Rejection Time!

I sent out three e-mail queries yesterday.  Before I even got a chance to post my super-excited blog about it today, I got my first rejection!  It was just a simple form rejection, but don't worry, I'm not all torn up over it.  I pretty much expected it.  Even for writers way better than myself, it's a long and hard process.  I'm just excited to finally get into the game. 

Speaking of writers way better than me, my husband hates when I mention them haha.  He told me one of the most irritating things about me is when I downplay my talent, or rave on and on about other people's talent like they're so much better than me.  He loves me anyway, so of course he think's I'm just the best.  But I think he's been sneaking peeks at my manuscripts on the computer too.  Which is flattering, since I don't think anything I write is the kind of stuff he'd usually be interested in reading.  It's not that I think I'm no good....  I just think a little humility goes a long way.  No sense getting all big-headed and acting like an ass.  But just for my wonderful hubby, here's me in a rare moment of self-appreciation:

You know, sometimes I see it.  When a reader comments that something I wrote had exactly the impact I intended it to have, I see it.  During those times when I sit down to edit my manuscript and end up getting caught up in my own story all over again, I see it.  The flash of genius.  The Am I any good? meeting the Yes, I am.  I think I'm pretty talented, if I do say so myself.

Now c'mon, agents, do you see it too?

Charlotte, Confessions, and Disney World

My my my!  It's been quite a while since my last post.  To Call Home is complete, as I already told you.  I've compiled a list of agents to query.  I've got a query letter ready.  I went to Disney World last week on vacation, and now that I'm back, I'll be sending out my first query this week!  I'm so excited to get my first rejection haha.  I hope I get more than a bunch of rejections, of course, but I'm realistic.  It takes better writers than me lots of time and lots of query letters to land an agent and a deal, so I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

During the two-hour plane ride to Orlando, I actually got a little bit of writing done on Confessions of a Non-Believer.  But even as I'm writing that one, I'm bombarded by scene ideas for my erotica novel, which as of yet has almost no plot, no working title, no nothing except a main character named Marisol.  But still, I'm even thinking Marisol's story could turn into a series.  Me, write an erotica series? haha.  Never thought I'd be able to say that with a straight face.

I think I might start writing the erotica one even as I'm working on Confessions.  I found that hard to do while finishing up To Call Home, but I think that was more to do with the fact that one is third person POV, past tense, and the other is first person POV, present tense (why, why, why am I writing first-person present when I've heard so many times that agents hate it??? haha).  But Confessions and Marisol's story will both be first person, one present and one past tense.  I think I can do it without too much difficulty.  Besides, Marisol won't quit giving me crazy ideas about who she wants to sleep with and where.....

But anyway, for your reading pleasure, To Call Home is posted on Authonomy in its entirety.  Confessions of a Non-Believer is still in progress, obviously, but the first 5 chapters are also on Authonomy.  Search for them by title, or search for me as J. Lea Lopez or live2write.