I had meant to post something last week, but with everything that was piling on my plate from work, school, and some other commitments that I have there was just no time. It was just one of those weeks where you wished you had a clone because that was the only way you were going to get everything you needed to accomplished done. But, I made it through alive and in need of a serious mental health day.

I also had a false alarm last week. I got an email from the house that requested my book. If I’d taken the time to read the subject instead of just the sender before I got excited I might not have been quite so disappointed to realize that it was simply an acknowledgement of receipt from the requesting editor. In retrospect I have to laugh, but at the time it really wasn’t all that amusing. I have to say I’m looking forward to hearing from them, but at the same time if it’s bad news I’d almost rather get no response. As they say, no news is good news.

On a truly positive note, I was watching an episode of Bones over the weekend and got a spark of inspiration on how to fix a manuscript that I’d given up for dead. I’m really glad about that, because I really did like the main character in this book, I was just at a lose as to what to do next with her. So I sent out the chapters that I had edited to my critique partner. She’d never read this manuscript because we teamed up after I’d put this book in a draw, metaphorically speaking. It’s always so nice to get a fresh perspective on things. She came up with some ideas that never would have occurred to me, but really made some of the events in the scene gel.

After being so bogged down for the last few weeks, it’s nice to feel like things are clearing out, sort like I’ve done a mental spring cleaning. Now, fresh ideas are blooming, and I’m ready to get back to writing.

Woohoo!! The manuscript is in the mail. I just finished up the final edits on the manuscript that was requested and emailed it off. It’s such a weight off my shoulders and (to borrow a line from Roswell) now I have this really cool window of time to obsess. Will they buy it, won’t they. Only time will tell.

Giving birth to your books takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but all the decisions are in the authors hands. But publication, unless you want to self pub, which I don’t, that’s entirely up to someone else. Don’t get me wrong if self publication is the way you choose to go, more power to you, it’s just not the route for me. I guess I need the validation that my talent is good enough for someone to want to buy my creation.

So now I wait with fingers crossed. Tonight, I play and I celebrate my accomplishment, and I do the critique on Shai’s work. (I know you’re reading Shai.) Tomorrow, I get back to my regularly scheduled writing program.

The cosmos seems to have a way of balancing things out, in the most interesting of ways. Yesterday, I was at work thinking about a test I have tonight in Advanced Java, when an email lands in my inbox from one of my partners for this group project I had to do for this same class. The project was due last Wednesday, but because one of the members of my group wanted to try and work out the last of the bugs with the program the professor generously gave us a few extra days, but said it was definitely due in by Friday. So we send to this third member if you want to work on it a bit more fine, just make sure you submit it by Friday. We followed up with is guy to ensure that he submitted the project and we just hear back from him yesterday. When I read his email I hit the roof. His response to our inquiry was yeah, how is that that section of the program you were working on going? Did you guys put anymore time into it? OMG!!! I wanted to strangle him. Not only had he not bothered to look at the section of the project we held up submitting for him to examine, but he was still diddling around with another piece of the project that worked just fine. I got in touch with the professor to let him know what was going on, but I was seriously pissed about this.

Then last night when I get home from class, I check my email again. A little over a week or so back, I submitted a query to The Wild Rose Press pitching a romantic suspense novel that I’d written. Finally, I had a response from them and WOOHOO!! They want to see the full of the manuscript. Now, I realize this isn’t exactly “the call” but still it’s a thrill to hear that someone is interested in seeing your work. Talk about a mood lifter. This is doubly exciting because this is a book that was tucked under the bed because it was just too short to submit to most publishing houses. I think it’s really cool that there are small presses popping up fairly regularly that are open to stories that are less then 65,000 words. This opens up all types of opportunities for writers.

Needless to say, I’m stoked about my request and as soon as I get through that Java test I have today, I’m going to get the manuscript sent off.

Whoever said anyone can write a book has never actually tried writing one themselves. It takes a very strong, very persistent person to not only start, but to stick with it for the long haul, in my opinion. Fortunately, for me I have a wonderful and supportive community of writers behind me to help and encourage me. Still, even with all of that help and support you have to find the motivation within yourself to get your but in the seat and write. I am the queen of procrastination. ‘Just one more chapter of this book and then I’ll get to writing’, ‘Just 15 more minutes of this game and then I’ll start writing’, After Bones goes off then I’ll get to it.’ Any of these excuses sound familiar? I know I’ve used them all then inevitably by the time I’m done ‘I’m just too tired to be creative today, I’ll get to it tomorrow.’ It’s a vicious cycle and it has nothing to do with not wanting to write and everything to do with not wanting to face that internal critic.

One of the biggest things that I’ve done since the last time I posted here is find a critique partner. I have to say that since we started working together my productivity have increase exponentially. I’ve even managed to get a query out on an old book that I thought would have to be tucked under my bed never to see the light of day. Yeah me! Working with Shai has been great. She’s been terrific to critique with because she works with my voice and style instead of trying to morph me into something I’m not. I think in the end I’ll have a better book because of it. I’d also like to think that I’ve done the same for her. I think that’s the mark of a good critique group/partner. The last thing I would want is to be part of a group/partnership that tries to change my voice, and make me sound just like them or how they think I should sound. I’ve heard a number of stories like that. I think that’s part of why I’ve avoided doing something like this for so long.

So, here is a little unsolicited advice. If you are a perpetual procrastinator like me, find yourself a critique group. Making yourself accountable to someone is the best way to keep you on track and if you’re lucky you’ll wind up in a situation that allows you to create something better then you could have created on your own.

Wow, I know it’s been ages since I’ve posted here and I’ve made a pact with myself to do better in the future.