I am still waiting for a response from Lighthouse about my novel. It's been just a hair over a week since I submitted but with two weekend and Labor Day in the mix, this is not unexpected. I was expecting a 1-2 week response, but I just need to be patient. The key reason for my impatience is that I want to know they got it and are processing it. I'll be fine if it takes longer to process, but I just want to know it is being processed.

Good luck to you, Fencer, I hope you hear back from them soon!

Well, I've set a goal for my current round of revisions - October 31. It seems like a long time, but with homework and stuff, I'm hoping I can finish by then. Luckily, I think the hardest parts are over with. Last time I set a goal for myself, I finished a week early, so we'll see.

As for NaNoWriMo, I doubt I'll be able to hit 50k, but I'll at least give it a try. I know I should probably be outlining, but I'm what my English teacher calls a "watercolorist-writer" - someone who plans everything out in their head. I've thought up a good beginning to my story, and I have a vague idea where I want to go with it, but I think I'd rather just jump right in and see where the story takes me.

I am definitely feeling the Nano itch. Unfortunately, with school here in full force, I won't be able to scratch it. Such is life. Maybe next year.

It's great to hear your updates, Fencer! I wanted to ask...how does one go about starting the publication process, anyways? Do you need an agent or something?

The thing I'm getting really irritated at now is not having the time to write. Too many classes--and my poor characters have been stuck on an enchanted island for MONTHS now.

It's alright, Lady Haleth - I know what you mean. My characters have been stranded on the same three pages for a week. They're getting pretty irritated. And the goal I set for myself is 43 days away! Oh dear. I should probably try to get some things done tomorrow while I have the time...

ChristProclaimer,

I'm not really sure how to describe getting to where I am at now. And I certainly will not be one that will say "it worked for me, so it should work for you", but I can give some tips that will help. I went through three methods of getting ahold of the five publishers that I've been in contact with. Three came through Writer's Edge Service, which is a screening service for Christian authors. They judge whether a publisher would consider looking at an author's work and give valuable feedback either way that most publishers would not. One came through a Writer's Conference that an author recommended. Then this last one came out of the blue. I don't know how they found me but they wanted to look at my manuscript. I don't know if they found me through Writer's Edge or not. I am still waiting to hear if they will accept my submission or not.

Now here are some tips on how to pursue publishing.
1). EDIT! EDIT! EDIT!! and Edit some more. Publishers and editors simply do not have the time to take a 1st draft and mold it into a masterpiece. Beware if a publisher does take a 1st draft because they may be a cheap vanity publisher. So edit. Getting feedback from a writing buddy. Pass it off to someone you know and trust, but will be honest.

2). Research. I'm assuming you are already doing the research you need for your story, so I am talking about publishers. Some publishers simply do not take certain types of stories or manuscripts. If you have poetry and they say they don't take poetry, don't try to force your way in. Marcher Lord Press only takes Speculative Christian Fiction, so if you have a book on how guys should date girls, you should move on.

3). EDIT! You cannot go over your manuscript enough times and catch every mistake, typo, inconsistency, etc. I'm talking from experience. You need fresh eyes when you edit, so take some time away from your manuscript so when you come back to it, it will be fresh and the errors will be more visible.

4). Be patient. Very few people take a story out of their heads, put it down on paper, and turn it into a Best Selling Book in a short time. I have been working 3 1/2 years on mine. I have had to be patient, not just with my manuscript, but also with publishers. It is often a long process and it will not happen overnight.

5). Keep writing. How to writer's get better? They write. Whatever works best for you. Some keep journals. Others blog. Others still always have a story in progress. Writing is also a maturing process. I have learned so much in the working of this novel, not just about writing and the publishing industry, but about myself and about others as well.

6). Keep Editing. Look at your story. It is consistent? Do you show what happens or do you tell what happens? Are each of your scenes revealed by one character's point of view? (Each chapter can have several scenes from different characters' POV, but there needs to be a clear break between each scene when the POV changes.) You might need to re-arrange scenes you like for character development purposes. I've had to do that, where a character's development reaches a climax early on, but is the critical moment where the plot finally approarches it's climax. So I moved that moment towards the end, which required a lot more than just copy paste, and the story ended up so much stronger.

7). Don't give up. Every writer has a moment where they ponder if they should continue or give up the process. There are times where God will shut a door, but he always opens up another when he does. Don't shut the door that God opens pre-maturely. Twice this past summer, I've had the opportunity to not do something God opened up. And had I not listened to his advice on this, I would not be where I am now. That is outside the realm of writing. So don't give up and press forward.

8). Did I mention edit?

Have fun writers!

Good advice, Fencer! Editing is a must. I'd add that not only do writers get better by writing, but also by reading. That way we get exposed to new vocabulary, see (hopefully correct) grammar, not to mention plotting, and character development in action.

My muse slapped me upside the head the other day with an idea for my NaNo story. Alas, I want to begin it now.

The only catch is that there isn't much conflict in what I have in mind, so far. While short stories, vignettes, and the like don't necessarily need conflict, a longer story is usually more interesting if there is some kind of struggle the main character(s) must face.

Thanks so much, Fencer! I'd like to publish someday, but I didn't even know how to start. Judging from your posts you seemed like the person to ask.

Lady Haleth: Yep, I've been there. Or rather, my characters have. Stranded in the middle of a desert, just pages away from a turning point in the plot...

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!!

I just heard back from Lighthouse Christian Publishing this morning. They offered a contract. I'm going to sit on this during this week while I prepare to go to an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (college student ministry) retreat this weekend and decide then. Initial feeling is to take it, but I want to be sure. Pray for me as I make this huge decision. I am so excited about this and I can't wait to see what happens.

Whoa, Fencer! I'm praying for you, that God gives you clarity-- especially through this retreat.

What a convenient time to have a retreat! How lovely.

As for me, I've been putting off working on my college portfolio-- which is a bad idea. But the next step is writing an essay about who I am and how I got there, and I've no idea how to really start it. I outlined a tiny bit, but eeeeeh....

I'm so excited for you, Fencer! Though I can't say I'm surprised they offered you a contract; everything I've heard about your book has sounded awesome. Will be praying!

As for my writing, things have been at a standstill as of late. Everything has been insanely busy and I've been keeping crazy hours to fit everything in, and the book plans have gotten pushed back down on the priority list. I'm hoping that as the holidays draw near, I'll have hit some kind of rhythm by then, and I'll have the time and energy to think about it more. At this point, have no idea if Nano is in the picture this year. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I’m praying for you FencerforJesus!
I’m so happy for you!
I hope you have a Great time at your retreat, I Hope you will get some good advice and you’ll have a peace about your decision.

Wow, Fencer, that's awesome news! I'll definitely be praying that you make a decision you'll be happy with. I hope the retreat goes well. It sounds like a good place to think things over.

Awesome, Fencer! I hope everything goes well for you!

My writing has also still been in a standstill. I'm itching to write and i've got so many ideas, but homework and schoolwork have taken a front seat in the priority train. I try to find time to write though, during classes when I'm done with a test or quiz. It's working a little bit, but still not enough time. Time, time, time...sometimes I wish I could make time stop so I can either get a ton of sleep or a ton of writing done (so far I'm kind of falling for the ton of sleep one (haha see falling? haha like falling asleep? oh cheesy jokes..) yepp, I definitly need some sleep.

Oh which leads me to this general question: Does anyone get story ideas from crazy dreams they've had? I'm curious because I have the most drama filled, action packed dreams and i've drawn many stories from them. My friends all tell me my dreams are really weird because I never dream about failing a test or rainbow unicorns prancing through a meadow.

My gut is already telling me to accept the contract. My mom took a detailed look at the contract at at the Lighthouse website. She was very impressed with what they have and saw no red flags. I am still going to wait until the weekend to decide. But at this point unless I get a clear sign from the Lord telling me to wait, I plan to send it in on Monday morning.

I still have no idea how Lighthouse found me. I never contacted them. They contacted me, with the title of my book in the subject line. The other publishers that contacted me through Writer's Edge said something about it, but nothing from Lighthouse. My mom and I (and a few others) are really curious how they found me. But I really want to give proper credit where it is due. If they did find me through Writer's Edge, I want to tell them about this success story. All I can do it give glory to God because this would not be happening without him.