Notice! I Am Moving.

My husband bought me my own domain name and got me set up with a wordpress blog that forwards to it. I LOVE all the things that can be done with wordpress themes. Wordpress has a handy tool for moving all posts from another blog over to them, so I've done that with all posts here. I plan to continue posting here for a few more weeks.

The new site is http://www.writerpatty.com

Another First For Me

I queried a publisher directly and got a response in two days. They would like to see the manuscript. Happy, happy me. :) They also said, in the email, that it will be two years or more before I could see the book published if they accept it. I'm resigned to this and from what I'm hearing, it does take a lot of time.

I sent the email off this morning with the manuscript attached.

Moving Forward

I haven't posted an entry in forever and a day. :) But I had good reason. We've moved. Not that far, but it took all my energy just to pack and unpack. The new place is spacious with a large fenced backyard. There's grass, tree house with swings and a covered concrete patio.

As far as my novel goes, well there's been some progress there as well. I've gotten the manuscript back from the last person who I wanted an opinion from. It was favorable with some really great suggestion that I took to heart and have implemented.

Currently, I'm in the process of writing the synopsis. I hope to have it finished sometime tomorrow night. Hopefully, I'll get the nerve to share my synopsis with a group of writers and get their input/critiques. The next step is to put a query letter together. And then I shall submit to the publisher I had in mind and start some research for other possible publishers just in case that one doesn't work out.

I sincerely hope that I can get this book published and that I can make a small amount of money off it. Every cent will be going to my church. Ten percent for the tithe and the remaining ninety percent to the building fund. God gets it all for the first book published, because I believe God is the source any and all talent I may or may not possess.

While I Wait

I did get my proof copy and it was so exciting to hold the glossy covered paperback in my hands. It made it more real for me. It was such a thrill to show it off to a few of my good friends and I even left it with some one that I admire greatly. She read it and gave me some really positive feedback. I don't know what I was expecting, but her words of encouragement really blew me away.

My YA novel is now in the hands of the last person who I feel needs to see it and give me their opinion before I submit to a publisher.

While I wait I am doing a few things.

1. I'm jotting down notes and putting together character sketches for the next book in the series.

2. I'm doing research on the right way to put a submission package together.

3. I'm going over some grammar and writing style things that I have learned over the last year and a half.

Today, I concentrated on the adverb. Mainly those -ly words that often sneak into my prose to modify my verbs. Slowly walking could be strolled. Quickly drinking could be gulped, etc.

Nanowrimo Update and Encouraging News about my Book

First off, Nano. I haven't been able to get on the site to update my word count, so it still reads a big fat zero. But, I have written over 6,000 words so far and I haven't even begun for the second day. God/Church is my priority on Sundays. I'm hoping to get at least a thousand words in before I have to go to sleep.

My first reader for my YA novel has just returned each chapter with corrections done with track changes (oh, track changes, how I love thee!) and with some fun comments on the side.

She's really given me hope. From all those notes, I gather a few things.

1. She loves my Main Male Character.
2. She felt passionate enough about some of the characters to hate them or love them.
3. I made her shed happy tears near the end.
and
4. She truly believes the book should get published.

Her exact words at the very end of the story was "Bloody Brilliant! If this doesn't get published, I'll eat my favourite hat. Good job. Well done."

I'm going to work on making her suggested corrections and then print out a copy for my husband to read. Then I need to get the nerve to ask someone to proofread it for me. I have someone in mind, but I'm glad I have some time before I actually have to ask. :)

I did say that I was going to edit/revise starting on Dec. 1, but my nano writing is going better than I expected, so I may just fit in time to work on the first book this month. We shall see.

I'm going to put a nano widget on my blog, as soon as I can sign in and get the code for it.

I Can Barely Keep My Eyes Open

Today was a very good day for WriterPatty. :) I clocked in at over 6,000 words today, and completed chapter fourteen. I also have about 500 words done for chapter fifteen. If I don't keep expanding the story, I'll have it completed in plenty of time for Nanowrimo.

But my head is swimming in storyland now. When I close my eyes I see Bryan and Aimee and teenage angst. LOL!

I'm wondering about the silliness of my concern over chapter length. Am I just being nuts about it? I feel strongly that I need to keep them short so that I keep the attention of my young readers, and I'm finding natural places to end my chapters that make sense.

So, I think I should just stop thinking so much. The word count per chapter will change anyway, once I get to revising and self-editing. I'm sure I'll be taking complete scenes out and/or adding new scenes.

I'm just thrilled that this story is finally getting written and I'm thrilled that the story is just pouring out of me like crazy. Thank you, Lord. I feel so blessed. Here's hoping readers will feel blessed as they turn the pages of my book.

I've got to be up early in the morning for Church. I have a Junior Church to prepare for and a bunch of little girls who are counting on me to be awake when they get to my class. LOL! So, it's off to bed for me.

More Progress.

I was only able to get about 300 words down for chapter twelve last night. And today, I wasted the day by cleaning my house and doing laundry and then the kids were home and I didn't get to write. But, (Yay!) I was able to get out almost 2,000 words in less the two hours and chapter twelve is finished!

I'm a happy camper.

It would be great if I could get a chapter written every day.

It could happen.

Another Chapter Under My Belt! & Chapter Length.

I'm feeling very encouraged as I get closer to the conclusion of my story. Chapter eleven is now done. It's going to need a slight rewrite, but I can do that later.

I've been giving myself a maximum chapter length of 2500 words each. I think it's important for me to keep my target audience in mind. Young Adults have so many things competing for their time. I think it's good to keep the chapters short, start the chapter off with something that grabs them in and then end the chapter with a big of cliffhanger or questions left unanswered, so they'll feel compelled to turn the page and start the next chapter.

I wonder if other authors worry or concern themselves with chapter lengths. I think with an adult target audience, I wouldn't be so concerned about it. I've written stories in the past with up to 5000 words in a chapter and then next chapter might have 3,000 words.

My last chapter has 2,255 words. I reread it and I am sure I can removed two small scenes in it that will bring the word count down.

I'm thinking that there will be four more chapters. The days are clicking by. I have to get all four chapters written in nine days. I can do that. In fact, I plan to write some of chapter twelve after I get back from Bible Study tonight. I'd love to have two days between this novel and Nanowrimo. :)

Update on my writing progress.

Don't have much to report today. I have ten days until my self imposed deadline. Chapter eleven is about a third of the way done. I'm hoping to get the chapter complete tonight.

I've been feeling poorly. The whole family has some sort of sickness with a head cold, headaches and loss of appetite. Then, I've also had a flare up and I woke up this morning with back pain and both knees swelling. Yuck.

My goal for tonight is to finish chapter eleven and outline twelve and thirteen. I'm guessing the story will be fourteen or fifteen chapters long. I also need to finish my last read through/edit of my short story for that contest. My first reader has seen it left me plenty of comments. I love her for her honesty. Then I plan to submit the story to a writer's group online. It will be my first time doing that. I'm a little nervous about that.