Tag: queries

Posted in Writing

Rolling with the Punches

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

Two weeks ago, I received news that shook my life. Since then, I’ve had to reapply for my job but I’ve ultimately decided to go someone else. That still meant having interviews and needless to say, it’s been stressful. I’ve gotten an offer but I’m waiting on two others to make a final decision.

There have been a few good things happening. I’ve started crocheting again and made ten new keychains. I think all the stress made me want to be a bit more crafty than before. I’ve received news back on my queries but I still don’t have an agent. There are a handful of agents I’m waiting for to open their queries again.

I’ve been focusing on rewriting a dark fantasy novella into a novel. A huge part of it is changing first person to third person and of course adding more world building than I had before. This might also be the novel I’ll be working on during Camp NaNoWriMo this July.

A part of me wants to stream my prep work for Camp NaNoWriMo on YouTube/ Twitch and invite others to plan with me. Even streaming my writing during the event is something that I’ve considered doing. It would definitely be a challenge, but it would also help me reach the daily word count. Plus, it could also help others to sit down and write.

Overall, there are tons of decisions that I need to make this upcoming week. One of those is where I’ll be working in August. Not to mention Camp NaNoWriMo is right around the corner, and I need to double down and decide how I will implement everything I want to do.

Posted in NaNoWriMo, updates

Summer Plans

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

A lot has happened during the first days of June. Huge news have shaken up my life in regards to work and that future is uncertain. However, I plan to focus on the good stuff like visiting family and my nephew (only a few months old), and enjoying my summer break.

Queries

First things first, unfortunately, my novel hasn’t been picked up by any agents. There are still that haven’t replied yet but that is not always a good thing. I have continued to research and find more agents that are a potential match to my novel and sent out queries. There are still a couple of them that are closed so it’s another waiting game.

Crochet

This is a little different but it was part of my new year goals to crochet more. I have to say that over the last two days, I’ve done exactly that. Now, I need to give my fingers and joints a rest. Maybe I’ll start selling my little critters in the future. I don’t particularly have space for all the knot critters I’m creating. But overall, it’s good to relax, and be able to finish a project in one sitting.

Camp NaNoWriMo

July is less than a month away and that means it’s time for Camp NaNoWriMo. While I still have to decide what project I’ll work on during that month, I do want to participate. I’m going to try something different this year.

I want to stream the prep work for the project AND the actual writing portion. Mostly it’ll be streams of me talking about how I plan or maybe the lack of planning. I think it’ll be fun to do.

Posted in NaNoWriMo, updates, Writing

NaNoWriMo Approaches and a Few Updates

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

There’s only a week and a half left before NaNoWriMo and I still haven’t started planning and plotting out my story yet. Before, I wanted to write the second installation of the Half-Blood series (I’m trying to publish the first one) but now, I’m not so sure. Mostly it’s because I have another story I’m working on and continuing to work on that one through November seems like a really good idea. Then again, knowing myself, I’ll probably be working on two stories at a time.

I have a problem. I want to do too much at a time. That’s my flaw as a writer. And you know what they say, the first step is to realize you have a problem. Saying that I will focus on the second installation of the Half-Blood series. Luckily for me, I do have some part of the book planned out and I know where the book is headed. Granted, I don’t know how it’s going to end but  – actually, as I type this I just figured out how the second book is going to end – it shouldn’t be a problem. Am I going to say what it is? No. I am not. That scene can change and I don’t want to be restrained to only one possibility.

On another note, there are a few exciting things that have happened. Well, one isn’t entirely exciting. I got another response to a query I sent out . . . my manuscript was rejected. I’m not exactly discouraged but I can’t help but question my ability as a writer. I’m not the greatest and I strive to improve because that’s all I can do.

All I have to do is keep finding other agents and go back to my manuscript. Sure, I thought about the possibility that I might have to abandon this story and query something else. Yet, I want to be stubborn and continue to send out queries.

I’ve been working with Sarah Pesce and I’ve gotten really helpful comments on the first twenty pages of my manuscript. I still have those 8k words to send her and maybe I’ll even have her take a look at the entire manuscript. There are possibilities. At this point, all I have to do is keep pushing forward and hope for the best.

Posted in Events, updates, Writing

Of Contests and Queries

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

It’s been a week or so that I sent out my query letters. I’ve gotten two rejects so that leaves four. I am hopeful of getting a response from the other agents but I’m also being realistic about it. In the meantime, I am also creating another list of agents to query in the Spring in case this time around I don’t get any response. I’m not exactly patient but I do have ways to keep myself busy.

Early this week, A Writer’s Path hosted a contest and yours truly won one of the prizes; it’s an 8k word editing services courtesy of Lopt & Cropt Editing. This is probably one of the few times I have ever won anything. I’m super excited to have a professional take a look at my manuscript. Sure, I’ve had beta readers read through it and all but I think a professional touch is needed. Saying this, I’ll probably go over my own work again before sending anything out just to make sure that I am sending out my best work. This will be an interesting process and I’ll make sure to give updates.

On another note, It Is October!

In my humble opinion, it is the best month of the year. No, not because my birthday falls in October. It is because of Halloween. Let’s face it, who doesn’t like free candy? But I rest my case. Not only is this a special month because of everything I mentioned above, but also because November is just around the corner. You know what that means? Yes, NaNoWriMo. 50, 000 words in 30 days. Am I ready for it? No. No, I am not.

However, I do have a novel in mind. I will be writing the second installment of the (currently named) Half-Blood series. *cough* I’m writing to publish the first novel in the queries I sent out *cough* So, the next comes the second book. I already have the plot of the story in my head. I have a few notes but nothing has been finalized yet. I’m going to take this month to prepare for November. Plus, I just might include some methods on how I plan out a book and other tips and advice that have helped me out.

As of now, I’m not sure if I’ll have a separate blog for NaNoWriMo. I didn’t have one for early this year, but that is also up in the air.

Until next time,

Kassandra C.

Posted in updates, Writing

Queries

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

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I have taken the next step to getting published. I have sent out six queries and, even though I have done this before, I was still nervous and excited. A part of me is glad that I finally sent them out and the other part of me wishes I could rewind and fix my query a little more. Honestly, I’m glad that I can’t do that simply because if I could, I don’t think the queries would have been sent out any time soon. It’s a good thing that’s over and done with.

The surprising this is that I got a response almost immediately . . . but it’s not a response I hoped for. One of the agents I queried “turned me down” because they weren’t interested in my manuscript. I do have a few words . . . that was fast. At least I can say is that they read my query and they weren’t looking for my project. After some thought, I’m okay with that. At least they responded and read my query.

I don’t want to give it too much thought if that was a polite email to say that my query wasn’t good or not. I’m taking it as my project wasn’t something the agents were going to represent. Luckily, I still have a couple of more places I’m waiting on. Waiting is a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing is that I won’t get rejected soon and I still have hope. Bad thing is that there’s never going to be a response and I’m rejected either way. Of courses, there could be that lucky break but – I’m not going to finish that thought.

Sure, I never know. My manuscript could get picked up and that would super exciting and awesome. It’s not like I don’t have hope but I’m also being realistic about it and trying not to get my hopes up. Even if I don’t succeed this time around, I’ll keep trying. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Sure, I would be sad and disappointed but I won’t quit. My goal is to get my books published and tell my stories to the world if I can. So, I won’t quit.

In the meantime, I’m going to keep writing. Keeping creating stories and playing around with ideas. Keep reading, that’s for sure, until my career as a writing (or even as a side job) takes off and even then, when it does, I’ll keep doing what I love doing.