Pour Some Sugar on Me

When I first started allowing people to read my work I expected words of praise, pats on the back, bottles of champagne popping open because I'd written the next Great American Novel....and for the most part that's what I got....because I'd sent it to people I know--friends, family...people who would tell me what I wanted to hear. Then I found a critique partner, whom I'll call "Andy", who had no qualms about telling me how bad a writer I was. After cleaning up the wounds he gave me, I did more revisions and then sent my book to an editor at Avon....who told me what she really thought. Now, the critque the editor gave my manuscript wasn't in any way mean like "Andy" (unless you consider post-it notes with Yuk and Double Yuk taped to the pages mean)...and she was very helpful. I wasn't where I needed to be with the craft if I wanted to be published. So, being the damned determined kind of person I am, I studied, joined RWA (Romance Writers of America for those who don't know) and found a critique group.

It's been four years since that editor's critique....and the novel has improved drastically...it even garnered me an agent and interest from another editor....but that's another (horrible) story. Anyway....because I've been learning so much over the years---mainly thanks to the wonderful writer friends I've made--I feel confident in passing along my *wisdom* to new writers. So, for the last few months I've been a part of a forum where writers are encouraged to post chapters for feedback. Now, I've made it a point not to read or comment unless specifically asked because most consider my feedback a bit....harsh. Not that I do it that way...it just comes out that way online.

For the most part, I've gotten great thanks from some of the people...but there are still several there who just don't want to hear what they're doing "wrong" and will argue till they're purple that I just didn't get it! Especially since others (their friends) are giving them those pats on the back they so desperately want. How is that helping??

So...why bother giving critiques to writers who only want me to pour some sugar on them? Call me a masochist...haha...no....actually because eventually they're going to see that it isn't just me.

And if these writer's can't take a critique from me, how are they ever going to handle rejection from an agent or editor??

Which reminds me....the Avon editor had asked to see the manuscript again if I cleaned it up...she's not at Avon anymore but with another major house. I wonder if I should consider resending to her??

Ending the year with a bang

Well, not so much a bang as in a POP....like the sound the cork makes on a bottle of bubbly. Yep....I got to open the bottle recently because I made my first sale!! (yay me!)

Last year, around this time, I was asked to participate in a Latina based anthology by an editor who really loved my work and was ready to submit my novel FORGET ME NOT to committee. However, before I could send her the completed novella (which is really more of a short story) and she could submit my book, she left the house for a better position elsewhere. Talk about deflating the ole ego boost. Then of course the rest of 2007 went totally downhill!! (I won't even rehash that since it's history and why dwell on it??)

So, anyway in November, on the advice of a writer friend, I submitted the story, who's new title is now HER WILL, HIS WAY, to a couple of online publishers. This week one of them emailed asking if the story was still available. I said yes. She offered a contract. I signed. And, after the first of the year the book will go through the process and be available online by the summer!! **woo hoo!**

I'm very proud of the work I did on this story and even the few people I sent it to really loved it! So I'm looking forward to sharing it with more people.....and hey, if they like this story....wait till they get a hold of my novels!! hehe

Anyway....as soon as the story is available I'll let you all know....although I'm sure you'll hear me shouting from the rooftops. ;-)

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Life as I know it is over

My quiet, peaceful, stress free days to myself are going to be ending soon. I have to find a job.
I haven't had a job in nearly fifteen years but it's pretty much like riding a bike, right? Although, I haven't done that in quite a while either. Hmmm.

I've only had two types of jobs in the fifteen years I did work. I calculated earlier...my first job was in 1978 and I stopped working in 1992.

The first job I got was in food service...I worked for Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut and Friendlys (in NY). The other job was as a letter carrier with the US Postal service...which was also in New York, Hartsdale to be exact then Beaumont Texas and I did a year in Alaska. That one was my last job because it was really difficult to keep a job when I kept having kids (hah) and the government found it necessary to transfer my Coastie husband every two years. He retired in 2000 and got a real job, but he was getting paid so well it wasn't necessary for me to work...plus, both of us preferred our four children have someone home at all time.

Well, now the kids are mostly grown (the youngest is 12) and our finances are getting very tight (thanks to child one...but I won't go there) and we're having to rely on credit cards for everything right now. My husband is determined to pay them all off by this summer....which can only happen if I find a job. We were really hoping my writing would pay off....but every time I got close to selling....it didn't happen. *sigh* So, anyway, in order to make that goal for my husband (because he really deserves to not have to live paycheck to paycheck after all the time we had to do that)...I'll need to find a job.

I'm kind of nervous about it because like I said it's been fifteen years since I've had a job....I don't know if I have the patience to learn one...especially in food service...which is where I'm planning to apply. Why food service? I like it. You get to meet all kinds of people and interact with them. Of course that can also be a downside. haha With the holidays approaching, everyone is hiring, so it shouldn't be too hard to find something. Right??

Anyway....wish me luck...I guess.