Thursday, June 12, 2008

Request and Rejection

How can I have such extremes in the span of just four days? I'm tellin' you, this business is both brutal and exhilerating!

My book query blitz resulted in success...already. I don't want to go into a lot of detail yet. Just know that when a writer sends a query letter, the point is to get an agent or publisher to ask to see more. That has happened. I am beyond excited about getting "Huey and the Summer Snowball" into the hands of those who can help me get it on the publishing road. While still basking in the joy of this new road, I stumbled across quite disappointing news.

I was on the website for the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association looking for something else, when a bar to the side caught my eye. It said, "2008 Literary Contest Finalists Announced." I had expected an email or letter in the mail early next week, but it seems they'd already made an announcement. I clicked on the link and scanned down. I didn't place. Of six places in my category, I didn't place. My entry was for my memoir and I really thought I'd be a finalist. Disappointing? Definitely.

I haven't really had a chance to process it yet. Admittedly, I am a thinker, an over-thinker actually. So right now, I'm not letting myself go there. All I can say is that finalist or not, each participant receives a critique from two people in the industry. My hope is that this will give me a good idea of what direction to take with this book. The book is complicated for many reasons. And as a writer friend reminded me over at Absolute Write, "Everything happens for a reason." Right now, that reason is a mystery.

Just for fun, and to help me focus on the positive, I think I'll post a paragraph or two from each of my books sometime in the next week or so. Until then, Write Now-because it's later than you think. ~Karen

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Karen,
My name is Sofi. I, too, am a freelance writer and a, waiting in the wings children's book author. I wish you the best of luck- keep at it! I think your motto- "it's later than you think," is just the kick in the pants we all need.
Take care,
Sofi

Karen Fisher-Alaniz said...

Hi Sofi~ Perseverance is the name of the game with books, isn't it? The request ultimately resulted in a "pass" but I'm still working on it. Glad you came for a visit. Come back often! ~Karen

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