The Start Of A New Year

Like everyone, I've been thinking of what goals I met last year and the ones I plan for this year.

Last year I planned to finish an old vampire 1st person book. I did. Actually, I finished two books this year. Note that the one that sold was already completed. Like every year prior, I planned to get published. I finally did. At the first of 2011, I knew I needed to save my money that I usually spent on conferences and spend it on a family vacation instead. I did. I planned to quit spreading myself thin (day job, family, writing) and end my obligations with my writers group by the end of 2011.  I did.  2010 had been a stellar year in contests (5 finals - that almost half of those entered; plus there were a couple questionable on how they scored me - see posts in 2010 about those) for me and I had hoped to do it again this year. With the sale, that knocked me out of many of the contests (no true lost there. LOL!) but I still was able to final in three (two were with a historical romance). So I guess that last plan was still a positive. A sale - technically two sales - trumps all.

This year, I plan to finish two books and a novella. I would love to finish the historical someway this year too. It's not top priority though. 

I plan to go to at least two conferences: Silken Sands (already paid the fee) and RWA National (that one comes due 1/26).  M&M in October is still up for debate. 

I plan to continue on my weight loss program and hopefully will be in good shape by July and that includes taking care of my body with physicals and check ups.

I plan not to sweat the small stuff in life and enjoy every moment of being published. To continue to help others to become published. The traditional way - not self-published. That's a totally different post I'll do later this month maybe. I'll keep in mind that writing a book that entertains is the key to success. So that leads into my next one.

I plan to write, write, and write along with improve my craft. My books aren't literary masterpieces. They're written for entertainment and to make people sigh and feel hopeful about romance in their own lives.

There are a few more plans (goals) I'm sure that haven't come to mind at this moment, but I can always add them later.

Contests

No, this isn't another one of my rants about judges and contests and what they do wrong. It's just that I realized I'm addicted to contests. Give a person a few finals and she wants to enter them all. Thankfully (odd to say that) I'm low on income and can't enter them all. Never really saw the need, so it's a good thing I do have some restraint.

I knew a girl who entered so many in one year, she spent over $3,000 dollars. That was when you had to pay for postage there and back. The supplies (envelopes, clips, paper and ink) could add up quick. But still, folks, that was too much. The most I spent in a year was $427 and I still choke when I think of it. Yes. I do keep a spreadsheet. That was the first year I was without a bonus (been three years now) and still had a little extra funds set back. I guess if I was a smoker or drinker, I would spend a lot more money on those habits than I did on contests. It did cut into my buying books but then I get a lot of those free through readers luncheons and conferences I attend. That's really where my extra money went, but all for the purpose of trying to get published and networking. I must say it's paying off. More of that in another post later this year.  Cruel, ain't I?

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not going to the national conference this year. This will be the first year in nine that I won't be to a conference, national or regional. I probably needed a break from them anyway.

Back to contests. I realized I can't enter the Maggies or the Golden Heart this year. And I had gotten my highest scores ever in the GH this year. Click here to read about that. It makes me sad, but then I knock myself over the head and think, CARLA (I'm on first name basis with myself), YOU'RE GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!  LOL!

I guess my next addiction will be in searching my name and looking for reviews (good or/and bad) and bemoaning that.  Of course, there are always the Ritas and other "published" contests.

Conferences

I received a surprise yesterday in my email. My agent's agency sent me an email inviting me to their cocktail party during the RWA's national conference. It was really neat looking and you could RSVP directly into the "card." Made me so sad to have to click on UNABLE TO ATTEND. I keep telling myself that next year I should have enough money saved up to attend the one in Anaheim, CA. It's one of the states I've never visited.

All my extra money (and that's not much) is going to our family vacation. We try to do it every other year. I cheated last year and went to another conference. Long story. Don't misunderstand. I love taking family vacations. My girls are wonderful and I love my grandson and his dad. I just wish I had money to go to them all. LOL! I guess I'm being greedy.

Besides, my hubby will probably want to come along to the conference. He doesn't understand how they're the only place I can have my "girls' night out." And plus I enjoy not having to worry if he's bored.

We'll see.

Business Cards - Writing

Like a lot of writers, I have business cards to hand out at conferences. So in turn, I receive business cards from other writers, and of course, from editors and agents when they ask for partials or fulls. See picture. I placed a double A battery next to it for comparison. A bunch, huh?

Yes. I have been to too many conferences. Well, that's about to change.

Silken Sands Conference

Well, I've neglected my blog this weekend as I was having fun with my buddies, Laura Hayden and Jeanie Therkelsen, at the Silken Sands Conference. There were so many people I know there and I got hugs from everyone. Such sweeties. Laura and I shared Linda Howard Award of Excellence duties and announced the winners. That was fun too.

Several wonderful things happened, but first I have to let you know that Jeanie had received THE CALL from Kensington Publishing a couple weeks before and her editor was at the conference. We're all so happy for her. She's a smart and talented lady.

So Laura and I were luckily enough to hang with her and the editor bought us lunch. We sat and talked for two and half hours. It was great. Jeanie is so lucky (besides THE CALL) to have such an easy to talk to editor. The funny part is I had a scheduled appointment with her for the next day. I behaved by keeping my mouth shut on that. Besides, the lunch was about celebrating Jeanie's three book deal. The lunch with the Kensington editor was one wonderful thing.

That night I worked on my pitches and, for the first time since Kelley St. John helped me in 2003, I had a problem. Maybe in the back of my mind I remembered how all my requests ended with rejections. On top of that, sometimes I received nothing back from the editor or agent. Thankfully, my brain kicked in and I was able to work up some pretty good pitches if I say so myself.

By the way, I renamed the manuscript I pitched to the Silhouette editor and I liked it better than any other I had come up with before. I called it WATCH MOLLY RUN. When I told the editor the title, her eyebrows lifted and she smiled. I think she liked it. The beginning of the pitch went well until she asked about the suspense part. I kind of flubbed that...just a tad...but she still asked for the full. Of course, she probably asked for everyone's full as soon as it sounded like it would fit her line. But she could've said no anyway. So I was happy she didn't. That was another wonderful thing.

Then my appointment with the Kensington editor was next. The Gulf Coast chapter had placed the editors on the back patio of the hotel near the beach. It was windy but a pretty day. Her back was to me when I walked over to her table. I came around and said, "Surprise!" She laughed and said, "I was expecting you." Later I asked Jeanie if she'd said anything to her and she told me no. Either the Gulf Coast chapter had given her a list or I had let something slip during the lunch. Didn't matter. She was smiling. So I told her a little about my book along with my pitch. She liked it was about a female assassin. And before I could tell her it was a la Shannon McKenna, she said, "Like Shannon McKenna, right?" That tickled me so much! She got it. I asked her if she was Ms. McKenna's editor and she no, but she loved her books. YES! Now, I'm not saying I write like her, but I love her books too and I hope mine are simliar but in my own voice. Speaking of voice, I hope she likes mine. Goodness, I do. Anyway, this was another wonderful thing.

I can't say I have a good feeling about it. One second, I tell myself my books are great and then the next I wonder who am I kidding?

::sigh::

For now, I'll take one day at a time and keep writing. Even if the Kensington editor rejects the manuscript, I know I made a good contact and she won't run from me whenever I see her next.

The picture was taken this morning. It was rather stormy when we left.

Silken Sands Conference

I’m looking forward to the conference at Pensacola this March. The last few years I’ve gone to several conferences but when I have a stretch like this (July to March), I get a little charged up. I wish I wouldn’t. Why? Because when I get there I get disappointed. If I keep my expectations low, I enjoy it more. And with each conference, I get a bit sadder. Why? Because I feel stagnated. I’m going in circles. Sure I’m still writing and sending out queries on a couple of my finished books, but I’ve been on this merry-a-go-round before. The only change is books and location. ::sigh::

I do miss the excitement I felt when I first started out on this journey into madness.

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.

Thankful Friday

Today I was thinking about all the writers conferences sponsored by RWA chapters I've been to in the last 10 years or so. They go like this, 3 in Birmingham, 3 in Shreveport, 3 in Atlanta, 1 in Melbourne, 1 in Ft. Lauderdale, 1 in Jacksonville, FL, 1 in Knoxville, 1 in New Jersey, and 1 in Pensacola. And to think all but two were in the last five years. That's 15 conferences, folks.

I've been to only 1 RWA National conference and it was in Atlanta and I do plan to go to this year's in Washington DC.

Of all the conferences, including the one in Birmingham I was chairperson of and I really should be ashamed of myself, but I have my reasons, the favorite one was the Moonlight and Magnolias conference in Atlanta last year. I'm sure it had a lot to do with me being a finalist and having my two best buddies with me to celebrate.

My second favorite was Ft. Lauderdale's because I came away with FIVE requests. It pays to be friendly to those you sit with at lunch and dinner.

Getting back to the thankful part, I'm thankful I have a job that provides the funds (though I've given up several other things to do so too) to attend the conferences. In some cases, I've even purchased air fare to attend them.