I finished The Return of the Flame.
I thought I was finished in November 2021, but I was only finished expanding the book. After a conversation with my former professor, John McManus, I decided to come back to it after some time away.
Revision ran from April to August. Four months to revise a manuscript I thought was done. Funny how that works. While not perfect (is there such a thing?), the novel is in better shape than ever.
The next step is to find an agent.
I attended three conferences this year:
- North Carolina Writers’ Network (Greensboro in April)
- Writers’ League of Texas – Agents & Editors (Austin in June)
- Writer’s Digest (New York City in July)
A quick aside. For the final conference, my wife and I took an Amtrak from Virginia to New York. It was my first time in the city, and I loved it.
It’s difficult to quantify the value of the conferences, but the experiences have enriched my writing life––I got to meet and hear from so many great people––and enhanced my understanding of the business of publishing.
This is just the beginning.
Some days, that brings me down. Other days, it lifts me up. Sometimes it’s both in the same day. It’s better not to think too much about it. Instead, I try to channel my energy into what I’m working on now, what’s in front of me.
My plan is simple.
- Keep querying agents.
- It’s already proving to be a challenging process, but that’s what everyone said.
- Keep writing.
- I’m polishing an old short story, “Potted Heart,” firmly planted in magical realism.
- Next, I’m thinking of working on a short short story under 1,500 words for the Writer’s Digest Competition.
- In November, I’m taking a trip to Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines). With me will be a journal for notes on my next novel about dreams, centered on what it means to live a meaningful life.
- Keep reading.
- Recently, there was a special, three-night showing of The Lord of the Rings (yes, all extended editions) at a local theater. The movies led me back to the books. I’m making my way through The Fellowship of the Ring and falling in love all over again.
One final note, a personal one: I celebrated my 28th birthday this August. Ten years since I graduated high school. In almost all that time, I have pursued writing. Even if nothing made it to the page, it wasn’t far from my mind. Sometimes it feels like a long time with not much to show for it. But 10 years is a fraction when writing is lifelong.
Onward and upward,
Lee
