Oh February! It's here and passing quickly. The month of love, of togetherness, of celebrating each other. And I want to do just that.
I am dedicating this month to you!
That's right. I want all my posts this month to be about other writer's successes. Because you know what? We all deserve it. This writing road is freaking hard and stressful and up and down and round and round....and so completely worth it! Don't you think? I'd love it if you stopped by from time to time and gave a big ole cyber hug of congrats to the writers that will be spotlighted.
And just so everyone will get their moment to share in the smooches and squishes being doled out, I'm going to have a LOVE SHOUT OUT. Is there anyone in your writing world that means the world to you? Stop by on Valentine's Day and let them know how much they mean to you.
So let's start the gushing party, and let's start it with you. I know writer's aren't the best at paying themsleves compliments, but today you MUST.
writing journey that deserve to be shouted from the rooftops? It can be anything. Have you started your first novel, found a critique group, gotten a book deal? Tell me all the things! Because I want to give you all the love!
I've recently passed the 200,000-word mark on my current WIP, which means I've almost halfway done. I also submitted one of my much-shorter historicals to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest and am waiting to hear back.
ReplyDeleteSometime during this year, I'm going to do some kind of indie or e-publishing for my first Russian historical novel, in honor of the 20th anniversary of its creation. I"m also going to start querying again for my much-shorter historicals and see what happens now that I've realized they fit better as adult novels that just happen to have younger characters, not as YA books.
My victory for the day is blocking out three official hours to writing today. It's work. It's not just for fun. Yes, I have laundry and dishes and a million errands to do, but writing is important dammit, and I am doing it! Except for this five minute break to read some blogs :).
ReplyDeleteI have tonnes of love to dosh out! My aquisitions editor who loved my MS so much she signed me and I'm now counting down to be published, one Jessa Russo. Also Jade Hart who orginizes everything to do with my publishing process, and my editor Mary Harris. They are all helping me to head toward Kiya's release in April, a day which will be like my birthday and Christmas combined in one!
ReplyDeleteThen there's my CP's: Darci Cole, Stacey Nash, Anabel Gonzalez, Leigh Statham and Heather Quartetti. So much love <3 I know it's not about me, but they deserve credit for lifting me up and helping me to get where I am.
I just published my first book "My Stupid Girl."
ReplyDeleteI have a short story, Being Superhuman, in the 50 Shades of Decay anthology from Angelic Knight Press. It's due out on 14th Feb and will be my first paid publication!
ReplyDeleteI guess I should celebrate the fact I've drastically increased my drafting writing time over three books. From three years, to 9 months, to 3 months! OK, that last one was 60k not 80k like the others, but still, I think I've become much more constructive and focused in terms of "butt in chair". NaNo helped.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was weird paying myself a compliment! Not used to it!
Deanna, I've got some love for YOU! You are such a sweetie and you always do your best to shine a light on others (GUTGAA, anyone) and help others reach their dreams. Big Love to YOU!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to give you a cyber hug for all the hard work you do to give authors opportunities to get in front of agents, publishers, and meet other writers. <3
ReplyDeleteAlso, my milestone is that my YA sci-fi, Ravens, debuts this Friday. I'm both terrified and excited. It's like giving birth. I've tried so hard and for so long to have my baby, but now that it's about to deliver into the world, I kinda don't wanna push...
Strength will be out in 23 days. Does that count? :D
ReplyDeleteFound a fabulous lit. agent who rocks!!! Wow, thanks Deana! I needed a smile today. ;) Hope you're doing well! You'll have to stop by my blog soon and tell me all about your life, too. :)
ReplyDeletewellllllllll there was that award :P
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna count that as a success. Also, I'm about to beta *someone's* fabulous story so there's that, too :P
I'm with Alex and Kaylie--you always give so much of yourself!
ReplyDeleteBut, enough about you...Ha! Okay, seriously, mine is pretty lame, but I have a submission in to Avon Impulse and I haven't had a rejection yet--this same work (before edits) got a wonderfully long and positive (if that's possible) rejection letter from Loose ID. Fingers crossed.
This is really a sweet thing to do. You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI am up to 65,000 words on my WIP. Since I only started it around the second week of January, that feels like a pretty big accomplishment. I never write that fast!!
Currently have the stomach flu slowing me down, but I'm hoping to finish the first draft by the end of this month. :)
You are sooo sweet to do this--I'd want to give a shout-out to you for sure:-) Well, my first book was published last month, woot woot! And tomorrow, I give my first 18 Things Author School visit to eighth graders at a local middle school. Trying not to freak out right now, lol!
ReplyDeleteUmm...I'm revising and drafting still. Is that worth celebrating? LOL!
ReplyDeleteI've got the re-edits of two novels underway and am also writing a third novel while planning it too.
ReplyDeleteNot only that, I'm forming a publishing company with two friends.
Recently signed a book contract and finished first -round edits. Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteYou're so awesome, Deana! I wrote a new book during some of the hardest months ever, when everything seemed to be falling apart. It was difficult, but I didn't give up.
ReplyDelete