My two Maggie entries are in the mail. I'm very excited about this particular contest because the entries are judged by two published authors. After not working at all this weekend I had a panic attack on Tuesday as I faced the daunting task of writing 2 synopsis and finishing both entries. The Maggie is a long contest, permitting 35 pages (including the synopsis). The way I write, this is a chapter and a half. I was tempted to not send both. In the end they both came together.
The story I intend to pitch to Desire has undergone a transformation since I began and that effected how the story opened. I had moved my original opening to chapter three and rewrote my first chapter. Then I got stuck on the transitions needed between new stuff and previously written stuff. At some point last night it all came together, and I gave it the heave ho out the door this morning.
How about you? Planning on entering any contests in the future?
Today's Goal: Organize and prepare for packing
Yesterday's Accomplishments: Maggie Contest entries done.
What I'm grateful for: Deadlines
Quote: A" perfect method for adding drama to life is to wait until the deadline looms large." -Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby, Procrastinator's Success Kit
Desire Pitch
They've finally announced the Desire pitch and I was the first to post on the eharlequin forum. I rarely post (okay never) and I was the first. Can you tell I'm excited. So excited in fact that I'm already done with my log line. They want a 1-2 sentence query pitch type of thing, and I just sat down and it poured right out of me. I'm a firm believer in you have to be in the right frame of mind to write blurbs or a synopsis. They are completely different than sitting down to write a novel. As for how the book is progressing. Let's just say I'll have it done, but at this point I'm not sure it's going to be perfect.
The weekend was a bust for writing, but I got lots of gardening done. I'm putting together 2 entries for the Maggies. I'm starting to freak about getting packed for my Greece trip. I leave a week from tomorrow. Wow, I got lots to do.
Today's goal: Finish my short contemporary entry for the Maggie's
Yesterday's accomplishment: The garden looks great.
What I'm grateful for: That I'm done with my log lines for the Desire pitch
Quote: "Get happiness out of your work or you may never know what happiness is." -Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
The weekend was a bust for writing, but I got lots of gardening done. I'm putting together 2 entries for the Maggies. I'm starting to freak about getting packed for my Greece trip. I leave a week from tomorrow. Wow, I got lots to do.
Today's goal: Finish my short contemporary entry for the Maggie's
Yesterday's accomplishment: The garden looks great.
What I'm grateful for: That I'm done with my log lines for the Desire pitch
Quote: "Get happiness out of your work or you may never know what happiness is." -Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
Some days things just don't go right
Do you ever get the feeling you've missed the boat?
As I said yesterday, my characters seem to have a mind of their own. The story was not working. I almost tossed the whole thing aside and started working on something else. Then I went for a walk. Julia Cameron of The Artist Way is a big one for walking your way to creativity. It frees your mind and gives you a chance to see new things that hopefully will spark inspiration. I walk on the treadmill at work for 30 minutes. It's not going to provide me with new sights to jump start my creativity, but the act of walking sometimes lets my mind drift (driving works as well).
Yesterday I was having a hard time creating tension between two characters that didn't know each other given the situation they found themselves in. The 2nd half of the book was going to be filled with conflict, but I had to get them there. As I prepared to bail on the story for the time being and embark on the boss/secretary/secret baby/marriage of convenience story (did I miss any?) I had waiting in the wings, I realized one little change could fix all I was struggling with. So, I broke down and gave them a past connection. The story became easier to write. The conflict between them became more intense and yet allowed for all the delightful sexual tension I love. And since I'm on a roll with reluctant heroes, Nic is just the sort of guy I'm dying to spend time with.
The beginning now sparkles. I will surely have a chapter one I'll be happy to pop into the mail in the next 10 days.
How about you? How do you get unstuck?
Today's goal: 1/2 way through chapter 11 edit/rewrite
Yesterday's achievement: Finished CH 10
What I'm grateful for: Those "ah ha" moments of clarity.
Quote: "You create your opportunities by asking for them." -Patty Hansen, Prevention Magazine
Ignoring the internal editor
Well, the new book sucks. Or at least parts of it do. Sitting down to write a story without hours and hours of daydreaming about it is proving challenging. I have an idea where the characters are going, but they keep doing things and saying things and thinking things that get the story off track. Bad characters. The story took a dark turn I wasn't expecting and since I had planned a little lighthearted seduction, I need to figure out how I can get them back to trusting each other enough for them to have some fun.
In an effort to get words on a page, I'm writing scenes that pop into my head rather than trying to write a fluid story with great transitions. I figure when I have nothing but time on my hands I'll go back through and write all the connecting junk.
The good news is that I'm plugging along. I'd hoped to throw the first chapter into the Maggie. I'm a little worried that it's lacking the sparkle between the characters that I usually have. It might have something to do with trying to finish one edit while trying to begin a new story. Or it might be the fight to keep backstory out of the first chapter. Or it might be that they are strangers without the built in backstory between them.
I'm going to keep going through the rest of the week. Hopefully I can get the edit done by Friday so I'll be free to concentrate on the new story all weekend.
How are your WIPs going?
Today's goal: Finish Chapter 10
Yesterday's achievement: Went sailing for the first time this year!!!
What I'm grateful for: It's almost spring in Minnesota. Kidding. Of course it's spring, it just so freaking cold.
Quote: "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." --Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
In an effort to get words on a page, I'm writing scenes that pop into my head rather than trying to write a fluid story with great transitions. I figure when I have nothing but time on my hands I'll go back through and write all the connecting junk.
The good news is that I'm plugging along. I'd hoped to throw the first chapter into the Maggie. I'm a little worried that it's lacking the sparkle between the characters that I usually have. It might have something to do with trying to finish one edit while trying to begin a new story. Or it might be the fight to keep backstory out of the first chapter. Or it might be that they are strangers without the built in backstory between them.
I'm going to keep going through the rest of the week. Hopefully I can get the edit done by Friday so I'll be free to concentrate on the new story all weekend.
How are your WIPs going?
Today's goal: Finish Chapter 10
Yesterday's achievement: Went sailing for the first time this year!!!
What I'm grateful for: It's almost spring in Minnesota. Kidding. Of course it's spring, it just so freaking cold.
Quote: "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." --Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
ANTM Season Finale
I haven't posted about this season's America's Next Top Model. It is my one of my biggest guilty pleasure. My other guilty pleasure starts on May 22 with 2 hours of the worst dancing auditions ever seen: So You Think You Can Dance. I absolutely love Nigel Lithgow. And Mary Murphy, Shane Sparks, Mia Michaels.
The reason I bring up ANTM tonight is because as I write my stories, I think about all the times I describe the character's reactions and I sometimes wonder, can you really tell what's going on in someone's head? Tonight I watched the finale and realized that some faces truly are expressive without being obvious. Body language can tell how they're reacting even when it's truly subtle. Faces go flat with surprise. People walk woodenly when they've undergone a huge shock. Lips quiver when they're under stress. Worry can be almost tangible.
So, good bye Anya. Good luck Whitney. See you next season, Tyra, Nigel, Miss J, Mr J, and please bring back Twiggy. No offense Paulina, you are gorgeous, but you're just too hard on the girls.
Today's goal: Finish ch 8
Yesterday's achievement:
What I'm grateful for: That when one season of reality tv ends, another begins
Quote: "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."-Thomas Paine
The reason I bring up ANTM tonight is because as I write my stories, I think about all the times I describe the character's reactions and I sometimes wonder, can you really tell what's going on in someone's head? Tonight I watched the finale and realized that some faces truly are expressive without being obvious. Body language can tell how they're reacting even when it's truly subtle. Faces go flat with surprise. People walk woodenly when they've undergone a huge shock. Lips quiver when they're under stress. Worry can be almost tangible.
So, good bye Anya. Good luck Whitney. See you next season, Tyra, Nigel, Miss J, Mr J, and please bring back Twiggy. No offense Paulina, you are gorgeous, but you're just too hard on the girls.
Today's goal: Finish ch 8
Yesterday's achievement:
What I'm grateful for: That when one season of reality tv ends, another begins
Quote: "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."-Thomas Paine
How time flies
Today I realized I haven't written anything in a year. I've been editing, rewriting, plotting, but in terms of sit down and create characters from scratch and write their story start to finish, I haven't done that.
A lot has happened writing-wise in the last year. I finaled in a ten contests, won a couple, got requests from a couple, pitched to agents and editors, attended 2 local conferences and national, participated in several on-line workshops and read a few books on craft. Now, what I need to do is apply all that knowledge.
So, I've decided to tackle my own little writing challenge. I'm going to try and write a 50,000 word short contemporary targeting the Desire pitch by July 1. Piece of cake you say? Normally, I would agree with you. However, I'm finishing up the last 5 chapters of a rewrite and traveling to Greece for twelve days during that time.
Am I crazy? You bet.
But I'm also attacking this new book with all the organization, planning, plotting, characterization lessons I've learned. Heck, I figure it will practically write itself. I figure if I write 1000 words a day between now and July 1, I will get it done. And to demonstrate my commitment, I've put a little word meter on my blog so my progress will be in plain view. I'll probably disappear for a while in June, but I'm planning on keeping my progress updated daily. Come back and watch the fun as I pull a manuscript out of a hat. Nothing up my sleeve...
Today's goal: 4 pages of chapter 8 edited
Yesterday's accomplishment: I finished chapter 7
What I'm Grateful for: That Bending finaled in 2 contests recently
Today's Quote: "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."-Colette
A lot has happened writing-wise in the last year. I finaled in a ten contests, won a couple, got requests from a couple, pitched to agents and editors, attended 2 local conferences and national, participated in several on-line workshops and read a few books on craft. Now, what I need to do is apply all that knowledge.
So, I've decided to tackle my own little writing challenge. I'm going to try and write a 50,000 word short contemporary targeting the Desire pitch by July 1. Piece of cake you say? Normally, I would agree with you. However, I'm finishing up the last 5 chapters of a rewrite and traveling to Greece for twelve days during that time.
Am I crazy? You bet.
But I'm also attacking this new book with all the organization, planning, plotting, characterization lessons I've learned. Heck, I figure it will practically write itself. I figure if I write 1000 words a day between now and July 1, I will get it done. And to demonstrate my commitment, I've put a little word meter on my blog so my progress will be in plain view. I'll probably disappear for a while in June, but I'm planning on keeping my progress updated daily. Come back and watch the fun as I pull a manuscript out of a hat. Nothing up my sleeve...
Today's goal: 4 pages of chapter 8 edited
Yesterday's accomplishment: I finished chapter 7
What I'm Grateful for: That Bending finaled in 2 contests recently
Today's Quote: "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."-Colette
Happy Mother's Day
Happy, Happy Mother's Day!
My daughter woke me up this morning with a handmade pop up card and a trivet with her hand print in gold. It doesn't get much better than that.
Our boat's in the water. Although it's been too chilly to sail. Our group is talking about trying today. It's very windy and cool, but at least it's sunny.
In less than a month I will be flying to Greece for a week of sailing the Ionian Islands. Of course, I've already got a story idea to set there. What good is travel to exotic ports if you can't research at the same time. Hopefully we can also get a travel article or two out of the trip.
I'll try and be better about posting. Now that the long dreary winter is over, I'm feeling much less like a hibernating bear.
Today's goal: Chapter 7 finished
Yesterday's achievement:
What I'm grateful for: My daughter is vacuuming
Quote: "One must not lose desires. They are mighty stimulants to creativeness, to love, and to long life."-Alexander A. Bogomoletz
Oh, the things we'll do...
I’ve been feeling pretty gloomy these last few months, thinking that I’ve been busting my butt, writing my little fingers to the bone, and not moving forward at all in my dream to be published.
Then a friend sends me an e-mail with these pictures. This is a trail in China that leads to a restaurant. If you make it there, you eat free. I’m not sure my fear of heights would let me climb this trail for a free meal.
Then I started wondering, if I could make the climb for a book contract. The answer is a resounding yes. And if that’s true, then I should be willing to do something equally hard: write well, learn my craft, bare my teeth at rejection, and persevere. Because of one thing I’m certain. One misstep on the road to publication isn’t going to kill me the way one slip on this trail would.
Puts things in perspective, I reckon.
I can't imagine how long this climb takes. The worst part is, after you've eaten your lovely free meal, you have to make the journey back down.
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