First submission of the year

Yesterday I submitted the story I’d written for the Harlequin Historical Undone line. I went through the story several times after completing the edits and each time I read it I would find something to tweak. I’d touch up a sentence here, make a word change there. And of course there was that typo I found right before I was about to submit it. I could have held onto that story and read it again and again, and I’m sure each time I would have found something to fix. I loved writing the story. I loved the characters and thought they suited each other well. It was time, though, to send the story off into the world to fend for itself.

What will I do now? Well, I’ll tell you what I won’t do. I won’t be sitting on my hands waiting to hear back from Harlequin. The novel I finished before Christmas has sat for long enough that I can now come to it with fresh eyes. I’m starting the edits for that book and already have an idea for my next book. I’m not sure if I can write a new book while editing another one, but I will definitely work on the outline for it (yes, I’m a plotter.)

I was a little nervous when I hit the send button for my email submission, but the predominant emotion I felt was happiness. Contentment. I felt like a “real” writer. My story may not sell, but I feel that I am finally on the right path. And until I do make that first sale, I’m having one hell of a ride enjoying all these amazing characters who are romping through my mind and coming up with all sorts of scenarios for them.