(Amy, deb, or any other expert types--let me know if I spoke too freely anywhere above and I'll delete/edit. I'm still learning what's kosher and what might get you into trouble.)

Susan roooooooocks.

It sounds like a really worthwhile conference, Susan, and go you on the 45 second pitch.

(BTW, was the Tor editor Anna Genoese? From interviews I've read with her she comes across as a very cool person.)

Yup. Anna Genoese--very smart, snarky, and funny.

I don't think you said anything remotely trouble-worthy, Susan, and yay for a worthwhile conference experience. I think you're right about rambling, too -- I used to have to listen to those pitches and I always preferred someone who give me the gist in a couple of sentences without explaining every minute of backstory, blah de blah de blah.

And this?

If they reject the partial, I worried over nothing. And if they request a full and eventually offer me a contract, well, then I'll be in a better position both to talk with them about my other work and my long-term goals and to get an agent to advise me.

...sounds sensible.

I was just afraid I was showing myself to be a bit of a diva by being all concerned about my career direction when I haven't even sold yet. I get the impression most of the other unpubbed writers in my chapter, if they sold a particular type of book, would be happy to write five more books for the exact same line even if they'd been planning to do something completely different. Hence, I wonder if I'm too cocky, when I haven't even sold my first book, to have such definite plans for who I'm going to be exactly when I'm finally Somebody.

Hence, I wonder if I'm too cocky, when I haven't even sold my first book, to have such definite plans for who I'm going to be exactly when I'm finally Somebody.

That's, uh, crazy talk. Fond hairpat. There's a big difference between wanting to write anything, anytime to be published, and knowing what interests you to write about, and therefore what really might reflect your passion (and influence your voice). I think most writers who try to write to market to get sold are going to sell themselves short in one way or another -- if the book of an author's heart is a sweeping historical, attempting a sarcastic, up-to-the-minute chick lit might work out, and, you know, really truly might not.

I think you're very wise to consider what you want to be writing, and to try as hard as you can to make that happen. I've written stuff simply for pay before, when it had no resonance (and often very little interest) for me, and it can suck with a capital S.

The other thing is (as Elaine-the-agent pointed out during our session) is there's nothing to prevent the same writer having books with two different publishers. I'd hate to do that with Lucy and Anna, since they're linked stories, and I fondly think that anyone who reads Lucy is going to be curious about what happens to Anna, especially since she's becoming a more prominent character in my rewrite. But, it could be done--I'd just have to change Anna's name and demographic details. I don't wanna, but if that's what it took to sell both stories....but it's early days to worry about crossing that bridge.

Oh, and I decided I need to make a 5-year plan, and I may have found a good match for a critique partner.

ETA--Amy, did you get the email I sent to your gmail address about Laurie Brown?

Amy, did you get the email I sent to your gmail address about Laurie Brown?

Um, stupid me opened the account and since forgotten to check it. I'll look now. And then it's off to bed...

I was just afraid I was showing myself to be a bit of a diva by being all concerned about my career direction when I haven't even sold yet.

Well ... and let me be the unpopular opinion here, but only because I love you ... there's a lot of strength in knowing what you want to write, and writing something because you love it and its what you want to do. Honestly.

The "but" you hear brewing here is that a lot of writers get themselves very caught up in succeeding the way they want to succeed, sometimes to the detriment of other directions and possibilities.

Not saying you're doing that--I honestly haven't seen you in action enough to make that judgement--but it's a question worth asking yourself. Be open to the possibility that you have even greater opportunities down a road you didn't even know was there.

ETA: Or, the Reader's Digest version, "If you get the shot, take the shot."