In Which I Share Good News

Yay! You're back! I'm glad to see it.

Because I have some fun news to share today!

What is it, you ask? What could it be?

Simple.

I sold my short story Hole Ridden!

Woot!!! That's right! I'm going to officially be a published author!!

It will be appearing in Dark Moon Digest #6, which should be available for purchase in early December. It will be available as an ezine at a later release date.

I'm super excited guys. It's nice to know that when I actually put in the work to get something published (this was the first story I actually submitted anywhere) it can happen.

This is, hands down, my favorite short story I've written. It's also the short story that people who have read it tend to remember the most. People refer to it as "the hole story", which is a pretty accurate description.

I've mentioned it in posts here, here, here and here (where it was picked as editor's choice on OWW).

In that third post, which was mostly about how my wordle cloud for it ended up being a creepy, ominous cloud that was a perfect visual representation for the story itself, Twin had stated that when it was published she would make me a nice frame with the wordle cloud.

Well, she didn't forget:

Yay! Thanks to everyone who's ever beta read it for me or offered me advice on dealing with submissions. YOU ARE ALL AMAZE BALLS. Glitter in the air for all!

In Which A Great Thing Happened

That's right.

I FINISHED MY WIP!

Well, just the first draft. But let's get serious here, that's the first major step.

And what does finishing a first draft entail? Why it entails A MOTHEREFFING DANCE!





And maybe a fist bump




So. That was good. It ended up just shy of 80K which is awesome. Lots to play around with there. I was really pushing hard the last two weeks. I would just be exhausted in the evenings after writing so many words. Now I have to begin the revising and editing. I think it will need a fair amount of revisions, but nothing I'm not up to.

Mostly, I really really really want to be able to participate in Authoress's Baker's Dozen Auction this year, it was really the motivating factor on keeping me working at such a hectic pace. So, I've got a few months to get this MS in tip top shape, which means hectic revisions from here on out.

LET'S DO THIS!!

In Which I Provide An Update

So it's been awhile since I've given an update on my goals and junk and today seemed like a good day to do so.



see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!



I'm still querying Glimpse, though I've decided to take a bit of a break to make a change in the MS, then get back on the query horse. I'm hoping things will be back on track by the end of august (assuming amazing things don't happen before then and I get an offer or something. ohmygodcouldyouimagine?!)

I'm in the midst of my first draft of Break Free, and I'm totally loving it. I had a bit of a rough time with it the last week and a half, a combination of a tough couple of scenes to organize and write combined with a ticking personal deadline and a busy dayjob, but I think I've managed to power through the worst of it. I hit 50k earlier this week and suspect I may have hit or passed the half way point of the story. I won't know for sure, though, until its done. Just because I'm a plotter, doesn't mean there's no mystery. There's tons of mystery!

My current goals are to try and finish the first draft of Break Free by August. I don't know if I'll hit this goal (part of the reason I was having troubles with the writing) but I'm still going to try. Once I do finish the first draft, I plan to put it aside and make the change on Glimpse. Once that's done I'll send Glimpse back into query waters and start to revise Break Free. I was really hoping to be able to finish revisions on Break Free before NaNo, but the clock is ticking and I don't think that will be possible. I still have plans to participate in NaNo, at least right now I do, but we'll see how things are going closer to November.

I'm behind on my goal to read 55 books this year. Not too far behind, (by the end of July I should have 32 read and I'm at about 28, 29) but still. It's no big deal if I don't make this goal. It's just for fun.

So how about you? I want to know where you're at with your writing goals? TELL ME!

In Which We're Into 2011 And There's Still No Zombpoc*

* Zombpoc = zombie apocalypse




Well here we are, my first real post in 2011 (not counting the blogfests I participated in the last few days).

Also, you know what else happened with the passing of the year? We also passed my Blogoversary! That's right, I've been blogging for over 1 whole year. Yay! I blogged 215 times in 2010, which is not too shabby, if I say so myself.

Also with the new year comes new resolutions!

Let's take a look at my resolutions from last year:

2010 Resolutions


1. Start a Blog (Check. Also an extra check for not abandoning said blog)
2. Finish novel (double check. I finished 2 in 2010)
3. Eat healthier (ummm check? I mean there were certainly times where I ate healthy...)
4. Lose weight (no check. I don't remember what my weight was, but I'm probably more now)
5. Submit a query (no check. Though I tacked this one on there on the off chance I would do it)


Not so bad. Certainly the Finish Novel resolution had been on my plate for a few years. Only when I allowed myself to start a new novel did I finally complete it.

So, onto 2011 resolutions:

1. Query Glimpse of Another Shore
2. Finish another novel
3. Get Hole-Ridden published
4. Lose Weight
5. Read 55 books


1. 2011 is going to be my year of the query. This I vow. Not only am I going to query it, I want to start querying hopefully in the next 3-4 months or so. I am excited.

2. NaNo will help with this one

3. I think this is doable - I've been sitting on it a bit since I've been working on Glimpse. I need to send it out again and work on some edits for a mag that said they'd take a second look at it if I made it longer. *Crosses Fingers* (update: I've sent it out again. Already off to a good start!)

4. This is pretty much a constant goal in my life.
5. In 2010 I read 43 books. So I figured adding 12 more as a goal for 2011 would be a nice challenge, but hopefully not ridiculously tough. Then next year, I can adjust the number accordingly

Hmm, I think that may be all I have. Unless I can think of another one or two.
What are your Resolutions/Goals for 2011?

In Which We Discuss NaNo

So I had originally set a goal for myself to be done revising Foxfire by November, so I could set it aside during NaNo and concentrate on a new project.

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to quite make it.

Now wait, don't get me wrong. I'm much further along than the above makes it seem. It's just the line editing is taking much longer than anticipated. Mostly because I tried something new when writing Foxfire, and that was not editing as I wrote.

Normally when I write, I look over what I wrote the day before and do a quick line edit. When I wrote the first draft of Foxfire, I didn't do that. I just kept pressing forward. And now I have a rough draft that needs a lot of line work.

I did some math and calculated that if I line edited every day (M-F, not on the weekends) then I would have to do about 4.5 pages a day to be done by November. Totally do-able.

Of course, that doesn't take into consideration that I line edit on paper and therefore also have to make the changes on the digital copy. So technically it's about 10 pages a day. Still, I think I can handle that.

Then, once the line edits are done, I can work on the few scenes that need overhauls and start checking off all the things I need to do in each chapter (raising the conflict and action, weaving in themes, all that junk). So really, when I finish this line edit, I'll be well on my way.

And then it will be time for NaNoWriMo 2010!! wOOt!



I'm really excited for this year because I suspect I'll have a lot more writing pals to buddy with. And since I've got a competitive streak in me, I'll be motivated to write all the faster when I see everyone else's meters filling up.

Looking for a NaNo buddy? Look no further! My username is Falen1
I'd love to be NaNo pals with you.

In Which I Fight A Funk

I've been in a bit of a funk lately. Sure I set myself a goal. But since then, I've done really no editing.



I got my first chapter crit back from Chimera Critiques and I can't even really bring myself to look at it (OK, I glanced at it, but I know I've got to let it sit aside for a bit before I dive in. Got to separate myself from any emotions so I can look at it objectively).

I think my funks align directly with my "day job". If I'm a bit fed up there (like now, because I've got all these projects to do that I'd just rather not) then it bleeds over into real life.

Mostly I just want a few weeks off from work where I can sleep in and relax and do nothing. (I've never had more than 10 days off from any job I've ever held. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have more that two weeks off from work. I bet I'd never want to come back)

In the past I know a cure for a nice funk is just time. If I wait long enough, it will go away. But I feel like I'm just wasting time. I would love to be at the next stage, seriously crafting a query to send out. I'm not even worried about if Foxfire will be accepted or rejected. Obvs acception (...is this a word...?) would be AWESOME, but I don't have a problem with trying again if it's not.

Le Sigh. Stupid funks. Messing things up.
I think I'm going to start line editing some of Foxfire. That's an easy revision process that I can just do without any commitment. I mean, I'll need to do 2-3 more line edits later so one right now won't hurt anything.

Then maybe I can tackle some of the bigger changes that have to happen (heightening conflict, making MC Fox as likable and enigmatic as MC Quill, working on that hook).

Is it the weekend yet?

In Which I (Tentatively) Set A Goal

All right blog friends. I think I am going to set a goal for myself.

I was thinking the other day about how I'm excited for nano 2010 because I'm going to take a crack at that YA Sea Serpent story I can't stop thinking about. But then it hit me that I might still be working on Foxfire then and I don't want that to fall to the wayside.



So! my (tentative) goal for Foxfire is to finish revisions before November 2010. That way I can dive into nano and the new story free of all constraints.

Will it be a difficult goal to reach? I have no idea. I think it might be unless I step up my game a bit (the summer weather has led me to slack off some).

What happens if I fail?

Well nothing really. It just means I'll have to juggle two things at once, which won't be fun.

But, if I do accomplish this goal, well then I may also be able to accomplish one of my new year's resolutions, which is to send out a query.

Exciting? Yes.
Scary? No...?
Intimidating? A bit.

Anyone else set any goals for themselves?

In Which I Am Delayed

I'm behind on editing.

I know, I know, I was so excited to get started and I'm already behind? But I have some pretty good reasons as to why.

I'm still not done with reading the manuscript. I'm about half way there. It's one thing to read a mass market paperback. That is easy to carry around. But lugging around 300 pages of printer paper is not as easy, even if I've broken it up into four parts.

Also, Sundays are typically my day to do writerly things, but this last weekend we hit the Home and Garden Show. After hours of walking I came away with a new pillow, a garden gopher, a new set of earrings and a cute little owl statue.

my earrings

Twin's earrings

I've wanted an owl like this since I saw a similar one on Things I Yell At You

I was also reading a book on editing, which I hoped would get me in the mood. But the book was OK, and 98% of the stuff they suggested you do to edit your fiction novel was stuff that I already knew to do. So, meh.

So these are the foremost reasons as to why I'm behind on my revision process. Still, no rush I guess.

Anyone else behind on their goals?


Also, Al from Publish or Perish awarded me The Sunshine Award, which was awfully nice of him.

I'll be passing this on to Sonshine Thoughts (because it's fitting, right?)
And AchingHope (who is hilarious)

In Which I Keep Track Of Books

So I read all these lovely blogs where they set goals for themselves regarding how many books they should read this year, or trying to read 1 book a month by a debut author (this goal is awesome - I think this should be required of all readers). But I have a hard time setting a reading goal when I don't know how many books I normally read in a year.

I know there's a 100 books a year goal (almost 2 a week) but is that a lot for me? Too little? I have no clue.

So, for the first time ever, I'm going to try to keep track of all the books I read in a year - that way I can better prepared to set a reading goal next year.

So far this year I have read:

Total Oblivion More or Less by Alan DeNiro
Interworld By Neil Gaiman and Michael - King of the 80's - Reaves
The Way of the Shadows by Brent Weeks
Hooked by Les Edgerton
Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks


Huh. Listing them all out it seems pretty good. That's a book a week so far.

I will be keeping a running list as a tracker on the sidebar as the year progresses.

Anyone else keep track of their books?

In Which I Do A Dance

Hey. How are you?

Good, good. It's nice to hear that.

So, umm, Notice anything? Anything different?

No? I'll give you a hint. It's over to the right. Don't worry, I'll wait.




That's right! The first Draft is complete! wOOt!

325 pages

Ohhhhhh it's been so long since I've gotten to write "The End" on a piece that's longer that 30k. It feels good. I'd forgotten how good it feels.

In celebration I, of course, do a dance. A "The End Dance". It's very similar to the "New House Dance" of which I am frequent participant.


Here's a video of the "The End Dance". Feel free to copy and mimic



h/t to Joan Crawford for her awesomeness.


Peace out, friends. I will be back tomorrow, assuming I didn't hurt myself whilst dancing.

In Which I Write Too Much

I think I hurt my brain.

Yesterday, Sunday, I planned on writing a lot. I had a specific plot point I wanted to get to in the WIP and I was going to write until I reached there. It was ordained.

I woke up early, I put on pants so I could go grocery shopping right after I dropped Twin off for work (her own truck is banged up and caught up in claims) and I got home before 10. Just had to shower, throw the laundry in the washer and then I was good to go. Yes I had to do dishes, but those could wait. I didn't think it would take me all that long to reach the certain point in the WIP. I had done a little outline the night before.

WRONG.

I wrote from about 11:00 to 4:30, which was when I had to stop to go fetch Twin. I logged a bit over 8,000 words which seems like a lot, but on one of my more prolific nano days I logged close to 8,500 and that didn't leave me feeling exhausted or burned out. This only equalled out to about 1600 words an hour. Good. But not great. At least, not great for me who can often do 2K in an hour if the words are flowing and I'm not distracted.

I think the reason that yesterday's expedition in writing hurt so bad (I could barely see straight when I stopped. Except for the dirty dishes. I could see those fine...) is because I had set a goal for myself and was struggling to reach it.

not my exact dirty dishes. but close...

I really, really thought I would be able to reach this plot point in a couple hours. I thought by 1, maybe 2 o'clock I would be done and could do the dishes, write some blog posts and watch some TV.

In fact, I only stopped writing for a few things:

1. when I absolutely had to go to the bathroom
2. when I realized I was starving and needed to eat my lunch

There were a few mild distractions. Brother turned on The Truman Show for about 20 minutes. But I had my headset on and turned the TV off as soon as he left. Same for when he turned on Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Neither of those should have been enough to slow me down.

When it became apparent that the writing was taking longer than I liked, and then later, when I started to think that I might not make my deadline, well I focused solely on getting through as much plot as possible.

It hurt. And I suspect some of the writing I did was forced and not very good (it's a first draft, though, so who cares).

Did I reach the point I was aiming for? Nope. Not even close. My estimate was way off (also I added a new character who just showed up. Surprised? Me too.)

So, here's how my day went - 5 hours straight of writing.
What I have to show for it:

Dirty Dishes
Dirty Laundry
A headache
0 blog posts written (1 now that this one is complete)

But at least I'm 8K farther along on the WIP. 93K is pretty awesome. I hope it'll end around 110 t0 120K so I have a lot of space to cut.

Well, at the very least I ended the night with a great Lifetime Movie: The Pregnancy Pact.

Awesome Sauce

A Few Days Into 2010 And No Zombie Apocalypse Yet

Which is good, because I don't have a shotgun handy, though we do have a crowbar.
However if there's anything I've learned from Left 4 Dead 2 it's that the best melee weapons in a zombie apocalypse are katanas, machetes or fire axes.

Take that Zomb!

Anyway, with the new year comes new resolutions. I never take them too seriously and I can't remember the last time I actually stuck to one or accomplished what I set out to do for the year, though I'm sure there's been a few. But this year is different - I can feel it deep in my zombie hating bones.

2010 Resolutions:

1. Start a Blog
2. Finish novel
3. Eat healthier
4. Lose weight
5. Submit a query

1. - This has been accomplished, as you can see. I'm already ahead of the game for, like, the first time ever. Boosh!

2. - I make this resolution every year. But this year is different because in all other years I was working on another project. The current WIP, Foxfire, is pretty shiny and new, since I started it for NaNo. As it is, I'm still excited about it and pretty close to the fun end stuff.

3. - No brainer. This is something Myself, Twin and my brother (who lives in the basement) do on and off throughout the year before something causes us to fall off the wagon (typically laziness, or some sort of vacation or holiday and the aforementioned love of food)

4. - See #3. For some reason winter is the best season for me to lose weight. I don't know why I'm so backwards.

5. - This one, of course, relies on the success of #2. Also it depends on the speed of my beta readers and how much editing Foxfire needs. Though I don't expect it to need much, thanks, in part, to a sloppily constructed outline that kept me on task for NaNo. On the plus side, I've already written a query for Foxfire due to a writing group exercise. It may need one more tweak, but as it stands I'm very pleased with it. Let's hope the agents will be as well.

So, anyone have any resolutions (serious ones, or not) they want to share?