Cutting Off Your Nose...

I have to write a synopsis. And it sucks.

But first, let me say that since March I have written that query letter. And submitted it (once). And was (promptly) rejected. Because the agent doesn't like dragons. So I am not taking it personally, but I am still filled with melancholy because now I have to do it again. (Or I suppose it could be said I should have already done it again several times by now. Whatever.)

Which brings me to this synopsis thing. After I was so very quickly rejected, I was determined to jump right back on the submitting horse and submit again, immediately. There was a place I had been thinking about for a several months, and now (the recently-rejected now) seemed like the perfect time. I had a finished manuscript and a needs-only-personal-alterations query letter, so let's do it! Right?

Not so fast.

I did my research and found that the place that was so perfect in my head wanted snail-mail submissions (I don't know why the thought gives me a rash, but it does) and *gasp* a synopsis (I totally know why that gives me a rash. And boils. And probably fleas.)

I have spent the ensuing months 'looking' for someplace else to submit. I say 'looking' because in all honesty it has been a rather more passive verb taking place. It is somewhat overwhelming to look at the universe of agents and say, "I'll try you." It's kind of like looking at the night sky and naming stars that are not in a constellation. Or shine brighter than all the rest. Or have graffiti on them.

So I have been baby-stepping my way toward finding another place to send a query letter. During my search  I stumbled across http://www.literaryrambles.com/. I'm kind of in love with them over there. (Though I don't visit them nearly as often as I should because I don't do the blog thing nearly as well as I should.) They have a thing called agent spotlight which is freakin' BRILLIANT. I spent my evening scrolling through their list of spotlighted agents and jotted down several names. And then I found THE ONE. The one who will be the next agent I send a query to. And she wants a synopsis. Ugh.

Why, you ask. Why are you sending a query to someone who is going to make you break out in a rash and boils and possibly fleas? Especially since there were other agents who don't want a synopsis at all (one even said they give him hives). I will tell you. She will take non-exclusive submissions, but prefers exclusive submissions for at least one month. And guess what? That whole non-exclusive phraseology in the query letter is another thing that causes me stress. Also, that gives me a legitimate whole month to not have to find somebody else to submit to. Score! And her picture reminds me of my daughter's first grade teacher, whom I like very much. And she says she wants stories about siblings, which mine is. Siblings and dragons.

So it looks like I have to write a synopsis. Better break out the Calamine lotion.

The bear went over the mountain

There's a song I used to sing/listen to when I was a kid that I find depressingly appropriate right now. "The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see. He found another mountain..."

This is me right now. Last night I finished writing my book. Dawson, Cris and Casey and their dragons have arrived at The End, and I must say it is a much better end than it was however many years ago when I finished it the first time. I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited, and I kind of floated through the day on wings of blissful giddiness. It was a GOOD feeling. Clams have nothing on my happiness this day. And to make it even better, chocolate was added to my joy in the form of a cake with the words "DRAGONS! They Have Arrived" written on top. Yes, I do have the best husband ever. (And sons. My girl was playing with a friend and missed out on the cake-buying expedition, though she's still the best even so.)

So what does that have to do with bears and mountains? I now have to write a query letter, and find somebody to send it to, and possibly even write a synopsis *shudder*. (And assuming I get all of that done, I then have to actually send said query letter to found persons, and that is a whole lot more like jumping off a cliff than climbing a mountain.) I climbed the freakin' mountain (74,000 words, thank you very much) only to find another freakin' mountain on the other side. In fact, I dare say it's a whole entire range, and I'm feeling just a tiny bit deflated. But you know what the bear did? He climbed the other mountain. And so will I.