Still blank...

...but for a good reason. I really came up to my writing retreat with four objectives:

• Make all the changes to the 4th draft of King of Buckthorn that I noted while reading the book to my class
• Compose a good, tight, one-page synopsis of Buckthorn to prepare for the upcoming agent queries
• Write a good, tight, one-page query letter for said agent queries
• Start the fourth novel

So, objective #1 was accomplished and I have to be pleased with that. And truly, that had to come first. The new novel has no timetable, but if I started sending queries out and agents want to see the whole manuscript of Buckthorn (please! please!), then it has to be ready. And now I think it's in pretty good shape. I've been working on it nearly exclusively for 18+ months and I'm pleased with where it is. I think I'll go over it with a fine-toothed comb for editing purposes over the next few weeks, but there really don't need to be any more large or small revisions. At least, not as far as I can see.

I do have a few objectives left to accomplish and I do think both the synopsis and query letter can both be written today. The synopsis should be fairly universal. The query...well, it'll just be a template and will be adjusted based on whichever agent I'm querying wants from me.

But I'm aiming to start the new novel...tomorrow.

Incidentally, I blasted through Andrew Clements' A Week in the Woods last night. A fantastic story by a fantastic author. I've read most of his books and encourage you all (especially teachers) to do so.

Back to the writing...