Agatha Christie
May 2009 marks two years since I wrote my first blog. These two years have been an extraordinary writing journey for me.
I started ‘blogging’ because my literary agent recommended it as a way to build my writer’s platform , but discovered that it offered me much more than that. Blogging helped me make friends from parts of the world I’ve not yet even had the opportunity to visit, taught me how much more alike across the globe we all are than I’d even suspected, and made me think about my perspectives on so many social and political issues. All because of comments left for me on my written posts by other bloggers, and comments left on the posts of others whose blogs I loved to read. Blogging even introduced me to some extraordinary writers who add so much quality work and enthusiasm to my online magazine.
And then, my dream came true and my first full-length work was finally published. And ─ boy, oh boy ─ did life change. Yes, “getting a book deal” is the golden ring all writers are trying to grab on the merry-go-round of the publishing world.
So, for those who dream of it, or for those who know someone who dreams of it, let me tell you what it’s really like once you’ve obtained that objective. Sit back, as I go through it all, step-by-agonizing-step. I promise you every word following is true:
1) You decide to write a book. You write every day for two years; some days you actually put some words down in a document. You then put manuscript away for one year, because:
a) you move
or
b) your children move
or
c) one of your children moves back in.
2) You pick your manuscript up again, and write for two more years. You’ve now finished your first draft. That’s right ─ your first draft.
3) You give it to your husband and your best friend to read. You wait impatiently, feeling unloved and neglected, as for unfathomable reasons, they do not drop everything to read your manuscript, which is over 400 pages, single-spaced.
4) After finally reading, your husband and best friend both gently suggest that you might want to get a professional editor. You thank your friend sweetly, but argue with your husband bitterly for that heartbreaking and insulting insinuation, and then you put your manuscript away for another three months, because you have no idea where and how to find a good editor.
5) A man whom you’ve never seen before is on the treadmill next to you at your gym. You blurt out to him that you are a writer, and are looking for an editor. It turns out that he is a writer also, and he recommends an editor he knows. This is not the sign from God you think it is. The man on the treadmill next to you is a writer because you live in Marin County, California, where everyone, including George Lucas, thinks, for better or worse, that he or she is a writer.
6) You phone the editor and she quotes you an eyebrow-raising hourly rate. You say you will ring her back. You walk into your husband’s home office, and tell him the fee the editor wants to work on your manuscript. Your husband asks, “Is she a good editor?” You say, “Yes, of course.” Your husband tells you to hire the editor.
7) Your new editor takes two months to edit 80 pages of your 400-plus page manuscript. Then she goes on vacation and returns after two weeks to tell you she won’t be able to work on your manuscript for another four months. You spend three sleepless nights trying to decide what to do about your new editor, whom you like as a person, but are very impatient with as an editor. On the fourth morning, you go into your husband’s home office, exhausted, and tell him your problems with the editor.
He says, “I thought you said she was a good editor.” You leave your husband’s office, annoyed with him once again, go in your office and sit down at your computer to write an email to your editor, terminating your working relationship as professionally as possible, your stomach churning the entire time. She sends you a polite acknowledgment back, returns your manuscript, and with it, her invoice. You sigh with relief, and send her the money, a hefty sum. You are depressed and sleepless for three more days.
8) You go back to your gym, where the man who recommended your former editor is never to be seen again, but another man, whom you know a bit better, recommends his wife to edit your manuscript. You grab her email address and send her an email.
9) Man-at-the-Gym-Whom-You-Know-Better’s wife meets you in person appropriately at the local bookshop to discuss your needs and her credentials. She sounds qualified to you, but then, what do you know? The price she quotes you is even more eyebrow- raising than the price the previous editor quoted, so you excuse yourself to use the Ladies’, where you ring your husband on your cell phone, interrupting his work once again, to ask his opinion again. Your husband again asks, “Is she a good editor?” And again, you say, “Of course,” to which he replies again, “Then hire her.” You go back to the table where your now cold coffee and your new editor are waiting patiently, and hand over your manuscript, and Mrs. ‘M-A-T-G-W-Y-K-B’ promises to have your work back to you in one month, edited.
10) Your new editor returns your manuscript in one month, as promised. On it she has penciled in the margins dozens upon dozens of questions and comments. She also encloses a three-page document of her own that offers more suggestions, her invoice, and her doctor’s bill for the carpel tunnel surgery she needed to have after editing your manuscript.
11) You quickly glance through some of the notes your so-called editor has smeared across your manuscript, outraged and upset by every one of them. You walk into your husband’s office again, crying this time. This time, he wisely says nothing, and just keeps working. Disgusted with him, your editor, your work, and yourself, you walk out of his office, and phone your best friend for sympathy. She says she’s glad you found an editor that finished the job she promised to finish. Really disgusted now, you make an excuse to get off the phone. You leave your edited manuscript untouched for two weeks.
12) After two weeks, you look at your manuscript again, and decide you might as well try making some of the edits suggested, since you paid so much for them. You realize as you work that most, if not all, are not nearly as brainless as you’d first supposed. You type diligently and fruitfully for two solid months. Your manuscript is down to 337 pages and is much, much better. You run into your husband’s home office and tell him how exuberant you are over your brilliant editor. You run to your gym, hoping to meet up with her husband there, so you can congratulate him profusely for his choice of life partner. You now love him and her both equally, as a couple, as though they were old, dear friends. You ring your best friend joyously, informing her that your manuscript is now ready to be presented to literary agents. You will be published within weeks.
Or so you think.
(To be Continued.)
You are scaring me Dr. Pat.
But an excellent insight into publishing.
Part II in which I get an agent, and part III in which I get published, are even scarier, Doc. This career is not for sissies, that’s for sure. We’re tough old birds though, ain’t we? ; D
Oh, ha ha ha ha ha! If I were your husband I think I’d run away after the second tearful encounter. Sounds like a good editor, though.
Oh- believe me, Margy- it gets worse for him. I’m surprised this man hasn’t handed me divorce papers. Somehow, despite all of it, he seems to be enjoying himself, and is 150% behind my writing career, bless his heart. But then, I always support the poker drams he has, so maybe we’re both crazy. …
Patricia, this is a delightful read. I really loved #3, which is so true. Editors are very important. I’ll need one soon.
Lucy
Thanks, Lucy. I am looking forward to what you’re writing, Lucy. And I hope I got across what a great editor I was lucky enough to find…
Loved it, great begining (or it could stand alone…hmmm!) Wonderful to hear from you again. Keep writing, keep smiling, and keep struggling 🙂
Thanks, Raymond. It’s so nice that you’re reading. I appreciate it. : )
Sounds like a long and winding road. I can’t wait to read the rest of it.
Hi Tom,
I think you’ll find it a healthy dose of reality, as you are on chapter nine…. ; )
Even though there isn’t a [this is good] checkbox here, you still get one from me. =) Thanks for sharing this story, can’t wait to read the rest!
Thanks, Cap’n S ! I’ll get to it as soon as I’m back home!
: )
Blimey, it all sounds a bit traumatic and you’ve not even got to the ‘finding a publisher’ bit yet! Why is nothing good ever simple??
I guess that’s what makes it good when it finally happens…?
One kid moved out, another back in…then exchange students…the exchange students left – but only because the inlaws moved in…then out…then another kid moved back in with grandkids in tow…then, more inlaws moved in…throughout all of it my husband had the nerve to ask me how I was managing my time…what had I written that day? Friends asked me where the next chapter was…
CANNOT wait to read the rest of this, Patricia!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Sigh) I hear ya, Renee. How are we supposed to ignore everyone and concentrate on work, without feeling like horribly self-centered women?
Wow it sure takes a lot of guts to be a writer. I can hardly wait to see your next post and read your book.
Maureen (WPG)
Thanks a lot, Maureen! ; D
Even though this is scary it is also hopeful, because it shows that even great writers have to go thru the hard stuff.
Wow! What a lovely compliment, CC! That was a nice way to start the day, hearing that from you. Thanks!
Oh my…. and to think I have been missing all these….
you never, ever fail to provoke strong feelings , be that a huge laugh or deep rage, emotions of the most varied kind, which is something so needed lately….
I have to admit I’m bad, I only discovered this because of R.G. leaving Vox… well, I have found you now.
I’m not sure about the trailer…. it’s OK, but…not sure, something doesn’t make justice to the book.
Promise to visit FB fan club more often, life has been terribly hectic with fighting to get Sarita properly dressed and not painted like a clown before she goes to school, keeping her away from the drinkers and smokers and boys who consider 13 an appropiate age for sex….. you know, daily enjoyments of the parenting life…
Love the teacher parent conference post, btw.
You, my darling, are my favorite writer of these era.
Just reading this got me in a good mood (almost impossible task after 48 hs no sleep) You are the very, very best. Missed you.
Huggzzzzz
Hi Mrs. Peel,
I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you didn’t know I’d moved my blog. I still double post at VOX, but I have removed the comment boxes, because their software makes it impossible for me to respond.There is a bug in it, unfortunately.
Anyway, I wish RG hadn’t left VOX. I know he is very upset about his friend’s passing.
BTW- I loved the card and Sarita’s idea of a scrap blog for the book. She’s right that you have talent!
Dear Patricia,
I have had carpel tunnel since I was 18 due to me being such a writer and many other joint problems due to scholiosis. Though, I have been drinking something that is all natural wild fuits and berries from around the world that has helped all my joint problems. I thought I was going to have to have surgery on my hands and another cortizone shot in my knee before it blew out. After drinking this drink for over a month I started noticing that I wasn’t poping and cracking anymore. I didn’t have the need to go get that cortizone shot and my hands feel better.
Amongst other health issues that it has worked out for me! I can drink it and I don’t have to go to the doctors anymore! Not even for other problems like Acid Reflux, Allergies, sore throats, and anxiety. I usually get the flu each year. I didn’t get it this year! I’m also sleeping better and being energized during the day! I think clearer too which is difficult to do when you have an 11 year old daughter being homeschooled and hormonal, an 8 year old boy with ADHD, and a 2 year old who always wants you with them.
If you’d like to know more about the juice I drink feel free to email me at aprilsoles@yahoo.com
Dear April,
Please don’t post commercials on my blog. This is an area for friendly conversation only. I welcome your comments/thoughts about what I’ve written, but if you’re trying to sell a product this is not the forum.
Thank you kindly
I’m sorry Patricia. I put in Carpel Tunnel into the search and got your Blog. I thought you or some of the people you were blogging with were having problems with it.
I was just trying to help anyone in need of getting rid of it. I didn’t mean to impose. All of the other blogs I have found on here were not like yours that told people about you or gave them informationals like you did.
So, again I’m sorry to have offended you. It was wrong on my part to have not thoroughly read your blog first.
Sincerely,
April
No worries, April. It’s very nice of you to explain. Come back and visit again. (And if I do run into anyone with carpal tunnel, I will send them to your site) : )
Patricia, I love your blog. I am heading for Trader Joe’s to buy a quart of Harlot’s Sauce. I haven’t told my harlot yet. I hope she likes it.
Hey, thanks, CWC!
Enjoy that pasta with your special ‘lady’! ; D
Patricia,im so happy you got published, Im glad your writing about your adventures while trying to get your book done,its interesting stuff. Ill be looking for the next chapter,take care, Craig
Thank you so much. My book is published already, by the way, so it’s already finished and out in the shops and on amazon. By the way, would this be my VOX neighbour, Craig?
Patricia – you have inspired me. I am so glad I found you on FB. Your long journey and passion for writing are an inspiration to me and make feel “OK, don’t give up…” I can’t wait to read more.
Irene
Hey there, Irene! I had no idea you were writing. We seem to have a lot in common. There is a PART TWO of this post and I am working on Part THREE. It doesn’t get easier, but it’s always a possible. Never give up!
Oh- there is MORE pain when finding an editor. Egads.
Thank you thank you for this post <3
Christina Rozeas
Hope it was helpful, Christina, but not too discouraging!
; )