Right now, I hate my query letter

Maybe because it's a new thing for me, but I don't like my query letter this week. It might be because I've received several, okay six, rejections in the past week. It's easier to blame my query letter than my novel.

Maybe it's because writing a query letter is new for me, and difficult. I am trying to be realistic about all this, but I thought I was done after I finished writing my novel. I did not think I would have to write something difficult after my novel, and I didn't know the query letter would be so important.

I am sure that every writer in my shoes wants an agent or two to read some part or all of our books. To hell with the query, my novel is good. Please just read it and you will love it. Right?

Still, I can be patient, and I'll keep thinking about my query. I'l work on it and make it better; I might change my title again; I'll learn s much as I can about agents and what other writers did to get published.

I do know that success does not come easy, and I am willing to work. I remember when I was in college and my Dad gave me a sign that said: "Success comes to him who waiteth, if he worketh his ass off while he waiteth."

I'm willing to wait, and I think I'm going to start my second novel soon. I like the fact that it is rumbling around inside my head, and telling me to let it out.

Waiting, waiting

Well, so far I've sent out 20 queries and have received 5 form rejections. I am fine with this, not that I have any choice. I am trying to be realistic about this; however, I don't think anyone would write a novel unless they thought their stuff was good enough to be published.

I was in three libraries yesterday picking up books for my high school students. While walking around, I couldn't help thinking that my book was surely as god as some of the books there.

Writing my query letter has been challenging. This is a new thing for me. It is always a bit difficult to take on a totally different writing task. I do think my third/fourth version is better that my first. I've managed to get rid of almost 100 words, and I think it is much more clear. Reading the examples on the Query Shark website has helped.

I am starting to think that the best thing I can do is get started on my second book. I find myself thinking about it all the time, so I think it's time to begin. Plus, it will take my mind off the waiting.

First Blog!

This is my first post on my first blog! This is a big month for me as I also just finished my first novel, tentatively titled, The Other Side of the Mountains. Here is my hook for my query letter: When seventeen year old Anabar leaves his sheltered valley home to train to become a warrior, he has no idea that instead of fighting, his destiny will lead him to bring peace to the two nations linked to his past.