Four years ago, I started writing a novel. It had no structure, no plot really, just three triplet boys that I knew could be amazing. For three years I wrote, erased, wrote, considered jumping off a cliff, erased, erased, erased, then wrote some more. Three years passed and the book still wasn't finished. I realized that by not figuring out the overall story first, that I was getting nowhere with my book. If I kept going back and perfecting everything that was already on paper, the book would NEVER get done. So I pushed through to the end. Whew! Crossed that finished line. Wrote the last words of the book and celebrated!
And then the Brick Wall came.
I stared at this Brick Wall wondering where it came from and how I was supposed to climb it. I tried the easy way and used a trampoline to jump it. The trampoline being a quick query letter and a couple reviews of that query letter from some friends and submitting it away to an agent. Well that didn't work. To my utter horrification, I realized that my novel was not ready. Tears, cursing, migraines and 6 months later, my novel was re-worked. Okay, this time I was done. I just knew it! **Throws confetti**
Another 6 months passed of editing. I had others read it and give me feedback. All the while my book just keeps getting better.
It turned out that I had only strapped on my harness and dug in my pegs. I hadn't even started climbing yet! But I was getting there. I started researching online and came across Jenny Milchman and saw the Polished and Published course. I learned so much in this class. I met friends. I learned about the business of writing. And I also learned how important it is to have your book and query absolutely perfect.
And now, I'm scaling that Brick Wall. Still working over my book and trying to get an agent. We'll see what happens!
