Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sabatical

Not willingly I assure you. Life has taken over and writing and querying and blogging has taken a backseat to it. I may have mentioned it but again, I don't have internet at my new place :( I have truely missed it! So here's a recap of what you've missed this past week:
1. Got sick Fri. night.
2. Moved on Sat.
3. Spent Sunday on the couch sleeping.
4. Started a new job on Monday.
5. Worked, unpacked and took care of baby for the remainder of the week.
6. :( I've queried 5 agents by email and gotten 3 rejections, 1 out of office, and 1 we received your query and will respond within the next 6 weeks if we like it :(
This next week at work will be the next big learning step for me and I'm not done unpacking and cleaning our new place, so writing and querying will probably take the backseat for another week. Oh, plus there's Thanksgiving! Yay, I love Thanksgiving! Anyways, I will be scarce in blogging for a while which makes me sad, but I can't afford internet right now(because even though I actually live closer to town, I'm considered living in the boonies.) Makes no sense! Ok, I"m off to explore the 'net :) ....Oh, one last question for me? Where am I at right now that I have internet? Sunday dinner at the in-laws :)

Friday, November 12, 2010

10:42 at night

Word count: 4,951
I still have more to type but I'm so tired the flow of words is trickling to a stop despite the rest of the scene in my head.
Just to let you know, we're moving this weekend to a place that doesn't have internet and I start a new job Monday; so I'm afraid my blogging might slow down, but hopefully not for long. I love blogging; it's my public declaration of accomplishment and humiliation and helps motivate me :)
Anyway, see*wink* you soon! Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Never Think sung by Robert Pattinson

Never think
What's in your heart
What's in our home
So I won't

You'll learn to hate me
But still call me baby
Oh Love
So call me by my name

And save your soul
save your soul
Before you're too far gone
Before nothing can be done

I'll try to decide when
She'll lie in the end
I ain't got no fight in me
In this whole damn world
Telling you to hold off
She said hold on
It's the one thing that I've known
Once I put my coat on
And how I know it's all wrong
She's standing outside holding me
Saying oh please
I'm in love
I'm in love

Girl save your soul
Save your soul
Before you're too far gone
And before nothing can be done

'Cause without me
You got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Without me you got it all
So hold on
Hold on

I find that so far for this WIP I'm leaning on the same music; mostly the Twilight soundtrack for now, but I'm sure that will vary to include more of New Moon and probably Eclipse after the dvd comes out. I love how Robert sings this song and the lyrics. They are perfect for Twilight.
More importantly :) word count is currently at 2,814 and I am more happy with what I added to chapter one to round it out :)

Yesterday

Yesterday I substituted and managed to write during the teacher's planning hour. My word count is now 2,118. I also wrote out a tentative outline and then tried to put it together better last night. I didn't do a great job :(
As for the rest of life, I'm having to switch baby sitter's because of my new hours once I start my new job next week. I'm meeting her tomorrow; let's hope we all click *crosses fingers*. What else? Sorry, nothing more for today. Hopefully I'll get some more words down and have another word count update :) Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Rush

974 words down today! *(I'm ammending that to 1,536)*Yup, that's right, I've started my new WIP and for right now I'm riding the high of starting a book. I know the hard work is coming (can you say detailed outline 'cause I like to know kind of how I'm going to get where I want to go) but for right now, I've got the first part of this WIP on Word.

In other news I finished Need by Carrie Jones in one day. Yup, it was that good :) Ok, I"m off to continue to reward my writing and 2 hours of cleaning at the new house with some more internet time :)

Keep writing, even if you think it's crap, you can always fix it later. If the page is blank, there's nothing to fix!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Busy Weekend

I picked up some supplies and horse feed Saturday and ate lunch with hubby, mil, and fil over at the new house. Then because although baby wasn't running a fever any more, he still didn't feel well, I headed home. I'm sure I did something else that evening, but for the life of me I can't remember! Sunday was full of church, family time and moving some stuff to the new house, and then more family time.
I'm still waiting on edits of my query letter from bil(reminder, Brother In Law), so I haven't queried yet. I'm feeling a little in limbo because while I know what my next wip is(I'll capitalize it when I actually start writing) I'm still a little stuck in the story I just finished. I did the same thing going between editing my first book and while taking a break I brainstormed a lot for my next book. A few days after getting back to editing I had a light bulb moment and could look back and see how I was drifting into one story and into/out of the other. Very surreal and pleasant once I realized what was happening and that I wasn't just being a slacker.
Ok, I must admit my fear(s).
1. I have a new story to write and I need to get back into that world.
2. I still have to do the "work" part to my last book; aka get it queried out to an agent.
3. Nobody will like my book!
4. I have several awesome books from my birthday that I really want to read, but I really need to get into my next book.
5. Not enough time because I took a different job :( Yup, I'm going to be a bank teller. I love substituting but it isn't steady enough to make the house payment, so I'll be moving on. In the back of my mind I'm dreaming of a day when I can be a published(and paid) author and substitute teach and support my family. Big dreams, lot's of work, but I am up to it! I hope :)
Keep on keeping on! Face those fears!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Finale

I finished draft 4 today, 11/5/10. And then I formatted it so that as a manuscript it was ready to go. Draft 4a was typed in Arial font, size 11. Draft 4b was changed to Times New Roman, size 12. 4a was 230 pages long and 4b was 245 pages long. It absolutely amazes me how much of a difference that made. Why didn’t I write it that way originally? I don’t remember how draft 1 started out, but as I started editing, so D2-4, I changed the font(just once) so that I’d be in “editing” mode. Did it work? I think so. Draft 4, which is my final draft *crosses fingers* for now(hopefully the book sells and reality says if it does, there will be another draft) ended statistically this way:
Word count: 72,203
Page count: 245
What now? I’m waiting for editing/comments on my synopsis from bil, I need to fix it, specifically address my queries and then query my book! Yay! Sooooo close! There’s only one agent who requires a synopsis, so I’ll probably query most before the synopsis is ready for her.
I hope you all are reaching your goals!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

I Love This Cover

Pretty cover and great book! Here's the blurb:


When a world-traveling relative blackmails 16-year-old Vassar Spore's parents into forcing their only child to backpack with her through Southeast Asia, Vassar faces things she isn't prepared for--including a family secret that turns her world upside down.I've got my entire life planned out for the next ten years ' including my PhD and Pulitzer Prize, claims 16-year-old overachiever Vassar Spore, daughter of overachiever parents, who in true overachiever fashion named her after an elite women's college. Vassar expects her sophomore summer to include AP and AAP (Advanced Advanced Placement) classes. Surprise! Enter a world-traveling relative who sends her plans into a tailspin when she blackmails Vassar's parents into forcing their only child to backpack with her through Southeast Asia. On a journey from Malaysia to Cambodia to the remote jungles of Laos, Vassar sweats, falls in love, hones her outdoor survival skills'and uncovers a family secret that turns her whole world upside-down. Vassar Spore can plan on one thing: she'll never be the same again.


P.S. I got edits from bil for the last three chapters!
P.P.S. Baby has went 3 hours without a fever this morning!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

DeRailed

I've realized that I've done a lot of posts about stuff other than writing lately. That's not why I started this blog, but then I've just realized that I hardly ever blog about riding and that was one of the reasons I started this blog. But this blog is a true reflection of my life and I have decided that I can do what I want with it. It is my blog, right? So for right now because life is busy and I'm on the tail end of editing D4, writing and tracking it isn't completely consuming.
What was that? You want to know what is consuming me? Well, first of all baby has been running a fever off and on(mostly on and high) since yesterday morning. I hate when my baby is sick! The other worry...thing...whatever you want to call it, that is consuming me is a job offer I just got. It pays less than substituting, but is 40 hours a week and steady. There are pros and cons to both jobs. I'm not too worried about providing for my family, God will do that, but what I am worried about is making the decision that God wants me to.
As for writing, which is once again at the end of the post, I'm at chapter 16 for my 3rd read through and still waiting on chapters 19, 20 and 21 from bil. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be putting this book out on submission minus bil's input for those last three chapters. Of course, as long as he responds before any requests for a full manuscript(I can dream!), I will include his edits :) Ok, baby is crying, so I'm off

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Hmmmm...

I couldn't think of an exciting title, so I just chose hmmmm... Really it should be as boring as yesterday's only titled Tuesday. I spent two hours cleaning at our new house this morning and baby was very well behaved. Unfortunately on the short ride home he spiked a fever. After a little snuggling and worry on my part(plus a little medicine for him) he fell asleep. Unfortunately I have in town business I have to attend to, so hopefully the little bugger is feeling better when he wakes up.
After a long hiatus, he finally started saying mama again. I am thrilled to not be lumped into the same category as hubby and be called Da for the rest of baby's life.
Once baby went to sleep I had lunch and then picked up on my third read through of D4. I've made it to chapter 12 and my eyes are tired! I've given them a few breaks, but this is a hardship I've been facing constantly when editing for the past couple weeks. I'm hoping it's just the fact that I tend to stare really hard at the screen while I edit. Soon I'll be writing a new story and hopefully my future more relaxed stare(which often tends to be inward rather than at the computer) will ease my aching eyes. And in case you were wondering, yes I am still waiting on bil's edits. He claims he's actually been working! I know, shocking, right? Also, he doesn't have internet at home, so he can't do it after work either. I feel like a kid a Christmas because I'm so excited about sending this book out. I only hope I can keep it up.
Once again let's talk about NaNo. I'm still disappointed about not participating, but considering a different option once I start writing. And this option may be for December instead of November or not, I'm not sure. It's called WEED, or Write Each and Every Day. No days off! I'd like to also apply a daily word count goal but this troubles me because I'm very busy and it's going to stay that way between substituting, trying to find a more reliable job, getting the new house ready, moving, and the holidays. I think it will be enough for the next couple of months to just stick to the goal of write each and every day. Even though I'm editing right now, I am doing pretty good about EED, so hopefully I'll be able to stay dedicated to WEED once I start. We shall see. Ok, I'm off to go continue my 3rd read through of D4. I think to save you from the monotony that is my life, I'll do a Cover's I Love blog :) Gives me an excuse to look at books anyhow!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Monday

The busyness just doesn't end. I have a lot on my to do list and has been done list. After church and family time yesterday, I let hubby take a nap. I only wish I could have taken a nap too! Instead I got three loads of dishes(kitchen sink, done by hand, not by dishwasher since I don't have one) done, took out all the plastic to the recycling bin, vacuumed out my car, and went out to eat with baby and hubby for supper. After some more much needed tasks, I finally went to bed.
Today I went to a job interview(which I don't think went badly, but wasn't great either) and then dropped off my resume at another business. After baby went down for his nap(which is ending as we speak)... I finished D3 of my synopsis, decided I am satisfied with my query, sent both off to bil, and started my third read through of D4. I am still waiting on chapters 19, 20 and 21 edits to come back from bil. So soon I will be querying and officially done with my first book!
I must admit when I realized today was November 1st and therefor the first day of NaNoWriMo, I was a little disappointed to not be participating :( But I wish you luck to all of those that are!