By the time you read this I’ll be wending my way to the Commonwealth of Virginia. I’m staying in the dorms at SVU with another writer (yes, they pair us up). I’m hoping he doesn’t snore or have one of those creepy habits like sleeping with his eyes half-open.

To make myself feel more collegiate I’m bringing a Beatles poster and the classic Sen. Blutarsky number. The wall of empty beer cans just wouldn’t fit in my suitcase. Same with the lava lamp. But I have enough Pink Floyd loaded into itunes to propel me back in time.

On the book front I’ve made life complicated. After letting Surefire sit for a month I finally decided that it needs a major overhaul—from 3rd person to 1st. (I know, I know). I just feel too distant from the protagonist. It’s a character-driven story and seems to want to go there anyway.

But, while I was letting those thoughts simmer, I sent out four queries, just for the heck of it—netting two polite rejections, one unknown, and one "send me the first 30 pages with an outline".

Now what?

Part of me is ready to bust into some 80s breakdancing since my query is working. But I’ve spent the last week on a new outline, with a major change to accommodate the funky time-scale of a 1st person narrative. I’ve got a finished manuscript sitting there, that now feels like a ’57 Chevy that’s been dismantled in my living room. Greasy parts all over the place on sheets of plastic, waiting for patient reassembly. Deep down, in that manic part of my brain, I know it can be better. (Passion, or biting insecurity?).

On a related note, it was the first 5,000 words of Surefire that got me into this year’s Squaw Valley Writers’ Conference—where It’ll get bare-knuckled in August.

So do I leave it alone and send it? Or keep messing with it? Am I overcooking my pork chops?