Two Weeks of Learning

I've learned a lot over the last two week.

As you may remember, I was fortunate enough to have my query letter posted for critique on MSFV. I received a lot of good feedback and I learned that my query isn't as good as I thought it was. Put simply, it's FAT. It needs to slim down, trim up, and SHOW ME THE BEEF!

I was also lucky enough to have my query picked as one of the Authoress's top 5 which meant that I was able to post the first 500 words of my manuscript. I got a ton of quality feedback on this as well, some of it difficult to hear, all of it important. After these exercises and some serious thought, I've figured out 3 big issues with my story.

1. My Setting is Confusing - My story is supposed to be set on some other world (which one isn't supposed to matter) at some unknown time (when isn't supposed to matter) which bears a superficial resemblance to ancient Rom. Unfortunately, it appears that the world I've created is TOO similar to ancient Rome. Every beta reader that's read the story has ended up confused because the world seems like ancient Rome but the characters (and their mannerisms, language, etc.,) doesn't fit in ancient Rome. My setting is taking my readers out of the story because they're trying to figure out when and where the story is set. I need to make some serious changes to show that the story is not set on our world, past or present.
2. Genre Confusion - This problem is directly related to the first problem. It seems that, largely due to the setting, the first part of my story comes across as historical fiction or historical fantasy rather than epic fantasy. I've put in a lot of thought about this and actually, with the exception of some exotic critters and one non-human character, there isn't a lot of fantasy in my epic fantasy story. With some minor changes it could easily be historic fiction or even science fiction. I need to add/clarify some story elements to further define my story, even if that definition isn't what I originally had it mind.
3. My Story Starts Too Late - Crap. Ever since I started paying attention to writing blogs I've been aware of one of the cardinal sins that every writer cautions about: starting your conflict, your actual plot, too late in your story. I thought I heeded this warning. I only included NECESSARY BACKSTORY...except that maybe I didn't. Even if it my backstory is necessary, it should be worked in later in the story. I need to re-work my beginning.

As you can see I've decided that my story needs some serious work. On the one hand this is exciting because I think I've identified several important ways to make my story a lot better. On the other hand, I really liked the idea of being done with this story. I know, until your story is published there's no such thing as "done". But I liked the idea of finally, after 5 years (I've been working on it off and on since 2007), that my story was finished. Which brings me to one of the most important things I learned this week.

I have this...idea...expectation...whatever, that my story SHOULD be done. Five years is a long time to work on a story so it SHOULD be done. I just turned 30 so my story SHOULD be done. I have other stories I want to work on so this story SHOULD be done.

Or should it? There are no external expectations or demands for my story. There is no logically derived deadline. All of these "shoulds" are arbitrary. They're constructs of my imagination. They're a glitch in the matrix.

My story is done when it's done, not one word before. Whether I choose to continue working on it is a different issue. But there is no should.

Do you let "shoulds" creep into your writing? Can they be a good thing? What do you think?

MSFV Baby Slushpile First 500

You may remember that last week I was lucky enough to have my query letter randomly drawn (from 125 queries) to be critiqued on Miss Snark's First Victim.

I got a ton of great comments on my query, most of them saying that I need to do some serious cutting and pruning. I thought my query was solid (obviously, or I wouldn't be sending it out to agents) but it turns out it needs some serious work. I'm hopeful that with some revision, I'll start to get more of a response from agents.

Despite its rough reception, my query was chosen by The Authoress as one of her top 5 which means that I have been invited to post the first 500 words of my manuscript!

I've got to be honest, I've been feeling less and less confident about my story lately. Frankly, I'm expecting my first 500 to get torn to shreds.

BUT if it's going to get shredded, I would prefer it get shredded by my blogging family. So please stop by MSFV and tell me what you think!

Thanks!

MSFV May Secret Agent

I want to let everyone know that I've been lucky enough to get into another great feedback activity over at Miss Snark's First Victim: the May Secret Agent Challenge.

The first 250 words of my epic fantasy manuscript "Sol of a Gladiator" are up for critique and I would love your feedback. I'm Entry #36 so head on over and let me know what you think.

Thanks!