~~~
For those of you who may have noticed that I'm not posting or partcipating much lately, thanks!
I've had to drop my twittering, facebooking and blog commenting to squeeze in time for writing. I still take a quick breeze through my favorite blogs most mornings and enjoy the vague feeling of staying in touch, I just can't take the time to say much.
So at least until Christmas break I'll be one of those invisible lurkers in the blogosphere, quietly enjoying what everyone has to say.
cheers!
Katt.
and Mysteryhorse.
~~~
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Peer Support
I'm here to say that although writing for me has been a solitary endeavour, I thrive on peer support.
As a member of the KOD-RWA (Kiss of Death chapter of Romance Writers of America), I have joined a subgroup that plays together for a week, four times a year.
And what the heck does that mean?
Four times a year, the shout goes out on the KOD loop, for people who want to join BIAW (Book In a Week).
This then becomes a group of twenty to forty writers who are split into two teams with equal numbers of those who have committed to either write part time (less than 4 hours per day) or full-time (more than 4).
Each person reports to the team leader at the end of the day, with their word count.
The team leaders, who are actually writing for the opposite team, keep the tally and cheer everyone on.
For one week, I write only new words, no editing is allowed. And each day, I try to beat my wordcount for the day before.
Yes the team with the most words wins... the only prize, is praise from each other and a grand sense of accomplishment for everyone who played on either side.
This week, I have been so busy with my newly complicated life, that I would have written absolutely nothing... if I hadn't had the team waiting for my wordcount. So I got up at least an hour early each morning and wrote.
The over 5000 words in my brand new WIP (work in progress), would NOT have happened without the support of my peers.
Thanks!
.
As a member of the KOD-RWA (Kiss of Death chapter of Romance Writers of America), I have joined a subgroup that plays together for a week, four times a year.
And what the heck does that mean?
Four times a year, the shout goes out on the KOD loop, for people who want to join BIAW (Book In a Week).
This then becomes a group of twenty to forty writers who are split into two teams with equal numbers of those who have committed to either write part time (less than 4 hours per day) or full-time (more than 4).
Each person reports to the team leader at the end of the day, with their word count.
The team leaders, who are actually writing for the opposite team, keep the tally and cheer everyone on.
For one week, I write only new words, no editing is allowed. And each day, I try to beat my wordcount for the day before.
Yes the team with the most words wins... the only prize, is praise from each other and a grand sense of accomplishment for everyone who played on either side.
This week, I have been so busy with my newly complicated life, that I would have written absolutely nothing... if I hadn't had the team waiting for my wordcount. So I got up at least an hour early each morning and wrote.
The over 5000 words in my brand new WIP (work in progress), would NOT have happened without the support of my peers.
Thanks!
.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
contests
.
I know, I promised to explain... so here goes.
Entering contests (for me) is as much about getting feedback and editor/agent exposure as winning a prize.
I enter contests offered by various chapters of the Romance Writers of America. There are tons to choose from, so I look for the ones that can give me something back, win or lose.
The contests I've entered, have both published and unpublished writers to judge the first round, then an agent or editor who will make the final decision.
-If I don't make the finals, I still receive a score sheet and possible edit/critique comments and/or suggestions.
-If my work makes the cut, it will be read by an agent or editor, and THAT is the goal most of us seek, for we can't sell if they don't read.
Last year, I entered TOUCH ME in four contests and scored one win! The feedback was invaluable, especially the critical comments from the agent that gave me the win.
And what was the actual prize? ha ha, the return of the entry fee. (most contests run at about $25.00 - 40.00)
.
I know, I promised to explain... so here goes.
Entering contests (for me) is as much about getting feedback and editor/agent exposure as winning a prize.
I enter contests offered by various chapters of the Romance Writers of America. There are tons to choose from, so I look for the ones that can give me something back, win or lose.
The contests I've entered, have both published and unpublished writers to judge the first round, then an agent or editor who will make the final decision.
-If I don't make the finals, I still receive a score sheet and possible edit/critique comments and/or suggestions.
-If my work makes the cut, it will be read by an agent or editor, and THAT is the goal most of us seek, for we can't sell if they don't read.
Last year, I entered TOUCH ME in four contests and scored one win! The feedback was invaluable, especially the critical comments from the agent that gave me the win.
And what was the actual prize? ha ha, the return of the entry fee. (most contests run at about $25.00 - 40.00)
.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
onward ho!
.
UNDERCOVER COWBOY is officially finished, right?
Yup. Polished and sent forth to my favorite agent.
Is this the part where I sit back, sip something cold, turn my toes up and wait?
Nope. I've already fired off three more query letters as well as three contest entries. Oh and did I mention my next project? ~~smiles mysteriously~~
Quinn, the sexy younger brother from UNDERCOVER COWBOY, has stepped to center stage.
He has a lovely, gutsy lady to play with, and together they have a mystery to solve... involving race horses.
Quinn and his kick-ass heroine have most of my attention for the moment, but I will still be preparing UNDERCOVER COWBOY for more contests.
hmmm there's that word again. Are you wondering about contests?
Come back in a few days and I'll explain them to you.
...
..
.
UNDERCOVER COWBOY is officially finished, right?
Yup. Polished and sent forth to my favorite agent.
Is this the part where I sit back, sip something cold, turn my toes up and wait?
Nope. I've already fired off three more query letters as well as three contest entries. Oh and did I mention my next project? ~~smiles mysteriously~~
Quinn, the sexy younger brother from UNDERCOVER COWBOY, has stepped to center stage.
He has a lovely, gutsy lady to play with, and together they have a mystery to solve... involving race horses.
Quinn and his kick-ass heroine have most of my attention for the moment, but I will still be preparing UNDERCOVER COWBOY for more contests.
hmmm there's that word again. Are you wondering about contests?
Come back in a few days and I'll explain them to you.
...
..
.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
colour / color... it done
.
Well, I made the move, the big bold move and pushed the 'send' button.
My manuscript took a short trip through cyber space and landed on the far side of the US.
It will likely rest in Ms. Agent's computer for a while because she is extremely busy selling manuscripts for the authors she already represents.
One day, when Ms. Agent has time, she'll pull up the file with my name on it and read. Then she'll make a decision whether she loves my book enough and if it is marketable enough to offer me representation. (major simplification of just one step)
In the meantime, I'll put a printed copy in the hands of my beta readers, a special group of family and friends who have been cheering me on and hounding me for a new read!
I love giving my stories these people so much, that I can't imagine how incredible it will feel ... someday... to have strangers enjoying the stories I've written.
.... but I will confess to looking at the shelves in the bookstore and imagining my name alongside the authors I've worshipped for years.
.
---grinning---
.
.
Well, I made the move, the big bold move and pushed the 'send' button.
My manuscript took a short trip through cyber space and landed on the far side of the US.
It will likely rest in Ms. Agent's computer for a while because she is extremely busy selling manuscripts for the authors she already represents.
One day, when Ms. Agent has time, she'll pull up the file with my name on it and read. Then she'll make a decision whether she loves my book enough and if it is marketable enough to offer me representation. (major simplification of just one step)
In the meantime, I'll put a printed copy in the hands of my beta readers, a special group of family and friends who have been cheering me on and hounding me for a new read!
I love giving my stories these people so much, that I can't imagine how incredible it will feel ... someday... to have strangers enjoying the stories I've written.
.... but I will confess to looking at the shelves in the bookstore and imagining my name alongside the authors I've worshipped for years.
.
---grinning---
.
.
Monday, August 9, 2010
3rd draft... officially tired.
.
.
Well, for an hour or two I wasn't sure I'd ever get this done.
Does it make me a writer if I can always find a different way to say something?
Could I be making a big mistake by editing too much?
Have I lost the essence, the voice of the story?
And should it by Lay or Lie or Laid? hmmm, that's smile worthy.
I probably should've waited a couple of weeks and left this story alone.
But when there is an agent, (my number one choice of agents), waiting to read it, how can I wait?
Who knows if I've done right by this story, but I'm coloring it done... for now.
The next one has already been fighting for my attention.
So Beta readers... start your engines... the printer is hard at work.
.
Well, for an hour or two I wasn't sure I'd ever get this done.
Does it make me a writer if I can always find a different way to say something?
Could I be making a big mistake by editing too much?
Have I lost the essence, the voice of the story?
And should it by Lay or Lie or Laid? hmmm, that's smile worthy.
I probably should've waited a couple of weeks and left this story alone.
But when there is an agent, (my number one choice of agents), waiting to read it, how can I wait?
Who knows if I've done right by this story, but I'm coloring it done... for now.
The next one has already been fighting for my attention.
So Beta readers... start your engines... the printer is hard at work.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
2nd draft complete
...
Another reason to celebrate!
I finished the second draft of my manuscript today. What the heck - you say?
The first draft is the one where the story is born but the writing sucks. So for the second, I begin with a hard copy (on paper), sit down, read it from beginning to end and make a gazillion notes in ugly green ink (fine point sharpies are fabulous for this kind of scribbling).
I discovered funny stuff like Wesley's hair and eye color changing between chapters, Cassandra walking out of a room she wasn't in, a cat with two names and person who must have three hands. oops.
Of course there were the usual gramatical and spelling errors, and the words that suddenly repeat themselves over and over and over again.
Once the work is done on the hard copy, it takes a few days to update the manuscript on the computer. (and mine is overheating and shutting down these days which scares me spitless.)
I finished that portion today and printed another hard copy. This one, I won't look at for a few days so that my 'eyes' are fresh. Hopefully I'll sit down and read it through one day next week. This time I'll have a red pen in hand, getting ready for the 3rd draft!
off now to celebrate! ...going to the bookstore to by the latest new one from my top five favorite authors, Christine Feehan.
Another reason to celebrate!
I finished the second draft of my manuscript today. What the heck - you say?
The first draft is the one where the story is born but the writing sucks. So for the second, I begin with a hard copy (on paper), sit down, read it from beginning to end and make a gazillion notes in ugly green ink (fine point sharpies are fabulous for this kind of scribbling).
I discovered funny stuff like Wesley's hair and eye color changing between chapters, Cassandra walking out of a room she wasn't in, a cat with two names and person who must have three hands. oops.
Of course there were the usual gramatical and spelling errors, and the words that suddenly repeat themselves over and over and over again.
Once the work is done on the hard copy, it takes a few days to update the manuscript on the computer. (and mine is overheating and shutting down these days which scares me spitless.)
I finished that portion today and printed another hard copy. This one, I won't look at for a few days so that my 'eyes' are fresh. Hopefully I'll sit down and read it through one day next week. This time I'll have a red pen in hand, getting ready for the 3rd draft!
off now to celebrate! ...going to the bookstore to by the latest new one from my top five favorite authors, Christine Feehan.
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