Writing's Business-End?

            I’ve been writing for awhile because I enjoy the challenge of making up characters that end up stuck in some sort of, sticky or otherwise, situation.  I’ve finished one relatively short novel and am 50,000 words into another and tinkering with the outline of one more.  I like to write.  Truthfully, I feel better after sitting down and writing.    

            Now though comes the part I’m not good at, the business-end of writing.  I think my writing is up to snuff.  I’m not saying it’s better than the fiction I read but the candle is at least glowing.  “Query letters, literary agents, publishers, oh my (to the tune of lions and tigers and bears, oh my).”  For me this is going to be the difficult part and utilizing the resources available to make sure the query (when perfect) goes to literary agents who are interested in my type of writing…  On an unrelated note, it’s amazing how many literary agents do not want paranormal, horror, or anything remotely supernatural, but it’s also encouraging how many agents do want it!

            I heard someone at Powells Bookstore (the advantages of living in Portland!) tell the assembled throng (myself included) that writing was 50% writing/editing and 50% business/submission/persistence.  Right now it feels more like 10% writing and 90% everything else, but then again I’ve been writing for myself and family members for years and am just starting the process of everything else.

            Hopefully paying attention to details will serve me well here.  Lions and tigers and bears indeed! 



EDIT:  Finished A Dark Matter, by Peter Straub.  Without giving away the game one of the characters is possessed by a demon, but not just any demon, a literary demon.  This touch is absolutely fantastic and I haven't stopped babbling about Mr. Literary Demon, esq. to everyone I've talked too lately.  Good read.