OH MY GOD!!!!
I know, this is not the most professional way to start a post, but…OH MY GOD!!!
I am so exhilarated right now I think I’m going to cry. Yesterday Sarah Maas emailed me back the critique of my revised synopsis. She managed to compress the two pages into one page, as it should be. Then she also discussed my synopsis over with Alexander Shostak, who gave her input on how to improve the synopsis. Sarah afterwards sent me the revised, sparkling draft. I was, and am again, on the verge of tears when I think of how dedicated they are in helping me. I am so grateful to them and everyone else on Let the Words Flow. Now that I have my query and synopsis complete and polished I am so prepared for this Thursday! Alexandra advised me to send up to 10 queries rather than mass querying 40 letters. “That way” she writes “if by some horrible twist of fate you get more rejections that you do requests….you can re-examine your query/synopsis/first pages…” A very good advice indeed! My next blog entry will be titled “Post-Querying:______” and I’ll fill in the blank with whatever I was feeling.
Another event that topped my day was this: I printed out my manuscript and slipped it into an envelope for my sister to give to my former high school Writer’s Craft teacher. When the story of how my teacher reacted was accounted to me, I was all smiles, and nearly fainted from joy.
The rest of my life outside of writing, however, lacks lustre. I’m struggling with my two university courses that I had to take due to distribution requirements (*cough* sociology and geography *clears throat*). Struggling, as in, not studying, but being busy thinking about how I have so much to do to prepare for the exams. My European History and English Lit are going well though. I’m working on two massive essays right now for these classes. Though it is stressing at times I am still enjoying myself. To study, I go to Woodsworth college, where there is this narrow hall lined with desks where the lighting is dim with Second Cup nearby. I order random drinks (one day it was coffee, then Gingerbread latte, then London Fog, then Café Latte, and tomorrow it’s going to be hot Apples cider) and type away at my essay. Speaking of essays, I remember being scolded once by my history teacher when she was handing my paper back: “June, you were supposed to write an ACADEMIC report, not a NARRATIVE!” So yes, I must be academic, must repress my creativity and my tendency to ramble on with flowery sentences…
OH! One exciting event that will occur outside of my writing life is that I’ll be going to THE SOUND OF MUSIC musical this Friday! I am so hyped up right now. Then the following Saturday I have no work because I booked the day off to study! I would much rather study than work.
The querying, the essays-going-well, the performance I am to attend—I haven’t been this happy in so long! I hope my happiness is contagious and will leap out of this page and affect you guys too!
June Hur 
Best of luck and butterfly suppression as you start querying! I do agree with the batches of 10 advice–I’ve only sent one batch of 8 so far, but am glad I didn’t pepper on the first round in case I decide to make changes to the letter or synopsis or whatnot. In case of (steeling self) mass rejection 🙂
I love, love, love finding secret pretty little places to work. Mine is the art library at the campus I work at–it’s all open space and light. Made typing even a boring paper seem fun and working on the next novel seem like an adventure!
I have to confess–I loved writing history papers and still write essays for fun. I’m a huge geek. Try to enjoy working on the papers 🙂 PS Try chai latte, no water sometime when you want to feel cozy on the hot drink front 🙂
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(Keep me updated on your querying progress!)
I’m laughing at myself right now. I can’t believe I was about to send out 40-60 query letters out at once. What a traumatizing experience that might have been? Visiting your email and seeing a mass of emails that politely paraphrase the one word: REJECTED. hehe. Good thing I had someone to advise me against this.
While you prefer open space and light, I work better in narrow, dim lighted spaces. How we differ hehe.
From reading the chapters posted up on Autho a while back, observing how historical it is, it’s no surprise to me that you enjoy writing history essays! I wish I enjoyed writing this paper as much as you probably might. It’s based on Medieval England…a period I’m just not too enthusiastic about. But, like I mentioned, working on this at the write place does the trick. And I was about to buy the Chai Latte but found that I was short on coins. So I’ll buy it tomorrow!
By “no water” do you mean I should tell them to make my latte without the water?
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Precisely–my friend who worked at a coffee shop turned me on to “soy, now water”–the flavor is richer 🙂 At least in my opinion…and soy because I can’t have milk 😦
I like dim and cosy on occasion, too…and fireplaces. Anyplace with a hearth!
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I’ve had soy, chair latte twice now. I really like it!!!
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Good luck!!! Make sure to keep us all posted about your querying adventures!!!! 🙂
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Oh I will for sure!!!!
I’m a bit concerned, though, that I’m querying at the wrong season. The holidays are nearing. I wondering that they’ll put it off for a few months… I don’t know anything about agenting. But I just can’t imagine anyone going through slush piles during Christmas holiday
I’ll have to wait a longgggg time for responses, I think.
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Kid I’m enthusiastic for an old guy but your words make me feel even younger.
Dr. B
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Aww, sir, I’m so glad to hear that!
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