Both my kids are in school full-time this week, and I am finally able to devote some time to my writing. Today, I am working on two writing goals: 1) sending out my newly revamped query letter to agents, and 2) beginning a third draft of my manuscript. Diving into the manuscript will be hard, but once I am able to find a good headspace and flow, I think this will be an easier step of writing my book. I think the hardest part—creating a line of suspense for 250 pages— is done for now, unless I have to rewrite one more time.
I finished the first draft of my memoir Life in Flight during the summer of 2020. Throughout the 2020-2021 pandemic, I worked on a second revision. Now, I will work on a third draft of my book using feedback from my writing group to help me polish and clarify the book’s intent. I hope my third draft will be the final draft, but I might give it another go if I find I have trouble placing the book with a publisher.
I have no idea what I’m doing. I mean, I learned steps to publication by doing research, and I’m currently searching the Poets and Writer’s database for agents, so I’m moving in the right direction. But I’ve never done this before, so the territory is a little scary for me. I’m just going to do it. Do ya hear me internet? I’m gonna do it.
I usually jump into most of my goals headfirst and learn as I go—writing, publishing, marriage, having children, developing a career. But I always feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. I have pervasive novice syndrome, which is not a thing, but I’m going to make it a thing. I define it as a subset of impostor syndrome, where I feel like everything is new and I don’t know how to do anything.
Yes, I’m tailspinning a little bit, but I can recognize that. So I’m good. Don’t worry. I do wonder if announcing I am about to do something scary is the best idea. I guess I am about to find out!
I even asked #Twitter for advice:
We’ll see how that goes, too. Wish me luck, folx. I’m going to need it.
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