)
Oh, I'm in no way scoffing. I'm freaking out! Thanks for the good luck wish!!
Thanks!
I know, I know. Believe me, I KNOW! But it really isn't a first draft. It's a second draft in most of it and a third and fourth draft in some sections. But the last few chapters - they're new. That's what I wish I had let sit.
Thanks for the luck! I need it :)
Ha ha, glad I'm not alone. The truth is, I'll never quite be done with it. Someone needs to tell me when I'm done with it. That's why I need an agent :)
Congratulations on finishing and having requests for fulls!!!! SO exciting!!! Keep that coffee pot going and get those edits done, and keep us posted :)
Congrats! I have the perfect query contest for you on my blog (& she's specifically looking for MG/YA): http://jamieayres.wordpress.com
Yay! Thanks for letting me know. I"m headed over :)
Congratulations! And yes, you need to join the IWSG. Sorry, no knee-jerking here. I editing my first book to death and annoyed my two test readers to tears before I started to send out queries.
Congrats! Great feeling, yes?
Congratulations! And you already have a query that's getting you requests? I'm in awe.
Congratulations!! Yah:)
Oh, I am so pleased for you. Best of luck. Six months? I've taken two years and I've still not finished!
Wow.
So, I know conventional wisdom would be freaking out if it read this post, but if you already have full requests...You're still way ahead of the game.
You deserve a huge congrats for the finished draft AND the requests! Yay for you!
-Mandy
Wow! Congrats on finishing and for the requests. That's pretty cool.
Can't wait to hear how the requests played out. Congratulations.
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