Rejection and the school run

So I heard on a sub I've had out for nearly a year.... and it wasn't good news. I think i had all of 2 mins to process before I had to take Princess 5 to school. Today is her morning talk, so all the way we were deep in discussion on exactly how she could best present her fave beanie kid to the class and show them the book I made her on all her cuddlies.

Life goes on.

I've written nearly 4 full manuscripts since the one that was rejected. I'll take the great feedback on board and hope I've improved.

And maybe eat some chocolate.

=)

How do you stop rejection getting you too down? Or is that an impossible dream?

requests and re-writes

It's been a while again but I've been busy. Not only reading all the fab New Voices chapters (big congrats to the top 10) but working on my own stuff - oh and Princess 5 needed more ear/throat stuff... sigh...

Happy days when i found out i won the TARA and the final judge requested a partial. Cue much excitement then some nerves. Nerves because she had suggestions/feedback from the first chapter she read. It means a real re-write but I'm hoping will add to the tension of the story. It was about creating questions and possibilities so the reader keeps reading rather than setting the story on an obvious path too early.

Fingers crossed i can manage all that.

And it helps that after a few days crying on my lap cos her throat hurt, Princess 5 is just about back to her usual attitude filled, sparkly self.

Anyone got any motivational re-writing your story (even when you know it will be better for it) isn't as HARD as it seems stories?

=)

the rain falls on me... not so much Spain

Well, I'm not certain about that but with 33 ml here today we're kinda swimming to and from the car. kids loved the puddles though. I don't need to worry about Spain weather cos hubby got out of his trip. yay. For me more so than him I suspect.

I LOVED the conference. Such a brilliant buzz and met so many great people and caught up with good friends too. What a weekend. i came home with 2nd in the Emerald award too and was thrilled.

Have been editing madly to send away chapters from my pitch and now that's resting I have a new idea calling. i just need to work out how it starts...

Do you know your opening line before you open the file??

Sydney and Spain

Am just about bursting with excitement. This time in two days I'll be in Sydney for the RWAus conference. It's my first and i can't wait. i feel like I know so many already thanks to the wonder of the internet. I'm looking forward to catching up with/meeting some great writing buddies. And I can't lie, I think there'll be some family missing too.... when I have time.

Less exciting, for me, is that hubby is out doing me on the trip front and might be off to Spain in a few weeks for work. I reckon Sydney is just as good!

Who's coming to Sydney? Who would rather head off for Spain?

=)

Making Time

Nope. Alas I don't have a secret to share about adding hours to the day. Sorry if I got you here under false pretences.

I have a hectic few days coming up with 6 couples and their 10 kids (all under 5) coming here for dinner tonight, party tomorrow and in-laws visit all day Sunday. usually I'd just give up on writing since it's impossible when the kids are awake and we're busy through their sleep times, but today I'm determined. Somehow over the next few days I'm going to make time.

For writing.
Really, for me.

Not sure how yet but I'm determined to write at least 1500 words.

How do you make time?

TARA and June Challenge

Ok, so my excuse for the terrible lack of posting is that i have been busy trying to keep up with the June Challenge we down under types like to keep our winter warm with. So i signed up for 40k in June.... so not going to happen. But you know, some days I do reach target and it's great and it's 1334 words i wouldn't otherwise have.

I had a story planned and then the day before went for a different one. So I'm all about Kate at the moment. Perfect Kate who used to think she was, well that her life was perfect but turns out it really isn't. Could be a good thing too.

On a different note I found out I finalled in the TARA contest so am very happy with that news. Certainly brightened a glum week where hubby was snowed under with work and the kids were playing up cos they didn't get to see him. I find it hard to switch from being frustrated and trying to keep the kids from bickering to developing a love story...

How does real life affect your word count?
Oh, and do you like my new template thingamy?

=)

SENT!!

So the requested full is on it's way to New York with lots of good wishes to help it on its way.

Now what to do?

I think some reading to refill the well and there's always some critting for my lovely CPs. On a different note my YA experiment finalled in the TOM contest so i should get stuck into that. And there's a new catagory idea i've mapped out.

Maybe i'll read while i'm deciding!

Last weekend i attended Romancing The Novel - a one day Romance workshop/conference here in Adelaide. it was wonderful (and exhausting) to talk writing all day. There was even dinner afterwards!

The workshops from the fab Anna Campbell and Yvonne Lindsay were lightbulbing and i learnt heaps just chatting to all the wonderful local SARA authors we have (Trish Morey, Anne Oliver, Elizabeth Rolls, Amy Matthews and Claire Baxter - who i sat next to at dinner and have already devoured one of her wonderful books that she signed for me.).

Bring on August and the conference!!!