On the Horizon

Now that my 2012 goals are in place, I thought I would use my blog as way to help me achieve them. So I've got a few new things I'm going to be doing that I'd like to share with you.

Writer's Butt Updates:
You may remember a post back in September about how sitting in my computer chair day-in and day-out has done a number on my tail? I called the dilemma, Writer's Butt. Well, this year, I am bound and determined to remedy this issue. To help, I will be doing a monthly post on the last Friday of every month, about what's working, what's not, and my progress (or lack thereof), to keep me accountable. Feel free to join me on these Fridays. Together, we can rid the world of Writer's Butt! Or at least have fun trying:)

Friday Free-For-All:
On Friday's I'm going to give myself permission to have a free day. I'll talk about my life, my writing updates, how my cat (Totally flubbed that up. It's my dog. That is what I get for writing this post at midnight:) wears booties in the snow because she doesn't like her feet to get cold. No joke. Anything and everything will be up for grabs on Fridays.

Agent Spotlight:
My other blogging day is Tuesday, and I am going to try to keep that centered around writing. I'm talking, the craft, getting published, marketing, the ups and downs of the journey, you name it. And since I'm going to be querying soon, I thought it might also be nice to add in some spotlights for new agents, or ones I've come across in my research that I think are super cool.

Are any of you bloggers out there changing things up in your neck of the woods? I'd love to hear all about it.

That was Then, This is Now

That was Then

Last year I had a couple of solid goals:

1) Finish my novel

2) Get in shape

Did I meet them?

For the first goal. I did. But in a way totally unexpected. Mid-year I decided to shelve the novel I was working on, for an idea that had been swimming in my brain for a couple of years. I will be sending it out to beta buddies in the next two weeks. So YES! Goal met.

As for the second one, getting in shape. Did I meet it? Not so much. I digress.

This is Now

There is something about this year that has me giddy with hope and excitement and anticipation. It could be because my plan is to begin querying in February, and I haven't yet experienced the drudgery of waiting, accompanied with utter rejection. Over and over. But I'll tell you something, even with that notion on the horizon, I'm still totally pumped up for 2012!

So without further ado (and praying I don't bore you because this is quite possibly your 100th goals post you've read for the new year) I give you my goals for 2012:

-Query 10 agents at a time until I decide whether my query and/or manuscript is working, or is a total bust and in need of a rehaul.

-Land my dream agent (yep, I said it)

-Write another book and outline a third
-Get my dang finances in order

-Get organized--like, every junk drawer, and closet cleaned out. For real this time.

-Get my writers butt in shape. I know, I know. I said this one too. But seriously. I'm going to do it this year.

-Develop more meaningful relationships with my kids. Not just talk to them while my face is glued to the computer screen.

-Throw an even bigger 'Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest' (Oh yeah, it's coming back!)

-Get a website

-Do something new with my blog, or possibly start a group blog with like-minded writers (If anyone reading this has been thinking the same thing, let's talk:)

-BE PATIENT

That's it. You think I can do it? What about 80% at least? I'm shooting for 95%.

What about you? If you haven't worn this topic into the ground, what are your goals for the new year?

A Few of My Favorite Things

I know August isn't the official new year but for me I get all kinds of giddy for a few things. This year especially! So I thought with my limited internet connection and things still in boxes I would day dream for a bit about some things I am looking forward to.

1) SCBWI Midsouth Writers Conference - I am super pumped about this in Nashville this year!!!

2) Rach Harrie's Third Writers' Platform Building Campaign - This should be a blogfest of ultimate proportions. I have heard only good things about it.

3) The 2nd Annual WriteOnCon - For those not able to attend conferences, this one is online, uber-big and FREE!

4) School is starting back for the kiddos which means a writing schedule for me. I can hardly wait for that...though I will miss the kids during the day.

5) Personal deadline to finish my first draft of Ripple Effect (end of August)

So these are a few of my favorite things for August. What about you? Do you have anything coming up you are excited for?

Get Out of Your Own Way!

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

Please tell me I'm not the only one who makes a list of writerly things to do the night before.  You know, the kind when your head hits the pillow, just before you float away to sleep you smile because this is it.  Because of this list you are finally going to get it together and make it all happen the way you want. 

Then the next day comes.  You oversleep, the baby is sick, your daughter is yelling at you because she wants to go to the pool and your husband is out of clean socks.  By the time you get the children calm and load of laundry in, your emails have piled up.  You really should check them because you don't want to get behind.  There could be some great writing info in there, maybe a tidbit on great agents and that will be important if you ever finish your novel.

Finally, all caught up, it's time to get down to business.  Oh wait, the kids are hungry.  Is it already lunchtime?  And that laundry, can't forget to put it in the dryer.  Might as well do another load while you're at it.  Oh and the house, you at least need to straighten it.

What kids?  You say you're tired of being cooped up in the house all day?  The guilt settles.  To the park you go!

Once again...kids are good, second load of laundry is drying--the rest can wait.  It really is time to write. 

Oh, hey honey.  Is it already 5:30?  Guess you'd better start dinner, clean up dinner, get the kids bathed and in bed. 

Whew!  Now you're going to do it...get one word on paper at least.  No wait, Vampire Diaries season finally is on tonight.  You can't miss that and then if you don't get in bed you won't be able to move in the morning.

Okay, fine, after you watch that you will make another list for tomorrow and this time you'll be better.  This book isn't going to write itself.

Sound like a day in your life?  If not, good for you! 

Do you get in your own way?  This example is one tiny thing I do in a long list of road blocks.  What are yours and how do you deal with them?

A couple things I do to get out of my own way are:

1)Find the writing time that works for me and stick with it.  For me this happens to be early before the kids wake up.  Talking myself out of it and sleeping in would be nice, but then writing doesn't happen when I do.  We are all different.  What is right for you?

2)Break down my writing goals into small attainable goals.  How long do you want your current novel to be?  When do you want to finish the first draft?  How many days do you plan on writing?  Figure those three things out and you will come up with a number.  Mine is 1283.  Is your number doable for you?  If not tweak some things, but get your number and stick to it.

3) Stay on course.  It is easy to get side tracked with emails, play times, phone calls and the many other things that come in our way every day.  Try setting time aside for each of these things so they don't interfere.  Then...don't cheat.  If the phone rings while you are writing, don't pick it up.  Plan play time and when it comes make it happen, don't wait.  The kids will be happier and so will you.

These are just a few things that work for me, but just like my novel, I am a work in progress so I'd love to hear from you.  What do you do to get out of your own way?

Crazy Days

Why doesn't life ever go the way you anticipate?  It drives me crazy but I should be accustomed to that just being the way it is.
Here I had planned on moving to KY, getting settled, starting NANO, finishing my book edit and going to the ANWA conference in Feb.
The moving part did happen but so far not one other thing has.  My Grandmother, whom I wrote about on my Mom's The Glue blog, went to the hospital for a headache and was kept for a tumor on her brain that was recently removed through surgery.  I have been there most of my days so naturally there has been time for nothing else.  I would actually have it no other way, I'm thankful that we moved when we did so I could be with her and to help the family out as needed. 
Disappointment, however, looms large when I don't complete tasks.  Instead of beating myself up, I just need a plan.  That is something I plan to work on this weekend.

In other news I found out about a really cool contest I thought I would share with my few and far between readers.  I'm entering and good luck to you if you try it out too!

YA Novel Contest

Ready...Set...Go

Welp, here I am.  Over a year ago I got an idea.  I pounded that idea out into the form of a 300+ page book in about three months.  Then, I got discouraged.  I thought, self: who is ever going want to read this? 

Making excuses, I let it sit on my computer, filed away amidst the other half touched ideas that I toyed with over the years.

This one, however, kept haunting me.  So I slowly started editing it.  During that process I would get discouraged, put it away, get haunted again, slowly start editing once more and round and round I went.

Then, about a year ago, I joined a writers group on a whim, through the lovely Twilight Mom's forum.  Putting my book out there to be critiqued was like walking outside completely naked for all to see.  SCARY...for those doing the seeing as well as myself.

When the band aid was finally ripped away, I realized it wasn't so bad.  I actually enjoyed the feedback. 
With that initial shock over, I had the courage to finish two edits and am on my final one.

For additional help I have sent it off to the lovely and talented Linda over at  TreasureLine Books and Publishing.  She is a pro at this kind of thing and I think I have looked at it so much, for so long, I just need some professional help - in more ways than one I'm sure.

After getting it back from Linda I will then put my final touches on the book and send it out into the world and see if it can stand on its own.

Am I nervous?  Heck yea!  Am I excited?  You bet.  This has always been a dream of mine and to finally bring it to some form of fruition is extremely satisfying.

Why the blog?

I started this blog for a few reasons:
1) To document my journey so if I ever get published I can look back and see the road I travelled.

2) To get the premise of my book out there and see what others think about it.

3) To get my name out so if I do ever get published I may already have a few fans, friends and fellow writing buddies:)

So, here is to taking your dream and running with it!