You can know anything. It's all there. You just have to find it.

-Neil Gaiman

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Homestretch

Here's an update on the YA (Young Adult) novel I'm working on... for those who might be interested.

I'm now in the official wrapping up. On page 222 and seeing the faint, yet growing light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not sure what the official page count will end up being, but it is looking like it will be between 260 to 300 pages.

I've also realized that this is only the first book in what is looking like a 3-part series.

So now that I'm definitely under the gun (time-wise) my plan is to finish the rough draft in two weeks (slightly crazy, yet possible. Remember, Ken Kesey wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in a weekend). Then again, I'm no Ken Kesey.

Anyway, I have made a list of 15 or so acquisition editors and literary agents. I suspect that I will get immediate form rejection letters from at least half. That tends to be the way it goes these days.

I'm optimistic, however, that at least one will want to read a sample chapter(s). If I'm really lucky someone will want to read the whole thing right off the bat.

More about the book...I've decided that it would be classified as urban fantasy/science fiction/ bildungsroman. Urban fantasy is a relatively new term for books that means fantasy set in the contemporary world. So I've read. Bildungsroman is another favorite German word of mine, which means "development novel". Or usually called a coming-of-age tale.

So there it is. If I have not found any agent or publisher for this book by this time next year, my plan is to start posting chapters right here on this blog. And keep it open for comments. Yes, I'm crazy. And a glutton for punishment. I can't wait for strange trolls to write things like:

Ur book suxs! i cood rite a way coooler storeey. with way mor baleevable careactchurs... 4 shur!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You might also want to consider posting to Authonomy: http://www.authonomy.com/

Good luck on finishing! If you ever want opinions on it before you send it out, please let me know. I would LOVE to read it!

Mindy said...

Thanks Christina! I will keep that in mind. Unfortunately, I don't think it's as funny (more serious) than the blog. Although, some of the things the characters say I think are funny.