La-Tessa Montgomery

Received my 2nd rejection on my contemp IR romance this week. I expected as much, but it still smarts a bit.

The silver lining to this cloud (this thunder cloud that is WFF) is that I’ve been getting revision ideas to implement on the overhaul revision round.  I’m been second guessing myself because the changes (not to the plot, but the actual timing of things) is major.  To implement, it will cause me to let go of 2 ideas that have been with me for 2 years with this wip–translation: not an easy feat.

But, this rejection is making me feel better about implementing them.

I had the pleasure of attending the book signing for Beautiful Creatures and meeting the authors Kami and Margaret back in January.  Of course, I got caught all up and I’m just now getting around to posting my recap of the event. 

I attended the book signing with one of my local writing buddies.  We both found it to be very interesting event.  For one, these two authors have one of the most unlikeliest, fairytale-ish, comedy-of-errors type of road to publication.  The short version of the story is that neither author had finished a story on their own, so their kids dared them to write and finish a book.  Being the sports they are, they accepted the challenge.  The proceeded to write the book, turning over the completed chapters to their kids to read as they were done (and as proof they were actually writing the book-lol)

By the time they were finished, they had several students (like 100′s)  that attended school with their kids wanting to read their finished product.  So they were going to post it to the net so all of the kids could have access to it, when one of their friends (who just happens to be a published author) stepped in and stopped them.    Said friend also sent the book to his agent, and the agent loved it.  The story gets really funny now (in a Lucy & Ethel type way), but long story short, after several mishaps and thinking the interest of the agent was a practical joke, Kami and Margaret are now proud authors of their first published book, which also happens to be the first book either of them has ever written.

Their story is a YA/Paranormal/Southern/Gothicy mix that has gotten rave reviews both on Amazon and from the radio DJ’s that I initially heard talking about it.  Listening to the authors describe their story and their influences really piqued my interest as well.  So I did something I rarely, if ever do.  I purchased a book–a hard cover no less–written by authors that I knew nothing about (other than what I’d heard than night) or whose books I’d never read before.

The one quote/piece of advice these ladies gave, that I will always remember, is “There’s no such thing as a bad book, just a bad draft”.  This was their response when an aspiring author asked them for insight into their writing process (which, in an of itself quite hectic).  This matra is the one thing they both kept in mind to keep them going, and I think it’s worth remembering & repeating.  I will definitely be pulling this one out the next time I have a crisis of confidence regarding my writing–or– the next time I recieve a rejection. 

For one, I’m really digging the book cover, and cover art usually doesn’t play a strong part in my book buying decisions.  But something about it appeals to me, and I LOVE the title font, it’s very fluid and artsy.  But I’m really looking forward to reading this one.  It’s next on my TBR list.

Oh, and did I mention?  Beautiful Creatures has been optioned for a movie.  Congrats ladies!

One of my writing buddies, Jus Accardo, put together a 12 step programs for any and all writers who are WIP-Aholics.  No explaination neccessary.  You know who you are.  And you’re on the fence about whether or not you’re one, remember,  admiting you have a program is the first step- LOL.  

1.  We admit we are powerless against our WIPs—that they hold our muse—and our hard drives hostage.
2.  We believe something greater than ourselves—the revision process and editing that comes with it—can and will restore our sanity.

3.  We have made the choice to give our lives over to the care of our Muse.

4.  We will cease extensively researching and move forward with the revision process so that our WIP will one day grace the desk of our dream agent.

5.  We have admitted to ourselves, and our fellow writers, our flaws—and will make a conscious effort not to indulge our WIP obsession until we have made at least one submission.

6.  We acknowledge that we are ready to move forward and tackle our enormous pile of WIPs—by focusing on them one at a time.

7.  We offer chocolate, caffeine, and other indulgent gifts to our muse in exchange for urging us onward toward our publication goal.

8.  We have made a list of the WIPs being neglecting, and are now willing to make amends.

9.  We will continue to move forward with our neglected WIPs, admitting freely when the urge to start another surfaces.

10.  We will, through chocolate and coffee, improve our relationship with our muse, begging for her/his knowledge and guidance.

11. We will not make excuses.

12. We will, having had an awakening of epic proportions due to these steps, go forth and spread this message to all other WIPaholics.

I loved this so much, I asked permission if I could share.  So all you WIP-Aholics, take time to review the above affirmations.  Become friends with them.  Then… stop procrastinating & get going. 

My critique partners have been really busy lately racking up accomplishments.  Today, want to give a shout out Carmen Steele for having her flash fiction piece, Kindred Chronicles: The Blood Prophecy, published over at Wicked Jungles. {click link to read it}

Congrats lady, keep it up.

Without a strong rhyme to step to”

I had to borrow from Eric B. and Rakim to properly set the tone for this post. I’ve been past swamped the past month or so, and I’ve not updated my blog here, or at my personal blog since then.  I’m not upset with myself though, mainly because I made a promise to myself to properly balance all of my writing related activities with those of my personal and professional lives.

But that said, I really want to update my blog at least once a week.  So I’ve decided to commit to updating my blog more often.  While I don’t think have much going on right now that’s really exciting, I have a couple ideas I want to run with.  Namely, doing a series of editorials and some craft related articles.  I’ve not nailed anything down 100%, but I will continue to  brainstorm on it.

I do have a bit of news (not good or bad) to share.  I was asked to re-submit my submission package to an editor that requested it at the Moonlight & Magnolias conference I attended in 2009.  The good news is that I’ve made some major changes in the heroine’s GMC.  While this means quite a significant amount of revisions to the 40,000+ words I’ve already written, I believe the story flows better and I know longer feel like I am trapped with a plot element I just don’t like and connect with.

Anywho, I sent the editor my submission package (which consists of a totally rewritten first 3 chapters).  I’m nervous about her reaction/decision, but I feel MUCH better about the content I sent.

Okay, off to produce some words, I’m out–but it will not be as long in between my posts again.