Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Biting the Bullet - June IWSG

There comes a time in every writer's life when he must simply bite the bullet. In this context, bite the bullet means submit, whether it be a manuscript, short story, article or anything else. If it's something that must be reviewed, judged or accepted, then it must be submitted.

Click here to join this supportive community
I recently realized that it has now been a full year since I completed the initial draft of The Bonding. It's gone through three intense revisions and some hefty edits. The last two edits have focused almost exclusively on word count reduction.

It's not that easy for me. Some people have trouble shedding pounds. I have trouble shedding words. I know my nemesis.

Wordiness is the bane of my writing.

So I trimmed the fat. I whacked and whittled, cut and chopped like a lumberjack on steroids. I now wonder if there's enough fat left to flavor the meat.

But this post is about biting the bullet of submitting, not my struggles with word count reduction. Or are they one in the same? Perhaps wrestling with word count has become my way of avoiding the bullet of submitting. I tell myself it's a valid excuse. But is it just an excuse?

No matter! This is the month that Jeff bites that bullet. I've given my knightly oath to dragon and spouse alike. (And I dare not provoke either!) This is the month that I begin to seek publication in deed and not just in word.

Wish me well?

45 comments:

  1. Oh absolutely, Jeff! You've got to. There definitely comes a point when we have to let go and send it out there. It's scary--that's for sure--but you're doing the right thing. Lots of good vibes your way!

    ReplyDelete
  2. If you're looking to get published, then you have to submit something at some point. It's just part of the deal. Good luck with everything! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cathy. It does come down to just doing it.

      Delete
  3. I think we, as writers, try to cling on to our work as long as possible before submitting it. But there comes a point when we can't do anything else to our work; we have to let it go. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Go for it! Good luck and I can't wait to hear good news for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sara. Hopefully there will be some good news.

      Delete
  5. Best of luck to you. Are you going to query agents first?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My first submission will be unagented. After that, we'll see. :)

      Delete
  6. Don't make Al come after you - do it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never provoke dragons. A lesson that's wise to learn.

      Delete
  7. The twelve will be a great day, just because it will be the day you dared!!! We'll celebrate over that. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually letting go may be cause for celebration. I've had clingy fingers for a good while now.

      Delete
  8. Best of luck Jeff. You have a good product there, excellent story, so go get 'em tiger.

    JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bite it, Jeff! (Hey, never thought I'd type that to you.) Yes, sometimes with an article or essay, I finally just have to say "Just do it". I don't know that I've ever felt that it was "ready" for submission to my liking. Even after I send it, sometimes I'll reread the piece and just squirm that I sent it off before it was "really" ready.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And you know that the moment it's out of my hands I'll find something I'll wish I'd have caught and changed. :)

      Delete
  10. Good luck Jeff and, as the saying goes, "Nothing to it, but to do it!" :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mark. It should prove an interesting experience.

      Delete
  11. I will definitely wish you well!! You have an excellent story in "The Bonding"...have faith in it!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Elizabeth. I've been very encouraged by the votes of confidence from those of you who have read it. I hope you all weren't just being nice. ;-)

      Delete
  12. Good luck, Jeff! Sounds like you're ready! Might I suggest submitting to Jolly Fish Press (www.jollyfishpress.com). They're actively accepting new writers. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll definitely check them out. As of now, all options are on the table.

      Delete
  13. Good luck! And there does come a time when you have to either submit or publish. Otherwise, you'll be stuck editing the same work over and over again for the rest of your life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so true. My personality is one that would have no problem editing it over and over again. So actually letting it go is a bigger achievement than writing, revising and editing the book all combined.

      Delete
  14. When you've done all you can to make your work as well written as possible, then it's time to submit it to agents or to publishing houses. Now, your most important piece of writing is the query letter. If you haven't written one yet, you're in for a new learning curve. Good luck. Hope you achieve your well deserved success.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have much left to learn. Of that, I'm certain. Thanks for your wish of luck!

      Delete
  15. Bite that bullet and submit (says the woman obsessed with INCREASING her word count as an excuse).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like we'd be perfect collaboration partners. I could easily give you several thousand of mine. :)

      Delete
  16. Hey, knock some teeth out already and get that book submitted!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Best of luck Jeff. Proud that you've edited the heck out of your baby. Now let it soar.

    Blog: Queendsheena
    IWSG Co-host

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As any bird knows, our babies can't fly until they're pushed out of the nest, right? Thanks!

      Delete
  18. Hey, Jeff,

    IT'S time ... YOU CAN DO IT! The "what ifs" will get to you if you don't! ALL THE BEST!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Michael! Several have been trying to convince it's time for some time. They somehow succeeded.

      Delete
  19. Cutting words is never easy, nor is submitting. I remember far too well what both are like from the days I used to write novels, so I totally get where you're coming from. Good luck finally biting the bullet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Heather. Hopefully, I'll get the last of this editing finished soon. I'm so far behind on so many other things right now.

      Delete
  20. Best wishes! And I had to trim some fat words recently too. It's hard!

    God luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Charlie! Trimming them is certainly tougher than writing them--at least for me. (Nice picture, by the way.)

      Delete
  21. Send your baby off to Kindergarten, and suddenly he's graduating! How did this happen?

    ReplyDelete