Working Blindfolded

There are moments in a writer's life they will never forget.  The first "ahhh" story.  The first rejection letter.  The first acceptance email of your first story the world will see from you.  Even the first call from an agent saying they'd like to represent you.  But when you take time to think about it, those aren't really the "firsts" after all...

My first "ahhh" story was "Oh No Moe".  A little picture book I envisioned and received favorable comments from established professionals in the writing industry.  But that wasn't my true "first".  How can I forget about all the many days, nights, even months spent at this computer pouring over yet another story?  Buffing, polishing, shining until the best of me comes through.  Those are the "firsts" I need to remember for without them, "Oh No Moe" would never have been born.

Before that story was a little gem I called Super Duper Dog.  I thought I had a hit.  I thought I had the magic formula to a great picture book story.  And so I sent it off with a kiss to a publishing house accepting submissions.  And never heard a thing.  I mean crickets were screaming in the silence surrounding my query, for God's sake.  I was working blindfolded and never even knew it.

How I managed to stumble into this amazing writing community I'll  never know.  Maybe it was my participating in Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo.  Maybe it was being mentored and encouraged by great children's book authors like Suzanna Leonard Hill and others.  Maybe it was joining the writers hanging out with Julie Hedlund's 12 X 12 in 2012.  Or maybe it was the critiquing I received from Miranda Paul's Rate Your Story.  Whatever the trigger was, I felt a light bulb come on. Someone took the blindfold off and I could see my stories clearly.  All the bumps, bruises, and ugly scars I needed to deal with in order to become a better writer.

Was it scary?  Of course.  Did I doubt myself and the dreams I hold close to my heart?  You betcha.  But did I ultimately jump in with both feet and submerge myself in a sea of words...beautiful, tantalizing, mesmerizing, frustrating words that have the ability to drive me crazy at times?  Heck, yeah.  Because when it's all said and done, just what are we writers so worried about?

With billions of people living on this great blue marble, the chances that EVERYONE is going to like our stories is almost nil.  But what I DO know is that there will be someone out there who will one day open an email from me, or tear open a letter, or smile at me from across the table at a writer's conference and THEY will be mesmerized by my story.   And all those moments of working blindfold will have been worth it.

GUTGAA Query Blog Hop

If you are a writer, you know what it feels like to try to put together a query for your latest manuscript.  On GUTGAA this morning there was a chance for some people to get critiques from Deana Barnhart.  While I was not one of the lucky people to get a critique, there is a blog hop for any one who wants to come visit and critique my query and first 150 words in my own blog.  Since it's MY blog, I thought I would put up TWO queries.  Feel free to take a shot at either one...

Soooo...here it is query ONE:

Donna L Martin

Oh No, Moe!

Picture Book

397-word count

Moe, the mouse, tries every year to win Tarry Town’s annual Halloween costume contest so he can ride in the parade.  He just wishes his costumes would stop playing tricks on him.  One year his dragon tail gets caught in the door and he misses the judging.  Another time his mane is too long and he tears his mask.  He even tries going as a monster but he is too scary.  This year Moe has the perfect plan to win first prize!

Oh No Moe! Is a 397-word holiday tale for children ages 4 through 8 about one mouse’s journey in his search for the perfect Halloween costume.

All the mice in Tarry Town scurry around, squeaking with excitement.  The

annual Halloween party is just three days away.  The winner of the costume contest

will ride in the town’s Halloween parade.  The mice know what they are going to

wear.  Every mouse that is, except Moe. 

Moe digs around in his closet looking for the perfect costume.   He really wants

to win this year.  Three years ago, he was a dragon.  His brother, Teenie, said, “Oh no,

Moe! Your tail got caught!”  

Two years ago, he was a lion.  His sister, Queenie, said, “Oh no, Moe! Your

mane’s too long!”

Last year he was a monster.  His other sister, Mary, said, “Oh no, Moe!  You’re

too scary!”  Moe doesn’t know what to do.  How will he ever win the costume

contest? 

Finally, the day of the party arrives.

Here is query TWO:

Donna L Martin

The Warriors Three

Middle Grade Boy Adventure

9,500-word count

Nine-year-old Nathan wishes he were brave like his friend Billy or outgoing like Alex. All three boys want to compete in their school's martial arts tournament. But Nathan doubts himself and is afraid his friends will tease him if he loses. When Nathan and his friends devise a plan to earn the entrance fee money by delivering books to their library's annual book drive, they soon run into trouble being able to make good on that promise. Teamwork finally gets the books delivered and the day of the tournament arrives. But as each of Nathan's friends miss out on first place, his fledgling confidence is shaken until Master Hargis, his instructor, reminds him the value of believing in himself. The only thing standing in the way of victory is Nathan’s inability to unleash the warrior within him.

THE WARRIORS THREE, a 9,500-word middle grade boy adventure, is loosely based on real events and tells the tale of friendships, competitions, and the power of believing in yourself.

Chapter One: Krutch Park

Large oak leaves swirl down, showering the three boys with bursts of red, yellow,

and brown as they race each other to Krutch Park.  Reaching the monkey bars first, Billy

lets out a shout of victory before pushing his shaggy blond hair out of his eyes.  He

glances over his shoulder at the others as they run to catch up to him.

           

“I told you I would beat you guys!"

           

“Awww, you got a head start, otherwise I would have left you in the dust,”

replies Alex.  His hair matches the rust on the monkey bars.

           

“But, Alex, he always wins this race,” Nathan says as they scramble to the top.

The three boys started coming to Krutch Park on Saturdays ever since the

summer Billy convinced the others there was buried treasure at the bottom of the sandbox

dominating one corner of the park.