What a Long, Strange Trip it’s Been
I can still remember sitting down at Starbucks, the one in the middle of the foodcourt, and staring at a blank screen. Then I typed: I think the numbers speak for themselves. Marriage is definitely the most profitable course of action.
That’s the first line of my debut book, His Virgin Acquisition. And that was also the day I decided I needed to actually write and finish a book if I ever wanted to get published.
I had entered a chapter in the Instant Seduction contest that Lynn Raye Harris ultimately won, and I decided, while I was waiting for the results of that competition, I would write a MS and get it ready for submission.
Well, as the story goes, my comp chapter died a savage death. No feedback on it even. And you know what? It didn’t deserve any. It was too short, it was poorly thought out, the plot was…well, it was a cliched mess with badly motivated characters.
And by the time I realized that, I was more than halfway done with the MS I intended to submit to the UK office. And by then, I felt like it was too late to turn back. I felt like…if I can’t even get feedback out of 500 entries, what chance do I have of getting anywhere the traditional way?
But I kept going. I wrote at Starbucks, sometimes with my newborn son sleeping in his carseat while my husband sat at hom with out oldest. Sometimes I just got out by myself.
I had a job, a real job, for about three weeks, the first job I’d had since having children. I quit because I couldn’t justify the time at that job, plus the time spent writing, away from the kids. I worried about being away for those few hours because I felt guilty.
I worked on that MS, printed it out, sat my husband down with a pencil and we attacked the hard copy, marking mistakes and finding things that didn’t read right. I didn’t have a crit group yet. My husband was the only person that read my partial before it went out.
The submission process scared me. What if I made a stupid mistake and got rejected because the rubber bands I used to hold the MS together were purple?
And then, after seriously angsting, I sent it off.
In the twenty months that followed there were revisions, another contest, I found my Sassy Sisters, A Full Request! More revisions, another pregnancy, more revisions, The Call, and a new baby.
Now there are four books sold, and titled, one book on the shelf, and another about to hit.
What a long, strange trip it’s been.
I dreamed, but I didn’t really believe, as I sat in the food court, that I was typing the first sentence of my first book.
I can only feel blessed. Not deserving, as there are so many talented people out there. I’m just blessed.
And, this is where I rah rah you guys…It’s possible!! Everyone has a different road to take, and I don’t know if anyone’s stories of publication are the same.
But it starts with trying, with writing that first sentence. With submitting.
Kudos to all of you that have put your work out there on New Voices. The criticism is tough, and some people are just being mean…but when you’re published you get that too.
And kudos to those of you who have submitted traditionally. To all of you that are just writing a first sentence, or a first sentence for the hundredth time. 😉 It’s not an easy business to get in to, but it’s so worth taking the shot.
As a side note, I want to thank the readers who have written to me to tell me how much they enjoyed His Virgin Acquisition. It means so much to me. And a thanks to those who have left reviews for HVA and Mistake! I truly appreciate that as well!
And a thanks to my loyal blog readers. 😉 I love the community we have here. And please know that I’m cheering for all of you!
Here’s to your own long, strange trips!
Comments
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Great story! I love your first line I no idea it was the very first thing you wrote for His Virgin Acquisition. Did I mention I love it? Great book. Buy it! No excuses.
Maisey you’re a tease 😉 I think it’s now your job to get Jackie to tell me about Chapter 2 so I can have chills too (and also because I have the patience of a toddler and I don’t like waiting).
Lacey, it was. And while many things have changed…that line remained. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the book. I so mucn enjoyed the process of writing it, though I will confess that on the third round of revisions I felt that if I hadn’t gotten it right, I was ready to move on!
A tease huh? I don’t get accused of that often! 😉 Jackie’s conflict for IT girl is incredible. It will make me laugh and cry, I’m certain of that!
Hey, Maisey-I always enjoy your posts and picked up a little gem in this post today- the bit about no one else seeing your partial before submitting sparkled for me-I know that works.
Critique groups are fabulous and necessary, (I don’t belong to one yet, I’ll do that when I decide where my voice fits) I decided to submit something free from outside influences and straight from my heart. I got great feedback from a senior editor and a request for more. I may fail at the next hurdle but I’ve got enough confidence now to keep going.
So I think I’m saying, if we as writers feel a little frustrated at times, it may be worth starting something fresh-try something new-go it alone-be unplugged-be brave and do a Maisey! m
Margie, first of all, that’s fabulous news re your request! Yay you! Second of all, you made me laugh!
Crit groups are wonderful, I love mine! But I started before I had one. I couldn’t afford to joing RWA, or pay for online courses. (also great things!) But it IS possible without those things.
Best of luck to you with your submission!
And now I am feeling the pressure on Chapter 2! Lol! Thanks re the conflict, Maisey my dear. Now it’s up to me to make it work (now I’m hearing Tim from Project Runway in my head!.
Anyway, great post as ever. My journey is proving to have more side trips than anticipated I have to admit, but it all helps to get you to your destination. I just hope I get there. Ah well, as long as you keep travelling you’ll eventually get there huh?
And there’s some great people already there who keep encouraging me on. Kudos to you hon!
Jackie, I would kill to have my own personal Tim Gunn to stand behind me and say “Make it work!” and also “Don’t bore Jenny!” 🙂 Loves me some Tim!!
You will pull it off, Jackie, I know you will. Just trust yourself. 🙂 It’s hard, but there’s something to be said for just, as Margie said, writing from your heart. There’s a lot we have to know about conflict and structure, but so much, the magic part, has to come from within you. Only so much of writing can be learned, the extra zshush that pushes someone to the next level is the natural bit.
You can do this!
Three revisions was worth it in the end :). I can’t imagine just how sick you were of it by then, can you say perfect word for word recall?
Even more pressure for Jackie if I stand behind her and scream “Give me the iPad!”
I’ve never seen Project Runway but I like the sound of this Tim Gunn, exactly how hard would it be to kidnap him?
Lacey, try setting out a smart silk tie as bait and you may yet catch Tim.
Also…three rounds of revisions and 20months of waiting all together.
BAWAHHAH!! Please do stand behind her and shout it.
Got it, one smart silk tie coming up! Wanna be my accomplice?
Hmm it’s not like you’ve got a husband and kids who’ll miss you if you end up in jail…
Wholly 20 months Batman! Talk about patience! What’d you do the rest of the time? Knit? Is there a really long scarf out there with your name on it?
BAWAHHAH!! Poor Jackie.
Nah, I wrote other MSs and did revisions. 😉
Eh, Jackie can handle it.
Actually, I don’t know if I can. 🙂 How about you two write it for me and then, Lacey, the iPad is yours because Maisey and I both have one. Hehe. Oh, but I get to keep Tim okay?
Why do you get Tim?
And anyway, you don’t want me to write it, unless you want IT girl to suddenly become a 28yr old virgin. And you want Connor to become a secret sheikh with a duty to marry another woman that makes Lizzy…FORBIDDEN. Virgin. Forbidden virgin.
Hi Maisey,
I just received notification from Amazon, that my book order, FOR YOUR BOOK, has a new arrival date and that I might just receive it sometime next week!!!!
This is just too exciting!
I’ll let you know when it arrives, I’m just totally excited, think I might double the order and get one for Taya too!
Becky
aww…thanks, Becky! I’m so excited that you’re excited! And that it’s coming sooner! (yay Amazon…I LOVE Amazon! LOL)
Oooo since I don’t know what was going to happening in chapter 2 I can say I like it. Go on make Connor a secret sheikh Maisey! She said we could ;).
I say time share Tim. Like a plane. We’d probably need one of those too to make it work.
Hey I’m pretty sure one of you were writing my first chapter for the NV competition… Are you finished yet? :P.
Secret sheikh FTW!!!
Okay Lacey, you can have a tortured ex-soldier prince with scars inside and out from the HORROR OF WAR. And a sassy, business minded virgin heroine who has never had time for love…but when they meet, she wants to break down his barriers…but first, she has to let down her own. (no pun intended)
I LOVE IT! Do it, do it! But where will we set it huh? Where?
Alphavakia. Goose.
LOL! You’re a crack up 🙂
My books have shipped!
Should be here Wed!!!
Woohoo!