Investing In Myself

I learned a long time ago that to succeed I must invest in myself. Classes and workshops and conferences and such. Both time AND money. 

Today I joined my third writers' group. They are all different. Each group meets once a month. Thankfully, on different days!

My first is a critique group. That's about all we do. It can be difficult 'cause getting my own stuff critiqued sometimes can take too many months. But the people are good-hearted and their writing is good, too. Most critiques are really valuable.

My second is what I lovingly call my 'AA writers group.' We sit and complain and laugh and cry and really share what this writing experience is like. From horror tales of hideous critiques to creating cover letters that zing (yeah right!) to sharing rejection letters. Great group!

The third one I just joined tonight. It's dedicated to childrens' writers. Nice group. They choose a 'craft' book at the end of the year and then spend the next year going through it. Learning from it and sharing what their take on it is. The craft of writing. I think it will be good for me.

Life is a learning experience.

PS - Finished Chapter Thirty! Whoo hoo!

Editing Again

My mind, it seems of late, is always attuned to writing. The outside world revolves around that concept. Today I watched a well-known movie. I  felt sorrow for the director. There were parts that just didn't flow and I wondered if it was because those parts lay on the cutting room floor.

I'm wondering if it might be best to let someone come in with a scissors and cut 'Blue' with no input from me. The way an editor does in a film. Off in a silent room, away from the director. That way, I could go screaming into the night, pulling my hair out. Instead of doing it quietly over coffee at the nearby Panera's. 

That being said, I edited 'Blue' again -- the last six chapters. And finished writing Chapter Twenty-nine. 

I am now on the downswing from the Midpoint. I have the last 'obstacle to overcome' and then the Climax, and the Denoument. *g* Feels good.

Life is satisfying.

Sorry for 2 postings for the same day

Whooo hoooo!  

Reached 3,000 hits in a little less than one year!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Life is exhilarating.

Giraffes Update

On the 16th of July, I sent 'Sorrysorrysorry' to four publishing houses. Almost immediately, I received three rejections. 

I am told it is rare, in today's market, to receive a personalized letter. I received one. I also received a form letter with a personal note at the bottom. The last one was just a form letter. But --- I did get a letter. The fourth house did not respond.

The personal letter carried wonderful advise for making the giraffe tale better, more marketable. The changes were agreeable. Which is very important to me. I have been working on the suggestions, off and on, for the last three months. I'm happy to say that I plan on sending out another four submissions this month. And - this coincides with the goal I set in July. If the book was not accepted, or if I didn't have responses by November - I would send out four more in November.

Nice to meet a goal. *g*

On the other hand, I have now received ten rejections. I am on my way to meeting the number of authors like Dr. Seuss. I think his was ninety-nine rejections before being published. It would be nice if I didn't have to have 99 - but '99 Red Balloons' is a favorite song of mine, so it's ok. Also, I think I shared with you that another author that I just met recently had a total of over two hundred rejections before she was published. 

Now - these seem to be odd statistics. To flaunt the number of rejections one receives. A badge of courage, perhaps, to show the world that nothing will stop us? I hope so.

Life is to be lived.