Elephants

So how is your elephant coming along? Last week I prattled about unfinished projects and mentioned my two “elephants in the room”: (1) publishing novel #1 and (2) writing novel #2.

I am proud to report that my first elephant got a haircut. Like, a small trim of just one hair. What I mean by that is I did query a new agent this week. So, point for me. That brings my query total up to 18 literary agents. The plan is to query literary agents (while still bringing in some type of income from my day job) until I find one that wants to represent my novel. My immediate goal is to identify and query 100 agents. Many great writers get rejected dozens or even hundreds of times before they get that one “yes,” but all it takes is one.

I also printed out my WIP (Work in Progress), Book #2, so I could have a hard copy of what I’ve written so far. Call me old-fashioned, but I like hard copies. Today I even re-read my last few chapters and made some edits before I started on the next scene. The goal here is to keep the novel fresh in my mind each day so that I’m always thinking about the progression of the story (you know, instead of forgetting the last thing that happened to my main character and having to go back and reread the whole story) and slow-cooking the next scene.

I also did another thing that has been ripening on my to-do list. My two Rottweilers, Chloe and Remus, are due for their next set of shots. Yes, they have a regular vet, but I’m trying to be more economic. I called around and found a place that had the shots in stock and picked them up. I haven’t distributed them yet because I don’t want to mess it up and I’m waiting for Nik to have a few minutes to supervise, but I will make sure the puppers get updated before the weekend is over. I’m sure they will be thrilled.

Do you have any unfinished projects hanging over your head? You’re not alone, although it probably feels like it. So tell me. What’s your elephant?