Mood: Good but a teeny bit insecure.

What I'm Listening To Right Now: ESPN on TV

So I finished the book last week, one day shy of the one month of writing mark. I can't tell you how strange that is. It still boggles the mind that I, the person that took a year and a half to writer her first book, wrote a book that I'm completely proud of in a month.

But I swear I'll stop talking about that.

Now it's time for the important stuff. I need to take the next week or so and edit the book and get it just the way I like it. It's strange but there isn't actually a lot that I feel like I need to change. There are a few small things that I know I need to switch around and tweak but otherwise, I actually like my first draft a lot. Again, weird.

The other task at hand is my query letter, which is the letter that I write to literary agents explaining why I'd like them to represent me, the plot of my book and who I am. In one page. One. Yeah... that won't be hard at all.

And I'm not freaking out about it in the least, if that's what you're thinking. Totally not. Psst. No. Not worried at all.

Okay, so I sort of couldn't sleep last night. And my workout suffered a little today when I would stop suddenly and have to take a deep breath, not out of cardiovascular necessity, but because I thought I might hyperventilate.

Other than that though, I'm totally cool with it.

The next few months will be a very interesting time for me. I'm scared, excited, nervous, insecure and secure. I mean, I love this book, I really do. But that confidence wavers a little when you're sending it to agents who really know their stuff.

Not to mention that the fact that I have my hopes up is such a red flag. I'm a realist. So this whole "I think this is it" feeling is very, very new.

Fingers crossed.

-B

Labels: Book Two

Mood: Tired but content

What I'm Listening To Right Now: Tucker Carlson on MSNBC

I can't even begin to explain what has gone on in the last three weeks and not giggle or shake my head or mutter "weird" a few times.

In my last post, less than a month ago, I mentioned that I was on some of the final edits of my first book. I also mentioned that I had written about ten pages of a new book that I loved.

Well, I let my best friend read those first ten pages, hoping that she would love it as much as I did because I have high hopes for it. Turns out she loved it and her enthusiasm was contagious. So I sat down one night not long after my last post and just started writing, no planning, no notes, no character traits. Nothing. The first night went well, and my best friend loved it as well. So I just kept on writing and now, no kidding, I'm almost done with the entire book.

Let's rewind, my first book, still a work in progress, although I love it so much I can't stand myself sometimes, took me a year and a half to write. It's a difficult book, with a lot of details and deep emotional issues, so I thought, "Sure, this one should take a bit longer than others."

But a MONTH? I can't even wrap my mind around the idea that I've almost written a whole book in a month. If my writing goes as it has been, (which by the way, has been writing at night, no sleep... especially not when it's actually dark outside) I might just be done by the time my sister comes down to visit on Wednesday.

I'm blowing my own mind, people. And on top of all of this, I've been reading a lot too. Normally I can't do both but I've flown through books like it's going out of style, and I haven't seen any carry over into my own story, which I'm taking as a sign.

I feel so good about this book I'm almost scared to talk about it, except I can't help it, so it's all I'm talking about.

So I'll keep the blog updated when I finish, because I'll be writing a query letter to send out to agents soon. And I mean SOON soon. Can you believe it? Me either.

By the way, I just got my hands on the Enchanted Inc. series from Shanna Swendson a few weeks ago and I fell in love. If you haven't already, read them. The second book, Once Upon Stilettos is my personal favorite but I love the others as well. Her fourth book in the series comes out April 29 (I think) so we all need to go out and buy that one too. So hopefully someone will pick up the fifth book in the series. I need more Owen in my life!

-B

Labels: crazy