Rome Wasn't Built In A Day, Running, and Other Metaphors

Sure, there are some days where the words pour from your fingertips in a waterfall of creativity and prose, but those days are exceedingly rare. As Holly Lisle, one of my favorite writers (especially when she writes about writing), says in one of her helpful articles: novelists are the long-distance runners of the writing world. Unlike sprinters or milers, long distance runners have to have a lot of endurance. Speed isn't necessarily the most important skill. It's all about pacing yourself. It doesn't matter how fast you go, only that you reach the finish line.

Every writer works at their own speed. My personal writing speed is completely erratic. Sometimes I can barely get down a couple hundred words, and other times I glance down at the word count and realize I've done five thousand in only a couple of hours. Being a fast writer is definitely nice, but not necessary. In the end, it isn't important whether you write faster than a Harlequinn romance novelist with two books out every year or spend what seems like forever on the same gigantic fantasy novel.

Right now, I am not very inspired to finish The Witch's Daughter, maybe because of the rejection from Bold Strokes, and I really want to work on my newest project, which is about an FBI agent and a closeted politician (I posted an excerpt already). However, I'm not giving up.

In order to inspire myself, I posted the first two parts on the websites I submit to for some comments and feedback. That always makes me write faster. My fanfiction is proof of that. The more reviews I get, the faster I write. If you are ever stuck on a project (make sure it is one that you really DO enjoy and want to finish), I suggest posting it half-finished instead of waiting. Although many people hate being left at a cliffhanger, myself included, it can be a personal motivator. (If you are one of those people who can NEVER seem finish a project, however, don't heed that advice and wait until you finish, or you might end up with a lot of disappointed fans.)

Dividing my attention between multiple projects also seems to be an effective way to unclog the writing tubes when I feel like I will never finish my novel. Again, this technique is not the best one to use for beginners that have trouble finishing what they start. If you fall in to this category, the only advice I can offer is to slug through the mud until you get to the finish line. There's no shortcuts, no easy way around it. You just have to finish. The more projects you complete, the easier it gets.

Being a writer is a lot harder than most people think. It requires a lot of stamina, a lot of determination, and a thick hide. But it is also very rewarding to sit and stare at a full word document that means something to you... and will, hopefully, mean something to others.

On another note, Rome cannot be built without help. Today (or tomorrow, since it's late tonight), take the time to thank all the wonderful people in your life that read your work and help you while you're running the novel race. It will make both of you feel good, and maybe it will also garner you some extra support and inspiration.

New Project

Well, never let it be said that Rae gives up without a fight. Since Bold Strokes does want to see more of my work (and they were actually very encouraging in their letter to me, which was personalized and not just a form letter), I am starting a new project. I'm not sure what title I will give it, but here's the gist and an excerpt.

Plot: Tess Daubney, the daughter of a prominent senator, is running on the Republican ticket in her first national election for one of Ohio's Congressional seats (2nd district). However, she has to make a choice when she gets entangled with Robin, the niece of her campaign manager. It's kind of ironic that, in this story, the Republican is the good guy and the Democrat is a total sleezebag. I usually vote Democrat (although I greatly admire Olympia Snowe), but I tend to judge individual politicians based on their moral fiber and their experience rather than their party.

Her legs still shaking, weak from what they had just done, Tess bent down to pick up Robin’s discarded clothes. Her jeans and underwear were slumped in a pile against one wall, and her shirt was on the other side of the room. The sleeve of her brown leather jacket peeked out from beneath the desk, but Tess was too distracted to notice it.

“Don’t do that yet,” Robin murmured, getting up from the chair and wandering over to wrap the smaller woman in her arms. She looked confused and a little hurt when Tess flinched, jerking out of the embrace. Looking uncomfortable, the blonde adjusted her skirt and began rebuttoning her blouse. She would have to find her bra and stockings later. They had to be somewhere underneath the furniture. “Tess, what ar-”

Tess shook her head, taking another step back to put more distance between them. She shoved the clothes into Robin’s outstretched arms, trying not to watch as the naked woman began to dress herself. “Love is for story books, Robin, not real people. I have a chance to do something great here, something bigger than just me or you... I – I can’t throw that away.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Robin’s wounded expression urged Tess to take back what she had said, to change her mind. It took every ounce of strength that the blonde possessed to turn her chair around and face the wall. She couldn’t do this if she had to look at Robin’s haunted brown eyes.

“I think you should leave,” she said. Her voice wavered, cracking slightly, but Robin was too angry to notice.

“I guess now that you got what you wanted, you’re done with me,” Robin said, the disgust in her voice piercing the blonde’s heart.

All of the color drained from Tess’s face. “You have to understand, my job–”

“Oh, I understand perfectly. You’re throwing away something wonderful, something I’ve never felt before, without even giving it a chance... just because you’re a coward.” Not caring about the messy state of her hair, she finished pulling her shirt over her head and reached under the desk for her jacket, almost forgetting to button and zip her jeans. They felt stiff and uncomfortable against her legs. She should have been holding Tess right now, savoring her warm skin, soaking in the afterglow... not running off into the night like a high school kid sneaking through their girlfriend’s bedroom window. Obviously, what they had done meant nothing to her. She rubbed at stinging eyes with the back of her hand, glad that she and Tess had their backs to each other so that the other woman couldn’t see her fighting back tears.

“Robin...”

For a moment, both women forgot to breathe.

“I’m sorry things aren’t... different.”

She expected another argument, shouting, curses, something – but Robin did not try and convince her to turn her chair back around. She did not speak at all. She simply stood in silence, numbing herself against the sting of Tess’s rejection.

Staring at the drawn window shades because she could not bear to watch Robin leave, she listened to the quiet click of the door and the melancholy sound of retreating footsteps. Words rose in her throat, words calling the younger woman back, but she clenched her teeth and swallowed them back down. Hadn’t Robin already taken enough of her soul?

When she was sure that she was alone again, Tess finally let her defenses fall, collapsing onto the desk and burying her face in her arms, crying into the sleeves of her crookedly buttoned blouse.

Anyway, I'm still going to try to get TSS published. It's a damn good novel, and I'll find a way to get it out there somehow. I'm not sure what route I will take yet, but there are other publishing companies out there. However, I'd still like to publish something with Bold Strokes someday. They're a great publishing house, and I'm not at all offended by their rejection. From the tone of the letter, I gather that they just don't have room for fantasy right now in their next set of releases. If you've got ideas, tell me what you think!

Bold Strokes Responded...

Well, Bold Strokes responded. It's half good news, half bad news. I received a personalized e-mail that said, basically: Your writing is good and your voice distinctive, but we are simply not looking to publish fantasy books at this time. We are interested in seeing some of your other work.

Right now, I am not sure what to do. My other works are, well...


Death Wears Yellow Garters is too zany and not nearly polished enough to be published.

Chopin at 3:00 in the Morning is far too "high school"...

My Name is Brianna is too short.


Everything else that I have written is for the fantasy genre... I am dealing with a storm of emotions right now, and I will not sure what decisions I will make in the future or what I will do next, but I do know one thing. I am not giving up. TSS is a damn good book, and I'm proud of it, and I'm sure that, eventually, it will find a home, whether it's with Bold Strokes or not. Even if I have to tear it apart and redo it completely... even if I have to focus on some non-fantasy for now because that's what publishers want... no matter what I end up doing, I'm getting that damn book published if it's the last thing I do. I'm not sure when or how, but it's going to happen.

In other news, I only have 10,000 words left to go on The Witch's Daughter. The first two parts are up on The Academy and The Athenaeum (or will be, shortly). Oh, and on fictionpress, but those parts still have some editing mistakes.

The Waiting Game

Now that I have returned from my vacation (it seems like I am hardly at home this summer) with no traveling left to do, I have time to relax, get some serious writing done... and bite my nails down to the skin while waiting for a response from Bold Strokes about my submission. It is nerve-wracking to send something in for publication. Even while you are busy working, having fun on the beach, or preparing to start your next writing project, it lingers in the back of your mind.

It has been roughly ten weeks since I sent in The Second Sister, and boy, hitting the 'submit' button was hard. Doing it electronically was probably easier than mailing it in, however (they prefer electronic submissions anyway). At least that way, I didn't have time to change my mind. Once I double clicked on the 'Send' button, there was no going back. I admit that it took me a few minutes to gather the courage to do it. Bold Strokes did confirm that they received my submission and that they are reviewing it, so at least I don't have to worry that it got lost somewhere in cyberspace. Their website says that submitters are usually contacted 12-14 weeks after the initial inquiry, so I still have more time to wait and worry.

Still, there are no regrets on this front. Maybe I could have edited the novel more (although I did a pretty thorough job the first two times). Maybe I could have scrapped the whole thing and done it better the second time. Maybe I'm not ready to be a published author. But if I sat around waiting until I had the perfect novel to submit, I would never be able to share anything with anyone. If Rembrandt spent years agonizing over the tiny, imperfect spot in one of his first paintings, who knows, maybe the masterpieces he painted later never would have been created. If Beethoven had been too self-conscious to write his first symphony because of Mozart's lingering shadow in Vienna, the others would never have been written. Writers are always growing and changing (and hopefully improving), but there is no such thing as a 'perfect' novel, just as there is no such thing as a 'perfect' piece of music or a 'perfect' painting.

It's important to suck it up and put yourself out there over and over again - even if someone does not like your work, even if you get rejected. You have to develop a thick skin and the ability to accept criticism graciously. If you never try, you are never giving anyone a chance to say 'yes'. And someday, I hope that the 'yes' will be for me. I know it will be worth the work it took to get there.

Slated for Review

Well, I got my confirmation letter. My novel is officially slated for review. I freaked out when I first saw the e-mail in my inbox. My stomach was doing somersaults and my head was spinning, but I eventually clicked the e-mail (after a full 60 seconds of panic-mode).

Thank God for girlfriends. Seriously, if you are not emotionally and physically healthy, if you are having any other problems in your life, do NOT submit a novel for publication. It wreaks havoc on your emotions. Make sure you have a solid, strong support system in place before even attempting to get published.

Cheers.

The Second Sister Query

To the Admirable Editors at Bold Strokes:

I am seeking to publish my fantasy romance novel, The Second Sister, which is complete at 76,000 words. The sequel, Wolf’s Eyes, is also complete. As per your guidelines, a synopsis, a brief biography, a formatted version of this query, and the manuscript are enclosed.

The Second Sister is a fresh, exciting retelling of the traditional Cinderella story. Although there are a few nods to the original Brothers Grimm and French versions, The Second Sister has a unique plot with several dark twists to the conventional fairytale.

In a kingdom where magic is feared, the orphaned Ellie is put to work by her sadistic elder stepsister, Luciana, and cheated out of her inheritance. With the help of a talking cat, a cook, two servants, and her beautiful second stepsister, Belladonna, Ellie must stop Luciana from using an ancient sorcerer's chain to bewitch Prince Brendan and take over the Kingdom of Seria.

I have been writing for several years, and during the past two, I have chosen to share my work online. The Second Sister has received awards from its hosting websites, ranking number one at The Athenaeum when it was originally published, and remaining on the weekly Top 25 lists for over twenty weeks. It also received a high slot on the Top 25 of 2009 list. Thank you very much for your consideration of this proposal.

Sincerely,

Rae D. Magdon

Today on May 26th, 2010, at 12:36 AM, I submitted my first novel, my baby, to Bold Strokes. For the moment, it's out of my hands. I should probably be proud - my girlfriend is being proud for me - but I am mostly terrified. Terrified of all the people that will read my work and judge it (and me).

But I sent it in anyway.

Here are some tips I have for those of you who are thinking about submitting a novel to a publishing company.

1. Select your publishing company carefully. Of course, I am writing for a niche market, so it is easier for me to choose who I want to publish my book.

2. Read their guidelines thoroughly. Research the submission guidelines. Find out where to address or e-mail your manuscript. Find out if they want a synopsis or not. Find out the names of the editors if possible. Do your research! Most of the information is online and easy to access.

3. If your novel has not been edited, edit it. Have someone else edit it. Then someone else. But if you want to publish it, DO NOT READ the novel for a thousandth time before you send it in. You will inevitably find at least one sentence you are not happy with and talk yourself out of it, convinced that in just another month (read: another year) you will be able to write the entire thing "better".

4. Do not submit first thing before you go to bed... you will not be able to fall asleep. Trust me.

Gathering Courage

Well, here I am. On the verge of doing something monumental - if not for the world, at least for me.

I have always been a writer. Ever since I was a little kid, I scribbled in my mother's left over 70 page journals and those marble composition notebooks at school. When I got older, I started typing out stories on the computer. At 17, I published my first novel online: look up my name (Rae D. Magdon) on www.xenafiction.net or www.academyofbards.com.

And now... it is time.

My goal: To publish my first novel - The Second Sister.

In case you are interested, here's the summary:

In a kingdom where magic is feared, the orphaned Ellie is put to work by her sadistic elder stepsister, Luciana, and is cheated out of her inheritance. With the help of a talking cat, a horse, a stableman, a cook, two servants, and especially her beautiful second stepsister, Belladonna, Ellie must stop Luciana from using an ancient sorcerer's chain to bewitch Prince Brendan and take over the Kingdom of Seria. You have never seen a Cinderella story this sexy before...

My target: Bold Strokes. One of my favorite publishing companies of all time, and extremely lesbian friendly.

In time, I hope that this blog will become something of a guide for other authors who are following the same treacherous, but rewarding path to publication. But now, in this moment, it's just a place to get my feelings out. I'm nervous as hell. My hands are shaking, and I'm scared just at the thought of sending my baby in to be judged by nameless, faceless people on the internet.

I can do this. I just have to keep telling myself that. I can do this... right?