Fall Writing Update.

Hi friends!

I know I’ve been silent for a couple of weeks, but that’s because my grandma passed away a few weeks ago. It’s been hard to want to do anything new and creative. But I’m making myself sit down and write an update post for you all.

One of the last times I hung out with my grandma, she asked me to read her my short story after hearing that it won first place. Like all of you, she asked, “Well, where’s the rest of it? What happens next?” After I explained that there wasn’t more of it since it was a short story, she told me how much she always loved my writing and could listen to me read forever. She thought it was amazing and impressive that I could just make up all these stories out of nothing but the ideas in my mind. (Nothing quite like a grandma’s praise to really inflate the ego, right?) 

As her health declined over the past several years, some visits were better than others. But that was a really good day. Even then, I knew that day, that moment, was special. And even though I won’t be able to read her any of the books I know I’ll write, I know that she’s proud of me.

Onto a writing update…

When we last talked, I told you about comp titles and how I had a game plan for figuring out what the opening chapters of Veritas, as well as the query letter, needed in order to be more successful moving forward. 

The contest I entered didn’t help much–due to the fact that the editor who originally was assigned to my submission had a family emergency last minute. Someone else stepped in, but was rushed, so I didn’t find her feedback very helpful. It was mostly positive, which was good, but there wasn’t much to revise. 

However, since I’ve really been focusing on the opening chapters, I’ve had a handful of friends critically read over the opening, and between everyone’s suggestions, I think the issue was with pacing. There wasn’t enough time to really get to know Varity, my main character, before the reader dives into the action and the mystery. 

I’ve been hard at work revising the opening chapters, and thankfully, at the beginning of Veritas, Varity is grieving, which has been an easy headspace to get into lately. So while new creativity (like writing blog posts) has been a little more challenging, I haven’t been completely slacking in my writing duties. 

I also recently joined a writing critique group! The group consists mostly of fantasy writers, so I’m anxious to revise my fantasy novel, but in the meantime, they are willing to take on some contemporary young adult fiction. I’m always fascinated by the comments and suggestions of first time Veritas readers, so I’m looking forward to their feedback.

My hope is to get Veritas back in querying shape by the end of the year. That way, once agents start opening up again in January/February, I’ll be ready to go!