Westward Ho!

It's done. Well, almost. My proposal submission for The Shadow Catcher's Daughter, my southwestern novel, is on its way to the acquisitions editor. Hopefully, she'll like what she sees! 

I spent almost a week straight, very long days, getting my first three chapters, long chapter-by-chapter synopsis (7 pages), and author bio completed. And now I'm utterly exhausted!  One of my partners suggested I reward myself.  I was able to go down for a visit to my parents with my son, Brandon.  Although my Stepdad was very ill, it was good to be there to offer some encouragement.  We got sandwiches at the best deli in Maine -The Good Life Market, went out for an ice cream at The Mosquitoe (I got Moose Tracks), and Brandon and I took a little swim in the lake at sundown.

My parents were thrilled that I brought my proposal with me so they could read the finished version of it.  My "Dad" is my advisor on life in the west, and as often as time allows, Mom is my copy editor. She's had that role my entire life. It's so funny, my husband and sons are reading my synopsis, too! They are all so excited for me, and that in and of itself is priceless.

Writing the synopsis was such a good experience for this Pantser; though I was bewildered by the thought at first - how could I summarize a story that I hadn't even written yet? Now that I have it all down (not that I didn't have the big picture in mind all along) I can flesh the story out. I feel more confident about my ideas, where before I had so many questions and not certain I was taking the correct route - a two fold issue for me since the plot features an expedition.  I always enjoy books where the characters travel, but I never realized how difficult it would be to get it right - the synopsis works like a map.

Now I'm on a schedule to get my manuscript completed by September 15th, at a rate of about 5,000 words per week. Two chapters a week should do it. I already have a good chunk of it done anyway. I can't tell you how supportive my partners/writing mentors are. I'm very excited about the project, it has such a fascinating setting. And I hope the editor agrees. 

Thank you all so very much for your encouragement and prayers!!

Have you ever written a chapter-by-chapter synopsis? Do you usually write a general synopsis or an outline before you begin to writer?Are you a Pantser or a Plotter?

Sticky Note: Writing Apprenticeships

"Her writing was exquisite— so sure, so well-developed."
- Wendy Lawton, Books 'n Such Literary Agency

Literary Agent Wendy Lawton commented on my writing friend Lori Benton's ability on her lblog. To read more of this inspiring post, get to know Lori, and see Wendy's advice to aspiring authors check out her post on writing apprenticeships.

Sticky Notes: Deadlines

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”
—  Diana Scharf-Hunt

You probably won't see me until next week sometime as my own is looming.

Celebrating 1776

I hope you all are celebrating the freedoms we have as a country as we commemorate July 4, 1776.  One of these being the freedom of speech and the ability to write without censor. Sometimes I shutter at the the things that are allowed to be in print, yet by that same freedom I am allowed to write and read what I will. And where would we be had the Declaration of Independence been not penned?

Did you know that the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain actually occurred on July 2nd?

In a letter to his wife, Abigail, John Adams wrote:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Adams was correct about the celebration, although the day chosen as the anniversary, as we know, is July 4th which after debating and revising the Declaration of Independence,  the congress approved it.