Back to the drawing board

While debating whether or not to trunk Dark Heritage, I decided to seek some advice from an online writing group. First, I passed my query letter around. Then some revised pitch lines. Finally, I submitted the first chapter.

The resounding verdict was that it all needed substantial retooling. I have yet to find a way to pitch my characters that accurately reflects who they are. I have yet to find a way to pitch my plot that doesn't result in a lengthy sentence that loses the reader's interest by the time he or she finishes reading. Then came the blow that my first chapter was nowhere near as attention getting as I wanted it to be.

All the negative comments got me wondering what business I had in trying to produce something of publication quality. I went through the swings of self-doubt, wanting nothing more that to walk away from writing altogether. Melodramatic? Yes, but it comes with the territory.

Among the negative comments there were also grains of encouragements and some suggestions that I actually could use to improve Dark Heritage's pitch and the novel itself.

By this morning, I was re-plotting the first chapter and making a mental list of all the other things that I want to change about the novel. I love these characters and the journey they undertake. Giving up on them before I have really given them a platform on which to shine feels like giving up before I've given it my all.

Editing Spar has been slow, but it will get done one chapter at a time. In the meantime, I will figure out how I can make Dark Heritage the best novel I can write. If no one wants it after that then I will at least say that I did my best.