The Jury Is In...Critiques Are Back!

"Take Each Day With a Grain of Salt"

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

- Stephen King

One might deduce from this quote that I have a lot of work ahead of me, and one might be right!

First of all, I would like to say thank you to Kat Brauer for all she does organizing critsforwater. Hat's off to her and all of the authors that have donated their time to participate in this project! http://critsforwater.katbrauer.com/guest-critiques/

Also, thanks to K.A. Barson and Elle Cosimano for reading through my query and opening pages. Both authors gave me a lot of advice, suggestions and encouragement. There were some things that I had been wondering about, and other notes/ideas/suggestions/problems that were new to me.

Overall, it was a very encouraging, and definitely eye opening experience.

Let's start with the query. It's too long!! I knew that but, it was hard to leave anything out because I'm so excited about the characters and the plot! SHAME ON ME! The good news...both authors agreed that the hook is there. I just need to shorten, tighten and hone in on the meat of the query. I CAN DO THAT! I will do that.

As for the opening pages, I'll start by saying I have some work to do. Both authors said that most agents don't particularly care for the preface, especially when its really an event that happens later in the book. Something I didn't know... It's probably in my best interest to drop it. I'm considering and leaning towards that.

I made another no-no, which is starting chapter one with a lot of back-story. One of the authors asked me where does  my story really begin? It's a question that I've been contemplating for the last couple of days. There could be multiple answers to that question. There is so much that goes on in the MS, but, I got the point. Now I have a lot of thinking to do.

Do I want to do a complete re-write of the first several chapters, or do I want to make some edits and see if it's attention grabbing enough? I'm still debating.

I'm not going to give up on this series. NO WAY! The second book is written and I'm already outlining the third. There's no turning back, maybe just a short pause to really contemplate and decide what I want to do to make it so phenomenal and irresistible that it gets published.

Like I said, I have my work cut out for me!!

Thanks again to K.A. Barson (http://www.kabarson.com/) and Elle Cosimano (http://ellecosimano.com/ for all of their help, I REALLY appreciate your time and comments. You both are wonderful!!

Opportunities and Glitter

In college, I had a writing teacher that told us that if she was ever cut open, she was certain that glitter and sparkles would come out of her body. I resemble that remark.

In fact, I still smile just thinking about it because, I know exactly what she means. My sparkles would be brilliant blue butterflies, laced with teal and iridescent glitter that coruscates splendidly when the sun shines on it. I know that life brings you ups and downs but, I swear, even on my bad days, I feel like I can't get enough of this life. There is so much that I'm interested in, so much that I strive to do. The mind is an amazing machine and mine runs near constantly. Sometimes, there are thoughts and ideas that I just have to get out, regardless if anyone ever reads them, that's not the point anyway. Writing to me, is a vehicle. A means of transportation to transfer my thoughts from my mind, to the wonderful world of print, whether it be shared or not.

A long time ago, I made a list of things I am and things I want to be. The list was long. Its been about six or seven years since I wrote that list in a butterfly journal that I kept by my bedside. The journals gone but, my photographic memory recalls much. It's amazing how many of those things that I wanted to be, I've become. I think thats the point. It may sound cliche but, you really can do anything you put your mind to. Sure, there might setbacks, and you can surely count on obstacles but, you've got to keep pushing forward. And if you do, you will succeed. "98 and 3/4 percent Guaranteed" (according to Dr. Seuss).

My mentor once told me that life is about taking advantage of opportunities that are presented to you. That they determine how far you go in life. Based on my experiences, I'd have to agree. Some things in life might be scary, they might seem too far, too long, too much for you to handle. Bite off a piece at a time and then look back now and then and you'll be surprised with your progress. I know I am.

Great News!

Much to my surprise...I was randomly selected as the winner of the CritsforWater Pledge drive! Just today, I sent my query letter and first 2500 words of my manuscript to Kat Brauer who will forward it on to K.A. Barson and Elle Cosimano for their reviews! It's very exciting and a little nerve racking! What will they say? I'm looking forward to the critsism and any comments that can help me improve as I strive towards my goal to be published!!
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*Cheers* to small steps in the right direction!

When I Grow Up...

        It took me a serious moment of impact and twenty-nine years to realize what it was that I was supposed to do. It took me an additional two and a half years to really embrace it. I don't know why.

      It had been obvious all along.
      When I was in school and an essay assignment was announced, my classmates moaned in protest while I remained unfazed. Writing was easy for me, a gift that came naturally. Don't get me wrong, I'm a blogger, not a bragger. But some how, it went unnoticed by me that while other kids struggled to turn in book reports to make up their grades, I turned them in, one right after the other, for extra credit; although it didn't matter if you already had an A.

      So why did it take me so long to figure what I should be doing? I don't know the answer to that question, and maybe I never will. But, I do know one thing...I was born to write and write I shall.

Pledge Contest for Query Review

I've entered a pledge contest to have my Query Letter and project reviewed by two published authors. We'll see what happens!! http://t.co/Miz1XjMQ Thanks @Sara Megibow!

Each Day

There used to be these inspirational pictures and sayings hanging throughout my office. When management started shifting, the pictures began getting replaced. Most have disappeared but a few remain. Like the one that found its way into my office.

Poetic in its own right, it talks about each new day. How you are exchanging whatever you do today, for a day you can never get back. The moral of the saying - Leave something good in its place. I'm going to focus on that each and every day.