Photo Credit: Jess Haines
Guys, you all haven’t been given an update on my own writing in a really long time. A few months now. And I’ve led some of you to believe that I’m not writing nearly as often as I’d like and that my current WIP is going nowhere. Well, I apologize for the misleading information.
I actually finished the first draft of my manuscript all the way back in January. I know the rule of stepping away from your work and all that, but I immediately read through and jotted down notes about what I felt needed fixing. Guess how many pages of notes I had after my read through? 103! These were written in a college ruled notebook and my hand hurt just seeing how much it actually was. Again, I didn’t step away from my manuscript. I went in and worked tirelessly to fix EVERYTHING. It was like writing the stupid thing all over again. Only this time I knew the story like the back of my hand. This was right around the time of spring break.
That’s when I finally got to utilize my sizeable WordPress following for the first time. I reached out to some bloggers I thought would make for perfect beta readers and asked if they’d give my book a read. Every blogger I contacted agreed and less than a week later I had feedback from 15 bloggers. First off, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, which made my heart happy because a few have already read my first book. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t changes to be made. One blogger, who I won’t name, gave me 38 pages of feedback! Seriously, she needs to get a life. Hahaha. But there were a few things that every reader mentioned and I fixed all of those issues immediately. Then I came to some things that one person liked and one person didn’t and one person didn’t even mention and decided to go with my gut on those.
By this time we’ve reached the last week of April and I’m extraordinarily pleased with the final draft of my second book. Time for queries. How fun. I created a list of agents who I felt were a good fit for my work and sent my initial round of queries to the first ten agents on the list. Eight rejections and one full manuscript request later….I HAVE AN AGENT! Did I cry? Yes. Did I run around my house screaming in pure excitement? Yes. Did I feel like I absolutely had to tell you all about it? Yes. Are you happy for me? Yes.
I got the email from the agent on freaking Memorial Day. I think I found a dedicated one. I’ll have a more detailed post about this whole thing either later this week or next week.
*** I’m sorry if you believed this post to be true. I’m not writing hardly at all. I’m far from completing the first draft of my manuscript. Which means no beta readers or edits or revisions or queries or agents. But at least I can laugh about it, right? If you comment your congratulations I’ll know you didn’t read the full post and I won’t like you.***
Congrats to you! I have a manager now i need an agent.
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Unfortunate. Read the very last sentence of the post.
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We all need time to recharge our batteries and regroup. Don’t give up hope and give yourself permission to not write. You will get your inspiration back and finish your manuscript. Says she, who had been messing around with a book idea for soo long now!
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Thanks for actually reading the full post. And I hope so. I need it. I’ve been “working” on this book since October. Ugh
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Oh for the love of God! I always read your posts right to the end but this time I was so happy for you that I almost went straight for the comments to congratulate…..now I am confused which part is not true? :p In any case I think what you describe is ideal and…if you need a dedicated beta reader with questionable grammar skills (English is not my first language) but good honest opinions I am available
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Hahaha none of it is. I’ll be sure to keep you in mind when I DO need some beta readers.
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oooooooooooooooooooooo I did read to the end, but didn’t need to, to know it was in jest. An agent, if they’re interested in repping you, will call, not email. So it’s The Call you want to get. Good luck. Hope you get it eventually.
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I don’t know. I know a number of bloggers who were emailed. But thanks.
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Okay, so before I got to the end, I was working up a real good anger about you lying to us for the last few months. (Even though I was excited for your whole “agent” deal). Now I feel bad about feeling angry! What a roller coaster!
And you’ll get an agent when it’s time. I know you can do it. Don’t give up on yourself. Because we sure haven’t.
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I read an article yesterday or recently written by an agent who’d received like 20,000 queries this year. Something like 1,200 sample pages. Like 95 full manuscripts. And she offered to represent seven. Yeah….so much for that. And don’t yell at me. Every agent is probably like that.
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I’m not going to yell, I promise. I just want you to have more confidence in yourself.
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No one can have confidence in those numbers. Assuming they’re true.
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Forget the numbers. Have confidence in your writing whether or not you get an agent in the next few months or year.
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I suppose.
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Uh, kinda weird…but amusing…
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Amusing and something I can sympathize with! I have only begun the slog of query letters and already it bears down on me hard. Keep plugging away though and good luck!
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Thank you! At least you’ve reached that point. I don’t even know that I will.
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If I remember correctly, it took Kathryn Stockett , author of The Help, querying at least 80 agents, and they all rejected her, so you are not alone. I’ve queried two agents so far, both rejections, but since I’ve only queried two, that’s not too bad. 😛
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Oh I know. I’ve seen the lists of well known authors and their rejections. But I just recently realized how impossible it really is.
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Impossible, but not improbable. There is such an influx of people writing nowadays that it is much harder to get in, I do agree, but unique does help. I’m in a different field than you (picture books) but at some point I’d like to finish one of my novels and have it printed. Granted, it might only be worthy of Harlequin or Avon books, but… hey, a book published is a book published even if it’s romance.
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Hm. I think you meant to switch your first sentence around? I don’t know. I’ll just have to see what happens later on.
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Congrats on getting an agent!
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Wonderful. Read the last paragraph.
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I couldn’t not comment…Here is my comment: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Have a great day, John! Now, go to it! 😉
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That’s tgecreaction I was going for! 🙂
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Aha. It’s funny I read that last paragraph at 3 am and all that went through my head was, wow there are a lot of asterix there’s. No more lucid commentating for me.
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I FREAKING HATE YOU! Just kidding! but you did have me going for a minute! I almost cried for you too then BAM, you hit me with the hahahahahahahhahaaaaa! For real though, get back to work! (I’m a mom and sometimes I mother everyone)! You can finish that book and get it out there!
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I hate you too! 😉
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I feel the love man! Congrats on not getting a book deal! 😛
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Congrats on not getting a book deal? That’s just mean.
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Awe I’m truly sorry I was just trying to joke around! I know it sucks hell I blog about how much it sux too! I didn’t mean to offend, again just joking around!
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Haha I know. No worries.
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You have to laugh about it! Don’t sweat the not writing part. You’re not on a deadline. Since publishing my first book my writing pace has slowed also. I think part of it is the enormous amount of energy expended in writing, editing, and promoting that first book. Just keep going the flames of creativity will be fanned soon enough.
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You’re absolutely right.
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I was so happy for you until I read the last sentence. Not sure how to feel now.
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Even happier at how convincing I can be?
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I have to admit you are convincing. Way too convincing. 😉
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I should write about winning the lottery and sharing with my favorite bloggers. I wonder of anyone would believe that. Hmm
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I think that’s taking it a little too far. Then again, maybe some people would.
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Oh well. I’ll see when I actually win the lottery.
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And when you actually share your winnings because you’re kind and generous.
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No I’m not. Not in real life. I hate everyone. Haha not even kidding.
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What?! I’ve been under the impression that you’re a nice guy this entire time.
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I mislead everyone on WordPress. Shhh.
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Too late the secret is out.
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That’s fine. I’ll never meet anyone from here anyway. Believe what you like. Lol
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I am making it my personal mission to track you down.
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You’re not a serial killer, are you?
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I guess you’ll find out.
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Cook me something and we’ll have dinner before I find out. No reason we can’t be civil.
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Cook? You expect a sixteen year old writer to cook? You should be a comedian. I am being civil.
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You’re talking about murdering me. So yes, I want a good meal first. Hahaha
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Do serial killers fulfill the wishes of their victims? I didn’t think so.
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Then we’re going to have our own little Hunger Games to the death. Cause I’m jot going easily. 😉
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This is going to be interesting. I already have a feeling I know who’s going to win.
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I’m older. Bigger. Stronger. Yes, me too. 😉
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Someone is on an ego trip.
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Then you should stop replying to my comments. Yep.
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I can’t. I think it’s disrespectful to not reply to comments.
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Hmm. What if I start saying random things that make no sense?
Oranges sleep pile tube watch.
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How do you put oranges, sleep, pile, tube, and watch together in one incoherent sentence?
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Cause I wanted to see if you’d still reply. Duhh. But you did. Bleh.
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Fine fine since you want me to stop replying so much, I will.
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Hahaha 😉 good. And don’t track me down. Please.
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I am bored. Unless you entertain me, I shall begin my personal mission.
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Hmmm. What would you like me to do? 🙂
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Anything that will cure me of my boredom.
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You have a pimple on your nose.
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That wasn’t entertaining at all. If anything, it just made me more self conscious.
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It was supposed to be funny. Sheesh. I shouldn’t have to carry the burden of entertaining you. It should at least be mutual. Entertain me.
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What can I say? I am a high maintenance girl. If you follow me, you carry the burden of entertaining me when I am bored. 🙂
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No I don’t. I could just stop replying and then no burden. But I’m nice. If you’re not going to make an effort then neither am I. Hmm.
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Fine. Since I’m nice, I’ll let you have it your way.
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Nice? You’re demanding I cure you of your boredom. That’s bossy. I honestly have no idea what to tell you. I hate tomatoes.
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Hey. It could be worse. I could be demanding you to write more blog posts for me to read. Or ask you politely to write me a novel. Be grateful I’m not that selfish.
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You still haven’t told me ANYTHING.
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I’m trying. Geez. Uh…um….nothing has come to me. Yet.
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Hi John, I stopped by your blog to thank you for the “like” of my blog, and my eyes almost bugged out when I read this post. Holy cow, I said to myself when I read your thoroughly believable story; this guy is on his way UP! I started to feel sad bc all I have is one Nanowrimo manuscript which I am laboriously working through editing. Then I reached the last paragraph. You had me at “I’m sorry if you believed this post to be true.” We can all dream, can’t we?
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Hahaha 🙂 But at least you have something to edit. My manuscript is just collecting dust at 30,000 words. Good luck with your editing!
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That is a very mean ending. But it can still happen. You just have to keep going on that manuscript!
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I know. But I never feel like writing. Ever. Ugh.
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Few writers do once they realise how much work it actually is lol. That’s why so many quit before the end. But nothing, I mean nothing, beats seeing ‘the end’. Except knowing that after that, if you polish it good enough, somebody can some day read those words too. And maybe even like it.
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Well I already wrote one. Maybe that’s why I’m so lax now. I’m just like, “Hey, I already know I can do it. I just need to do it.” Or something. I don’t know.
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Lol! Yeah I feel the same way too sometimes 🙂
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Keep truckin’ along, John. One day you will wake up in the morning with your head full of words and your heart full of hope. It’s not easy to understand how a writer writes. It will happen. It’s who you are. When the time comes, the opportunities will line up. Blessings to you…
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Well I surely hope you’re right. Thanks!
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You had me goin’ there for a while John! LOL – I would be happy to preview your book – no reading fees! Writer’s Digest is always posting about agents looking for clients – all the best to you. (http://www.writersdigest.com/)
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Hahaha. I just need to finish it first.
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Wow, I’m so mad! I was so excited for you…..and then you just ruined it. You are mean. But as far as where you ACTUALLY are, don’t worry about it lol. My first book took me about 3 or 4 years to write, and it was still complete garbage haha. That sounded a lot more encouraging in my head, I think. But regardless, don’t force it. It’s good to keep up with it, but if you just force yourself to do it, it becomes something you dread, and that will show itself in your writing. You can do it!! Go go go! Better? 🙂
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I’m definitely going to the post office and breaking in so they don’t send you my book now. Sheesh. My first one was written in like three months. You just said yours was 3-4 years! Nope. You’re not reading mine now. Nuh uh. You’re not very encouraging. Haha just kidding. I’ve never forced myself to write before. But what the heck am I doing now? Nothing, that’s what. Ugh.
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Haha! It’s okay, I’ve been wrestling the not-feeling-like-writing-and-then-feeling-guilty-about-it cycle lately too….So instead I get on my computer and waste five hours on blogs, twitter, and Netflix and tell myself I’m being productive until I fall asleep 🙂
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Haha welllll at least I don’t do that. I just nap. A lot. And don’t lie to me. You’re ALWAYS writing or revising or editing or something. According to your tweets. I’m not.
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Oh well in that case, you’re a terrible writer. You should just give up. 🙂 Just kidding! Before you threaten me again…But even if you’re not always writing writing, you’re really great about keeping up with blogging and twitter, which I’m not so good at. Glass half full 🙂
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Wow. Stop with your horrible words! Geez! Blogging and Twitter are just distractions. I liked it better when my blog had 40 followers and I didn’t use Twitter. Okay, maybe not liked it better, but at least I could write.
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Haha! I understand. Have you considered cutting back on it a bit? Not posting daily, etc? I also think word counts helped me a lot, even though I didn’t always meet them. It just gave me a goal to push for, and a sense of accomplishment, rather than just guilting myself into it. Totally unsolicited advice I know, feel free to disregard 🙂
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But then I wouldn’t get to talk to such nice people. 😦
I’ve tried word counts like twice. Didn’t motivate me at all. Just come slap me in the face. Or if you’re more violent you can punch. Then give me some more unsolicited advice. Haha
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Hahaha! That sounds like a pretty fun job 🙂 Or you could try things like Write or Die? Or there’s others that block social media or internet until the timer is up.
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All you have to do is get over here and it’s yours. I don’t know what that is. But social media doesn’t keep me from writing. I just don’t.
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Woot! It’s a program that tracks your progress and there’s consequences for not doing things. I think the worst is it starts deleting stuff! Hm I really wish I knew what to tell you.
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I don’t want my stuff to be deleted because I’m lazy. That sounds horrible. It’s okay. I don’t even know what to tell me either.
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Haha I guess it works for some people! You’re just hopeless 🙂
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Wellllll you should should never get a job as a motivational speaker. You’ll get booed off the stage.
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Yeah I figured 😦
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And I’d throw a tomato at your head. While everyone else in the crowd insults your dog. Haha
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Hahaha!
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Can I just say that, that was really mean 😦 I was so ready to go running around the house screaming like a mad person with you. Then I would have had to explain my insane antics to the poor unsuspecting individuals around me, but then again, probably not. They’re used to me by now…
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Hahaha we can go running around the house just for fun. 🙂
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How rude! LOL! I was all ready to give you a high five and then you pulled that whammy at the end. 😀 Well, how about this… Congratulations on a very well written post. 😀
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Haha thank you. 🙂
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😀
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Nice one. I believed it so does that say something about me or about your quality of writing?
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I think every commenter believed it. But my writing can’t possibly be that great, could it? I think most readers are just excited to see someone actually break in to the big bad publishing world. Nothing to do with my writing.
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Nuh-huh. It’s your writing, actually. It IS great. And the way you narrate is very gripping…captivating. Makes us want to read more. 🙂
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You didn’t read the whole thing. I no like you.
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Oh. Sorry. I got too excited. -_- You’re the meanest person alive on this planet. -_____-
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Don’t say that. That’s not nice. I’m fantastically awesome. 🙂
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Oh. That’s not nice? You gave me false hopes. THAT’S not nice.
Hahahahahaha.
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🙂 You never email me! You’re not nice!
I know you’re busy. Don’t yell at me. 🙂
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Hey. I did email you today.
Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry.
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I know. And I replied. 🙂
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Lol! Great post and a good way of seeing whether people actually read your posts. Get writing! 🙂
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A couple didn’t reach the end. Thanks!
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Sooooo. When were you going to tell me this awesome news? Oh My GOD! Yay! Publish it soon, I’M DYING TO READ IT!
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Nooooo. 😦 Read the past paragraph! You aren’t supposed to stop halfway through. 😦
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Oh my God. I swear that last paragraph wasn’t there when I read the post. Or was it? I don’t know. I read the whole post.
You’re SO MEAN. -_-
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Yes. It was there. No I’m not. You’re the one who didn’t read it. So shut. Up. You. 😉
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Well. You meanie. I got too excited. -_-
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And you CAN’T use my line on me. -_- And you’re a mean-hearted person, btw.
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I was kidding! 🙂
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Hahahahahaha.
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Just curious…but I’ve long wondered why people with books to sell keep ignoring my comments as if I’m irrelevent…Given how many books I buy, this is very puzzling to me…
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Dumb question.
First, I’m not obligated to respond to any comment. I do because if someone takes the time to write out a response to my post, they’d generally like me to write one back. With that being said, your comment was not thought out or detailed or anything but what…four words. Let me see if I have the proper response now.
“Oh, thanks.”
Or “Okay.”
Or “Yeah, I thought so too.”
Because that’s about the absolute max your comment would have ever gotten back.
Second, I don’t care at all if you buy my book. Let me be clear, I don’t care. I have over a thousand followers on here and a number of them have read my book and hundreds haven’t. Makes no difference to me. You’re no different from anyone else.
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I was all like “awesome John!!”
Then I was all like “Well that’s not nice!”
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🙂 I’m nice. And funny. Just don’t see anything wrong with a good joke. And evidently, I’m persuasive. Haha
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Thanks for the like of my post on summer reading. Shameless plug:
http://brendawoa.wordpress.com/
I hope you get unstuck with your writing. I just made some style edits with my blog. The best writing is born from editing. It’s never perfect.
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Thanks! I think this post was written a week ago and I still haven’t written. Ugh.
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I totally was like, “WOOOHOOO! That is so awesome!”…then I read that last sentence…
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Haha you’re like a year late! How did you even find this post?
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Haha…wow definitely didn’t look at the date. I was reading what I thought was one of your recent posts and saw a link to this post. I saw the word agent and was all excited. Lol
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Haha oh. Pay attention next time. 😂
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Yes teacher 😉
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Raise your hand if you want to speak in class. 😂
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Haha!
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😊
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[…] On this day in 2014 I published An Agent Represents my Second Book! Whaaaaaat!?. […]
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I like you 🙂 You’re funny ^^ If you write books the way you blog, I think I would like to read your books 🙂
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I like anyone who likes me. 😁
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