DEAR SANTA

SEND AN AGENT!

Out for my walk on the back road today

My mind was a blank - I had nothing to say –

The editing’s done but there’s no time to play –

Find an agent!

Immediately every excuse raised its head –

The print in the Yearbook is too small to read –

And for over-strained eyes too much screen-glare is bad –

Where’s the agent?

Procrastination’s the curse of our craft

And reading those guidelines is too much hard graft –

But to hope they’ll come looking is simply plain daft –

Get an agent!

Two books I have written are ready to go

But the Christmas deliveries are bound to be slow –

Dear Santa – along with the gifts and ‘Ho-ho!’

Send an agent!

FINISHED! (well, kinda)

After a long month of re-writing my first ever book, I have reached the final page!
It has quite a history, this book. I first wrote it at least six years ago – a 180,000 word fantasy. Far too long, of course, but I was carried away with writing. I sent off some submissions and one agent actually asked to see the whole book. With great rejoicing I told family and friends - my kids even baked a cake - and I parcelled it up and had it hand-delivered. After a few weeks it was refused, and it was hugely embarrassing having to tell everyone after the initial euphoria. Back to the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook.

   Then I fell for a scam. I paid £350 “expenses” to another agent who said my book was fantastic and he wished he’d found something similar to read when he was young. I waited six months for him to find the promised publisher, and I had written a 190,000 word sequel before I realized he was a crook. He is still around playing the same tricks, so don’t fall for it!

   But he’d done me a favour in a way because, when I started re-reading my books after a six-month break, I could see a whole raft of things I had done wrong. I did a complete re-write and split the two books into a series of five. Each one is self-contained but there is a theme running through the series, and I sent the first book out to every agent who would consider fantasy. All I got was rejections. Again.

   Now, some years later, having read lots of advice to writers, I have written three other novels and am giving my fantasy series another major overhaul! I have already cut 10,000 words from the first book, re-named it and the whole series. It’s very different now, but last time round I approached most of the possible agents. I am afraid that even now some of them might remember my original submission and reject me without a second glance.

   The moral of my tale? Don’t submit too soon.

 I was so sure the cactus would flower today! I went out armed with my camera and brimming with confidence, but look at it! Still hiding its light under a ficus bush(~el).

The pollinators are sitting on the nearby aloe vera plant with their arms crossed, tapping their feet with impatience. 

Three days ago the bud was as long as my thumb - now it's bigger than my hand.

Imagine what the flower is going to be like!