Bummed

Bummed today on two fronts. The first, I was cut from the First Line Contest. I didn't make the 7th round. :(

And I received my first e-query rejection on Residuals. I think I should've worked a little harder on that query, though it was a long shot. The agency didn't handle a lot of the genre I'm pitching, so . . .

Oh, well. Rejection is part of the writing.

Crawling out from under the covers . . .

I'm finally functioning again. I took a shower and washed my hair, that always makes me feel better. I actually managed to write a few words today, too.

It's a sunny and mild 76 degrees where I am. An idealic day, to be sure. I should be out washing the car or something. But my head's still stopped up, so here I sit. Catching up on television and trolling the blogs.

Guess I'll go work a couple more sentences into the wip.

Home sick and some good news . . .

I made the sixth round of the First Line Contest :)

In other news, I think I have the flu. It started last night with fever and chills, achy neck, head like a pressure gauge ready to pop off! I'm taking meds. Alternating between sleep and trying to get the laundry done for the kids.

Sick sucks.

First Line Contest update !

Yes, I did make the fifth round. And I am so glad the book is already done! Some of the entrants are writing the lines as they go. (???) And if they make it to the final round, the first ten pages go to Kensington.

Personal opinion: I'd be so stressed out! Here you have this awesome opportunity to submit to a Senior Editor at a major NY publishing house and you've only polished ten pages? What if she asks for the full??? (stresssing down, now )

The sixth round cut will be posted sometime tomorrow at Karin Tabke's website. Check it out!

Plotting and Waiting . . .

I had a great plotting session with my writing buds last week. I have a much clearer picture of where the book is going. The characters are beginning to morph into my reality, too. That's always a good thing. I like to be certain I can almost reach out and touch them before I attempt to put them on the page.

One thing that is very important to me is that this second book hold up to the first. I want it to be the same "thrill ride" as the last to keep the reader hooked for the third (final?) installment.

I have a lot of crazy-busy stuff in my life at the moment (who doesn't, right?), birthday parties for the kids, celebrating with my mom, wedding anniversary with the hubby, my teenage son's first "real" girlfriend (that kid has got to get a driver's liscense!) and all the hs senior madness with my oldest.

But even with all these distractions to keep me busy, I can't seem to shake the "holding pattern" I've fallen into. I'm mentally crossing off every day the submissions are out. A couple I've been counting since September! (which was okay, since I could then enter the mss in the RWA Golden Heart contest without any conflict of interests.) It's not so great six months down the road. Yes, they've contacted me, but still . . .

So, the big question: What do you do to stop obsessing over submissions? Counting the days? Weeks? Months? Do you even try?

Synopses and the age-old (I think!) question: Before or After?

I'm working on a plot board. That's where you make a graph of all the chapters in the book and literally post out the pivotal scenes within the manuscript. So far, I have eight external plot threads to tie up and one internal.

Yeah. You do the math. A little tilted, right?

Which means: it's time to start a working synopsis.

Synopsis aren't my favorite things. Mainly, because they change. By the time I start the book, using my "perfected" synopsis and the time I finish the book, I have to rewrite the whole back end. The up side, it's not as difficult because, um . . . well, I've written the book and I know how it ends. (Duh.)

My personal feeling is, I need the synopsis to keep me on track. I can't really begin a book until I know where it's headed, right?

But, I always have the overwhelming urge to second-guess myself. Did I end it appropriately? Was it satisfying to the reader? Should I have stuck to the original ending?

So, my question is this, for all the hundreds of people reading my blog (big grin), what's your position on synopsis?

Crappy day . . . really. Then some good news :)

I've had a really crappy day. Literally. No, I won't go into details, but just to clarify, I work part time at a preschool. ('Nuf sed.) And both my boys are home sick with the ick. I'm talking fever, chills, sore throat, yucky tummy. The bad stuff. I'm taking every vitamin in the house.

Still no word from my e-submission. Thinking I might have to go to a different house, as they've had it five months. My thought--if they wanted it, they would've said so by now. Right?

Another six pages of long-hand on the meandering plot between yesterday and this morning. Definitely going to need a plot party to find a way to connect all these threads. Maybe alcoholic beverages, though it doesn't go so well after the second drink . Things could get more meandering if I'm not careful.

Finally, I logged onto the First Round Contest and I made it into the fourth round! Yeah !!!

Plotting by long-hand . . .

For those of you who are confused, this means pen in hand on lined/unlined paper. Then I write until the words blur, my hand goes into spasmodic cramps and my arm falls asleep due to lack of circulation.

I've written nearly twenty pages--longhand--of plot for Book II.

My brain locked.

I think I have carpal tunnel.

So far, I've managed to write down more questions than answers, but I think I'm getting closer. :) My goal is to have the plot defined, characters fleshed out and twists in place by the end of the month. Enough that I can start writing the book March 1st.

Hmmm. We'll see how that goes.