*BUZZ*
I can't seem to get anything done this week. I don't know why not, and I'm willing to take any suggestions. Here are my ideas:
1) Hubster has been sick. Everytime he coughs, the whole bed shakes. Last night he finally took a combination of drugs that allowed him to sleep, though he still snored. But, of course, I kept waking up--and I'm not sick!
2) Spring break is next week. And there are tons of things to get done. Plus we have a house sitter, so along with making certain everything is in order and ready to go--and we have to clean house.
3) Suddenly health conscious hubster wants us to eat in the condo more on the trip. Any idea who gets to plan, pre-make, and pack the aforementioned meals?? Hm?
4) Laundry. Self explanatory
5) Kiddo has a soccer game on Saturday. In the middle of all the craziness of packing, cleaning, etc. we have to take her to her game. Maybe it will be a good break.
6) Today's Friday the 13th. I'm sure that has something to do with this.
7) I'm just not feeling right--maybe it has been the lack of java in my diet.
8) Guess who mother nature is laughing at right now? Come on, guess. Yeah, and she is being a real bitch this month. I just want to curl up in a ball and die. How many people WISH menopause would hurry up and claim her?! Yep, I'm one of them.
Nope. Got nothin' to end on.
3/11/09
American Idol Rewind
Thirteen lucky people had the chance to perform Michael Jackson songs last night. Five girls and eight men. Two of them will be getting booted off tonight, plus there will be some sort of switch-up by the judges. I'm guessing the switch in the show will give the judges' more input as to who gets tossed out. This would get rid of the 'vote for the best of the worst' contest that started years ago online.
--though on an aside, I don't think it played much of a role last year. From the beginning I figured the two David's would be in the finals.
For me, only two of the singers stood out to me: Adam and Allison. Both of them were incredible! I would love to see both of them in the final two! The others were OK, but you could really tell the judges had canned comments prepared.
Onward with the rest of girls:
Lil, Jasmine and Alexis were also very good. They sang full range with their songs, though the judges thought Alexis was over the top. So that leaves weird dancing girl, Megan. I don't get the judges LOVE for her. She does have a weird lilty vibe to her voice, but the tats don't really go with the All American girl vibe she's trying to give out.
Now, the rest of the guys:
I felt Jorge got the shaft by the judges last night. IMO, he was better than they said.
Danny was awesome, too. But I think Adam nudged him out of first with his performance. The jacket didn't work for me.
Anoop, Michael and Scott disappointed me. They are all nice singers, but they didn't bring it to the table. Kris . . . who the hell IS this guy? He's so average it's embarrassing he's on Idol! Though many Arkansasian's would disagree with me. I had to look his name up on the site, he was that memorable. I remembered his hot blond wife before I remembered him! Ay-yi-yi! And I'm tacking Matt to this last group. The dueling piano guy played it way, way too safe.
So who will get booted off? My vote is for one of the last five guys that I mentioned. The judges fawned over Scott and Kris, so they set them up to stay--if voters follow their lead.
Now, I don't actually vote (kinda of like I never gamble on the Kentucky Derby, but I do pick my fav), but here's my take:
--Anoop and Michael will have to sing their last song.
Write On! I certainly hope this will motivate me to write today. My brain has been taking a vacation--probably due to lack of coffee.
*UPDATE* Boy, talk about being totally wrong! I certainly was!
Poor Jasmine and Jorge got the boot last night. Maybe the voters had a thing about 'J' names?
--though on an aside, I don't think it played much of a role last year. From the beginning I figured the two David's would be in the finals.
For me, only two of the singers stood out to me: Adam and Allison. Both of them were incredible! I would love to see both of them in the final two! The others were OK, but you could really tell the judges had canned comments prepared.
Onward with the rest of girls:
Lil, Jasmine and Alexis were also very good. They sang full range with their songs, though the judges thought Alexis was over the top. So that leaves weird dancing girl, Megan. I don't get the judges LOVE for her. She does have a weird lilty vibe to her voice, but the tats don't really go with the All American girl vibe she's trying to give out.
Now, the rest of the guys:
I felt Jorge got the shaft by the judges last night. IMO, he was better than they said.
Danny was awesome, too. But I think Adam nudged him out of first with his performance. The jacket didn't work for me.
Anoop, Michael and Scott disappointed me. They are all nice singers, but they didn't bring it to the table. Kris . . . who the hell IS this guy? He's so average it's embarrassing he's on Idol! Though many Arkansasian's would disagree with me. I had to look his name up on the site, he was that memorable. I remembered his hot blond wife before I remembered him! Ay-yi-yi! And I'm tacking Matt to this last group. The dueling piano guy played it way, way too safe.
So who will get booted off? My vote is for one of the last five guys that I mentioned. The judges fawned over Scott and Kris, so they set them up to stay--if voters follow their lead.
Now, I don't actually vote (kinda of like I never gamble on the Kentucky Derby, but I do pick my fav), but here's my take:
--Anoop and Michael will have to sing their last song.
Write On! I certainly hope this will motivate me to write today. My brain has been taking a vacation--probably due to lack of coffee.
*UPDATE* Boy, talk about being totally wrong! I certainly was!
Poor Jasmine and Jorge got the boot last night. Maybe the voters had a thing about 'J' names?
3/9/09
Would You Quit Writing
if you never sold a single story?
I know this question has been posed on numerous blogs by numerous people, mainly unpublished authors like moi. And I think the reason I'm asking is because last week was rejection week for me, two for my UF and two for my picture book. I sent two separate packets to one agent who represented both genres only to get the double whammy in the same letter. *sigh* Well, at least it was a personalized rejection, since she typed in both titles. You can tell newbie agents by the personalized typed letters. Over time, they learn that form letters are the way to go, but it was a nice touch and I appreciated it.
So would you still write? For most writers the answer would be yes. We enjoy inventing new worlds or finding lost loves or simply writing the adventures of a fly named Peter. BUT the key is to write new stories. Don't just keep tweaking the old ones. Trust me, I know how hard it is to stop, but if you keep dinking with the story, or keep sending it to a critique group(s), or entering it in contests you will write the spark out of the story. It will become drab and boring and it won't even be yours any more.
Learn from your mistakes and move on. Improve your grammar, study craft, and keep writing. So what if you have ten manuscripts under the bed? What you learned by writing those stories will improve your new stories. When the new story is finished and polished, start querying agents and then editors.
And start a new story.
True, you may never sell that story or the next one or the next one, but you might hear the SOS of an editor needing to fill a slot then dust off the appropriate story and send it in. I did this last week and one of the rejections I got was from the same publishing company--BUT from a query I had sent four months ago. Yeah, I forgot that was out there. Oops! And I'll probably get a no-response rejection from the SOS manuscript. Oh, well, shit happens and then you step in it!
Get used to the 'we'll call if we are interested' mindset, because that is the way the publishing biz seems to be going.
So, my answer to my question is: Yes, I'll still write.
I have the ability to change genres on a whim or write in an unexpected genre or write short or long or whatever I feel like because I don't have anyone breathing down my neck with a deadline.
--though there is that MG contest I want to enter and I've only written 1/5 of my story. Guess I DO have a deadline and I'd better get into the mind of a 10 year old (I know, I know, it isn't too far for me to go) to finish the adventure.
--but then again, my kiddo gave me an idea for another picture book story that I'd like to write.
--and I do have about 5 romantic suspense's that I've started
--or how about. . . .
Write on!
I know this question has been posed on numerous blogs by numerous people, mainly unpublished authors like moi. And I think the reason I'm asking is because last week was rejection week for me, two for my UF and two for my picture book. I sent two separate packets to one agent who represented both genres only to get the double whammy in the same letter. *sigh* Well, at least it was a personalized rejection, since she typed in both titles. You can tell newbie agents by the personalized typed letters. Over time, they learn that form letters are the way to go, but it was a nice touch and I appreciated it.
So would you still write? For most writers the answer would be yes. We enjoy inventing new worlds or finding lost loves or simply writing the adventures of a fly named Peter. BUT the key is to write new stories. Don't just keep tweaking the old ones. Trust me, I know how hard it is to stop, but if you keep dinking with the story, or keep sending it to a critique group(s), or entering it in contests you will write the spark out of the story. It will become drab and boring and it won't even be yours any more.
Learn from your mistakes and move on. Improve your grammar, study craft, and keep writing. So what if you have ten manuscripts under the bed? What you learned by writing those stories will improve your new stories. When the new story is finished and polished, start querying agents and then editors.
And start a new story.
True, you may never sell that story or the next one or the next one, but you might hear the SOS of an editor needing to fill a slot then dust off the appropriate story and send it in. I did this last week and one of the rejections I got was from the same publishing company--BUT from a query I had sent four months ago. Yeah, I forgot that was out there. Oops! And I'll probably get a no-response rejection from the SOS manuscript. Oh, well, shit happens and then you step in it!
Get used to the 'we'll call if we are interested' mindset, because that is the way the publishing biz seems to be going.
So, my answer to my question is: Yes, I'll still write.
I have the ability to change genres on a whim or write in an unexpected genre or write short or long or whatever I feel like because I don't have anyone breathing down my neck with a deadline.
--though there is that MG contest I want to enter and I've only written 1/5 of my story. Guess I DO have a deadline and I'd better get into the mind of a 10 year old (I know, I know, it isn't too far for me to go) to finish the adventure.
--but then again, my kiddo gave me an idea for another picture book story that I'd like to write.
--and I do have about 5 romantic suspense's that I've started
--or how about. . . .
Write on!
3/6/09
I won this book/ blogs
And yes, Lois did answer my email. I wasn't too late. YAY!
I read many different blogs every day, and I have to say the ones that keep me coming back provide variety. I like blogs that talk about writing in some form or another, but I HATE it when you have a group blog and someone posts a chapter of her 'novel'. I NEVER read those posts. It takes too much time that I'd rather not waste.
I also don't like blogs that are too long. Unless the topic is very interesting, I grow bored very easily and quit reading. I have to say that Editorrent, Writer Unboxed and Murderati tend to fall in this category. But there are a few posters on those loops that I will read, because they are interesting, the topic is interesting or it just hit the right note with me.
I go to CakeWrecks because it makes me laugh.
Editor Anonymous recently had numerous blogs that explained the publishing side of the biz. Kristin Nelson's blog is short and sweet, and yes, she does plug her author's books, but I like her blog and Nathan Bransford provides insight to the agency side of the biz, plus he keeps up with his query stack. I know, he's rejected me within 24 hours.
Those are a few of the blogs I visit daily. But I've won three prizes (two books and a necklace) this year for commenting on various blogs. Last year, I won two books (Karin Tabke's Master of Surrender, and one of Rocki St. Claire's Bullet Catchers)Authors tend to blog visit when they have a new release. They'll be featured in a variety of blogs and most of them will give away a copy of the book being released. This gives them exposure to blog reader that they might not have been in touch with and other potential readers.
--Just don't give away an autographed copy of the cover plate or bookmark. PLEASE! Yes, some authors think this is good enough--it isn't. Who keeps those things?? Not me. I've tossed more bookmarks and cover plates than I care to admit. The books that were given away (even the backlist books are better than cover plates!) get read and passed around.
If you have a pending release purchase some extra books and give them away on blogs. You'll get new readers and great exposure!
Write on!
3/4/09
Gone Visitin'
to Pink Fuzzy Slippers blog today. The topic of choice is pets in your novels. I hope y'all come on over and join the conversation!
And many, many thanks to Susan Shay for letting me know that I won a blog contest!
I commented on Riding with the Top Down and didn't see the message the next day. Ooops!
I won Lois Greiman's SEDUCED BY YOUR SPELL. As you all know, I love me historical romances!
--I just hope I didn't wait too long to email her. :-(
And many, many thanks to Susan Shay for letting me know that I won a blog contest!
I commented on Riding with the Top Down and didn't see the message the next day. Ooops!
I won Lois Greiman's SEDUCED BY YOUR SPELL. As you all know, I love me historical romances!
--I just hope I didn't wait too long to email her. :-(
3/2/09
I'm So Proud
of my kiddo I get misty-eyed just thinking about this!
My kiddo is in second grade and she wrote a chapter book story. Her story is titled, Chicky in the Past. Now, granted, I needed her to translate all the misspelled words, but when she read it to me . . . I. WAS. IN. SHOCK.
For a second grader it was pretty good. And I don't think this is just 'proud mom' beaming with delight. She had written four chapters, and the story had a beginning, a middle and an end. Chicky even went on his adventures with his buddy, Ox. If she had written it a couple of months ago, I would have submitted it to the school contest (for the life of me, I can't remember the name of it), which is judged by teachers according to the child's age group.
I intend to type it in the computer and print out a copy (along with saving it in her document file along with her Dear Santa letters) to put in her keepsakes box.
All I can say is, WOW!
I'm just so proud of her I'm about ready to burst!
Did your kids ever do something that surprised the heck out of you?
Write on!
My kiddo is in second grade and she wrote a chapter book story. Her story is titled, Chicky in the Past. Now, granted, I needed her to translate all the misspelled words, but when she read it to me . . . I. WAS. IN. SHOCK.
For a second grader it was pretty good. And I don't think this is just 'proud mom' beaming with delight. She had written four chapters, and the story had a beginning, a middle and an end. Chicky even went on his adventures with his buddy, Ox. If she had written it a couple of months ago, I would have submitted it to the school contest (for the life of me, I can't remember the name of it), which is judged by teachers according to the child's age group.
I intend to type it in the computer and print out a copy (along with saving it in her document file along with her Dear Santa letters) to put in her keepsakes box.
All I can say is, WOW!
I'm just so proud of her I'm about ready to burst!
Did your kids ever do something that surprised the heck out of you?
Write on!
2/27/09
Last Cuppa Joe
Yesterday I had my last cup of coffee until Easter. Yes, I know I should have started on Ash Wednesday, but I had enough grounds left for a couple more cups . . .
--Besides, hubster and kiddo are giving up candy, so you know I'll have to give that up, too!
Coffee wasn't my first choice of things to give up for Lent, but when I'm the only one in the family who drinks it, AND they very nicely requested that I give it up. What could I do?
Honestly, I don't think I'm addicted to coffee, though they would disagree. I only drink two cups every morning and when we go out of town I usually don't bother with it--unless we eat at a restaurant. But I do like something warm in the morning to hold and to take my vitamins, so I purchased a variety of teabags: English Breakfast tea and a sampling of green teas and herbal teas to carry me over the crunch time.
I've given up coffee a couple of times in the past.
1)when I was preggers,
2) when I'd eaten so many chocolate covered coffee beans that just the thought of coffee burned a hole in my stomach. Hey, I had to buy a minimum of 1/4lb. of them and I only needed about 10 to decorate an incredible torte and there were a LOT left over! Uh, yeah, they are addictive.
So are you giving up anything for Lent?
Write on!
--Besides, hubster and kiddo are giving up candy, so you know I'll have to give that up, too!
Coffee wasn't my first choice of things to give up for Lent, but when I'm the only one in the family who drinks it, AND they very nicely requested that I give it up. What could I do?
Honestly, I don't think I'm addicted to coffee, though they would disagree. I only drink two cups every morning and when we go out of town I usually don't bother with it--unless we eat at a restaurant. But I do like something warm in the morning to hold and to take my vitamins, so I purchased a variety of teabags: English Breakfast tea and a sampling of green teas and herbal teas to carry me over the crunch time.
I've given up coffee a couple of times in the past.
1)when I was preggers,
2) when I'd eaten so many chocolate covered coffee beans that just the thought of coffee burned a hole in my stomach. Hey, I had to buy a minimum of 1/4lb. of them and I only needed about 10 to decorate an incredible torte and there were a LOT left over! Uh, yeah, they are addictive.
So are you giving up anything for Lent?
Write on!
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