This has been one hell of a week.
Last week, I made a list of things that had to get done soon, and I can’t believe it, but a lot of them are done. First though, on Tuesday, I found out I’m going to be published in the 92Y literary journal, Podium, which is quite exciting for me. I’ll be doing my first reading on May 5 to accompany it. My parents are probably going to cry. It will be epic.
Next, the list of agents for round one is decided on and done. Figuring out who to query has been stressing me out for months, but now that I have the book in real, finished shape I just sort of hunkered down on Wednesday and thought hard about the kind of person who I thought would really get it. I sat for hours and emerged with a small, thoughtful list of names. (I stare at that list thinking, “How amazing would it be if my agent is on this list and I don’t know it yet?” A long shot, but still cool.) I feel solid about sending letters out, even if ninety percent of them are cold queries. Of course, they’ll never know that I really thought about the selection, but it doesn’t matter—I feel good about the process in a way I never have. I’ve been nervous wondering if the manuscript is good enough, insecure about serving it up, not knowing how to know if I was ready. But between the stream of consistent feedback from industry people, published authors, and honest friends, I am for the first time at a point where I know it’s right. It’s still no less of a risk than it always is, but I feel a momentum. And who am I to ignore that?
Fingers crossed.
Query is done. Synopsis is done tonight. Switched a scene from past tense (one of the only ones in the novel) to present and feel worlds better.
I am so ready. Bombs away!
M
