Next stage, querying!

Sorry for the lack of updates. And I’d like to apologies again to my favourite bloggers whose posts I’ve neglected for the past several weeks. If I weren’t pressed for time, I would be clicking from one blog to the next, catching up on everything. Now, I shall give you all my reasons as to why I’m so busy:

1) Thinking kept me busy. I could do little else but think of RWA’s Golden Heart contest. But after a day or two of contemplation my resolve vacillated. It’s not only the cost of entering that made me back out ($100U.S.+printing fee for the required 6 partials and 1 manuscript + delivery fee), but because of the lack of time (refer to reason 4 for more detail) AND because I thought to myself: Why don’t I just start querying to agents and see if one of them wants to take me on? I mean, if I thought TRC ready enough to enter a $100 contest, shouldn’t I just try to query instead? It’s probably as difficult to win the contest as it is to find m’self a good agent. So I’ll go in order. Query to agents, get rejected, THEN enter the contest. Or, who knows, I might get lucky. But anyways, in short, I’ve decided to start sending out query letters mid-November. Readers, keep me accountable! This is my deadline. Make me keep it! Mid-November to the beginning of December will be my deadline for querying. Ok? If I pass the deadline then….scold me. Without a deadline I’ll always put it off. I’ll always tell myself that there is time. And end up taking no initiative at all! 

2) I’ve been working on my query letter. I sent my rough draft to Everleigh. She gave me some great pointers.  S.J.Maas also offered to review it, so once I incorporate Everleigh’s edits I’ll send it over to her as well, and hopefully she’ll have time to look through it *crosses finger*. I’ve already asked so much of her and others! Oh yes, and there’s also Mandy Hubbard’s special offer to review everyone’s query letter. Seriously, without the help of these more experienced awsome writers, I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere.

3)  I also need to write out a synopsis for TRC. A few pages long, I’m going to assume. And this is also going to take me some time!

4) University is overwhelming! No wonder people warned me that those who go to University of Toronto have no life! I’m studying day in, day out. I have two midterms this week. An in-class essay. A novel to finish off. A presentation to prepare for. I’m only halfway through the biography of William Tyndale (a great book but so long). I need to finish this off and write a book review for it by late this October. Now, to some in their later university years, must think this is nothing–but for girl who just graduated from her laid back high school!–’tis madness. But I’m loving it! I love what I’m studying.

5) Oh, and of course, I’m looking for agents to query to. I have about 30 listed down. Priscilla recommended Dorchester press to me as they are taking in submissions. Hmmm but let’s say they do contract my work, I hope my book, when published, doesn’t have half-naked people on my covers. I want something sophisticated.

 And I must close this post with this one amusing but, nevertheless, brilliant example of  PUBLICIZING (“Free cookies!” my sister heard inside the subway station. She went over to get a free packet and ended up getting this):

  

 

 

40% of all paperbacks sold in North America are romances. It’s no wonder that Harlequin has enough in their budget to advertise this way.

I’ll try to search out more interesting ways publishing companies advertise their books. And if you guys find any, send me the pics so I can post ‘em up!