Time to lock up Boris!

Tomorrow is November!
FINALLY!

I feel like this is New Year's Eve. I am beyond excited about NaNoWriMo.
Last year, I only told my husband I was participating and that was after I was a few weeks in. I didn't use my real name on the NaNo site. I did not know any  other writers.

What a difference a year makes!

I have two blogs now.
I am using my professional name on the NaNo site.
My husband has known for weeks exactly how many days until I would be unavailable to do anything but mutter to myself on the couch.:)
I have a support group of fellow writer counting down the minutes with me. 
I have even downloaded novel writing software to test out.

I feel infinitely more confident than I did last year.

Until I don't...

I don't have any idea what I am going to write.
I don't know if I am going to have the time to write.

I don't want to fail.

Which is why I kept the same signature I used before:

"You only fail if you stop writing." ~ Ray Bradbury

So, it is time to lock up Boris. My ugly troll-like internal editor. He likes to shake his head at me and say things like, "They are all just talking heads! Make them do something!" or "Really? That was the best you could do?"  He resembles Thimbletack from the Spiderwick Chronicles.
He starts off looking like this.

Then he gets angry and frustrated with my progress. He starts to howl and wail. Then he turns to this.
He prefers honey, but I supplement with extra sticky peanut butter, especially during NaNo.

Sorry, Boris, time to get in your cage. It's only 30 days. I am sure you understand. See you December 1st! 

HAPPY NOVEMBER! 

A different kind of waiting...

I am counting down the days until November!  Not just because of NaNoWriMo, even though that would be enough because it is completely AWESOME! 

But ,also because I entered two manuscripts to the Mid-America Romance Writers Fiction from the Heartland Contest. I have no intentions of winning. I am just happy I managed to let someone else read my work and  comment on it and after the Secret Agent contest, I am excited to see the feedback.

I will admit some of the feedback from the SA contest made me cringe. For example, Someone very kindly pointed out there is a  glaring mistake in the second sentence.  THE SECOND SENTENCE!   

The rest of it was refreshing.I plan to combine the SA feedback with what I receive from the MARWA and use it to make both manuscripts absolutely polished in time for THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS contest.

and as long as I am in a linking mood today. This is what I want for Christmas! ( Hint, Hint, Hint). I heart Sandra Brown :)

That is all the random thoughts from me today!

I survived...and I am a total dork!

Overall, I would consider my experience with the Secret Agent Contest on http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/ very positive. An AGENT actually read my work! ( at least the first 250 words.) and didn't say it was horrible! In fact, he/she ( the agent hasn't been reveal yet)  said it had POTENTIAL!!! P-O-T-E-N-T-I-AL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *squeal!*

Also, another reader took the time to email me a detailed critique. I greatly appreciated that.



Now, for my total dorkiness! It is ALMOST NOVEMBER !  I haven't started plotting for NaNoWriMo yet, but I am beyond excited!  Last year such a fun experience and I completed one of my favorite manuscripts. It has been through multiple revisions since then and barely resembles the original, but I LOVE IT!


Can't wait to try it again!

I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it! I hit the send button at exactly 11:00 and immediately got an acceptance email!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!

Now someone who completely doesn't know me is not only going to read what I wrote, but is going to COMMENT on it!  


Pretty sure I need to go throw up now!


This me...trying to grow thick skin, right before your eyes....

11:00

Today, I am literally a writer in waiting. I am waiting for 11:00 am. That is when I am going to hit send on my already "saved as a draft" email to  Authoress, reigning queen of Miss Snark's First Victim and her fabulous "Secret Agent Contest".  I am always working when the submission window is open, but today ( thanks to Christopher Columbus and the state of Texas' odd obsession with its own state fair) I AM HOME!

Now, if I can hold my trembling finger still long enough to hit send!

I can't decide if I truly want to get a space or not.

Back at 11:03 to either squeal or cry.. maybe a little of both!