Escape from the Virulent Virus

I had planned to work on a real post yesterday, my first day back in solitude, but instead I was laid low by a stomach virus. It all started with a four-year-old vomiting all night Friday. Then the bug hit his father on Saturday morning. They flew home at noon (still sick) and within an hour of returning home from the airport, it hit me.  I pretty much don’t remember half of Saturday and most of Sunday.

I hate being too sick to even read. What a waste of time. I wasn’t able to get online, so I’m even farther behind in blog reading and responding to email. One of the last emails I read before the virus sent me to bed was from an agent, requesting the full manuscript of my novel. Normally, I would have been excited at another chance to present my work. That day, the request barely registered.

Now that I’m feeling much better, I need to send the file. The problem is, I haven’t looked at this manuscript for several weeks, and when I opened it, I found a notation at the top. Evidently, this is something I meant to change, but now I’m not sure how. (Note to self: never leave cryptic notes.) I expect I’ll remember my intention the second I send the file to the agent.

Another thing is I’ve been working on a new first chapter. This is not just a revision of the current one, but a completely new chapter from another character’s viewpoint. In my query to this agent, I included the first ten pages, and since her request is based on that, of course I’ll send the original. But I’m wondering if I should mention the new chapter in my response? Should I finish editing that chapter and include it as an alternate? Should I say nothing about it unless until she offers representation? I’d appreciate your thoughts.

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