Snoopy

          I love Snoopy, he's a self proclaimed writer, and I happen to have two adorable beagles of my own.
This week I have been going over my second manuscript and touching it up. I think the query and synopsis for 'Drakes Destiny' is going to be much easier to write.
'Southerland Skye' is a family saga, where as my second manuscript has more of a thrilling plot, and is faster paced.

          I'm beginning to think I might have to pitch my second manuscript to agents first, instead of my first one. This is something I did not want to do because Drake has a big part in my first story, which leads him to where he is today, in my second manuscript. (Are you still with me?) But if my second story peaks interest, then that's the route I will go.

Besides writing, I really need to get some laundry done. I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend.

Work in progress

                    I took the beagles for a long walk this morning, hoping to tire them out so I could have a little quiet time to myself, and get some writing done without any interruptions. Ha-ha, fat chance!

          I've been working on my synopsis for several days now and thought; "This looks pretty darn good."
 I posted it on a writing website and received some much deserved constructive criticism. I really needed someone else to show me what I was doing wrong.
 I realized my mistakes far too late, I had already sent it to an agent that I wanted to impress. She most likely hit the delete button before finishing my letter.

         I know now that it reads too much like my query, and I am in need of a professional view point.
I have a critique group meeting at the Writers Loft here in Paradise where I live. I  hope to come away with a better understanding of what I need, to write a wowzer of a synopsis.


Today as I browsed through several websites that cater to people who want to get published, I noticed some forums that had some instructions for newbies like me. So far, this is what I've learned:

          Never use the word 'Was' in your first sentence. That will send your manuscript directly into the slush pile. (Slush pile is a term used by agents for the stack of manuscripts piling up that no one wants to read.)
Never give your character green eyes. I didn't think something like that mattered in the literary world, but someone on the forum claimed that all writers want their hero or heroin to have green eyes and readers are sick of it. 

        As I read more of the do's and don'ts, I began to wonder if I should just go back to nursing school, and spend the next six years in college as the oldest student in class.
Everyone has their own opinion and they all differ from each other, which can be very confusing. I'm not going to give up now, there must be an agent that likes green eyed people and the word 'was'.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Southerland Skye

          I finally finished my manuscript- 'Southerland Skye'.
With a multitude of interruptions on a daily basis, the story took more than a year to write.
I would like to thank the wonderful Madalyn Stone in New York for editing my manuscript and giving me some very nice feedback.
My journey to get this published has really just begun. I need a fabulous synopsis, and a perfect query letter, or my novel will never be seen by an agent.

    These are the two items an agent will look at first, and the toughest for me to write.
Most want a small synopsis, which explains the whole story in one to four paragraphs. My synopsis was twelve pages when I first wrote it, and I've been whittling it down ever since.
 I've revised my query letter almost daily and read it to my bf and mom so many times, they're avoiding me now.

I recently spoke with publishing consultant Martha Bullen. She gave me some great insight on how and who to pursue, leading me in the right directions for getting my manuscript published. But, I still need to write a best selling query.
         
Here's what I have so far, it will most likely change by tomorrow. I would like your honest opinion. It helps to have perspective from other people.

                                                      Southerland Skye Query:

          If anyone knows what it's like to grow up in a dilapidated shack with dysfunctional parents, six

siblings, two hound dogs, a bunch of stray cats and an uncle that just got out of prison, it's Southie

Hawes.

Southie tells the story of her life growing up in Boone County, West Virginia, the dynamics of her

eccentric family and the often crazy situations they get themselves into. This includes the moonshine

still, an illegal marijuana grow, the worst prom ever and her sisters not-so-perfect wedding that no

one will ever forget.



After her older brother joins the Marines, he encourages her to move out to California and stay with

him while she goes to college. Southie yearns to get away from Boone County and when she

discovers she's been accepted to Humboldt University, she believes this will be her chance. But

leaving will mean she's have t spend time away from her new fiancé, Gavin. Still, she can't resist the

temptation. Against her family's wishes and a promise to Gavin that she'll be back in a year, she

moves to California to stay with her brother.



While in college, she meets Drake, a rich student who has a bad reputation with the girls. He

takes a serious interest in Southie who tries her best to keep him at bay. But with his good looks,

seductive charm and brutal honesty, he might just change her mind about moving back to West

Virginia, Gavin, and everything else she holds dear.



 Southerland Skye is 120,000 words and is a work of fiction. An endearing saga that spans fifteen years as Southie grows from a child to a young adult. 
                                                       ********

Now I'm working on my synopsis and trying my best to get it under two pages.
Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.