My Characters Haven't Buried Me in The Yard!

Wow. It's been so long since I've been here, I forgot how to sign in! No, I'm not an idiot. I swear.

I've had this cough that's rapidly become a not so welcome live in friend. So I'm taking these heavy duty 'scrip meds to knock it out. Yeah, it's working. But it's also making my brain into swiss cheese, which is doing absolutely nothing for my writing ability. And explains why this is now in italics! I can't remember how to get rid of them! Ugg!!

The first three chapters of 'Maid' are done. Fini. No more, no how, no way. I think the next three are close to 'agent' ready, too. I know I'm ready, but I have 20 odd chapters left to edit. No, I'm not deluding myself about getting an agent. I know it'll be an uphill, painful, process. I know I won't get a contract straight out of the gate. But it's exciting to think about...

I discovered that editing really is a lonely process. More so than writing the first draft, actually. It's easy to whip out a first draft. The struggle starts when you've set your 'baby' aside for a few months, or years (or whatever time you need to gain a fresh perspective) then systematically begin tearing your ms apart to make it stronger. Now THAT'S hard, heart-breaking work. Especially when you have people around telling you how great it was out of the gate... and how they don't understand why you have to make all the changes. But that's never happened to me :P Oh, no! Never! LOL!!

The first agent I want to submit to (no, I'm not giving out names!) won't be available (for personal reasons) until the fall, so I do have the time necessary to make 'Maid' into a viable ms...

Now if I could only get rid of this damn cough!