The Little Manuscript That Could...

“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can…”

You might think that deleting a manuscript off your computer is pretty permanent right? Well so did I, but those little babies won’t leave you alone until they're ready, it’s got nothing whatsoever to do with you.

I have nicknamed my desire pitch ms “Phoenix” because it keeps popping up in my life regardless of its trip to the recycling bin ; ). How? Well, sometimes I print out odds and ends and even whole chapters to edit because the computer has sent me cross-eyed. The result is that my ms ends up all through the house (I’m not as messy as I sound… I think.) So when a much earlier draft copy fell on my head (literally) I decided that someone was trying to tell me something (or kill me) and that I should probably do something with it.

So I’m back to rewriting and I’m not happy about it. I don’t have to be either which gives me a bit of a thrill having worked in customer service for years you start to wonder if your face will freeze with that ridiculous smile on it.

I honestly feel as though I’m editing it against my will but surprise, surprise, it actually seems to be working which just goes to show you that you can do a very good job at editing something badly, but you can do much better the second time around if threatened with bodily harm.

So the manuscript will end up being submitted after all, because I’m not going to risk finding it multiplying under my bed (scary thought!). If only I had listened to you all in the first place I could have saved myself some brain damage…

Before it fell on my head I uncovered it among my bank statements (don’t ask me how it got there…), I fell over it (well… it was in a box and I fell over the box) and a friend’s dog ate some of it (I’m trying not to take that too personally :) ).

I guess the lesson here is that sometimes the world will give you a kick in the behind whether you think you need it or not.

Working That Delete Button

I’ve been AWOL while I’ve tried to desperately finish my manuscript for the Desire pitch competition, a manuscript that I hit the delete button on only a couple of hours ago. That probably sounds a little insane because it’s thousands and thousands of words down the drain, but I’ll admit to being a little frustrated with myself. I don’t want to write a book, I want to write a GREAT book and none of my work to date has been that (or at least I don’t think it has been).

The problem is that I can’t pinpoint the problem! Somewhere in the middle something goes splat and that’s about the end of it, which has me thinking I’m either in the wrong profession, the wrong genre, the wrong category, or there’s something very, very wrong with my brain. Either way the days are numbered for any of the manuscripts saved on my computer.

For those of you who are a little less radical, and perhaps a little more optimistic, sharing Nora Roberts philosophy of revamping previous attempts and selling them I give you a link to Susan Meier’s Can This Manuscript be Saved? Which helps you to identify your problem as either scene, story or word. It’s fascinating stuff for anyone who has an intense dislike for editing (probably because that’s what they’re doing at the moment).

On a disheartening note my pitch for the Silhouette Desire contest wasn’t chosen, I’m not sure if that means I put Diana to sleep with two simple sentences but it certainly doesn’t speak well for me that I can’t write a riveting logline. I think it will be a very long time before I get up the courage to pitch in person :). A huge congrats to the NINE (not five) finalists I’m hoping for nine full manuscript requests :).

For those of you who have Modern Heat (Sexy Sensation) or Modern Romance (Sexy Romance) manuscript waiting in the wings, get over to www.iheartpresents.com who will be having their second Instant Seduction competition in July. I won’t be entering this year (since I’ve deleted all my work ;) ) but I will be cheering on all of you who do so let me know if you’re entering so that I can find my cheerleading costume and get a banner done up :)