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Filed in: slice of life | writing Tags: writing journey
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Yesterday on the Ruby Slipper blog, I was commenting on a post about typewriters and I recalled what it was like when I bought my first electric typewriter. I was in junior high school and I remember eyeing a box at the local Gemco (or was it K-mart) that was for sale for $99 dollars. I saved up the money to buy it myself because I knew it was a luxury that I couldn’t ask Mum for. (more…)
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Filed in: events | pitching | publishing | travel | writing Tags: networking | RWA conference | writing journey
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I’m off to conference for the rest of the week. I probably won’t be blogging here unless there is…*ahem*…news.
In case anyone’s wondering — YES! I’m a wreck. An absolute basket case. For a bunch of different reasons. The outer sense of zen calm I may exhibit *snicker* is only a defense mechanism to hide a squirrelly bundle of nerves.
But it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t at least attempt to reflect a little and put some order to all this. Last night I was thinking of all the RWA conferences I’ve been to. Each one sticks in my mind as a milestone.
- 2006 – Atlanta: My first writer’s conference ever. I stayed by my lonesome in a free room I got from hotel points. I hardly knew anybody and I had 8 chapters of my first novel done. I attended workshops back to back and tried to soak up everything. This conference motivated me so much. Real people did this, I could do it too!
- 2007 – Dallas: This year I was able to rope one of my critique partners into staying with me in a dinky hotel room outside of the conference hotel. My book was still about four chapters from finished. I was too scared to pitch — in fact, I didn’t even know how to sign up for an appointment! I met my beloved Romance Divas including Crystal Jordan who had received an offer right on the eve of conference! I watched Trish Albright, my chapter-mate, vie for the Golden Heart® award. She didn’t win the pendant, but she did win a contract with Dorchester. That’s the real prize, right?
- 2008 – San Francisco: I jumped in with both feet. I had two books complete by now. The first one took 2 years, the second one, two months. (disclaimer: first draft only) I pitched to agents and editors for the first time and received three requests for fulls and a couple requests for partials. I schmoozed at chapter parties. I volunteered and lugged books around until my back was sore. I did that magic thing people always mention — I “networked”.
- 2009 – Washington D.C.: I’m going to conference this year as a Golden Heart® finalist with the support of my wonderful agent and so many friends. Butterfly Swords is sitting on the virtual desk of publishers. I can hardly sleep with excitement.
RWA conference gives me a marker to stop and say, am I getting closer? Every year, this conference has given me new hopes and dreams. Sky’s the limit this year, I truly believe that.
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Filed in: book reviews | writing Tags: agents | chase-the-dream-contest | contests | editors | feedback | writing journey
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I know that most submissions are rejected and that form rejections are the standard. There’s just not enough time to respond to each submission, plus the threat of the “angry author” is even more real in this day and age of instant e-mail replies.
Form rejections are the reason why I started hitting contests so hard. I just needed to know if I was making any progress at all with my writing. So far one of the best experiences I’ve had is the Chase the Dream contest run by Rachellle Chase and Leigh Michaels. I was chosen as the Week 4 finalist and so far one agent and three editors have read my opening. They each pointed out weaknesses in my writing as well as strengths. (giddy! I have strengths) Sure, I with I could blow them all away and get requests for my manuscript on the spot, but nonetheless, this feedback is gold to me. This is what I’ve been searching for throughout my entire query war. I’m starting to get an occasional form rejection now which is a huge step, isn’t it?
There are more critiques to come and I wait on pins and needles for each one.
Tomorrow is the last day to vote for the winners!
To see finalists:
http://chasethedreamcontest.wordpress.com/
To vote:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=OQvSykwHXYudFZ5C3hcdoA_3d_3d
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