Writerly Wisdom and Critique Partner Bonding

I've had a lovely and busy weekend punctuated with a burst of wonderful news. I'm filled to the brim with new stories and ideas. I've made a new connection with a wonderful person, Sia Huff, who is a Petit Fours & Hot Tamales member. I'm so glad I participated in the PF&HT because I met a her. She is now a part of my little category romance critique circle with Pam Montovani.

And we three had a fabulous time cranking out plots, names, MIDDLE names (don't ask but it was fun and funny), dreaming about going to NYC and telling funny stories about how we all met and our adventures whilst sitting around a table during a Golden Heart/Rita ceremony. Of course, our editors and agents would laugh, right? And then we'd turn to the other wonderful circles of writerly friends we have, the GOOD GIRLS of WRITING Sharon Wray, Karen Johnston and M.V. Freeman and tell even more anecdotes.

And our writer friends, already published when we met them and so helpful to helping us attain our dream of publication would laugh and say you are such a funny and diverse group of women and yet you belong to each other in wise and mysterious and wondrous ways.

So that's what a writerly weekend with writers is like. It's laughing, working, shopping for wine at Trader Joes, celebrating, plotting, dreaming, and playing. Our minds are full. Our well is overflowing. Our lives are going in the direction planned.

And now this week I must execute the plans. For potential without perseverance is potential wasted. And I'm not the type to waste potential. Onward and upward I must go. This means face time with my pal the computer, following up on opportunities, making the most of my time, never surrendering.

The rest of this week's blogs might be a bit short. For I have writerly things to do that will lead me down a busy and happy trail.

:-)

The First Five Chapters are in Critique Land

The first five chapters have had a reasonable pass through. Now I am honing them down and whittling them into shape for the GOLDEN HEART. I know this one probably won't final, but I need a partial, so here I am.

I have 68 pages. At page 49, there is a good stopping point. So I'll probably send in the first 49 pages. I sent out the entire POS to some readers/CPs to get it torn into and ripped apart. I hope to hear back from them by Monday.

Now I have to work on the dreaded synopsis. I have a pretty good format from Kira Sinclair, so I'll use that and the pitch cards I used for M&M. I should have a reasonable one to send out by the end of next week. Meanwhile, do I go forward in the MS when I complete the first draft of the synopsis?

I probably will just to get the writing rolling in the proper direction. The entire goal this year is to get faster, be more productive, and keep moving forward. I'll ready through the kit and kaboodle myself this afternoon. After a bit of a break. Then tomorrow, I'll continue writing the MS and move on till Monday.

Hopefully a few readers will have read the mess and gotten back to me by then. If they even have time. We're all so busy. If not, I must go on and finish this. I actually would love to send this off the week BEFORE we leave for TX. I honestly don't want this hanging over my head while I am getting ready to travel. And that will be quite a trip.... believe me. I haven't seen the OUTLAWS in 7 years. And with good reason.

Now I have to and I will need more wine than I need for PPP after a rejection letter. Valium might come in handy as well.

Meanwhile, a part of me wishes I had NOT entered this POS in the GH because it's going to cost me around 100 dollars to not final in the contest. It was 50 dollars just to enter. And then another 5o bucks on postage and copying. But it is a good goal. So I pay 100 dollars to make a goal.

Oh well.

The irony would be to final with both! Hahaha... as if.

I'm glad I got to this point so fast. I have to go shop for a chair with DH, and get more stuff for my DD's birthday party. I had to reschedule it due to the PIG PLAGUE ruining her party a month ago.

Any rate, I feel less stressed now that the first pass through has occurred. I have a bit of breathing space. And I have time to work on the synopsis which is highly necessary.

The train continues to move along the tracks....

Wind Refills the Sails

Yesterday I had to go back to the doctor to deal with the stupid belly button wound. I was nervous, but after taking a mega pain pill, I enlisted my DH to drive me to and from said dreaded appointment. Apparently, pain medication just makes me not care that it hurts like hell to get my belly tortured with gauze and pressure. But the good news is that I no longer have to endure the pain. I just have to heal.

First breath of air returns to the sails of my writing. Being in pain and throwing Personal Pity Parties does dampen the enthusiasm and motivation. Now those doldrums are banished.

Second breath of air in my sails meant meeting another writer and connecting over coffee. We didn't really write, but we talked about our goals and made plans to meet again. At last! Someone who I can connect with in person. How novel.

Third gust of air in my sails was receiving the critique from my fabulous and generous CP. Once I managed to get the document to open in MAC's version of Word, I was able to see her comments and edits. Voila! Print, read, digest and ready to input into the Scrivener program!!

While today is not a day I usually write MS, I've decided to implement the one hour a day rule at minimum. That way, I will get moving forward. In addition, I must spend at least one hour a day during the week (M-F) working on my query and synopsis for the third MS. By the end of the month, I had better have something to show for this commitment.

Ah, finally, I am feeling like my old self again. But let it be said, rejection and losing contests are easier to overcome than health problems. A lesson learned: take care of oneself especially when one is *gasp* over forty!