went to "Word on the Street"

So I went to a book lovers street fair last Sunday, and it left my head spinning. I was lucky enough to hear part of a lecture on publishing, and I was left feeling inspired although a bit nervous about all of the work ahead of me. When I first sat down a grey-haired woman in rain boots told me to "keep your distance." She was hogging an empty chair beside her with her plastic bag and I wondered if she was homeless, taking the "starving artist" thing to a new level. There were also alot of book nerds going for the academic look- leather satchels, black-framed glasses, and intellectual frowns. I didn't look like that because I was aiming for casual young writer with an element of almost attractive, inspiring other writers to exclaim "she has a certain je ne sais quois about her, almost like she doesn't know she's good looking." I think I achieved it.

can't beat that feeling

I feel inspiration to continue writing my second book now that my first manuscript is off doing something. For awhile I was stuck because I was so worried about my first manuscript at the editor's, but now that I'm moving forward, I feel an urge to return to writing. I can't wait for the day when my book is published and I can call myself a writer! A real, paid, not-a-hobby, writer. I want to derive income from my work, and I want someone to invest in me because he or she believes in me. I want to walk into a book store and run my fingers along the raised font of my own book, as I do with other books. I have never seen anyone else finger books, but I must not be the only one. I have all my life to get published, but I hope it happens sooner than later.

I was scared, but I submitted my manuscript

Anyone who has completed a manuscript knows it is like giving birth to a baby, and yesterday I had to drop off my "baby" to the library for their writer in residence program. I was very nervous passing the envelope sealed with surgical tape to the librarian. I hoped she would treat it well, and I get the impression that she was going to ensure the manuscript got to the other library that was holding the program. I asked her why the library heads decided to have the writer in residence program at the northern location, and she told me they "take turns." Next year the library will host the program downtown, one block from where I live, which would be great if I wasn't moving close to the northern location next year. What timing!

I can read the "Books" section of the newspaper again

I don't know why, but it was almost too painful to read the "books" section of the paper when I was just sitting on my manuscript. Now that I am taking action to get published I can once again turn the page on my once favorite section. Today I wrote my name on the top of the section with the caption "star author" below, just for fun and maybe wishful thinking. I also printed my manuscript for the library today too. It was over 300 pages and I ran out of ink! I want to be published so bad....

Someone's excited!

It's me everyone, I'm crazy excited. I finished my edit approval and I spoke to the lit section woman in charge of submissions, and she's going to look out for my manuscript. When I told her about my manuscript's sexual content, she told me that harlequin has a new division called "Spice" which would publish such content. Now if I could just get an interview with the harlequin agent...

Wow can I procrastinate!

I amaze myself how I can procrastinate. I have an edited manuscript that I need to read through and approve changes, but I've managed to put it off for a whole week. I did however find a place to send the edited manuscript for an agent to read. Our reference library has a month of focus on authors, including reps from harlequin novels. My novel can loosely be considered a romance I guess, so I think it's worth a try. Wish me luck!

I got my edited manuscript!

I am so excited, for two reasons. First, I got the finished product and I was not scammed on the internet. Second, my manuscript is cleaned up and ready for the second round of re-writing! The editor gave me some solid advice on how I could improve the product, and at the same time I grew as a writer. She told in not so many words that a novel does not have to be accurate in my personal truth at the expense of the overall story. In the novel I was describing how pre-teen girls engage in sexual activity, based on truth (I can provide names.) She told me that although this was true, it was "jarring" for the reader, and distracting from the story. Anyway, what this means is I have alot of work to do to fix this problem. She also suggested I join a work shop to help refine the work- I'll include her positive comments on the next blog for you to read. I have to pack for the cottage, long weekend here I come!