Print, Print, Print

I know that writer's have always said, "Finishing the book is only half the battle," but honestly I never believed them. I mean, toiling over a novel with sweat, tears, and blood flowing freely (okay maybe it's not that bad but it feels like it) is a pretty hard pill to swallow for the better part of a year. Or two in my case. But now, after the birth of my novel I am still habitually attached to my laptop.

Not only am I diligently going through hordes of agent listings trying to find the right one for me, emailing the ones I'd like to work with, writing query letter after query letter to mail, but I am also printing out what feels like billions of copies of my book for people to read. I realize the more eyes that hit my novel, the better, and I have gotten some very good feedback so far, but my printer is practically on fire.

I realized early on that I would need to spend money on printer ink, paper, and mailing expenses to get my novel read and eventually published but I didn't know I would have to decimate so many trees in the process. I do appreciate though, those agents who request material via email. That has made my life sooooo much easier.

Speaking of agents, I just sent out my first group of query letters via snail mail. It was very exciting going through the process of labeling each one. There was also a feeling of accomplishment that went along with it. I'm sure that will pass when I'm sending my 10th stack of queries and coming home to rejection letters stuffed obscenely in my mailbox.

But for now I am content with the idea of beginning the first leg of my journey.