writing, reading, art, and randomness
Gulp, so today I will be entering one of my stories in a contest!
I’m going to plan on this as one rejection in the mountainous pile I will someday climb as an established author.
*Also* In the coming weeks, I will write and link to some posts on revision, so you can join me on my fabulous journey through the boggy terrain of redeeming my month-long manuscript.
Critique group beware, this ending was written not on cloud nine, but on cloud NyQuil.
I must thank my manager for letting me take time off work to get this baby done. I now have a lifetime achievement proudly added to my belt.
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First choice, of course, was Mary Kole, the author of my current favorite blog. She definitely has a teacher’s heart and I really appreciate her openness about the industry on her website. I feel like I’ve learned just as much, if not more, from her blog than I have from all the writing books I’ve read combined, so I’d find it a great honor if I could meet her and get a chance to hear her feedback in person.
My second choice was Victoria Horn. Although there isn’t nearly as much about her available on the web as there is about Ms. Kole. From her list of “what she’s looking for” on the Liz Dawson & Associates website, I felt like my novel would fit in:
“She looks for sharp humor in unexpected places, a story that places her firmly in another world, and characters she can’t leave behind.” Well, I tried to infuse my novel with all three, but then again, I’m sure every other hopeful author thinks that about their book as well. Also, it sounds like she’s done some exciting things in her life based on the places she’s traveled, and I think that says something about a person.
Third was Joshua Blimes. His website, www.awfulagent.com along with his Brillig blog made me laugh…that’s kind of a bad reason, huh? Well, his bio also shows that he’s been in the industry for a while, and I liked it that he was such an individual. A lot of times when I look at agent’s blogs, I get a kind of icky, cold feeling instead of an indication that there’s a creative personality behind the posts, but you can’t say this with Mr. Blimes’ um…interesting posts. Also, from looking at his clients’ work, its obvious he’s no stranger to adventure/ fantasy novels.
Fourth was Paul S. Levine. I think he has a lot to offer clients by being both a lawyer and agent, and from his bio it sounds like he has a large database of editors. I have to admit, that from reading his website, I didn’t see many books or clients that seemed anything like me, but I’d still like a chance to hear his input.
Yep…That screen shot made me verrry proud! I’ve already passed 45K and I feel the story tying into a nice little bow ready to be shredded apart in revision and then fluffed back up.
If you read this and you’ve completed a nanowrimo challenge in a month, let me know your story. I’m anxious to see what feelings the “nearing the end” phase brought others.
I’m a mix of relieved and sad. Not because the adventure is ending, but because now I have to revise until I hate my manuscript and then revise some more. ha!
By the way, just bought my ticket to the DFW conference. http://dfwwritersconference.org/ Very exciting! I’ll write about my choice of agents if I get time tomorrow.
Now, it’s time for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and a bit of snuggle time…
Okay so I’ve just passed 40,00 words BAYBAY!!!! I’m a writing machine.
++cue music: *she’s a maniac…maniac on the flo’* Okay, that song always scared me. Just ignore it.++
Other than the fact that my laptop is now randomly shutting off in the middle of my typing, and that my brain is mimicking my laptop, the skies are blue.
However, Kris refuses to give me another shoulder rub. This must change. You don’t know how physically intense writing a nove (even a crappy first draft) is!!!!
Come on, cheer me down to the finish line! Whooo Hoooo
Pray for me!!! It is so hard to sit still and write all night. Even harder is thinking of things in the story to write about!!!!!!!
I am now to 37,000 words. By the end of tonight, I will have hit 40,000!!! I can’t believe it! I really can’t. I’m on the home stretch. Wednesday night will be hard to get much writing in with Youth Group, but I’m going to try and write 1600 words and then I’ll have another 3000 to write on Thursday which will put me at 44,600 meaning I have 5400 more to write this weekend.
I took the day off on Friday, so I can hopefully get most of it done then.
Trying to cram all of this writing into one month (and most of it into the last two weeks of the month) means this book might be full of pretty crappy writing. On the other hand, some of it is pretty good, because I stop thinking about the plot and just write whatever comes to me, and that makes for some nice twists.
I’m scared to have people read it. They might hate it…or think it’s bad writing or cheesy. I really want God to like the book, too, and I have to admit that writing all night makes it hard to think about God much, but I do keep praying that he’ll make me a good writer and one that glorifies him. Like I said, the book is just an adventure/ fantasy…nothing particularly religious about it. Just a story I would like to read, so I decided to write it.
So week three. Riddle me this:
What do you get when you mix
1) a procrastinator’s disposition
2) emergency oral surgery for your husband
3) a draining job
4) a weekend full of birthday parties
Is it:
a) a recipe for success
b) a recipe for disaster
or
c) a weekend full of all nighters?
Well, I must admit I do enjoy it once I’m going with the flow and hearing the click clack of the keyboard beneath my hands.
Wish me well!
Okay, so I’m the queen of the two week habit. I try to do something and I only stick with it for 2 weeks. Ahem….NaNoWriMo.
Between the bustle of Thanksgiving and Christmas along with the shame of failure, I’ve managed to stay safely away from my guilt inducing blog.
However, sometimes things just seem to happen for a reason. Like, why would I write a book in November when it is the second busiest month of my year? How about January? What better use for a cold, bitter month usually occupied by TV and jewelry making to pass the time when I wish I was outdoors?
None of this had crossed my mind until I was reading my FAVORITE blog ever: www.kidlit.com. I decided to check the prices of some of Mary’s recommended reading on Amazon. I was “looking inside” No Plot? No Problem by Chris Baty, the founder of NaNoWriMo. Once I realized who the author of this facsinating book was, it felt like a sign – try again! So at the mall yesterday the book happened to be at the bookstore for a reasonable price and I picked it up and devoured half of it last night.
Of course, I have to break all the rules. I hate rules. So – when he says to plan for a week, I will plan for 1 day (plus the years of I’ve been dreaming this book up). He also says do it on a calendar month, so I probably should have started Jan 1st, but hey, it’s the 2nd and it feels right. Plus I like the 11th hour feel: Oh no, it’s the 31st of January and I need one more day to write my 50,000th word. Phew, good thing I started a day late, so I technically have one more day…yay!
Yes, I’m such a nerd.
Anyone who wants to cheer me on? A simple “Yee Haww” or “Whoo Hoo” in the comments will do it.
Oh. Did I mention I hate schedules? I really hate them. But for one month, I will abide by a very strict and exhausting schedule so I can get this jazz done.
Please peer pressure me so I feel like an idiot if I don’t get his book written in one month.
Wow…I feel like I’ve been writing this post forever and the word count says I’m only at 393…this is going to be a long month. 50K seems impossible! God, help me please!
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