Please don’t forget to check out the Beta Match Up Post

It’s not that I’m not working towards my #writemotivation goals. It’s simply that this month things are different. I imagine my meticulous planning habit is going to have to start accommodating for potential requests from my agent. Not that this is a bad thing.

While I definitely haven’t backslid, there has been no noticeable progress on my list because a couple of things crept up last week that I had to take care of.

1. Send Edits to Agent
2. Go to OWFI
3. Plot AI-2
4. Write AI-2
5 .Finish TDP 2 Draft 2
6. Be more consistent with blog posts/blog reading

We need to insert 2b – Send final edits to agent + the synopsis for books 2 & 3. Which is what I spent the last week working on

This week I plan to plot out AI-2, and begin writing it. So, 3 & 4 are looking good. 6 is looking good too. By the end of the month I should be back on my regular posting schedule.

However, 5 is not going to happen this month. I may begin it, but I’m not going to push myself to do so. 5 will be pushed to June and hopefully out to my beta readers by the end of that month

Also – since I have a baby on the way now, I’m trying to build in certain things I know I won’t be able to manage with a new born. My list just got that much more complicated, but I think my life just got that much better

So, those are how my goals are going, how’re yours? Do you find setting goals for yourself works? Do you remember to be realistic and build in time you may need for unforeseen circumstances (also known as life)?

Hope you’re all having a fantastic May as well!

Hello and welcome to the first #writemotivation beta match up.

Please bear with me as this is the first ever match up I’ve hosted.

We had 13 sign ups in diverse fiction categories, so there weren’t really enough to divide into categories.

Instead, I’ve highlighted what people are looking for and genre where applicable. Some are offering to be a CP/beta and asking for small crits in return. Most want a reciprocal relationship.

Included are the relevant websites and twitter handles. Since we’re likely all following each other on Twitter for #writemotivation, it might be easiest to just tweet the person you’re interested in partnering with. However, feel free to discuss in the comments below as well.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask, I can try and find out more information if needed/wanted.

There are a lot of great people looking for crit/beta partners – so good luck everyone!

If you did not sign up and would like to let people know you’re also looking or willing to beta – please drop a note in the comments.

Hope everyone’s #writemotivation is going fantastically well

May just keeps getting better!

Hi everyone!

It’s our first Monday check in for the May #Writemotivation month. Even though I’ve been a bit absent, due to the horrific internet in the hotel where OWFI was held, I’m still here and still on track – or I hope I’m on track

It seems like everyone is having a great cheering time!

OWFI

Over the weekend (or from Thursday – Saturday) I went with my local crit buddies Seti and Heather to Oklahoma City and attended OWFI. It was a lot of fun. Met a lot of fabulous people including some of my fellow #writemotivation people

Also met some agents and found out they’re not quite the intimidating creatures you think they are… at least not up close – from a distance though And I met some awesome editors too. Melissa Frain from Tor gave a fantastic presentation on Genre Fiction. Overall, the weekend was definitely worth it – my next goal will be to attend an even bigger conference!

#Writemotivation

I don’t believe I posted my goals anywhere but the list this time. So, here they are:

1. Send Edits to Agent
2. Go to OWFI
3. Plot AI-2
4. Write AI-2
5 .Finish TDP 2 Draft 2
6. Be more consistent with blog posts/blog reading

Now, I think I can definitely get 3 & 4 done, and I’m working on 6. But 5 might be a bit difficult because – I’ll get my final round of clean up from my agent today – and have to go through fixing typos etc so we can send out TDP1 on submission.

OMG – I’ll be going out on submission soon. *faints*

Anyway!

The 2nd draft might not get completed, but it will definitely get started.

I’ll be posting the information on the beta match up on Wednesday.

How is everyone going with their month? Are you excited for the rest of May?

Annnnd here we are! May 1st 2012 – another #writemotivation goal check month

Now, if my brain has done this right – everyone’s name should link to their website, and their twitter handle to their twitter handle. We do have one non-twitter person, but maybe we can lure them to the darkside – bwah hah hah! This month, we have 34 participants!

This was the initial sign up page if you’d like to nab the badge! Please remember to give credit for the image. Also – no more sign ups for this month. We’ll have another in July. Sign up post will be in mid-June

Please note: even if you aren’t signed up for #writemotivation on the list, feel free to take part in the hashtag and cheer and be cheered. Beware of flaming zombie stripper cheerleaders… I may have that turned around

For a refresher -

The Rules:

1. Make a list of realistic goals for the month – and achieve them.
2. Make a Blog Post every week (preferably Monday, but if you don’t post on Mondays just add it to the next day you would normally post  ). This is to help us keep tabs on our own progress, and for others to cheer us on if it’s a difficult week. Please link to the post in the #writemotivation hashtag
3. Visit your #writemotivation team mates blogs, and participate in the #writemotivation hashtag to cheer people on

Beta Match Up

I will post the list up next Wednesday – May 9th, and we will take it from there. I’ll do anything I can to facilitate between people, but by that time we’ll probably all have thrown cookies, caffeine and cheerleaders at each other anyway

May Roll Call List!

That’s all of us!

Here’s to a fantastic #writemotivation May 2012! This is going to be a FANTASTIC month!

If you have any questions – just ask them below and I’ll get to them asap!

Today is the last day of April. I know, obvious, right?

But for me, April has been my worst month productively this year. Never mind that for the last 3 weeks I’ve been fighting off the previously mentioned Zombie virus. I refuse to let it carry over into May as I have far too much to do in that month. So, who’s with me? May will be a fantastic month!

Interview!

Now for the cool news Brenda, who organized the whole Pitchmadness thing, interviewed me last week! I was really excited, since it’s thanks to her brainchild that I got my but into gear and had TDP ready a month ahead of schedule If you’d like to see the interview – please pop over to A Pitchmadness Success Story

Edits

I’ve been, when my zombie brain would allow, homing in on my edits. Now – if I were at normal operation capability (read: not sick), then I would have had these edits out of the way within a week as there really wasn’t tonnes to do. Fiddly things, clever insertions to add some more oomph, but overall, not much. As it is, it’s taken me two weeks so far.

I hope to have the rest of them finished by tonight/tomorrow and sent off to my agent (hahaha I can SAY THAT) before I leave for OWFI on Thursday. Cross your fingers for me, my brain currently needs the help.

Guild Wars 2

Yeah, so it’s not in my title, but the first beta weekend was this past weekend, and it was awesome. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t play non-stop (which is a first for me), and I actually took my time getting to know the classes I tried out, and when best to use which skills. With the beta weekend a casual success for me (that I juggled with edits) I have hopes that I’ll be able to play my first ever casual mmo game.

#Writemotivation

Yay I’ll post up the participant list tomorrow morning (as in, I’ll get it ready tonight & tomorrow morning). You all know where to find us on Twitter – although I’ll highlight our non-twitter participant so we go visit their blog

Next week I will post up the beta match so we can spend the rest of the month meeting, greeting and finding beta partners

I’m accepting entries until midnight cst tonight. So if you haven’t signed up and want to, go here to do so.

Let’s get May underway with a BANG! I’ll be doing that by attending the OWFI conference this weekend SQUEE MOMENT!

How was your April? Are you anticipating a better May?

In case my fantastic amount of inactivity on the net didn’t give it away – I’m sick. I’ve been sick for two weeks now.

When I say sick, I mean SICK. I mean raging fever, clogged nose, cough of death, and generally fighting off the zombie virus from hell.

This has caused four things to happen:

1. I dropped out of the A-Z challenge, due to pure lack of energy to click buttons.
2. I’ve been woefully absent in cheering on all my friends with their #writemotivation goals. I apologize profusely for this.
3. I’ve been horrifically negligent of Triberr. Actually I sort of forgot about it until this morning. Will rectify my absence asap!
4. I’ve lapsed into a brain rut where I only have so many good minutes in me per day to work on edits.

Now, if you know me, you realize that number 4 is killing me. When I’m healthy, I can pound out quality edits in a more than timely manner. Hell, I can even surprise myself with what I come up with. Right now, however? I’m having major issues keeping any focus for longer than thirty minutes, which makes completing the edits my awesome agent has asked me to do (and there aren’t even that many!) a slow and agonizing process.

In short – this zombie virus has made me feel like a different person. My only hope is to get over it soon, because I’m not used to being this unproductive - or slowly productive. It’s just not what I do!

Okay – now that rant is over. Thank you for sticking with me.

I’d like to move onto #writemotivation.

I’m really excited for May. I have another 7 days to get rid of this zombie virus so I can dive into May with renewed energy and be back to my old self Wish me luck!

We’ve already had over 20 sign ups. I’m still curious as to how someone managed to sign up on the March sheet, but I will transpose their entry hehe.

We have quite a few new people on board AND even one person who doesn’t use Twitter.

The Beta Match Up

I’ve not done one of these before, but I’ve seen them take place. I’ll make a post early May listing everyone who is looking for a beta match up. I will try to divide them into specific genres/and or those who are willing to do a wide range of genres.

This should allow for easy reference. Everyone will have everyone’s twitter handle – and we can go from there and start in on the Match Up!

OWFI

May 3-5 is the OWFI conference in Oklahoma City. I’m really looking forward to this. Of course, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d have an agent by this date, so I’ll be cancelling my pitch session. But I’m still really looking forward to the conference. Going with my local crit group and hoping to meet up with some of my #writemotivation buddies there too!

So basically – I’m here to tell the Zombie virus that I don’t have time for it! I have way too much shit to do in May! HAH!

How has your April been? Have you been sick? Been stuck in a rut? Had a fantastic month?

Let me know!

What is a Goal-Check month? 

Apart from the general cheering we do on a daily basis, a Goal-Check Month is where you set goals for yourself and hold yourself accountable to them. You let us know what those goals are, and report during the month how you think you’re going with them. This helps hold yourself accountable.

The aim here isn’t to compete with each other – it’s to compete against ourselves (and that pesky inner-critic and procrastination demon that try to defeat us when we least want them to).

To that end we try to add incentive every month. This month we’re adding a beta/CP match up

In these months, there are rules. Don’t worry – they’re completely doable.

The Rules:

1. Make a list of realistic goals for the month – and achieve them.
2. Make a Blog Post every week (preferably Monday, but if you don’t post on Mondays just add it to the next day you would normally post  ). This is to help us keep tabs on our own progress, and for others to cheer us on if it’s a difficult week. Please link to the post in the #writemotivation hashtag
3. Visit your #writemotivation team mates blogs, and participate in the #writemotivation hashtag to cheer people on
4. Please fill in the form here:

Once this done you’re ‘registered’

It’d be nice if we all subscribed to each other’s blogs, but I don’t want to make that a rule, just a courtesy.

So – sign up and let’s keep #writemotivation going. Really looking forward to kicking some butt in May

Also – remember to take advantage of a beta/CP match up if you’ve been looking.

Here’s to a fantastic May 2012!

This is our icon. Please give credit for it:  Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Hover credit is fine.

Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlgoode/

Please link back to this post if you don’t mind. Signups will close on April 30th and I’ll post the list up on May 1st.

Any questions? Please ask! Let me know what you think

On Friday, one of my fellow #writemotivation tweeps released her first book: Nether Bound!

Bonnie set herself a goal, and never backed down from it even though I know sometimes she was overwhelmed.

This is a really exciting thing for many reasons. I’ve seen her go through betas and edits, and more edits – send it out to a professional editor, and then polish and correct some more.

She’s agonized over it (just like most writers do), and nitpicked at it until it was just right. Not only that, she’s got an amazing Author Site.

And then she went and got AMAZING cover art.

See? Isn’t it a gorgeous cover?

So – what’s it all about, you ask?

Here’s the blurb:

Seventeen year old Ava Walker has everything a girl could ask for. She’s captain of the cheer squad, has tons of friends, and could easily have any guy she wants. Being popular is easy.

Lying about her entire life, on the other hand, isn’t.

Since she was little, Ava has had a connection with the dearly departed. She knows seeing dead people is abnormal, but they never try to communicate, so she does her best to turn a blind eye. The older she gets, the worse her visions become. With more and more ghosts showing up, her secret is on the verge of driving her mad.

The only person Ava ever trusted is her best friend, Devon. Only, she hasn’t really talked to him in years and lately he hasn’t been acting like himself.

To make things worse, her evil stepfather, Mark, is hitting the bottle harder and harder. Ava hates the alcoholic psycho her mother married a few years ago. To him, beating women is a sport. Lately, the beatings are getting worse. Ava fears it won’t be long before her mother is among the ghosts invading her life.

She wishes Mark would just die. When he suddenly does, her life changes forever.

Just when she thinks her family is safe, Mark shows back up.

 Not all ghosts are silent, and dear old Daddy wants some serious revenge.

Be careful what you wish for …

And you can buy it here:

for $2.99

In a couple of weeks I’m going to drag her onto my blog and interview her. I’m so proud of you Bonnie

And am I right? Gorgeous cover!

Writing is a very individual undertaking. It’s solitary. You come up with the story, you create the characters, the world, the plot, the twists and the turns. And then YOU write it down.

Though I did write some as a child/teenager the loneliness never seemed to bother me. But as an adult? Writing is a lonely pursuit. I’m not sure how people did it before the internet, it’s far too integrated in my life for me to understand or even get a grip on.

But these days? Finding critique partners and writing groups is so much easier than I ever imagined. I’ve been with one of my crit partners for almost seven years now. Another for around five. And we mesh so damn well. My strengths help them improve and their strengths help me.

I’ve also been lucky enough to find a couple of local writers who’re fantastic. And I’m truly not all that biased. Their input and feedback, even though I’ve known them for a shorter period of time, has been so helpful and encouraging, it’s amazing.

And then there are a few more online buddies. Two who crit for me, and two who read for me. I think it’s very important to have non writers read your books. Sometimes they find things we wouldn’t.

But even though I have a fantastic group of people surrounding me. Supportive people who aren’t yes men/women. People who’ll be honest with me and tell me when something sucks or doesn’t work, when something needs a rewrite or deleting.

In the end, it’s my story and I have to make the ultimate decisions that polish my finished work. I have to draw that line between – this does or doesn’t help me tell MY story.

Because at the end of the day, regardless of all the awesome CPs you have, you need to tell YOUR story.

How do you feel about writing? Do you sometimes find it difficult to draw that critique line?

Of course, I tear the MS apart first

I’m still in shock. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m utterly and completely happy, but definitely in shock. I signed with Judith Engracia of Liza Dawson Associates on April 6th 2012

See, I was originally hoping to have TDP 1 ready to query this April/May, but my fantastic beta readers got the third draft back to me by the start of March. I’d managed to let them talk me into entering TDP in the Mystery Agent monthly contest on Operation Awesome, and into PitchMadness.

Now the Mystery Agent netted me a request from a lurking agent I was not expecting.  I whipped my query into shape, and sent off the query and requested pages. And I thought, well – I should probably query some of the agents I like as well. So, I sent off a total of 7 (non-requested) queries.

On Monday 12th of March, I found out I’d made it into the Agent round of Pitchmadness. This was really exciting for me as I’d finished the final pass and was just tweaking a few things on the MS. And on Wednesday I tied with two full requests. Based on my pitch and 150 words – this was a small ego booster.

I sent off both fulls on March 15th and sat, biting my nails. Seriously, this is amazingly nerve wracking.

My friends and CPs Jami, Jai, Heather and Becca all helped calm me down and avoid being a complete emotional wreck, but it was a close one. Hubby was there to keep the pieces from falling apart, too.

Because as everyone knows, a full request doesn’t necessarily mean anything. This whole subjective process wears on you and your nerves.

Then Judith sent me an DM on twitter. That she was loving it and would finish it that night. This sent me into a tailspin. Loving it is good, right? Some time passed and Judith continued to correspond with me. I received other requests and sent them.

And then the email asking if she could call.

IF? Of course she could call! She was absolutely lovely to talk to, got my book and the direction the story goes in, and made excellent suggestions I could so see improving the book. She didn’t want to remove anything, only add some.

I had to give 7 days to one of the other fulls I had out. It was one of those – please notice that I don’t ask for exclusives, just that you give me 7 days should you receive an offer. Judith is a newer agent, but very passionate, and while I really liked her, as a writer, you always wonder what’s best for your book. I’d researched a lot BEFORE sending out queries, but…

So I spent a week with 5 fulls out researching agents and clients, and recent sales and experience and anything and everything I could find. I marked pros and cons and weighed everything I could think of.

When I sent Judith the contract on Friday I was 100% happy with my agent. I think that’s increased to about 150% now.

I’m so proud to have found the person who believes in my storytelling and my ideas, who can see the bigger picture I can see. Thank you so much Judith! I’m looking forward to many amazing years to come!

To everyone out there searching for an agent, editor or whatever – remember, it only takes one person to have that spark. Don’t give up.

And have a chocolate