This week has not seen a great change in what I’ve been doing. I’m still working on the last half of the standalone but I’m now in the home straight. Remember that I said I wanted to finish it by the end of February. I might miss my deadline by a day or two but I am nearly there.
What I did this week was jump from the the last three quarters and wrote the ending because I knew what that was. I’d been dragging my feet a bit and starting to get a bit stale, so jumping ahead gave me a little life again. It worked wonders. The whole ending is written and now I’m filling in that last ten thousand words between where I’d left it and the ending. After that I have to kick it into some kind of shape.
The reason I need it in such decent shape is that I’m going to be sending it out to agents.
My last agent and I recently parted ways. Well, it’s been a few weeks actually but I have put off telling you for various reasons. It was an amicable parting as they should be.
This means that I’m in the market for a new agent because I won’t give up in my quest to have a traditional deal. It may be with this book I’m writing now. But if not, I have another idea for a standalone that is a little more ‘out there’ and I’ll submit again with that book. It’s not as though I’m going to stop writing. I love what I do. I’ll keep on doing it. No matter what happens. I’ll just keep on writing stories. I love it. It gives me joy every day. It gives me reason to get up every day.
So, once I’ve finished this first draft, I’ll work on any structural changes I think it needs, then tidy it up copy wise and send it out. While that is happening I will pick back up the new series I had started and continue drafting that. I’m about 13,000 words into it. I’ll tell you more about it as I work on it.
What can I tell you about this standalone?
It’s a change in direction for me. It’s not a police procedural. In fact there are barely any scenes with any police officers in there at all. Yet it is still a crime novel. I’m really excited about it because it is different for me. It was like a palate cleanser. I really enjoyed writing it. I am enjoying writing it. I’m going to enjoy whipping it into shape. The protagonist walks a fine line between being likeable and unlikable and that’s a difficult one to pull off because you want readers to stick with you throughout the whole book. I think there will be more work for me in the edit stage than there usually is for my procedural books. Just to try to make this work. If it does then I will feel a huge sense of achievement. If it doesn’t then I’ll be proud of myself for trying because I have really enjoyed working on it no matter what happens to it and that’s what this writing life is all about.
What’s your week been like this week? Do let me know, I love to hear from you.
Pam Croft says
I’m not sure if I find your comments, advice and progress encouraging or the opposite. I’ve written three books, and self published on Amazon. I’m not sufficiently self confident or computer literate to advertise. The books I’ve written are mystery/crime. It’s always been intended to be a series of four covering the seasons (A Spring Chill of Fear; Summer Savagery, Autumn Break and Washed Up in Winter). But being diagnosed with Parkinson’s has slowed the last one down immensely. Reading your blogs (and a couple of your books) has been helpful. I hope there are no horrendous mistakes in my books from police procedures – certainly fewer than there might have been.
So, thanks
Pam Croft
Rebecca Bradley says
Hi Pam, I’m sorry if my posts are not encouraging. I know how difficult it is to write when you are living with a debilitating disorder. As for your police procedures, I do run a advisory service if you ever feel the need to have that stuff checked. Take care of yourself.
Rebecca
Joy Kluver says
The new book sounds intriguing. It’s interesting with the whole agent thing. I’ve been editing again and hopefully will submit again soon. But I’m thinking about submitting to some of the new digital publishers as well as agents. All the best, Rebecca!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks, Joy. Wishing you the best of luck! Be that with agents or digital publishers, whichever route you take!
Margot Kinberg says
I am really interested in what you’ve put together with this new novel, Rebecca! And I wish you well finding an agent and a good, traditional deal. Don’t give up!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks, Margot. I can’t not write so I’ll just keep going like a Duracell battery. They’ll get sick of seeing my name 🙂
Clare Chase says
The new novel sounds exciting, Rebecca! Loads of luck with the submissions. x
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks, Clare. x
alison345 says
Lovely post, Rebecca – good luck sending it out, when you get to that stage. I’m intrigued by the genre ‘angle’…
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks, Alison. It’s now gone out and I’m at the waiting stage. It was nice to write something different. A palate cleanser.