Tag: Writing

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.

Posted in updates, Writing

After the Storm

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

It’s has taken some time to get used to the aftermath of Harvey. I’m very fortunate to announce that myself and property weren’t damaged/harmed. Unfortunately, I had a few friends who weren’t as fortunate as myself.

Due to the hurricane, a lot of plans have been pushed back. I took this week to adjust some things and I believe I can get back on track. I have a bit of exciting news. Yesterday, I participated in #PitMad – a pitch party on Twitter hosted by Brenda Drake where writers pitch their 140 character pitch for their unpublished manuscript. So far, there hasn’t been any response yet. However, I’m still hopeful and even if this doesn’t work for me, I still plan to send out some query letters. There’s another #PitMad coming up on Dec. 7th and I just might participate in that.

Speaking of queries, I am planning on sending out query letters this upcoming Monday. I want to give #PitMad a chance over the weekend for an agent to like my tweet. If not, well, life goes on and I’ll have more opportunities. Plus, there’s always writing to be done.

Posted in NaNoWriMo, Writing

After Camp NaNoWriMo

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

It’s been two weeks since Camp NaNoWriMo has ended.

Final Thoughts?

I was unprepared for the complexity of my story. Even from the beginning, I knew it was going to be complex but I didn’t plan enough for that. Luckily, Camp NaNoWriMo showed me that. Blue Moon is a story that needs to be planned. A beat sheet should, in retrospect, help me write the story better the second time around.

Writing a novel in a month has always taught me something. It has also shown me my limitations and what I need to improve. This time, it was planning and execution. Granted, this was the first draft. The first draft of a book that isn’t even completely written yet. Blue Moon and I have a long way to go before it is ready to shown to the world and I’m okay with that. There’s still a lot for me learn.

On a different note:

I am officially finishing editing and revising my story, Clan of Ash. Now, I’m working on my query letter and searching for agents before sending out queries by September. My summary has to be fixed a bit more and I have to research more agents but I’m close. I’m planning on rereading my novel once more before sending it out. I’m not sure if this is a good idea but I’ll take my chances.

Speaking of reading, I finally got around to reading the books on my kindle. I have a few paperbacks around the house that needed to be read first. Hopefully, I can stop buying books long enough for me to finish reading all the ones I have already. Then again, buying books help authors. The struggle is real.

I’m still working on revising Crimson Queen and Phantom Blade (two stories I have on Wattpad). I have also been working on another story on Wattpad as well. It’s been busy and productive. For now, that’s all I can ask for.

Posted in NaNoWriMo, Writing

The End is HERE!

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

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Today is the last day of Camp NaNoWriMo and I have “won”!  I admit, for a couple of days, I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I persevered and completed my goal. It was such a wonderful and terrible journey. At this point, I’m exhausted but this story did make me realize that I have a long way to go before Blue Moon is ready to meet the world.

There’s no much more planning and tweaking I have to do. However, before that, I have to finish the story. 50,000 words was not enough for me to complete the novel. I’m going to need more than that. I haven’t decided if I want to use NaNoWriMo in November to do this. I might just end up working on another story. It’s up in the air. I’ll leave that for another day.

Right now, I’m celebrating.

I’m just glad it’s over.