Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Query about to go...again!

I have been silent because this year has been so great for learning. Many new things to think about in a writer's life. Ebooks are coming of age and so is the tempation to market one's self and see how it goes. For me most of the year was about completing the book. It took about seven rewrites to get it where I wanted but finally in January I sent out five books and put it all behind me. I know there will be more but for now, I felt book two needed to start. So, for the last several months I have worked hard on it until this last month. I spent time really going hard on the query I have been working since March of last year. It is ready to send out. Now...just setting up the blogs and web site to make room for comments. (feel free to comment about the excerpt at www.authorjeffbaird.com Anyway, the feed back was serious and very pointed. It was a dicotomy though, many wanted more. I enjoyied my 640 page book better but it did need some word dieting. Now, it is still considered a long book for woman's fiction but it is very descriptive. I have worked hard on that query and am ready to pull the pin and send it. In a way, it is scarey. If I get shot down this time I will loose (I think) a great opportunity to be represented by a great agent. But, I have decided to move on. Maybe, that's the best. Now with much more knowledge and self-confidense, I am ready to enter the match. I may not write the best but the many comments about the book prove it is much better than many they've read. It is my best work to date and I guess that is all one can do...their best.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Reworking Book

It has been a year since I posted a blog. I sent in my query letter and it was shot down in flames. It was my fault but I was tempted to put in early. A article from my favorite and (hopefully my agent) suggested now would be a great time. So I had not given the query the same attention I was giving the book. Big mistake because the query is the door opening for the book. It is probably more important than the book.

For a year I have edited the book with two full rewrites and cut a 100 pages out of it. It is leaner but still a sizable book at 540 pages.

It is odd because I like large books. If you read say, 75 pages a hour then in a rainy evening you can suck down 250 to 300 pages. Seems odd that agents want something like 140,000 words. That is ruffly 425 pages. It is clearly a commercial consideration. I have to chance it because I believe in writing in a style that paints a more complete image for the reader. Something that has been greatly appreciated by those that have read my first book.

I hope it flys!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Progress: Coming to the end

I wasn't able to write the last four weeks. I had family birthdays, some musical shows to go to and had to put my boat away for the winter. Back at it now. The rest did me good. I only have to finish this final review and finish my query letter. For now, January is send your Query Letter out and hope for an agent. Once I finish this last reading and any sequense issues, I am headed to Kinko's for several full copies. I made a list of book club representatives for final inspection. Most of them have english degrees and do some writing. I hope to use their kind reflections to aid in any changes that might need to be made. Regardless at this point in my career, I believe it is all but ready for professional inspection and comment. Last time I felt like that was in January and "THEY" made short work of my query letter. However, now I am wiser and a better writer---I hope. Damn the martini's full speed ahead!!!!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Update

Thanks to all the people who have commented about the book. And NO... I have not stopped on it. Its kind of funny. I have really been honing my skills as a writer. I have studed blogs, articles and have several favorite web sites I visit daily. Each has untold riches for thoughs of us who are not formally trained. It has been hard and this last 3 months has been the hardest. What people don't understand is if you write a great book that everyone likes...it doesn't mean anything. You have to submit a query letter to a publisher or agent in my case that catches their eye enough to request 30 pages of your book. That's it---30 pages. In that, you have to prepare the back ground, set the main event that is the reason for the book. So, while it may sound easy, in my case the main event started about page 73. So...I physically made a determination that chapters 2, 3, and 4 were background and not needed and simply---CUT THEM. Yes, I physically cut 80 pages out of the book to meet the commercial demands of a book to be published.
This last weekend, I finished touching up chapters 1, 2 and 3. Which are actually chapters 1, 5 and 6. I also read up to about page 350 of 460 pages to make sure I didn't reference something I just pulled out of the early chapters. I have a major decision to effect this new chapter 4. It may get cut up into two smaller chapters. I'm still thinking about it.
I continue to write and review what was written. I have finished REV. 6 and the story is about as well written as I can make it. The last challange was to warp it into a commercially viable book from a first time author. That is a significan't challange. But, I am glad to say that after the next two weeks I should have corrected chapter 4 and then it is simply a matter of some little clean up items.
I have a list of three additional people who are trained English majors and are aggressive avid readers. They will get a crack at the book first for comment. After that, and now too, I am working my query letter and it is going to an agent withing the next month or two. Again...thank you so many who call me, email me and constantly offer support. I think it is a nice thing to have so many nice friends. I am blessed!!!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Been Resting

I have not been working as much on the book as I would have liked. But, it seems the 3 chapters I have rewritten are much better for it. I can only attribute it to the daily research online on writing tips, agents blogs--namely Kristin Nelson who I think is a great agent. Of course, I never met her but her writing is really great. This first time writer stuff is pretty hard. I continue to review and rewrite and the book is much better. Fans are getting after me though to finish and with school out for students, birthdays and boat in the water (grin--my favorite writing home) I should be back at it this weekend. It is a curious journey as a writer, not unlike life. You take these amazing big steps then a pile of little ones back. Maybe with continued research and diligence, this will work! I hope so, I really like it. I seem to have an ability the question is...is it good enough!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Near Finished Blues

I wasn't able to write much since Thanksgiving. It seems no matter what I did something else clouded my concentration. Part of it is the Near Finished Blues. I started May and finished the full book in August. I agree with Stephen King's concept, "You need 4 or 5 good rewrites to get the book ready for an editor." Of course this is a paraphrase. I have read Kristin Nelson's Web site about authors and agents. She says, "Be Prepared" the Boy Scout motto before contacting an agent. I have 3 of 27 chapters complete for release. My birthday is the end of the month and my goal is to have the book finished with no additional rewrites necessary. I have a list of patients, friends and extended family that are dieing to get to read it. Since I posted the first 10 pages on my web site I have had lots of positive feed back. A special "thanks" to Jenn for her design work on a limited budget. I think the "blues" are a real concern that every step leading up to this was a work in progress and "not ready" for release. I think as you finish you also run out of reasons not to send the dreaded query letters and get antsy about the agent game. Someone commented figure 10 to 15 rejections as a normal. We send, they read, they evaluate and decide. What is you have researched a specific agent? What if you have read and reread agent advice, columes and bought books on getting published? With these questions firm in my head I have decided that being prepared is the best policy. It has cost me dearly in time of rewrite and research. But, with that said, I have a much better written book now than before. (imagine that) I think part of the fear is to have written 500 pages of something that no one cares to read! Ha Ha Ha---just another obstacle for writers. I should be able to clear some chapters with my writing club. I am new to it but do enjoy their posts and honesty. I am looking forward to resuming that after the holiday delays and some weather issues. To help my blues---I embedded a little Muse, Super massive black hole. I jokingly tell my friends it is my new theme song. Strong powerful and full of courage. At least enough to get through this last phase of writing on this project! As the end nears it is clear the challange is extensive. One of my favorite quotes is from, if you can believe it, the cartoon version of Robin Hood. I don't know if it's in the book. "Faint hearts never won fair ladies." Sorry for the male slant on it. But really, if you never aim high...how can you ever achive high? True, luck is probably the best friend for success in a given instant. But for us not so lucky...perhaps hard work, preparation and a little faith will be enough!!!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Web page up and running

Sorry for the delay.
Everyone was busy this time of year and getting my Blog, Twitter and new web page together took time. Special thanks to Jennifer who did a great job at designing it---my opinion. We were able to post the first 10 pages of my book in a book manuscript format. That makes it read much much better than some internet font.