January 19, 2009

It's been longer than initially intended to add to this BLOG. No apologies. The novel "In Dangerous Waters" is finished - at last. It's 95,000 words, 500 manuscript pages, and contains the composite advice, guidance, and imagination of the other seven members of the exciting critique group of professional writers who were good enough to permit me to join them.

The critique group experience has been invigorating in a manner not expected. Most of them are of an age they could have been my children. I felt as though I was the child instead, listening intently to their humor guidance and gentle criticisms and suggestions. That was an experience I had never expected at my relatively advanced age. It has helped roll back the years in a pleasant manner, in a pace that was comfortable (although there were times I had to scramble to get my submissions to the others for the upcoming meeting.

For those of you who might wonder how our critique group operated, we followed some simple rules. The group had agreed to a maximum membership of eight. I joined as the second man of the group, the oldest and least experienced in the genre of choice. We met every Thursday evening at the home of one of the members 7:00PM to 8:30PM (no more, no less). Hosting rotated among the members. The host lead the meeting. We usually had 2-5 pieces (20 page max each) to review and comment. The submissions were sent to each member via email not later than one week before the next scheduled meeting. Over time the membership changed plus or minus one.

So, with the writing of the novel completed and all edits incorporated, the search for an agent and an eventual publisher has begun - has in fact been underway about 3 months as I write this post. I understand now why many fellow writers have told me that writing the story was the easy part of the job. Combining 95,000 words into a single spaced, single page synopsis is a challenge greater than anticipated.

Now, on to the next story while I pursue an agent and publisher. Have several ideas but haven't selected one so far.