Preparing to Query

I'm clearly no expert on how to get a novel published because I've only just finishing writing one.But, during the past week I've accomplished quite a lot.

I've tightened up my hook/ blurb

Louisville’s Laurel Lancaster is quickly coming apart at the seams. In her early twenties, her first manic episode crescendos into a two week stay in a mental health facility. While battling to reintegrate back into everyday life, the universe delivers news that may send her further spiraling: her ex-boyfriend is dead in an apparent car accident. Laurel knows better. She must figure out how to cope with a death she believes she caused, and discovers that her only redemption – or perhaps her only punishment – is to keep on living.

Cleaned up my manuscript. It's a little short at 66,000 words, so I'm adding in a chapter

Wrote a synopsis

Added a couple of agents to my dream agent list

Found another beta reader and sent my work off to him

Wrote a list of questions to be discussed with Nathan Bransford on our upcoming call in August.

Submitted five poems to Southern Poetry Review

Stayed active on twitter, using my MC's name as my handle

Twitter highlights

Connected with an agent who loves Dar Williams

Continued to pinch myself after one of my favorite authors, Chris Bohjalian, replied to a comment I left recommending one of his books to a new twitter follow. He was thanking me. I mean, do what?!

My conversation with Chris Bohjalian turned into me telling him I'm hoping to begin the query process and his wishing me the best of luck. I'll be sending him a link to this post later today, which really intimidated me at first, but I have shaken it off. I am putting everything I can into the universe, and continuing to dream big.

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in which i have a birthday and a giveaway

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possessive

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First Page Blogfester

Preface: TGIF. It has been a day. So. I'm participating in the First Page Blogfest in which writers around the blogosphere post the opening 24 lines of their WIP. (In a "real" book, this is the approximate amount of work that would appear on page 1!) This blogfest is being headed up by Kelly over at Kelly's Compositions . Please check out the other entries and leave them a comment on their work. My own WIP will be featured on Roni's Beta Club next week, and I chose an excerpt from the beginning one chapter one for critque over there, so today I'll give you the true beginning: the opening lines of my prologue. Here goes nothing. My working title is A SAD SONG IN A FLAT KEY Genre: Literary Fictionspice Prologue May 2005 Laurel sits Indian style. She faces the head of her bed and tries to focus on Cafe Terrace at Night, pretending it is priceless artwork instead of a cheap replica. She counts the tables first, and the...

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