Anita Mae Draper
  • Home
  • Books
    • Secret Admirer
    • American Heiress Brides
    • Austen in Austin
    • Here We Come A-Wassailing
    • Riding on a Christmas Wish
  • Blogs
    • Author Memories
    • Inkwell Inspirations
    • Heroes, Heroines, & History
    • Draper's Acres
    • Photo Blog
  • Research
    • The Oregon Trail Ruts
  • Fun
    • Text-Free Photos
    • Recipe Blog
    • Jigsaw Puzzles >
      • Christmas
      • Fauna
      • Flora
      • Travel Destinations
    • Free Reads >
      • The Shepherd
    • Poetry >
      • You Were By My Side

First Anthology Proposal Submission

1/21/2012

 
My first anthology proposal has been submitted! This is just a proposal, so it doesn't mean it's being published - yet - but the fact that it's in the submission process is a relief and joy.

Half a year ago, Valerie Comer presented me with a project about a generational anthology set in Montana. Since I'm a historical writer, she wondered if I wanted to try the lead-off 1908 novella. I've never written anything set in that era, but it's fascinated me for years, so I said, yes, I was very interested.
Picture
Anita Mae & Val Comer at the 2011 ACFW conference, St Louis, Missouri

Her enthusiasm carried me forward although nothing was done until the week before Christmas when Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss signed on. With all three of them being published authors, I was the only one required to write the first chapter of my novella to prove that I could, indeed, write.

I was already busy with the festive season and trying to finish my proposal elements for a separate anthology proposal set in 1860. Taking one project at a time, I finished my requirements for the 1860 one and sent it off to the team leader just a few days before the New Year.

The deadline for the proposal elements for my 1908 Montana anthology was Jan 9th. Yikes! I'd known about this project for months and yet I hadn't been able to get a clear picture of my characters or  their goals and conflicts until that point. I've always maintained that I do my best plotting on the long drive to and from the city and on a late December day, an idea came to me and by the time we pulled into our farmyard an hour later, my novella outline was in place.

I won't go into details here because it could be changed before it's - hopefully - published. Once my chapter was written, I sent it to my team and then the fun began as their critques came back. Our self-imposed Jan 9th deadline came, but I was one critique short. Tricia realized that with all 3 of them critting at once, no one was looking at the final product and since she has the most books published among us, she became the last hurdle. By the time I received all the crits and made the appropriate changes, the consensus was that the the hero's pov was memorable, but my heroine's scene which starts the novella, was only okay.

With Val chomping at the bit - this project was her baby, after all - I took a few days to dwell on the beginning scene. Dare I say it took another trip to the city?

On Jan 14th, we drove our daughters to the airport. Yes, they'd been visiting and yes, I'd spent the days in my office as usual. It wasn't all bad on my part though, because they needed time with their dad and siblings, too and we had some great times alone and in the evenings. So after the girls flew off to Calgary and Vancouver, we began the hour's drive home and wouldn't you know it... I got an idea of how to fix my first scene. It meant rewriting a good portion of it, but I didn't have anything to lose.

It took a couple days and then I sent it off to Val. She made some observations - mainly  in the continuity between the new scene and the hero's pov, but overall she liked it. I fixed it up and sent it off again. This time Ocieanna took a boo at it and came back with more observations and suggestions. Best of all, she really liked this new version compared to the last. Great - 2 hurdles down. Off it went to Tricia.

To say I was worried about Tricia's crit would be very true.  I hestitated at the sight of it in my inbox with good reason. But her crit was sound. And yes, she liked this version much better than the original. Taking her observations and suggestions into consideration, I worked on my chapter. After several reads, I emailed it to the team.

Yesterday, Tricia submitted the proposal to Janet Grant since Janet represents both Tricia and Ocieanna. Hopefully, the next thing I'll read is that Janet submitted the proposal on our behalf.

The only part of the proposal that looked bare was the empty spot beneath my name where an agent's name would go. But since I put my writing career in God's hands all those years ago, I have faith that's the way it's supposed to be at this point.

And now... back to my other regularly scheduled projects.

Anita Mae.
Anne Mateer link
1/21/2012 04:20:15 am

How exciting, Anita Mae! Praying for favor and success!

Anita mae
1/21/2012 04:23:24 am

Thanks, Anne. I really appreciate the support. And prayers. :)

DebH
1/23/2012 03:30:20 am

This is wonderful news Anita and I appreciate the peek into the whole process you're going through. I think it's wonderful that the Lord has provided you with an inspiration location (the long drives) to help spur your creative juices.
You are so faithful in learning/honing your craft, I can only believe that this is the first step in you getting published AND represented. You are a good writer - now a bunch more people in places who can do something for you will now know that fact as well.
*hugs* and *happy dancing* for you!!!

Anita Mae
1/24/2012 01:28:00 am

Awh Deb, you're so good for my confidence and I'm so very thankful for your support.

I have to say, this is the first time I've worked closely with someone as multi-published as Tricia Goyer, so it was a privilege to see her 'in action'. (Although I have to admit I panicked when I saw her first crit. Yowza!)

There's so much craft knowledge and creativity in those 3 women. I really hope Barbour picks up this anthology because I can learn so much while working on this project. Of course, that means Val, Ocieanna and Tricia are going to have more work with me on board, but I'm praying it's a positive experience for them as well. And there I go rambling again.

Thanks, Deb. You've bolstered my spirit for today's revisions of another project. :)


Comments are closed.
    Tweets by AnitaMaeDraper
    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Follow Heroes, Heroines & History on Pinterest

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    15th Century
    16th Century
    17th Century
    18th Century
    18th Century
    19th Century
    19th Century
    20th Century
    21st Century
    Abingdon
    ACFW
    Afictionado
    Agent
    Agents
    Alberta
    American Heiress
    Animal
    Anthology
    Architecture
    Archives
    Artwork
    Austen
    Austen In Austin
    Author Sightings
    Autumn
    Award
    Bandstand
    Barbour Books
    Barbour Books
    Bathing Machine
    Batoche
    Beach
    BIAW
    Biblical Fiction
    Birds
    Blogging
    Blog Hop
    Bluebird
    Book Review
    Books
    Books & Such
    Book Store
    Botany
    Branding
    Butchart Gardens
    Caboose
    Calgary
    Camouflage
    Canada
    Cards
    Carlton Trail
    CFHS
    Chapters
    Christian Fiction
    Christmas
    Christmas Cheer
    Church
    Conference
    Conservatory
    Contests
    Context
    Contract
    Cookbook
    Courtship Letters
    Cowboys
    Critique Partners
    Dallas
    Deadline
    Death
    DebH
    Deeanne Gist
    Editor
    Edmonton
    Emma
    Emma's Outlaw
    Endorsement
    England
    Explorers
    Facebook Party
    Family
    Farming
    Fashion
    Fauna
    FHL
    Fiction Finder
    Film & TV
    Food
    Fort Walsh
    Fun
    Games
    Gardening
    Geese
    Genealogy
    Geography
    Georgina
    Giveaway
    Glenbow Archives
    Goals
    Graphics
    Green
    Greenhouse
    Guest Blogging
    Guest Poster
    Guideposts
    Harlequin
    Here We Come A-Wassailing
    Here We Go A Wassailing
    Here We Go A-wassailing
    Heritage
    HHHistory Blog
    Historical
    History
    Horses
    Humboldt
    Ice Sailing/boats
    ICFW
    Inkies
    Inkwell Inspirations
    Inkwell Inspirations
    Keswick
    Knitting
    Lanigan
    Legacy
    Leisure
    Library
    Life Saver
    Livestock
    Logo
    Love Inspired
    Love In Store
    Manitoba
    Map
    Mary Keeley
    Memories
    Mesu Andrews
    Migration
    Military
    Modesty
    Montana
    Moose
    Mountie
    Movie
    Museum
    Music
    My Book Therapy
    NaNoWriMo
    Nature
    Navy
    News
    New York
    Non Fiction
    Non-fiction
    Novella
    Olympics
    Ontario
    Oranges
    Pajama Party
    Parade
    PEI
    Photo
    Photograph
    Photography
    Playgrounds
    Privacy
    Promotion
    Public Appearance
    Publicity
    Publisher
    Pumpkin
    Puzzle
    Quaker
    Ranch
    Regina
    Remembrance Day
    Research
    Result
    Revell
    Revision Letter
    Rides
    Riding On A Christmas Wish
    Romance
    Royalty
    RWA
    Santa Clause
    Saskatchewan
    Sask Rom Writers
    Secret Admirer
    Seekers
    Seekerville
    Sharon Temple
    Short Story
    Sleigh Bells
    Sleighs
    SnoBear & Grizz
    Snow
    Social Media
    SpeedBO
    Sports
    St Louis
    Summer
    Sweet Love Grows
    Synopsis
    Texas
    Thanksgiving
    Time Management
    Toboggan
    Toronto
    Tourism
    Tradition
    Train
    Transportation
    Travel
    Tree
    True Story
    United Kingdom
    Upper Canada
    US History
    Valentine
    Victorian
    Video
    Vintage
    Virtue
    Waiting
    Weather
    Website
    WhiteFire
    Wikipedia
    Wildlife
    Winter
    Women's Fashion
    Word Count
    Workshop
    Writing
    WW1
    YouTube

Created on Weebly  - Copyright Anita Mae Draper 2011-2024
​