It’s been a while since I’ve written. While I’d like to say that’s because I’ve been hard at work on new projects and queries or negotiating contracts with dream agents, it’s actually quite the opposite. I’ve been distant because I’ve been discouraged. My debut manuscript, Spirit Against Bone, is doing poorly out in the agenting world. I’ve queried 24 agents and gotten 0 requests (partial or full) after 6 months in the trenches. I promised I’d give this manuscript a full year, so maybe things will still turn around, but shifting focus to a different work-in-progress when I was so excited about this one is more than a little demoralizing.

Not all is bleak, though! I’ve reached 1,000 followers on Instagram and made my first poetry reel. I’m nearing 500 followers on X and 350 on Threads. I’ve submitted to a few contests and am working on my first poetry collection. And I am making progress on some other fiction works. Looking forward to gaining some momentum soon, and I’ll hopefully have some advice to share on pivoting as an author next time!

-Love, Claire