Friday, May 8, 2009

Six weeks

Has anyone read about YA author Rosemary Clement-Moore, who wrote her first draft in six weeks,revised it in six weeks, had an agent in six weeks, and then sold it to a publisher in six weeks? Can you believe it? The book is Prom Dates From Hell and it quickly turned into a series. Is it just me or is this CRAZY? How does that happen? I've heard writers say, "she's bragging." Well, I guess she has a right to brag. Is this what you call a fluke?

Rosemary says she doesn't tell her story at in person conferences, fearing her tires might get slashed. She says her query letter was rocking. I want her to write my query letter. Hmm,*she rubs head with fingers*

What do y'all think about this? A fluke? No dues were paid, but I say more power to her. Here's the link if you want to read it. Rosemary Clement-Moore

Oh, and don't forget to cast your vote, if you haven't already. Will it be Ivy, or Shamrock? :)

13 comments:

  1. Wow! Six weeks for each step. That's pretty impressive. I guess it shows you what can be done with some talent and a lot of hard work--even if that hard work is condensed on a short time frame!

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  2. Whoa! That is awesome, I did not know this. I don't think she's bragging though. She's probably really talented and it might have also been a fluke. I mean, there are some insanely talented people out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. I think it's luck, but that's just me :) In her case luck and talent though since there are some cases where it's just luck and not talent.

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  3. What a great story! I hadn't heard it!

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  4. Lauren, Pretty impressive is right. And waht about the six week thing? Eerie, huh? :)

    Robin, Luck, and talent, yeah. Both, but a lot of luck! :)

    Angela, Crazy is understating it. Bizarre! :)

    P.J., It's a Cinderella story, isn't it?

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  5. That's incredible! Thanks for sharing. More power to her! Not sure I'd want things to happen that fast. My head would spin.

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  6. Rosemary is crazy talented and definitely deserves all the success she got. The rest of us might not have it as easy, but then again, I think we'd be going too hard on ourselves if we focus only on the success stories and don't think about how the majority of authors spend years writing their novel and years selling it. :)

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  7. Glam, Yeah, I was wondering how I would have handled it. The same with Carrie Ryan. Her book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, came out in March and she's already sold the movie rights. :)

    Steph Su, I agree. There are a lot more of those stories than we realize. But there are authors who do literally spend YEARS trying to get published. Makes it all the sweeter, when it happens, don't you think?

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  8. Hi Robyn! Thanks for following my blog! When I was in New York for the SCBWI conference, Jay Asher was one of the key note speakers. His book, 13 Reasons Why is on the NY Bestseller list. He went through FOUR agents and waited for TWELVE years before his big break. As much as I celebrate with Rosemary, I think Jay's story is more of the norm. As for Shamrock, what a cutie! I showed Saddlebreds for years in the Country Pleasure Division. Best of luck to Ivy, and tell her that no matter what happens, she should aim to have a great time and make lots of happy memories!

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  9. WOW!!! I had not heard of that story before!!!

    Was it her first book? I think I'd feel better about myself if she had a pile of manuscripts hidden under her bed ;)

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  10. I'm inspired. I'm hoping for a lucky six weeks, too, and just thinking that I've been preparing for the six week miracle since 1973.

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  11. Beth, it WAS her first book, crazy, huh? She's super sweet though, so bragging was totally not her intentions. :)

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