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My Works in Progress

Saturday 18 October 2008

In Limbo

I'm sorry I haven't visited blogland for ages. It's because I've been spending every precious minute of my spare time writing. Now I am in Limbo - in that strange place where I'm sure many writers have found themselves before. I have an agent. I sort of have a publisher - but I'm betwixt and between, waiting to hear whether my reworked blockbuster of a family saga splits successfully into three average length books. This was at the request of the interested publisher who wanted three books instead of one.

I've finished the re-write of the first novel in the trilogy and the manuscript has been very ceremoniously posted off at our village post office. I kissed it - the post office clerk kissed it - and his wife did too (who works with him and is an old friend of mine) and for good measure the bloke behind me in the queue kissed it too, saying 'blimey - that'll put us on the map having an author living in the village.'

I wish I shared his optimism!

My kind-hearted neighbour, Dulcie - elderly, with long grey hair and a hooked nose, stone deaf and very scary to children and animals - was in the queue too, fetching her pension. She pretended, very loudly because she didn't have her hearing aid switched on - to put a good luck spell on the manuscript and a child in the shop nearly wet herself with fright, asking her mummy if the lady was a witch.

It was all rather touching, really. I gave her a lift back home in my car in appreciation of her good luck spell. Well, wouldn't you? I didn't want to tempt any bad vibes.

So this is the state of play:-
  • Book One (80K words). My first manuscript is now with my agent for onward transmission to the interested publisher, but my agent has been in Frankfurt all this week (is it just wishful thinking that she might - just might - have been peddling serial or film rights?) OK OK - I know I'm just being silly!
  • Book Two (78K words) is complete, but needs a serious edit to make sure it has a definite beginning, middle and end of its own. I also need another reader to make sure it can stand alone as a novel in its own right.
  • Book Three (83K words) is in a mess - comprising of the end of the original novel, and the beginning of the original sequel. It needs a serious re-work to give it a beginning, a middle and an end of its own. Mind you it's a bit longer than the others, so I have a bit of lee-way to be ruthless.
  • I have written three, separate synopses.
  • I have written a single synopsis covering the whole saga.

My deadline for submission of Book One was the end of September, which I managed to meet - just.

I'm hoping to get Book Two to a local reader next weekend, and sent off to my agent by the first week in November.

My deadline for completion of the first draft of Book Three is the end of the year.

If all this is for nothing, then I will have to have lots of virtual TLC. I feel as if I am so close, and yet so far.

Limbo is quite a lonely place to be I can tell you. I really need that Wannabe meet-up on 10th November to give me another injection of empathy.

14 comments:

Leigh Russell said...

Our situations and experiences sound very similar, except I don't have an agent, but do have a publisher. We must keep in touch! Limbo's a lonely place if you're there on your own. Good luck.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I shall keep fingers and toes crossed for you.

You've certainly been incredibly busy and I'm sure you'll be fine, you have a wonderful agent. and with Dulcie's spell everything should come together perfectly.

I wish I could go in November and meet everyone in person.

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

Wow. What a lot you've achieved. No wonder you've been away from blog land.

I hope you'll be out of limbo land very soon - and that you'll forget that you were ever there.

Chat tomorrow?

HelenMWalters said...

It all sounds really exciting. Hope you get some firm news soon - we'll all be celebrating with you x

DAB said...

Hello Mrs Limbo,

Welcome back to the world of non-limbo and re-enter the world of blogging. This is the place where we can chat, offer support, tell a joke, get political (NO!) and most of all talk a load of twaddle.

BTW Hope you find time to enter my writing competition - no pressure. I know what a busy bee you are. TFx

Anonymous said...

Quite simply: you rock!

Annie Wicking said...

Good luck with all your books. Wow you have been working hard.

Best wishes,
Annie

Marcie Steele said...

So that's where you've been Annie! Still up at 4.30 I see.

Oh I hate limbo too and I'm further behind than you! Good luck with everything, I wish you all the very best. Three book deal, hmm? Wow.

Lane Mathias said...

Annie, you've done brilliantly and I just know it won't all be for nothing.

When I was at the convent, we used to have to pray for souls caught in limbo. I'll do my own version of praying now:-)

Pat Posner said...

You popped up on Debs' blog so thought I'd come and have a look-see.
As a (rejected) saga writer I was glued to my seat and had to go right to the start of your blog to get the full story.
Turning one book into three must have been exhausting and exciting at the same time. The publisher obviously loved the long version to suggest that, so huge congrats.
You've worked so hard and I hope you're very soon out of limbo - you deserve to be and I'll keep everything crossed for you!

Oh, Zak and Barney are very handsome fellas.

Tamsyn Murray said...

Good luck and I hope your agent has been furiously peddling on your behalf!

Karen said...

You're in such an exciting place, but waiting is the hardest part. I've found that even with m'short stories - once I've sent them out I'm in an agony of wondering whether or not they're going to be accepted, and I suppose (know!) that the only answer is to get on with the next thing :o)

Anonymous said...

Good luck Annieye.x

Anonymous said...

I can see you at the Book Awards next year!...envious! x