Where have I been? 😱

Dearest reader (yes, it’s Bridgerton season),

I have been MIA for a while now. Fortunately, my very long absence from most social media platforms is actually for a very good reason!

At the end of 2023, I decided that it was time for me to start working toward a dream that I had been putting off for years—writing a book. More specifically, a fantasy novel.

This fantasy novel, mind you, has been in the works for years now. The first thread of the plot started when I was in Law School (almost 10 years ago ), and I wrote most of this second world’s backstory in a Moleskine notebook between classes. But after life’s craziness started happening (moving out, getting a job, the pandemic, moving out again, getting married, having a baby…), that project stayed on hold for a long time—both due to time constraints and, most importantly, a gigantic imposter syndrome.

Can I write a novel?

In English?

Being an ESL writer? 😱

Well, the good news is—I did write that novel. I drafted it between November and February, did a round of beta reading and edits between February and March, and actually started querying this thing to literary agents at the end of March!

We’re fast approaching the three-month mark since I started querying, and although I don’t have the big news I wanted to share (basically, getting an offer of representation from a literary agent to then be able to pitch my work to publishers and get this baby on the shelves), it’s actually not bad at all. When I started this querying journey, I was hoping for one full request (which basically means that after reading a query letter—a short letter presenting your book—as well as a few opening chapters, an agent may request to read the full manuscript—which is a big thing in the querying world). I was able to get my manuscript into the hands of eight literary agents (and some would be a dream to work with), all of whom are still considering my novel.

These past few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions, to say the least. Not only did I finish a full 113k-word novel (450 pages long), but I also found the courage to have other people read my work, comment on it, and now consider whether they want MY work to be a part of their career as well. It’s humbling… and terrifying.

It’s important to note, however, that this may end nowhere—those eight full requests may lead only to rejections, and I may have to shelve this book. However, I’m already planning the second one, so hopefully, even if this one dies in the dreaded querying trenches, the second one may stand a chance.

But yes! This is what has been happening backstage. I’ve never felt as creatively fulfilled as I’m feeling now. You’ll find that some of my future YouTube videos will start reflecting this change, and I’ll be talking a bit about my writing favorites, routines, and tools, as well as some things related to querying.

However, productivity content will continue, and my productivity coaching sessions are still ongoing! So if you’ve ever wanted to write a book but don’t know how to start, how to stay accountable, and how to make time for it, I think I’m the best person to help you with that, to be honest (click here to get started).

Love, Mariana

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