Writing stuff

So today I read this post (go check it out - I think Maureen got more visitors in three days of blogging than I got in six months), sighed, wrote two more query letters, and sent them out. Something about that little essay got me moving again with the querying, made me pick myself up and keep on. I checked my tally today and I'm at nine rejections - which I'm gonna say is half-full, because I'm not at ten yet!

Two good tips I've discovered today about query letters:

1. I lost the e-copy of my old one, and I didn't have a hard copy handy, so I rewrote my query letter from scratch. My plot description is completely rearranged. It's a painful exercise, but it's useful. I think this letter is better than my old one, even though it's basically the same words, in different order. (If you're ever doubtful about how powerful the rearranging of a word or two can be, read a book on ad copywriting. I've tried ad copywriting, and it's hard. But that's a post for another day.)
2. Another writer asked me to critique her query letter, so I sent her a little analysis of how she could improve. It was filled with solid advice. Then I looked at my own letter and said, "Oh.. yeah." And rewrote it.

The next book is coming along, slowly. I got a good idea for it the other day - a really good idea. I think this is going to be a good book. But I'm having a little anxiety of the writing not being worthy of the ideas, though, so I'm taking it slowly, making sure I know what I'm doing, or sort of. It's hard to explain. This book is so different from writing the last one - it feels like a more mature experience. Instead of the work pouring in and taking over, like a river of water, I feel more equal to this one, and I'm trying to direct it, wrestle it, shape it. Who knows what the end result will be - but I'm enjoying the struggle.

Abby