Prodigal Me

Okay, so here I am. And yes, this is going to be a real post. You know, as opposed to my fake ones. Just to catch up, I started out NaNo month rather well- on the second week in November I only had about 15K words left (give or take 10K) until my book, The Fall, was completed. Well guess what...November came and went, and I still have 15K (give or take 10K) left. So yes, basically I failed.
Over the past 2 months I've also gained about 10 lbs. Again...fail.

Granted, I've had some pretty good excuses. Every Fall my husband's family flies from England in chunks (mother and boyfriend, father and step mother, sister and brother-in-law). This usually goes on until the beginning of December. This time it ended early...as in the second week of November...but since then, honestly- I've just been recovering. When people are here I don't do anything but eat like I'm the one on vacation...and this is bad. Because typically they want American food. You know, like this.

Anyway, so that's really just an excuse...because I should be Practice Rooming. I should be finishing that dang book so I can start on the MG one...the one that's been shelved (in the virtual sense) for the past few months. This isn't easy, folks. I mean it was easy to get started...it was easy to jump into it and get excited about it- but somehow, things happen and life changes and before you know it, you missed your deadline. You lose your motivation. Then you struggle to get it back again. Which is what I'm doing now. Which is why I'm writing this post.

I know I need to start blog surfing again. I know I need to be chatting with my critique partners, reading more, writing more. But I can't think of it as homework either. It's like I have to fall in love with my book again. Fall in love with writing again. Somehow, starting in September, I got derailed. Sidetracked. Somehow, when I was away, one of my favorite bloggers went on hiatus and I dropped out of The Practice Room and I lost touch with my writer peeps.

Basically, I need all of you back. Do I need to stand outside your houses with a boom box? Because I will...if you live on the East coast...and in North Carolina....an within walking distance to my house.

Writer Humor...and yes, I'm still alive!

Inspiration.

need inspiration

So I'm kind of almost done with my book...and I have kind of unofficially done NaNo, but not really...and now I can't finish. I started reading what I wrote, from the beginning- in hopes that it'll motivate me to finish the stupid thing- but I couldn't even get halfway through reading without the kids interrupting me. The problem is I'm just not sure it's any good. I know everyone feels that way, and that's fine, but I've only got like 15K left to go and I can't get myself motivated to just get 'r done.
What has inspired all of you guys this month?

Late Start

NaNo month is starting late for me, due to almost constant visitors for the last two months. Luckily, I am visitor free now and I am free to write write write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've missed you guys. Regular posting starts again tomorrow!!! See you in The Practice Room!

Inspiration.

You're welcome.

Thursday night rant.

Every day I read about another reality star/actor ....writing a book. Just yesterday I read that SNOOKI (from Jersey Shore, if you aren't familiar) is now writing a book that is set to be published by Simon and Schuster.

This ticks me off. This proves that publishing houses are only interested in money and not in quality. How many actors have published children's books just because they felt like it? How many reality stars have gotten that long awaited book contract with just a phone call from their agent?

I'm sorry, but this begs the question-

WHAT ABOUT US??! What about ME? What about all the aspiring writers out there that go to conferences, join critique groups, read blogs, and buy copies of The Children's Writers and Illustator's Market? What about all those solidly GOOD writers out there that are struggling to break through a slow market? Doesn't this seem a little unfair?

I mean, I get it. Book sales. But, really? Snooki? Okay, I'm done.

You can now get back to your regularly scheduled program.

I'm BACK (sort of)

Man I've missed my blog. Man, I've missed writing. And man, have I missed you guys. I just got back from a week at the beach with my in-laws and parents (never, ever do that...trust me). Anyway, my in-laws are still in town and they will be until the 22nd, so I haven't been able to make it to any practice rooms or do any writing, which is killing me. Last night I had like 10 dreams and I kept thinking...oooo that would make a great book! And, upon reflection, I don't think they actually would- but I'm so desperate to write that I'm becoming crazy.

I'm about 40K into my story. My goal is to finish it by the end of the year. Which isn't as easy as it seems, considering after this visit, my sis-in-law and family come into town from Oct 12-21, then a friend of mine is here until the 25th, then my mother in law and her boyfriend are here from Oct. 29-Nov. 6. So, as you can see, it's hard for me to breathe between visits- much less write.

I am paranoid that because I've lost temporary contact with you guys that I'm somehow becoming a terrible writer again. Like, all I've learned is going down the crapper. Which is crazy, I know. But I can't help but think that.

Enjoy, and I'll be writing and practice-rooming soon!

Inspiration.

Rambling and what not.

Hi Guys,

Well I'm back. Don't worry, I'm not dying. Last week I had some health scares (swollen lymph node) but it went away- then I found a lump on my head, which apparently, according to the doctor, is just a part of my skull? Anyway, needless to say I was a little worried for a while there. Maybe if I get shot in the head one day this hard lump will save my life? You never know.
Unfortunately for the past week I've had this feeling that I have something stuck in my throat...it goes and comes. I'm beginning to think it's allergy related. Very bizarre. In other random news, I found a deal and I'm getting the carpet downstairs professionally cleaned for $60. Which is good, considering I called other places and their min. charge was $150...and that was supposed to be a deal? Granted, the carpets are perfectly dry when it's finished but...I think I can handle some wet carpet if it's going to be almost 100 bucks cheaper.
Why the steam cleaning, you ask? I have my in-laws (the first set...my husband's parents are divorced) coming to visit from England on September 5 and they'll be here until Sept. 21. But that's not the only reason I'm doing it...this is something we haven't had done ever...since moving in almost 3 years ago. So I figured...okay, this carpet is gross. It's time. Unfortunately, I'm too cheap to get the upstairs and staircase done. But we have a crappy old steamer...I'll use that myself. But the mess downstairs...our crappy little steam machine won't even touch that.
I guess that's what happens when you have 2 kids under 5 and a dog...and a husband who continually tracks grass and dirt in the house because he forgets to take his shoes off...but that's besides the point.
God, look at me...I'm rambling because I haven't blogged in so long. I still need to finish my book. I feel so close, but yet so far. I took a week off writing, then the "doctor week," and now it's simply a matter of getting back in the swing of things again.
Anyone have any good Inspiration? I'm out.

health issues.

Sorry I've been missing guys (especially from the practice room).

I've been having some health problems that may (or may not) be serious. I am going to the doc (again) today. Please please please pray for me and keep me in your thoughts.

Hopefully I'll be back to writing in no time!

<3

WTH???????

Dean Koontz is writing children's books now?!

Does that mean that dog is really using her telekenesis to make Jinx fall off the log to his death???

Something to think about.

Back from break.

For those who were wondering (which I'm sure were none of you) I took a week off of writing my book...which was so needed. Last night I sat down for the first time in a week and wrote over 1300 words. This confirms my theory that writers need breaks. I once read this quote that said if you don't write every day, you can't call yourself a writer or something of that nature. I guess, technically, that's true. Last week I was not a writer. But I am now, and I'm loving it all over again and I feel like my writing is better for it.

Over this past week I lost a follower. I can't remember who it was, which sucks, because I can't track them down and demand a reason why they broke up with me. ONE WEEK off is all it took for them to figure out my blog was useless? ....I'm surprised they lasted that long!

Anyway, to everyone else, thanks for sticking around. But be warned: if I have another deserter, I might be forced to quote song lyrics in my grief.

Storytellers v. Writers

Up until recently, I've always thought that Storytellers WERE writers. That they were one in the same. But now, after stepping into this writer's world, I have noticed that many writers see a difference. This morning in The Practice Room we were discussing how Stephanie Meyer is a great story teller, but necessarily a great writer.

I had never thought of this before. To me, they were always synonymous. What is the major difference? Is this true, or is this just snobbery? Is there something to this? Who decides what is and isn't good writing?

Thoughts?

Discuss below in comments :-)

Cliches.

I have had a major "a-ha!" moment today. Also known as a "oh crap" moment, as well as a "feel stupid" moment. But overall, today has been tremendously successful for me as a writer.

I went to Tina's PR today (the afternoon one, which normally I don't ever make) and I'm so glad I did because we began talking about things like dialogue tags (see below post), "shooting glances," fake words like 'alright,' and other cliches that are to be avoided when writing. Things that make your writing amateurish. Things that make editors want to take your manuscript, attach a grenade to it, throw it, and watch that sucker explode. And guess what I realized, 30K into my adult fiction and after posting the start of a possible MG novel of mine?

I AM AN AMATEUR. Of course, I knew that. You all knew that.This explains why my work is amateurish. I just started my blog at the beginning of this year. I've never actually written a BOOK before. I've only ever written short stories and picture books, which don't tend to have a lot of dialogue, and let's face it...they're usually too short to get into cliches. Too short to reveal my little "tics," as Mary Kole calls them. In other words, things that are going to annoy the hell out of you once you start reading it. Things that I, master writer that I am, haven't even noticed or are simply unaware of.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not new to writing. I started writing the minute I could hold a pencil. But I'm new to writing to get published. I'm new to the publishing world. I haven't even put my feet in the shallow end in the publishing world. I'm new to meeting other writers, I'm new to the extensive list of "no-no's" in editor-land. I had no idea this would be such a process.

BUT BUT BUT BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, am I glad I "met" you guys. I am so thankful for Tina, for hosting something like The Practice Room. I am so thankful for all you followers who have commented on my blog. Days like today make everything worth it.

Now I can grow as a writer. I'm thank much closer to getting published, thanks to all of you.

Okay, love fest over.

Here's some inspiration.

Now I've gone and done it.

Despite the fact that I'm almost 30K into my adult fiction MS, I lost my mind earlier today and decided to tentatively draft a new story, just for the fun of it. The problem is, once I started writing it, I enjoyed it. A lot. A little too much to give it up.

Problem is, I really don't know what to class this story as. I'm thinking it reads like a MG, ***EDITED TO ADD*** (okay, so I might be wrong, but my MC is 11-12 yrs old) but honestly...I really don't know. I'm new to this MG/YA world. I am posting a little of what I've started below.

***ALSO EDITED TO ADD*** Before I get spanked for this, I thought that MG novels were basically like YA but with a younger MC, and in general shorter? I guess I'm wrong, but could someone tell me what the major difference is?

What do YOU think it is? Would you want to keep reading it?

***WARNING***

Might make men uncomfortable.

*ALSO EDITED TO ADD, YES AGAIN* I have removed (almost all) annoying dialogue tags from writing below, thanks to a comment from Tracy. Tracy, I love you! But not in a weird way.

Getting your period sucks.

“Well, either your period started or you crapped your pants,” Alyssa said, putting on an extra coat of lip gloss.

“I didn't crap my pants,” I insisted, stranded on the toilet. “Aren't you going to help me?”

“Here's a pad." She tossed me one from the cabinet underneath the sink. I looked at her, realizing that she fully expected me to figure this out on my own. “It's not rocket science," she added, in all of her infinite fifteen year old wisdom. With that, she walked out of the bathroom, leaving the door wide open.

I sat there, totally humiliated, until I realized that I needed a fresh pair of panties. “ALYSSA!” Suddenly I was glad the door was still open. I knew she could hear me.
“ALYSSA!!!!!” Silence. She was probably on the phone again. Or just ignoring me...which, lets face it, seemed much more likely.

I refused to put my nasty underwear back on, so I left them on the tile floor, wiped, then ran to my room as fast as I could, my pad in hand.

Ten minutes later, I was sitting uncomfortably at the kitchen table, feeling like I had a mattress shoved in my pants. Have I put it on right? I wondered. There didn't seem to be a “this end up” sign or anything. And besides, like Alyssa said...it's not rocket science.

Getting your period might be a wonderful experience if you have a mother. I can just imagine it now...the speech about becoming a woman, the pad explanation, the my baby's growing up tears in the eyes. Feeling validated, feeling all kinds of grown up.

Maybe, if I had a mother, I'd get some kind of special treatment today, I thought to myself. Today would be different, somehow. A cupcake worthy day...or something. But I knew that wasn't happening. Moms and cupcakes were hard to come by...especially with my dad running the show.

Alyssa is my only sister, thank god. Sisters aren't exactly what movies make them out to be. I don't have a brother, so I don't know what that's like. But I'm willing to bet it's a whole lot better.

Dad walked into the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee with his large hands, permanently stained with oil. I swear, it's like he never washes them. Dad's a car mechanic, and he can't do much else. Once he tried to start up a conversation with my friend's mom about books...that was an epic fail. I knew if he found out that my period had started, he might do something crazy like talk about it. He wasn't exactly on a need-to-know basis, so I decided he didn't need to know.

“Jacie started her period,” said Alyssa, ratting me out the minute she graced us with her presence. She dropped down into her seat at the kitchen table, and I felt my face burning with anger and embarrassment. I'm pretty sure my dad spilled his coffee.

“Thanks a lot." I hated that I couldn't deny it.
I didn't look at dad, but I could feel his stare boring holes into my head.
“You did?” He asked, and I heard his coffee cup touch the table.
I shrugged. “It's no big deal." I shot daggers at Alyssa from the corners of my eyes. She smiled innocently.
“Did Alyssa....take care of it?” He asked, and I'm pretty sure he had no idea what 'taking care of it' even meant.
“Yeah, I totally did,” Alyssa said, getting up from the table and grabbing a granola bar out of the pantry. “No problem.”

I glared at her openly then. Dad had no idea there was anything hostile between us, despite the unmistakable tension that hung in the air. Walls had better intuition than him.

He smiled. “Well, I sure am glad you have a sister." He took a sip of his coffee. “You guys can take care of all that lady business.” He paused, wondering if he should say more. The answer is always no. He never listens.

“Don't go getting pregnant now!” My body hit the table as he slapped me on the shoulder like I was one of his buddies at work. I should have known it was coming, but I guess I had assumed that he knew better. I assumed wrong.

As I rolled my eyes in response, Alyssa pushed herself back in her chair, her painted toenails propped on the kitchen table. Where we eat.
“HA! AS IF!” Her long, shiny blonde hair rippled down her back as she laughed.

Hopeful things

This week I'm hoping...

-That my husband will fix the curtain rod so our valance no longer tips to one side (wink wink, nudge nudge)
-That I will actually hear something good from a publisher regarding one of my picture books.
-That my husband will get a promotion sooner rather than later.
-That I'll be able to clean upstairs sometime today without falling and getting lost forever in a mound of laundry.
-That my son won't crap on the floor again.
-That my son will figure out how to make the S, K, and J and L sounds so I can understand what he's saying.
-That it won't rain all day.
-That my daughter will stop hurting herself every 5 minutes.
-That I'll lose at least 5 more lbs before the beach in September.

And a lot more.
What are you hoping for this week?

Even MORE inspiration!

Inspiration.

I write like Stephen King!

How much fun is THIS!!!! Thanks, Marisa!!

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

It says I write like Stephen King, but I analyzed another part of my writing and it said Dan Brown. I'll take both, thankyouverymuch. As long as I can get my millions LOL!

Click the link, guys!

Dorking out for a moment.

Back in 1998, I was in a marching band that won what's called Grand Nationals. We practiced non stop, every day, in the Georgia heat for almost a year to get to this moment, and we won.

I found a video of it on youtube!!! HA! I'm in this band, somewhere.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCtYAy9kXXc&feature=PlayList&p=64F8F64B5780A285&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=32

What I've been up to...

For those of you who didn't know, or are just now joining me on this journey, I am currently writing an adult fiction book (women's fiction) entitled The Fall. This is a spin off of my recently published short story. I am now working on chapter 8, and am currently up to 18, 500 words. This has been taking up a substantial amount of my time (you know, when I'm not busy raising my kiddies), but I also had the opportunity to finish Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which was an excellent book. Not what I expected, but awesomely written.

I am now about to read The Host, by Stephanie Meyer. There are soooooo many books on my list, and I wish I had all the time in the world to read them...but, I don't.

On a random but good note, Jacob used the potty for the first time today! yay! I'm a step closer to not ever buying diapers again!

What are you guys currently working on/reading?

A VLOG! (or something...if I can stop it)

This took ONE take. I'm sure you'll be able to tell. Bear in mind I just woke up as well...well, okay, don't. I always look like that.

BUT REGARDLESS!!! This is the face of creative genius.

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

Hope everyone has a great one...I'll be posting pictures/video of our weekend adventures very soon!

KnowDiversity

I have had the privilege of being the first guest blogger on Jon's new KnowDiversity blog!!!


This blog is intended to uncover and recommend books that make you learn and grow as a person, challenge your preconceived notions, and basically help rid of you of any standing prejudices you might have. This week's (my week's) book was on Learning Disabilities. The book was Look Me In The Eye by John Elder Robison. I have only great things to say about it and I learned so much.

Have a looksie!

This week I have...

-Written approximately 4200 words on my WiP
-Began Jillian Michaels "30 Day Shred" and lost 1.5 lbs so far.
-Created a new, more organized outline for my WiP
-Let my kids play on a slip n' slide for the first time.
-Ate out twice (oops)
-Went to an outside concert and let the kids run around and dance
-Managed to make it to TPR at least once every day.
-Have set up a "writing routine" in the early morning that works for me

I'd say it's been a pretty productive week. How was yours?

Belated Father's Day Inspiration

The Writing Blues

Prepare yourself, because I'm about to whine. But I'm a writer, right? Of course I whine. It comes with the territory.

I'm afraid that I won't ever finish the novel that I'm working on. Currently I have about 10,000 words. This morning I was going to join Tina's Practice Room and write for an hour, but my son wouldn't stop screaming and then my daughter came down and wanted breakfast, and then they both screamed, and then I had to clean up because my son dumped his cereal all over the kitchen floor, there were clumps of dog hair all over the living room, I had papers lying everywhere waiting to be filed...and I wrote one paragraph. ONE. I'm hoping that I'll have an opportunity to write more tonight, but the thing is...life gets in the way.

For example, you can barely walk in my hallway upstairs because of the amount of dirty laundry just sitting there waiting to be washed. My room is a disaster zone. My dog rolls in the mulch outside and then brings pieces of mulch inside, and they're scattered everywhere...seriously, I need to hire a cleaning service to clean this wreck of a house.

WARNING: *RHETORICAL QUESTIONS FOLLOW*

How do you guys do it? How the crap am I going to finish this book (and not just finish it, but do a good job on it) when there are so many other things in my life that are competing with my writing?What if I finish this sucker and then it never gets published? What if I only ever dream about writing? What if I get hit by a Fedex truck tomorrow and I never live to get published anyway? AGH! I feel like the whole world is out to stop me from writing this book. Yes, I'm being overly dramatic. But I'm a writer, remember?

I'm feeling depressed about this. A little. Enough to write this post. Not enough to eat a whole gallon of ice cream or anything...well. I don't know about that.

Anyway, thanks for being a virtual ear.

I'll whine at you guys later.

Happy Father's Day Weekend!

Very important question.

After watching Karsten completely humiliate himself, I was wondering...

what do you think I should do for 100 followers???

***No, I will not tame a squirrel.

We need to talk.

Last week I had a 500 word a day goal. The good news: I accomplished my goal, and then some. The Bad news: my blog has taken a back seat, and my last post had 1 comment.

ONE COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????

I feel like 47 of you have broken up with me. Okay, not really. But I want to make you feel shame. SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME.

If you continue with this behavior, you leave me no choice...I'll have to start posting pictures of Ligers.

There are more where that came from.

But seriously, what do you want from me? We need to DTR, people. Do you want more money? More stability? Maturity?! You knew who I was when we first got together. I can't blog and pretend to be someone else. You have driven me to distraction. And donuts. And pizza rolls. And ultimately 5 extra pounds...maybe 10. BUT NONE OF US ARE PERFECT! I'm sorry I don't have the body that I use to have. I can't help what I have become.

(before blog)

(After blog)

So, maybe I've let myself go a little. Maybe it is a little disturbing that I can keep my entire manuscript in between my boobs, as well as that little cup. BUT YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME!

We all change.

I'm just asking you for another chance. Please. Pretty please? No? Okay, I'll wait.

Inspiration.

My sexy little WIP

I love my WiP!!!

I'm just afraid no one else will. As most of you know, I'm turning my short story, The Fall, into a novel. I'm currently trying to write at least 500 words a day. Anything over 500 is a major bonus. You know, ice cream worthy. Or something.

Anyway, so far it's going ok. I have a plot outlined, which makes perfect sense to me but now I'm worried it won't make sense to anyone else. Luckily, a handful of people have agreed to critique it when the time comes. I guess they'll let me know? But it's like I don't want to waste my time typing up stuff that sucks! ha! But it's definitely to early to send it for a critique.

My WiP is constantly on my mind. It's always sitting there, on the computer, like..."Why don't you come over here and work on me..." and all these other inappropriate things. I'm always like, "No, WiP, not in front of the kids." Because it's always in front of the kids. They're always around! I'm finding it really hard to find time to work on it because Jacob has just decided to give up naps :-( So, this 500 words a day thing is going to be a challenge.

Does anyone else have an inappropriate WiP? One that tries to steal you away from children/work/errands?

How many words do you typically type a day?

Hi guys!

I'm back from Atlanta now...trying to get back into the swing of things. We got a brand spankin' new computer, which is exciting! Woot!

I was hoping when I got home I'd have a message on my answering machine telling me that I am now a published author...blargh. Didn't happen. I still haven't heard anything from quite a few publishing houses that I've sent Sally Circle to. I submitted in late February, and a few of them I submitted in mid January. There were a few I sent out in the beginning of April. But really, I just want a response now. I mean, I'm even anxiously checking the mail for rejections. I guess I just want some news. Even though, in the writing world, any news isn't really good news.

Have any of you submitted manuscripts before? How long until you heard from them?

Anyway, I still have a completed PB that I haven't sent out yet...I still have 4 more publishing houses to submit Sally Circle to, and I kind of wanted to wrap up the Sally Circle submissions before I moved on to the next one.

Does anyone else ever daydream about getting "the call?" I totally do. Like a dork.

Anyway, is everyone back from memorial day vacations yet? I've missed you guys!

Leave me a message!

Happy Memorial Day!

Hi everyone!
Happy memorial day weekend! I'm in Atlanta visiting my parents until the 2nd,so unfortunately I'm going to be missing WIBIJ AGAIN!!!!!!!!! AGH! I just can't catch a break! But for everyone else, please check it out! The next game starts on June 2 @ 1pm EST.

I finished reading Catching Fire...of course, it was just as awesome, if not more awesome, than The Hunger Games. Can't wait until the 3rd book comes out!
I also finished reading The Graceling by Kristin Cashore and Feed by M.T. Anderson. Both were very good and very, very different. I have also read Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater (I read Shiver a few weeks ago). But were good, but not really my thing. I'm absolutely drooling over Suzanne Collins though...she's my new writing crush!
Anyway, I have to go and be a sociable daughter now! For those of you in the USA, have a great weekend grilling out and what not! I'll type at all of you later!

Writing and Reading, Oh My!

Hi everyone!

So, to all of those who read my short story this week, I want to say a) thanks for reading! and b) thanks for all the comments!

Having read all of the responses, I quickly realized that people actually liked it- and what's more, they wanted to read MORE of it! Exciting!

I wasn't sure if I wanted to make a novel out of this short story, but you guys have convinced me. Today I took some time out for The Practice Room and banged out some plot ideas. One in particular stands out to me and I think I might go with it and see what happens. Who knows if it'll work- but I've already got the first chapter published, so why not try and expand on it? At least I know people will like the beginning. HA!

Also, I had the most annoying conversation ever the other day. I was talking to a friend of mine about me writing and trying to get published. The conversation went as follows:

(Me): "I've written several things, but there are other things that I'm just beginning. Maybe one day I'll get published."

(My friend): "Well, it's not that hard, right? You write something and then submit it."

(Me): HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I thought to myself). Instead, I said, "It's actually a little more complicated than that. There can be years of revision. It's quite a process to get something ready for publication."

(My friend): "Actually my friend from high school just became an author. She said she banged out a novel in a couple of months, sent it to a publisher with no revisions, and got a book deal a few months later."

(Me): SON OF A- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I thought to myself) Instead, I said, "Well she must be the exception to the rule."

@&$#@)$*)@#$*)#@$* Please God, don't tell me there are people so brilliant and wonderful that no revisions are needed while the rest of us spend countless hours/days of our lives trying to do it RIGHT!

Anyway, I'm now halfway through the book Graceling. It's so nice to just sit down with a good book on a rainy day, and it's been raining, raining, raining here.
What are you guys up to?

Oh, and just for fun:

THG!

***ALERT***

JUST FINISHED THE HUNGER GAMES. OH MY FRIGGIN' GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMAZZZZZING!

My published story!

Here is a link to the first story I've ever been PAID for :-)

Enjoy!

Beef Taco.

So this week I had two college friends come and visit me- one coming from San Francisco and the other one from South Carolina. It's so nice to see old friends again! It was almost like nothing had changed...besides the fact that I have kids. Must not forget that.

My friends, however, are single and kid-free. I feel like a freakin' baby factory next to them, having had 2 kids in the last four years. I'm pretty sure my offspring did a good job at convincing them to never procreate.

While they were here we basically did nothing...but we DID go to Trader Joe's (my new favorite store) and I was introduced to greek yogurt+honey. Awesomely good. Oh, and cheap wine. That place has amazingly cheap wine.

While they were here they did ask me questions about my writing. Is it bad that I passed off my writing as just a "hobby?" It's more of an all-consuming dream/desire/what I think about on the crapper/stayingupsolatethatIfallasleepatthekeyboard type of deal. But I just said it was a "hobby." You know why? Because I'm embarrassed. I don't know how to get over it, or why I'm embarrassed, I just am. I think I just assume that they'll think that it's an unrealistic dream or something. I don't know.

I did participate in W.I.B.I.J. these past two rounds, but unfortunately, due to annoyingly friendly neighbors and pesky college friends, I wasn't able to do the "race" part. You know, my forte. So, next time I'll be back with a vengeance. WATCH OUT, KRIS!!!!!!!!

So where are all my followers? I know my posts have been lame recently, but come on!!! WHERE'S THE LOVE?!?! Don't force me to write "butt" on your blog posts again. But this time it'll be something different....

maybe beef taco.

Reading and what not.

Finished reading shiver. Now starting on Hunger Games :-). A friend is in town, so I'll be back to my normal blogging routine starting tomorrow!

Fun contest!

http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/2010/05/contest-that-imploded-your-brains.html

:-)

Thanks, Ann Marie!

Research

So now that I have an outline for a YA novel, I'm currently reading YA books in just about every genre so I can get a feel for it...it's the most awesome research ever.

Just finished reading Tell Me What You See by Zoran Drvenkar. Yeah, try to say that after a few drinks! Or even before...

Now I am currently reading Shiver, which was on several of the lists that some of you gave me for great YA fiction!

What are you reading?

Inspiration.

My nephew...And you think you have daddy issues.

Just in case you were wondering...

Yes, I'm alive.

Yes, I have strep throat.

Yes, I have tonsilitis.

Yes, these antibiotics are giving me nausea.

Yes, I'm going back to bed.

Q&A

Well, I've been tagged by Marisa, and tagged "by association" by Jon, so here is some fun and useless info about me :-)

Where were you five years ago?

1.) Married, with no kids.
2.) Had the worst job ever, working for state government. Wow, what an experience.
3.) Would unexpectedly get pregnant in one month.
4.) Lived in SC in the ugliest apartment imaginable.

5.) Took regular trips to the beach. Wow, I miss that.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

1.) I'd like to have signed a book deal by then. At least one....please God!!!
2.) A bigger house would be nice. But not necessary.
3.) 15 lbs lighter than I am now. But I'll be happy with 10 :-)
4.) No debt, lots of savings.
5.) Just like Marisa, I'm pretty impulsive. I can't plan much beyond that.

What is on your to-do list today?

1.) Do the dishes I've been ignoring.
2.) Decide on what to have for dinner and then make it.
3.) Do the dishes again. You know, the ones left over from dinner.
4.) Put the kids to bed then watch the new movie I got in the mail from Netflix.
5.) Try and write once the movie is over. If I can stay awake!

What five snacks to you enjoy?

1.) Pita bread and hummus.
2.) Cheetos.
3.) Cheese and crackers.
4.) Tostitos and cheese dip.
5.) Anything served with a dip, really. I'm dip obsessed.

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

(...and not necessarily in this order)

1.) Pay everything off. And I mean everything.
2.) Travel. Travel. Travel.
3.) Buy the people I love extravagant presents. Because I love to buy presents.
4.) Send my kids to college.
5.) Hire someone to clean up after me. I can't stand cleaning!


Now it's time I 'tag' 5 more people!!! Here are some folks I'd love to know more about!

1.) Kris! She's always visiting my blog and leaving sweet little comments!! She's very likely to see this!
2.) Pauline! She's the one responsible for naming my blog!
3.) Bish! Another loyal follower that I'm so happy to have, and I'd love to know more about!
4.) Rena! A loyal follower of mine, children's book author!
5.) Casey! Again, I "met" her through WIBIJ and Tina's Practice Room!

W.I.B.I.J. !!!! WIN A PRIZE!

Do you want to win something today? W.I.B.I.J. starts today at 1 p.m. EST. I am currently the reigning champion. Come and see if you can take me down...but more importantly, come and see if you can WIN A BOOK!

Yes, this time there is a prize. And there are two ways to win. Join us for the race at 1 p.m., or if you can't make it, come back anytime within the next 24 hours and take a stab at winning the best comment award!

Interested in what books you can win? CLICK HERE!!!!

Hope to see you there!

Update (s)

Update # 1

The surgery was a success! Thanks to all of you whose thoughts and prayers were with little man today.

W.I.B.I.J. post coming up SHORTLY!!!!!

UPDATE # 2

I just went to the library and requested a YA book from each of your lists!!! My goal is to read every book you guys recommended!!!

Yes, that's a lot of books. But I'm sooooooooo excited to begin! I will let you know which one I start with once it's in my hands!

Ick.

This week will not be fun.

I have to get my son to the surgical center by 6:30 am tomorrow. Yes, you heard me right.

6:30 am.

Not to mention the poor little dude. Surgery at 19 months can't be fun. He's tongue-tied, for all of you who don't know or simply can't remember. I think the technical term for the surgery is a frenulectomy.

Agh. And I'm sick. And it's raining. And I have to think about dinner, and I don't want to think about dinner. It all just sucks :-(

Keep my little boy in your prayers/thoughts. I will be participating in The Practice Room today, in less than an hour. Come and join us!

-Dena

Dena and YA. Together at last.

So it's the last night before my husband comes back into town. I can't say I've really enjoyed him being gone, like some wives do. I get lonely and I hate sleeping alone at night so I've recruited my 4 year old to sleep with me. Not having that much needed break at 5 pm is not that easy, but I've kind of developed a haphazard routine. My hats are off to those single parents out there that do it all alone 100% of the time. I'm freakin' exhausted.

Luckily, I've been kept company by everyone that participates in Tina's Practice Room. Basically you unplug for an hour to write and then you chat about the progress you made after the hour is up. Unfortunately, both times I have participated I erased more words that I wrote. But I did manage to type out an outline of sorts for a YA novel. Yes, I might be branching out into the YA world soon. But before I really get into that, I need to do my research.

What are your favorite YA books and why? Why would you recommend them to me? I'm creating a list and I want to read as many good ones as I can. I have to admit, I'm excited to branch out into YA. PB's are hard as crap. On the plus side, I finish them quickly. On the downside, they're hard as crap.

So....I'd like to take a stab at this but I'm embarrassingly naive when it comes to YA fiction. I haven't read this stuff in years. I didn't even know if they had sex and hard core violence in them- apparently they have both quite frequently. So my question is this- what makes them young adult?

Anyway, please leave your favorites in the comment section! Thanks, guys!

Today my husband left for a week on business and I'm...

Going to write my arse off.

WISH ME LUCK!!!! :-)

Terror.

The Doodlebops. One of the scariest things about parenthood.

Rude people suck!

Hey guys...

Do you remember my dream, the one about Grant? Well, I started typing some of it out...but the problem is I have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Or where to start it. Or how to start it. Or what the target audience will be. Or if it sucks. If it it's awesome. Basically, I just have no idea.

In Elana's words, I basically word vomited. I word-puked all over the screen. I used to think I was good at writing books...you know, like adult ones. And then I started writing short stories, and then I started writing picture books...now anything over 1500 words scares the bejesus out of me. How do I get over that? Is there some kind of manual out there that tells you how to start novels? If there is, please let me know!

In other news, my second PB ever is going to be submitted starting on MONDAY! Woot! I'm looking for smaller publishing houses. From what I've heard, the larger ones (you know, the NY, NY ones) are quite picky since the PB market has slowed down considerably. One of my critique partners sent a nice list of smaller publishing houses....if you'd like to see that list, let me know!

In more (non) news, we had a yard sale today and I met the rudest. woman. alive.

I got an e-mail from this whack-job last night asking me to call her about the price of a changing table (I'd put up an advertisement on craigslist about our garage sale) and I called her and left a message. I told her it was $20. Well, this morning at the garage sale this lady comes up (with an ATTITUDE) and tells me that she's the woman I called and she complained that I hadn't left my phone # so she couldn't reach me. Anyway, she says, "You called me and told me this was $3.00." So I told her, I'm sorry ma'am, you're mistaken- I said it was $20.

Well then homegirl decides to actually pull out her cell phone and replay my own message to me- I guess to prove to me that I said $3 (and that is a ridiculous amount for a nice wooden changing table). So after she plays it to me I hear myself say twenty- and I told her, "I'm sorry if you misunderstood me, but I did say $20." Well then she proceeds to go ape-shit (excuse the language) on me about a CHANGING TABLE! I guess she actually thought I lured her out to my house with the promise of a 3 dollar changing table just so she'd come look at my stuff?! Anyway, she goes on to tell me that she could do a LOT better, and she'd bought changing tables for $5 in perfect condition, blah blah blah. I told her she could have it for $15 and she just laughed at me....

Well, I sold that changing table for $20 about 10 minutes after she'd left. HA. HA. HA.

Okay, that was long-winded. Garage sales people get crazy. Who is the rudest person you've ever encountered, and what did they do? Amuse me.

I promise I write better than I blog.

Today I was thinking that I might not come across as being a great writer in this ol' blog-o-mine. Maybe a decent writer. No? Entertaining, perhaps?

WHAT?!

Whatever. I've recently noticed that some writers actually come off as writers on their blogs. I'm not sure what I come off as, but I want you guys to know something.

This blog is not about showing off my skillz. This blog is not about me or my kids, despite some pictures in the past. This blog isn't about squirrels or bionic lobsters. Or making my followers do things against their will.

This blog is about me, my writing, how my writing has improved....but more importantly,

this blog exists so I can show you things like this:

W.I.B.I.J. IS TODAY!!!!!!!!!! JOIN US!

Squirrels.

The joys of critique groups

It's amazing to me how much critiques change a work for the better. A member of my critique group has been tirelessly working on a PB for months and months now, and she keeps revising- and each time she sends a new copy it blows my mind how improved it is. Amazing, right? That's why everyone should join a critique group. There cannot be anything better, as long as the people in the group are dedicated to improving your work and their own. Which brings me to another point.

I believe as a writer you have to have incredibly tough skin. Nothing is scarier to me than when someone picks up what I've written and reads it for the first time. It's unbelievably hard for me to sit through. I literally squirm . I don't feel like this the second or third time, only the first. I think that's another reason for my critique group is so special to me. No one but my husband knew I wrote for years. Now I can name 5 other people that not only know I write, but are appreciative of it and help me writer better.

If any of you guys are not in a critique group, JOIN ONE. I seriously wish I could add more people to mine. But then I know it would be overwhelming. Recently I've been getting a lot of "can I be in your critique group, pretty please?" emails and it's sooooo hard to tell them no. But obviously, critique groups can only get so large before they get unproductive.

If you haven't joined one yet, let me know. I have a list of e-mails from people who are looking for partners.

That's it, guys. I'll write a fun post later!

Nothing to see here...but read it anyway

I'm sorry I haven't posted since Monday. Life has been crazy busy this week, what with the new dog and all. That and my husband getting really sick on Wednesday, vet appointments, trips to Kohls, trips to the grocery store, dog-sitting (I do this as a part-time job...SO much fun!)...you get the idea. It's been busy.

I think I might be ready to submit Alphabet Chase. MWAHAHA! Pretty excited about it. Who knows, maybe this will be 'the one.' But I think that about everything I send out. Maybe eventually I'll be right?!

What have you guys been up to recently? I've got to go and do a critique for a friend in my critique group, so I can't hang around typing out meaningless crap.

meaningless crap.

Well, darn. I went ahead and typed it out anyway. I better go. This always happens when I don't have a game plan before I blog.

Leave me a comment, I miss you guys!

Angel!

***Announcement:

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of winning W.I.B.I.J. for the 3rd time in a row!!! There will be another competition soon...please come and try to dethrone me. I know you competitive types are out there!

So it's about time I updated you guys on our crazy wild weekend adventures. All of them starring Angel, the new addition to our family!

Here's the story with Angel. We've been wanting to get a family dog for a while now...one especially good with children, the most important thing. We also wanted something manageable in size...preferably that could fit in our Honda civic, the biggest car we've got! This made it hard, considering most kid-friendly dogs are actually quite big. Well, on Friday I went and took a look at the local shelter's 'adoptable' pets and came across Angel- a 2 year old golden retriever mix, about 45 lbs. I was in love.

We went to see her on Saturday and I wanted her the minute I saw her. She is unbelievably sweet, and just a gorgeous dog. She looks just like a full blooded golden retriever, only slightly smaller. We got her and took her home with us!

She is absolutely perfect in every way, from the minute we got her home. She's calm, great with the kids, affectionate, and never barks. She never peed or pooped on my floor and asked to go out by licking my hand in the middle of the night. She was the best. dog. ever.

That is until yesterday.

Sunday morning rolled around and I woke up and let her out and brushed her...things were going great. Some friends of mine decided to come over and meet Angel, so I went to the store before them came. When I got home from the store, I see my husband on the sidewalk with the kids and my friends (who had just arrived) and they tell me that Angel just escaped.

Have any of you guys seen the movie Marley and Me? I swear the next 10 hours were something straight out of that movie. We chased her all over the neighborhood for hours. At one point we even had some random dude on a bike chasing her with us...not to mention me in a car and about 5 people on foot. None of us could catch her. Homegirl is fast.

At one point some random neighbor came out of his house with an entire block of cheese trying to entice her. We had a neighbor (an owner of a golden retriever) notify his 'dog walking group' (those exist??) and all of THEM joined in the chase...and they were all still out there at around 9 pm, calling her name.

She was lost for about 10 hours. We were so tired and upset- and we'd done all we could think of to try and find her. Right before bed we decided to open the front door and look...just one more time.

And there she was. Sitting on the doorstep, covered in mud. She'd come home.

YAY! So now I have my doggie back, my kids aren't freaking out anymore, my husband doesn't feel guilty for losing her, and I have tons of inspiration for children's books now! In the end, a very productive weekend indeed.

Another dream!

Do you guys remember the other day when I had a dream in the middle of the night- thought it was the best book idea ever- and wrote it down on a piece of paper at 3 am and when I woke up it wasn't....quite what I thought it would be?

Well, I had another dream last night.

I dreamed there was this girl who met a travel writer while on vacation-(oddly enough, he looked just like Robert Downey Jr.)-and they have an instant connection...BUT he then disappears (and she's too young to just go off and find him).

Years later she wonders what became of him- so she goes to the bookstore and finds his books. She reads them and 'follows' him during all those missing years- then, because of something she reads in one of his later books (I won't divulge this) she goes after him for real. I remember in the dream his name was Grant. Yum. Grant.

It was quite the dream and I think I might start typing this one out. Thank God this one wasn't about gators.

Now, back to writing...

So recently, I'm sure you've noticed, I've been more focused on posting pictures of my kids and updating you about my monotonous days.

Now it's back to writing, what this blog is all about anyway. This morning I cleaned up Chasing the Alphabet, now entitled Alphabet Chase. I also included a cover letter and just sent it to my critique group. I don't feel like there's much else I want to do with this story- but my critique group has a way of making me change my mind, so we'll see. It's a hard thing to know when a story is finished, you know? Sometimes I'll be totally content with where my book is, ready to submit it, then I send one more "Seriously, this is the last time..." version to my critique group, and BAM. I'm back to revising...and those poor, unfortunate members of my critique group have to read yet another 50 versions of my story before the submission process begins.

To date I have sent the 'revised' version of Sally Circle (remember her?) to 5 publishers. Today I'll be sending it out to three more. This submission process takes longer than I thought- I'm really having to weed out the publishing houses that wouldn't be interested. I don't want to waste their time, my time, or my stamps. There are still about 3 UN-revised versions that I haven't heard back from. I'm only expecting rejections- I just wish they'd go ahead and come in. It's been about 3 months now.

So next month one of my adult short stories is being released by A Fly in Amber. I'll definitely link you guys over to it when it's released. FUN!

Recently I've been inspired to write a story based on this photo of my daughter:

Why this photo you ask? Because I LOVE it. Not just because it's a pic of my daughter, but because of what it represents to me. To me, this picture is the essence of my childhood. When I was a kid my parents drove us to all 48 states. Yes, all 48. In a car. Not to mention we slept in the car, like true hippies. We brushed our teeth in public restrooms, we squatted on the side of the road. This is how I saw almost all of America- through a car window. I used to stare out the window, passing the Grand Canyon, the Great Plains, the Pacific coastline...and I used to daydream. Oh, how I'd daydream. I'd daydream about riding a horse across the plains, I'd dream about flying over the canyon, I'd dream about mermaids in the Pacific ocean, sunning themselves on the rocky coastline. This picture of my daughter, staring out of the car window...that reminds me of me. It reminds me of my family. It reminds me of childhood.

Now that you've read through all of that, here's the question- where am I going to go with it? Should it be an adult short story? A PB? A YA novel? A poem? I'm so inspired when I see it, but I have no idea what to do with said inspiration.

Ideas, anyone?

And the winner is.....

Is that YOU I smell, or a ROTTEN EGG?!?!?!

BISH DENHAM!!!!!!!!

If you're confused, you might want to take a look at this.

Granted, there weren't many entries because most of you weren't in it to win it (LAME), but I do think Bish Denham's caption sums this picture up quite nicely. Little did Bish know that she hit the nail on the head- Jacob had literally just crapped his pants and Abi was crying tears of shock, anger and disgust. That also explains the uncomfortable, yet somewhat pleased expression on little man's face. There was quite the aftermath. A shame really, because I really loved his outfit. Crap. Yes, literally crap. Ah, motherhood.

Anyway, CONGRATS BISH!!!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH for participating in my tiny little caption contest! Now please everyone going to her blog and show her some love!

W.I.B.I.J.

Well crap! I forgot to post this until right now, but it's not too late!!!

WIBIJ game is starting at 1 pm EST TODAY and going on for the next 24 hours! Come join us and please try and beat me!!!

SALLY CIRCLE IS PUBLISHED!

Just Kidding.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! But that got your attention, didn't it?!

Yes, that was evil. But you have to admit, it worked.

Anyway, all you creative types. I had to get your attention somehow. I've had a hard day and I need a laugh.

Come up with a hilarious, creative caption for the photo below. The winner will not only get an honorary post with links included- but you will also receive my undying respect and admiration.

What, that's not enough?! What do you people WANT?!?!

GET TO IT!

Back and armed with pictures

So this weekend I...

ate a lot of peeps. Well, when little man wasn't downing them like a crazed starving child.

-We had an egg hunt, which, I'm happy to report, gave me TONS of PB ideas!!

-We saw an airplane...and we (well, the one pictured below) stared at it with child-like wonder.

-I think I might have finished Chasing the Alphabet, cover letter included! Yay! (No pic for this news, unfortunately)

So...what did YOU do this weekend?

Happy Easter!

Signing off for the holiday weekend. Take care guys.

"Man...lots of gators."

Unfortunately, I don't have much to report but I miss you guys so I'm just saying hi. Not much is going on with me, writing-wise. Still in the process of submitting Sally Circle...other than that, I haven't really done much writing recently. I've been doing some PB critiques for my critique group but that's about it. It's weird, it's like I'm in submission-limbo. Not much else is going on.

My little man is supposed to have his surgery next week...in case you don't remember, he's tongue-tied!

My brother and sis-in-law are supposed to be visiting next Tuesday...I'm planning on staying in town for Easter. Maybe I'll get some writing done then! We'll see.

Umm...how much random crap can I spew out before this blog post is over...

oh, here we go.

-Last night I had this crazy awesome dream that would be PERFECT for a short story/novel so I wrote it down on the back of an index card at like 3 am. This morning I woke up and eagerly grabbed at the index card, excited to remember what my soon to be NYT best selling idea was. It read:

"Man...lots of gators, go lie...funny but ends up his wife."

Oh yes, Dena. That makes for an AWESOME story.

Has anyone else gotten up in a dreamlike state and written out a buttload of randomness on a sheet of paper- completely convinced that this was THE BEST idea ever and that if you don't write it down, the SHEER CREATIVE BRILLIANCE of said idea would be forgotten?

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

As I just said to my critique group...

If THESE BOOKS can get published....

There is hope for all of us.

UGH!

So I think the worse thing about my mom friends is that none of them support my writing endeavors. Weird, right? ALL of my single and kid-free friends give me their whole-hearted support.

But every time I tell a mom friend about my writing, critique group, my blog, etc they give me this look and they ALWAYS say the same thing.

"I just don't know when you find the time."

Then they drop it. They don't want to discuss it further, even when I tell them that I have to actually MAKE the time. Now why do they do this?

Because it kind of comes off as a slam. I always end up feeling like I'm being selfish by trying to write when I have kids. I feel like I'm being lazy and not being a good "housewife" or something. Stupid, I know. But that's how they make me feel.

I have one friend in particular who truly never wants to hear about my writing. I even posted on FB that I had actually sold some of my writing- she saw it- but never commented on it.

Today this is bothering me. Yes, I'll get over it- but writing it down on my blog is the first step in the process I guess.

Thank guys, for supporting me. All you writer mommies and non-mommies and men out there in this writing blogosphere- you guys are AWESOME!!!

Anyway, on another note, my little man is indeed tongue-tied.

I'm going to the ENT on Thurs. to schedule his surgery. From what I've heard it's a pretty simple outpatient procedure- but I'm still dreading it. :-( Poor little man!

Anyways, today my goal is to do a critique for a member of my critique group, so that's what I'm off to do. Thanks for listening!

New blog title!

Thanks to Pauline, who came up with this new blog title for me! Yes, it is HER brainchild!

I decided it needed to be changed, considering now I've been paid for my writing...I guess technically I am now a 'published author.' But to all those who loved my original title, as you can see I have managed to keep that title in there as well!

BRILLIANT!!!!

Here is some (non) news before I sign off.

-I got up way too early and it's raining outside. Ugh.

-I think my son might be slightly tongue tied so I'm off to argue with my pediatrician about it :-/

-I've got a "play group" today....yeah, I know.

-I'm currently living off of the bare minimum in my pantry until the end of the month. Last night I made some sort of mexican creation with left over chicken, beans and tortillas. Man am I regretting it now.

-I cut Ariel's hair at the request of my daughter (she was actually begging) and now she's crying about it. Figures.

More non-news later.

I WON W.I.B.I.J.

AGAIN!

Please join me next time and maybe you can be the one to take me down! (evil smiley face)

This morning I mopped the kitchen. Changed my son's diaper twice. Made pancakes for my entire family. Watched "The Princess and the Frog" with my daughter and did the dishes. Now my daughter and husband are off to church while I get a much needed break with my little boy.

I'm tempted to do some writing while they're gone...but how can I ignore this???

I'm famous!

The interview is up!

Today is going to be a crazy day. My neighbor just had her 4th kid and today I'm looking after the 3 other children- as well as my own.
I don't think I'll get much writing done today...

More exciting news and W.I.B.I.J.

Thank you to all who participated in W.I.B.I.J. yesterday. I had a blast! In a few more weeks there will be another contest, so if you couldn't join in this time, never fear-you will get another chance to be pulverized by me. MWAHAHA!

I have been submitting Sally Circle this week, as you know from my previous post. Other than that, I haven't really written this week. It's almost like I can't submit and write at the same time. It's really bizarre. Has anyone else had this problem?

In other exciting news, tomorrow I am being interviewed by Heather Kelly at her fabulous blog! If you'd like to get a glimpse into my crazy world, take a gander.

Also, as a result of competing in W.I.B.I.J. yesterday I was able to find THIS BLOG. Awesomeness! I love finding new and interesting blogs- and this latest post of her's cracked me up! She compared her inner editor to Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones. You know, in his HAWT days. Yum.

It got me to thinking...who is MY inner editor? What's he like? Is he hot? Does he get to business? Is it a 'he' at all? When I get out my editing pen, who is guiding my hand?!

After some soul searching, this was my answer.

BITING THE BULLET HARD!

This morning I bit the bullet and I started submitting Sally Circle. She has now been sent out to 5 publishers- and I'm waiting to get more stamps and I'll send out some more. HERE WE GO!!!!!

In other news, I cleaned up "Chasing the Alphabet" this weekend and wrote a cover letter for it. I love getting that out of the way, even if I don't plan on submitting it for a while.

I still need to clean up Sassy Syndrome and submit it to Highlights magazine. I haven't heard from you guys in a while...are you still out there? How are things with all of you? What have you been working on/submitting?

Weekly plans and gratuitous kiddie shots.

On my list of things to do this week:

1) Revise "Chasing the Alphabet" again.

2) Clean up a short story of mine, "Sassy syndrome," and send to Highlights magazine.

3) Bite the bullet and start sending out "Sally Circle," to more than 2 publishers.

4) Take an old PB of mine, "Baby Dragon," and send to critique group and revise.

On a low note, I got a short story of mine rejected by Highlights today. They said that it just "wasn't a fit for their present needs."

On a high note, I have an outrageously handsome son.

And an unbelievably charming daughter :-)

YAYAYAYAYAY!

AN ONLINE E-ZINE JUST BOUGHT A SHORT STORY OF MINE!

This marks the first time I've ever been PAID for my writing!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!

Huzzah!

*First major revision of "Chasing the Alphabet"

"Well-chuffed."

HA! I spent all morning writing, and now I have 1 1/2 books to show for it!

1) Chasing the Alphabet

2) The Chicken Nugget Diaries

The first one has already been sent to my PB critique group for what we call a "big picture" critique. It feels so good to finally churn something out. I think that admitting I'd gone so long without writing finally inspired me to do so.

Now onto other things....