Thursday 23 September 2010

It's About Time!



‘bout time, Amanda. So where have you been? It’s been over a month.

Has it really? Oh Lordy, Lord - I have no excuses – not a single-y one.

Shame on you, girl.

Sorry, sorry. Ooh, do I get a discount for under-usage?

No. So what you been up to?

Writing.

Just for a change.

Umm.

Sold anything?

Yes, yes *dances a little – although legs are stiff from sitting writing* I’ve sold a couple of stories to That’s Life! Australia. YAY!

Calm down, calm down. I got wind you had a pile of rejections too...Plus you should probably fade into a corner somewhere, as other bloggers have probably forgotten all about you. But first, tell us about your Novel.

Please don’t ask.

I just did.

Blah.

Oh come on, we’re all friends here.

Well, I sent the first three chapters off to a nice lady agent who was keen *again* on the concept. But it came right back. ‘Not what I thought it would be,’ she said in as many words. ‘But good luck with it, hon.’

She called you hon?

Well, no.

You’re lying for affect.

Yes, you have to if you want to be famous.

So what are you going to do with your novel now?

Well *clenches fists excitedly* I’ve made HUGE changes. First, I deleted the first three chapters as they can’t behave themselves in front of an agent. Second I deleted a character. RIP Gavin – we still love you and may resurrect you in the future – but frankly, you’re JUST NOT REAL ENOUGH.

And?

I’ve changed it ALL to first person, present – which I’m hoping gives it more depth. And, and, I’m making the supernatural side less *unbelievable* and more *is she really seeing a ghost, or is she going totally mad?* type thing. So watch this space.

And you think that will really help.

Well, who can tell with all the rain we've been having?

You mean the current difficult climate?

Umm – but I feel happier about the novel. In fact, the happiest I’ve ever felt.

So how’s things over at Womag2Weekly?

GREAT! We’ve sold seven W2W stories so far – to My Weekly, The Weekly News, Oz and TAB – not bad for a relatively new group me thinks. But they're a super-duper lot!

Well thanks for joining us, today, Amanda - I’d say ‘bout bloody time, but I was brought up proper.

Well thanks for having me - sorry I didn’t quite catch your name. Poor show on the coffee and cakes though - cheesecake next time, yes?

24 comments:

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Blogland would never forget you, Mandy. Whey hey on the sales. Boo hiss on the Rs. And well done on the novel rewrite.

XX

Caroline said...

LOL - loved this entry - it was worth waiting a whole month for! Caroline x

HelenMWalters said...

Onwards and upwards my dear. Onwards and upwards.

Karen said...

Love it - so funny!

Your ms will soon be behaving itself in front of an agent I'm sure of it :o)

(word verification is SKILL!)

Jenny Beattie said...

We're waiting... we're waiting for the little reader thing to go bold to tell me you've blogged... and here I am.

This all sounds positive. Well done.

Carol said...

Blimey, has it really been a month?

Congrats on the sales that is great news and it certainly sounds like you have had a breakthrough on the novel....as Helen said...it's onwards and upwards from here :-)

C x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

How could we possibly forget you? Congratulations on your sales and those of W2W, brilliant news.

Anonymous said...

Great to see you back. The novel changes sound great and good for you. I think I would have just binned it and started over after much angst weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, so I admire your drive and enthusiasm. :O)

Amanda said...

Awh, thanks, Suzanne. X

Thanks Caroline :-) x

I’ll keep trudging on, Helen :-)

Ooh, I hope so, Karen. And skills a very good word indeed - I like it very much :-)

YAY, good to see you, Jenny :-)

Yes, over a month, in fact, Carol. Time flies doesn’t it? X

Debs, thank you. :-)

Oooh, I’ve been tempted to bin it, Madeleine, on many occasions – and I’ve done a fair bit of weeping and wailing too. I think what drives me is I’ve been told by three agents now that the concept is good, so I keep hoping that, eventually, I’ll get it right. *Gnashes teeth frantically* :-)

Colette McCormick said...

How can it have been a month? Where did that month go?
Good luck with the novel changes.

DAB said...

Banter bereft blogger bowled-over because barricading blogless blogger boomerang’s back. Blinkin’ brilliant! But breakaway brainstorming bird benefits big-time by blog break, successfully selling several short (snowballing?) stories. Bravo! Bravo!

Twaddle Talk by TF ;-)

Phivos Nicolaides said...

It's about time to visit your beautiful blog. Glad you like also Travelling

Cheryl said...

Aww thanks Mandy - ur super duper too. Congrats again on the story sales - I hope you join you super sellers one day :)

x

Lane Mathias said...

Time just whizzes by doesn't it.

Well done on all the changes you've made.

And remember the cheesecake ok?

Paula RC said...

No one said it was going to be easy, but at least we all know how to have fun while we struggle on
:-)
You posting did bring a smile to my face.

Good luck and drop by again soon.

Amanda said...

I know, Colette. Scary isn’t it?

HA HA HA HA! Love your twaddle talk, TF. Totally brill x

Thanks for dropping by on your travels, Phivos.

It won’t be long, Lily, before one of your lovely stories is snapped up! X

Thanks Lane. Good to see you. Trying to decide between toffee and strawberry as we speak. :-)

Exactly, Jarmara! If we keep smiling it will show in our writing - yes - hopefully. :-)

Flowerpot said...

Well done Mandy - that sounds like great progress. Keep it up! xx

Amanda said...

Thanks FP x

Bluestocking Mum said...

Good to see you back blogging Amanda.

That agent doesn't know what she's missing hon!

x

Amanda said...

Thanks Bluestocking Mum x :-)

Paula RC said...

I can't see your latest posting for some reason, though I can see its about self publishing when I click on the link it tells me the blog can't be found.

Amanda said...

Oooh, Jarmara - You caught me! Yes, I did pop on a post about self publishing, and confess I removed it as it wasn't quite right. I'll be posting again very soon though. :-)
x

Colette McCormick said...

I was just about to ask about that posting. Looking forward to reading it when it's ready.

Amanda said...

Thanks Colette x