I’ve sat here for a good five minutes trying to figure out how to start this post. And so, in lieu of anything fancy, I’ll just say it:
I finished my manuscript.
This was my fourth draft. I undid plot hole notes I’d created in the first and second drafts. I clarified certain passages and added more description in others. And while it isn’t perfect, I think it’s in a place where I’m happy to send it off to agents.
I know that, if it is picked up and then sold off, it’ll go through extensive revisions anyway, and I don’t want to get stuck in the revising-my-manuscript-to-death loophole that I know for a fact I’d be susceptible to.
And so it’s going out just as it is. The story is all there, and is as polished as it can be without me wearing a hole through the thing. It’s ready to be read.
I will admit that I’m a little nervous about the agenting process, but I also know from previous submissions (poetry journals, mostly) not to be precious about anything, and not to give up when I get a pile of rejections.
Because someone will want this story—I just have to find them.
Tomorrow is Monday, and while I technically could give myself some breathing room between finishing the manuscript and sending it to agents, I don’t particularly want to. So, come tomorrow, I’ll be sending it out into the world.
And I’m so excited to see what happens.
In a twist of fate, I came up with an entirely new novel while driving the backroads to my grandparents’ farm this past Friday. And I say fate because, when the idea came to me, it appeared almost fully formed, and just a few days out from entirely completing this current novel.
Tomorrow, too, will be a day of outlining. I know what will happen in this new novel, but I want to get everything written down in my notebook before I start writing. I’m growing quite fond of working things out on paper before turning to my keyboard.
So! I’ll leave this here for now. It’s been raining all day, and I’m looking forward to spending the rest of it curled up on the couch with a good book—my favourite way of celebrating.
Hope you’re all well, and we’ll talk again soon.
—Catherine
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