Finished the synopsis.  It was 4 pages single-spaced and I had to cut it to 2 double-spaced, so I printed it, sighed at it, flipped it over, and wrote the new version on the back without even looking at my first version.

Turned out really well.  It’s not even 2 pages and still incorporated all the major plot points.  (Alex said the first two paragraphs in particular were brilliant, which makes me happy.)

Now to finish my bio by Sunday and I’ll be set to pop queries into the mail (snail and e) on Monday.  I already marked all YA agents in the 2010 guide, so that’s also settled.

I’m a lot less nervous now that my synopsis is in good shape.  It was making me tense.

Also, I went with “Cold Snap” for the title replacement, since “Frostbite” has been used recently within my age group and genre.  (*cry*)  Ah well, I’m sure it’ll work out.

Cross your fingers for me!  I’ve done my part to the best of my ability and the rest is in whether or not an agent takes a shine to my work.  So pray that someone will actually like my idea.  Not just in general but enough to champion it.

*nerves*

(Frostbite which will probably have a different name because that one is taken.)

There’s the writing of the manuscript.

Then there’s revising it by replacing scenes that don’t work.

You can usually combine some general editing into the major revision process.

Then there’s the final scour-every-word editing bonanza where even stuff like “a” and “the” are questioned for legitimacy in their sentences.

Yeah, that’s what I just finished.

Now to hit up the local library for their 2010 Guide to Literary Agents and start my query letters.  Wish me luck.

I’m not going to say I’m “done” done — I still want to go over the story and check my wording and grammar one last time (mainly cutting, checking point of view, and fixing overlooked passive voice), but the final battle scene in Frostbite I had determined to change, along with the scenes leading up to it, have all been FINISHED.  I’ve been struggling with those scenes for a year now and last night I finally figured out how the fight should go down.

I worked all morning getting everything settled into the text.  I’m so happy, everyone gets a virtual cookie.

I think I deserve lunch now.  And some real cookies.

Still pretty tired of dealing with Frostbite but getting close to willing to edit again. Instead, I’ve been working on Deathlock. Basically all of my free time is spent trying to decide where to go with Deathlock and how the story should play out.

Deathlock is on its fourth incarnation, meaning I wrote almost the entire story last year and threw it completely out. Then I started two other versions, hated them, and started this version, which I might not hate. I think I’ve finally found a few things in the story worth keeping, but I need to settle plot details and… they just aren’t settling at the moment.

I need to do more prep work before actually starting to write. >_> I always get caught by not having enough plot to go with my characters, and I have to go back and do the prep work I should have done in the first place.

I have no idea how I managed to finish Frostbite without it looking like a trained monkey just banged his head on my keyboard.

I finally got myself motivated enough to look at the critiques for my query, synopsis, and the weakest chapters of Frostbite. What I discovered is that I have serious point of view and passive voice issues, and I may need to change a whole scene.

The secret writer’s handbook we all get (along with that first magical talking pen that tells you exactly what to write so you don’t ever have to edit) says that you’re not allowed to send in anything with p.o.v. or passivity issues, or you’ll have to suffer the 1000 Papercuts punishment.

It makes me feel lazy, not working constantly on Frostbite, but the truth is I’m sick of editing it and need space from the project for a while. In the meantime, I’m working on other projects in the series, projects with serious flaws I’ll have to work out after Frostbite is polished.

Ah, well. :P