Back to reality

My last long weekend...well until Thanksgiving, I've been burning the midnight oil writing as the days of going back to work gets shorter. This summer I did a lot of writing/editing/revisions yesterday I did revisions for a few hours, and then looked outside and when I saw my girls playing I stopped.

Those moments I cherish, although my dear husband didn't mind watching them I didn't go back and write, Tuesday I go back to work and my new routine in which I will not write during the week its hard on my system because I have to get up at 5:00a.m. each ,morning and on the highway before 7:00a.m. and get to work for 8:15a.m. Its 3:15 a.m. I cannot sleep so I am writing this blog and I will feel it later on so I bid you good morning, good night.

One step back...few steps forward

I have mentioned a few times about my decision to rewrite my entire novel, I did so because I love it so much, I know most writers fall in love with their first WIP and sometimes its hard to let go and scrap a novel but I believe in the story the character emotional arc and I hope that the fantasy elements in my paranormal romance is slightly different than whats on the shelves. At the time I decided to rewrite my novel it was emotional because I felt like a failure but after some time had passed I am able to see the growth of my journey, I am no longer in a fantasy of getting a book deal, making it huge like the notables best sellers, nope the reality is that I will not give up but also still realize its the hardest goal I have ever embarked on and just when I think I have a solution to the journey the truth is I don't know, I have never been the type of person that had good luck, so I am holding onto the hope that one day everything will fall into place and I will get good luck for now I will continue to learn and challenge myself.

My journey progress report

I woke up this morning wondering this strange question, does the length of a writers journey towards publication determine the yearning for the goal, and I don't think so, some writers gain an agent fast, get a book deal after that again I believe its luck, good timing but more important the writer honed her craft.

I will use the journey of Stephenie Meyer who I believe had the easiest journey, finishing a book in three months gaining an agent shortly afterwards and few months after that landed a nice deal with her publisher, and most people in the world knew what happened after that TWILIGHT exploded into the hands of preteens, their mothers and every one's else curiosity.

I won't Lie I fell for TWILIGHT because all my students were talking about it, I liked the first it was cute, safe and the rest may not be my cup of tea but it was still a pleasant read. What people may not understand is perhaps her journey included compacting huge hours to research, to finish her drafts which I don't think is a easy feat on top of being a mother, I am a mother too and juggling duties is hard, but we do it anyways.

What I know for a fact is that each writers journey will be different and most of us will have to write several books before we get an agent,published, I don't feel bad about that the key is to believe in yourself. When I began to have moments which I broke down because I want to be published so bad I knew at that point my goal was real to me, and I made a goal of working on my goal seriously which meant going on a query hiatus to hone my writing, fix the plot issues etc.

I am still on a query hiatus but I have finished the rewrite of my first novel, I have passed the 100 page mark on three various WIP that scare but thrill me because I am writing out of my comfort zone, I also read like crazy I hate to hear when big time authors state they don't have time to read that could be true if they have a demanding schedule but reading is joint with writing and it supports other authors.

I recently purchased two of Megan Hart's books DEEPER and NAKED I finished NAKED in three hours that's how amazing it was but I am partial to erotic romance about interracial couples, and I am reading DEEPER which is different not what I expected at first i.e plot caught me by surprise which is great that's what great writing should do make the reader on edge not knowing what will happen. Reading helps hone the craft but also writing which right now is the only thing I can control, the sacrifices I have to make though is to organize my writing time, I cannot write during the week because I have to work, and then in the evening I go to the gym so the weekends is when I will cram (that's why outlining comes in handy) I have a week before I go back to work so I am cramming now like I was given a sentence of a week to write.

As always write with joy and plenty of chocolate

Reviews

Reviews is one of the scary things for writers, its subjective just like most things i.e agents wish list/publishers wish list what I don't understand is why someone would critique an arc? An arc still needs tweaking before the release date, and arcs can work or go against a writer.

Since deciding I wanted to become a writer my skin is thick like an alligator's skin, when I resume querying (and resume the turbulence in my stomach) eventually hopefully before I am forty I will get my yes.

Back to my topic on reviews, the only thing an author can do is to take it with a grain of salt and move on and write, and write not everyone in the world will like a book and that's why book stores are flooded with a eclectic array of books, the journey is rough but the great moments should be savoured and always repeat the reason you chose to be a writer is because you love it with your heart and soul.

Self actualization

List of anxieties

Quitting career and write all day (I haven't lost it yet this will not happen because its not realistic)
I wish I had more eyes to read my TBR pile of books ( I don't feel so bad I think many writers feel this way)
I wish I was a vampire so I never have to sleep
Published then become mega superstar writer (ZZZZZZZ)
Find mega superstar agent (hone my craft, polish, polish, polish)
Chillax and take time to learn, to grow and hope for the best
PRICELESS

So no more stress I will make it work I always do and the point of my journey is to enjoy the love of writing without that it won't be worth it.

Birthday and dreams

This Sunday is my birthday, I am not a huge birthday person meaning I don't go crazy for gifts, rather spending time with my family, watching movies or getting some rest and relaxation while the hubby takes the kids out means more. But I did get gifts that meant a lot because my kids and husband understood me, by getteing me the latest adaptation of Jane Eyre, few other romance movies, and Adele CD to refresh my muse and the gift of time to write to read to sleep.

Tomorrow I will have a fun filled day with my family at Canada's Wonderland I have taking a pause at the gym because I always breach my diet when I go there the funnel cake is the most naughtiest treat but its the best.

Monday I am back on track and look forward to another year where there is endless possibilities for my dreams.

WRITEONCON

Last year I signed up for WriteOnCon. I learned so much from amazing writers/authors and got my query critique which helped me realize I was not ready to submit my manuscript, the query was good, and I still have it, and will only make a few tweaks to make it sparkle. The problem was my opening and at that time I had the dreary prologue so a year has passed I cannot believe it and the conference is back so check it out. I have been busy trying hard to finish the transfer of ECLIPSE which I rewrote last year and I am so happy revisions really work, no book can be truly great without several revisions. I am also happy that I have the most amazing editor that is tough but is so smart at times I am scared because I let myself get overwhelmed and have to talk myself into calming down and stop stressing about things I cannot control like the publishing biz/gaining a agent what I can control right now is honing my craft and having faith my dream will come true one day. Goals for Fall/Winter is to get in a reasonable schedule with my critique partners so that I can get feedback and I hope 2012 I will be able to submit it and also start the revisions on my adult WIP. It feels good to attain goals and as a writer any level of accomplishment is worthy of self praise. Write with joy and if need be plenty of chocolate.