Monday, January 31, 2011

The roller coaster of writing and Winnerz

I did a big Oops. I forgot to mention the winners of the for the love of gifts giveaway. So let's not keep you waiting:

Leigh T. Moore & Talli Roland!!!!

I've notified them and I'll be sending their gifts out soon!!

I'm also being interviewed today at Alexia's! Be sure to stop and say hi!

So I hit send this wekened. My manuscript is now in email land and soon into an editor's hand (possibly more than one).

It's both terrifying and liberating.

It got me thinking. We are on one hell of a roller coaster. As writer's we put ourselves through a lot of emotion. At the beginning you write said novel. You get stuck. You complete manuscript. You celebrate. You realize agents will hate it if they see it now. So you revise. Several times. You then dream of being on the NY Times Bestseller list. You send your MS out. Feeling confident. You're rejected. You cry your eyes out. You resend (not as confident). They request a full. You cry as you celebrate. They say yes.

Just when you think you've done it that's only the beginning. The getting in part. Once you're in there is more work to be done. As a writer we prepare ourselves for this roller coaster as best as we know how.

We're in it for the long haul. United we stand as writers. So what part of the ride are you on?

53 comments:

Guinevere said...

It really is a roller coaster, but you're so right, at least we're not in it alone.

Me? I'm in revision hell right now. But I'm going to be OK again, eventually. :p Congrats on getting your story out there and best of luck!

Vicki Rocho said...

If I'm on a roller coaster, it's either still loading passengers, or I'm on that long, slow uphill climb before all the fun/terror starts.

Laura Pauling said...

congrats on getting that sent out! That must feel so good. And now more waiting, right? :)

Lindsay N. Currie said...

OMG congratulations on taking that first gigantic step!!! That's wonderful and yes the roller coaster I'm on has bottomed out on me already, sending my stomach into another time zone a few times but it's all to be expected, right LOL? I'm in the process of writing the final third of a YA Dystopian. Wish me luck it's finished without too much bloodshed:)

Renae said...

This is such a roller coaster ride. I'm at the gut wrenching part where I'm anxiously awaiting as I go on submission. So to keep my mind off it I'm finishing up my current ms. It helps. A little.

I am soooo excited for you! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Jessica Bell said...

Argh! Stress ride! :o)

Congrats, honey. I bet you feel a big weight has lifted from your shoulders! :o)

Stina said...

Congrats to the winners!

Roller coasters make me feel like hurling. I refuse to ride them (just as my kids). Maybe that's why I've been procrastinating on sending out queries and have been using my wip as an excuse. But since I'm almost finished the second draft, and don't want to end up querying two books at the same time, I'd better move my ass and start researching agents. Sigh.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oooh, congrats!!! Fingers crossed for you!!!!

Diana Mieczan said...

Yay!!That is so exciting..Im so happy for you, sweetie. Its so true that each day or week its a diferent part of the roller coaster and as much as its scary we just keep on going:) Happy Monday, sweetie pie

Bidisha said...

Exciting news, Jen. Good Luck! :))

I'm currently in editing/writing process. Still struggling.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I'm with you, material is out in email land and some in agents hands. I'm also working on a freelance article and a new YA and MG manuscript. Phew....brain on overload.

Hannah said...

I'm slowly moving from the stuck part to the revising and editing part. I don't like either. Ha! Although I can't wait to fix the ms so it looks shiny and is ready for some betas.

Lindsay said...

Yay. I'm excited, keeping my fingers crossed, and nervous for you all at the same time. LOL.

This journey is hard! I'm still on the query train. Hopefully I'll close my eyes and just hit send soon. :)

Christine Danek said...

Definitely a roller coaster ride of emotional hell, but it will be worth it. I don't see myself doing anything else.
Good luck and I'm excited for you.
I'm still stuck in my revision nightmare along with starting two other projects.
Congrats to the winners!

Angela said...

I'm definitely at the beginning. Two books written, one more on the way, and I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out how to make my openings gripping enough to get people to read on.

Samantha Vérant said...

Ahhhhh! So excited! She will LURV it!

LTM said...

You sweet thing!!! Thank you so much (again)!!! xoxo (((big hugs)))

What part am I on? The hold your breath, we might be about to take off part~ squee!!!

more soon~ <3

Bish Denham said...

Congratulations on getting your baby sent out! I'm in revision, an up-hill climb. But I can see the top and am looking forward to the scream of delight as I fly down hill.

Unknown said...

About to reach the year and a half mark on my work-in-progress. I'm still nowhere ready to submit it yet. I can't wait until it's done. Someday soon I hope.

JE said...

I haven't figured it out yet ... but it's scary, and it makes my tummy hurt! ;-)

~JD

Lo Hughes said...

Congrats!! Fingers crossed :-)

Luna said...

Way to go, Jen! Good luck and happy wishes to you...:)Yay!

Congrats to Leigh and Talli!

I'm close to finishing my rough draft. And then, bring on the revisions! It's a crazy ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I took a long time waiting in that long line to get on the ride. So, I think I'll stay on for a while!

Arlee Bird said...

I can imagine that edge of your seat feeling as you wait for an answer. Wishing you the best with the results and just enjoy the ride. Rollers can be scary, but they can be a lot of fun as well.

Lee
Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011

Candyland said...

I hear ya! I'm on "finish revisions so new agent doesn't hate it" and I want to throw up every day.

Tess said...

Always a journey -- very true. Good luck on this new step. How exciting!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Still coasting from the release of my first book while climbing the hill with revisions on the second.
Congratulations on hitting send!

Chris Phillips said...

I'm on the part where they belt you in, check the safety bar, which wiggles, then explain to you that you could die and it's not their fault.

Talei said...

Yah! Good luck with the editors Jen! ;)

I'm in revisions/edits - what do we call them now? I'm editing my main WIP in between RL and work etc. It's a really rollercoaster.

Happy Monday! x

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I'm in the middle of the "query wars/cry your eyes out" part. Two rejections waiting for me in my inbox this morning! *sob*

Donea Lee said...

Hoping you hear fabulous things soon!! I'm guessing you in in - :) of course you are!! I'm looking for a way to sneak in, lol. Best of luck to you, hun!!

Meredith said...

Congrats!!! Hitting send can be so terrifying, but I know someday it'll be worth it!!!

Jillian said...

Good th ing I am a roller coaster fan!!

By the way have I ever told you that you are one of my favorite people? I mean you just kind of compared me to natalie Portman hahaha... dream come true!

I am going for elementary education which would qualify me to teach from 3rd grade to 8th grade. I wanted to have some versatility but not teach kids who are bigger than me hahaha

Thomasina said...

I admire your persistance in making your dreams come true! That's truly an amazing attribute.

Talli Roland said...

Woooooo! I won, I won! Thanks so much, Jen!

You said it, girl. It is such a rollarcoaster! I've gone from despair to elation, all in about 30 seconds. Just enjoy the ride.

Nicole Zoltack said...

Hitting send is terrifying and awesome. There's just so much potential, ya know? It's like a drug.

alexia said...

I sit there and have a fit, going OCD checking everything 5 million times before I hit send... it is truly a roller coaster like you say. I'm still in query land!

Oh, and everyone loves your interview (of course!) :)

Amy Saia said...

Sprinkling some magic dust on your manuscript!! ***************

And congrats to Talli and Leigh for the wins!

Jennie Bailey said...

Congrats to the winners!

I'm on the uphill - rewrite. I haven't hit the top yet. Once I hit send, then I'll be plunging down with my stomach in my throat holding on for dear life and trying not to vomit! ;-)

Fingers crossed for you!

Kari Marie said...

Congratulations on hitting send! I'm still climbing the first hill. Can't wait for the drop which I imagine will be as soon as I start reading it.

Tracey Neithercott said...

Congrats on sending it out. Phew!

I'm in revisions, which I think must be like the stage where the 17-year-old roller coaster worker jiggles the seat belt to make sure it's locked. Sending out queries is the long, slow rise to the top. The waiting, getting rejected, and waiting are the drop and loop-de-loos.

Thank goodness I like roller coasters.

Colene Murphy said...

Congratulations on sending it!! They are going to FLIP I'm sure! And congrats to your winners!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

good luck for yuor ms out there in scaryland. I'm still in the revision stage. I'm not looking forward to the querying stage ;)

Myne said...

All the best with querying, I hope your MS finds a nice and well suited home.

Melissa Hurst said...

Congratulations! It must be thrilling and scary to hit send.

I'm still in revision purgatory so it'll be a while before I get to that step.

WritingNut said...

It truly is a roller coaster, isn't it? I'm just about ready to dive into my first round of hard core revisions... so getting myself prepared for that :)

The Words Crafter said...

Yay to the winners!!! And I've got my fingers crossed for you. I love roller coasters....as long as they're the ones I get to choose. I have to think about that now....

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats to the lucky winners!! :) And to you for hitting send!

I'm revising based on some excellent advice & drafting another first draft.

Carolyn V. said...

Still in revisions. I'm going to be the revision queen when I'm done. ;)

p.s. congrats to the winners!

Shannon said...

Congrats to the winners!

And I'm still in revision mode. Trying to enjoy the "getting there."

Hope you have a great week, Jen!

Melissa said...

I'm wishing you luck (though I don't think you need much, what with how awesome you are ;))

Jordyn said...

I'm on the "querying and hoping hoping hoping like mad" part. I feel like this part is lasting forever, but working on MORE STORIES helps the time pass. :)

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS to the winners!

Heather Dixon said...

Oh man, it gets even MORE roller coaster after that! But what can you do? You love story, you have to tell it. :)