Picking Things Back Up

I feel like I'm in a AA meeting, but for writers.  Here it goes, "I am a procrastinator.  I've not always been like this, but here for the past months my priorities have been every thing else, other than my writing."  I think this is the first step that everyone has to recognize.  My everyday life seems to prevent me from accomplishing any of my reading and writing goals.  It doesn't help that I'm still a full time student, mom, and now managing a restaurant that has my sleeping, eating, and studying habits all shot to hell.  These are all excuses that we can relate to. 

A few weeks ago after the writers conference, I picked up the first recreational reading book that I've read in months.  Life has kept me so preoccupied and I have forgotten what I enjoy to do so much.  So, I finally read Water For Elephants, which was phenomenal, and finished a book by Deanna Reybourn, an author I met at the conference called, The Dead Travel Fast, which was also amazing. Just doing this, and getting past my finals for the semester has kicked me into high gear to not only read more books at any chance I get, but to also pick up writing on my book again. 

The truth is life throws us dodge balls, and we try not to get hit too much or too hard.  I have now set a goal to write everyday at a minimum of 200 words a day.  I know this isn't a super amount, but I figure every little bit helps.  If I can get back to writing and reading, I know this book can be finished before the end of my summer break.  This is my goal.  It's approximately three months to do what I can do the best way I know how.  Now, it's your turn.  Have you been letting life come before your ultimate goals?  My suggestion, kick yourself in the ass and get to work.  MAKE TIME.  

Word Count for the First 22--Reaper Book

43113 / 50000 words. 86% done! This is where I am going to start posting my progress....Seems like a good idea. My goal for my reapers book is 50,000 words. If I get more than great. Now everyone can see my writing status...even though I am only editing. But, I've still been adding about 1,000 words/per day. So, at this rate I should be done in the next couple weeks. Maybe....I hope. :)

Conferences and Book Signings!!!

Okay, fellow writerettes….I’ve got some conferences and other author book signings coming up to slap on the calendar.

Richelle Mead-Golden Lilly Book Tour-

Tuesday, June 12th - Lansing, Michigan - 7pm
Schuler Books & Music
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912

Wednesday, June 13th - Lexington, Kentucky - 7pm
Joseph-Beth
161 LexingtonGreen Cir # B1
Lexington, KY 40503

2012 Midsouth SCBWI Fall Conference

14 Sep 2012 at 1pm - 16 Sep 2012 12pm

Location: Hilton Garden Inn-Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN

-Pre conference insentives offered on Friday

-Pitch sessions with Sarah Davies with Greenhouse literary

-Face-to-Face or Written-only critiques

-Fiction Manuscript Contest in 3 categories PB, MG, and YA

Writers for New Orleans Workshop
December 14 - 16, 2012-Hosted by Heather Graham $250.00 registeration for entire weekend.

http://www.writersforneworleans.com/site/1545797/

My Michigan Routine

Still in my conference in Michigan…I’ve had a great time catching up will all my HR buddies. They are all on a health kick so I am forced to eat nothing but fruit and yogurt, blah. Where is the beer and the cokes when I need them? Tonight we are heading to Dave & Buster’s. I am pretty excited about it considering that we don’t have one in Kentucky and this will be the first time that I have ever been.

My flight heads out on Friday morning. I will be horribly sad when I have to say goodbye to my BFF. (I know she won’t be missing me at all. Ha, yeah right. That girl loves me.)

And I can’t wait to get back home so I can write. My days are long…I get up at 5am and then I am going full blast until 9pm. At least then I can start back on a regular writing schedule. Right now, I’m sitting in the dark listening to a droning PowerPoint. My eyelids are extremely heavy. I need to not get distracted. So, I’m getting off of here and getting back to work. Hakuna Matata world!

New and Awesome!

Nothing new and awesome to report today. On the upside, I made it to Michigan safely. But, unfortunately I was seated in first class with Chatty Kathy and all he wanted to do was chit chat about his job...blah, blah, blah. So, needless to say I still haven't finished Fifty Shades Freed.

I'm disappointed in this book for whatever reason I haven't been able to connect to it. Maybe it means that I need to pick up a new novel to read...or maybe it's just my subconscious screaming at me to finish my own freaking book. But, why would I want to do that when I have a list of books the size of the declaration of independence to read.

Working on my reapers book has suddenly become my priority. It seems like AOE, though the edits I made this week made it significantly better, it’s still going to take a crap ton more time and effort to get it finished and that is time and effort that I don’t have.

I’m thoroughly impressed with Becca. She is showing me up, for sure. Making my overachievingness look like a small itty bitty effort. She joined the Romantic Writers guild nationally and locally and she has already started outlining her other book and knows exactly what it’s going to take to make it prefect. I’m glad one of us is on the ball.

For Jennifer, she last mentioned that she was working on a new SNN called Olivia’s Ghost; I can vouch for the fact that I have read the WIP and it is awesome and has such potential. There is sooo much voice in her MC it is ridiculous.

Now, I’m going back to visiting my buddies in Michigan. Hopefully before next week I will get inspired to do some real writing.

My Dream Agents...keep dreaming.

Laura Bradford	Bradford Literary Agency
Andrea Somberg	Harvey Klinger, Inc.
Barry Goldblatt	Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency, Inc.
Sara Megibow	Nelson Literary Agency, LLC
Bill Contardi	Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.
Laura Rennert	Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Jodi Reamer	Writers House
Tina Dubois Wexler	International Creative Management
Steven Axelrod	The Axelrod Agency
Jenny Bent	The Bent Agency

I’m addicted to query tracker...I can’t help it. It’s very distracting. But, for the record I thought I would post my top ten YA agents that I would love, love, love to have. They are the best in the business.

Here is a list of links that I find extremely helpful. They are in order by helpfulness.

http://querytracker.net/qlist.php?logout=1&token=b2af59060cdb38d2ad420c4201b6f873

Create your agent query list and their statistics…join the critique forum also….great feedback. I have a special Paid account that I use….its 30/year….I can see the agent statistics on feedback, etc. If you all want to know a specific agents stats, just let me know.

http://www.grammarly.com/

I have an account to here….you all can download it and use it…it’s about 25.00/monthly…I put it in Jen’s name…we usually take turns using it. But, it will grammar check the hell out of it. And when you’re done with your m.s. and you paste it by chapter into grammarly, grammarly makes it perfect!

http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

Awesome way to learn how to write a query.

http://community.writersdigest.com/main/authorization/signIn?target=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.writersdigest.com%2Fgroups%2Fgroup%2FlistForContributor%3Fuser%3D18xsi3bkc9rze

I’ve received some of the best feedback for my query, synopsis, and first three chapters of my book here.

http://www.writersdigest.com/login?loggedout=true

I’ve received some of the best feedback for my query, synopsis, and first three chapters of my book here.

http://www.authonomy.com/activate.aspx

And if you all want some very beneficial feedback on your full m.s…..join this site.

http://forums.nathanbransford.com/index.php?sid=4cbf0b5a92eeb1faf4600b5072e4a48b

I’ve received some of the best feedback for my query, synopsis, and first three chapters of my book here.

http://agentqueryconnect.com/index.php?

I’ve received some of the best feedback for my query, synopsis, and first three chapters of my book here.

After today it might be a few weeks before I can post again. Everyone have a great weekend!

OCD...Control Freak and Writer Frustrations

I’ve found that I am somewhat of a control freak. It’s not my fault I’m infatuated with excel spreadsheets and organization. I like knowing a schedule is nailed down and that my lists (travel lists, expense lists, grocery lists) are available. Call it a certain type of OCD. But, it’s definitely something I can’t control.

I’ll be headed towards Michigan on Friday to stay with Rebecca…travel lists in hand. Somehow or another she conned me into being a date to her cousins wedding…someone I’ve never met. What’s the proper etiquette and protocol on that? Do I dress up or dress down? Do I take a gift card or just wing it? Every wedding I have ever been to, I have been a part of. So, forgive me if I ask if it’s okay to wear black to a wedding, lol.

I’m glad to know that this week, my peers in writing are lost in a world of books. We aren’t really writing anything, yet. But, we're making notes and getting inspired by reading books that we have been procrastinating to read. I finished my Fifty Shades and Fifty Shades Darker. I’m in the middle of Fifty Shades Freed and there are two novels of Heather Graham’s that I bought at the book conference this weekend that I would love to sink my teeth into and then there is one additional book by Deanna Raybourn that I would like to finish before I go on my race to finish my reapers book.

It’s very frustrating working on a manuscript and getting so aggravated at looking at it that you just want to throw it up in the air and use it for skeet shooting. But, at times like these…I know I am not the only one who struggles as a writer. I know my co-hearts feel my pain and also fantastic authors like Stephen King who were frustrated and in my shoes. I can appreciate that.

Well, I’m off to see the Wizard today…I have got to get my mop cut and dyed and then I need to start packing my bags for Detroit. Love you all and good day!

Random Musings...Fifty Shades of Grey

These last few months have been busy, busy, and busy. And the next two months will only get busier. I leave for Michigan on Friday and I will not return to my happy home until the following Friday. And then I get to attend one of my friend’s baby showers—note to self, buy lots of diapers.

Then the following weekend I have a graduation and a family cornhole tournament that I must attend. And then the following weekend, I am throwing my youngest sister Brandi a Bridal Shower! For those of you who don’t know, I have a knack for throwing divine showers (baby and wedding). The weekend of the 26^th will probably be my sister’s bachelorette party and then the following weekend is her wedding.

I’ve been thinking about my reapers book and to be honest, I really need it edited. Go through and shred it to pieces…momentary problem, I keep forgetting my thumb drive that contains my entire life’s work. Therefore, all I can do is brainstorm while I’m at work while secretly taking notes that will lead to my literary success.

FYI—I’ve recently became addicted to one author’s blog. Her name is Deanna Raybourn and I met her at the Southern Kentucky Writer’s Conference. She is both witty and undeniably humble. She has several series and stand alones published and out for sale. I visit her website daily and read the musings of Mrs. Raybourn who in return, leaves me laughing and wanting more.

For those of you who know me, I am in fact an avid reader. I am completely distraught if I don’t get the chance to sit down and read at least one a week. My most recent reading venture has been the Shades of Grey Series by E.L. James.

I read the first one in a day on my ereader and the next day, I flocked to Barnes and Noble and bought the next two in the series, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. This is an Adult Erotica Romance novel…and I have referred it to Jennifer and Becca. Jennifer has finished the series and Becca has just graduated from the first ‘vanilla sex’ scene.

Fifty Shades of Grey is an epic romance between two completely different people from two different worlds; Ms. Anastasia Steele makes a last minute decision to do the interview for her best friend Kate when Kate falls ill and is unable to complete the interview that would change her journalism career.  Unfamiliar with her interview subject, Ms. Steele meets Mr. Grey and the tension between them is electrifying. Though, she can’t understand why a millionaire would want anything to do with a college student.

When she leaves Mr. Grey, she thinks it’s the last time that they will ever cross paths until he shows up the following day coincidently at Clayton’s hardware store, were millionaires are far from regulars. Mr. Grey insists to Ms. Steele that she must have a head shot for her article. Ms. Steele schedules the photo shoot and she finds herself smitten…until she visits his house and is introduced to the red room. A room with torture devices, handcuffs, and kinky fuckery hardware…without giving away too much more…I’d like to say, BUY THIS BOOK. You won’t regret it!

Laters Peeps!

South Central Kentucky Writer's Conference

The last few months have been hectic and as much as I love writing I’ve become sidetracked by other ventures. But, right now…I promise, I will try harder.

The Bowling Green Writer’s Conference was a huge success.  Tina, Jennifer, and a fourth wheel to our aspirations joined us from Michigan. Rebecca flew in on Friday, we left from the airport and drove straight to the conference. This was Becca and Tina's first writer's conference...we learned loads. We got to meet numerous authors who were fantastic:

Heather Graham – She was the most humble person. She even took a picture with us!!! Completely and honestly, one of the most kindest people I've ever met.

Lori Copeland-She gave a lecture on co-authoring….fantastic.

Lee Martin-Witty…kept telling us jokes about how a guy walks into the bar with a large slab of asphalt. The bartender says, “What would you like?” The guys replies, “I’ll have a beer and one for the road”. Ha, Ha.

Rachel Hawkins-Funny and I could see us being good friends…her tastes are similar to ours. She writes fantastic YA Books.

Victoria Schwab

Kelly Creagh

Teresa Medeiros

Trish Milburn

Regina Jeffers-Of course, we are all in love with Mr. Darcy and we have all had the pleasure indulging in her books.

Molly Harper- Graduate from WKU!!! Makes romance novels with a little BITE!

Deanna Raybourn-Genuinely kind. Took lots of time to talk and discuss our writing aspirations. We all bought her book…she’s very unconvential and so, so, so humble.

Virginia Smith- has had the pleasure in co-authoring books with notorious Lori Copeland…very educated in contracts and the writing business.

Now, we are all excited and looking forward to the next few months. I foresee us pumping out massive word counts…one can only hope.

Hello World!

Since January, I’ve been in cahoots with my two main manuscripts. Age of Eden is yet again, in another round of historical edits and I am putting the finishing 8k words in The First 22. Not to mention, I’ve been working on perfecting our query letters for both manuscripts…which is a PAIN in the NECK.

There is no subtle way to put it. I’ve put myself through a hundred different versions of them both and in the end; they both sound exactly the same as they did when I first started this never-ending querying journey. Can’t I just for once, get lucky, and win a query critique so someone will rip, grind, punch, push and pull it to pieces? I need an agent to tell me why it works and why it doesn’t.

I’ve started the earlier shift at work again, so hopefully this will help with my writing…I always feel more creative first thing in the morning before I get distracted by agent query, Nathan Bradford’s blog, query tracker, etc. Which is easy to do, seriously. And all I really want to do is to take another writer’s retreat to the lake and write my butt off…but unfortunately, I’m saving for a vacation and my husband isn’t completely sold on weekend getaways. But, maybe I can talk him into it….I really need it.

Okay, back to the mundane rumblings of my inner muses…I better get back to it. I hope everyone has a great day!