I survived my first pitch (barely) to Deb Werksman from Sourcebooks yesterday.  It went well… not the actual pitching so much (although Deb assured me, once I’d calmed down, that I did a good job), but I did come away with a request, two actually.

YAY!!

Currently, Deb is not accepting multicultural or IR romance, so I was given a referral to an editor at another publisher.  I also got the chance to speak to her about my Urban Fantasy trilogy I have in the works, and she requested that I send that one to her when I was ready.

Can you say “Woohoo”? 

I am over the moon at this opportunity.  So needless to say, I am off to the bat cave to polish up my contemporary romance so  I can submit it.  Then I’ll be digging into my Urban Fantasy trilogy in a couple of weeks.

This has been an unbelievable year for me, as far as my writing goes.  I decided in January to get serious about getting published, and I set several goals that would help me accomplish this task.  So while it is just a request to read my manuscripts and not an offer to buy– at least not right now 

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.”- Peace Pilgrim

 (I’m working on channeling more optimism)

I feel good now knowing that I am actually making progress in my journey.  While I’ve not reached my destination, I have past several mile markers.  This means I’m further along the path now than I was at the beginning of this year; In fact, I’m now closer to my goal than to my starting point, so that’s a very good thing. 

I’m feeling like a real writer now.

Ok, I got a lots of work to do, so I’m off to the bat cave.

I am more than late in posting my Qtr 2 progress report, but I’ve had a very good reason for this…. I’ve actually been writing!!!

My wonderful critique partner told me about a book she’d just purchased, Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.  My first thoughts were “I am NOT getting any more crafts books, I have plenty on my shelf to read now.”  But after a couple of days, her growing enthusiasm about both this book and her wip intrigued me enough to go to the book store and get it.  Since then, I’ve embarked on my own Book in a Month journey and I must stay, I’m quite pleased with the progress I’ve made in just 3 weeks.

After I recieved my contest feedback on my current work in progress, I decided to revamp the begining in order to pick up the pace more.  So basically I kept the prologue and scrapped about 7,000 words.  It was very painful to do this, being that it had taken me close to a year to produce those 8,000+ words in the first place.  But if you check my progress meter over in the side bar, you will see that I am now at over 27,000 words after only 3 weeks of concentrated effort on my story.  

WOOHOO!!!

Yes, I’m more than behind in schedule to actually produce a completed draft in 4 weeks, but I ‘m more than happy about my progress so far.  In just 3 weeks, I have more than tripled my previous word count and I’m well on my way to finishing my draft in about 2 weeks time.

I’ve also entered another contest, so I should have the results of that by the time I do my Qtr 3 recap.  All in all, I am quite pleased with my progress and growth as an author this year. 

Qtr 3 will be very busy for me.  I’ll be attending my first RWA conference in a DC in a few days.  I’m very excited about meeting several of my CP’s in person for the first time, catching up with a few old friends, and meeting all the industry professionals what will be on hand.

My writing goals for Qtr 3 are to:

1. Finish my intial draft of Worth Fighting For
2. Revise and polish my draft
3. Begin actively querying & submitting my manuscript
4. Pitch my completed mss in September to an editor that’s visiting my writing chapter

Needless to say, I will be quite busy the next few months, but I’m looking forward to it.

For more info on the Book In A Month book:

After a hard & very distracting weekend, I think I finally got a hold of my mojo again. 
(Excuse me while I do the happy dance.)

Mr. Mojo, not to be confusesd with The Muse, was been elusive the past few weeks, escaping me at every turn.  Taunting me with quotes, ala Capt. Jack Sparrow, like  ”You will always remember this day as the day you almost caught Mr. Mojo”. 

LOL– seriously, it’s been like a bad super hero comic book.

But anywho, I got a great start on my chapter 1 re-write,  although due to some unforeseen issues, I did not make all 3 of my writing goals for the weekend.  But with my CP’s blessing (I think) I did earn 1 chapter from LOVER AVENGED. 

 Woo-hoo!! 

But I’m going to hold off until I’ve earned at least 3 chapters before I crack it open.  Only being able to read 1 chapter would drive me up the wall.  JR Ward is always leaving those chapters with some sort of hook and I wouldn’t be able to take it.  Although, just reading the 1 chapter would probably inspire me to push through my goals for the week though.

So I have 2 goals for this week, with 3 LOVER AVENGED chapters up as grabs as the reward.  I will report in next week on my progress.

‘Til then, lata

I got the contest results back this morning from the RSJ Aspiring Authors contest, and…

I didn’t place, but I scored much better than thought I would.  In fact, the feedback was very encouraging.  I’ve recently been battling writer’s block with this story, and the judges’ feedback, along with my CP’s, have helped spark the muse.

So I’m off to increase the word count. 

Ok, it’s the 4th month of the year and a great time for me to post my Qtr 1 progress. 

So far I have 7,538 words for my current wip, which is about a 13% completion rate.  Not bad considering all the things I have to juggle in order to write, but a definite far cry from where I wanted to be at the end of March.  I was shooting for something closer to 50%.  So needless to say, I’m running a little behind on that one… 

On a postive note, I did enter 3 different contests during the first quarter, which means I can totally cross that goal off my list.  Not to say I will not enter anymore contests this year, but still… An accomplished goal is an accomplished goal I say.  One was a relativly no stress contest where I entered my first 1,000 words each week in hopes of being a weekly winner.  I didn’t place in that one, but no worries.  I found quite a few little issues with my opening and I have since made some edits which makes it stronger.  

The next two were a bit more stressful to say the least.  I entered the Duel on the Delta contest, sponsored by my local writing chapter, River City Romance Writers, and the Aspriting Authors contest, sponsored by Romance Slam Jam.  I haven’t gotten any feedback from either of them yet, but I should here something within the next couple of weeks,. 

I don’t expect to final in them, but I will say they experience of preparing for and entering a writing contest has really showed me a lot about myself.  So regardless of what the results are, I am proud of myself for reaching this milestone in my writing career: producing something worthy of being judged–which is harder that you would think, believe me.

Ok, the second quarter has already started, so I will continue to work on my wip.  Hopefully, I will be closer to being 100%  done with it by the end of June.  I’ve also started brainstorming my paranormal, and I’m VERY excited about it.  I am currently in the worldbuilding phase and so far, so good.  My world is a bit complicated, as I have to work out the social structures, culture, and magic  for several species, as well as put my own twists on a couple of well know lores out there.   

So I am pumped for Qtr 2 and look forward to all I will accomplish.

Oh, and a special shout out to one of my critique partners for finaling  in a contest, and to another for completing her manuscript- WAY TO GO!!!

‘Till next time

and sometimes you just need a hug.

This is the predicament I found myself in this weekend.  As you know, I am working on my wip (work in progress) and writing is much harder than I ever thought it would be.  I have a WHOLE NEW RESPECT for all authors, whether they are published or not. 

Sitting down to a blank computer screen everyday is more than a little daunting.   Especially when you have the added pressure of trying to create something that will invoke a positive response in an editor, publisher,  and/or agent.

So, like most people, I have a lot going in my life right now.   I know I’m not the only person on this planet juggles a full time job, a family, a household, & personal interests/hobbies.  I’m usually pretty good at handling the day to day stress of my life. 

However, this weekend was NOT one of those times.

I got so frustrated with my lack of progress on my wip and the lack of creative inspiration that I had my first crisis of confidence this year.  Late Saturday night, as I stared hopelessly at my blank computer screen– a screen that was just begging for some words, any words, to grace it’s presence– I thought about just chucking the deuces at my attempt to complete a manuscript.  One of my favorite song lyrics is “Someday I’ll fly, someday I’ll soar” from John Mayer’s Bigger Than My Body.  I’ve adopted this line as a mantra of sorts, as I work towards becoming a published author.  And for the first time this year, it did nothing to for me.

Thankfully, my critique partner stepped in this morning with words of encouragement and some good advice & helpful tips on staying productive (http://www.sfwa.org/writing/strategies.html). Then  she nonchalantly requested  my writing goals for the week and sent me hers.  As though I did not just pour my little heart out to her in my Benadryl-influenced, sleep deprived,  ”swan song to the writing game” email. 

It was a spiritual hug of sorts and soothed those wayward doubts of mine, allowing me to refocus my efforts.   So I have a new writing plan this week, one that does not consist solely of me churning out another chapter.  Instead, I have varied my goals to allow me to work on different aspects of my writing, so that if the devil (that is doubt) raises his head, I can either laugh in his face and power through, or I can turn my attention to another aspect of my wip that will get me another step closer to completing it.

So for any of you who experience the sames highs and lows on the road to accomplishing your dreams, in the words of Tupac I urge you to “Keep ya head up”.

~La-Tessa
Someday I’ll fly, someday I’ll soar

Ok, I found out this morning that I was not one of the 8 weekly winners of the Chase The Dream Contest. This was the first contest I entered this year & it consisted of the first 1,000 words of my manuscript.  This contest is unique in that winners are chosen weekly, so if you don’t win one week, you can re-enter the next.  There was stift competition and my opening for Love Worth Fighting For (the working title of my manuscript) was not among those chosen.

Not to worry, I’m still hard at working on this story.  I have faith in it

~La-Tessa

February was a good month for me, I am very proud of the progress I made. At the end of month I had a completed prologue and chapter 1 and half (2 complete scenes) of chapter 2 done. Woo-hoo!!

I also made good on one of my writing goals by entering two contests–The Duel on the Delta, sponsored by my local writing chapter (River City Romance Writers) & RSJ’s Aspiring Authors Contest, sponsored by the Romance Slam Jam.  I am a bit nervous about these, since they are the first real contests I’ve entered.  The Duel on the Delta called for the first 25 pgs of my manuscript, while the Aspiring Authors contest called for a submission packet consisting of a query letter, a 3 pg synopsis, and the first 20 pgs of the manuscript.

These two contests represent my first time really putting myself out there for others to see.  I’m more than anxious to see how I fared in both of these, however regardless of the results, I am very proud of myself.  I now have  have close to 6,000 words on my wip and (more importantly), I’m officially in the ”writing groove”.  I hope to knock out at least half (6-7 chapters) of my wip by May.

~La-Tessa
Someday I’ll fly, someday I’ll soar

Hi all & thanks to all of you for your positive comments and emails you sent me in response to my first post of year, detailing my writing goals for 2009.  Some of you have been wondering (or just flat out asking me daily -LOL) how my progress is going.  So I decided to do a quick update on my progress.

Write for a hour a day, minimum

Ok, I have NOT been writing for a minimum of one hour a day–  with my hectic schedule this is just not always feasible.  BUT I do think I average close to an hour a day  since I’m able to write for several hours a few days a week.  Does that count? 

Ok, ok, I won’t start the year out with excuses– I’m actively working on getting that minimum hour a day, promise.  In fact, I’m currently trying out a few things that make it pretty simple for me to get this hour in a day.  But more talk on that later in the upcoming months.

Enter at least one contest this year

CHECK.  I entered a contest this month, yea!!!.  

It’s a weekly contest that ends in March, so I have until then to see if I am one of the weekly winners.   

I’m not resting on my laurels, though.  I do have at least more contest I want to enter and I’ll need 3 polished chapters for this one, so this one is the biggie.  The weekly contest was the “dip my toe in the pool”, slow introduction to the contest game.

Cycle through my craft books

I am currently about 15% through with Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.   So far, it’s  excellent and full of key writing exercises that are proving very useful during my current project– the complete outline revision for my wip.  (I will spare you the details, but the story was just not working , so I had to institute some sweeping changes)

Thanks again to everyone for your support and encouragement.  So far, so good.

~La-Tessa
Someday I’ll fly, someday I’ll soar

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that I have actually made some tangible progress on my quest to pen my first novel.  Guess what?? (drum roll please……)

I finished my first chapter!!!  I can not begin to even tell you how excited I am to have accomplished this milestone, especially since I have been “writing” this one chapter since January ‘08, but I digress…  The important thing is I wrote it, submitted it to my critique group, and got very positive responses to it (as well as some excellent critiques that are sure to make it shine when I polish it).

My next step is to push forward with Ch. 2.  Hopefully soon, I will be done with my first 3 chapters, then I can REALLY celebrate.

Thanks for your continued blessings and encouragement,
~La-Tessa