In case you've forgotten - or more likely, don't give two hoots - but I'm telling you anyway, my last attempt to be published was a novel was set between the end of WW1 and The General Strike ie 1919-1926 and partly discusses the repercussions of the horror of that conflict. I totally missed the boat because by the time it was sent out to agents it was already late 1913. And you know how slowly the publication process works.
Basically, I had some decent feedback but no editor was eager enough to bite my hand off. Oh well.
Having left that one languishing, I have been working on and on and on with a medieval novel. Set in the 14th century it concerns a real and very small Cistercian priory of nuns in the village where I now live. Those who know me or read this blog may well remember that my first version it wasn't at all well-received by my (then) agent and we parted company. I am now, very slowly and ploddingly rewriting it after advice and more thought. I am hoping there is now more at stake for the major players plus a lit of magic realism (sort of).
So that, in brief, is where I stand now. I have no deadline so there is no need to rush. I am totally rewriting it and adding more powerful scenes whilst deleting all the waffle. I refuse to be rushed. I have no deadline so I intend to complete a reasonable new draft, then ask for an opinion of one of the major literary consultancies, make the necessary changes (as long as I accept them) then have it professionally sub-edited.
Then I will begin the submission process which will inevitably take time. I am not wildly optimistic. I have decided to take it 5 agents at a time until such time I have amassed 20 rejections without any interest. Then, my plan is to self-publish. I will never stop writing. I will never give up as long as I have my health and strength.
I will not bore you about my work in progress until there is something worth saying. My next blog post will be sheer self-indulgence. Surely I am not the only person who has ever dreamt of choosing my very own Desert Island Discs and have complied several lists over the years. As the reality will never come about, I shall do it for myself.
So tune in - or turn off. I won't be offended. I'm doing it for me.
Taking time is the pleasure we can enjoy, Sally. I have often thought it must be hard to work to a deadline if you have a three book deal hanging over your head. Glad to read you are enjoying your rewrite and l'm sure you'll get a publisher knocking at your door soon. As you know l'm playing the waiting game at the moment. To me the writing is the easy part it what comes next that's the tough part.
ReplyDeleteTake your time, Sally. It's lovely to read another of your blog posts. You're a talented writer, so keep the faith. As long as you enjoy writing, that's all that matters. First and foremost I think we have to write for ourselves.
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