I mentioned last week that a flash fiction piece of mine was accepted by Chick Lit Review. It's up, and I invite you to take a peek! (Just pay no mind to the no-longer-relevant part of my bio...) Some of you may recognize Surprise at the Salon; it was one result of the prompted exercises I did back in October. But Chick Lit Review is the only place you can see it, so hop to!
***
My kindergardner, who is learning how to read and write, finds no excitement in my role as a writer. While she impresses the teacher with her desire to fill out journal entries (with sounded-out words and pictures) and the like, she doesn't yet get that writing can be a whole lot more.
Just last night she said to me, in her Little-Girl Big-Drama Voice, "Mommy, writing is not anything special."
Well! She told me.
Thankfully, all you faithful readers and bloggers and buddies feel differently, and prove it with your support. After yesterday's post about my publisher rejection (I'll be okay. I only cried myself to sleep thrice last night...), many of you left amazing thoughts and encouragements. What an incredible group of people I hang with, truly. You know what summed it up? celestialwolf's words: Janna, we believe in you. Thank you, cel. And everyone!
***
Okay, I totally feel like I'm giving in to peer pressure. Because all my friends are doing it. And because I want to be popular... So I've added the Follow Me widget or doohickey or thingamabob. Whatever it's called. It would make me ever so happy to see your little face smiling at me over yonder. Won't you follow me?
***
Have a fantabulous Tuesday!
Showing posts with label stuff and things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stuff and things. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
Who's ready for some stuff?
I got a great start on my new WIP yesterday! I'm very excited about this idea, but am hesitant to share anything just yet... we're still in the early stage of our relationship, you see, and I don't want to jinx it. But if things continue to progress and it looks like we may last long-term, I'll give you the goods then. ;)
I have another author to add to my favorites list! Her name is Anna Maxted. I mentioned her sometime recently, when I told you about reading her book A Tale of Two Sisters. The book was phenomenal, and I absolutely recommend it. Here's a small excerpt from the back... Forced apart by mistakes not their own, enticed by new loves, and confronted by challenges they never asked for, Cassie and Lizbet [who live in England] struggle to rediscover the simple goodness of their sisterhood, even as their lives take them on a collision course of heartache and new beginnings. The book, alternating between Cassie's and Lizbet's first-person points of view, is written with plucky humor and deep-hitting truths. Loved the author and her voice!
And... well... I guess I don't really have any things to share.
What's up for you today?
I got a great start on my new WIP yesterday! I'm very excited about this idea, but am hesitant to share anything just yet... we're still in the early stage of our relationship, you see, and I don't want to jinx it. But if things continue to progress and it looks like we may last long-term, I'll give you the goods then. ;)
I have another author to add to my favorites list! Her name is Anna Maxted. I mentioned her sometime recently, when I told you about reading her book A Tale of Two Sisters. The book was phenomenal, and I absolutely recommend it. Here's a small excerpt from the back... Forced apart by mistakes not their own, enticed by new loves, and confronted by challenges they never asked for, Cassie and Lizbet [who live in England] struggle to rediscover the simple goodness of their sisterhood, even as their lives take them on a collision course of heartache and new beginnings. The book, alternating between Cassie's and Lizbet's first-person points of view, is written with plucky humor and deep-hitting truths. Loved the author and her voice!
And... well... I guess I don't really have any things to share.
What's up for you today?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
Usually on this day each week, I tell you about whatever's on my mind. It's often a jumble of things, from stressors at home and activities for my day to my writer's life and goals or statuses.
But today I want to know about your stuff and things.
Do you have a random thought you want share? Or a thought weighing heavy on your mind?
What's up with you this Tuesday?
But today I want to know about your stuff and things.
Do you have a random thought you want share? Or a thought weighing heavy on your mind?
What's up with you this Tuesday?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
For today it's really just one stuff and thing... I have pictures! Keep in mind, we still have to trim everything out (it will all be solid redwood, to match the exposed beams) and touch up some spots on the walls.
My desk will go in the corner, straight ahead. It'll face the pitched ceiling (it's an A-frame house), but I'll have a view over the balcony into the living room below. You can see it's still unpainted drywall out past the balcony; it will be painted the same colors (the ceiling is a few shades lighter), so the brown flows consistently throughout the house.
And here's my reading space! (Incidentally, my chair has already been placed because the truth came out... misterwrites is not a fan and wanted it out of his sight...) I have an antique floor lamp I'll work in somewhere, and need to find an ottoman. I plan to run a short-in-height but long-in-length bookshelf along the balcony wall, which will keep all my beloved books and some decor.
I have to explain, it's not that I'm merely excited to have my own space, it's that we've waited for more than two years for our serious overhauls to come to fruition...
We bought this house in April '06. At that point, though the house was forty years old, it was in dire need of not only updates, but fundamental renovations. See, it was a kit house, built in the '60s as a vacation home here at the lake. The basic structure was put up, but without any insulation. And though many interior walls were constructed with solid redwood paneling (it was overkill, really), other walls were never finished - meaning that when we moved in there were exposed studs here and there. Permanent carpeting was never installed, rather, the previous owners had tossed several swatches of remnants throughout the house. All those were removed when we bought the house, and we've since lived with subfloor in much of the house.
Our renovations began with our daughters' shared room, because we knew we needed to get them into a place and routine of their own. We had to tear down the paneling, put in insulation and drywall (ceiling included), then paint and carpet. Here it is before...
Here it is after (though this pic is right at two years old)...
Next we tackled the basement, which was an unfinished space before. We decided we could finish that entire level, thus making it family space, an office, and a guest room - which hubby and I would sleep in as work was done on the main level and loft/master bedroom. Basement before...
Basement after, from different angle (it's been finished out even more since this pic was taken, like there's now a built-in bookshelf where you see the vacuum to the left, etc.)...
The loft with master bedroom and balcony was a space we've yet to occupy, save for storage. It was the same as the girls' room: paneled walls, no insulation, subfloor, and completely exposed to the very peak of the roof (above the cross beams). We've made massive improvements and are so close to moving in! Here it is before...
And now...
And you saw balcony pictures at the beginning of this post. It was a small, rickety, virtually unusable space before. We extended it by 4-feet (from one beam to the next), doubling the size, and reinforcing it in the meantime. Now it's usable space (yay!) that looks down into our new living room. It's going to be fabulous!
Our living room has undergone quite a transformation, too. Just as we extended the balcony by four feet, so we did with the entire front wall. The original was - this should come as no surprise - not insulated, very flexible, and had a bad door and windows. By shifting the wall further outside to the next beam, we created more living space, and were able to start over with a sound, efficient wall, and pick new windows and doors. Before, from the balcony...
And now... though we're not done entirely, our progress is a lot further along than this picture shows...
The bathrooms (3 total) are being completely gutted and reconfigured, as will the kitchen, which will be our very last project.
Wow, I'm exhausted just telling you about it all. (Changes to the OUTSIDE of the house will have to be another post, another time.) But it's been on my mind for awhile now, and I wanted to share our story.
We were blessed with this house. Around the time we decided to buy, we drove around this lake, looking for land to build on. This "For Sale Buy Owner," an obvious fixer-upper, appealed to us; we saw its amazing potential, loved its lay and land. We called the listed number... and of all things heard our pastor's wife's voice on the machine! We found out she was helping family friends with the sale of the house. Many blessings and months later, the house - an amazing bargain - became ours, and we've not looked back since. What a journey it's been.
Thanks for following along. It's been fun sharing the pictures and details. And here's to an almost done house!
My desk will go in the corner, straight ahead. It'll face the pitched ceiling (it's an A-frame house), but I'll have a view over the balcony into the living room below. You can see it's still unpainted drywall out past the balcony; it will be painted the same colors (the ceiling is a few shades lighter), so the brown flows consistently throughout the house.
And here's my reading space! (Incidentally, my chair has already been placed because the truth came out... misterwrites is not a fan and wanted it out of his sight...) I have an antique floor lamp I'll work in somewhere, and need to find an ottoman. I plan to run a short-in-height but long-in-length bookshelf along the balcony wall, which will keep all my beloved books and some decor.
I have to explain, it's not that I'm merely excited to have my own space, it's that we've waited for more than two years for our serious overhauls to come to fruition...
We bought this house in April '06. At that point, though the house was forty years old, it was in dire need of not only updates, but fundamental renovations. See, it was a kit house, built in the '60s as a vacation home here at the lake. The basic structure was put up, but without any insulation. And though many interior walls were constructed with solid redwood paneling (it was overkill, really), other walls were never finished - meaning that when we moved in there were exposed studs here and there. Permanent carpeting was never installed, rather, the previous owners had tossed several swatches of remnants throughout the house. All those were removed when we bought the house, and we've since lived with subfloor in much of the house.
Our renovations began with our daughters' shared room, because we knew we needed to get them into a place and routine of their own. We had to tear down the paneling, put in insulation and drywall (ceiling included), then paint and carpet. Here it is before...
Here it is after (though this pic is right at two years old)...
Next we tackled the basement, which was an unfinished space before. We decided we could finish that entire level, thus making it family space, an office, and a guest room - which hubby and I would sleep in as work was done on the main level and loft/master bedroom. Basement before...
Basement after, from different angle (it's been finished out even more since this pic was taken, like there's now a built-in bookshelf where you see the vacuum to the left, etc.)...
The loft with master bedroom and balcony was a space we've yet to occupy, save for storage. It was the same as the girls' room: paneled walls, no insulation, subfloor, and completely exposed to the very peak of the roof (above the cross beams). We've made massive improvements and are so close to moving in! Here it is before...
And now...
And you saw balcony pictures at the beginning of this post. It was a small, rickety, virtually unusable space before. We extended it by 4-feet (from one beam to the next), doubling the size, and reinforcing it in the meantime. Now it's usable space (yay!) that looks down into our new living room. It's going to be fabulous!
Our living room has undergone quite a transformation, too. Just as we extended the balcony by four feet, so we did with the entire front wall. The original was - this should come as no surprise - not insulated, very flexible, and had a bad door and windows. By shifting the wall further outside to the next beam, we created more living space, and were able to start over with a sound, efficient wall, and pick new windows and doors. Before, from the balcony...
And now... though we're not done entirely, our progress is a lot further along than this picture shows...
The bathrooms (3 total) are being completely gutted and reconfigured, as will the kitchen, which will be our very last project.
Wow, I'm exhausted just telling you about it all. (Changes to the OUTSIDE of the house will have to be another post, another time.) But it's been on my mind for awhile now, and I wanted to share our story.
We were blessed with this house. Around the time we decided to buy, we drove around this lake, looking for land to build on. This "For Sale Buy Owner," an obvious fixer-upper, appealed to us; we saw its amazing potential, loved its lay and land. We called the listed number... and of all things heard our pastor's wife's voice on the machine! We found out she was helping family friends with the sale of the house. Many blessings and months later, the house - an amazing bargain - became ours, and we've not looked back since. What a journey it's been.
Thanks for following along. It's been fun sharing the pictures and details. And here's to an almost done house!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
LOVE this picture!
*
I spent a large part of yesterday priming and painting our loft. It looks so great, and I'm pretty sure our carpet will be laid come Saturday... which means I could move in to and decorate both my bedroom AND my writing/reading nook by this time next week. I've been waiting for this for a long time and I can't wait!
*
Last week I decided I wasn't happy with my start on Novel 2. A (big) aspect of the plot was leaving me unenthused, and I couldn't stop drawing parallels between the main character and someone I know in real life - which wasn't a good thing. I spent the weekend debating whether I needed to toss it out completely or set it aside for awhile, but ultimately decided the root story is one that needs telling (in short, a man's faith is tested when his world is turned upside-down). So I made a fat tweak, got some great input from misterwrites, and am prepared to get some work done this week. Wahoo.
*
Last Tuesday the newspaper in which my humor column appears came in the mail. But yet my column was nowhere to be found. I'm near certain it was an oversight, but I can't be sure because my editor has yet to respond to my inquiry. Normally I'd be quick to let assumptions carry me away, but she frequently travels for her job and can't check in, so I'm trying to be patient. I'd sure like to know where my column is, though...
*
I've started my Christmas list, which includes a flash drive and several books, including Kimmi's debut, The Unbreakable Child. You can preorder it if you like... just follow one of the links on her blog. Best of luck with everything Kimmi!
What's goin' on your Christmas list this year?
Anything happening for you this fine Tuesday?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
To continue with the prompts I’ve been working on… Marian (welcome to Something She Wrote!) gave me this one:
A plain wooden box, with hinges. Across the lid are carved the words DO NOT OPEN.
She found it among her great-aunt’s old things in the attic. She’d been digging for that elusive file of important estate paperwork, but when her hand grazed the small mahogany box, the document search was forgotten.
“Interesting,” she said aloud, her otherwise-meek voice filling the large space. “And quite mysterious, to boot.”
She traced the hand-carved words DO NOT OPEN with her forefinger.
A plain wooden box, with hinges. Across the lid are carved the words DO NOT OPEN.
She found it among her great-aunt’s old things in the attic. She’d been digging for that elusive file of important estate paperwork, but when her hand grazed the small mahogany box, the document search was forgotten.
“Interesting,” she said aloud, her otherwise-meek voice filling the large space. “And quite mysterious, to boot.”
She traced the hand-carved words DO NOT OPEN with her forefinger.
So should she, or shouldn’t she?
“Of course I should. Who finds an amazing old box and doesn’t open it?”
Following a firm nod of her head, she used her thumbs to crack the lid. Realizing she’d closed her eyes against the anticipation, as if worried over what she would find, she laughed at herself.
A look at the now-open box revealed a ring – a diamond solitaire, dainty and held atop a tarnished setting – and a small creased and yellowed strip of paper. Her hands trembled as she smoothed the handwritten note.
My dearest Arabelle,
By now you’ve learned of my demise, and I only wish it could have been some other way. It’s with sorrow for our future lost, our love forgotten, that I leave this token of my love. Wear it always, and know of my deepest devotion to you.
Love always,
Earnest
She gasped as her heart wrenched over the words written to her aunt so long ago. Her mind spun. Who was Earnest? Did great-uncle Bernard know about him? And to what demise was the note referring?
How she wished there was someone to ask, someone to answer her questions…
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Not a whole lot to rattle about today...
I'm talking about this, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. For those unfamiliar with the books, they follow the lives of some teenagers... a human girl, a vampire boy, and - I think later down the line - a love triangle presents itself with a werewolf. I know, right? Take the content mixed with the fact these are Young Adult in genre, I'd only been fascinated over Meyer's success. But I decided I'd see what all the fuss was about... I admit, I can't turn my internal editor off. Going by what I've been taught about the writing world today, I see a lot of glaring "no-nos": the overabundance of clunky, cringe-worthy adverbs like "something came to me belatedly," "he said significantly," "his expression was murderously angry," and some telling vs. showing. I'm not sure if it's author's style or the fact that she's written for teenagers, and maybe they understand such stuff better. Regardless of all this that makes me sigh, I haven't been sucked into a storyline like this in months, it's soooo good. I'm getting really caught up in what's happening. Can I avoid chores to read? Check. Can I toss the girls outside to play, and read while I keep half an eye on them from the deck? Done. Will I lose track of time as I soak in the tub, not realizing an hour-and-a-half has passed and my water has gotten as cold as the vampire's frigid hands? Yes. Yes I will. So this book is amazing. It's not up everyone's alley, I'm sure - I didn't think it was up mine. But if you're willing, I recommend it. Though maybe that's just the teenage girl who still lives inside me...
Mmm, a good start to my day. My belly is full after a delectable breakfast burrito, made with one spinach and garlic tortilla, two scrambled eggs, pepperjack cheese and crispy strips of bacon. And now for dessert - any guesses? Yep, an iced mocha. Or two. Really, I should start advertising for them or something...
*ahem*
Ode to Sweet Mocha Goodness
Oh, Starbucks, how good you are to me,
Do you know what pleasure you bring?
The mere thought of you in the morning
makes my taste buds sing.
I seek you out at least once a day
You bring me simple happiness –
More than pure water, who needs it?
or anything with caffeinated fizz.
I find myself hunting dimes and pennies
just to purchase a bottle of you,
Sweet mocha frappuccino.
Without you what would I do?
Your low-fat concoction is bliss
your taste so divine,
When poured over ice, sipped through a straw
nothing is as fine.
You are a moment of peace
in a hectic day of mommyness.
You are mine and mine alone
and I treasure your goodness.
***
So I had no interest in reading it, even with all the hubbub. But then my friend bought the series, raved about them, and I borrowed book one.
I'm talking about this, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. For those unfamiliar with the books, they follow the lives of some teenagers... a human girl, a vampire boy, and - I think later down the line - a love triangle presents itself with a werewolf. I know, right? Take the content mixed with the fact these are Young Adult in genre, I'd only been fascinated over Meyer's success. But I decided I'd see what all the fuss was about... I admit, I can't turn my internal editor off. Going by what I've been taught about the writing world today, I see a lot of glaring "no-nos": the overabundance of clunky, cringe-worthy adverbs like "something came to me belatedly," "he said significantly," "his expression was murderously angry," and some telling vs. showing. I'm not sure if it's author's style or the fact that she's written for teenagers, and maybe they understand such stuff better. Regardless of all this that makes me sigh, I haven't been sucked into a storyline like this in months, it's soooo good. I'm getting really caught up in what's happening. Can I avoid chores to read? Check. Can I toss the girls outside to play, and read while I keep half an eye on them from the deck? Done. Will I lose track of time as I soak in the tub, not realizing an hour-and-a-half has passed and my water has gotten as cold as the vampire's frigid hands? Yes. Yes I will. So this book is amazing. It's not up everyone's alley, I'm sure - I didn't think it was up mine. But if you're willing, I recommend it. Though maybe that's just the teenage girl who still lives inside me...***
And I sent my (requested) full manuscript to Avalon Books yesterday. They should have it by Wednesday or Thursday. And then I wait. No telling how long. I saw some info at AW, and others have waited from 4-12 months for their rejections from Avalon. Didn't see anything about purchases. *deep breath* But we shall see. And I'll keep you posted.
And I haven't updated on my agent search in a long while since I've not heard yay or nay from anyone in weeks. At this point in time, I'm okay with that.
Everyone have a great Tuesday, and best of luck with all your endeavors - written and otherwise.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
So it's Tuesday, a typical, unremarkable weekday, and it's time once again for Stuff and Things. Can you believe it? Where do the days go?
Being part of a community of like-minded writers rocks. I love sharing my thoughts and ideas with others who understand the process and drive (and even those who aren't writers but appreciate it nonetheless), and I really enjoy the network I've been able to build. Thank you all for being a part of it.
I love beautiful, crisp fall days, when you can open the windows, air out the house, and freshen your soul. There's something nostalgic and stirring about the colors, the smell, the feel. What do you like about fall?
I bought an old quilt over the weekend, with fabulous muted colors (some so pale you have to look closely), that I'm hoping to use on my bed someday soon. The only problem is that one of the stars virtually exploded at some point in the past, and the quilt batting is visible. There are women I can ask about repairs, but I dare not wash it in my machine and damage it further. I just need to figure out what to do that's not cost prohibitive. Any ideas? I also need to lay it out in the sun to freshen it just a bit. Any other suggestions?
Just when I think my writing goals are headed one way, inspiration sends them another. When I think I can only fit so much on my plate, a spot opens up for something on the side. Do you find the same?
And God is awesome.
What's going on for you today?
***
In response to yesterday's post about the Omaha Lit Fest I attended, Joanne asked, "Can you share any specific themes/tips/advice you might have learned there?" I'll collect my thoughts and check my notes, and that shall be tomorrow's post.
Being part of a community of like-minded writers rocks. I love sharing my thoughts and ideas with others who understand the process and drive (and even those who aren't writers but appreciate it nonetheless), and I really enjoy the network I've been able to build. Thank you all for being a part of it.
I love beautiful, crisp fall days, when you can open the windows, air out the house, and freshen your soul. There's something nostalgic and stirring about the colors, the smell, the feel. What do you like about fall?
I bought an old quilt over the weekend, with fabulous muted colors (some so pale you have to look closely), that I'm hoping to use on my bed someday soon. The only problem is that one of the stars virtually exploded at some point in the past, and the quilt batting is visible. There are women I can ask about repairs, but I dare not wash it in my machine and damage it further. I just need to figure out what to do that's not cost prohibitive. Any ideas? I also need to lay it out in the sun to freshen it just a bit. Any other suggestions?
Just when I think my writing goals are headed one way, inspiration sends them another. When I think I can only fit so much on my plate, a spot opens up for something on the side. Do you find the same?
And God is awesome.
What's going on for you today?
***
In response to yesterday's post about the Omaha Lit Fest I attended, Joanne asked, "Can you share any specific themes/tips/advice you might have learned there?" I'll collect my thoughts and check my notes, and that shall be tomorrow's post.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
The crickets. They still reign.
As the mornings become darker and colder, it's harder for me to get out of bed. (I LOVE my snooze button.) Getting around to take my oldest to school is increasingly difficult, but we're making it happen. And I'm hopeful we'll fall into a better routine with several days' time.
I sit here at my computer, an iced mocha within reach. Seriously, it's one of the best parts of my day, that iced mocha; savoring the smell, the flavor, because it's something that in that moment is only mine. And something even as simple as a favored drink brings joy... thought... inspiration.
My youngest, who's decked out in her favorite dress and tiara, uses her wand to transform me into a princess every few moments. "Bibby bobby doo!" *sashays* Aren't I pretty?
But as for my writing... It's as though I'm sitting in the middle of a large triangle, and each of its three corners holds something I reach to grasp. In the first corner sits my novel, Bliss Lake. Having been my baby for almost two years now, from conception through writes, edits, rewrites, betas, queries, rejections, it's what feels most tangible. But I've put queries on hold. Why? Because I don't know what to do. I continue to (most days) have faith in myself, confidence in my work, but I don't want to fall just short of all I can do. Maybe my query letter needs reworked again? I've done a little brainstorming, made a few notes. But also, something I've always known but blazed on despite, my manuscript is short for its genre. My ms is 51,000 words, whereas many in contemporary or women's fiction are closer to 80k. That's a huge difference! But all this time I've stuck with my story as/is, knowing there are shorter works of fiction out there, and with belief that adding to its word count would only mean padding and filling. And I don't want to take away from the story. But now, as I stew over rejections, I wonder if it's hurting me. Though no single rejection, even personalized, has mentioned my word count, I don't want to continue querying if it's making things harder. So how do I know? The large part of me wants to believe that MY agent, MY moment is out there, regardless of those factors, because my story and my enthusiasm and my faith will stand alone. But how do I know?
The second corner holds the proposal for my narrative non-fiction. Being that non-fiction is most times easiest to find representation for and get published... which could then better facilitate novel publication... perhaps this one is the most tangible. My proposal rocks. And after what pushed me to write it up, I don't dare abandon it. But if I'm to focus on this, doesn't that mean putting Bliss Lake on the back burner? After all I've put forth for it, I'm not certain I'm ready to do that. But I don't know how to do both, either. I can't query one agent with both at the same time. But is it realistic to query them individually, simultaneously? Especially when I want an agent who'll represent both books - my whole career? And so then which do I query for an agent who seems perfect? The narrative non-fiction? Or the novel? BAH!
And the third corner, there in the dark, is my WIP. The story of Tate, whose wife turns his world upside-down by making poor, selfish choices, leading him down the path of severely tested faith. I know once I'm deeper into this story, I'll believe in it, too. I know I will. But I can't let myself go there yet, not with my questions over the other two projects.
So I sit here, stranded. In the middle of the triangle, unsure as to which corner I should proceed. I pray and I wait for signs, sometimes thinking I have it figured out. But then the uncertainty settles in again and I dare not step closer to any one corner, lest it be the wrong one.
What would you do?
And do you have a cricket problem?
As the mornings become darker and colder, it's harder for me to get out of bed. (I LOVE my snooze button.) Getting around to take my oldest to school is increasingly difficult, but we're making it happen. And I'm hopeful we'll fall into a better routine with several days' time.
I sit here at my computer, an iced mocha within reach. Seriously, it's one of the best parts of my day, that iced mocha; savoring the smell, the flavor, because it's something that in that moment is only mine. And something even as simple as a favored drink brings joy... thought... inspiration.
My youngest, who's decked out in her favorite dress and tiara, uses her wand to transform me into a princess every few moments. "Bibby bobby doo!" *sashays* Aren't I pretty?
But as for my writing... It's as though I'm sitting in the middle of a large triangle, and each of its three corners holds something I reach to grasp. In the first corner sits my novel, Bliss Lake. Having been my baby for almost two years now, from conception through writes, edits, rewrites, betas, queries, rejections, it's what feels most tangible. But I've put queries on hold. Why? Because I don't know what to do. I continue to (most days) have faith in myself, confidence in my work, but I don't want to fall just short of all I can do. Maybe my query letter needs reworked again? I've done a little brainstorming, made a few notes. But also, something I've always known but blazed on despite, my manuscript is short for its genre. My ms is 51,000 words, whereas many in contemporary or women's fiction are closer to 80k. That's a huge difference! But all this time I've stuck with my story as/is, knowing there are shorter works of fiction out there, and with belief that adding to its word count would only mean padding and filling. And I don't want to take away from the story. But now, as I stew over rejections, I wonder if it's hurting me. Though no single rejection, even personalized, has mentioned my word count, I don't want to continue querying if it's making things harder. So how do I know? The large part of me wants to believe that MY agent, MY moment is out there, regardless of those factors, because my story and my enthusiasm and my faith will stand alone. But how do I know?
The second corner holds the proposal for my narrative non-fiction. Being that non-fiction is most times easiest to find representation for and get published... which could then better facilitate novel publication... perhaps this one is the most tangible. My proposal rocks. And after what pushed me to write it up, I don't dare abandon it. But if I'm to focus on this, doesn't that mean putting Bliss Lake on the back burner? After all I've put forth for it, I'm not certain I'm ready to do that. But I don't know how to do both, either. I can't query one agent with both at the same time. But is it realistic to query them individually, simultaneously? Especially when I want an agent who'll represent both books - my whole career? And so then which do I query for an agent who seems perfect? The narrative non-fiction? Or the novel? BAH!
And the third corner, there in the dark, is my WIP. The story of Tate, whose wife turns his world upside-down by making poor, selfish choices, leading him down the path of severely tested faith. I know once I'm deeper into this story, I'll believe in it, too. I know I will. But I can't let myself go there yet, not with my questions over the other two projects.
So I sit here, stranded. In the middle of the triangle, unsure as to which corner I should proceed. I pray and I wait for signs, sometimes thinking I have it figured out. But then the uncertainty settles in again and I dare not step closer to any one corner, lest it be the wrong one.
What would you do?
And do you have a cricket problem?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things
Today on my mind...
Crickets! They're over-running our basement. I remember the same thing happened this time last year, but this is nuts. I've been tripping over the vacuum, which I've kept plugged in so I can just suck 'em up, for five days straight. I stopped counting the stinkers around forty-something, around Day 2, and all I know is I'm probably in need of a fresh (read: empty) vacuum bag. These things are gregarious, by the way. Where there's one, there are five more. And just as quickly as I've rounded up one family, another takes its place. They mock me, too. They crouch, all still-like, beckoning me to come hither. Quiet, like maybe they're already dead. So I sneak up with my squeaky Bissell. And then... rrrrrrrrpeep! And they fly up like a Tiddlywinks chip, forcing me to take chase. There's one--the same one the last three nights, I'd guarantee--that sits in an out-of-reach place in my bedroom (by golly if I didn't try to get my vacuum nozzle in there!), and it sounds like he's brought his own Bose system for high-quality amplification.
Durn pests. I will prevail. Oh yes, I will prevail.
***
Crickets! They're over-running our basement. I remember the same thing happened this time last year, but this is nuts. I've been tripping over the vacuum, which I've kept plugged in so I can just suck 'em up, for five days straight. I stopped counting the stinkers around forty-something, around Day 2, and all I know is I'm probably in need of a fresh (read: empty) vacuum bag. These things are gregarious, by the way. Where there's one, there are five more. And just as quickly as I've rounded up one family, another takes its place. They mock me, too. They crouch, all still-like, beckoning me to come hither. Quiet, like maybe they're already dead. So I sneak up with my squeaky Bissell. And then... rrrrrrrrpeep! And they fly up like a Tiddlywinks chip, forcing me to take chase. There's one--the same one the last three nights, I'd guarantee--that sits in an out-of-reach place in my bedroom (by golly if I didn't try to get my vacuum nozzle in there!), and it sounds like he's brought his own Bose system for high-quality amplification.
Durn pests. I will prevail. Oh yes, I will prevail.
***
What do you do when the contractor who's doing your remodeling hasn't shown up in two weeks? First, you complain about the progress your house isn't getting. You throw in a little whine about how badly you want progress. And then you pray everything's okay, given circumstances in this man's own life, and that it all works out in the end.
***
***
Okay, who out there is familiar with the Imagination Movers? It's a group of four dads who got together to make music (think Beastie Boys meet They Might Be Giants) for kids; Smitty, Dave, Rich and Scott. Love.these.dudes. While they've done videos and such for years, they finally have their own show on Playhouse Disney. (Here's where I'd imbed a YouTube video of them, if I knew how to do such a thing.) Let's celebrate!
***
***
A little over a week ago I headed out for an insignificant errand. As I turned a corner, this greeted me.
My first thought was, "How cheesy!" But then... I realized I was smiling. So this neighbor has succeeded in what I guess was their purpose behind the smiley. And now my daughters and I look forward to seeing that sign everyday.
***
***
Since my last update I've had two rejections, both for my non-fiction narrative. But I've also sent a few queries out. So, keeping the two separate, my stats are:
narrative non-fiction - 2 rejections, 2 out
women's fiction - 13 rejections, 17 out
And that 17 out makes me wonder... After how long with no response do you just understand it's a rejection? How long do I wait before I shift those that have been hanging for weeks from out to rejection? I know some agencies give guidelines for this and, of course, they vary. But what's a good, standard rule of thumb?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things #... 4?
So for today's SnT, I thought I'd mention...
I can't stop checking my inbox! Seriously. Chores and tasks and all are interrupted every few minutes for a quick run to the computer. Does it get any better?
I've finished reading my Advance Reading Copy of Karen Dionne's Freezing Point. Wow. But that's all I'll say now. I'll be posting a review in the next day or so... if I can do it without having to reference the book itself, which my husband stole and took to work. :) And might I say? I've had some personal correspondence with Karen. She's fabulously sweet, and has been supportive of my own writing endeavors. Karen, if you're out there: You rock!
Kimmirich tagged me with a writing prompt. I'm to take a secret, or the concept of one, and expound upon it in some way. I'm brainstorming, and I'll post that this week, too. A writing exercise based on her prompt will be great! I think. Read her poem here, and be sure to note the details of her book, The Unbreakable Child, which will be published Spring of 2009.
And lastly, Wee One woke up with a stuffy/runny nose this morning. It's progressed to lethargy and a raspy voice this afternoon, so I'm afraid she's coming down with a bad cold. And now I'm starting to feel "puny" myself, as my grandma used to say. Hope it won't be too rotten to us.
And now off to start dinner! Big One has requested scrambled eggs and sausage...
I can't stop checking my inbox! Seriously. Chores and tasks and all are interrupted every few minutes for a quick run to the computer. Does it get any better?
I've finished reading my Advance Reading Copy of Karen Dionne's Freezing Point. Wow. But that's all I'll say now. I'll be posting a review in the next day or so... if I can do it without having to reference the book itself, which my husband stole and took to work. :) And might I say? I've had some personal correspondence with Karen. She's fabulously sweet, and has been supportive of my own writing endeavors. Karen, if you're out there: You rock!
Kimmirich tagged me with a writing prompt. I'm to take a secret, or the concept of one, and expound upon it in some way. I'm brainstorming, and I'll post that this week, too. A writing exercise based on her prompt will be great! I think. Read her poem here, and be sure to note the details of her book, The Unbreakable Child, which will be published Spring of 2009.
And lastly, Wee One woke up with a stuffy/runny nose this morning. It's progressed to lethargy and a raspy voice this afternoon, so I'm afraid she's coming down with a bad cold. And now I'm starting to feel "puny" myself, as my grandma used to say. Hope it won't be too rotten to us.
And now off to start dinner! Big One has requested scrambled eggs and sausage...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things #3
What a beautiful day! As we headed to school this morning the temperature was in the mid-60s. I took a cup of chai tea along for the drive, and my day couldn't have started better. Now, as I sit catching up online, I'm eating a breakfast of champions: leftover chicken alfredo. *shrugs* I'm picky with my breakfast foods, and I figured this was better than nothing. Right?
So I promised to post pictures. Since I've talked about our remodeling and my new space (Janna's Writing and Reading Nook - just saying it makes me squee!), I thought I'd show you the progress. Here's the space from the top of the stairs. To my left is the master bath, behind me the master bedroom.
So I promised to post pictures. Since I've talked about our remodeling and my new space (Janna's Writing and Reading Nook - just saying it makes me squee!), I thought I'd show you the progress. Here's the space from the top of the stairs. To my left is the master bath, behind me the master bedroom.
And here, at the left side of the balcony, is where my floor lamp and big floofy (yes, floofy) reading chair will go. Maybe, just maybe, in another few weeks I can show you completed pictures. Yippee!
I'm writing the next installment of my column. (For those who may not know, I write a humor column with a motherhood theme. It appears in a local paper, quarterly.) My topic this go round is being an embarrassing mom. You know, the standard stuff, like licking your finger to wipe chocolate from your daughter's cheek. In the middle of her birthday party. When she's surrounded by friends and family. Got any good anecdotes to share? Surely I'm not the only embarrassing mom these days... *
In yesterday's post, I mentioned I would talk about feelin' the burn today. You see, I have this rash-- No, no. Wrong topic. I was going to tell you I've really been feeling that desire to push myself with my writing. I've admittedly slacked off recently, what with the end of summer, and having queries out but not being ready to send another batch. But it's time to move ahead, seeking my goals. I'm going to research more agents today and send another few queries. And I've got to move ahead with the other writing projects I keep talking about. After all, I'm not going to find what I'm looking for if all I do is think about writing. It's got to be about doing.
And that's it, folks. I think I'm gonna go try my new English Toffee cappuccino mix (I have my doubts since it's a mix). I'll let you know how it is.
Have a great day!
* I haven't really done that. Yet.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things #2
I've seen a lot of weekly topics on Blogger (like My Town Monday, in which both Josh and Travis participate) and, though I've never adopted any of them, I'd like to make up my own. Since I posted Stuff and Things last Tuesday, I decided I'd like to do it each week. It's a way to share whatever's congesting my mind, writing-related or not, in one fell swoop. It's okay that I do this, right? There's no Blogger Police who're supposed to pass out licenses for such a thing? Good. I thought so.
Today's stuff and things?
My daughter had to get the last of her immunizations this morning. It was my job--through all FOUR shots--to trap her legs between mine, crush one arm behind me as a vice grip would, and immobilize the other with my weak hand. Her tears were almost unbearable, but the reward of colorful band-aids and Goldfish crackers brightened her world once again.
I'm cheap. I know this because I can smell a clearance rack from aisles away, or spot neon-colored sale tags before I've darkened the doorway of my favorite store. When my eyes shift and dart back-and-forth, making me look as though I'm up to no good? It's simply that I'm afraid I'll miss a good deal, and one must be alert to such things. Always. And I most often refuse to pay full price for anything. Today we visited one of our local discount stores. There I got five new shirts for the school girl, a new shirt for myself, two notebooks and a plate. For $24 and some change. AWESOME. Then I very nearly split my lid when I spent the same amount at another store, on two pairs of leggings and a Koosh ball. NOT AWESOME. See? I'm cheap.
I've been able to expound upon the idea for my non-fiction book. I did some tweaking to my concept, which opened the possibilities for content. To give you a basic, at-its-most-general hint, the topic is motherhood. It will incorporate humor and the voice I use for my motherhood-themed column, with essays and anecdotes, and an extra special something. But that's all I'm giving you now. I've still got some research and brainstorming and compiling to do.
As for Novel 2 (I've decided not to deny myself progress on one book while I work on the other - I'll do both!), it still sits, lonely and with no recent updates. Thus far, the only work I've done has been on my AlphaSmart 3000, Sally, so I plan to transfer the files to word document soon. I'll be able to look at it with fresh perspective, I think, and that will allow me to move forward just a bit.
Still no word of any kind from agents. I'm not growing impatient at all, I just feel like I'm not doing all I can to be proactive. Which is silly, because what else can I do but wait on them? I'm not quite ready to send another batch of queries out, but may revisit that idea in another few weeks. We'll see what happens between now and then.
11 rejections, 13 out
Today's stuff and things?
My daughter had to get the last of her immunizations this morning. It was my job--through all FOUR shots--to trap her legs between mine, crush one arm behind me as a vice grip would, and immobilize the other with my weak hand. Her tears were almost unbearable, but the reward of colorful band-aids and Goldfish crackers brightened her world once again.
I'm cheap. I know this because I can smell a clearance rack from aisles away, or spot neon-colored sale tags before I've darkened the doorway of my favorite store. When my eyes shift and dart back-and-forth, making me look as though I'm up to no good? It's simply that I'm afraid I'll miss a good deal, and one must be alert to such things. Always. And I most often refuse to pay full price for anything. Today we visited one of our local discount stores. There I got five new shirts for the school girl, a new shirt for myself, two notebooks and a plate. For $24 and some change. AWESOME. Then I very nearly split my lid when I spent the same amount at another store, on two pairs of leggings and a Koosh ball. NOT AWESOME. See? I'm cheap.
I've been able to expound upon the idea for my non-fiction book. I did some tweaking to my concept, which opened the possibilities for content. To give you a basic, at-its-most-general hint, the topic is motherhood. It will incorporate humor and the voice I use for my motherhood-themed column, with essays and anecdotes, and an extra special something. But that's all I'm giving you now. I've still got some research and brainstorming and compiling to do.
As for Novel 2 (I've decided not to deny myself progress on one book while I work on the other - I'll do both!), it still sits, lonely and with no recent updates. Thus far, the only work I've done has been on my AlphaSmart 3000, Sally, so I plan to transfer the files to word document soon. I'll be able to look at it with fresh perspective, I think, and that will allow me to move forward just a bit.
Still no word of any kind from agents. I'm not growing impatient at all, I just feel like I'm not doing all I can to be proactive. Which is silly, because what else can I do but wait on them? I'm not quite ready to send another batch of queries out, but may revisit that idea in another few weeks. We'll see what happens between now and then.
11 rejections, 13 out
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