IWSG: November 6
Hola and Hello my beloved readers!!!
Senorida Anastasia here.
The awesome co-hosts for the November 6 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Lisa Buie Collard , Kim Lajevardi, and JQ Rose!
Thank you to the co hosts!
I am skipping the question. I hope that is okay.
I finished editing though in a post before, I told you about setting it aside for a year. But as it appears, I have finished editing. Of course I need a proof reader/professional editor. But I can assure that it looks like a book unlike my first messy draft. I'm a student of a convent school in my little Kerala. I wasn't sure of how my teachers would react to a contemporary romance between a 15 and a 16 year old. I can assure you that they might have not expected this from me. My friends who had read it were not thrilled about me going to the teachers, picturing the reactions. (It’s a only like a little romance but they're overreacting)
But to my perfect astonishment, the Sister was serious about it. She read the first three chapters. She doesn't usually converse in English when we're not in class but she was talking to me in English (If you don't know, I live in India). Now my problem is, I need a publisher. Of course, I can self publish but that wouldn't be any good for me. My teachers have said they'll try to help. If I had written a book in malayalam, I can picture it being easier. I have no idea about finding a publisher here and that too, a publishing that will publish an English book that has a story set in the US.
I can mail Penguin Random House India, MacMillan and everything but let's be honest, right? I would have to find an agent for it. I don't know how much of a choice or a chance I have here. How am I supposed to find an agent, trust and pay? I just don't want my 2 years, sleepless nights, time, energy, sacrifice, pages, ink stains and all of it to be nothing. I can't imagine my 94,000 words being nothing.
IDK what to do.
Everything happening now is crazy. I'm cursed to keep my glasses forever (I just tested my eyes), Liam Payne passed away(RIP), School is harder, WW3 is not far away, My fifteenth birthday is exactly on the day of exam on this coming March 7th and I can't do what I want on the day I've pictured since I was little.
Thank you if you've had the heart to read till here. I know my problems aren't problems for many but sometimes, it feels so good to share. Happy IWSG day!
Senorida Anastasia/ Rida
Glittering Black
None of the words were a waste of time. Every bit of it was practice and improving your craft. I wrote hundreds of thousands of words (probably millions) between high school, university and early adult life. None of it saw the light of day, but it all helped me become a better writer.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think I needed to read that at the moment. Writing has surely helped me to find myself.
DeleteVery best wishes for your story! Self publishing can be expensive as well as unsatisfying. Check our IWSG resource page for agents looking for new clients ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was checking it this morning actually and I hope that I land on something.
DeleteHi, Rida! Love your photo! I haven't published any books and don't have any contacts, but I do know an IWSG member who interacts with a lot of people in the publishing business here in the USA. I'll contact her. Now that some unexpected chaos has settled down in my life, I'll get after editing your short story. I hope WW3 doesn't mean World War Three! I do worry about such a terrible event, but I have hope that we will avoid it. Your 94,000 words are not for nothing! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteHey Louise! TYSM! I've been reading about agents and publishers from IWSG and the internet. I think I'm just afraid to make a move on it. Really, thank you! I still am really happy that you read my short story. I did mean World War Three but yeah, the world is also such a wonderful place with wonderful people and together that could be avoided. I will hang on!
DeleteThat's so cool that the Sisters are supporting your publishing dream. If you want to get published in the U.S., you could check out my agent spotlight interviews for possible agents to query and enter my query critique giveaway contests. I also have a data base of over 250 agents on the blog you could use to research possible agents. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Literary Rambles was the first place that I had opened out of no where, one day when I decided to do a little searching. There are 250 and I might have been through at least 25. I'll see to it! Thank you!
DeleteCheck with Damyanti - she's a published author in India. Here is her site - https://damyantiwrites.com/
ReplyDeleteKeep going! It's not an easy process, but I love that you have support in your journey!
ReplyDelete