The Calm before the Holidays

This has been a weird week for me, the inhalation of breathe as I wait--wait for what, I don't have a clue! I've been at odds with what to do with myself. I stopped writing on one story because I was trying to make it something it wasn't. I started revamping another story for a contest, but didn't make the next round. About half the queries I sent to agents over the summer for MOGG still haven't had a response and, as they have hit the three month mark, I don't expect any sort of positive vibes.

And I still haven't received my rejection from the Delacorte Yearling contest. But that doesn't surprise me. One, I sent MOGG in on the very last possible day. And two, I heard through a couple of loops that they had more entries than expected and have pushed their announcement back until mid-December.

So what's a girl to do?

Exercise. Yep, I started exercising again on the Wii Fit and walking with the family . . . in the dark . . . at night (Spongebob inside joke). Hey, you take what you can get. I'm hoping that once I get my tolerance. . . oops, endurance, level up, I can start mini-jogging. One day at a time.

Playing MarioKart. Yep, I'm not a gamer, but when we exchanged our Wii for a new one, we lost EVERYTHING. I must get back into gaming shape.

Read. Ya'll saw my reading list from Wednesday and that doesn't even cover the books I've been waiting to buy or the ones sitting in my To Be Read box in the closet. Which means I need to clean out my read books and either sell or donate them.

Crochet. Something about this season brings out the crocheter in me. I think it's a comfort thing of crocheting and keeping myself warm with the blankie I'm making while watching TV or a movie.
Plus I'm making a baby blanket for my goddaughter niece--Family members who are reading this DO NOT TELL HER!! And for goodness sakes--DON'T TELL GRANDMA!

Query. Yes, I have about twenty more agents that I plan to query with MOGG. I'll revamp my query and double check my submission packet (anywhere from a page or two to three chapters and a synopsis) I might get a bite, but at least I'll feel as if I did everything possible for that story. Already queried XX and received one rejection. Trust me, I prefer the quick and relatively painless R to never knowing.

Get ready for holidays. And it starts with my kiddo's birthday sleepover a week from today, which means the prep starts right after her last soccer game of the season THIS Saturday. After her birthday is cooking desserts for Thanksgiving, but this year there'll be a smaller crowd at my bro's house with just the local clan--13-18 people, depending. Normally, I'd start my Christmas candy this year, but I'm toning that down and will NOT be making my truffles and filled candies. Partly due to the cost of chocolate and the back breaking effort that doesn't really get the appreciation and thanks it should. And shopping--the largest time consuming task around.

Write. I might start writing again, but I think I need the mental break. I've been beating my head against the publishing door for so long that I've wondered if it's all worth it. I'm tired of the negativity. Oh, I know that I can write a good story, but from what I've seen it's just NOT good enough. Heck, I can't even get my eight-year-old kid to read my middle-grade novel! Yeah, that's depressing!

So that's my game plan. Of course, everything is subject to change depending on whim and circumstances.

What about you? Do you have any plans for the rest of the year?

Write on!