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New path

So my latest report was not what I expected.  Along with some notes, it was suggested that perhaps it was time for me to move on from this story.  Write something else, and someday I'll see that this story was either just a learning experience or something I wasn't ready to write at this time.

As much as I have valued Taryn's opinion and grown from her recommendations, I cannot do this.  Not yet.  I've spent ten years of my life working on this.  I'm not ready to move on.  I'm not ready to give up and write something else (if even temporarily).  I will always be grateful to Taryn for how she  helped me grow as a writer, but for now, I have to go my own way.

So here is the plan:

First, (just because I had the voucher and I really really just wanted to hold it) I printed 2 copies of my book through Createspace.  If anyone is looking for print on demand services, I highly recommend them.  Their tools made it super easy and the finished product amazing.  They're also affordable...even if I'd paid for the books they'd have been under $6 each.

The title is blurred because it's not the real title. I couldn't use the real title if I want to publish later. That is also not the real cover. I don't really have a cover yet.

Next, I'm going to try my hand at a contest.  On June 4th is the next quarterly round of #PitMad.  This stands for pitch madness.  During the 12 hours of #PitMad, hopeful authors pitch their work on twitter (using 140 characters or less).  Etiquette dictates that each writer can posted a 2 pitches per hour for each manuscript they're pitching.  Throughout the day agents will be browsing the #PitMad posts and starting (favoriting) pitches they like.  Writers will then look at that agents submission guidelines and send the desired information the the agent.

In preparation, I have downloaded an excel template that counts my characters.  I will prepare 24 different pitches. 


 I have taken the 4th off work, so I will be at my computer for 12 hours (7am to 7pm CT), but I may still download a tweet scheduler so that I can make sure my tweets are scattered.  

For the next few days I'll be working on my pitches, researching when various agents plan on being online that day, and polishing my query.

After that...we'll see where it goes.  If #PitMad is successful, then I'll have an agent and we'll go from there.  If #PitMad isn't successful then I'll try to figure out why, regroup, and come at it again in a different way next time.

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