16th March 2011
First for the good news: the first draft of my new manuscript is complete.
Now for the bad news: still not heard from Mills & Boon.
I had been planning to go back over the new manuscript but then I noticed on the eHarlequin site that they are having a 'pitches' competition for their new Nocturn Cravings line (eventually to replace Nocturn Bites, or so I think). I've always fancied having a go at the paranormal lines and, as they only want 15,000 - 25,000 words, I thought I would give it a go. I've been plotting the story in my head for a few days and last night I actually started writing it and got the first 2,000 words done. I have no idea if it's going to be any good but it keeps me quiet.
Anyway, disaster then struck. The eHarlequin site has also got a 'pitches' competition for their Desire line. I have an old manuscript that I have been planning to submit to Carina Press (it's been sitting in Mills & Boon Land for 10 months - I would chase it up but don't want them to think I am a pain in the bottom especially as they have a full manuscript currently under consideration). The old manuscript was originally submitted in 2009 to Mills & Boon and was rejected with proper revision suggestions and lovely words of encouragement rather than the generic 'R'.
So now I'm in a bit of a quandry: do I send the old manuscript to Carina Press as planned or do I give it a go with the Desire line as, with a bit of tinkering, it should fit into their brief. Decisions, decisions. I think I'll crack on with my nocturnal, and make up my mind over the weekend about the other one.
Be happy, Michelle
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Thursday, 10 March 2011
I'm in Misery
Thursday 10th March 2011
Seeing as I started this Blog last November I thought now would be a good time to actually blog something. On Friday 7th January I almost fell off my chair (alright, the sofa) when I received an email from Sally Williamson, an editor at Mills & Boon. The subject was 'Marco & Pippa', the exciting title I had given for the first three chapters and synopsis I had submitted to them. To be honest, I thought she was emailing me another rejection (I've had two outright rejections from them before) and didn't think I was worth the price of a stamp. Not this time. Oh no - she wanted my full manuscript. Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As she had a few revision suggestions, I spent a couple of weeks polishing it off then on the 18th January I submitted the full MS.
Since then...
Well, my nails are being worn down and I have repetitive strain injury on my index finger from hitting 'refresh' so often. As she had said she would get in touch with me shortly, after a month I decided to email her to see if she'd had a chance to read it (this was the 16th February - patience has never been my strongest virtue).
Alas, she had not. However, I do have to give her enormous Brownie Points for responding to my email within 20 minutes! She kindly told me that it was printed and sat on her desk and that she thought she would be able to tackle it within the next couple of weeks. It's now been three weeks and two days and I'm in agony. Today I discovered the e-harlequin forum for tortured writers and have learnt that this time frame is peanuts. There is every chance I could be waiting for months for the next response. Oh Boo hoo.
So, now I have given my dear followers, who so far number the grand total of zero, an update of my misery, I shall say cheerio and get on with my current manuscript.
Seeing as I started this Blog last November I thought now would be a good time to actually blog something. On Friday 7th January I almost fell off my chair (alright, the sofa) when I received an email from Sally Williamson, an editor at Mills & Boon. The subject was 'Marco & Pippa', the exciting title I had given for the first three chapters and synopsis I had submitted to them. To be honest, I thought she was emailing me another rejection (I've had two outright rejections from them before) and didn't think I was worth the price of a stamp. Not this time. Oh no - she wanted my full manuscript. Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As she had a few revision suggestions, I spent a couple of weeks polishing it off then on the 18th January I submitted the full MS.
Since then...
Well, my nails are being worn down and I have repetitive strain injury on my index finger from hitting 'refresh' so often. As she had said she would get in touch with me shortly, after a month I decided to email her to see if she'd had a chance to read it (this was the 16th February - patience has never been my strongest virtue).
Alas, she had not. However, I do have to give her enormous Brownie Points for responding to my email within 20 minutes! She kindly told me that it was printed and sat on her desk and that she thought she would be able to tackle it within the next couple of weeks. It's now been three weeks and two days and I'm in agony. Today I discovered the e-harlequin forum for tortured writers and have learnt that this time frame is peanuts. There is every chance I could be waiting for months for the next response. Oh Boo hoo.
So, now I have given my dear followers, who so far number the grand total of zero, an update of my misery, I shall say cheerio and get on with my current manuscript.
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