Readers, queries, and critiques

Since my instructor gave me a thumbs-up, I've sent out my manuscript to a dozen people who have never read it before. I'm looking for critique on all counts- plot, character, the way the historical and cultural details weave through, etc. I've gotten two readers' feedback so far (thanks, Brian and Judy!), and their input has been valuable and supportive. I'm looking forward to more feedback so I can get the ms in the best possible shape before I send it out.
Meanwhile, I'm working on a query letter. That's a one-page introduction which serves multiple purposes: hook the editor, summarize the plot and characters, give my biographical info and writing credentials, and offer to send more of the ms. A tall order, and very hard to write.
And get this, the faculty for the Pocono writers workshop has been announced. Dianne Hess, the Executive Editor of Scholastic Press, will be there. Her profile says she acquires and edits many kinds of books, including middle-grade that cross over to YA and history. "It is important to me that a book has an authentic emotional and spiritual resonance, and that it gives readers a richer understanding of their world." How amazing would it be to get a critique slot with her.

Stories of those who were there

I've read a number of first hand accounts of the Nazi era in Germany, but none fascinated me more than "Frauen: German women recall the Third Reich" by Alison Owings. The point of view shared in this book is rare in American literature on the era. And the perspective of women, being homemakers, wives, and mothers in that time and place, is completely different than the perspective of victims or soldiers whose stories have been told more frequently.
Ms. Owings is an American, quite fluent in German courtesy of college semesters abroad, who collected the personal stories of over two dozen German women whose husbands, brothers, sons, and neighbors fought during WWII on the side of Germany. Like any other cross-section of people, these women occupied all parts of society and varied by education, economic background, social status, and community type. Some took part in resistance, others looked away in fear and voiced their shame in the book. Some exaggerated their activities and others minimized them humbly. Still others seem to not understand the lessons of history, blaming the Allies for bombing their cities and forcing them to sleep in the basement with wailing children while their homes crumbled over their heads. Fascinating.

What's gotta change

I'm such a slacker. It's been two months since I blogged, and here I am saying I want to become a writer! But enough with the self-flagellation. It's a new year and this is as good a time as any to begin to do things right.
For 2011, I plan two things. One is to create a log of sorts of all the books I read, sort of like making the food diary I made when I did Weight Watchers. I want to make sure I take in good stuff so I don't waste time and energy reading the literary equivalent of Twinkies. And reading good stuff has got to improve my own writing. The second thing I plan is to get Sophie's story off my computer and out into the big world. I'm revising the second half of the novel now and researching publishers and editors who like historical fiction. Since the publishing industry is in a state of flux, the whole submission process will be quite an adventure.

In the weeks since I blogged last, we became grandparents! Katie and Kyle have a beautiful daughter named Adelynn Joelle. Now 2 weeks old, she's lifting her head so her grandmother the Pediatric PT can applaud appropriately. What a joy!

I watched a movie last weekend called "Akeelah and the Bee," the story of an inner-city girl afraid to show her smarts in school because she's harassed and mocked when she does. Her mentor shares a quote that speaks volumes:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, talented, and fabulous? But honestly, who are we to not be so? We were born to express the glory of God that lives in us. When we allow that light to shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, our presence alone may liberate others." -Marianne Williamson

So how do becoming a grandmother and a PG movie with an inspirational quote end up on my writing blog? Because writing is all about confronting human fears - fears of getting old, being inadequate, changing roles, fitting in - and being brave enough to push through the fears in the search for truth. The truth is that my granddaughter is a fabulous gift to the world. She has much to offer. And so do I. So do you.

Catching up

So I see I haven't posted to my blog since early September. Not that anyone was clamoring for more information about me and my writing trials and tribulations, but it's time I got back on track. Here goes.
I had surgery in late September, and while I was home recuperating I took advantage of my (sporadically awake) time to edit the first half of my novel. I cut out whole passages, whole scenes, etc and saved them in a 'deleted scenes' file on my computer, just in case. When I started, the first half was 148 pages or so. End result? 81 pages of a manuscript that reads tighter and tells a more compelling and engaging story. Here's the feedback I got from my ICL instructor, Nancy Butts: "You've done an absolutely amazing job with this revision. The book has great pace, a good depth of emotion, lots of drama, and it all hangs together so well now. What a long way you have traveled since the first version of the novel."
Yay!
I took a little hiatus from the book revisions and wrote a short story for a historical fiction contest. I called it "Barbara, Baseball, and The Beatles," about a family in 1965 visiting NYC for a combo business trip and baseball game. At the same time, The Beatles were in NYC to film the Ed Sullivan Show and play the first stadium concert ever at Shea. Contest winners will be announced in February- there's a cash prize, but the best prize is national publication in a newsletter that goes to pretty much every major publisher in the industry. That's free publicity and name recognition for the winner. Had to give it a try.
Now, while we await the birth of our first grandchild, I'll get back to work on editing my novel. The second half awaits.