Skip to main content

I'm so glad they didn't like my book!

Captain's Log, Stardate 10.25.2005

No, you don't have to call the insane asylum or even the Humane Society.

I had a great time talking with my agent last night. It's so nice that she's nearby--about 90 minutes from San Jose. I also got to meet her husband, who's totally nice. I had a fun time.

The best part was when Wendy gave me some feedback sheets from best-selling authors who had looked at my first chapter. And none of them liked it. I got mostly 3's out of 5's.

Why is that good? Because I got the harshest criticism I've had so far on this suspense manuscript, and it opened my eyes to how I could make it even better. To raise it to that next level in craft. To polish that rough rock into a diamond somebody might want to buy.

I'm all fired up now. I'll be revising my suspense manuscript so that it'll be the best I can make it right now, with all the know-how on writing craft that I know at this point.

Wendy is going to personally pitch it at CBA Advance in January. She feels--and I agree with her--that pushing it in person is more effective than by email or snail mail or even a phone call. Plus, CBA Advance isn't as busy as CBA/ICRS in July, so the editors will have more time to hear the ideas.

On a side note:

Do you know what my quiet time was about today? Loving people.

Good thing, after my so-called friends decided to start rumors yesterday.

NO, I AM NOT PREGNANT.

Brats.

Labels:

Comments

Dem Soldier said…
Good luck...........That's how U will be a good writer.....
Tue Oct 25, 04:04:00 PM 2005
Unknown said…
Well girl, we already knew it was GOOD, now to make it "jump off the page great"! LOL And I think it's a brilliant idea to pitch it in person at CBA Advance.....you're on your way, girl! Sit back and enjoy the ride!

How's the stomach? LOLOLOLOLOL
Wed Oct 26, 06:58:00 AM 2005
Val said…
Ever since I got married last year, any time I complain about my stomach hurting, I get "Are you pregnant?" (normally from eight people at once). Sometimes, it's just a stomach-ache. *rolls eyes*

Congratulations on the new agent! And on all the great feedback you got. :-)
Wed Oct 26, 08:39:00 AM 2005
Lynette Sowell said…
I'm going through the same thing too, Camy. Not the nausea and pregnancy rumors (LOL, that *was* in the back of my mind when I read that other post of yours), but raising my writing above that "3 out of 5" range. I'm with ya on that one! :D Hugs~~ Lynette
Wed Oct 26, 11:04:00 AM 2005
Anonymous said…
Congrats on getting the good feedback!

Hey, I just had to. I've had that same nausea thing going on. I hope you're feeling better, because I swear, I was praying for death yesterday.

Interestingly enough, when I really *was* pregnant (and hiding it from everyone), no one put two and two together with my being sick all the time. One of my friends said, "Oh, you're just depressed. You need to see a doctor." LOL
Wed Oct 26, 04:03:00 PM 2005
Pammer said…
Very interesting. When I was preggers the first time....my husband had the morning sickness. :0)
The second time I had it...for eight months! bleck.

Glad you and Danica are feeling better.

And y'all can just keep that nasty stomach bug. (I already had it, thank you very much...on a Sunday....with a million things to do...including a youth meeting where we baked pies and cakes for charity.)

Also glad to hear about the awesome feedback. I think your writing is beyond great and I am surprised that some editor hasn't snatched up one of your manuscripts.
(So I guess my crits didn't draw enough blood, eh?) LOL.
Thu Oct 27, 12:28:00 PM 2005
Dineen A. Miller said…
Hey girl!
You are brave! Man, that would make my knees knock to know authors were reading my stuff. Sounds cool though. Painful but cool! LOL!
Thu Oct 27, 04:58:00 PM 2005
Unknown said…
You can handle it....and uh, send it to me to let ME hack it....several can testify that ms bleed when I get done! LOL
Fri Oct 28, 06:43:00 AM 2005
Unknown said…
What a wonderful opportunity to put your mauscript in front of best selling authors. I plan to put mine in front of some of my bookstore friends, but that's a great opportunity. And it's nice to know that you are humble enough to accept the criticm as a learning opportunity. Did the authors give you any tips or advice on how to raise your novel's stakes?
Mon Oct 31, 08:11:00 AM 2005
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...
39 comments
Read more

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...
21 comments
Read more

Excerpt - A HUNDRED YEARS OF HAPPINESS by Nicole Seitz

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.05.2009 Update: Sorry, this giveaway is closed. A Hundred Years of Happiness by Nicole Seitz A beautiful young woman. An American soldier. A war-torn country. Nearly forty years of silence. Now, two daughters search for the truth they hope will set them free and the elusive peace their parents have never found. In the South Carolina Lowcountry, a young mother named Katherine Ann is struggling to help her tempestuous father, by plunging into a world of secrets he never talks about. A fry cook named Lisa is trying desperately to reach her grieving Vietnamese mother, who has never fully adjusted to life in the States. And somewhere far away, a lost soul named Ernest is drifting, treading water, searching for what he lost on a long-ago mountain. They're all longing for connection. For the war that touched them to finally end. For their hundred years of happiness at long last to begin. From the beloved author of The Spirit of Sweetgrass...
24 comments
Read more

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...
10 comments
Read more

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...
18 comments
Read more