Catch-up Thursday

Wow, I just realized that it's been a few days since I posted. Hmm.....did manage to write a few pages this week, but it has been slow. I need to get into a rhythm of writing at night and getting better organized. Tonight I've been watching Ernesto the hurricane on television, even though it has no effect on me. Let's face it, I'm a weather slut. Besides, Jim Cantore is on TWC. Love that guy!

My self stated goal is to finish this WIP by the end of September. Actually, that's a more than reasonable goal since I'm less than 20K words away. Labor Day weekend is upcoming and except for Saturday, I'm free. My plan after I finish it (and get it critiqued by my wonderful CP ) is to immediately start on a shorter story I have in my head. I want to see if I can sell it to one of the epublishers. Definite steaminess is planned. ;-)

Currently reading DARK ROOTS AND COWBOY BOOTS by LuAnn McLane. Wow, this one is a keeper. Love the humor and real life antics of Jamie Lee and her friends.

Saturday Stutter Starts

I think the last few days, I've just been sluggish. I blame part of it of the lack of creativity. A feeling of "where do I go from here" feeling. I see the end in sight on my latest WIP, but a restlessness inside me. To tell you the truth--and don't tell her--but I think I need one of Barb's closets.

Right now I'm watching the neighbors ruin the grass of their yard. Don't they care??? See? I could be not worrying about trivial stuff like that.

I've also made a decision, but I'm not going to reveal it quite yet. :)

Btw, ask me what that percentage bar on the side of my blog means.

Today I wrote ten pages again...like I did last Friday. I actually hadn't planned to write but was going to look at the edits from my cp on chapter seven and then do my editing of chapters 8 through 10. Oh well...I think that will be my priority for the weekend.

Right now I'm in the midst of review books and sometimes I suffer from the "I need to get them done before I start on something else" feeling. As for what I wrote...well, it takes place at a wedding reception. Hero is meeting heroine's family. Ever think about the first time your dh met your family? didn't you want to die at time? :) In this case, it's the heroine who's feeling that way.

I read a good book yesterday. It is a Katherine Garbera Silhouette Deisire coming out in October. The only thing is that it's a part of a series. Although one could read it as a standalone. But, man, it was HOT. At one point, heroine is doing a belly dance and hero is um...stroking himself as he watches her. And of course, she is watching him. Woooooooooo....get out the fans!!!

Smoldering Sunday

Seems like for the past couple of weeks, I've been dragging myself to work on my current WIP. It's been a slow stage. Not that I dislike my story--I do--but it's been hard to get me motivated. I'm not really sure why.

Finally I burned pages on Friday when I cranked out 10 pages. Today I finally cranked out more. Which is a good thing, since it is near 100 degrees out and I hate to write when it's hot. Of course, it has helped that the kittys are quiet. Both have been sleeping away most of the afternoon and it's blissssss....

My current page count is at 194 pages and word count is 40,000 words. I figure I'm two thirds to the end. Not bad. Per Carrie Alexander, the fantastic Blaze Babe, that it should be around 290 pages or so. I'll go for that. :)

More news...

I got back the results from the third and final writing contest I entered. I didn't final, but I guess my numbers weren't too bad. Out of a possible 140 points, from the four judges I got 140, 129, 88, and 80. One really loved it and another really didn't care for it. I guess I can say it's all in one's opinion. Of course, there are comments, etc., that I will take a look at once I finish this current one that I'm writing.

On a good note, I wrote 2,000 words yesterday on my current wip. That is quite a bit. I will probably take out a part of that because it's inconsequential to my story. One of the hazards to being a pantser. :-) I've more or less made the decision that once I polish up DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART, I may query a ebook publisher unless I get nibbles from HQ. Hey, it's my first completed manuscript and I console myself with the knowledge that most published authors did NOT get published on their first completed manuscript. DGBMH is going to be a hard sell to print publishers, but I think it's a good story.

There are lessons to be learned from that first one. Lessons that could provide the way to writing that first published book.

My Surreal Life

My name is up there!!!! I found the list of posted finalists:

http://www.sfarwa.com/contests/h2h_winners.asp

Now, that makes it seem more real. My life life has been almost surreal the past few weeks. Makes all the hard work worth it and my dream of being a published author appear more closer. What can I say or do?

Well, I guess it's back to working even harder, because getting publishing isn't an easy road.

More news!

I was winding down the evening and chatting in IM with Crazy Mo when my inbox announced I had mail. Looked down at the subject header and froze.

You're a finalist in the Heart to Heart Contest!!

This was the SFRWA contest I entered in early June or so. See, I had mistook the dates and thought they would announce finalists in September and besides, what are the chances that I would final in the first two contests I enter? Nah...I'll get my feedback and go on, which was my intention in the first place.

When I saw that I finaled, I shakily opened my email and learned that I was one of three finalists. They needed me to email them my entry and it would go to Wanda Ottewell at Harlequin Books for judging and final placing. All I could do was start shaking and I IM'd Mo and said Omigod! a couple of times. I finally spit it out. She told me congrats and to polish and submit it then. God, you gotta love her pointblankedness.

I couldn't sleep last night. I was sooooooooooo excited and frankly, in shock. When I began entering contests, I chose contests that would give me feedback. Placing is a nice reward and one would be awesome, but...I'm still speechless, despite the lengthiness of my post.

I guess it means I am meant to write and gives me a reason to continue. Wish me luck!

Sunday Smatterings

As a writer not yet published, one of the things I always ponder is what genre shall I write in? I don't mean contemporary or historical, I mean what line am I targeting? What is my audience? I read something yesterday that made me think. The author said to stick with your targeted publisher and write well. I think that is a handy bit of good advice. It is one thing to say I write contemporaries, but it's another to explain what it is I write. I love the Blaze line and right now that is my target. Smart city girls who know what they want. Yep, I can write that.

On another note, I saw in my RT magazine a letter about how she hated first person books and wished publishers/authors would stop. I have to disagree with her. Of course, I am prejudiced, seeing as my first completed ms was first person, but sometimes the story dictates whether it is first or third person POV. Would the Stephanie Plum series be as good if it wasn't in first person? Before you diss a POV, stop and think how a book grabs you in the writing style.

Slumberous Saturday

I've been playing with the new blog for a couple of days, but I *think* I have it figured out now. Now I can begin...As some know, I'm an aspiring author/writer. I have two completed manuscripts and working on my third. What do I write? Contemporaries. Hot. Sensual. Borders on the funny. Right now I am working on a Blaze targeted one that isn't comedic, but I'll leave you smiling. My good news is that I recently finaled in the first ever contest I entered. I came in third! I'm excited, but at the same time anxious. I don't want to burn out due to high expectations. I suspect there are others out there who feel the same as I do. By the way, it IS good to see my name up on the list of finalists. http://www.cofw.org/contest.html

Welcome to my new Blog

I decided to update myself in blogging and here I go. This is a new experience for me. I plan to post on my life as an aspiring writer.