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!

So, what do you write?

I went to my first official writers meeting last weekend. I LOVED it! Writing has always been such a private thing for me. It was amazing to be surrounded by other people who started conversations with, "So, what do you write?" and actually LISTENED to the answer!

Changes

I knew this year was going to be a year of transition with my day job as well as my writing. That crossroads I discussed before as suddenly turned into an abrupt fork in the road. The difference? I am no longer sitting at the wheel. Some one else has taken over and now I have to wait to see which turn is made before I can react.

I did manage two baby steps this week.
One: I sent two entries to a writing contest. A real writing contest that provides feedback. I managed to push send without actually throwing up. I am not sure I will be able to say the same about reading the feedback.
Two: I launched Story Twister.

That is something, right?
Saturday, I will be going even a step further by attending a RWA chapter meeting. I am so excited !

Twilight of Summer

School starts on Monday. This summer was not good. I attended two funerals ( one saddening and one heart wrenching). I made the very grown up and unbearable decision to allow my best four legged friend to be free from her suffering. I prayed without ceasing for a dear friend who spent over a month in the hospital recovering from a horrible accident.

I missed my father more than usual.
 
 I wrote very little.

 In June I gave myself these goals:

1. Finish editing "Book 2" and give the poor thing a title!
2. Take an online writing course
3. Launch StoryTwister
4. Finish editing "Book 1"

1. I did finish editing Book 2. It still has no title.
2. I did enroll in a writing course about Forensics for Writers. I quit after the first three weeks because the material was not what I expected and dreadfully boring.
3. I did NOTHING with Story Twister ( Probably one of my most disappointing failure to completes)
4. I did revision Book 1 ( again) 


And the "Big One": send one query to prove I can....

 Evidently, I can't.


I am at the same crossroads I mentioned a few months ago. I took the position with the organization that is dear to my heart, but unrelated to writing.  My work schedule for the next nine months is INSANE. I am worried. I am scared and, worst of all, I am haunted by the feeling this ( my job, the organization, etc) isn't what I want to be doing.