I do have a short story to complete and I'm working slow at it. When I finally get that done--must focus and pick up the pace--it's back into that YA novel for me. The novel is the most important thing I need to complete right now. Let's not make that short story a piece of avoidance from the novel. I will add, however, I do have a good chance of selling said short story because a story was asked for by a particular editor. Just gotta get it done.

I had good Surrey conference experience in October. Carpooling with Devon Monk and Dianna Rodgers made the experience even more engergizing and fun. We talked a lot about writing and publishing on the way home. Sometimes I can't get enough of that kind of conversation.

Dianna encouraged me to pitch my novel to more than one person. Usually I just take my one ten-minute editor/agent interview and deal with that. My mistake. Thanks to Dianna, I realized how easy it is to get scheduled for additional interviews (you only get one scheduled interview at pre-registration). So not only did I pitch my novel to my first choice--a YA editor at Harper Collins--I also picted to agents two and three that had been my alternates.

How cool is that? I'm sure it seems obvious to more aggressive and extroverted individuals out there.

The pitch sessions went well. The editor at Harper wants to the first three chapters and synopsis of my novel. And here's the thing: I went to the conference knowing my novel wasn't finished. I've written approximately 25,000 words. I wanted to be honest, so when she asked how long the novel was I bit the bullet and told the truth. She wasn't phased. Just send it when I've completed the novel.

Now the two agents, both of them said they'd look at my three chapters and synopsis.

This seems too easy. But truthfully, it's just beginning. The editor and agents need to read the first three chapters and decide if they want to see the rest. I could be rejected later. Right now it's a foot in the door. The novel needs to get done and sent to the editor's desk.

I'm shooting to have the novel completed and first three chapters mailed in January.

Also, Devon and Dianna had great pitch sessions as well. I think Dianna had six or seven interviews, all except for one asked to see sample chapters. And the one "no thanks" was only because the novel wasn't a right fit marketing wise.

After I get that novel done, I want to do a bunch of short stories before I go back to work come March. I'd like to plan out the next novel, too.

Full plate this layoff season. Writing down here what I need to get done doesn't hurt either. Really, I think it helps tremendously.