City of Cin

And finally those pics of Paul Walker...

2007-03-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

Friday... I'm in love!

2007-03-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

Blogger hates me

2007-02-22T12:22:00.001-08:00

All I want is to post more pics of Paul Walker. Is that so wrong?

Blogger hates me

2007-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

All I want is to post more pics of Paul Walker. Is that so wrong?

Grumble grumble

2007-02-22T06:07:00.001-08:00

Grumble grumble

2007-02-22T06:07:00.000-08:00

2007-02-21T06:03:00.000-08:00

You had me at hello...

2007-02-14T07:10:00.000-08:00

My agent is blogging about me today! How cool is that?

So a little more back story…

The conference was DARA - the Dallas Area Romance Authors conference. The wicked sexy, fast driving Donnell posted about it on my local RWA loop and I rode down with her and the super hot, NYT bestselling Gena Showalter. Luckily for me, Gena loves meeting people, introducing people, having lunch with people… drinks with more people. (Although she claims she’s really shy)

This was a smaller conference with loads of friendly people and great workshops, and it worked out that we (I say we—but it wasn’t me at all—LOL) were able to get a great group together for an after dinner outing. (drinks)

I didn't schedule to pitch to Kristin because I’m deathly afraid of pitching (stupid fear really) and besides, she had just-- like days before--form rejected me. Now this ties into her post yesterday about being professional and not taking things too personally. And to be perfectly honest it was a tiny bit awkward sitting across from someone who rejected me—and yet I still managed to be fun and normal (it says so in her blog, so it must be true). Actually after the initial discomfort, it was easy. If you’ve ever met her- you know it would be very hard to not like her. And we had a wonderful time that night with Gena trying to query her about her Muffin Man book—do you know the muffin man? SO it was a wonderful relaxed thing. Happened months ago and I wouldn’t have even mentioned it in my 2nd query since I honestly wouldn’t have expected her to remember me…but there was a method to my madness.

I wanted to make sure the query made it past her reader/assistant. And no assistant is ever going to reject a query of someone the agent may, possibly know personally. It is too awkward if they do because it looks like the agent rejected them (make sense?). She had also come on one of my loops and basically said I'm looking for XYZ and my book was XYZ--so I mentioned that too. So I put these two things in the very first para—basically making it a "You had me at hello" query for her. IMO.

Naturally this is not something you can fake- if you didn’t meet the person than it looks real shady. But use what you’ve got. It doesn’t always mean spending money. A lot of agents spend a week on a Yahoo loop. Mention it. Conferences and writers loops tell the agent you are actively participating in the industry. Always a good thing.

Of course this only gets you past the query stage. The rest, well, that’s another set of planets aligning.

And deep thought for the day: It wouldn’t really be art if everyone loved it.

Still Snoopy Dancing

2007-02-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

It's Official!

2007-02-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

I just signed with the uber fab, super wonderful Kristin Nelson!

I'm still in a bit of a daze about it. I keep checking the emails and such to be sure I'm not just making it up, LOL.

If I am dreaming, please no one wake me up :-)

Friday...I'm in Love

2007-02-12T06:23:00.000-08:00

Query Vindication!

2007-02-08T06:27:00.000-08:00

My very first rejection was a form reject. I’ve only gotten two. (I haven’t queried widely, so put the rotten tomatoes down). This first one did sting. The second one didn’t because I knew what I did wrong the second I hit send. So the 2nd one doesn’t even count in my book.

I only queried 3 people on the first round (1 reject, 1 LOVE IT-want exclusive, 1 send partial-but was during exclusive). The one who loved it was my top choice at the time and she was very, very enthusiastic and wanted exclusives and it just got extended and extended, and then there were revisions. And well, I did the revisions and then it somehow got passed off to another agent at the agency and sat there forever. Then I hastily sent off a e-query to the guy who handed me reject #2. And then I reworked the novel.

The reworking was inspired by the killer query letter I wrote in which I looked at the query and said- now there’s a story! And then went back and revised my novel to match my query. LOL. It worked!

So out went the new round of queries. And the response has been wonderful. No hard/form rejects! Only one true reject, but it was personal and had recommendations. She actually recommended the agent who first rejected me. So I thought, hey, why not? My query letter is soooo much better.

So I did it.

And she asked for a partial! Ha! I was so elated that I’d cancelled out her previous reject! And then, she asked for a full! I don’t know why her asking for a full is so much more exciting than any of the others (right now I have fulls with everyone I’ve queried, except for the one personal reject- wait, that's wrong- I also have a query w/partial that has been on a desk at Writers House for 4 months- keep forgetting about it).

But it is. I feel soooooo vindicated! I may even re-send one to the other agent who form rejected me. But I’m pretty sure he’s a putz.

One more....

2007-02-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

It's Friday... I'm in Love!

2006-12-15T05:55:00.000-08:00

With Sarong guy! :-)

Back to the Blog

2006-12-14T06:04:00.002-08:00

Sorry folks, due to some major events in my life and mostly to the tightened down controls on the work internet, I've been astray.

I'm typing fast as the blocks will probably be back in place before I can update. ARGH!

Anyway- lots of good agent interest in the YA, but so far no official takers. We all know what's on my list from Santa!!!

~Cindy

It's Friday...I'm in Love!

2006-10-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

OK, this one is a little out there, but I just can't help it. He builds bikes...
*sigh*

It's Friday...I'm in love

2006-10-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

It's Friday... I'm in Love

2006-09-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Never Go Back Again

2006-09-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

This past week, and really for like the past year, I've been revising my never-ending story. This time may be the last. Let's all hope.

Today I am cutting out a major part of the story. It is hard. It is the part of the story that in the beginning everything else originated from. Now, it has no place. I'm worried. Yes, I have the story backed up in various states, so I can go back... but really I can't. Once you've put your mind to revising, can you ever go back?

I don't think so.

You can pick out darlings and special turns of phrases maybe, but once you've committed to the story in its new form, it becomes real. It would be like taking a scene from one book and moving it to another, it just can't happen. Those things happened to those characters. Not these.

And I thought only evil clowns had this effect on me

2006-09-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

If you regularly read my blog, you will probably recall that certain commercials really upset me. Well, we have a new leader. And what kills me is that commercials do not make themselves. They are pitched in front of many other people, they are agreed upon. They cost lots of money. I just don't understand how they get so screwed up. Someone somewhere along the lines needs to stand up and say--are you crazy???

The commercial: hordes and hordes of walking scissors.

The problem: The intense fear I get evrytime I watch it. My poor feet shrival in fear just watching these people as the walk amongst the slicing scissor blades. And then if that doesn't mean anything to the makers of this commercial--how about this--feeding the hungry, evil looking "scissors" your credit cards implies never using the credit card AGAIN. WHY O WHY would a credit card company suggest that people cut up their cards? It is bad for business. It has nothing to do with the message of the commercial which gets thoroughly lost since I am vomitting with fear.

It's Friday... I'm in love

2006-09-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

With Raoul Bova--a hot Italian man who doesn't mind being blindfolded...

Why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"

2006-09-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

In honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day:
Top 10 Pirate Pickup Lines

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?
9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?
8. Come on up and see me urchins.
7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.
6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.
5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?
4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?
3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.
2. Well blow me down?
And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …
1. Prepare to be boarded.

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Lady Pirates

10. What are YOU doing here?
9. Is that a belayin' pin in yer britches, or are ye ... (this one is never completed)
8. Come show me how ye bury yer treasure, lad!
7. So, tell me, why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"
6. That's quite a cutlass ye got thar, what ye need is a good scabbard!
5. Aye, I guarantee ye, I've had a twenty percent decrease in me "lice ratio!"
4. I've crushed seventeen men's skulls between me thighs!
3. C'mon, lad, shiver me timbers!
2. RAMMING SPEED!
...and the number one Female Pirate Pick-up Line:
1. You. Pants Off. Now!

For more Pirate speak

It's Friday...I'm in LOVE!

2006-09-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, it is Thursday, but I will be heading out of the cyber world for a few days. So I present you with Jake Gyllenhaal. I found some many delicious pics, I'll have to have him back a few times.

It's Friday...I'm in LOVE!

2006-09-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, I'm in LOVE!

2006-09-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Everyone else has a beefcake day... so naturally I want one too. So Friday we shall feature my crush of the week. This week, Toby Rand from Rock Star Supernova started looking pretty yummy. He's an Aussie and Aussie men have this totally sweet quality about them even though they are all man. Plus he has cute teeth--ya know like little fangs that make a girl want to be bitten.

Because you can't fall up, silly

2006-08-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Redundancy checking for revision hounds:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_redundant_expressions

Progress

2006-08-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

I've had a breakthrough in my YA WIP, and am now up to about 25K (MSWORD). I need to have this one finished for the GH in November. And so far on right on track. Yay!

I'm excited because I've made a critical rearrangement in events that made everything just 1000x better in the pacing and focus department. And the bonus being at approx page 45 (or in other words, just the right amount of pages for when it goes to the Golden Heart) is when the first big plot twist happens and everything is set in full force motion--talk about leaving them hanging, LOL. So, I'm very excited about that and just thought I'd share.

Something else I’ll share, Taco Bueno now has Cheesecake Chimichangas. Go. Buy. Now. Yummy.

Commercials

2006-08-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

I watch As The World Turns on my lunch hour. I've noticed an abundance of really gross commercials lately. I realize it is a women's show and that I will get the usual parade of feminine products ads, but I think there needs to be a limit. And speaking of limit- um, Lamisil- How big is your ad budget. I see that horrid Digger the Dermatiphite (sp?) toe fungus commercial at least 4 times an hour. How many times does someone with a toe fungus need to be told about this product in this horrific manner??? Does toe fungus affect memory? And do you really need to be showing this ad while I'm trying to eat????

And while I'm ranting- what is up with that commercial with the creepy goldfish? And why does it have human teeth?

And what's up with that nasty yogurt that takes two weeks to clear up the digestive track? It has Biffidus Regularus? Um, yuck. And who else thinks Ovaltine sounds like something their grandmother takes?

Anyone else got a creepy commercial you want to rant about?

Hot-Lanta

2006-08-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Back from the Atlanta conference in one piece. But boy do I feel beat-up! I'm exhausted. Lots of late night gab fests and early morning workshops. And now I'm all motivated and focused and even setting some goals! Imagine that.

So now I'll be hard at work preparing submissions for agents, doing yet another rewrite on my finished YA (and I really think this will be the last major focus change--my characters must hate me), getting a Golden Heart entry finished. Maybe two.

So lots of stuff.

One thing I'm just coming to realize--Query letter blurbs excite me. Ok, I don't like to write them, I don't think I'm even that good at writing them, but something about reading my story so condensed and simplistic in all those enticing and intriguing words really gets me excited about my story again! And I was really getting tired of this story with all its rewrites. So I hope that means that an agent reading it will be even more excited.

Unfortunately, in addition to rewriting the query blurb, I also have to rewrite the synopsis. Not so fun.

Googling for a Cure

2006-07-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

So, since I have Poison Ivy...on my face! And since need to be presentable in less than a week, I went out and googled for cures. Got to love Open Forums, you never know what you'll get.

Some suggestions:

1. Pee on it. (My face? No thanks. But anywhere is kind of hard unless you have "help"- ever feel like your life is turning into an episode of Friends? A Very Special episode...)
2. Pour Gasoline on it. (Um, seriously? That's a good way to die, but thanks)
3. Spray it with Pepper Spray. (Again, my face... Although you can't argue the effectiveness of a good distraction- like choking and crying)
4. Pop open the blisters, pour rubbing alcohol on them, and sit in the sun for hours. (Some people are just mean spirited)
5. Use steel wool or 3M Scotch Bright pads to scour the area, take a scalding hot shower, pour bleach over the affected area, rub it in good. And shower in scalding hot water again. (Some people are just psycho)

My favorite cure for the itching:

6. Sleeping and crying. (More like a symptom than a cure, but thanks, I've tried it, doesn't work)

Tales from the Day Job

2006-07-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, first- a moment of silent sympathy please. (Pause for silence) I have... Poison Ivy...on my FACE. ACK! My eyelids! Inside my ear!

Ugh! Luckily I caught onto it pretty quick, usually I scratch and scratch thinking it is only a mosquito bite. So now I'm coated in clear gel. It is hardened on my face like a mask. I do have a nice botox like serenity to my face, as well as a healthy shine (gel tends to be shiny). But alas, it also tend to peel and flake making it look like I'm shedding. Skin. Ack! I'm supposed to look semi-presentable in one week for nationals. Which is probably the only thing keeping from cashing in a few sick days and clawing the heck out my face.

In other work news, today was a potluck lunch day. Now, I'm no Martha Stewart, but somehow I'm of the mind that if you are bringing food to a potluck, you will be judged on it. And so it better be your best stuff (or at least stuff that no one can fault you on, like the Fritos I brought once). But I guess these ladies use the potluck to clean out their fridge, 'cuz seriously the spread always looks more like leftovers at my Grandmother's house. And even the ones who make an attempt don't do it justice. A green bean casserole should not, I repeat not, taste like freezer.

So, like I said I really can't judge or cook, but people can't seem to figure my food offerings out. For the Brunch potluck I brought a seasonal fave: Clementines with a great little fruit dip. People were frightened by my mutant oranges. They didn't know how to use the fruit dip- do we dip it? Do we dribble it? Oh, we peel these?

And today was no different. I brought a salsa medley dip (basically it has black beans, shoe peg corn, bell pepper, celery, tomatoes, olives, salsa and salad dressing) and chips (Tostitos Scoops -hint hint). Is it a salad? Do we dip it? Can I put it on a Trisket?

Oh, and then my dyslexic typing method sent out a link to what was supposed to be PRONET, but tragically went out as PORNET. Not good.

I didn't want to do it...

2006-07-07T06:57:00.001-07:00

I really, really wanted to hate (and laugh at) Paris Hilton's attempt at becoming at pop star. But alas, her song Stars are Blind is pretty good. I don't know if she wrote it or not, probably not, but it is kind of catchy. And while her voice is obviously aided, it has a quality. That said, it isn't my typical music taste, but I can certainly appreciate a good thing. I just wished she totally sucked, I was looking forward to some of my fave $5 word: Schadenfreude.

Also in my guilty pleasure chest:

Yo Momma- an MTV show where kids basically tell Yo Momma jokes. I have no idea why I find this one so compelling.

Ocean Drive- another MTV gem, this one with models and evil twins!

Rock Star: Supernova- OK, I'm not really all that guilty about this one. I love rock, I love new and different versions of songs, and, yea, I love tattooed, dirty rock stars who are hella-nicer than Simon Cowell. I love that they take the high road, even when they are being brutal.

I'm sure I've got more...

The Mis-Independence of Cin

2006-06-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

It is so quiet out on the web--blogs are being abandoned, loops are full of the sound of crickets, I've been sending myself email to see if it still works--everyone cutting out for the 4-day weekends. Meanwhile, I have to stay late today, come into work on Saturday and be here on Monday. So, no lake-fun for me. Boo.

The Breaded Synopsis II

2006-06-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

I cannot write a synopsis to save my book. And yet, I find that on rare occasions when looking at another person's synopsis, I actually have intelligent and dare I say helpful insights. Ah, the power of "distance". So, in the tradition of the “Those who can’t—teach”, I submit the following observations:

While reading a synopsis, the reader will have various questions occur to them about your story. You may be under the impression that questions are intriguing. But you would be wrong. There are good questions and there are bad questions. Let's review.

"Jane returns to her childhood home."

Why? Where was she? When did she leave? Why did she leave? And how does she feel about that?

"She immediately runs into Jack, the man she left all those years ago, the love of her life."

Why did she leave him if he is the love of her life? And how does she feel about that? (Is my psych degree showing?)

"Seeing Jack again, reminds Jane of the secrets of the past."

What secrets? What past? And how does she... oh you get the idea.

These are BAD questions. Let’s try again.

"After learning that her mother is gravely ill, Jane returns to her childhood home and the overbearing mother who threw her out for getting pregnant when she was sixteen.”

Uh-oh, how is she going to deal with that?

"Jane immediately runs into Jack, the boy who got her pregnant, and he is as upset as the day she left ten years ago when she picked up and left him without a word."

Uh-oh, how is she going to deal with that?

"At sixteen, Jane knew that her leaving without telling Jack about her pregnancy was the right thing to do--it allowed him to be a successful football player and home town hero--but now, seeing the dark, anger in his eyes she is sure he’s not going agree."

Uh-oh, how is she going to deal with that?

These are GOOD questions. These are intriguing questions. Class dismissed.

Thanks for having my back Microsoft!

2006-06-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

Or "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

I just sent an e-query out to an agent who likes people to recognize him personally somehow in their query... so I added a little para about why I was querying him. In it I reference a couple of the novels he represents. Well, I send it off and get a very quick "No, thanks!" And I'm thinking okay, maybe it was something I said, and sure enough I misspelled one of the books. When you type in CAPS Word won't catch it. And it was a word that looked right if you’re just reading along. Now I'll never know if it was my stupid mistake or my query that offended.

Either way, it just wasn’t meant to be, I’m sure. Just feel stupid.

Cindy's Rock

2006-06-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I'm such a blog slacker.

So big news for Cindy's everywhere--Cyn Marolt, one of my local RWA chapter sistas and dear friends and super great crit partners, scored an agent and an auction in like 24 hours. OK, maybe it was just a scoach longer than that, but seriously not by much. AND I got to read the book that made it all happen, and I gotta say that it deserves all this NYC-love, I tell you. It is unbelievably great. I'm looking forward to reading again when it gets back from the editor and again when it is an ARC and again when it hits the shelves.

So, I've been vicariously living through her successes, and I think her story really shows how a great an agent, and not just any agent--but one with experience and clout, who is so excited about your projects that she needs super, extra-hold hair spray to keep her bangs from blowing back when she's reading it--is to have.

Yes, we could all be so lucky, and not all can even cherry-pick, but Cyn was offered representation several months ago and she decided it just wasn't right for her and without any guarantees about another offer, she kept searching. So be patient, my pretties, make smart choices. Breathe.

The End Part 2

2006-05-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

I looked back to figure out when I started my WIP and it was on May 20, 2005!

Now granted, I finished this book once before- in the fall as a paranormal. But now it is truly finished, and almost exactly one year to the day that the very first idea for it came to me. It came to me while driving behind a car with the license plate: CCCCF8

or Seize Fate, for those who struggle with these things. Anyway, it all rolled out from there. It was a little different in its initial conception. Not a YA... but quickly found its legs.

Monday it will be heading back to my dream agency hopefull to stay!!!

The End

2006-05-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

Yes! It is over. I am done done done. Stick a fork in her.

The last little scene is done. I do need to re-read the last half of the book to make sure I didn't do any of my crazy typo- typing. When you do track changes it can get a little hard to tell if everything is still formatted right and such... but it is done! And... I LOVE IT!!! I amaze myself. I mean one minute it is like- how can I possibly do this, and then something very tiny comes to me...

So that leaves the re-do on the synopsis. YUCK. I'm so bad at these things. I'm going to try to get away with just doing a really short one.

Anyway, this makes up for the pout I've had about not going to RT. Imagining all the fun and missing getting to catch up with some very very cool peeps I met last year.

This is the part of the blog where...

2006-05-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

I tell you, I meant I'd be done with my revisions NEXT Monday. And this time I think I mean it. I figured out the romance element that I was missing... and figured out all the Dad stuff. So I just have to massage a couple of places during a read through and then do the final chapters- which are written, but I need to tie off some loose end stuff. It feels pretty complete now. No more dangling bits.

I'm so ready to move on to my next project, though!!! I'm so not used to dedicating myself to one focus like this. The house needs major cleaning. The horses need attention. I could use a pedicure. And I would love to just read someone else's writing.

Internalization- the nasty side of the biz

2006-05-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Say what you will, but I can sort of see how inadvertent internalization can be- for instance today I inadvertently internalized a Krispy Kreme donut. I couldn't help it, I am powerless to them. They don't even taste like donuts- they taste like heaven if heaven was made of sugar.

In revision news- I have thrown myself down a deadline. Monday. I want to be done with these revisions by Monday. Well, really I want them done now, but that is impossible. Monday is not.

So it is written, so it must be done.

Revision H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

2006-04-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

Oh, it isn't really hell... I am up to 75,000 words + on the new version. I'm told to keep it close to 80K. Um... don't know about that... I'm thinking more like 85K if I'm good.

A crit partner and I shared our "agent" critiques. And it begs the question-what do you normally get? (I put agent in quotes because mine was from a prospective and hers is her actual agent)

Mine was a few pages- broad scoped paragraphs. No real line edits or anything too specific. And I thought it really focused on the soft spots well. And I knew some of them existed (I had just pulled out the whole paranormal premise and two main characters were completely without justification for their behavior and the ending was completely changed and the ink dripping).

Hers were short and sweet. A couple specific places noted. A sub plot TBR as in To Be Removed.

Mine started positive, had some positive thrown in the middle, and ended positive.

Hers were only the problems. No indication of where the story was really working.

SO-- does the type of revisions one gets depend on the agent, the part of the process, the needs of the work? All of the above? The reason I ask- I think it would make a big difference to me if I had a good handle on the type of revision requests I could expect. I liked the revisions I received, but I don't think I would have liked the ones my CP did even though hers weren't as extensive(And she may not have given me complete disclosure).

This Week's $5 word: Schadenfreude

2006-04-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

The word "schadenfreude" has suddenly started showing up everywhere! And especially on one of my Yahoo Loops, where it was tossed about casually until someone finally had to ask- what does it mean?!

Schadenfreude(shädn-froid)
NOUN: Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. ETYMOLOGY: German : Schaden, damage (from Middle High German schade, from Old High German scado) + Freude, joy (from Middle High German vreude, from Old High German frewida, from fr, happy)
*Thank you American Heritage Online

So why are people tossing around that word on my loop? Because of the bloody watered feeding frenzy that happens every time a self-proclaimed Anti-ChickLiter takes a tumble. So why all the schadenfreude? Is it the big $$$ advances? All the publicity? Is it just jealousy? It is what it is- the bigger you are the harder you fall.

So here is the blood just to get everyone caught up:

First we watched Curtis Sittenfield with her diarrhea of the pen in this case, where she basically threw down and called ChickLit writers sluts. Well, don't take my word for it- here it is.

Well then Jen Weiner brought it with this. And this.

And then there is the THIS IS NOT CHICK LIT book, from some of the best (so they tell us) women writers because yeah for some of you writers the warning is needed- um Curtis? Frogs and pink belts on the cover sort of misrepresents...doncha think?

Now we have a new scandal worthy of its own Wiki! Kaavya Viswanathan and "her" book How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life. Read the wiki for all the juice. Form your own opinion- but while any one or two of the examples can be explained away- it is the volume of them and the similar sentence structure that really convince me.

Not a ChickLit author, but we also saw some schadenfreude with ol' James Frey. But I've talked too much on my blog about him as is.

So the bottom line- what do these three have in common? It's not chick lit, it's not even a scandal (I personally have not seen Curtis brought up on anything other than a lack of clss or grace)-- the common denominator in why we love to see their blood in the water is that they all are big talkers. Vanity in spades. Cocky in that obnoxious in-your-face way. And that is why the schadenfreude is so yummy.

And the moral of this post is: be a little more humble or your bad ass just might get a boot up it and no one will be there to pull it out. Peace out ya'll.

Dream A Little Dream

2006-04-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

OMG! I had the weirdest dream last night--I'm not sure if it was the funniest thing I've ever dreamed or a nightmare. So, somewhere in this dream I get this mail delivery, and it is a story that appeared to be a middle grade type of story (not something I write) that was (judging from the returned stack of papers) way too short to be a novel. The kicker was that it claimed to be written by me! But I knew I had not written this obviously inadequate submission. Apparently my grandmother had written it for me... and... and... and... had been sending it to a publisher--Delacourt to be exact--relentlessly. They were returning to me to tell me that it has been rejected for the last time! Do not send it again! In fact, never send anything to them again! Oh boy... was I ever mad at Granny! I wish I could remember more about the story she had written-- the MC had a funny last name, but all I can remember is that the first name was Wendy. Maybe I should ask my grandmother... Not to long ago I was telling someone about how she used to send my junior high poems into those bogus competitions. She'd do this without telling me. So I think that was why I had this dream. Still, too funny.

Fly-by Updates...

2006-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am up to chapter ten on my revisons. Not saying a whole lot... only tacked in one small scene, But that scene now sets up the rest of the book better... and gave it a title change. So it was a big change.

Chapter ten also needs a little add-on scene... it will also set up a sub plot, but it is part of the "party" scene and I really scrimped on it the first time. I think YA readers like to read about parties and such, so I'm going to do better on it.

In other news I am doing my taxes and if I'm correct I'll be getting a juicy refund. Yea! It was kind of nerve wrecking as I had to do the income first, which had that little "You Owe" amount growing and growing... but since I bought my house and pay ridiculous amounts of interest and taxes, I am now getting a nice refund. But I'd like to point out that while it didn't significantly alter things- I don't see why I have to include my state tax refund from last year as income... that is just rude.

The Way-ay-ting is the Hardest Part

2006-04-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, for all of you on the edge of your seats, scoot back. If you've almost lost fingers from crossing them so long for me, shake them out. We are back to waiting.

Or more precisely to revising.

Yes, the ol' "we love it, but change it, and then we'll talk." I was expecting it, because let's face it the ink was wet on this version. I am excited to say that the revision suggestions were not that painful, and pin pointed all the areas I had concerns with as well. This is kind of validating in a way-- 'cus I was worried that maybe I had no idea what the story needed and was too close to it. But alas, at least one or two or three other people out there also think the same way. It also means that the rest of the story made sense! Hallelujah! That in of it itself is a miracle.

So thank you for hanging in there with me, it looks like we have a few more weeks of fun... I just know I'm going to end up with grey hairs from this, and I'm a little concerned that I have had my monthly friend over 3 freaking times this months, I'm not even playing. So if I'm a little irrational or on an emotional roller coaster, you know why...

DARA

2006-04-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm starting to recover from the DARA conference last weekend. It was only two days (really just a day and a half!) but social events always wipe me out, especially ones like this. I scored a ride down with two wonderful ladies from my local RWA chapter: Donnell Epperson (who you don't want behind you if you aren't fast lane worthy!!) and Gena Showalter (who freaking kicks ass!!). Now I had the opportunity to hang out some with Donnell at nationals in Reno, but this was my first real hanging out with Gena. Up until this, I had been in total fan girl fog around her (and still am!)

So anyway, since I'm late getting to the blog... all the juicy details have already been talked about... catch them here at Gena's Blog and here at Shelley Bradley's Blog...

In other news, I'm at the last stage of the gauntlet with Agent McDreamy... so hopefully good news will be next!

Random stuff...

2006-03-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

OK- a few tidbits that I've been meaning to work into blogs of larger scope, but since it isn't happening I'll just lump them together here...

Cell Phones... another reason why people should not use them while driving: The decrease of singing along to the radio. That's right...back in the day, people used to rock out while in their cars alone... now, not so much. And usually watching people talk on their cell phones is so not exciting... but the other day, whoo hoo, I was at the light behind a guy who was really shouting into his cell phone. His truck was shaking. It was pretty exciting.

This weekend... Heading to the DARA conference. Yea! Hopefully I won't have to decide between the following two sessions: 1. How to Attract Agents and 2. Writing YA. (Which, just for the sake of ranting-why would they put the only YA session at the same times as the YA friendly agent, huh? Why?) And why might I not have to decide? Because I am (as of yesterday) at the top of Agent McDreamy's to do list! (We had a little email moment to which I am still recovering from my swooning...she had some cool things to say!!!) But still nothing official... so for now I'm not removing the stockpile of ice cream products I have at the ready.

Silence is SO not Golden

2006-03-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't get a call on my Golden Heart entry... which I kinda knew was likely. My story isn't a romance, so that is a big one... and there are a few things that may have raised eyebrows. And my synopsis was a wreck. But my feelings on this are complicated. Not sad, though... more contemplative...

The good news is that I have gotten some tremendous feedback on the story... (even a Salinger-esq... The next White Oleander... comments) and an agent who will be officially titled Agent McDreamy when she gets back to me with a "Yes! Yes! Yes!" *crosses fingers* --said she LOVED it and is SO interested (Caps are verbatim *blush*).

SO, it's not like I take the non-nod from the GH as meaning anything. Besides I have this weird feeling the GH is cursed... I don't want to get into that, though. Just saying that maybe it is a really good thing...

First Times...always special...not always great

2006-03-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

Can you tell I like misleading (and often disturbing) intros? Anyway... the first book is always special... just not always great. Around the blogsphere authors are being very, very brave and revealing excerpts from their first times. Gena and Jill and Diana... have kicked it off. I love love love Diana's title "A Bride walks into a bar..." it is exactly the same kind of humor I have, and like her, I'm often reduced to saying, "Get it? It's a joke..." Anyway, Diana I'd pick it up.

My first time... well I guess I don't know if my first time really counts... gosh, don't I sound like a teen, huh? Remember that scene in Sixteen Candles when she gets the quiz and answers the question "Have you done it?" with "I don't know". Well, anyway... the book I consider my first was not completed, and so probably doesn't count. BUT still, I wrote it when I was about 15 (which is the funny part) and it reads a bit like The House of the Rising Sun (which is like a whore house). The mobster guy is the hero. Are you seeing some problems? Perhaps Puzo wasn't such great reading fodder for a FIFTEEN YEAR OLD?!?! But one of my "readers" did say that it was very Sidney Sheldon-like, which was high praise indeed! (and no, I'm not telling you the title, because it was the best part of the book and I'll probably re-use it!)

Oh well, one day I pull it out and read it and laugh. I'll probably be very embarrassed too, because I had my grandmother read some of it and she was a very old fashioned, deep Georgia South lady. She rode to school in a horse drawn cart for goodness sakes! But she loved it and encouraged my writing. And that is what is important.

The officially finished first book went very badly in terms of page count. It became a saga, then went the way of the Russians, and then topping out at well over 900 pages (conservative estimate) became a phone book. I probably had as many characters as one at any rate... But it still has some promise, I just have to get the chain saw out and make 3 or 4 books out of it.

Got Jock Support?

2006-03-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

I'm very very lucky... since I was just a kid, pretty much my entire family has known I was going to be a writer. Imagine their surprise when I went into computers.... but I digress, (or was it that I digressed??) well, whatever... no one was really buying me as the Tech geek--Network Administrator that is my daytime cover... never mind that it scored me a sweet job schussing down the ski hills of Colorado (I worked at the Vail conglomerate that owns Keystone, Breckenridge, and Vail for five years or so) or that my address was *worldwide* there for six years as I worked for a cruise line. I mean, hey! I have a great career, I make good money! But...nooooo.... they won't be satisfied until I become an author. Because in their minds, when people ask what does Cin do? The answer in all of our minds first and foremost is: Cin writes.

And to tell you the truth, I get a big kick out of it.

We aren't a family of readers. In fact my biggest advocates are not readers--my father, my father's best friend, my male cousin who is like a total jock, my brother...

Men! I'll say it again... Men. Okay, so that was just for fun... but this is surprising, no?

So, I have some funny support stories, but I'll share just last night's. My brother comes in with the movie Butterfly Effect and hands it to me to watch. He heard the brief summary of my YA and thought it sounded just like the Butterfly Effect. It's not, at all, btw... he just heard changing fate and ran with it... but he (who is very quiet and never asks direct questions or seems interested about my writing per se, has been secretly thinking about it for months and was concerned that perhaps I had inadvertently--because I assured him that I had not seen the movie-- set myself up for the heartbreak of having written a story that has been done. (He, of course, does not realize that all the stories have in some way or another been done)

I tell you, that is support. It may not be the "Gee, Cin you sure do write real good" kind, but it is the I want you do well; I don't want you to be hurt kind. And when my cousin asks me at Thanksgiving dinner: "So when will you get published?" I don't hear: "God, what is taking you so long" -- I hear, "I can't wait for you to be published, because this is what is right for you." And for big, ol' guys who never read more than the newspaper in the crapper, I think that is pretty damn cool.

Nakid Plotting

2006-03-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

Got your attention, did I?

Well there are basically two types of plotting talked about in the RWA: Plotting and Pantzing. I know I not a Plotter. Note cards scare me, plotting boards confuse me, and that writing page 2 after page 1 is just icky!

Pantzing is a fly by the seat of the pants approach. I've always thought that was me. I do a lot of day dreaming, I start my story with nothing but a title or a character or a situation, I write the beginning then the ending then bits of pieces that aren't jointed and then I add caulk wherever I need to fill in holes. But quite frankly, that doesn't sound very good. That sound like I slap together my stories and send them off with a lick-and-a-promise. So not true!

So enter my new plotting method:

The No-Pantzer!

That's right... Plotting in the nude... NAKID! Whoo-Hoo...

It is raw, honest, complete disclosure. It is about voice and getting that all important Je ne sais quoi. In the acting world they call it "Method Acting" and Val Kilmer is a great example. He becomes his characters, he no longer even exists. It is a beautiful thing. So, enter "Method Writing."

Now, does this mean that while writing a book, I will stay in voice and character until it is finished--like Philip Seymour Hoffman did for Capote... Gosh, I hope not...that could lead to some really strange scenarios.

Wait...Wait.. Hurry up!

2006-03-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

OK--I admit it, my mind can't wrap around how long it takes to do things in publishing... 2 weeks to hear back on a query, 3 months on a partial, 4-6 on a full... And this is Good! So it takes a year to write it, a year to get an agent to like it, and then a year to publish. If all goes well.

YIKES!

But, we all hope for the fast track... a blog mates, I maybe on finally on it. See last Oct. I sent in a partial as part of an incentive program my local RWA does. My naive little self expected to hear back that week, because:

1> I felt like it was just that good of an idea.
and

2>I thought an incentive would trump anything in the submissions pile (non-client)

silly rabbit... I know. So I waited, and well it was the holidays, so that meant those two months didn't even count. Then I re-worked the piece completely. I yanked out all the paranormal-- so it looks a bit Swiss after that. And then I got excited and worked on the new query so that I could get back in the year-long waiting queue. And then the synopsis, in case I got a quick response for a partial.

OK. Good enough. But much to my surprise and shock, not hours after I sent two queries to my #2 and #3 pick agents... My Agent McDreamy writes and says... sorry I'm just now getting to this, is it still available before I look at it. Wow! talk about timing! I say you betchyas--can I send the reworked--you betchya-- and send I it along. THAT night she writes that she LOVED it. Yes in caps. And she would like to see a full...on exclusive for 2 weeks, but it would probably be faster!

Holey Cow! Oh wait, holey--that was my Full. I said I would love to but since I had made the major changes I wanted to have one more look at it. *cough* *cough* Can I send on Monday. She said of course...Tues would be even better. YAY!

So my weekend was spent entirely writing and proofing and writing and patching. Wax On Wax Off. And all of that. This morning I did the find string on there/their, hear/here, you're/your, its/it's, and my habit of putting a comma before too at the end of a sentence.

And now... she has the full. Rush Rush Rush and now I wait. But only for two weeks tops. Gotta love that!

I sure hope my Agent McDreamy loves it as much as I do.

Processed Cheese Wiz

2006-02-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

In writing there is a lot of talk about one's process. Some try to define it terms of plotting techniques- like plotter vs. pantzer. But there is much more to it than that.

For me, it is very loose, very organic, and very unpredictable. For instance- I thought my first YA book (The GH entry) was done and put to rest. But, well, no.... I got some wonderful feedback on it and apparently the MC is too charismatic and wonderful and deep, that the shifts to 3rd person in some parts really upset the reader. Personally, I think the 3rd POV's are good- but hey, I know the 1st POV MC is better... so I understand that it is jolting (I kind of knew it might be)- and perhaps a little alien landing in the 4th chapter instead of the 14th (I had the aliens land in the 4th to avoid the 14th landing being too shocking, but I guess I didn't fool anyone- oops!). At first I was a little indignant about making changes, and came up with reasons why to keep it as is- but realized they were all good reasons, but not the right ones.

Then I started thinking- okay, if all this goes- what does that mean for the plot- where does that leave me? Well, it actually leaves me in much the same place as I started- just minus all the cheap gimmicks.

SO- now it is major re-write time. Luckily all the parts that have to go lift out easy enough since they aren't in the MC POV. The paranormal aspect is now gone, but not forgotten, because if it weren't for the paranormal aspect I would never have been so brilliant as to come up with such an interesting and dysfunctional coping method for the MC. In fact I wonder if I can even take credit for that.

Anyway- it is very cool to experience how this process morphed itself... with a little help. I mean, one minute you think you've got a pretty good thing and the next you've hit an even higher plateau. So anyone out there who thinks there book sux, don't fear- it doesn't suck, it just isn't finished yet :-P

Shhh... Secret

2006-01-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

Check out Post Secret for more....

Validation's not just for parking

2006-01-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

Being a writer, I straddle an odd combination of narcissism and insecurity. On the one hand I hate sharing any of my work for fear people will steal it (it's really that good!) and on the other hand I don't want to show people my work for fear that it stinks (it really does). But there is one good thing that comes from sharing work- it is VALIDATION. Oh, man- that grand, glowing mystery stuff that is surely what was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction.

It is so nice to have put your soul out and get it returned unsquashed (probably because they are too busy stealing my character's name!)- oops! Slipping again....

But it isn't just my writing that needs validation- it is everything- today we had an office lunch- and I swear I notice exactly how popular my items are- like, for instance, all my Fritos- gone! Yea! And for birthdays we have cake and last year the girl who has to bake mine asked what I liked and I said Strawberry. Well, she made a face, and basically whined about it- but this year she ended up having to bake cakes for both me and another fellow- so she baked one chocolate and one strawberry- guess whose cake was more popular? The Strawberry, thank you very much!

I'm telling you, this is not good that I'm so aware of this. But I hear that recognition is the first step.

I can't help it

2006-01-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

I know I said no more on James Frey- but- why does his new book "My Best Friend Leonard" (or some such) look like a chick-lit? Pink cover and all? I keep spotting it and thinking it is the new Meg Cabot....

In other news- I'm now addicted to Sudoku. It's this numbers (or Numb3rs) game, if you'd rather.

BigJim- hmmm...bet he embellished that, too!

2006-01-13T13:38:00.001-08:00

Okay, last in my three part series on Frey. Cuz, I'm already losing interest. I've just got to say, this embellishment thing is kind of a guy-thing, though, isn't it? I mean just another Fish Tale gone awry... It was this big! No- It was thiiiiiiiiiissssssss big! Speaking of- what's with the website "bigjimindustries" - I mean really- an industry? And *big*??? Come on, Jimmy, fess up- *it* is as long as your stay in prison, am I right?

Ok- joking aside- I do think this is a male problem- maybe not with all males, but definitely some. No, no- not the *size* problem- although...Anyhow- Once I was taking a stroll through the ship (I used to work for a cruise line) with the doctor and we passed the Captain. Howyados', hows the weathers, a little gossip on the issues of the day, and the like. Nothing exciting from my point of view. At lunch, we're chatting about the issues of the day- and Doc is all- "I had a meeting with the Captain about that...blah blah blah." Now, come on- a meeting? Like a sit down, hash it out, stated my opinion and changed and reformed was it sounded like from him. Meanwhile, I'm scratching my head wondering what I missed- because I WAS AT THAT *MEETING* and it sure didn't sound as revolutionary as all that. So maybe guys are just born exaggerators... what do you think?

OK- so back to our topic at hand- The Larry King transcripts are up (I had to tape the interview and am now so over it, I'll probably not even watch) but, from the transcripts- Frey skirted the questions, asserting the heart of his story- alcoholism and drug abuse- was pure. Oprah called in and decided to stand by that, although, I think she was on the fence before calling to pardon Frey at the last hour. (About as close as lawbreaking Frey will be to a pardon, apparently)

My favorite quote of the transcript (and not because of anything Frey-related- just think it is funny in an Oh-no-he-didn't! kind of way):

"FREY: I don't think -- I think you could probably find people who would dispute every memoir that was ever published. And a lot of them have been disputed. When Jerzy Kosinski's "Painted Bird" came out and became a big success several years afterwards, people said, "You know what? Jerzy Kosinski never went through the Holocaust." It's happened with a number of recent memoirs. It tends to happen with a lot of the more high-profile memoirs.

KING: And Jerzy killed himself. I'm not suggesting"

I'm not suggesting...Larry King- you crack me up.

Monday Morning QB's & Hypocrites

2006-01-11T12:31:00.000-08:00

Lordy- just checked Frey's Amazon comments and found pages and pages of "angry" reviewers...or so they would have you believe. I doubt any of these are actual book reviews- from actual readers... Jan 10th and 11th and so on- all you can find are reviews about the book being a fraud and decrees of a book of lies. Well, gee- easy to say now isn't it? I mean, okay- some people had doubts, but when you go public waving your "I knew it!" flag now it is the sort of ridiculousness of a Monday morning QB. Besides- who is the embellisher now? Writing a negative comment for a book you never read is.... embellishing. And for all the reviews before TSG report- did you really love it or did you just want to sound like one of the cool kids at Mizz O's lunch table? All I have to say is that IF I had recommended the book- people would probably say- "gosh, Cin, you really think this is good? I mean, all the swearing and vomit and Capitalization? I dunno."That's the power of the big "O" for you.

This is a great example of why Amazon comments are stupid. Anyone can say anything, anytime.

As for my opinion on what Frey is accused of doing- well- this just goes to show how desperate people are to sell books- and just how hard it is to actually do it. I can't say I blame him for trying. I can't imagine doing that to my family, so I'd never. But, it wasn't like he set out to inspire people or even to be an Oprah pick- he just wanted to sell his book. The rest was just a ride he took along with that wild train. Perhaps it has derailed, but I doubt it- he just sold a couple more books, he's made a good deal of money, and I bet there will be more people buying this book (and all that fiction he couldn't sell before) even knowing the "truth."

Gotta love a good train wreck, huh, Mr. Frey? Maybe someone will use yours in their Autobiography...

Whatever the case- the Larry King interview should be interesting.

James Frey - Felony Use of Flagrant Capitalization

2006-01-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

There is a big stink from The Smoking Gun on the accuracy of events in the "non-fiction" memoir: A Million Little Pieces (an Oprah Book Club pick if you live under a rock). Seems this most hated soccer playing outcast frat boy might have stretched the truth a bit... or as he might have penned it: Most Hated Soccer Playing Outcast Frat Boy.... My hard hitting question for Mr. Frey- what's with all the Caps??? Huh? Punk?

From TSG's report, Frey was just about every guy I knew in college-just your average drug-dabbling drunk who liked to imagine their life was just a little more exciting than everyone elses.

As for Mizz O getting duped into checking the author photo every couple of pages to ensure that the guy in the book really did survive it all... well, I'm really not surprised. I realized Mizz O didn't possess the shovel with which to dig truths when she questioned the Olsen twins on their weight (aired shortly before Mary-Kate was outted for her eating disorder). Mizz O seemed to take their giggled answer that because they were short and couldn't wear normal sizes that they just didn't know what size they were and that weight was not something they even gave a thought to. Mizz O just smiled and nodded, and went on with other questions...

I'd like to see Frey on Dr. Phil for compulsive embellishment- that would be some good TV! They could duel with phrases like "Get Real" and "Hold On".

Just an FWI

2006-01-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

Which FYI... means FYI... because my silly brain keeps telling me F- WHY?-I. Seriously, I don't often even catch it...

(and FWI... since I'm trying to blog more in 2006- this is the quality of post you should expect to see much more of. Sorry, I've protected you as long as I could.)

It's a Dog Eat Cookie World

2006-01-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Last night I was chatting with my Mom, telling her about how Kodiak (my chow/shep mix) sometimes has this look on his face and way of jogging that totally reminds me of Bowser (my deceased full Chow). SO, this prompts her memory and she starts talking about this comic strip I created a gazillion year ago dedicated to all of Bowsie's antics. I titled it "It's a Dog Eat Cookie World" (TM).

Now, if I do say so myself, I had some talent there. I sometimes come across these old cartoon strips and think- hey, those are pretty good. They really captured his dog-a-nality... They are funny and well drawn.

So, I tell this to my Mom- and she agreed... which struck me as odd, because while, of course, she liked them- she never really suggested I do anymore than hang up my markers. I asked her about that and she seemed surprised and speculated that the reason she never encouraged me was most likely because and I quote, "You probably had about 9 thousand irons in the fire."

Finally! See, my mother is very, very opinionated- problem is- she never ever, ever, ever shares her opinion about you, with you (which usually means, I assume the worst). Obviously the above example is very innocuous- shouldn't offend me at all- and it absolutely doesn't (hence my reply- "Well, don't I always?")- but I was so happy to finally, actually hear her tell me her true opinion and not just smile and nod and glaze over with that- well, whatever you want to do is just lovely, and why oh why would I have anything critical to share?- look on her face.

I should say- in her defense- she absolutely does encourage my writing (as do all of family and extended family)- but, when I share my story ideas with her- she starts to get that look- and now I know that it doesn't mean "I don't know, Cin, that story just doesn't resonate with me" - it means: "Uh, oh- sounds like too many irons going into the fire!" Which, I can live with...

The Accountability of Cin

2006-01-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

No longer will judging myself be my responsibility....I'm relocating that task back to the public at large where it belongs.

New for 2006, a little feature of my blog will include highlighting the little things in my life that sometimes go unnoticed and sometimes keep me up at night kicking myself. So, instead of ignoring them or beating myself up with them- I'm just going to get them out there- send them out into the world with this little blog, where they will get the credit or condemnation they deserve. So for starters:

Why I'm a self absorbed idiot:
Yesterday we returned from two weeks of vacation- a co-worker whom I adore (she's knowledgeable, warm, crafty and is one of the only people who always remembers to include me in her department's functions- see my office is in another department's area- so most people are too confused to include me in the birthdays and cake and whatever- but not this wonderful woman)- so, she comes into my office first thing, and I'm all distracted with a failed hard drive on the AS400 that, like, runs everything financial, and she needs her user ID reset. So I ask how her holidays were... "Could have been better" she replies, sounding on the verge of tears. Then it hits me- her brother died in a tragic car crash like two days before we went to break (someone else had to use her profile- which was why her password no longer worked). I knew this! I felt like a complete idiot!

Why I'm a hero:
Today, in the office bathroom- the toilet paper was a full roll- jammed in its plastic casing and refusing to come out. I sacrificed my fingers, getting them horribly scraped on the serrated shredding apparatus- but am able after several attempts to free the paper so that it would work properly throughout the rest of its existence. I'm sort of a germ-a-phob in public restrooms, so this was above and beyond. I had to use copious amounts of "Luxury Foam" (Luxury foam? It's soap! There are no pearls of satiny-softness in it- it isn't even infused with lotion or a pastel color, even.)

So, okay- they don't exactly balance each other out... and, admittedly the hero thing was still a selfish act... but, hopefully, over time, we'll start to see a trend toward a kinder, more unselfish Cindy...

Whadda Shockkkaahhh....

2006-01-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

The first shocker of 2006- Lindsay Lohan admits to bulimia. No, really? I'm so glad that's all been cleared up- I'd hate to think of all the girls out there who thought diet and exercise might have been the culprit.

Fun w/ Query Letters and Booze

2005-12-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

Totally ganked from Livejournal's Agent Obscura and her commenter Mandywriter . After AgentObscura's long list of drinking game for agents (too many- go see for yourself)... writer commenter added the following:

"I've got a better game... us writers can gather our rejection letters and drink away our sorrow.
1 drink- any letter that begins with "Dear Author"
1 drink- any letter that says "Just not right for us"
2 drinks- any letter that says "our client list is very full..."

1 drink- any letter that aplogizes for the use of a form letter
2 drinks- any letter that puts the actual name of your submission on it.
1 drink- any letter that reminds the writer that publishing is a 'subjective business'

2 drinks- any letter that encourages you to submit your future work
2 drinks- a letter that has your actual name, typed correctly

3 drinks- any rejection that comes in within 4 hours.
3 drinks- a rejection that takes more than 6 months.

3 drinks- any letter that says what they didn't like about your submission, and it makes sense.
3 drinks- a letter that says what they didn't like, and it DOESN'T make sense

2 drinks- any letter that says they "just didn't connect with it"

Last, the whole bottle- you got a request!!
~Amanda H."

And Nadia's additions:

"Amanda - that is so hot...To which, I must say that Agents need ones for Editor Rejections:

1 drink - "I'm sorry to have taken so long to get back to you..."
2 drinks - any time an agent uses the word "ALAS"
1 drink - "I really liked this but..."
a whole bottle - "Is this author's first language English?"
1 drink - "I'm sure you'll find a good home for this elsewhere."

or

1 drink for every author who signs with someone else without letting you know (before you read the manuscript)
1 drink - for the authors who call you to let you know that they just sold the book you rejected (sigh)
1 drink - for the book that sells that sound EXACTLY like one you just took on to represent

or for editors

1 drink for every manuscript you really love that you lose to another editor who could pay more
1 drink for the project you took home over the weekend to read, but then was pre-empted on monday
1 drink for every agent who calls you while you have a deadline to meet
1 drink for every one of the 46 meetings you have to go to each week
1 drink for long revision letter you write to an author, that the author then uses to fix their manuscript and sell elsewhere.........

::sigh::::> but, I like the query letter one best."

I Left My Heart In...

2005-11-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

the mail?

Yep- it's time to get my Golden Heart ready for her maiden flight... and I found all my little panicky questions answered here - could it be any easier??? Nope. Why, oh why don't more resources put these kinds of instructions out there- like perhaps on the contest site itself?!

Well, anyhow- thanks Vancouver Island RWA- who in conjunction with Google made it all possible.

If I win, I will be sure to add you both to my acceptance speech! (Now, see- making promises like that will surely tempt fate... don'tcha think?)

The Breaded Synopsis

2005-11-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am trying to give the dreaded synopsis a new image, a more enticing one, and nothing makes food more pleasant than breading it! Just look what it has done for the eggplant!

See, the synopsis is the equivalent of the “So tell me a little about yourself” question in the interviewing process. It sounds so simple, but it’s hard to pick and choose what to say, what is relevant and what will wow them.

Most people hate them. I can see why. I got really depressed when I tried my hand at it the first time- but then I realized my problem: I was trying to summarize a 900 page + book. And if it took me 900 pages to write the book, I guess it is safe to say I can be a little long in the wind. Whateves. I’m working on it.

SO, yes- it is time to revise my synopsis for the Golden Heart, and as it stands it is 14 pages (double spaced). I’d like to cut that down to more like 5-8 pages, for a number of reasons… And after perusing other blogs (see there is a benefit- it’s not just about procrastination) I’ve become inspired.

Jennifer Crusie does this collage thing (and here)- very artsy- and while looking at them, I thought- you know, I bet this helps cut to the core of the story without losing its spirit (which is usually what happens when I first try to summarize). So, I’m going to work on a collage for my YA- and hopefully that will help me summarize without squeezing any of the life out of my story!

Besides, who doesn’t love a glue gun?? (Okay, I can hear you, you're saying- sounds like just more procrastination. But who clicked on the link to go see Jennifer Crusie’s crafts? Huh?)

Inject them with ???

2005-09-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Okay- so I'm one of these writers that has nooo problems coming up with ideas. I have, like 30 pretty darn good starts, and I usually let them stew for awhile and during this time I may have little ideas that I jot down, because if I don't the brilliance never returns. So, I have tons of notebooks, and they have no order. It is all chaos. Half the time, I'm jotting something down while half asleep, at an odd angle, pen barely connecting with paper, and with my eyes still closed.

So, that brings me to problem #1: What the heck did I mean by "They inject themselves with blabah scribblyscrub?"

Who are they? Why would they inject themselves with anything? And what the heck was blabah scribblyscrub????

I only hope I don't die and leave a bunch of these bizarre notes behind... my poor mother.

Early Christmas!!!

2005-08-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Play dress up with Orlando Bloom? I'm in! C'Ya!

The King of Sack Crack, B-Baby!

2005-08-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

What do Jill Monroe and Jennifer Aniston have in common? They both find the following incredibly hysterical. (Warning: Not suitable for children, sweet old ladies, puppies, or Brad Pitt fans)

Guilty Pleasures...

2005-08-11T08:37:00.001-07:00

Okay, I admit that on some level my YA book research is merely an excuse to validate my guilty pleasures- such as watching teen dramady's... so, as Hillary Duff sings, "I'm coming clean."

First off, I do like her and especially this song (mainly because it is the opening music to one of my other guilty pleasures) but I also like to make fun of her. I don't know why that is, maybe she just asks for it. I feel the same way about Brittney- I mean I like her, and I love to make fun of her. Is that so wrong?

So some of my other compulsions of late:

Veronica Mars- Wow- love this show, love Veronica, love her hair.

Laguna Beach- Yep I get the fake reality TV show and the teen dramady all in one show! And a Hillary Duff song- who could resist? Oh, and that Stephen guy whose only line appears to be "we'll see" reminds me of a Rick Springfield in his prime (and now my age is showing like a thong in a pair of cheap low riders, but I don't care. He was hot, I was there, and it's true.)

Rock Star INXS- Oh man, love it. I love music, all kinds- Barry Manilow to Marilyn Manson. You heard me, Barry Manilow- hey, Mandy rocks and I don't care who you are, if you disagree, you're just lying. She came and she gave without taking, what do you want-people- her soul? But I really, really love good re-mixes and RS is proving to have a few of those- Like JD's California Dreamin' and Marty's Mr. Brighteyes (Can I just say, I loved the sarcastic way he sang the first refrain- classic!!). I even grooved on whatsherfaces "Losing my Religion". But most of all, I'm crushing on Dave Navarro. Can the guy be any nicer? Carmen is a lucky lady is all I'm saying.

Juicy Couture- Just bought a purse that I'm way too old to have, but damn it, I love it. It's got a tie dye scarf. What can I say? I love the little bizillion dollar tricks Prada has even though they are a rip off. Heck, I'm just one of those people who bought the Louis Vuitton purse because it had a little brass padlock on it. "It's cute" I think was my justification and I stand by it. Now Cloe has one with a big padlock that's a dime and five, ouch.

Orlando Bloom- Okay, so I'm a total Cougar for lusting after him, but if loving him is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Coldstone Cake Batter Ice Cream- (with sprinkles) I think after a certain age, you are expected to have the patience to wait until something is cooked before eating it. Oprah even claimed that if you eat batter than you have something wrong with you, but then again she promotes books where the people eat dirt, so ??

So, there you have it. That's how I roll.

"Cuz the boyz in the hood are always hard
You come talkin' that trash we'll pull your card
Knowin' nothin' in life but to be legit'
Don't quote me boy, cuz i ain't said shit..."

About Last Night...

2005-08-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, it was Saturday night, and apparently what happens in Reno does not stay in Reno.

And the award for bad taste goes to RWA... Celebrating 25 years... yes, I think a 25 years in review was a cute idea, even liked the eighties fashion show (the first limo). Would have been better if the Frankie Says Relax t-shirt wasn't worn by the 1990 presenter, but hey, I'm picky- it was my fave shirt in seventh grade (which would have been '84 ish if you're wondering). I thought the romantic Princess Di wedding stuff was about as icky as showing John Jr. waving from his plane (no, they didn't do that, I'm just making a point). Celebrating women- hmm, let's see- we had Monica Lewinsky, Lorena Bobbitt, Tonya Harding... but no Amy Fisher??!! And what about that lady who drowned her kids, where was she? Yes, it was that depressing- but if we just slap on a Bobby McFerrin song, no one will notice, right? If I didn't know better, I might have thought this was done on purpose- a really, bad attempt at an indy Michael Moore-esq comedy noir attempt. But this will never play at Sundance, and yes should not have played at Reno. But, even as icky as it all was, I was more irritated by my feet throbbing after the two mile hike in three inch heels through the casino we were forced to go on.

Am I naïve in giving these people the benefit of the doubt? I mean, really, after the last scandal- the two people in love question- or the one before that- the graphical standards thing, or before that… I don’t know, I just joined, but it seems like a lot of stupidity for such a short time.

For more entertaining Reno moments: Stoney the cop and the Sombrero... can be seen here. Shortly after/during a sweet little soccer Mom showed up with Sex on the Beach shots and things got crazy.

Pics of my horses

2005-07-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Rain aka "Raniac" 2year old 3/4 Kiger + 1/4 South Steens Mustang
Mariachi aka "Mari" - Kiger mustang mare
Catalina aka "Cat" Kiger mustang mare and me

Catalina and filly

Writing about Horses...Myths and Rants (long)

2005-07-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is a bit of a rant... every so often I pop over to Romance Central, yesterday I see this helpful posting. And by helpful, I mean a rant of sorts. Okay, I get it- in a way. I have horses, lots of them- primarily mustangs of Spanish origin. I have ridden both English and Western, worked as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Colorado, started colts...basically all sorts of experiences. I read books with horses- in fact if there is one on the cover I will buy it on principal. And, I have read thing that make me roll my eyes. Yes, when you are an "expert" in a field it will happen. My nurse friend bickers about Grey's Anatomy- but hey- no one is studying to be a doctor by watching the show. No, it is entertainment. So, yes some liberties and creative license will be taken. But I digress... I am irritated with this particular rant. Mostly because he is wrong.

Charles Montgomery www.authorsinc.com/ - K, so I can't find him on this site (which has a very annoying way of fading in and out)- so I can't confirm his experience or see pics of his ranch life. I did try to google his name and there is a Canadian journalist who is pretty cute, but no horses. This guy did grow up on a farm??? Could I be ranting about a cute guy? You know what they say about sparks!!

Well, here's the deal- he makes several points and we'll address them all here:

"Myth 1: You cannot guide a horse with your knees." - He claims you will end up in the dirt if you try this. Um...no. I guide my horses with my "legs" all the time- it is how you cue them to take up a lead for instance. Is it my "knee"- not exactly- more the whole leg or the heel or my seat (hipbone/weight)- depending on exactly what I want. But point here is that this isn't all that wrong of a statement. Some people do believe that the reins are for steering and the legs are for speed- but not all. Most horses (untrained- just raw) move in a way that will keep them balanced- so if you put more weight on one side, the horse will move into it to balance itself. Now, that said, you can train a horse to move away from pressure- so use the legs, some use the bridle (reins- mouth for a snaffle, neck for a curb bit)

"Myth 2: You saddle a horse, step into the saddle, and ride the bucking bronco until he quits" - On this one I agree with him- this is not a good practice for training a horse. Does it happen, though? Yes. Many trainers are idiots who believe this. If you work around horses will you ever get a horse that responds like this? yes. Because they were trained by an idiot and there are a lot of them out there. So for the purpose of story writing- just use this to show that the character is an idiot, a bad guy, OR show how the good character can work this horse through this is a productive manner. But don't try to make your hero look good by riding a bucking bronco unless he his specifically training for competition with such animals.

"Myth 3: The word Stallion is not in the vocabulary of horse people" - Well, yes, most people in the horse business refer to uncut male horses of any age as studs. The word stallion is used, is understood, and even appears on show forms for halter classes- so it's not like this is such a big deal to get wrong. Stallion is more romantic, is it not? And honestly- depending on the area and time period- it may well be the more common term. In my parts, people call them studs almost exclusively, but would understand you if you said stallion.

"Myth 4: You can disguise a horse by changing it’s color or some other such foolishness." - Um, yeah, this is pretty dumb. I'd advise against it. I can tell my horses by the way they hold their head, their walk. I can identify them from a distance by their shape. If someone is familiar with a horse, they will know it even if it is covered by a blanket. I have two mares that are identical in color and markings- there is no way I would ever confuse them even from a great distance, but most casual observers do. So use this, if you must, just be sure you are fooling people who don't matter- like the police or the guy at the guard gate or the wealthy owner who doesn't have dust on his shoes- but not the trainer or the groom.

"Myth 5: There’s no such thing as a rodeo circuit." Yes there is- there are several- the Dodge Rodeo Circuit for one. Do a search on Rodeo Circuit- you'll get responses. A Rodeo circuit is where the points from those events get calculated together for an end of season total. It is generally speaking a higher level of competition. Local rodeos are different. Would a cowboy say "I'm going on the rodeo circuit." Probably not, he'd probably say "Goin' to Gainesville, you?"- just like with anything, when you are embedded in the life, you drop off all the qualifiers when you speak about it. It doesn't mean they don't exist, though.

So, here's the deal- in the horseworld there are a lot of people who are "experts"- if you are researching, good luck. Chances are you will talk to an idiot. I have known people who have been around horses all their lives- blahdiddtyblahblahblah - and they do stupid things. One of my good friends is an idiot- her boyfriend is supposedly a trainer- but I'd never ever send my horse to him. Also, depending on the location, the type of riding/competing/whatever you are writing on will change everything- terms used, methods used, types of horse used.

Some of my own rants: 1> Arabians- they show up everywhere. Most cowboys hate them (even though they do pretty good on cows). But is it possible that Big, Rich Cattle Baron/Texas Rancher guy has an expensive, well bred Araibian stallion- sure, it's possible- very weird, IMO, but I'm sure it happens. 2> The popular not-good-with-horses girl (or child, or whatever) has emotional break down and takes off on a wild stallion scene- yes, a lovely plot device, yes it is possible. It is more likely that the rider will get his/her neck broke and the animal will get hurt (esp. if it is a Thoroughbred). 3> The insatiable need to define everything- "saddle- a leather apparatus used for riding a horse" - lordy, I'd rather have a glossary in the back than have this defined in the text. 4> Putting a horse on your cover and not including a horse in your story. DIE!!!! But give me my money back first.

Getting Gas NJ Style- Authors Beware!

2005-07-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, so over on Romancing the Blog the other day there was this post about writing what you know... the funny thing was the comments. Apparently a lot of NJ readers take issue to books that refer to people pumping their own gas in that fine state. Okay, First: How many books actually refer to people pumping gas? In New Jersey? Come on. Second: Why would there be any reference to this, unless the character was making note of how odd it is that it is against the law to pump your own gas.

I just don't see how this can be such a big thing, because how many plots are furthered by the need for a character to be pumping his/her own gas? In NJ no less. It is such a mundane thing (unless, again, you are making reference to the bizarro NJ law) that it shouldn't be in the book. As the reader, I would be more annoyed at having to read however many words needed to be dedicated to this action to imply that gas was being pumped and that it was being pumped by someone other than the attendant. In fact, I can scarcely think up a scenario that this would truly forward the plot. Stopping the car to get out for a Slurpee or to pull a Britney Spears and use the restroom- eeewww barefoot, would be more interesting than pumping gas.

The Next Great American Pizza!

2005-07-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Heehee- I just love it... I just yanked an entire scene (don't worry-waste not- it will fit better in the sequel). I'm at the stage in my highly technical pantser plotting method of madness where I am no longer trying to get page count, but am actually trying to cut page count! *does a very embarrassing imitation of Michael Flatley*

This is the best part for me, because it happens so infrequently for me. I am an avid starter and not a very good finisher... In the beginning I love watching those pages chug upwards- but I find my books tend to be very front heavy and peter out toward the finish, if I even give them one. Not good. And usually it is at this very stage that I put the book aside and work on next great project idea (which I have btw- but it's a shhh! secret of course). So, if I can get past this stage of writing it is a very very good sign- and usually my self doubt shuts the hell up and my interest starts to perk again.

So here's how book inspiration works for me- a liken it to making a pizza. First I start with a few ingredients- your basic- flour, water... whatever else goes into a crust- and I make this lumpy, doughy blob out of it. Then I start rolling it out, making page count, and at some point I toss it in the air and see if it spins. Then I lump and roll, lump and roll, toss. And if I stay with it I get to a point where I have what sort of look like a basic pizza sans toppings. It has the look of a book, the general length perhaps, but it isn't very good. Because it is still just dough. At this stage I might freak out because I was expecting to look down and see a finished pizza- hot and ready to eat. I might say- "Cindy- you suck, you call that a pizza?" I might start trying again on pizza number two- the Next Great American Pizza!

But, if I manage to keep my dementia in check, I realize that I'm already looking at the very promising start of the next great American Pizza- and I start layering on the toppings - making it more active, really getting into the character's bodies, the setting, etc... Then it still needs to be cooked - here I really turn up the heat and crank the tension part.

Then I eat it up with my final read through! Yum!!!

For the love of Scottie McMullet...

2005-07-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

As a follow up on the war against bad cover art and cheesy titles, this cracks me up!

It's my business, that's why

2005-06-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Over on Leigh Wyndfield's blog she is discussing bad cover art. Now, as a newbie I'm still not over the fact that authors don't have a say (or much of one) on cover art or titles.

This really is upsetting for me- more upsetting than any other aspect of the industry, because my books ARE my business, they are my products- so why don't I get to name the store and decorate the door? Two of the key ingredients to attracting new customers?

I love picking out my titles, they are often one of the first things I have to go on. Personally, I think mine are brilliant. One can only hope that the PTB agree with me, from what I've been hearing, though, it doesn't sound very promising.

As for bad cover art, I don't think that will be as easy to get over. People do judge a book by it's cover and I don't want to have to smile and promote a book that I wouldn't pick up.

So many book covers scream to me- "This book isn't for you!!" not the other way around. This is bad business folks.

I think the goal of any business that wants to grow should be to reach out to people who are on the periphery of their market. I used to work in the cruise industry- 6 years + on the high seas. Our primary market at the time I started was older folks who had the time and money to cruise. Well, that represented such a tiny fraction of the traveling population. So, did they market with an even more geriatric campaign, warning all the young families that this experience wasn't for them? No! They made their product appealing to everyone, shorter cruises, flexible meal times, no forced seating charts or strict attire guidelines. In a few short years, the cruise industry has grown so much in fact that there aren't enough ports for ships, to increase berthing they now have mega ships. The growth is crazy because they went outside of the choir to preach.

All of those people who say "I don't read those books" are your peripheral market- they buy books- just not those books. They are the people we need to shake the dollars out from. They are untapped.

Granted, every book is not for every reader and nothing bothers me more than false advertising by way of cover art. But fact is new readers are attracted by cover art, readers are kept with what they find inside the cover. Don't scare them away from the store with a hideous display before they even get to the door handle, I want their business.

Grrrr.....

2005-06-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

So, I'm in the ladies room (which is how a lot of my stories start btw) and some random co-worker asks while we wash our hands, "Awake yet?", "Nope," I say. "Haha, you look like I feel."

Huh? Polite warm smile fades away, initiate blank eye sequence, ignite shoulder freezing technology- you know the basic "I'm no longer actually communicating with you even though you are talking to me" stance. She continues with the nervous giggles, showing me that it has worked, she realizes she has said something wrong, but can't believe how rude I'm being by not making her feel okay about it. Intense babble pursues as she tries desperately to dig her hole deeper talking about makeup, which I can only presume is another dig.

Ugh, sorry lady, I don't do backhanded comments. Here's a tip, just say "Me, too" or "I hate mornings" - don't give me some line of crap about how you feel the same way I do, but look oh so fresh and lovely compared - because ya don't. Ya look like a big ass no matter how great your makeup is. And that 1970's floral, combination drapes/mumu is doing nothing for ya, either. (Now I know what you're saying, "hey that sounded like a backhanded comment, and you just said you don't do those." You're absolutely right, but, but... 1. She started it. and 2. She started it!!!)

I've been here 11 months and have yet to bond with these people- and not for a lack of trying- but when one doesn't have grandchildren or children apparently they aren't worthy for chit-chat. Oh, their faces just light up at the cackling sound of a fellow breeder discussing her flock, but there is just so much I can do with weather. I work with lots of older women- hence lots of grandchildren. When I talk about my dog I get the blank look of church people who believe that animals don't have souls, much less brains. So, I provide you with Exhibit A, above, as why my dog is smarter than these people.

This can't be right...can it?

2005-06-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I realize that my new work is a young adult... what I didn't realize is that I'm not. Let's go to the back story to get a better idea of how this could happen:

See, I got into writing because there was no math, which is a huge fallacy- just try to have a discussion on page count and formatting- lots of math!- anyhow... I have also learned that my plotting style is commonly referred to as a "Pantser" - now back in my day (ahem, proof that I'm not a YA- I had my day... and it was "back") a pantser was someone who would sneak behind you and yank down your drawers at the most embarrassing moment possible. In writingland a pantser is someone who doesn't do a lot of plotting and just writes as things come into their head or by the seat of their pants (I'm going to spare you my pithy jokes about posteriors, since I'm an adult and all. Ack). The other option is a "Plotter" - you can tell these folks by their bulk index card orders. Their heroines have never yelled at them about getting painted into a corner and left for two months because the muse went on strike and negotiations to get it back got bloody, nooo.... So, while I will always fall a little on the pantser side, I see the need for the order and disciplined writing that being a plotter can provide- and thus I bought my first set of index cards (the shrink wrap is still on them, btw, just keeping it real). I also decided I should do a character profile- again, not something I had ever bothered with because my characters are my friends- they come to me as people- they're real dammit! But, OK I figured I'd give it a try.

Big Mistake- When determining my main character's birthday the world came to an abrupt dog-flying-into-the-front seat stop. See, she was born the very same year that I graduated high school. YIKES!!!! Can that be true? I re-did the math, even using a calculator. Sheesh! What the hell happened?

A little bit Paranormal

2005-06-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

Okay- so I keep referring to my current WIP as "A little bit paranormal". Is that like saying a little bit pregnant? I think so! I guess because there are no aliens (well maybe some), no vampires (well, I wouldn't rule them out), no ghosts (wait- no... got those), time travel (definite poss.), realm travel (yeah), can a role playing game become real (sure)... then yeah, looks like it is a paranormal. Without giving away too much- let's just say that if Fantasy Island was a paranormal than so is this. I guess because most of the actual book takes place in the grounded world, I think of it as not being all that paranormal- but the premise is 100% paranormal, and if you pee on the stick it will be blue, or have a plus, or whatever...you get the idea.

Okay, so nevermind that six months ago I didn't even glance at the paranormal section of the book store (Gena Showalter opened my eyes to a whole new world of books! She rocks! and her heros are yummy!!! Go. Buy. Now!), and that when asked if I ever considered writing it the answer was a quick "No" with a soon to follow more contemplative, "All the authors doing that sort of thing are too good at it, I could never compete." This stemming from the recent realization that Vampires can't poop (who knew? - the friggin' paranormal authors, that's who!). So, I dismissed it, thinking- if I even tried I'd trip over some crazy vampire lore or mythological fact that would pretty much mark my work as a complete fraud. I live in fear of readers pelting me with rotten tomatoes.

Then, then!!! I got an idea. Ooohhhh.... I just love that tingly sensation when the right side of the brain is humming along creating its new little world and left side is saying "yes! yes! yes! I get it!" Usually my left side poo-poo's and bah-hum-bug's things, says "Yeah, but...", "What your forgetting is..." and "That sucks." (Keep in mind I don't have a husband to say these things for me.)

SO, anyhoo... I am rocking with my idea- it was born on May 20th (I remember, because I was in a software training session for work and should have been paying attention to that). I now have 250 pages roughed in (Synopsis and proposal roughed as well- more to come on my feelings about synopsises {sp?}) *see proof of how amateurish I am- I don't know how to plural-ify synopsis*

So what genre is it you ask?

It's a YA (2/3rds of it is at least) and I suppose you could call it an Inspirational, too- if you get over some of the language and activities and the fact that it doesn't discuss religion, chic lit (sorta), time travel (could be), there's a little suspense, pinch of mystery... but mostly it is a little bit Paranormal.

And who the hell are you?

2005-06-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Good question. In addition to being a blog lurker and occasional poster (generating aforementioned question). I'm a fledgling writer (and by that I mean I've been writing since I was about 12, so half my life and then some, okay it is almost 2/3 of my life - in the immortal words of Napoleon Dynamite- gosh.) I have only recently taken it seriously, as in joined RWA and local (Oklahoma City- Outlaws rock!) gone to RT convention and learned what synopsis should include and all the other nuts and bolts things that I had the "hear no evil/see no evil" approach to. Since I'm severely grammatically challenged, these revelations are frightening. I envision some bookish sort reading my manuscript and tsk-tsking like a June bug in August.

The first thing I learned upon joining RWA is that you need to know what you write, because the stock question for any newbie is "So, what do you write." Well, books. *irate buzzer sound* Wrong. Apparently I need to have genre, which, I'm sorry, is pretty darn stifling for me. As for what I write well, lots of stuff- my WIPS (which, again, wasn't what I had hoped it was): I have a murder mystery series that I like to believe is something of a Leonard Elmore/Quintin Terrantino cross (not very romantic, but would probably fall into the "with Romantic Elements" category if you shoved it real hard off a cliff). I have a brothers trilogy that is not quite romantic suspense, but you could call it that (of course, it's a free country so you could call it anything, couldn't you?). I have several YA ideas, they are probably a little on the "realistic" side, one is a paranormal series (which I'll blog about soon- I'm very excited about this one). On the completed side: a Montana Family legacy which- yikes! How did I channel Tolstoy?- ended up being 900+ pages.

Which brings us to lesson #2: Formatting is important. Don't finish the book and then figure it out later. Don't format it in a way that you want to read it or see it on the page. Removing extra spaces between every paragraph or dialog is a bitch and not the righteous kind. Trust me.

For the love of Blog!

2005-06-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone's doing it. It has always been my favorite excuse.

City of Cin

And finally those pics of Paul Walker...

Friday... I'm in love!

Blogger hates me

Blogger hates me

Grumble grumble

Grumble grumble

You had me at hello...

Still Snoopy Dancing

It's Official!

Friday...I'm in Love

Query Vindication!

One more....

It's Friday... I'm in Love!

Back to the Blog

It's Friday...I'm in Love!

It's Friday...I'm in love

It's Friday... I'm in Love

Never Go Back Again

And I thought only evil clowns had this effect on me

It's Friday... I'm in love

Why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"

It's Friday...I'm in LOVE!

It's Friday...I'm in LOVE!

It's Friday, I'm in LOVE!

Because you can't fall up, silly

Progress

Commercials

Hot-Lanta

Googling for a Cure

Tales from the Day Job

I didn't want to do it...

The Mis-Independence of Cin

The Breaded Synopsis II

Thanks for having my back Microsoft!

Cindy's Rock

The End Part 2

The End

This is the part of the blog where...

Internalization- the nasty side of the biz

Revision H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

This Week's $5 word: Schadenfreude

Dream A Little Dream

Fly-by Updates...

The Way-ay-ting is the Hardest Part

DARA

Random stuff...

Silence is SO not Golden

First Times...always special...not always great

Got Jock Support?

Nakid Plotting

Wait...Wait.. Hurry up!

Processed Cheese Wiz

Shhh... Secret

Validation's not just for parking

I can't help it

BigJim- hmmm...bet he *embellished* that, too!

Monday Morning QB's & Hypocrites

James Frey - Felony Use of Flagrant Capitalization

Just an FWI

It's a Dog Eat Cookie World

The Accountability of Cin

Whadda Shockkkaahhh....

Fun w/ Query Letters and Booze

I Left My Heart In...

The Breaded Synopsis

Inject them with ???

Early Christmas!!!

The King of Sack Crack, B-Baby!

Guilty Pleasures...

About Last Night...

Pics of my horses

Writing about Horses...Myths and Rants (long)

Getting Gas NJ Style- Authors Beware!

The Next Great American Pizza!

For the love of Scottie McMullet...

It's my business, that's why

Grrrr.....

This can't be right...can it?

A little bit Paranormal

BigJim- hmmm...bet he embellished that, too!