No Need to Nag

LOL! This past weekend I brought my laptop out of the "study" into the living room where my hubby watches TV. I did it mainly so I could continue working on my manuscript while my grandson was visiting. Plus I had gotten a little lonely being upstairs all the time.

Well, it worked to my advantage. I even got to see a few shows I rarely watch as the TV in the study wasn't connected to cable.

Then out of the blue on Saturday he hooked up the TV in the study. I had asked him to do it last year and even mentioned it a couple times (unusual for me to ask more than once - really) and he never would. Obviously he got tired of me controlling the TV (LOL!) in the living room and sitting in "his" chair (my usual one until I got my laptop and moved out of the room).

I can watch almost anything now. Too funny. I'm like a kid who finally got a TV in her room.

Say Hello

Thought I would share a photo of two talented go-getters who don't sit around on their butts, waiting for someone to do something. Kelley St. John and Laura Hayden are two of the hardest working people I know. Kelley is a self-promotion queen and damn fine writer. Laura is a wizard at putting together the award ceremonies for the National RWA's conference and damn fine writer. And I'm proud to say they're members of my writing group, Southern Magic.

Excuses, Excuses

You know it's so easy to think up excuses not to write. The weather was too hot, too cold. My husband, friend, sister, brother looked at me wrong and I can't concentrate. I had to clean my house. I had to cook a large meal, company's coming. I had to blog, Twitter, answer emails. I stumped my toe. I had to wash the dogs, feed the cat. I'm sad.

You get the idea. Life can get in the way.

So you have to decide for yourself what is important in your life. Of course, your soul should be number one. Then family. And third should be writing. Yes, it could be your day job, but that one can always be worked around. Considering during normal times, I work a lot of overtime and still get my writing done. Until October, last year was a normal schedule and I finished three books. Two were small books for Harlequin (both rejected) and one was a single title for anyone (waiting for a publisher to decide). Not everyone has a supportive family when it comes to writing. My husband and mom aren't, but I don't worry about them. They just have to come to terms with my decision. It's not like I'm breaking the law or ruining my life. Deal with it.

So instead of excuses, look at what you can change (maybe the house doesn't need cleaning from top to bottom every week -- yep, I use to do that) and decide, do I want to be published? And how bad? Then no more excuses and get to work on your manuscript and finish the sucker. Then send out those query letters. It might take the first one or fifty or hundred. But you will never know until you finish it and start putting yourself out there.

No more excuses.

Thankful Friday

I'm thankful to the inventor of air-conditioning. With highs in the 90's and humidity above 50%, it gets miserable outside.

Oh, that reminds me. Years, years ago, as a teenager, I worked in a drug store and I had a boss from Afghanistan. He was a mess. He had a beautiful French-American wife and also a bleach blonde mistress. Whenever an angry customer would fuss at him, he would pretend not to understand English. One time I walked into the back office and he was writing a letter to his mom. Well, I had to take his word for it as I don't understand or read Dari. He was having a problem with translating the English words of air-conditioning to his language. In fact, he showed me the letter (in Arabic lettering) and the words "air-conditioning" stood out. Too funny. He asked me if there was another word for it. I couldn't think of anything. So he finally described to his mom that the English words meant a big box that blows cold air. Simple but true. LOL!

Book Stores

Like libraries, I love book stores. Big or small. Just having all those books surrounding me is a wonderful feeling.

Today, my boss let us off early and what did I do? You guessed it. I walked into Books-a-Million (such a great name) and took my time looking at every cover in the romance section. I sure wish the set up was similiar to years ago. The romance section was broken up between contemporary and historical. I was in the mood for a good medieval, but it got crazy trying to figure out the historicals. They pack them all in one aisle and almost all are spine out.

Anyway, I found one contemporary (Victoria Dahl's newest), two paranormals, and one historical. No. The historical wasn't a medieval. Drats. But one set in 1762.

Oh, speaking of book stores. Every time I go in one and someone walks into the romance aisle with me, I can't stop myself. I do one of two things: Tell them about our readers luncheon in November or tell them about our meetings. Well, today, I did both. In the aisle I told a lady who loves Julia Quinn about our Readers Luncheon and at the checkout counter told the cashier about our monthly meetings. LOL!

As I've said before, I'm not shy.

Speaking of Conferences

I'm counting down to the big National conference I'm going to in a little over a week. This time I have a lot planned and I'm being more reasonable about the whole thing. Not expecting to find editors or agents standing around wanting to talk with me. Go figure. LOL!

Normally on trips (big or small) besides making sure all my clothes are washed or cleaned, I wait until the evening before and, more often than not, the morning I leave to pack. Yes. Sounds crazy. But I hate to pack up everything and realize I need something to get ready for bed or something to get ready that morning. Plus once I pack my mind is set on leaving and it makes it hard for me to go to sleep.

I would like to make a list. I love lists. But I need to think about the outfits I would like to wear. Especially the formal I'll wear for Saturday. Besides my wedding, I wore a formal only one other time (and still have it), when I was ten (yes, that long ago), I was in a piano recital and wore it. Sad to say, but I no longer know how to play.

Now, I have three formals. Well, really two long skirts and three blouses. The blouses have beads, sequins or glittery stuff on them. I do love to shine. For the first time ever, I bought an evening bag to use. Target had them on sale after all the proms. The best time to buy one.

Oh, yeah, I can't wait.

Conference Story

Yesterday's post reminded me of something that happened to me at the Atlanta RWA National Conference in 2006. Hopefully I'm not repeating myself.

I was in the elevator going to my room and as usual at a conference, it was crammed full of writers. In the middle were two ladies who had their badges covered. Editors or agents? They're so afraid of being attacked by hungry writers. LOL!

Me, being my shy self (NOT!), remarked on their badges being hidden. Thankfully the ladies were good natured and one said, "Oh, no, it just got turned around." Everyone laughed. I can't remember what I said next, but the agent responded, "We like everything about Southern writers," and she gave me her business card.

Then my cell phone went off.

At that time, the music on my phone was Gnarls Barkley's Crazy. So everyone heard, "Does that make me crazy! Does that make me crazy!" I said, "Oh, that's my husband." I didn't answer. Everyone cracked up. I started dancing (moving my hips and bobbing my head was the extent) with the music and then the agents joined in, then eveyone else. We all danced off the elevator to my cell phone music. It was so cool.

After the conference, I sent her a query with three chapters and mentioned the elevator. She rejected me, but hey, I got an answer in about sixty days and she said she remembered the incident.

It was worth a shot.

Etiquette Around An Agent or Editor

Okay, you're at a conference/workshop/New York City. An editor is standing next to you in the elevator. You recognize her and you say "Hello." Yes, I'm one of those people who will chat with an editor, especialy if she's stuck with me and cannot run away. LOL! Anyway, the question is, do you pitch your book?

NO!

But like all things in life there is an exception. If she asks, "What do you write?" And then she follows up with "Tell me about your latest book." At that time, feel free to tell her about it. Keep it short. Remember my blog from the other day about pitches. Be ready and smile, act excited about your book. It becomes contagious.

Editor or Agent

My blog is for me to post anything that comes to mind. Personal, goofy or writing related. Until yesterday, I haven't posted much about writing. So I've decided to start passing on what I've learned over the last seven years. Whether or not they're useful to you is up to you. Some things work for one person but don't for another. That's for sure as I've tried all and still not published. Maybe that has something with my writing or maybe not. Could be due to timing. Whatever. The info I'll give will be from the numerous workshops I've attended. Don't forget. There are no rules and nothing is written in stone.

So here's a tidbit for today. If you can't decide between an editor or agent for your lastest book, keep in mind the following. By sending out your book to ten different editors, you could've ruined your chances of obtaining an agent for the same book. Why would an agent want to represent a book already rejected by so many editors? She/he can't resubmit them. So think long and hard on your choice.

Pitching

Today in my writers' group meeting, Kelley St. John did a great job in telling us how to pitch our manuscripts to an editor. So to give you a tidbit on how to pitch your next book, remember the following.

Fill in the blanks with your character's Goal, Motivation, and Conflict.
[character name] wants [goal] because [motiviation], but [conflict].

Let's use the movie Dirty Dancing for an example.
Johnny wants Baby because he admires her compassion but her father believes he's a bad influence.

Or how about the movie Ten Things I Hate About You.
Cameron wants to date Bianca because he fell in love with her at first sight but her father will not let her date until her older sister does.

Thankful Friday

Believe it or not, there are certain foods I would turn down without a problem, but donuts are not one of them. Today we had a retirement party for one of the fellows at work and someone brought donuts from a little bakery called Fultondate Bakery. They could give Krispy Kreme a run for their money.

So I'm thankful for donuts.

Forget Me Not

No, I didn't exactly forget to post yesterday. I've been having laptop problems. Whether it had a virus or just something dummy (me) did, who knows. But after working on it for two days, it appears to be back into perfect working order. I must say though each time (twice) this has happened, I get physically ill. Like my buddy Diane said, "You're out of your comfort zone." Sad to say, but yeah.