Writing

Well, I've sent out 6 query letters and I have already decided I like writing the books better than asking people to publish them. But their is no choice. I have spent so much time writing it, I have to at least try. So I plug on. My goal? 100 Queries. I've gotten one rejection so far, so only 99 more to go.
I was just reading one of my favorite sites, Query Shark and she stated YA books have teenage charactors. I'm not sure how this affects my book, my main charactor is 20 ish. We will see.

Lesson learned #1

So I learned an important lesson last week while rewriting a story I had written for a Paranormal Magazine. The lesson:  write for your audience. I wrote a short story about Twin Psychics and their Mom. It was a sweet story about accepting others and their different opinions. Then, I spoke with the Editor and he told me he wanted it dark. So I rewrote the story and made it much darker. It turned out to be much better when I kept my audience in mind while writing. Paranormal followers have a greater threshhold for the dark. Interestingly enough, I found that I couldn't really have written it differently because I needed the framework of the original story to build the new story upon.
I hope it gets published, its out of my hands now. I really liked these characters, I see them moving on with the story at some point. But I have to finish another story first. My Pride and Joy, my book about the not-so-famous Hero of the American Revolution, Jack Jouett.  A blog for another time....

Whew, I just finished the first thing I ever wrote, with the intention of others actually reading it. I feel sick. I sent it to two friends but I haven't heard from them. Totally nervewracking! Deep sigh, I know everyone is so busy right now, it's hard for me to ask them to read it. I spoke with the Editor yesterday, asking about the deadline. January 8th, he said. I didn't want to hurt your creativity. So nice, but the date is coming up so fast. I have so many questions, so many busy people to annoy....
So back to my story. I think it's good, but of course I do, I wrote it. I have the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to publish in a Paranormal Magazine with over 150,000 subscribers. If it works out and the Editor likes the story, I can get a Literary Agent and publish the book I have been writing for a year. Hmmm, no pressure there.
So back to work now, the kids are all up and Spongebob has replaced the morning news. Which is, frankly, a relief from the fashion show and recipe swap that is now passing for news.