Manuscript time!

First, Happy Halloween!! I love this time of year...

So, I just printed out a manuscript. I've waited a little bit because I wanted to fix the first chapter (I did) and I needed to finish another early chapter, the one where our young heros are asked to undertake their first quest. It was an important chapter that I skipped over because I wasn't quite sure how to "ask them". I'm glad I waited because what I have now feels right.

As I've been filling in the beginning chapters, I've realized a few changes I'd like to make towards the end (not the ending!). I decided not to make those changes before I printed out a manuscript. I want to see what I have now and how it reads on paper before I rewrite a couple chapter (it may not need it).

Other than the one change in the later chapter, I've put a lot of work into getting the chapters together. I actually elliminated an entire chapter, which means I had to rename all my file names (which include the chapter number). I then copy & pasted everything into a single document, adjusted the margins, font, and spacing to get a working manuscript of the entire book. In size 12 font with double spaces and one inch margins, the book is 406 pages long... and according to OfficeMax it would cost $32 to print.

I know this because I went through OfficeMax's online document service. I decided not to have them print it because they can't have it done until after Monday. Why it takes 3 days to print 400 pages in black ink, I don't know.

By the way, I've very thankful for my boss, who's let me print out my first manuscript on the company laser printer. I offered to pay, but he wanted none of it. Thanks, Gabe.

Now that I have the manuscript, it will probably take me a week to read it and edit it with red ink. Then I'll get back on the PC and make the changes to the documents. I'll probably read over that first manuscript a couple times, once out loud for sure. Once I'm comfortable with the changes I've made, I'll probably print another manuscript and start the process again. I'll compare the edited version to the original and see if the changes better the story. If they do and I'm happy with it, I'll start looking for an agent.

I'm a little worried about finding an agent. I've had contact in the past with a few authors, namely Margaret Weis (of Dragonlance fame) and Keith Baker (creater of the Eberron world for D&D and author of a few Eberron novels). I plan to ask them kindly for the name of an agent they could recommend; nothing more. I think I'll have better luck with Mrs. Weis, as she has many novels published independent of Wizards of the Coast (who does all the Dragonlance and Eberron books).

Of course, if they can't recommend one, or if the ones they do aren't interested because they're busy, don't represent juvenile literature, or if I just suck, then I'll be back to the drawing board. I'll have to get one of those literary agent guides and start sending querry letters.

Time to prepare the Wall of Rejection!!

-Ben