Friday, October 19, 2012

Writing Therapy


I can tell you first off that writing is my therapy. I knew this at a very early age when I needed to write. And I still do, of course. This little post is for the Writing Therapy Blog Hop http://www.writertherapy.com/blog/2012/10/03/blog-hop/

When I must get into my writer's brain, after spending time promoting my music or singing, etc—I force myself to write any kind of crazy garbage-- anything that dribbles out. I discovered a great exercise, where I set a timer for ten, or twenty minutes, and just lay it out on paper. Yes, writing by hand. When I slow down I can doodle until my subconscious thoughts catch up—or I catch up with them.

But my completely, most favorite, and foolproof way to write, particularly a rough draft, is to go for a 5k run. Oh my god, if I could get all the writers running, they’d see the effortlessness at which their words flow. While this is my most favorite technique for writing flow. I find it a little different for revisions, where I need to be alert, curt, and critical of my work--those are pure coffee days.

It is essential for writers, sitting for long hours, to move before, or after writing. 
Think of yourself as stagnant energy, and moving your body creates movement--right? This works for the entire being—the mind and the imagination in my experience.

So in Michelle Obama’s words: Get Moving!
Or is it Let’s Move? In any case, go and write, or write, and then get moving.  


Friday, October 12, 2012

Pitch Live


                                  #PITCHLIVE EVENT 

           A Very Special Thank You goes out to Brenda Drake and her band of elves for creating this fun opportunity.
                          
                         
                                                    

                                       
  



                                            Title: ABEGALE FORCE
                        Genre: Upper MG Magical Realism Adventure
                                        word count: 75k


        
                                        


Thirteen year-old Abegale must discover how a medicine book, magic cards, and a grim old lady are going to help bring a grandmother home she thought was dead.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Writing Contest Season

It sure seems like it. And everybody's winning!

Whether getting a request from an agent, critiques on their work, or making new writing connections--It's happening--everywhere.

I'm trying to keep all organized using my fancy phone--my organizing buddy. After passing through #Pitmad and sending my pitch to an agent, and then another first page/tagline contest, where I was a first page finalist, I can't get enough now, and, well, it just keeps getting better, because the contests keep rolling in. Best part--meeting the writers along the way, who lend their fresh, eyes O.O to  something your working on. Love it! Need it!

Now, there's the Hook, Line and Sinker contest, where you can find more info on Dee Romito's Blog,
I WRITE FOR APPLES and Trick or Treat with Agents contest:
http://www.writeforapples.com/2012/10/trick-or-treat-agents-wish-lists.html
Oh, and she has some inspiring "How I got my agent stories" And today features Jennifer Malone, one of our MG betareaders. YAY!! Jennifer! Can't wait to hear more Marnie adventures.

You may be interested in the PitchLive contest happening on Brenda Drake's Blog,
http://brenleedrake.blogspot.com/2012/09/pitch-live-elevator-pitch.html
Something a little different, but familiar--Videotape a 2 min. pitch to an agent and post it! Ahhh! Yeap. Those Pitches go live on Oct. 15th. Get to it. I found it helpful recording the video on my iphone--where I could control the lighting by moving to a bright -light-flattering window. Just need to have the video set to public on the day of. Should be fun. More info on Brenda's Blog.


Oooh. And we will NOT forget The Baker's Dozen Contest on Authoresses Blog, no we won't. Because, I am real excited to participate this year. Here's the low-down:
http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-2012-bakers-dozen-all-star-agent.html
Fifteen top-notch agents will participate in being hooked.
Check out the YA/MG and Adult submission schedules for Baker's Dozen:
http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/2012/10/14-agents-are-ready-to-outbid-each.html

And Good Luck!

Just got word of this one the other day: Spooktacluar Pitch Extravaganza on Jamie Corrigan's beautiful Blog: Oct 13th Folks. Three sentence pitch. No more, no less. Get Busy!
http://thiswritersworldplotbunnies.blogspot.com/2012/10/spooktacular-pitch-extravaganza.html

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Perplexing and over thinking. Yeap, that's me.


My little conundrum.

Last December, I sent a query off to an amazing agent. He reported back that he'd like to see my first fifty pages, snail mailed. I did. Then, just before January of 2012, I got a message back that while, agent liked the story concept, and the characters, he suggested, "making every word count." And he'd be happy to take another look in May. This was last May.

Since then, I started an MGbetareader group--an awesome bunch of very talented writers with eagle eyes. I went through a couple beta reads, and revisions. I'm currently awaiting a last beta read for a final run through.
Now, my question is: How do I resend? Do I simply send a query? Or do I resend the first fifty pages, again, snail mailed, as he prefers? My fear, oh, you know I have some fears...What if the query isn't caught? What if it slips through the emails of very busy agent?

Silly. I know.  So how should I go about this? Anyone? Not exactly an R&R...but?  
Thank you for any helpful suggestions.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Ink in the Book: GUTGAA Pitch #10 AbeGale Force

Ink in the Book: GUTGAA Pitch #10 AbeGale Force: AbeGale Force Upper MG: Magical Realism Adventure 75,000 Query: Thirteen year-old Abegale finds Grandma’s medicine book. Can she use ...


Here's my entry...getting some Great feedback. Yay!!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Pitch Fever Reigns

Here I go again.

I can hardly keep organized with the pitch workshops, the #pitmad, #pitchon, and #pitchlive and first page Agent contests all happening. Today the #GUTGAA Small Press Pitch has gone live.

My entry, ABEGALE FORCE: http://inkinthebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/gutgaa-pitch-10-abegale-force.html is in for Upper MG. . . if you want to leave an anonymous comment.


"The judges will leave feedback and place votes under their SECRET NAMES from Monday until Thursday and the winners will be announced no later than Friday." O.o


I'm blown away, most everyday with the generous support of other writers, sharing their experience, and talents in hosting opportunities for other writers. This is my kind of world.

Now, to check where I left my pitch draft for critique.

**I didn't even mention the BLOG TOUR!! A list of blogs participating are at the bottom of this page. Haven't figured how to add the names higher up the blog, without the names scrolling of the edges. ...happy travels, and blog jumping new writer friends!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Entering the Land of Writing Contests!

I missed the first round of  #Gutgaa. I did register, but became overwhelmed in the last #Pitmad twitter fest. I was "favorited" over my pitch and asked to query a most AWESOME Agent. My fingers are still crossed. She is a dream agent. Here's the twitter pitch that snagged her request for ten pages:

Abegale finds grandmother's medicine book, but can she use it to bring her home before she's trapped for eternity on the solstice? MG

But to make it even better: 13 yo Abegale finds grandma's medicine book. Can she use it to bring  grandma home before she's trapped between the fabric of space for eternity? MG


I also became a FINALIST over at the WriterlyRejects with my first page and pitch!! with another awesome agent. http://www.writerlyrejects.blogspot.com/2012/09/and-winner-is.html  YAY!! So I had to send that baby in. And being someone who can only really focus on so much at a time, I had to say, woah pony, don't be gettin' greedy.


I entered the #DefytheDark Anthology contest last month--and waiting to hear later in October from  editor & author, Saundra Mitchell, who is judging--reading millions upon millions of words. My kind of super hero!
If you'd like to read my entry on Figment--have a peek:http://figment.com/books/416487-You-re-Always-There



I still have another dream agent waiting for revised pages. He said he'd be happy to take another look after May, or there about....uhm, that was last May. But hey, I think agents prefer you take the time to revise well, right? I'm just waiting on last beta read (hopefully-for now) from our MGbetareaders group. A few of use are getting lots of full/partial requests. Go Team!
  
If you need a betareader, we wouldn't mind a few more in our group. There are about ten of us now, some are more active with needing readers than others. We LOVE company. Join us, if you want more eyes on your manuscript. I'm the moderator--send me a message with your email, and I will send the invite. 

Busy days--love it! Especially since I was able to squeeze in some WIP writing over last weekend. Writing rough drafts is SO MUCH FUN!  Non judgmental, anything goes, dream time, and I'm lead around by a muse that likes surprising me. Salute!

Happy rewriting! And get in on those contests.

Twitter is a gold mine in resources for writers helping each other. Check out #MGlitchat on Thursday nights beginning at 9:00pm. Eastern time. ;)