I'm Walking On Sunshine

I need Katrina and the Waves blasting through my house. Such a happy song for my ecstatic mood!

Contract signed... this is really really happening. But I'm not allowed to announce the publisher. (So to all my friends and family who do know, keep it under your hat and off the internet please!)

They like to do that by announcing newly assigned writers. So it makes it even more exciting. I'm not sure I can get any more excited! But Oh My God, The Wedding Favour will be coming to an eReader near you very soon. I'm going to be plastered all over the internet! I'm going to be on Amazon!

I can't wait!

Right, off to do some editing. Let the hard work begin. I don't care if I'm chained to my PC for the next 8 weeks. It will all be worth it. To all my friends and family... do not panic, I am alive and I love you all. I'm just going to be very busy.

I need to go change a load of bio's too... delete that bit about not being published. Whoop!

I don't actually think I will really believe this is happening to me until I see it. It's my book cover I'm excited about. What will it look like? Deep down I'd like wedding favours on it... sugared almonds.

(Gosh, when I saw this free picture from Shutterstock I knew it would be perfect to use for The Wedding Favour. Heart shaped umbrellas, whatever next.)

Time For A Change

I thought I would just do a very quick blog post to say I've updated my website. I was not happy with the site I was using. It was not very easy to use and felt very limited. Anyway, I've given Weebly ago and so far I like. 

It was free, so it doesn't mean I have to stick with it. If I have more time I might check out other suggestions that were given to me. But I have a feeling I'm going to be very busy over the next few weeks as - gosh I'm so excited - I may well have sold The Wedding Favour! Whooop! And there is talk of turning it around in 8 weeks, to get it out for summer and the wedding season. (Bouncing off the walls here.)

But that, ladies and gentlemen, is another blog post :D (I won't really believe it until I've signed the contract, and I don't want to jinx it so I'm not saying too much right now).

In the meantime, let me know what you think about my website! Oh, and check out Becky Black's interview too! And over on Becky's website talking about me here!

Check them all out!

I may have overused the exclamation mark in this blog post... but I don't care!

In another post, I want to talk about this man, too.

There Could Be Tears

Tears of joy or maybe just tears.

Today, when I wasn't soaking up the sun in my garden and listening to the Starling chicks tweet from their nest (they are getting louder, hence this must mean bigger), I managed to visit the Post Office to send off my manuscript, The Wedding Favour, to the RNA New Writers' Scheme. Eek!

Admittedly, it did receive positive feedback from publishers, (although no success stories otherwise I wouldn't be sending it to the RNA!) so I'm hoping I won't be crying over the comments too much. I know I should receive some constructive criticism (that maybe the publishers couldn't quite give me the time to feedback) to help me work on it, strengthen it, whatever. And something that might boost my confidence... please... to give me the push I need. But it is done, so there is no point in fretting. Now I need to concentrate on writing.

I know I can edit it for one publisher, although I fear they may no longer be interested in it - it's been nearly a year. But the thought of editing either The Wedding Favour or Perfect Isn't An Option just feels too tough in getting back into writing. I need to actually write, get the voices talking to me. At the moment I seem to be milling over things that are happening in my life, and the voices are quiet in the corner, worried I'm going to bite their heads off if they try to speak up. I'm not even hearing a whisper.

This is my plan to get back into writing! There's a short story competition that runs locally. My three local writery friends (June, Jacquie and Liz) and I went along last year to the awards evening, and it was really good fun. They had all entered and had been short-listed - which gave two a real boost to their writing confidence as they'd never won anything, and deservedly so. All the stories that are short-listed go into an anthology, but there is prize money for first, second and third, so it's worth entering. I also like this year's theme, too: Lost. I'm sure I can come up with something for that... my days of writing Quick Picks for Fanfic should help me. The hero may look a little bit like Sawyer, and the heroine could be a Kate lookalike but hey! Time to start brainstorming. Closing date is August 31st, 2013.

From now on, must walk around with a notepad in my hand at all times.

In the meantime, in between writing/brainstorming, I'll have to sit back and wait to hear from the RNA, and what my reader will think of my story. Good job I'm not a nail biter.

Blog Mode Engaged

I know, I know, I missed Shirtless Thursday! And I didn't even get around to fix it on Friday but here I am! It's Saturday. I feel exhausted from being up at 5.15am, and work hasn't been the best place in the world for me right now. Which then makes it even more exhausting.

So here I am... the long weekend ahead of me, and not much planned! Manuscript printed off, and in the envelope. Two synopsis' printed and in the envelope... until I realise as I go through the tick list they are supposed to be a one page synopsis. So that's this weekends job. Argh! However, I can't get to a Post Office before Tuesday now, so there is no point fretting about it.

I've been sat out in my (windy) garden with Dad, drinking coffee. He's done such a fantastic job, I'm not sure how I'll ever repay him. We've found starlings nesting in my roof too, so we get to listen to the chicks tweet every time mum or dad come to feed. And we've filled the bird table with food, so mum or dad don't have to work too hard either. If the weather stays I might do a car-boot tomorrow - what an exciting life I lead? - just because it would help rid some of the boxes in my garage AND raise some money towards my holiday with the boys.

Also, a friend has sent me over short story competition details with the theme 'Lost'. (I'm trying hard not to imagine Sawyer, Sayid, Desmond and Jack wrestling on a beach). I think this maybe the small project I need to get back into writing. Closes 31st August, so I have lots of time too.

Right, well this one page synopsis will not be written all by itself. Best go familiar myself with my novel (The Wedding Favour) again...

And I haven't forgotten... here's a treat for you! Shirtless Saturday?

How Quick Does A Week Go?

It feels faster than seven days, that's for sure!

I don't know if it's my house and garden taking up my time amongst the day to day routines of getting kids too/from school, and work, and the housework (I only do the bare minimal!), but here it is again, Thursday! Friday tomorrow - eek!

So, I have printed off my manuscript, The Wedding Favour, and it's Synopsis. I just need to fill in the forms and buy a jiffy envelope. (Forgot to do that this morning, dammit!). Then, I can send it off to the RNA New Writers' Scheme. Yay!

It will take some pressure off me trying to write and edit another novel by August, and the feedback I get back might be useful. Or will make me give up and throw in the towel! (No never! I'll write till I die!)

I have written a couple of short pieces which I do need to consider extending... or looking for a place to send. But at the moment, finding time for writing is proving really difficult.

However, my garden is coming along nicely, and if you've been following me on Facebook or Twitter you'll have seen the transformation. I will do a blog post shortly to show you it. But for now, it being Thursday, it means it's Shirtless Thursday...

Makes us wish summer would arrive and we can all hit the beach... if only it was filled with men looking like this!

Don't Panic, I Am Alive!

Taken Friday night - to prove I'm not some bot!

Gosh, it's been a whole week since I blogged, so going to use this post as a bit of a catch up for you!

I've spent the last week with my family, staying at my Mum's with the boys.  I wasn't totally cut off from the internet world, thanks to the good old Smart Phone, but it's not somewhere I choose to blog from.

Actually, what I do use is Instagram and if you do too, I'm Witteringwoman :D I think I've got used to it, as it's a phone App. As you can see, you can see one picture, but to see all the pictures I've taken, you need to go into the App from your phone. I try to share via Facebook*, Tumblr and Twitter, depending on what the pictures are. *please note I don't always friend on Facebook as it's my personal page.

The other day I did hear back from another publisher about The Wedding Favour. Bearing in mind I nearly didn't send it to this publisher, I've had incredible feedback from them really. It was a rejection, but in my eyes a positive one, and so I didn't feel too upset about it.  Of course it would have been nice to be accepted - I dream of being an author for this publisher - but I was realistic that it possibly wouldn't happen with my first novel.

With the info I'm about to give you, you might deduce who the publisher is... Anyway, they said it did very well with their tasting panel, so much so it then went to their editorial team. However, for 2013 they have really filled all their contemporary romance slots, and an existing author has a similar story already planned for that year too, so it wasn't what they were looking for.

The fact that they requested the full from the synopsis and then I got this positive rejection does actually make me feel more confident about my writing ability. I will get there... hopefully. I'm too stubborn to give up.

So next steps... well, I can still edit The Wedding Favour down to the category romance and resubmit to the other interested publisher. Plus, I may look at some other British publishers and send it off to them... (any recommendations please say!). Then, I get to start writing book three, or working on re-editing Perfect Isn't An Option when I get the feedback from the RNA NWS.

But I'm not going to start anything until the kids are back at school, and I'm running four miles three times a week again...

My Little Bit Of Writing News...

I suppose I should spill the beans, shouldn't I? That email from a (US) publisher whilst on holiday... Remember I teased you about it?

Well, it read that they enjoyed the book (The Wedding Favour) but said as it was, it wouldn't sell in the US market - because I am typically British lol! - but if I was prepared to cut it down to their category romance requirements (50-60k) they would consider it.

I look at this as a positive rejection, (the whole email was very positive actually) and something I am considering. I have my work cut out now! I will work on reducing The Wedding Favour to under 60,000 words, which is only 20,000 to lose. Easy... ha! Not. It's making a decision of what to cut in sub plot terms that is difficult.

The good thing about nowadays is you can 'save as' a file. I will still have the original, so if I don't like it cut to 60,000 words, or find I can't make it work, it won't be the end of the world.

Plus, whilst I'm editing it... you never know I might hear from the other three publishers who want the whole thing. The editor who emailed me was very positive about it all and said it would probably sell as it is to a UK publisher.

An editor said that! I got an email from an actual live editor!

So watch this space. I'm going to keep my options open - just want to get Perfect Isn't An Option sent off to the RNA NWS. I wanted more words for it, but I will send it as it is (with a tidy up first), and not struggle to make it up 70,000 words. I'm hoping any feedback I get might help with increasing the word count and fattening up the plot. That's my theory anyway.

All in all, it was a nice email to receive on holiday, and it boosted my confidence. So far my experience of getting my book 'out there' hasn't been too terrible. As I think all writers do - especially aspiring ones - they fear their writing is crap and no one will like their voice/story. So this is reassuring. Can't quite crack open the champagne yet, but hopefully it's getting closer.

Oh and this is my 300th blog post EVER! So celebratory inspiration is required... (Gosh, almost forgot). Thought we'd have some Richard Armitage!

Two SQUEES In A Week!

Seriously, I didn't expect the second squeeee! but I got asked by another publisher for the full manuscript of The Wedding Favour on Monday. (I know, I know, I'm sorry I'm telling you about it now!)

They sent the email around 3.05pm - just as I'm about to do the school run, plus I was taking the kids to Puxton - and all I wanted to do was send the manuscript off! However, I did have a submission form to fill out, and that took some time and care, and I hit the send button sometime Tuesday morning.

So that's it now. All four publishers have the full manuscript. I imagine I won't hear anything till July or August. I can't crack open the champagne yet... there still maybe disappointment at the end, but there is some relief that I've done things right so far! I need to just crack on with Perfect Isn't An Option and not think about it too much.

I will give one word of warning to you all thinking of sending off a synopsis to a publisher. DO NOT do it until that manuscript is finished. I mean truly finished, polished, you feel you can do no more to it.  THEN send the synopsis out, or whatever the submissions guidelines state.

In January, I was thinking, shall I send it off, while working on the editing of the last few chapters, because it will be weeks till I hear something.... No, it was days! Now the MS is sent, I might have to wait weeks...

If a publisher only requests a synopsis or the first few pages as part of its submission guidelines, they will get back to you quickly to say whether they want to see the full or not. And then they will inform you how long you may have to wait.

So glad my betas talked me out of that one! (Yes, I'll mention good old Becky Black again! I would not be here without her and another good beta friend!)

In other news, I will be hosting a blog tour for Doris O'Connor and Mandy Baggot over the next week. Both have new books out! Mandy's is actually out today - so congratulations, Mandy!

I need to get back to writing, but my RSI has flared up, which is really, really annoying, as I don't want to stop the momentum of Perfect Isn't An Option. However, I might have to sit back a couple of days until it's settled. Really annoying! Grrrr...

Here's Bradley Cooper to ease my pain....

 

See I always reward you in the end! There's something about a man who can handle heavy artillery :D 

First Squeeeee! Moment

As you all know, I have sent The Wedding Favour out to four publishers. And if you are a friend on Facebook you will already know that two days later, I got an email from one of the publishers asking for the full manuscript.

Yes, my heart was going barmy like a hamster in a wheel. Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Moments of panic as to whether the format was right etc. etc. Then, I sent it off.

Obviously, I still can not get too excited, because it could still get rejected, but this particular publisher only took the first five pages of the book, plus a short blurb (which I've already shared, although it has been edited slightly). That's the first five pages - double spaced! So we're not talking a lot of words!

However, I did do my little happy dance (you know, the one that Joey does in Friends) that those first five pages might be just a tiny bit okay!

I've also realised that I really do need to pull my finger out with Perfect Isn't An Option. Because, let's say for example, luck was on my side and a publisher accepts The Wedding Favour. I will need to drop everything to concentrate on the edits.

I want Perfect Isn't An Option finished ASAP and sent off to the RNA New Writers' Scheme by 31st August 2012. Okay, I could send a partial, but I really, really want to send a full.

Anyway, it's all gone quiet again, so I've probably got to sit it out for the next twelve weeks, and just knuckle down with Steve... Aiming to have his story finished by the middle of May.

Cue hot Bradley Cooper picture... (It links to the source.)

Nail Biting Times Ahead

I can officially tell you what it feels like to submit a novel to a publisher - it's scary as hell! God, did I hover over the send button, reading the submission letter one last time, then one last time again. 

This is how grey hairs form! The kids haven't sent me grey - yet - but submitting novels will.

Luckily, I did take Becky Black's advice and sleep on it for the night, because in the morning, I noticed my blurb, which was also drafted on my blog, had Sophie Fletcher not Sophie Trewyn, like my first five pages of my manuscript that followed. How stupid would I have looked?

Ages ago, I decided to change Sophie's name to something more Cornish, as she comes from Cornwell. But obviously, digging through my various documents that I'd started to write summaries, these were still in Fletcher, and so didn't even notice. (I've changed it on my blog post too now ;-))

I also ummed and aarrred about my pen name. I've sent it as Teresa F Morgan. I can discuss this with the publisher if any are interested.

So, it is official. The Wedding Favour is now out there! At the moment, I've sent to three publishers, which I think I will be waiting a long time for. But these are my favourites - and fear rejections will be from all of them, but hey ho! This does mean I can concentrate on writing Perfect Isn't An Option, which might be slightly off target for finishing end of April. It more likely will be the middle of May. It depends on if it reaches 80,000 words. For some reason, this one is actually appearing shorter - and yet I felt there was more plot to this story lol! Am I becoming a better writer?

I think this causes for a mild celebration! Sambuca's all round?

Or shall we have a celebratory Bradley Cooper picture?

Image credit John Baer

 Or just both? Drinking sambucas with Bradley Cooper would be nice...

He doesn't look that bad hung over.

Love Hate Relationship

I love writing! I LOVE it!

I hate writing a synopsis, covering letter, and a blurb for my book. Argh! (Luckily the synopsis was written a while back).

Would you be interested if you read: 

Sophie Trewyn has a wedding to attend, and no one to go with, until her colleague convinces his best mate, Adam Reid to go with her as a favour.  All he has to do is pretend to be Sophie’s boyfriend. Sophie’s concerns about her handsome stranger disappear as they get to know one another. But all the pretending, the kisses and caresses, Sophie starts to wish it were true. But with some surprises in store, will Adam regret saying yes?

This is my blurb so far!

And what do you tell a publisher when you don't actually have any writing history, apart from a few letters!? Because I've failed miserably at trying to get a short story published. I have tried, but not very hard. Really. I ended up concentrating on finishing my novel... because that's where my passion was.

Plus, they all want different things, so I think it will be a case of putting one package together, sending that out, then working on the next. I'm sure it will get easier. lol! And how many should I send out to first? 

There has been no news from the Novelicious competition. I should be made aware by 24th April. Well, it's the 20th, and I'm not holding my breath.

So then I worry, does this not bode well for The Wedding Favour?

I know, I know, I've got to accept the rejections - it's part of the writing process. And I suppose to get them, you've just got to put it out there. But I can't help thinking, should I just go bang my head against a brick wall, or something. Stick it in the oven? I mean, I'm sending it out there, knowing it's going to hurt (maybe because there is a tiny doubt in my mind that I won't become a published author, that I would never be that lucky in life). 

Well, at least it's Friday!

I won't get much writing done this weekend. I'm going home to see my mum, and visit my nan who is poorly. (I originate from Sunny Staines). My husband is running the London Marathon on Sunday, so we're going along to show our support. But after this day there will be no more excuses, my life needs to start moving forward. It's going to be hard work and very messy, but I want to get the tough bit over with, so I can eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel. (And I'm not talking about writing here). Life will be better on the other side.

So, Monday, does my new life start?

Not Only Dr Who Manages Time Lines.

With all the worry of getting words written for Perfect Isn't An Option, I've forgotten about preparing the submission of The Wedding Favour.

There isn't enough time in the day! 

But the kids are back at school... so I might, might, just get some more stuff done during the day.

Admittedly, I did enter it into a competition, so I can't really do much now, although 24th April isn't too far away. But I could at least look at some of the publishers requirements and put a submission pack together, right?

So, trying to write 7000 words for Perfect Isn't An Option this week (I've done 1000 words so far) and where possible, start drafting blurbs, letters etc. Argh!

My wall, right in front of me!

What I have been doing is my time line for Perfect Isn't An Option, making sure it's not wibbly wobbly timey whimey... stuff.

As you can see by the picture, I've printed off four months and decided to fill them in as a calendar. It was easier to work out how many weeks have passed. I've even thought I should put a Halloween scene in. And as Steve has been in the States for 15 years, should I give Thanksgiving a mention?

(I thought I'd share that I have a Robbie Williams calendar and I've moved my two favourite cards up to make space for The Time Line. One is a motivator to leave the housework alone and keep writing).

I have also another sort of time line in an A4 notebook, spread across two pages (so that's A3). This is helping for 'history' before the present day of when the book takes place. I'm going to add in the filmography into this, so I can know what Steve's mother saw before she died, and things like that, because it does get referenced.

Admittedly, this means less words have been written as it's taken some time to figure this stuff out and go through what I've written so far, but it does mean my novel is taking a better shape - I'm a stickler for things being right - and (hopefully) generated plot bunnies for additional scenes that are required.

For example, in One Day - which I forgot to add in the review as a nit - something threw me out of the book momentarily, and I did get annoyed for a bit. Unless Dexter was unsure of his mother's true age, (she could have been the sort to lie about it, thinking about it) she died at 49. Dexter, at the time, was around 29 - I think. (I've just spent 20 minutes trying to find this for certain and have failed lol!) This is fine, but he has a 34 year old sister...(at the time his mother is ill - I found that bit of info!) If I was working this out correctly... Hmmm... This makes his mum 14-15 when she had her - which is doable, but you don't really get the impression she had a teenage pregnancy, especially as his father is supposedly a much 'older' husband. I do hate it when writers don't do the maths!

Yes, so there's me, making sure if something happened two weeks ago, I making sure I don't have my character think it was a month. Which I did have, but it's changed now. 

Do you hate it when you spot something not quite right with the timings? Things like age or dates? Does it throw you out? Do you sit there working it out?



Right, with that, I'd better get some blinkin' words written!

Manic Monday

I just wanted to blog and say how good it is to be writing again. This morning I even woke up dreaming about Steve and the next scene ideas I had. This is always a good sign when I have my heroes back in my head.

I've been obsessing lately, mainly with what's going on in my life and worried I've put myself back on the single shelf, and rapidly approaching 40, worried I won't find someone, not even to have a bit of fun with. I'm not really interested in long-term. If it happens, it happens.

My problem is I am so damn impatient, plus feeling the need for some intimacy. Us girls have needs to!

So to wake up and have Steve there busily chatting to me was quite a relief. I've got my writing mojo back.

Keep an eye on the word count too! It's going up. Aiming for around 1000-1500 words a day so I can get this project finished by the end of April - mid May at the latest. However, the Easter holidays and the kids home might scupper me.

I'm also trying to read four chapters a night of The Wedding Favour. I'm reading it on my Kindle, but with a notebook beside me noting any little tiny nits that need changing. Then editing straight away so I don't forget. So this is keeping me busy too! 

On another note I've been meaning to discuss, I'm not sure about posting 'tottie' pictures. One author told me a horror story of another author being in trouble for it, and costing her money. And then, when I was at my chapter meeting last week, another author mentioned it too.

And so now I'm worried. (Hence you have a free Shutterstock photo of a flower today).

Technically, I'm not making money from it - but it does gain me pageviews etc (Adam Levine on Advent Calendar day 9 is over 6000 pageviews all time). And who knows, one day, when published, it might draw in an additional reader. So could it be argued I am gaining from the pictures? I'm not claiming the photos to be my own. But I understand there is a copyright thing with photos, just as there is with writing and I certainly can't afford to be sued.

I did with one post actually put the links on the pictures, so if you clicked on it, you went to where I borrowed the picture. Would that cover me?

So I would love to hear your thoughts. Such a shame, as I have lots of gorgeous men on my PC that I love to put on here too, from time to time - for inspirational purposes of course! And I've read that to make your blog interesting to break it up with pictures - so that's what I was doing!

Do I need to go photograph random good looking men on the street and put them on my blog?

Glad To Be Back Writing

Last night I started working on Perfect Isn't An Option - my second novel. I've read through what I've written so far and liked it! (Can I really be that clever? Well, I think it's clever :D)

My next Writers' Bureau assignment is either to send off the first chapter of a novel or a short story, so I thought I would send off a first chapter of this novel and get a professional opinion for it. (It's about time I sent off another assignment, too!) This is the novel I do want to send to the RNA New Writers' Scheme too.

I am rather excited about this novel. I really like the concept for it, and just hope everyone else does too. It's sort of Clark Kent meets Notting Hill. It's about a developing relationship of a sister and brother as well as finding love. But the hero has to hide his true identity to do it (hence the Clark Kent). I don't know, I've just got a good feeling about this story - I just hope I can pull it off and do it justice.

Tomorrow night I'm also dead excited about, as I will be going to my very first RNA Chapter meeting, which is organised by Rachel Brimble. I met Rachel last year at the conference (we were on the same dorm), and can't wait to catch up with her and fellow RNA members. 

So next steps? Once this chapter is sent off to my WB tutor (which is hopefully tonight), I will start trying to write 1000-1200 words a day towards finishing this manuscript. Can I do it by the end of April?

I just thought I'd share that it feels great to be writing again. I know how some writers love the editing stage, I much prefer the writing part. I find it much easier to make time to write and bash a thousand words out. But don't panic, I haven't forgotten about The Wedding Favour. I will load that on to my Kindle and start reading through after this weekend and look to submitting very soon. I need to give it a bit of a break so that I've got fresh eyes looking over it. It's too easy to skim when you're so fed up with the damn text!

Steve - doing a photo shoot for a magazine

It's really hard not to feel positive while the sun is out. Are you enjoying the weather or stuck in writing? This is the downside to being a writer...

One Novel Down

By Jove, I think I've only gone and done it!

Yes, I've finished editing The Wedding Favour! There is probably more work that could be done to it, but it could go on and on forever. And I've got to the point, it's polished, let's see if someone actually likes it - I'll be glad to see the back of it! If it is successful, I'm pretty sure an editor will want their say in some of the editing. I think I've taken it as far as I can basically.

Sort of Adam... I've found it harder to find a visual

So now?

Well, I'm going to let it rest for a couple of weeks, then put it onto my Kindle (very useful for writers are ereaders!) and give it one more read through. Just to make sure I've crossed all the T's and dotted the I's. Then I will start submitting. (I'm very nervous about this bit). I've listed and looked at some publishers that I think it fits. It's a contemporary romance. There are a couple of sex scenes, but the heat level is nowhere near erotica.

I know that it will get rejections, and I am fearing this. Maybe mainly, with everything else going on in my life, I really would like to achieve something with my writing, to know that I'm on the right path, I'm doing the right thing, and my future will seem a whole lot brighter. This might be that light at the end of the tunnel I really need to see.

Steve - Perfect Isn't An Option

In the mean time I will carry on writing Perfect Isn't An Option (which I'm rather excited about), targeting myself 1000 words a day. If I start 26th March latest (as I have my son's birthday coming up this weekend, I need to focus on that - plus it gives me time to read through what I've already written), then to add another 45-47,000 words to my so far 33,000 word total, should take me to beginning of May.  So watch the counter to the right, I'll be updating again with my word count as it increases!

This is the novel I want to send to the RNA NWS - so it will have to get polished up, in making sure it reads well by end of August. But I might go with the approach of "chucking it all at the wall, and seeing what sticks."

Gosh, I feel like I want to crack open the champagne just for finishing a novel. But I'm saving that bottle in the fridge for my first paid published piece. Will it be The Wedding Favour?

It's Wobble Time, I Mean Submission Time

I've only got one chapter to edit! Then it's submission time. And I'm not nervous at all.

Yeah, right.

Gosh, The Wedding Favour started as a chapter in the Mills and Boon New Voice competition, in September 2010, and here we are, approximately 18 months later with the finished product. To be honest, it should have taken me less time, but occasionally I concentrated on other writing assignments, such as my Writers' Bureau (and being a full time mum, the kids would get in the way). And I wrote 33,000 words for Perfect Isn't An Option. That was a month.

My inspiration for Steve.

Anyway, watch this space. And watch my word count to the right. I'm going to start writing more of Perfect Isn't An Option very soon. I want this to be the novel I submit to the RNA New Writers' Scheme. So I want it finished, and edited (though probably won't be as polished) by end of June. End of July - latest! Because I don't want to be one of those people who hand it in last minute. I've estimated that if I do 1000 words a day (which is doable) it should take me just over a month to write. If I start writing from about the 24th March I could be finished by mid May.

I'm going to put what I've written so far onto my Kindle and read through, so I can brainstorm what gaps need filling, what scenes need adding. 

Buff firemen with tattoos!

And then, while I wait to hear the verdict on that with the RNA, plus the rejections flowing in for The Wedding Favour (ever the optimist), I'll be writing my third novel.

It doesn't have a title, and needs serious amounts of brainstorming. But the hero is an ex-fireman, come now a landscape gardener (I'm imagining him nice and big and buff, and with tattoos). The heroine needs some more thought. But they're going to be neighbours who can't stand the sight of each other, because really they fancy the pants off of each other. And when her house catches fire (need to decide to what extent) and she moves in with her buff neighbour while her house is renovated, that's when the fireworks really start.

This story idea has stemmed from one tiny scene I had in my head. A man picking up a hysterical woman, slinging her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, to get her away from a scene that's distressing her.

Anyone else get these silly little scenes and feels the need to make them grow?

I also want to try and find some homes for some shorter pieces that I've written. I need to get more stuff out there. It's juggling the time to do it all though.

Right, back to the grindstone ... And buy that second diary so I can block out work time for different pieces.

A Good Start To 2012

Happy New Year, everyone! 

The new year means trying to join the Romantic Novelists Associations New Writers' Scheme. I decided to give it a go, especially after being at the conference last year and meeting so many wonderful Romantic Writers.

The rules stated you could not send your email before 00:01 2nd January 2012. Which meant I was up until midnight last night, waiting for my PC's clock to click over to 00:01 to send my prepared email.

My friend Morton Gray was also doing the same, and we were messaging via Facebook, reassuring each other that we weren't nuts, and confirming we both felt a tiny bit nervous and sick about pushing the send button.

Morton heard early this morning that she was in. I therefore feared the worse, as I checked my inbox every five minutes there after and saw no email! At 13:11 today, finally I was put out of my misery. I'm in! I've got a place on the New Writers Scheme. Whoooo hoooooo! *does Joey from Friends happy dance*

This now means I need to knuckle down and get writing. Admittedly I do have The Wedding Favour finished, which I'm slowly editing - and now need to speed up on -  but I would like to send Perfect Isn't An Option to the manuscript appraisal system. This so far stands at 33,000 words (as my little box to the right indicates). I've just ordered Rob Lowe's autobiography which comes out in paperback 19 January - this is research for Steve, my hero. I think January will be tidy up and finish The Wedding Favour, and February start concentrating on my second novel. If I do 1000 words a day again, I'll get it finished by end of March latest. I've got till the end of August, so I won't start panicking yet.

This has also made a decision for me. I need to concentrate on the novels. I will try to get a short story written and entered into competitions etc. occasionally. But I really need to make sure that I'm on track with both of my novels before other things get in the way. (I will send my short story off to the Choc Lit competition though, as that's almost ready!)

Anyway, it's been a big plus today for me. I'm going to take this acceptance into the RNA NWS as a good sign for 2012!

Failed Challenge But Still A Success

Two days ago the May - You Write Your Novel challenge ended, and thus, in some ways I failed it. I didn't finish my novel, I certainly didn't get to 80,000 words.

I knew it was going to be difficult with a two week holiday slapped in the middle. But I returned to news about the RNA Conference, and was encouraged to get an editor appointment, and had to concentrate on editing The Wedding Favour.

Since returning from the RNA Conference, I haven't found my writing mojo for Perfect Isn't An Option. I've now decided to continue with the editing of The Wedding Favour, taking on board the editor's advise, and hope it will be ready for submitting to publishers/agents by the end of the summer.

Thinking of the things I learnt at the RNA Conference, about pitch etc. I am still unsure where this 'book' lies amongst others in Waterstones. Who would it sit next to in a book shop pile? For those that have read it, maybe some suggestions? I did read Katie Fforde's A Perfect Proposal and wondered if it was a little along her lines. Anyway, I'm going to continue to read different authors from different publishers in the hope I might find something.

And the success of May - You Write Your Novel ? It taught me something very important in all of this. I can write 1000 words a day.

It will be my aim, when I am not editing, to do so from now. I will need a reason - especially when both boys are in school next term - to sit down and write, and not procrastinate, and so will give myself a daily target. Perfect Isn't An Option will get finished!

I do worry about my writing. Is it too simple? Are my plots not original enough? And leaving a post with a sample of my writing, it's the first post in ages not to have any comments on. So now I wonder is my writing that bad? I thought they'd be great debate on how much people loved or hated skiing for one! It's here if you missed it.

Now must crack on with that editing ...

Night Off

After three hours of work I'm surprised that I turn into a useless, tired mess. Tonight I've just read (and now I'm updating my blog) and drunk pear cider! But deservedly so, because I've been scrutinising over my first three chapters of The Wedding Favour, and a synopsis for the past couple of weeks.

Well no more! Last night I sent it off to Jane Holland, the editor of Embrace Publishing, ready for my appointment next week at the RNA Conference. I'm not even opening the 'sent' email for fear of spotting some ludicrous typo or a comma out of place!

Steve's photo shoot with some glossy magazine

So now, what am I going to do? I need to get back into writing Perfect Isn't An Option. I'm missing Steve. (Is he missing me?) But first, I've decided to finish my 2nd fiction Writer's Bureau assignment. I'm on a tight schedule for the May - You Write Your Novel challenge, and to be honest, I'm not sure I'll get my novel finished by the 19th July... and it's been a while since I checked in with my tutor.

This weekend is likely to be a write-off. I'm rubbish; my writing suffers when I've been at work. A combination of up at the crack of dawn, on feet for 6 and a half hours, and a constant (fake) happy disposition in front of the customers (hence I hide in the freezer and swear my head off during the 'bake-off'), plus I go to bed earlier, giving me less of an evening! Unless you do it, I don't think you realise how physically tiring working in retail is. (Makes me grateful of my office days!)

A quality a writer needs amongst thick skin and a good imagination, is motivation.You need to self-motivate. It's easy, when one project finishes, to find yourself in a slum, and sometimes, even picking up an existing project feels daunting. I'll start reading through Perfect Isn't An Option. That'll get my fingers twitchy and my brain back onto Steve. Adam (The Wedding Favour) will be on a back burner for a while.

I'm starting to be more open about my writing. I was even talking to a customer at work today about being a writer. I get such a positive response, yet it's funny, I'm so reserved about it, I almost feel like I'm coming 'out'.

What's Happened To My Post?

Yesterday, elated receiving this most wonderful present, I blogged about it. Someone (Sarah) even commented. I can't reply to her comments or anything, because Blogger has eaten it.

So, for the record I'm posting it again.

Look, the best present ever from my friend Becky!

I've decided it will sit on my desk to provide constant writing inspiration.