Tuesday, March 16, 2010

WRITERS: What's YOUR Good NEWS????


What's your good news?

Thanks so much everyone for sharing in my recent excitement over my book! It's a lot of fun to share my good news, but it's also inspiring to hear yours!

So, what's new with YOU??? It can be anything! Did you get a request from an agent? Did you get the best rejection ever that actually helped you with your query or manuscript? I got a few of those along the way! Did you finally finish a beloved WIP or write the best scene ever? Or is your news totally unrelated to writing, like my good friend Jen K Blom, who just gave birth to her darling Izzy in Berlin (and got a book deal two weeks earlier, the little brat!)

What the heck is going on with YOU???

Hit me!!

xoxo -- Hilary

46 comments:

  1. Oh yay for Jen!!! Congratulations to the wonderful baby!!!

    Hooray for your book!!!

    My good news is that I'm 36000 words into my new WIP and still going strong, hoping for another 2,000 words today!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm having an amazing month. My 3rd novel was accepted by Lethe together with a collection of short stories, I found an agent, I have a new novella coming out next month, I've had a short story accepted by Harlequin and today I was short listed for a Lambda Literary award. I'm stunned.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats to Jen!

    My good news is my editing of my WIP is coming along much smoothly than I expected. Who knows, might be querying this bad boy by May. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous3/16/2010

    I got an awesome rejection from an agent. She said no, but she be willing to revisit if I made some plot changes! And yes, I'm working on those chages now!

    ReplyDelete
  5. awww, that rat is soooo cute!

    My good news. I just finished the first draft of a book, completely out of my genre and comfort zone. It took 3 and a half weeks from start to finish. It probably sucks LGDB but it was a lot of fun writing it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats on your book and also to Jen!

    I had a good brainstorm session! I'm excited to add another mg book to my list of to gets. Perfect for my middle grader :)

    I love your blog and all the mouse pics! My hubby would probably have a slight heart attack but the little fuzzies are so darn cute!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A generous lady who reads slush for an agent offered to critique query letters and the first 10 pages of my manuscript. She was extremely kind in her critique and said my query letter didn't do my writing justice. She loved my first 10 pages and said that once I tuned the query letter up a little more, I'd have no trouble finding an agent. (I hope she's right there!)

    It really meant more to me that she loved my writing. ;-) She even offered me a referral.

    I'm finishing my edits on the last quarter of my novel, then I'm sending it my beta readers. I hope to start querying in May. I'm really excited now.

    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ah, love the name Izzy! My good news: received suggested revisions from an interested agent. I'm in the process of editing and hope to re-submit before May. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I met two deadlines for two separate books with a day or two to spare.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats to Jen in Berlin! Welcome to the world Lizzy :)..

    My good news: I'm about halfway through editing my current WIP which has been at times painful, but I'm making my way through it, and feel good that I'm closer everyday.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jen!

    2,000 words!! You are ambitious, as you should be! I hope it goes awesome!

    Erastes!
    Holy cats! You are having a fantastic month!!! Congrats on your award and possible agent news!!! So exciting! I'm super happy for you! Keep us updated--please!!!

    Karen! Good luck with the edits! Editing can be a lot of fun! Let us know when you start querying!!

    Anon,
    That's awesome! I got a rejection with specific changes the agent suggested! She is not my agent, but after my agent got Nightshade City a deal, I emailed her to say thanks for her advice! It helped my MS sooooo much!! Good luck!

    Sue!!!!
    No LGDB for you! Something new??? How exciting! Please post teasers!!! I have to read your new genre!!! GO FIRE!!

    Kerri! Thanks so much! My little ratties are to to die for! I love them so!!! :)

    Teresa! That's so awesome! I know you'll get an agent soon! One day you'll be at your library, holding your very own book in your hand!!!! How cool!! So happy about your news!

    Samantha! Edit, edit, edit!!! I hope it works out! Lemme know!! :)

    Scotti! That's awesome! 2 deadlines for 2 books is more than a little impressive! Great news!!!

    Crimey! It sounds like your really taking time with the edits! I'm really happy for you! I hope the 2nd half goes smoothly!!!!

    CONGRATS EVERYONE! I've had a crazy day so far, and hearing everyone's great news somehow makes me feel better! Please keep me posted on everything! I'd love to hear how it all pans out!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was offered representation last month by Natalie Fischer of the Sandra Dijkstra agency for my YA chick lit time travel book, Clockwise. Hopefully soon the necessary revisions will be done and it goes off on submission.

    I like your new colours. Much easier to read than red.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Elle! Thanks so much! I'm so glad it's easier to read! I never knew it hurt anyone's eyes! :(

    CONGRATS ON THE AGENT!!!! And what a great agency!!! I'm so happy for you!!!! Going on sub is torture! Hopefully you'll get a deal ASAP!!!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just discovered your lovely blog. Those photos are so cute! Congrats on your book!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for asking! :) My good news is I just finished another, hopefully more or less final before submitting to agents, of a WIP that I've been reworking over and over for 3 years. So I'm psyched. :)
    But, really, I wanna hear the rat play the banjo.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous3/16/2010

    Hey Hilary,I was just on Sazze the other day and thought of you! What a cool blog you have. I have to get me one of those countdown timers. My novel HOW TO BE AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE (Putnam) comes out Aug. 5 and my husband wrote the countdown on our calendar.
    Hmm, I guess my good news is that Ingram, the world's largest book distributor, chose the book as one of its Premier Picks, which I think means more libraries will be picking it up. Your book sounds great. Are you going to be doing those autographed bookplates if you can't get everywhere to sign? Put me down for one, I'll get your book for my daughter! It's right up her alley.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've had lots of good writing news lately. The latest is I got a wonderful blurb from author Nicole Mones.

    Just don't ask me to choose between Team Rat and Team Possum! I like 'em both.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Following on the heels of your blog getting a lovely new look, I finally, finally got a website!! That's good news, isn't it? It was a lot of work, but gosh I love it: www.IvysEverAfter.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nisa, thanks so much!!! It's been a lot of fun!

    Faith! 3 years!!! It must be a relief to be so close to submitting! Good luck and keep me posted--PlEaSe!!!!

    Margaret! How are you??? My gosh, our books are so close together! Congrats on being chosen! It must feel sooooo good! Buy Margo's book everyone! She is a superstar!!

    Dawn! My agent/publisher sister! I've seen the site and I LOVE it! Great, great job! Everyone, by Dawn's book too! It's going to be a smash hit, Ivy's Ever After!!!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello LAYDEE!!

    THanks for giving little Izzy a shoutout on your blog! She dearly loves her Auntie Rat Queen! LOL!! XOXO

    And I LOOOOOVE the new colours of the blog! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Beautiful!

    My good news ? Well, you wrote it! HA HA! But a particular bit of good news is having you for my bestest Chicaaago bud on earth! XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  21. I like the positivity of this post! I wish I could share all my good news -- but it seems to have a bit on the dry side. So I'll say this: I'm going to a book launch party tonight with one of my besties! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  22. hmmmm... MY good news is that my query letter is all ready to go =) (Now if only I could finish ms revisions *dies of nervousness*)

    OH and I'm very much looking forward to an ARC from someone whose book I am DYING to read ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Other Lisa! I'm so excited for you and your book! Not too much longer now!!!

    JKB!!You know just when I need to hear something sweet like that! You is the bestest, even if you are the Possum Queen of Berlin!! ;)

    Elana, book launch party??? Soooo jealous! Lucky Elana! Have fun!

    Sara!! ha, ha! They print next month! My ratties are sending good luck vibes and rat love Karma your way!!!!! I hope your query snags an agent faster than you can say "I LOATHE POSSUMS!!!" Ha, ha! JKB thought she was getting off easy!!! Silly girl!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey Hilary - you've inspired me to redesign my blog using Dotty Dot. GORGEOUS layouts! So that's my good news - I now love my blog a little more than before. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nice layout, Hilary. You're right, it is you and it's much easier to read. Love the countdown timer. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Michelle! I love it! It seriously took me forever today to find a design that spoke to me!

    The Tart! I'm so glad I asked you last night! I know you are painfully honest with me and that's what I love about you!!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous3/16/2010

    My good news is that as of this week I can legitimately call myself a novelist.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I just (and by "just" I mean 5 minutes ago) finished up reading and answering questions about the last dreadful short story of the quarter for my lit classes.

    I read somewhere around 50 short stories and 4 novels for class this quarter, and not a darn thing happened in any of them (well, not entirely true... Persepolis was fantastic), so I'm very happy to be done :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I have two manuscripts finished! Well, one and a half - redoing the first one as per a fantastically helpful no from an agent (LOVE it when they give feedback).

    ReplyDelete
  30. Chris, I find it so hard to read and enjoy something when I HAVE to read it! I'm glad you liked at least one thing; that's something, right? I can only imagine your relief!!!

    Ruthanne, I got little helpful feedback from agents, barring a small handful. The ones that did give feedback though, helped me so much! Their insight was amazing! I hope your rewrite goes smoothly and the 'no' becomes a BIG FAT YES!!!! :)

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm almost through another revision of my MG ghost mystery with my crit group. Still aiming to start submitting in fall!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Jim! That's so exciting! I LOVE ghost stories, but I think I'd be terrible at writing one! I watch Goose Bumps with my son and we both get jumpy and he get's downright scared! That being said, I won't let him near the books!

    Good luck!!!! Fall is my favorite time of year!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous3/16/2010

    I'm going to my second conference this summer.

    Also, I received some fantastic suggestions for my wip, and it feels so good working on it again.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Medeia, I wish our IL chapter had more than one big conference! I have to wait until November. I'd really LOVE to go to LA, but making it to out of state conferences is hard! Maybe next year!

    Best of luck on your WIP!!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  35. Congrats on your book!!!!!

    My good news is pretty simple, but it feels oh-so-good! I've emerged from the fog and have broken through my writer's block. Yesterday, I redesigned my WIP outline, scene by scene, and I'm excited to get writing, again. Second drafts can be tough, especially when you decide to change a major element. What a learning experience this project is turning out to be!

    When you get a chance, swing by my blog for an award I left you there!!

    Happy St. Patty's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Nicole, thanks so much for shiny award! I already put it up!! The ratties and me luv it!

    I wish you only the very best on your 2nd draft! You'll get through it! I know it!!!!! It's all one big learning experience! ;)

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  37. My book's going to the printer this week... finally!

    (thank @CliftonHill for my new knowledge that you exist)

    ReplyDelete
  38. T.D.! That's awesome! My ARC's go to print next month and I'm freaking!!! Can't wait to hold my very own book in my hands! It's all so weird (in a good way!)!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  39. Congrats on your book!!! YOU HAVE AGENT! WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love the new look! Colors are beautiful and much easier n the eyes!

    Nothing too exciting going on with me. But my agent does love my new fractured fairy tale idea. Hopefully, I can execute it to her satisfaction!

    ReplyDelete
  41. M! My agent is just the best! She is a wonder! I could not have done this without her in my corner!

    Corey, I know you can! Can't wait for your 2nd book to debut! Nomi will love it!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love the new look!

    My writing life is good, but what really has my tail wagging is it hit 70 degrees here (NJ) today!!! GORGEOUS.

    And I finally fixed my blogger following glitch!

    ~Lola

    ReplyDelete
  43. Congratulations, thats wonderful. Thanks for following my blog :-)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I was offered representation last month from Artists and Artisans! I am thrilled and hope to have my revisions done in the next couple weeks! After years of hard work, this was good news indeed!

    Congrats on your book! Can't wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Lola! It was close to 70 here too! By Sunday, they say back down to 40 and snow...wuh? Ah, Chicago... :) Good to see you!

    Eliza! Anybody who calls their workplace the cupboard is someone I want to know--seriously!! ;)

    Kelly, Congrats! They are a wonderful agency! You must be over the moon! Hard work DOES payoff! Just when you think you're spinning your wheels--bam--it happens!!! So happy for you!

    xoxo -- Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  46. I received the best rejection. Ever. The agent told me not to give up on my story. I needed to hone my writing some more. She gave me some feedback (talk about a lightning bolt moment), and I signed up for some writing workshops. And what a different it's made so far. And the best part is I'm allowed to requery her with the project once I'm finished. Yay!

    ReplyDelete

Leave me a message after the beep...BEEP!