How many essays is that, Allyson? It's a bit under fifty pages.

I'd say Jan. 1, if you want to get really strict. Or the 15th if you want wiggle room for the holidays.

I'm happy to ride you if you want, via email or here.

Aaannnd, I just realized that sounded pornier than it should have.

Yeah, my book is tiny, a wee bit bigger than Santaland Diaries, coming in at probably a bit over 100 pages (manuscript) unsure what it'll look like laid out. Essays for me generally run at between 2000 and 4000 words, so it's a general estimate.

Thanks, Amy. It's a lot to ask and I am sooo grateful.

oooh, and how do blurbs work? Do the blurbers have to sign something stating that this is their blurb?

Do the blurbers have to sign something stating that this is their blurb?

Nope. Usually an agent or editor (or sometimes the author) will ask for a blurb, and when the requestee agrees, he or she emails or mails something in. No big. It's not like a photo release or anything.

So is January doable? My only advice is that you shouldn't wait *too* long to send in the complete manuscript, because unless your agent specifically stated otherwise when she submitted the project, the editor may be assuming it's *already* complete. Also, it's always preferable to get it back to that editor in a timely fashion, while the iron, so to speak, is hot.

My understanding with non-fiction is that the assumption is that the work is not complete. I'm way ahead of the game and not behind it, I think.

January is totally doable. I figure I can get a lot of writing done over the holidays, since everyone is away. I can usually complete a draft in one sitting at night. But then I need to get the thing out of my head which takes a few days, and move on to the next one. An essay each weekend should be cool.

I think you're right about nonfiction in one sense, but I still don't know if anyone would *buy* it incomplete, simply because you haven't proven you can finish it yet (to them, I mean).

Either way, you're good -- and if you can do an essay a weekend, even better.

And again, Amy types what I was going to type so I don't have to. Tad's (Tad WIlliams) quote for the back cover of "Weaver" came because I asked him for one. He read the book, loved it, wrote a beautiful blurb, sent it to me in email with a "tell 'em to chop it up as needed" thrown in, and away they went.

but I still don't know if anyone would *buy* it incomplete, simply because you haven't proven you can finish it yet (to them, I mean).

Oh, I totally get that.

I'm kicking myself because I was so doubting that anyone would want it after the last batch of rejections I had convinced myself that the project as a whole was dead, and was just looking at avenues to sell individual pieces.

me = no confidence

me = no confidence

No, no. you = writer with representation, and editor who wants to see completed work. IOW? You = butt in chair and write.

Sell the thing. Have the next one moving right along. Keep 'em coming back for more. This is good, and as it should be, because you do wonderful stuff.

Keep 'em coming back for more. This is good, and as it should be, because you do wonderful stuff.

Yes, this.

Deb and I make a lovely tag team, don't we?

Off to put Sara down for her nap...I hope.