Oh my goodness, I’ve been so busy writing a chapter a week for Wisdom and Folly that I haven’t even been blogging on Sundays!
I didn’t realize it until today. When I opened my email, I saw a message from Writer’s Edge staring me in the face.
“Congratulations! The Writer’s Edge has reviewed your manuscript proposal, and we are happy to inform you…” They accepted my manuscript!!!
My son was fast asleep in my lap when I got the email, so I couldn’t scream until he woke up. One hour later. It was excruciating. :)
What this means…
They are including my information on a list they send bi-monthly to 75 Christian publishers. This includes Bethany House (swoon), Harper Collins, Random House, Revell, Tyndale, and Zondervan among the many!
The publishers, if they like what they see, will in turn contact me, and negotiations will commence!
Happy dance!
The editor who looked over my proposal gave me the best encouragement in the world.
“This was fun! I haven’t been able to get this quirky story out of my head. It has all the makings of a fun summer read.”
Had to do a lap around my chair for that one. Who needs workout equipment when you have good news?
The editor also gave me some very amazing tips, such as “Don’t overwrite, show not tell, trim description, and kill adverbs.”
(And I thought I HAD done all of that! I’m telling you, hiring an editor for your manuscript is probably the best thing you can do. It’s so hard to see your own mistakes!)
Also, this past week, I entered my story into a contest with CrowdScribed and Jerry B. Jenkins.
Winner receives a $5,000 publishing package which includes:
- One-on one mentoring of your choice of Celebrity Mentor (Jerry B. Jenkins)
- Editorial review and treatment of your manuscript
- Professional cover design and interior
- Personal marketing representative
- A publishing contract with CrowdScribed
Contestants get friends to vote daily, and the book with the most votes wins. It ends 6/14/14. (https://www.crowdscribed.com/challenges/73)
I have been fighting for second place with the current second place holder, who finally bumped me down to third. Not upset. Not at all.
But I have been feeling terrible about my “vote for me daily” campaign on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
It’s hard to shove yourself into people’s faces with whom you have only been social to this point. And I would much rather keep friends than get my book published.
But I have also had some of the best support and encouragement through this. I have some wonderful friends! :) Thanks, guys!
Ok, I think that’s it.
There you have it.
On my journey to publication, I have submitted my book to Writer’s Edge, been accepted, and entered my book to a writing contest through CrowdScribed.com.
Next, write a smashing proposal. Tighten my manuscript.
(Oh yes! I need help with the best title! Originally Zombie Movie Date, it has morphed into A Zombie Tale for Writer’s Edge, and Zombie Takeover for Jerry B. Jenkins. But that’s for another post.) :)
Happy reading!
In Him,
Michele