Yours in Humble Pie

what feedback from my literary agent looks like

Last week I wrote about not holding back in our writing. Put in the good stuff now!

Save nothing!

There was an Annie Dillard quote from The Writing Life

“One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water.”

Irony: the very next day I received an email from wonderful literary agent, Zoe, who read my latest manuscript over the Christmas holiday (um, wonderful, right?)

Part of what she wrote¹:

The main room for improvement I see has to do with the novel's pacing and how the mystery surrounding Benny's father unfolds.

For the first half of the book, (to quote Coach K!) "less equivocation." That conversation with Coach K, when Benny learns her dad's name, happens halfway through the novel - it should show up in the first quarter. Similarly, the chapter "Information" is so strong, so propulsive! But we need it MUCH sooner.

The second half has all of the reveals about Benny's dad… (this is Amy editing here bc you can’t know all of the reveals until you read it!!!)...That's a lot. Spread these out more, from page one on, and that will help readers become invested in the mystery from the outset, instead of halfway through the novel.

Welp, there you go.

I’m trying to practice what I preach, truly. I just don’t always get it right.

In this (first) draft, I was trying to keep the reader in suspense by dropping intriguing clues, and then speed things up in the second half with all the juicy reveals for a propulsive page turner. But as you can see, it’s not working yet. I’m waiting too long.

If you wait too long, the reader starts getting antsy - and likely annoyed. Or horror of all horrors: STOPS READING.

Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.

So now I need to revise and figure out how to invest the reader in the mystery from the beginning with actual information (not just vague clues) - and not waiting until it’s too late (when they’ve already put down the book).

Less equivocation! Just say it! Give us juicy reveals - and then keep them coming.

I love writing advice, and I sure love giving it. But that doesn’t mean I always know how to do it.

Take heart. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be special.

Back to the writing (and revising) desk.

Yours in humble pie,

Amy 💜

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A Little Art Update:

For my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, I watercolored the five houses they’ve lived in as a married couple. I’m a beginner painter, for sure, but it was a special gift. I wish I had taken better photos of the process and finished product…

Find pics, pencil sketch/trace, pen, watercolor

The inspiration was from taking Elizabeth Wade’s watercolor house class. I'll be painting more houses! Where is your creativity taking you these days?

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Getting Through January:

How do you get through January? It’s a tough month for many of us, me included. We need LIGHT. I light a candle at 5:45 am and as soon as 4 o’dark o’clock hits. Or five. It makes such a difference. Also, I have to get exercise every day and talk to humans (not just my dog, baby Artie). I don’t know if Vitamin D makes a difference, but I’m taking it, too. You?

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Good News and Story Links:

Congratulations: to my parent’s on their 50th wedding anniversary. As my mother says, “it wasn’t inevitable.” A quick 48 hours in Utah with my parents and four siblings was so good.

Watched on the plane: Gran Turismo (who’s more shocked, me or you?) and King Richard (LOVED the Williams sisters story) More next week with my “So Lit List.”

Finished reading on the plane: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. I’m not a fantasy-genre gal, but this came highly recommended and Harrow is a great writer.

Started reading on the plane: The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Influence, Inform, and Inspire by Karen Eber. There’s brain science!

In seven months: THE MCNIFFICENTS is launching in paperback. Ya’ll, I need a launch plan…

Trying out Tik Tok: There will not be dancing. Only book reviews, book talk, and stories. And I still feel ridiculous

1. bold is my emphasis, not Zoe’s