The time period since I completed the first draft of my first novel, The Summer of Moons & Monsters, has been near nonstop revision and soaking up all I can about the craft of writing.

I think I’ve been working on the manuscript for about three years now. During that time I’ve taken several classes through the Writer’s League of Texas and attended WLT and SCBWI Zoom workshops. I learned an incredible amount from each. All of which I’ve been applying to my own work. In between, I’ve been reading, soaking up all the free writing resources out there (there’s a lot!), reading some more, and of course working on my degree in Anthropology.

I am once again at a stage where I can no longer look at my manuscript. When I get to the point where I can’t see the forest for the trees or I reread every sentence thinking, “is this even English?” then I know it’s time to step away for a bit. So, I’m lining up beta readers (easier said than done sometimes) and giving myself some distance.

That said, I’m getting close. I feel it in my bones. I remember searching awhile back, trying to find wisdom on how to tell when a manuscript is done, and the consensus was basically, “you’ll know.”

So, dare I say it, I’ve been working on my query letter and compiling my list of agents.

My philosophy as I begin to dig a query trench of my very own:

I am a woman of God who hates math and loves statistics. I’ve seen stats that say the average number of books an author writes before getting an agent is three. I’ve also seen higher numbers. That said, I understand the chances here, but I also know my God and His will WILL be done. My query journey, like my manuscript, are in His hands.

I love my book. I enjoy my book. I think it’s fun, exciting, immersive, interesting, entertaining, and has a whole lot of heart. I also know in the hands of the right agent and editor we could both grow. But, if it’s not this book, I’ve still got more of them in me. Writing and revising this book has been an invaluable experience. It has been healing, hopeful, enjoyable, and I have learned so, so much.

If this book doesn’t garner an agent’s attention then I’ll have it in my back pocket when I query my next project and the one after that. The publishing industry is extremely subjective and my manuscript may or may not fit the agents and editors tastes out there right now. The querying trenches are notoriously difficult and draining, so I’ll say it again, to the world and myself, I LOVE my book and God’s will WILL be done.

The quote below sums up my feelings at the end of a long day of writing and revising. Writing is the most difficult thing I love to do.

“I hate writing, I love having written.”

-Dorothy Parker