Drawing from the Well
Queries Sent: 4
Total Queries: 31
Rejections: 7
Scenes Mapped: 10
Total Scenes 299
I finally had that productive day I was angling for. I just hit a groove yesterday morning and started churning out queries. I found several agents who used Query Manager and I was able to blow through their queries because my materials were in order. I also had to write a pitch yesterday for one of them which I had not done before. It was an interesting process since it was radically different even from writing my query letter, but I got through it quickly and think I have a decent pitch.
As for the writing, wow, I’m really happy with the first Second Pinch chapter (of three). I look forward to banging out the next one, which I would love to happen today. I also took time to figure out what was happening with Meibor’s arc so I’m much more settled there. I still need to figure out his sixth eighth, but we’ll get there.
Filling the Well
1984: 100%! (Book 19 of 25 for #ProjectBookworm2019)
Bloodwitch: 18%
The Raven Boys: 69%
I finally finished it! The ending was so good in how scary it really was. I couldn’t believe that it took the turn that it did. Most DEFINITELY one of the books on my list of books to read before you die. And now I have. 😀
Polishing the Well
We spent our Memorial Day shopping for clothes for everyone. We hit multiple stores and took advantage of lots of deals to get what we needed, but we are primed for the summer and somewhat for next school year. It was a long day, but we’re all better for it.
Side Note: Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a picture on Google of two parents shopping for clothes with their TEENAGE children? We must be an anomaly in that this never happens but for us it does.
Well Chat
The Thing That Should Not Be
Unobtainium is similar to Applied Phlebotinum in that it is “stuff” that is important to the story. It is typically some kind of MacGuffin to advance or drive the plot. There are two key differences between Unobtainium and Applied Phlebotinum, though.
The first is that Unobtainium is necessarily scarce. It is difficult or impossible to get more of it. I could go back to Pym particles here, but I’d rather use a more classic example: Back to the Future. The Unobtainium in this movie is plutonium. Although it is hardly readily available even in modern times, it is certainly POSSIBLE to get it. This was also true in 1985, though less so than now. But in the movie, Marty is sent back to 1955 where it is basically impossible to acquire obtain plutonium. This substance that IS obtainable at the beginning of the film BECOMES Unobtainium. They then latch onto another Unobtainium that turns out to be Obtainium closer to Applied Phlebotinum but it’s actually known what it is so it’s basically a glorified MacGuffin. And how glorious it is.
Now, the other aspect of Unobtainium is what I just mentioned: Unobtainium does NOT necessarily have to be an unknown substance. Unobtainium’s hallmark feature is being hard to get. Applied Phlebotinum could be everywhere and misunderstood and although Unobtainium COULD be a misunderstood substance like Pym particles, it could be as elementary as lightning. Unobtainium could be the exact opposite of Applied Phlebotinum in its application or it could be an exaggeration thereof. Either way, as long as it’s hard to get, it’s Unobtainium.
So why does this matter? Well, a big feature of stories, especially fantasy and science fiction stories, is quests. Characters leave their home, go to a place, get a thing, and win. For that thing to matter and the quest to be sufficiently arduous as to change them in the desired ways, it has to be far away and be rare if not one of a kind. If you look closely, many of your favorite movies are probably built on the necessity to acquire some Unobtainium. Everything from Harry Potter to Avengers hinges on Unobtainium. So consider it for your next story. Could be a heck of a lot of fun.
May the tide carry you to safer shores.
BSG