Waiting

Last month I entered Harlequin's Fast Track. It wasn't something I put a lot of thought in. I read about the opportunity months ago and decided to pass on it. Then a good friend mentioned it a few days before it closed. She decided to do it.

Harlequin Fast Track was opening submissions for a set time and guaranteed a response by May 18th. I thought about my writing goals. I set a goal that I would submit 4 things this year, either to a publisher or entering contests. It is May, and I have done only 1 to date. So, I looked over my WIPs and decided I had one that may fit into the categories they were looking for. But the catch was, it was the story I planned on completely revising.

So, with several days remaining, I got to work. I started by rewriting the first chapter and then I wrote a synopsis of the story. If you aren't familiar with a synopsis, it highlights the main points of the story. Yes, I wrote on on a synopsis on a story that is only written up to chapter 1.

I submitted it. What did I hope to get from it. Really, just a check on my goal list telling me I can write well enough to show it to others. I am also hoping for a little feedback. But if I think realistically, they are probably reading through this giant stack with a deadline, so I don't see getting a lot of feedback. But how long does it take for them to read over half of my chapter and send me a sweet form letter saying, Thank you for your submission, but no thank you. 

So why am I dwelling on this? I have no idea. I submitted and really forgot about it. Suddenly, I notice tomorrow is the day they guarantee an answer. So, I am constantly checking email. Crazy behavior when I should be busy writing and working on a story--any story.

Are you a patient waiter, or do you go crazy, like I seem to be doing at the moment?

Keep the Faith

Mom's Fried Chicken

Today, I was talking with my critique partner and we got on the subject of food. I happen to mention hubby was in the kitchen frying chicken.

But this brings up a story of my Mom. My Mom was famous for her cooking. Years after her death, we sit around and talk about how good of a cook she is. What little girl doesn't dream of being a good cook like her Mom?

But, I found out years later, she wasn't always a good cook. When my Mom and Dad were newlyweds, Mom would have dinner ready for Dad when he came home for work. There would always be 'that moment' when Mom would ask, "So, how's the food?"

Dad never learned. He was always brutally honest. "It's a little dry." or, "It isn't done." or, "It's a little bland."

Mom always tried her best to take his comments and do better. But, enough was enough. Finally, they had a big fight over it. She said according to him, there was something always wrong. According to him, she asked, he was just giving her an honest opinion.

A week went by, and Mom cooked without asking anything. Then she did something sneaky. She went to a restaurant and ordered a bucket of chicken. She came home and made the kitchen messy, just like it would be if she slaved in the kitchen. Dad came home and they sat down to eat.

Then came the question. "So, how's the food?"

She asked, so Dad had to tell her the truth. "It's the best chicken I ever ate."

Mom started crying. She wanted to prove there was nothing wrong with her chicken. He didn't understand because he really did think it was good chicken. He wouldn't lie to her.

Mom eventually perfected her fried chicken, and Dad never said a word about it after that. 

I didn't know about this until years later. But when I moved out and started cooking for my family, fried chicken was one of the dishes I could not master. It took me YEARS to get it right. I never fry chicken without thinking of my Mom and her great cooking.

What is your favorite dish and why?

Keep the Faith

Critiques

About a month ago I read a blog from 'The Kill Zone'. It is written by a group of mystery writers. They offered to critique first pages for 30 people. The catch, you had to be one of the first 30 people to submit it.

I pulled up the first page of a WIP I worked on last year. I edited it to death. At the time I thought it was pretty good. But, it had been maybe 6 months since I read it. I thought, oh, I'll look this over and submit it. Of course, if I had my way, I would take a week to check and double check, then submit it. Since I didn't have the time, I submitted it. I only read it enough to submit the word count they asked for, 300 words.

This morning I pulled up blogger and guess what. My heart stopped, I couldn't breath and my whole body spasmed. There it was, my first page for everyone to read and comment, along with a critique from Jordan Dane.

It took me a few minutes before I could gather myself to read it. I had already read some of the critiques on other first pages. They weren't nice. Not that anyone came right out and said 'you write dog do-do', but if they didn't do well, they had to be told.

So, I've been thinking of critiques all day. If we are going to improve as a writer, we have to listen to our readers. I have my fictional world in my head that I see clearly. When I read my work, I see and feel everything. But, I don't know until someone else reads it and comments whether they feel the same as me or not.

Do I have to listen to everything a critiquer says? No. I have learned this by getting quite a few bad ones. Even JK Rowling has one star reviews on Harry Potter.  But hey, if I earn a billion dollars on some of my books, I can seriously overlook a bad review. But until then, I know I need to get critiques and think about what I'm told.

How many critiques do I need? I have a critique partner. What I like about her is she doesn't let me slide on anything. She always seems to catch the things I know have something wrong, but I don't quite know what. But I do believe we need more than one person to read over our work. I admit, I'm not a strong writer. If I was, I would be published with a dozen books under my belt. So, I expect my critique partner to have someone else look over her work. I don't know that magic number, but I will keep putting my work out there and keep getting critiques and opinions to help me work.

So, what did I learn about my page? It's dark. Hehe. I wanted it to be. It is a crime scene. I didn't do well with the description of the park. Nothing new. I am not good with descriptions. It is something I am working on. One person commented the police procedures were wrong. It wasn't something I researched, but there is a reason I wrote it the way I did. I won't change it, and if they could read past 300 words, they would understand also.

Jordan Dane thought it would read better if I started in a different spot and gave more details in the first paragraph and move my descriptions farther down in the chapter. She probably is right. I plan on looking it over in detail more this weekend.

I'm still on cloud 9 that I got such an honored critique. (Yes, I know that is cliche', but hey, it's only a blog, not a published novel)

Feel free to check it out:   http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2012/05/first-page-critique-beware-wolf.html


So, for anyone that has read this far, I will pay it forward and offer to critique a first page of your WIP. Send it to faiththomas365@hotmail.com 
Just put blogger critique in the subject and I'll send it back to you as soon as I can. If you really want more than the first page critiqued, hey, I'm game. I don't do that many critiques and I can use the practice. I'll give you my honest opinion in a positive way.

Keep the Faith

Tricks of a Writer

Yesterday morning while getting ready for work I had the TV on. It was one of the news shows, either The Today Show, or Good Morning America. I have it on just to see the weather. Everything else is noise.

Finally, something pokes my consciousness and I realize they are talking to a writer. I can't say the title of the book. It is non-fiction, about history, or something equally boring to me. They ask him about research. Good question. I listen up. It could help me. Last year I had to research Greece for my characters to go on vacation. He admitted his wife did all the research. I quickly tune him out. She did all the hard work and he gets all the credit. At least she'll get half of the royalties.

He talked about doing all the work on a yellow legal pad with a pen. He doesn't use a computer. I nod my head. My rough drafts are often written long hand. It helps me think. I wonder who did all the hard work of typing and editing if he doesn't do a computer.

Then he starts talking how hard it is to work at home. Because home is where you relax and put your feet up. Oh, yeah. I admit. If I'm home, I am wearing pajamas.

I tried going to Starbucks and Books a Million to work. I can't do it. If I'm out, I like to people watch. I can't get any work done outside of the house either. If I had more money, I would go to a motel to work. ** I just got a lightbulb going off on the top of my head. I have a spare room in the top of the barn. I might try that. Anyway, back to the blog.

The writer I was starting to think did very little real writing, had a solution!!  He said he gets up every morning, puts on a suit and tie, like he's going to work, and writes. He fools his mind. He has his routine to prepare to work, including dressing for work.

How awesome is that? What other tricks are out there??

Keep the Faith

Write or Die

Earlier today I read a comment from Amalie (yes, my blogging friend, I called you out). She commented that she used writeordie.com . So, naturally I had to check it out. If it has to do with writing, I got to check it out. It is a website for writers that adds that proverbial kick in the butt.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, we've all read the way to get a draft done is KOBBIC. That is Keys on board, butt in chair. The concept being, once it is written, it doesn't matter if it is good or not, it is fixable. You can't fix something that isn't written yet.

I haven't gotten to the point that I can just sit and write constant. I don't want to write for an hour and not keep what is written. That is a waste of time. On the other hand, if I sit for an hour and write maybe 100 words, I will keep, maybe, 70 of those words. Because I take me time, I think about the scene and I nit pick every word to make sure it is the right one. But if I sit and write and write and ramble on, I can get maybe 1000 words in an hour. How many would I keep? What if it is 500? 400? 300?

Even if I throw out 90%, that is still more than if I pick my way through. So, this is something I should try, right?

I ran the idea by my CP. She said the same thing I was thinking. No, way am I gonna do that. The super duper kamikaze will delete my words. I'm not going that route. I agreed whole heartedly. This stuff is not for me.

So, I jumped right back over to the website and paid that $10. I pulled it up and guess what. (uh, no I won't put it on kamikaze) but I put it on normal. I like it. I stopped to think and guess what? The screen turned red. I think oh no. So, I start rambling on. I like it. It won't be writing to keep. But it will help me see the scene, get quick character reactions and just scene ideas. I can come back later and delete my 90%.

Have fun writing.
Faith

Balance- A Boot Camp Update

Hi Everyone,
As many of you know, I've been part of Savvy Authors April Boot Camp. I received a comment from an awesome blogger wanting to know an update. Well, here it is.

My month has been busy. I've spent tons of time writing, and thinking of writing, and yes, pretending to be writing. In other words, sitting at the computer yelling at myself to write with nothing magically showing up on the screen.

My goal for Boot Camp was to get me to start with X WIP and write all the way through to the end. It didn't work. I got so far, and I got stuck. I didn't stick with the same WIP because, it is a boot camp and I have to keep going or I will mess up our numbers. So, to keep going, I switch to another WIP. This is the one I started for NV last year and I didn't have enough conflict. I added more conflict and began rewriting. I'm not complaining, I'm glad I could continue, but I didn't accomplish what I set out to accomplish. 

What has Boot Camp done for me? It has shown me how much time I waste in a day. I found much more time to dedicate to writing. At the same time, I spend many hours at the computer wanting to write that isn't productive.

So, I've been pondering Balance. How do I find the perfect amount of time to dedicate to my writing? I feel good having dedicated myself to writing. On the flip side, I have neglected other things. I look at my desk and see I haven't cleaned it since, you guessed it, March. I now have to wear slippers in the house. I haven't swept nor vacuumed the floor. I don't see hubby picking up a broom anytime soon.

It couldn't be as simple as when I have something to write--write. And when I'm not being productive, do something else. Is it?

Keep the Faith

Book Review -Chasing Earth and Flame by Adonis Devereux

Late last night, I finished reading Chasing Earth and Flame by Adonis Devereux. I was quite irritated because I don't normally stay up that late. I go to bed early so I can get up super early. But this was one of those books I didn't want to put down.

One subject I thought about was there were 'pleasure slaves' in the book. That conjures in my mind someone that may be forced to do something they don't want to do. But none of the slaves acted like they were forced to do anything they didn't want to do. (And this IS a fantasy novel, so I didn't dwell on it too long)

I found some scenes were predictable, but for the most part there were twists and turns that kept my attention. It is definitely a book I would recommend. It is a keeper for me and I will even check out other books from this author.

I'm hoping the author will write a follow up to this novel with Arixus's story. (hint, hint)