I MISSED A MONTH!

I am naturally talking about my blogging and not that I'm pregnant. So don't get all excited about the post. Well, actually, do get excited about it but it's not about what you may think.

I feel really bad because a whole month whizzed by and where I had every intention of posting I just couldn't get it together. Sad to say this was also the same for the writing. I did work on the finished book and traded critiques and chapters with a fellow writer. So I am counting that as productive work. It was completely necessary and very helpful and inspiring.

Inspiring because we both shared honest thoughts on our books and in the end I feel more confident and positive that what my friend and I have written will someday be publish worthy. Not to toot our own horn but, BEEP BEEP! We are on the road to publication, baby.

So after the month of September encompassing rewrites, critiques, a trip to Legoland and the general reorganizing of my life...I'm BACK!

And all I can say is it's a great feeling to be writing again and working toward that goal of Published Author.

Now, if I can just revamp my query letter to incorporate all I learned at the conference in July life will be great.

The goal now is to start sending out more queries in November. I'll need to recalculate the Rejection verses MIA queries to date at another time because frankly I have no idea at this time.

What I do know is this:

I have one book down. It's sequel a quarter or the way done. And a whole new book that's at 9,000 words so far.(That's the one I'm moving on right now since I was told to have two completely different novels done in order to get more interested parties.)

Let's hope that theory works.

I vow to post more in the coming weeks. Seriously, I do.

Don't judge the horse by his color.

Okay, so time has not been my friend lately, choosing to whiz by at phenomenal speeds leaving me wondering if I'm coming or going. But finally, I have shifted down from fifth gear to a steady second and have time to get caught up.

We have all had those days where just four more hours might make a difference. The last month it felt more like I needed four more months.

I did treat myself though to a fabulous concert at the Hollywood Bowl with some girlfriends. And it was awesome. I will leave out the name on the person we saw that night because I refuse to taint the singers name. All I can say is that it was a person, all right, a guy, who I deeply love to hear sing. So I will let him remain anonymous for the sake of my story.

As the concert began we were all noticing that he seemed a little, I don't know, OFF. He was sweating profusely after the first song and was extremely red in the face. His banter with the crowd was reminiscent of a conversation I had at a happy hour once with a gentleman who had gotten just a little too happy in that hour.

Anyway, my friends started debating the reasons for the artists current state. Alcohol? Drugs? Crazy?

All I could say was, "WHO Cares?" He still brought his A-game to the performance and was funny, charming, and could sing like there was no tomorrow.

So what? If he had a few drinks to relax before the concert. Since he still entertained me and is not bad to look at for someone who is...let's just say close to my age, and leave it at that. He didn't strike me as the out-of-control type like we read about in so many magazines and on the Internet. So I chose not to judge and go with the energy of the concert which was at an all time high (pardon the pun).

To catch you up, I am currently half way through the clean up of my fist book and pushing to be done, yet again, by September 20th. At which point I hope to be cruising on the next book.

Also, the agent from the conference got back to me. And alas I have one more rejection for the ever increasing pile. But the good thing was that she liked my writing and the voice of the book. She said she wasn't taking it on because it wasn't different enough from what she's been getting. In a way that's not a bad rejection. Being that I can't change my concept because it is what it is, I will just move on to the next agent on the list.

Batter up!

Embrace Your Inner Child!

I was at the hair dresser recently and had to take my son along to the appointment.

This is never a big issue because he is really good about entertaining himself and playing with toys or coloring.

Anyway, he was doing some mosaic foam art he had gotten and was just singing his little heart out. My hair dresser looked at me and said, "Wouldn't it be great to be like that. To not care what anyone thought and just do things because they make you feel happy."

And this got me thinking. She was on to something. Why don't we set aside our insecurities and do things once in a while because it makes us feel good? To say the hell with what someone will think and embrace our inner child.

I can admit that I am totally guilty of doing this in my car as I go to and from work. I crank up my radio and sing at the top of my lungs. With the windows closed. I will be the first to admit I can't carry a tune but, the music and singing calms me down...less chance of road rage with this girl.

It's like working out and how you get happy endorphins from the physical activity. I believe that embracing the inner child every now and thin will procure the same effect.

As we get older we lose more and more of our freedom to do what we want and become more a slave to what others may think. It's as if all the carefree abandon of our youth is eking away and being replaced with more inhibitions and self doubt.

Who do we have to blame for this? I like to blame society and the fact that as we get older we have a tendency to get more frustrated with life and the speed with which it starts to pass us by. We have a tendency to forget about the little things in life that can make us happy and reclaim some form of our youth.

So go out today, chase that butterfly, enjoy that popsicle, dance to the music no matter where you are and let that child out. Even if it's for the briefest moment in your otherwise chaotic and stressful day.

Carpe Diem

Branch Out A Little.

I get that most people have their own likes and dislikes.

It reaches into every facet of our lives. What we drive. Music we listen to. Foods we like. Toilet paper.

But, I was driving through the beautiful Shenandoah mountains on my way to visit a woman very dear to our family and found myself scanning the radio for a decent station.

Now, I could have stopped on any number of stations playing songs that were familiar and car-dance worthy but, I didn't. I found myself stopping on a country station. Not my first pick normally.

I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was the lush green of all the trees around me (not your typical site in LA), or the house I passed that looked like a whole generation of deliverance people inhabited the shanty hovel, but something came over me.

As the scan stopped on a down home, heel kicking, boot stomping little ditty, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the tune. It was...fun. I hit the stop on the scan and enjoyed the irony in the lyrics and the way the guitar twang and violin plucking drew me in.

Can I say that I have stopped on this same type of station since returning home...ahhh...negatory. But would I listen to it again if placed back on that mountain road with its inspiring scenery...hell yeah, y'all.

So open up every now and then to something new that you'd never expect to find yourself enjoying. You could be pleasantly surprised and maybe even shock yourself.

This is a belated post. So once I get caught up and out of my time machine I will post more book updates.

I CAN'T GET OVER THIS HIGH!

Okay, stop thinking I do drugs. I mean the high I'm feeling from the left over effects of the conference I just attended. I'm still a little tingly.

It was like taking a shot of adrenaline to the heart. And the effects of that shot are still coursing through my system and keeping my mind on a tailspin of creativity.

I can't believe how great everyone I met along the way had been. And how welcoming the whole RWA staff were and how generous my fellow writers had been.

It has probably annoyed a lot of people in LA to see someone walking around with a cheesy grin plastered on her face for the week but, in the words of Nora Roberts, "Screw them". I am still over the moon about what I gained from my conference experience. More people in my opinion should embrace their passion and let it take hold. It's a lot more fun than worrying about the stuff you only wish you could do and watching others make accomplishments that you know you can do.

I will work on my first few chapters this week to perfect them for the Agents and Editors that requested them at the conference. And I will not poo poo any suggestions or thoughts because I highly respect the friends who are critiquing for me and ultimately want them as my readers as well.

I've realized that what it boils down to for me is having my friends like my stories and want to read more. So, I'll do whatever I can to make my writing worthy of them.

You all know who you are. All I can say right now is--THANKS!

Obviously, no pages to report since I'm back tracking on the first Novel.

Also, no new rejections. This could be good or bad depending on if your a glass half empty or a glass half full type of person.

I am happy to report that the crazy amount of bug bites I received back east have subsided and I believe I am down to one now.

With a tear in the eye & a heavy heart.

Here it is. The final day of the National writing conference and I find myself with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye.

What an amazing four days. I learned a lot through fantastic seminars about the craft of writing as well as the business side and the research it takes to get some stories done.

There were workshops on queries and pitching, finding agents and editors, how to make those sex scenes pop and sizzle, panel discussions, how to craft the breakout novel, and what to do if you have a great idea but aren't sure where to start.

Some people are published. A lot of people are not. But overall published or unpublished didn't matter, everyone was there because of an intense love of writing . It was the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens. Or, sometimes the traveling computer.

I made new friends and met with some old ones, which was the cherry on the monster of all sundaes. The entire weekend infused every cell in my body with electricity and setting my creative soul on fire.

I had my pitch meetings and was asked to send more material. Keep in mind though that most people were asked for something so I am not putting all my eggs in one basket per say. It's not worth getting all giddy over until there is a signed contract. It was a nice boost to the ego in any case.

The last night was the awards ceremony which was the Oscars of the romance world. It was incredible. You can't help but feel proud of what these women have accomplished and strive to be there one day. And I will. In due time.

I can't wait to get home and use some of the invaluable information I've learned over the last few days and make my writing even better.

It's A Small World After All

So, I made it!

I am at the once a year, big brew-ha-ha, writing conference. Since we are at the Swan and Dolphin hotel in Orlando the title of this blog has a hidden meaning. Get it?

Actually I'm not just referencing the theme park ride with lots of cherubic faced little people singing the same verse over, and over, and over again. You know the one.

I was referencing my own experience as I ran to get checked in as soon as possible, then ran to my room, dumped off my belongings, and ran to find where the registration and first timers meeting was.

You see, my flights were delayed. Both flights. And I ran the risk of being late. I already missed the literacy signings where you could get books signed by your favorite authors. By the way that was a serious bummer. But, I decided to not to let that get me down before I even really made it to the hotel.

So, here's the small world part. And seriously, fate works in wonderful ways. So, I'm running through the lobby and into the hot, sticky and very humid breezeway that connects the swan side of the hotel to the dolphin side and I saw another attendee going the same way and asked if she knew where registration was. She was super nice and once I got my bearings down I introduced myself.

Turns out her name was also Stacy. Actually Anastasia, which is so royal sounding, but she goes by Stacy. Just like me, although I guess you can say I'm just plain, Stacy.

It turns out she's from Arizona but we both grew up in Virginia, went to colleges only an hour apart and both write paranormal romance. We each have finished our first books and are working on the next while trying to figure out the publishing world and find representation. As it turns out we each work our forty-hour-week jobs and like what we do but seriously, it just pays the bills. We love writing.

So how amazing is that? A chance encounter with someone that may not have happened if my flights weren't delayed. I'm not complaining. I got a new friend out of it and that is priceless in my book.

Not in my actual book, you know I mean figuratively.

I have no new posts for rejections or pages but I can give you a bug bite report.

As of today the south mosquito troops have descended and attacked me on 12 occasions. I'm just praying that none of them were carrying the west Nile.

Viva La Raide.

A Yellow Dress & a Powder Blue Vespa.

So, I was driving into work on Thursday this week and found myself surrounded by interesting sights.

As I was dropping into Hollywood on Cahuenga Blvd. I realized that the truck in front of me was loaded with toilets. I'm talking all sizes and shapes. Some were broken, but all were white. And thankfully they looked clean. I couldn't help but wonder what the man driving the truck would call himself? Commode Commando? Potty Paramour? Toilet Taker?

And where did he get such an abundance of toilets? Home Depot cast off sale?

It got me thinking about how everyday brings new surprises and if you just stop to observe what's going on around you your mind can really concoct some pretty amazing stories. It's inspiration at it's best. And lets face it; sometimes our own imagination is a hundred times more interesting than the actual truth.

This same day of the potty parade brought another interesting sight and POOF! a character was born. Not to long after the truck o'toilets, I came across a woman wearing a bright yellow dress and riding a powder blue Vespa. It was a completely retro color scheme and she pulled it off beautifully. Not only was her Vespa powder blue but her helmet was a perfect match.

I found myself contemplating what her job was, where she would go later that day, and what made her decide on her fashion choice and scooter color?

What I came up with was: By day she is a mild mannered elementary school teacher who leaves work in the afternoons to do performance art at an underground artist studio. Then by night she is a crime fighter who jumps on her flying Vespa and battles evil in an effort to rid the world of violence.

What can I say? I get bored driving to work and with so many fun sights around me the writer brain turns on.

Rejections: 20

Queries in the ethernet: 8

I'll take a Cafe mocha, vodka, valium, latte to go Please!

I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling except if you gave me a main line drip of coffee into my veins, that might describe the crazy energy coursing through my body.

I am getting ready to go to my first National writing conference in Orlando, Florida at the end of the month. And no matter how prepared I try to make myself, I just can't shake the nervous anticipation that is currently plaguing me.

Will I make new writing friends? Will I remember my pitch if asked what my book is about? How many names will I be bombarded with, only to forget them when I see the same people the next day walking around? I'm really bad about that by the way. Great with faces. Crappy with names.

I know I will probably get myself all psyched out about the whole thing and be extremely overwhelmed. So how do you calm yourself?

I was thinking about it as I sat at a table during our monthly writing meeting and listened to others pitch their books. The one thing I realized is that we are all human. We all handle public speaking differently. Whether it's to a room with over a hundred people or if it's just a small intimate one-on-one meeting, we all get some form of "the nerves".

I believe some people are better equipped to deal with it, but for me, I might as well be back in high school with a case of the shakes and cold sweats. I hate that my voice trembles slightly so that people wonder if I'm going to burst into a fit of laughter or a fit of tears. And I always try not to hold anything because that's the one dead give away to my nerves. You'd think there was an earthquake happening with how much my paper shakes.

So should I do yoga? Cut out coffee? (Seriously, not advised) Or try some form of meditation?

I don't know? I guess I'll just close my eyes and dive into the shark tank in a few weeks and pray that I'm a strong enough swimmer.

Rejections: 20

Queries Out: 7

Restarting the Fire by Rubbing 2 Sticks.

Wow! It's been a while.

A new job schedule, another school year over and an organizational overhaul of my house.

I don't know what I was thinking. It seriously is like rubbing two sticks together to get the old writing fire burning again.

I think part of my lack of posting was mostly my own guilt and embarrassment at the snails pace of progress. Or, to put it more clearly...My intense lack of progress.

I believe that I don't really have the roaring fire that there was before but, slowly the little embers I do scratch out are making their way to becoming something much larger and hotter than expected. Yes, I am writing more. It has been an intense uphill battle for the last month or two but now I am on a nice level path to progress.

I can only seem to squeak by with maybe two hours at best these days, but I'm hopeful that one day soon I will be able to lose myself completely for a few hours and be back to full steam ahead.

Don't get me wrong. I am still working. Just not at the pace I was previously at which has me feeling like a total slacker. One encouraging friend said, "Even if it's just one line that you write, it's still one line closer than you had before."

I have not sent any more queries out yet but, there have been more rejections back.

Six-to be exact. Three letters and three emails.

Again, they have all been nice and encouraging in their own ways. One agency even went as far as to give me the names of alternate resources for finding agents and editors. I think I will send them a thank you note. Because seriously, how often would that happen? That a busy agent would take the time to give you more options? It took the sting out a little.

Rejections:19

Queries still Out:8

Before long I will write some of these 8 off as rejections because they are probably not going to get back to me. It's what I like to call the "Quiet Rejection".

I will give a page report on the next entry. When I won't feel quite as embarrassed by my lack of pages.

SHAZAM! Wonder Rejections Unite!

Breathing room people. Breathing room is all I ask for.

I don't mind the rejections...really. It wouldn't be a query lately without that letter or email claiming, "It's just not for us at this time."

But with the last batch out, there were a couple of head spinning responses as timing goes. One didn't even take more than four hours before getting back to me and smacking that rejection down.

Not sure what hurt worse the fact that it was yet another rejection or the fact that it came back so fast. I'm leaning on the side of the time thing.

I feel like saying, "Please, if you want to reject me just give me the courtesy of a few days to a week to prepare and hold on to the hope that it might come back with a request for more."

I am also learning that my new thorn-in-the-side is the word, "Intriguing."

Definition: to excite the interest or curiosity of.

Key words being "excite" and "curiosity."

WTH-if that's the definition then maybe these people are looking at the wrong word in the dictionary or it's secret code for "SUCKS."

I don't know but I'm leaning on the latter at this point in the game.

The next rejection in the stack came back within 17 hours of being sent. Almost made it a day on that one. It was nice though. Reminding me that the industry is purely subjective and to keep trying because it only takes one "yes" to start the ball rolling.

It's amazing how many letters are similar in wording. I am starting to wonder if there is a master seminar everyone in the publishing industry goes to that teaches the perfect rejection letter technique. Because clearly so many of them have mastered the skill brilliantly.

Rejections: 13

Queries still Out: 14

I'm not going to give a page update until the next post because I feel like a slacker. Just look at the previous post and know that's where I'm at.

I will be desperately looking for my muse of time this weekend to get back in the swing of things.

The Nervous Nellies

Well, I didn't reach the goal of ten more queries by today. But, I did send out seven more. Three by snail mail and four by E-query.

And I don't know why, but every time I send out a new batch you'd think I was getting ready to undergo major surgery. Or, that I was expected to give a speech before the presidential masses.

I feel that nervous energy throughout my entire body and a new level of paranoia takes over. I keep checking and re-checking all the material as well as the names and addresses. At least ten times (minimum). It's borderline neurotic.

Then once the package is out of my hands and sliding it's way down the postal box, forever out of my reach, I feel all tingly and on edge. Seriously, it's the best diet ever...the stress/rejection worthy/waiting game DIET.

Or there is also the anxiety that hits once I hit the SEND button on the electronic queries. Especially since a lot of those queries come back so fast I get whip lash and feel like I am the victim of a drive by Rejection. Talk about daunting. I don't even have time to dispel the Nervous Nellies at sending the query before it's back staring me in the face.

But at least they are out there with a small glimmer of hope that someone will ask for more.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Rejections to Date: 11

Queries Still Out There: 16

Pages in Book 2: 120

Pages in New Book: 28

Just when the Creek is almost Dry...the Rains begin

Some people would call it procrastination.

I call it, losing time.

I have posted previously on how time seems to escape many of us and many times the reasons we can't accomplish everything we set out to do, is utterly and completely valid.

So what do you do in these situations? Do you just throw your hands up and chuck what you started in the trash? Or, do you roll up those sleeves and start shoveling out a new path towards your goal?

I am completely in the shoveling phase myself right now for any number of reasons.

First, I switched my work shift from a night shift (5pm to 1am) to a "Normal" schedule (8:30am-5pm).

It's nice to get more sleep being that I was up at 6:30am to get my son to school no matter what. And being on the same schedule as most of my friends has been great. But, I am having a harder time writing since I no longer have the 4 hours to myself that I did when my son was in school and I was home.

Second, I took off for a week to go overseas and completely disrupted any routines I was trying to initiate.

I did get some productive work done though on the second book in the series. I edited the first 100 pages and continued writing on the new book. The best thing to come out of the trip was a great experience in character study and a new found pride in my country. Things are not better abroad...just different.

And third, it takes time when things like the first and second items here take over and you need to get your life back on track and in order: whether it's at work or home. It always takes time that you never seem to have enough of.

So I was standing on the bank of my writing world, watching the creek slowly dry up. But now, I am happy to say that the rains are starting and hopefully by the end of the month, the waters will be back at the edge of the bank and soon overflow. Fingers crossed!

Rejections to Date:11

Queries Still Out There: 9

Pages written on Book 2:110

Pages in New Book: 24

People are People So, No Matter Where You Go.

So I have been out of the country for a few days and have found it to be the best of character studies. Here are my findings.

First: People are seriously. pretty much the same no matter where you go. I have been riding the subway system in Madrid and haven't noticed much of a difference between the people I see in New York, LA, or San Francisco. Same people, different country. It's wild!

Second: People of certain nationalities do seem trapped in a time capsule. I can't tell you how many times I saw people wearing the parachute style, low riding crotch, MC Hammer pants. Seriously, I though those died in the 80's. But here I am witnessing their come back first hand. WOW!

And Third: It's great to see amore in all ages and stages when you walk around an unfamiliar city. It truly is a universal language. Sometimes it brings a smile to our face when we see two people so in love, sometimes it brings a jealousy, but no matter how you see it it's just nice to know it exists no matter where you go.

So inspiration is out there in different places, with different people, but always flourishing. I have a lot of new and fun characters to pull from now thanks to this excursion.

Rejections: Still 11
Queries Out There: Still 9

Pages on new book: 15
Pages on book 2 in Series: 110 (But I am currently editing pages 1-100 to get back into the groove of it.)

In search of the ever elusive 2 Hours.

They say that if you can at least find two hours a day to dedicate to something you want to do (in my case write) then you can accomplish what you wish to.

I have recently discovered that finding those two hours is harder than you think and I have so much more respect and empathy for those who work a full day and then come home to contend with a house that screams for dusting, vacuuming, dinner to be made and kids to contend with. Just thinking about it makes me tired.

You see, I just recently jumped into the world of the day worker and am suffering a bit of shell shock. I use to work nights and could count on a good 4 to 5 hours of time when my son was at school to take care of things around the house with no interruptions and have those precious 2 to 3 hours to write. Now I am trying to shift gears and still take care of everything I did before but it is a lot more difficult than I imagined.

There are perks. Don't get me wrong. The extra 2 hours of sleep I get a night is fabulous. And yet I still feel drained by 9pm. I feel a little more normal because I am in the working world, doing the hours most people do. There are a lot more food options available to me for lunch than what I had on the night shift. And it has been great to be able to meet friends after work for a drink and what not.

But carving out those precious two hours to write has been a challenge and left me feeling a little daunted. I feel like I'm starting to lose the momentum I was building with my characters and have vowed that I will get a schedule of some sort figured out within the next week.

I leave for a week to go overseas and got a netbook to keep the writing flowing and I am hopeful that with the long flight ahead of me that I will get at least waist deep into my stories and start making progress again. I expect the next couple of blogs I post will have significant increases in page counts. Fingers crossed.

How do we find time????? I may take out an add.

Professional Career Woman seeks Two Hours of Time.

-Must be available on a daily basis at any hour needed.

-Must be flexible on location. Coffee shops, restaurants, and parks are an option.

-Must like music or just pure silence.

-Must understand that there will be interruptions.

If interested, please jump up and bite me in the arse because seriously I don't know where you are right now.

Pages written to Date on Book 2: 110

Pages on new Book: 13

Rejections: 11

Queries Still Out: 9

The WhoopsieDoos of life.

Rejection 11 came in yesterday so there will be more about it at the end of this post. It was a good one. I even typed out what the agent said.

But first, the WhoopsieDoos.

You may be asking what the heck they are? Physically, they are those speed bumps on residential streets that are too big to make you really slow down yet, big enough to do serious damage if taken at full throttle. This term was coined after I heard a friends daughter say it as we went over one of those bumps fast enough to make our stomachs have that roller coaster feeling.

I thought it was cute and have yet to lose the term. But I was also thinking more deeply about the WhoopsieDoos and how they relate to ones life. Think about it. Are you the cautious type who slows way down on approach to barely feel the bump? Or, do you throw caution to the wind and step on the gas just a little harder when you see one?

I prefer to take these Whoopsies on a day by day basis. Sometimes the day is so craptastic and the last thing I need is a ruined car, so I slow down. Other days (like Fridays, woohoo the weekend has cometh) I feel a little reckless and would love nothing more then to catch a little air beneath the tires.

Mostly though, I take them with just enough momentum to cause that lovely dropping feeling in my stomach without accumulating any real damage. So this is how I have chosen to look at daily situations in life and how to handle them. Here's a great example:

At a gas station the other day a woman pulled up in front of me and because we were both on the wrong side of the pump for our cars gas tanks, I was a little too far forward for her to reach her pump. Mind you I was also almost done, but that didn't matter. So she goes to the other side (where there were a ton more open pumps) but made a point to come and tell me that in the future I need to "leave more space for other cars."

I could have gotten back in her face and asked her to explain how to do that given where my gas tank was located (Hitting the whoopsieDoo at full speed and escalating the argument.)

I could have ignored her because she was one of those people who never makes a mistake and that needs to be a be-atch just to feel better about herself (Hence slowing down at the whoopsieDoo to a snails pace.)

Or hit it somewhere in the middle. (Which is what I did). I looked at her, smiled as big as I could, and said, "Okay...No Problem...I'll remember that next time."

OMG, it was awesome. It totally pissed her off more, but there was nothing she could do. Maybe she was having a bad day or was late to something. Maybe she was just a genuine be-atch, no matter, she wanted an argument and not giving it to her made her that much more angry. It was funny because I could tell she went into the store to pay for her gas complaining because a few people were watching when she came back out probably waiting for a fight.

I just smiled at her as I got in my car and left. WhoopsieDoo hit at the perfect speed. It was great. And I owe so much to the serene people I have me at my writing group, my wonderful friends reading this blog and supporting me, and to the writing. I definitely have a new perspective on situations that would have me normally all worked up and angry beyond belief, but the universe has many more Zen parts for me these days. Thank You all my Zen masters you are a blessing.

Rejections to date: 11

I received number 11 yesterday and was giddy about it. Seriously, it was the nicest rejection. It was so personal that I felt like it was from a friend. Here's what the agent said:

Dear Stacy (Love it when they use my first name.)

Thank you for sending me the opening pages of your manuscript. I enjoyed the partial but am going to have to pass on the opportunity to look at the full manuscript. (Key words here for me were ENJOYED and OPPORTUNITY. It means she liked it on some small level, but here comes the negative.)

Unfortunately, it never quite captured my imagination. (Boo)

Please keep in mind that this is a very subjective business. I wish you all the best in finding a great agent and thanks so much for thinking of me. (She is thanking me for thinking of her? What an awesome person in my book. And how encouraging)

She even signed her own name. I can get all the rejections in the world if they all come across like this. Although, I would rather get an offer.

Queries Out There: 9

Pages on Next book in Series: 110

Pages on New Book:10

What's your Deadline?

This weekend was the monthly meeting of the writers group I belong to. And as always it was an incredible meeting full of inspiration and encouragement. It's hard to leave these meetings without coming away with some valuable and insightful information.

This month I learned about all the things a publisher of inspirational romance would deem inappropriate for the genre (Which would most definitely mean I would never, ever get published in this particular genre.) And I learned about the difference between Chick Lit and Women's Fiction. It was all very enlightening.

In inspirational they will kick it to the curb if you have kissing with tongue, any bad language, violence, sex (naturally), inappropriate PDA and any mention of inappropriate topics, drinking, and (unless it's a historical) dancing. That was interesting. My book would have been killed with the first three pages read.

The cool thing with women's fiction is that the main characters are usually older than their twenties and have heavier topics to deal with. Also, there may not always be a happy ending as there is in Chick Lit. Women's fiction pulls you in with intense emotion and feelings.

I found all this fascinating.

I also had a huge sense of pride as I was presented with my 'PRO' pin. This was given to me for the simple fact that I finished the manuscript and have been rejected. Seriously, how awesome is this group? I rack up rejections and they award me for the effort. Talk about inspiring and supportive. This is why I keep going. This is the fuel that drives me and has me submitting more queries to agents. The women at these meetings are so amazing and have such beautiful spirits that you have no choice but to be inspired by them.

Also the meeting was the deadline for the writing contest the organization puts on each year. And all I can say is Wow! People were bringing in their submissions right up to the very last moment. I think I would have thrown in the towel and waited til the next contest. What troopers though. I know I would have been too paranoid that something would be wrong and there would be no time to fix it.

That's my question for today: What's your deadline?

Are you the type of person that needs to have things in early and in a timely manner? Or, do you thrive with the threat of a looming deadline and get a high from procrastination?

I discovered that there is no wrong or right way to handle deadlines. Only, the way that works best for you. So be the first one done or the last one there as the door is shutting, as long as you get in, it's all good.

Rejections to date: 10

Queries Out: 10

Pages on Book 2: 110

Pages on New book: 10 (10 seems to be the magic number. I'll play the lottery this week.)

Back in the Writing Saddle Again.

It took some doing but after four days the character sheets are done; fact sheets done; and future story ideas-documented. I feel I can now breath a very large sigh of relief.

And the great thing is that the writing will now resume. Thank God! I feel slightly lost when I am away from my stories for too long. I miss my characters. A large problem right now is that since I started the second story I feel drawn to a whole new group of people I am creating.

Does that make me a two-timer? If so I am deeply sorry but I now feel like I owe a little time to both stories. So I guess that in all fairness there is no other way to go.

It's also like a really fun game for me. Writing one scene in the sequel book then flipping over to the new story because something in the sequel brought up a great visual for the new book.

Something else I discovered today after talking to a dear friend who is feeling a little defeated and discouraged with her own writing is this: You should not be out to please anyone but yourself.

Everyone will have opinions. Some will be beneficial and others will be, let's face it--CRAP. And some people just won't get your vision, and that's okay. What matters most is if your happy with it and if you have the passion and the drive to keep moving forward. If so all the details in the beginning can be revised at a later time. The main thing is to get to the end of the story to better facilitate the start of it.

So many people I have met spend too much time worrying about what others will think and re-write the same pages over and over to the point that eventually their vision is gone and they feel disappointed in themselves. For this reason I refuse to get too upset about my rejections and critiques and choose to take everything with a large grain of salt.

I know somewhere out there the force is with me and it will be strong when that perfect agent or editor take on my manuscripts. I will rule the Death Star. (Wait, that was the bad guys...right?) Anyway, I'll rule something. Maybe the laundry machine. Oh...wait...I already rule that one.

Pages written to date: 108

Pages in New Book: 9

The pages will start rolling tonight!

Rejections: 10 (It's like the lyrics in that old song: "One is the loneliest number..." So now my one has nine friends to keep him company.) How's that for positive thinking?

Queries Out There: 10 (Decided to keep it even with the Rejections.

I've Now Made it to Double Digits!

The rejections keep a com'in. But the nice thing I can say is that the last two have been placed on a standard 8x10 sheet of paper and I was personally addressed as: Dear, Stacy.

That is always a nice touch. It cushions the blow and takes the sting away ever so slightly.

One agent even said that she wasn't enthusiastic enough about it, but that out there somewhere there would be the agent that was. I found that encouraging if not a wee bit scary. How do I find that agent? And will they be accredited like these other agents that are recognized by my writing organization? I guess the only way to find out is to send more queries out into the vast unknown and keep my fingers crossed.

I read a great thing on my writing groups website last night. It was simply this:

If you don't send out queries, you'll never get rejected.

If you don't send out queries, you'll never get published.

Take your pick.

I'll take the risk, please, with a large side of rejection. Why not?

Pages written to date: 108

Pages on new book: 9

Rejections: 10!!!! Double digits for me. It's a small milestone.

Queries out there:7

Take a Long Hard Look Across the Fence.

Lately, I've heard way to many people wishing for the life of others. I've listened as people complain and wonder why they don't have the good fortune that others have. Or, why life has turned out for them so differently than others they know. Others with similar jobs, homes, dreams and histories.

All I can say is look long and hard at the people you envy and you might realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Quite frankly, I've discovered at times that the grass I am looking at is a lovely shade of gold. Basically signifying that it has long since died and what I am staring at is a pile of straw. I'll take my mottled and patchy clumps of green any old day.

I thought about this today for two reasons. First: Do I wish I had the success of Nora Roberts, John Grisham, Stephanie Meyer, and J.K.Rowling? Come on now...in the writing world, who wouldn't? But do I look beyond the green to see the brown that taints the perfectly manicured lawn?

You bet.

I look at it this way: The money and notoriety would be amazing, but with that comes the hustle and bustle of signings, tours and public appearances. Right now that seems very scary to me. Not to mention that you open yourself up to a whole new world of people you may never even realized exist.

I'm talking about the crazy fan/stalker/hater/critic/blogger, who will do whatever they can to make you feel bad about what you are doing because it makes them feel better about themselves. Not so looking forward to that. On this avenue I do tend to lean more on the pessimistic side than the optimistic. It makes me feel grounded.

The second reason I thought of the 'Other side of the fence' was because of how it makes us feel. If we are forever longing for something that's not even in our own backyard what does that say about us personally? It's more a matter of enjoying and accepting what you have and being able to appreciate what you see on the other side without selling yourself short.

No matter where my writing takes me I am embracing it whole heartedly and am happy with the results.

Pages to date: 108 (I did complete 25 character pages though)

Pages on new Book:8

Rejections:8

Queries Still Out:9

Didn't get more out yet, but I will:)

What If???????

I have two trains of thought for today that got me going and wanted to throw both out there before I forget.

First, I was thinking about what someone said to me a few weeks ago about starting the writing thing. She said, "Wouldn't it have been great if you would have discovered your passion for writing when you were in your 20's? Then you would have many more years ahead or you to write."

Ouch! I admit I'm no spring chicken, but I also don't have one foot in the grave yet either.

It got me thinking though. What if I had started writing when I was younger? Where would I be?

I can tell you, because I know the answer to this one.

I would probably have written the most boring and mundane books you have ever read. Strike that...because no one would have probably read my books. I completely believe that it has taken me to this point in my existence to be able to have the experiences and heartaches in life to come up with the inspiration and creative ideas for the stories I'm writing. Without the past there would be no writing future for me. I have been able to pull from so many instances in time that from this point forward I can write until I'm 110 years old. But I don't plan it. I'm sure my eyes will go from all this staring at computer screens.

I think that anytime you start something you love and are passionate about, is the right time. There's no turning back the clock. Unless you're writing a time travel novel, then I guess there is.

Okay, second train of thought for the day.

If money wasn't an object, or you won the lottery, what would you do? And I'm not talking about a bucket list, because quite frankly I think that's a little depressing to think about. But, what would top your list of things to do and how much would you, as a person, change.

A lot of people say the same things: buy a house, a car, travel, pay off debts.

But if you ran through your list and had money and time to spare, what would you be doing to make yourself happy and to feel like you had a purpose to your life? I have met people who 'Have It All' and they aren't any happier with their life than the average Joe. They may afford more things and never want for anything tangible, but personally and emotionally they are just like everyone else.

Money only gets you so far then you need to look for what it is that will drive you forward...other than a new Porshe. It's the drive within you that needs to push you to accomplish things in your life that make you happy. And one thing I've learned after 39 years of searching (I say 39 because I found it last year) is that you have to do things for yourself because it makes you feel good about it, not because your looking to get rich quick or impress anyone.

When you accomplish things for yourself it's worth all the money in the world because it belongs to you and no one else.

Getting published would be amazing and fantastic but, even if I write 25 books and never get a single one out there, I will still write number 26. Because at the end of the day, they are my stories and my own personal legacy for myself.

Pages to date: 108 (You know why)

Pages on New Book: 7

Rejections:8

Queries still Out There:9 Will send out 4 or 5 on Monday. This was one of those weeks that was gone before it even started.

Songs of the Day: Sade/Soldier of Love

Fluke/Absurd & Al Jarreau/Ain't No Sunshine

Keeping the Green Eyed Monster at Bay.

One of my closest friends received amazing feedback for the first three chapters of a book she's writing. And where I am elated and ecstatic for her, I have to admit that the green eyed monster started to claw its way up from somewhere deep inside. I chalk it up to the rejections under my belt.

But then I realized that that green eyed monster is just that, a monster. And I have beaten him down into submission and am truly happy for my friend and realized that I can learn from her critique. It's a good thing to look at the notes she received and see how I might be able to associate some of them to things that exist in my writing, as well as hers.

Her story is really fun and cute and that makes me happy for her good fortune. When there is something that gets you jealous or envious of another person I realized it's best to take stock in the good things in your own life and be thankful for what you do have.

I'll keep sending out those queries and keep my fingers crossed.

Pages to date on book 2:108 (Still ironing out those details)

Pages on a new book: 5

Rejections: 8

Queries still out:9

Nice thing about queries that get no response is that there will always be a small glimmer of hope that there will be a request that comes in:)

Song of the day: Yes/Owner of a Lonely Heart

The Isley Brothers/It's Your Thing

Ziggy Marley/Dragonfly

Daggers to the Heart.

Yes, ladies and gentleman, Daggers!!!!

Okay, I'm being way to over dramatic at this point and making this worse than it really is. Because like I've said before...I just started down this road and there are many more miles ahead of me.

But today I received...not one...not two...but three envelopes. And when I got the call at work that I had three writing related pieces of mail waiting for me at home, it was all I could do to not go looking for the first samurai sword I could find and commit hari kari. It's going back to my three strikes rule. And from the sounds of it, those three strike were waiting to bash me in the head as I walked through my door.

But alas, like I said, I am being way too over the top with it. And one of the envelopes was something pleasant. It was a pin to wear on my badge to my writers meetings. Actually, it was a pin that says PRO and was given to me for the completion and submission of my novel (even though it's been completely getting it's butt kicked with rejections). So it was a positive thing.

The other two were rejections. One from a big agency in NY. We all saw that one coming.

And, unfortunately, the other was the 'Request for more:1' at the bottom of previous blogs. But the positive on that one is that the rejection was typed out to me on a REAL 8x10 sheet of paper. And the agent explained why they were passing on it. This is more than I've gotten from anyone at this point and I really appreciate it. The agent said that the market right now is really tight for my genre and that stories have to have a strong voice and a unique enough premise. I was happy to read that my voice was good, but was told that the story was too much like others they are seeing at this time.

I don't think I'm going to re-write the book seeing as it's done and all. And most of the people who have read it enjoyed it and thought it was different. So I'm going to send out more queries this week and see what that gets me.

This made me think though about how people always say that there really aren't that many stories to be told out there. That it's more like putting a new spin on an old favorite. And after that last rejection I really think that's true.

I also believe that the cosmic universe has a way of making things happen when they are suppose to. So I choose to believe whole-heartedly that when the time is right I will find that agent or editor who believes in my story and hence believes in me as a writer.

And then the sky will open up and be nothing but rainbows and pots of gold. Sorry, there's a Lucky Charms box in front of me and it's oddly inspirational right now.

Pages to date: 108 (This is on on the second book in the series. And, yes, I know it hasn't changed in a while, but check out the next line.)

Pages to date New Book: 5 (I started another story outside the series as I get my series facts organized and finish my character run sheets. See, I'm still writing:)

Rejections: 8

Queries still Out:9

Songs of the day: Adam Ant/Goody Two Shoes

Lyle Lovett/M-O-N-E-Y (Amen brother)

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts/I Love Rock 'N Roll